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angryschnauzer · 4 years ago

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He’s A Keeper

Summary: Working as an artist hired by Durrell Zoo, you spend your days sketching the day to day life of the animals and the keepers. One keeper in particular catches your eye.

Pairing: AU Zookeeper Henry Cavill x Female Reader (no race or size mentioned)

Fandom: Henry Cavill

Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Friends to Lovers, Oral Sex (Female Receiving), Fingering, Safe Sex/Use of Condoms, Realistic Sex/Relationship discussion, Vaginal Sex.

Typo’s are allowed to run wild and free, only the finest organic free range fuck ups for me.

I do not operate a tag list, but if you follow @angryschnauzerwrites and hit ‘notifications’, you’ll get an alert every time i post something new. Back catalogue/masterlist can be found there and also on AO3

He’s A Keeper

Working the pencils over the sketchpad you quietly captured the beauty of the animals the zookeepers had nursed back to full health, the Ruffed Lemur currently hanging off the keepers arm as he spoke through the headset to the group of excited school children watching through the glass.

You’d been hired by the zoo to capture day to day life at the zoo throughout the summer season, drawing the animals and the humans, however there was one particular human you had found yourself drawn to numerous times, and that was the rather tasty zookeeper by the name of Henry. He also had one of the sexiest voices you’d ever had the pleasure to listen to, so as he explained about the Lemur’s your mind wandered, as did your gaze;

“... originally from Madagascar, and have been part of Durrell zoo since 1982 where they have been essential to the breeding program…”

Your mind fell even further into the gutter at the word ‘breeding’, your eyes raking down Henry’s body, taking in how the branded t-shirt clung to his chest before tapering down to a narrow waist where it was neatly tucked into cargo pants that did little to hide how thick his thighs were and a pert arse you could bounce a satsuma off of. Biting the end of the pencil you had all but given up drawing, only realising that the talk was over when the group of school children were being herded onto the next exhibit by their tour guide and teachers.

When the kids had disappeared you finally got back to drawing, watching as Henry finished up feeding the Lemur’s before he met your gaze and smiled at you. Tapping your pencil on the glass he frowned and shook his head, before smiling and pointing to the sign in the corner of the window that said ‘do not tap the glass’, getting closer you tried to mouth your words to him, but was surprised when his eyes went wide in almost shock, before looking down and realising you had pressed your chest to the glass, your low cut cami top helping to accentuate your cleavage. When you looked up again he was gone and you let out a sigh of disappointment, before he appeared through a door to the side of the viewing area;

“Hi” he had a smile that could charm the panties off a nun; “Did you want me?”

“God yes…” Oh fuck, did you say that out loud?; “Sorry, i mean, you’ve dropped the foam bit off your headset...”

He glanced into the enclosure just at the moment one of the larger Lemur’s picked up the small round piece of foam and staring straight at Henry, proceeded to rip it into tiny pieces.

“Furry little fucker…” he cursed under his breath before turning back to you, but before he could say anything a group of other keepers came walking in and soon you were hanging onto the periphery of their conversation where they were discussing going for drinks after work. Moving to pack your stuff up as you presumed they weren’t including you, but a call of your nickname drew your attention;

“Hey Da Vinci, you up for a few beers after work?”

You hesitated to answer, glancing at Henry who had a smile across his face and a hopeful look in his eye;

“We’re all going…”

“Ok, yeah sure, that’d be great” you agreed.

An hour later you were sitting on the wall outside the main entrance waiting for the rest of the keepers to finish their shifts, smiling as you saw them coming out of the doors, and the ensuing 10 minutes that followed as people sorted out who was driving and how many people could fit into just a couple of small cars. As spaces were allocated Henry laughed and shook his head;

“I am NOT riding five up in a Renault Clio, i’m too tall, i’ll have to fold myself in half! Where are we going anyway, i can take my bike and just walk home after”

Waiting as everyone discussed location and finished off seat allocation, they’d finally decided when Henry turned to you;

“Hey, i think the last seats are in the stoner wagon…”

“Oh…” you didn’t have anything against anyone smoking pot, but didn’t fancy being in a car you could barely see out of the windows of.

“But you can ride with me on my bike?”

Looking to where Henry was pointing, you saw a fairly large trails bike, the kind that could go 50mph over rough land and through forests;

“I… I don’t have a helmet…”

“Wait here, let me run into the locker room and grab the spare i keep here”

Everyone else pulled away as Henry ran into the zoo, and you glanced at the bike. You’d never been on a motorbike before, so this would be a first. Stowing everything loose in your backpack, you hooked it over both shoulders just as Henry reemerged from the building, swinging his keys from one finger as he came to stand in front of you;

“Hey, thanks for waiting”

“No worries! So, where are we going again?”

“The pub in Rozel does good food and pulls a great pint” he nodded to his left and you saw a row of motorbikes; “You ever ridden?”

Shaking your head you laughed; “No, never”

He carefully helped you put the helmet on, his nimble fingers helping to secure the strap beneath your chin before putting his own on and climbing onto the bike, pushing it off the kick stand and nodding for you to climb on. You tried to sit back, but he wrapped his arm behind his back and pulled you flush to his body;

“Gotta hold on tight, otherwise you’ll throw the balance off. Lean when i lean and just squeeze a bit harder if you’re scared, the ride won’t take long” he shouted over the thrum of the noisy engine idling.

The ride down to the small village of Rozel had been exhilarating, from the vibration of the motorbike between your legs to the way you were able to wrap your arms around Henry’s waist and cling to him as he hurtled around the country roads at what seemed like warp speed, when in fact it was little more than 30mph. By the time you arrived in the small fishing cove your heart was racing and you actually let out a reluctant moan at the thought of removing your arms from around Henry’s waist.

“C’mon” he grinned as he helped you off the bike; “I’ll buy you a vodka and coke to calm your nerves”

“It wasn’t nerves” you muttered to yourself, smirking as you know he heard you.

The group had managed to find a cluster of small tables chairs and benches in the corner of the pub beer garden, and as the sun had set behind the hills to the rear of the pub, the cold Atlantic sea had glowed in pale blues and pinks. You were squashed into a bench with Henry on one side and another enormous hulk of a keeper on the other, and as the temperature had dropped you’d found yourself thankful that Henry had casually rested his arm behind you so you could leech some of his warmth, but it didn’t stop a violent shiver involuntarily running up your spine.

“Cold?” Henry asked quietly, before gently wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you close; ��Any better?”

You nodded and let out a very quiet whine as you smiled at him, completely surrounded by his scent and warmth. It made your stomach do a flip and you clenched your thighs together, something that didn’t get past Henry as your leg twitched against his thigh. Before either of you could say anything an enormous bowl of cheesy fries was set down between you, your stomach growling at the aroma’s that wafted around you as it turned out someone had ordered sharing bowls for the whole table.

With the meal mostly devoured as you’d sat side by side on a small wooden bench in the pub garden, laughing as you fed each other and strings of cheese hung from your fingers. As the giggles of a joke faded away you glanced at Henry’s almost finished pint;

“Hey, you aren’t planning on riding that bike home are you?”

“Nah, i’d never drive after a pint, let alone three… my place is just behind The Navigator restaurant…” he paused; “Oh god, where are you staying, do i need to call you a taxi?”

“No no, i’m renting a studio up the hill, on the hairpin bend”

“Oh…”

It wasn’t a bad ‘oh’ and there was definitely something loaded in the subtext, so when people had started to leave and arrange ride’s back to St Helier and St Johns it felt natural for Henry to stand with his arm around your shoulders as you both waved everyone off.

“Can i walk you home?” he asked, his voice low and full of promise, and you nodded as he slid his hand into yours, leading you along the low coast road that skirted the harbour.

You hadn’t gotten far before the evening turned even better, a brief suggestion of a walk along the beach as the tide was out soon had your feet in soft sand as you were pressed to the weathered stone of the sea wall, Henry’s lips on your neck as your fingers dug into his back, his teeth nipping and biting at whatever exposed flesh he could find. You hadn’t even realised he was going lower until he was on his knees in front of you, those sea blue irises staring up at you as he pressed kisses to your legs where your shorts ended. His fingers softly rested on the button and he finally spoke, his voice low and thick with lust;

“May i?”

Nodding fervently you bit your lip as you watched him slowly unbutton you, pulling the garment down your legs until you were able to step out. Never breaking eye contact he lifted your leg and gently rested it on his shoulder, pressing open mouthed kisses up your inner thigh until his face was pressed against your panties and his wide tongue worked against the soaked cotton and lace. His finger crooked beneath them and tugged the scrap of fabric to the side, seeking out your clit before tracing down to your cunt and tenderly teasing the entrance.

“Henry… please…” you whined, desperate for more

“Don’t you worry, i’m gonna make you see stars…”

Pushing his head forwards his lips caught your clit as he slowly slid two fingers into your soaked channel. You let out a long groan at the feel of his lips and fingers finding the right spot immediately, his other hand cupping the back of your thigh before he ran it around your hip and caught your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours as he quickly drove you closer and closer to the edge with that added touch of intimacy. Suddenly he hummed against your clit and the world exploded, making you cum so hard you truly did see stars as a white heat bloomed in your belly and you rode Henry’s fingers until you were spent.

As you rested against the wall behind you he carefully withdrew his fingers, licking them clean as he tugged your shorts up your legs. You couldn’t help but to notice the obscene bulge in the front of his cargo pants, your hand rubbing over the smooth curve of it;

“You keep doing that and i’ll cum in my boxers… “ he panted out, his lips inches from yours; “What’s your room like?”

“Its a little summer cabin studio right at the end of the garden, away from the other holiday rentals and the main house… what about you…”

“Shared flat with two other guys from the zoo. They’re probably drinking in the lounge right now… so, your place?”

Unlocking the door you stepped inside and turned on a small lamp, standing aside so Henry could come into your small summer living space.

“Mmm nice” he nodded and looked around; “Wanna give me the tour?”

You snorted out a laugh at the formality, and held your arm out;

“Well this is the kitchen area, right next door we have the smallest shower room in Jersey, and here’s the bed” you didn’t need to take a single step for the ‘tour’, the room seeming even smaller as Henry took a single stride and wrapped his arm around your back, pulling you flush with his chest. Never breaking eye contact he gently trailed a single finger over your cheek, his thumb brushing your plump bottom lip;

“Are you going to be good for me?”

Your legs almost buckled at the deep baritone of his voice, igniting something within you that you hadn’t even known existed, eagerly nodding;

“Yes Sir”

Lowering his lips to yours he kissed you, his tongue pushing past your lips as he took control, walking the pair of you back until your legs hit the bed and you fell back onto the soft unmade covers. Covering your body with his, he quickly stripped you of your clothing, his mouth trailing behind his hands so every inch of you was gifted with a kiss.

Standing between your legs he pulled his t-shirt over his head and you couldn’t help but to moan at the sight of his body; toned and just the right amount of hair on his chest and a treasure trail on his abdomen that surely led to untold riches. Quickly sitting up your hands joined his on his button to his cargo pants;

“May i?”

Henry released his hands and nodded, watching as you carefully plucked the button before lowering the zipper painfully slowly, his boxers tented obscenely and you couldn’t help but to cup him in your palm, the searing heat of his engorged cock a welcome feel in your hands, the wide mushroom head clearly visible through the stretched fabric. Unceremoniously tugging the rest of his clothing down, you felt yourself getting wetter as his beautiful cock was finally revealed; big, thick and uncut, you had to taste him and quickly ducked your head forwards, swallowing his head between your lips as his hands flew to your hair to steady himself.

Now it was your turn to drive him crazy with your mouth, taking him as deep as you could even though it was barely half of his length, you wrapped both hands around what was left, the thick root of his shaft filling both palms. A few more pumps and he pulled his hips back with a gasp, a trail of spittle hanging from your lips to his bulbous tip;

“If you keep doing that i’m gonna cum far too soon…” he said, his voice shaking; “Lay back and let me treat you right…”

Scooting up the bed you settled against the pillows as you watched Henry shed himself of the rest of his clothing, his boots and socks hooked off, cargo pants and underwear all left in a messy pile at the side of the bed, before he crawled up the mattress like a Panther stalking its prey.

Capturing your lips for another searing kiss, you felt his hot shaft against your belly, burning against your skin and you so desperately wanted to feel him inside you. Pulling away just slightly you were already breathless;

“Just a second…” reaching for the small drawer at side of the bed you pulled out an unopened box of condoms, Henry sitting back on his knees as you ripped the box’s cellophane open with your teeth and pulled out a small foil packet, tearing it open before smoothing the latex over Henry’s shaft. Looking up to his face he wore a rather sheepish smile;

“Sorry, shoulda’ thought of that”

“S’ok, a girl’s gotta keep sharp these days…”

“Right…” he met your gaze; “But you know, if you had gotten pregnant, i would have stood by you”

“Umm thanks? But its for STD’s. I’m on the pill”

“Oh… good thinking…”

A tense pause hung over the pair of you, before you reached up and rested your hand on his chest;

“Shall we continue?”

At your words the tension in the room suddenly dissipated, Henry kissing you as he slid a hand between your bodies so he could position himself at your entrance, groaning as he pushed in slowly breaching your body. Your tight channel hugged him tight, unfamiliar with such a size splitting your walls so he paused, pressing light kisses to your face as your body grew accustomed with his size and the heavy weight of his dick in your pillowy soft embrace. Finally you moaned out his name;

“Henry… please…”

“What do you need?”

“Move… please move. Fuck me, please”

Pushing up on his forearms he started to fluidly move his hips, slow and steady, each thrust was gentle but firm, your body yielding to him as he started to increase the pace, the sound of hot bodies meeting filling the small wooden cabin as the gentle sounds of the sea not far away filled the rest of the night. Soft moans spilled from your lips at the feel of his body playing yours like a delicate instrument, waiting for the chorus and the inevitable crescendo. But he was going to play the entire symphony first, knowing how to get you to sing the high notes as the thrum of your bodies were in tune with each other completely.

With the stretch of his girth and the way the curve of it meant he was able to find your g-spot with every thrust you were fast approaching your orgasm, your body trembling as your lips found a life of their own;

“Henry… please, so good… keep doing that… oh god, i’m gonna cum…”

“That’s it, my good girl, cum on my cock, let me feel you squeezing me so tight… feel so amazing right now… that’s it, you can do it…”

With a cry you came, your legs wrapped around his waist as you pulled him deep whilst your body shook with a fierce orgasm, triggering his own as he pumped a heavy load into the condom.

Finally spent, Henry settled on top of you, his weight a heavy comfort as your sweaty bodies lay skin to skin, the gentle roughness of his chest hair against your naked breasts a tender reminder of his virility. When he started to soften he finally shifted, holding the condom at the base as he pulled out and staggered the few steps to your small bathroom;

“I’ll be back in a second, gotta sort this out…”

The door closed and you shifted on the bed, pulling the duvet back and sliding between the sheets, listening as you heard the tell tale sound of a man urinating and the high pitched, double barrelled squeak of a fart. The flush of the toilet and water running soon after meant you knew the second he would reappear, a flannel in his hand and he stopped dead, his cheeks suddenly bright crimson;

“You heard that didn’t you?”

“It's a small wooden cabin… yes i did”

“Sorry” he approached the bed and with a warm flannel he carefully cleaned between your thighs, pressing a kiss to your lips as he did. When finished he sat on the side of the bed; “Can i stay the night, or did you want me to go?”

“Have you got work tomorrow?”

“Nope. You?”

“Nope. Please, stay”

He quickly threw the flannel into the sink in the bathroom, before with a giggle climbed under the duvet and pulled you into his arms;

“So, how many more condom’s you got?”

The morning light broke softly through the trees that surrounded your cabin, your body sore but sated, knowing every bruise and ache came from soft lips, sharp teeth, or skilled fingers, apart from that one ache deep inside that you knew exactly what had caused that delicious soreness, and the owner and cause of all of it still softly slept in your bed. Climbing out you quickly used the bathroom, and as you came back into the room the artist in you couldn’t help but to admire how the dappled morning light cascaded over Henry’s body. Slipping his work t-shirt over your head you pulled your sketchbook from your backpack and settled onto the only chair in the room, quietly working carbon to paper.

Henry woke 45 minutes later, the gentle scratching of your art making him squint at the bright daylight, before laying back on the pillows with his arms spread;

“Still life class?”

Setting your sketchbook down you padded across the room and climbed onto the bed;

“Sorry, i couldn’t help myself… the way the sun was hitting the muscles of your back and shoulders, you were like an anatomy masterpiece”

With a laugh and moving much quicker than you thought he was possible of, he grabbed you by the waist and turned you, his body atop of yours;

“Well that’s enough of that, i would like to become better acquainted with your anatomy… and as we’ve both got the day off i suggest we make the most of it”

Laughing you fell into his embrace, sighing with happiness. Henry really was a keeper, as you were for sure not going to let him go.

#henry cavill #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill smut #henry cavill x you #henry cavill fanfiction

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clubyukhei · 4 years ago

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in the mood for love (m)

pairing: wong yukhei x (f) reader

genre: fluff, smut, slice of life, some angst

summary: distance makes the heart grow fonder. in yukhei’s case, it makes him reminisce on all the firsts of your relationship and realise you’re the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. (or: a long-distance relationship au where yukhei savours every moment of your short reunion.)

warnings: unprotected sex, language

tags: established relationship, flashbacks, set in hk, hendery and kunten appear, drunk texting, flirty dialogue, love letters, talks of marriage, pining, a bittersweet ending

word count: 14.6k

a/n: wow, it feels weird to be finally posting this because i’ve been working on this for months. this took way longer than expected and for that i wanna thank my sweet mutuals and anons who have been so patient and encouraging :’) i hope you’re in the mood for fluff and domesticity because this fic is full of it! enjoy! (reposting again bc the original one wouldn’t show up in the tags. tysm if you’ve interacted with that post btw <3)

heaven is in your eyes

bright as the stars we're under

oh, is it any wonder

i'm in the mood for love?

why stop to think of whether

this little dream might fade?

we've put our hearts together

now we are one, i'm not afraid

if there's a cloud above

if it should rain we'll let it

but for tonight, forget it

i'm in the mood for love

mornings like this are hard to come by for yukhei.

when the only sounds he can hear are the ticking of a clock and your soft exhalations. when you’re cuddled up to him, your face tucked into the crook of his neck where you breathe warm puffs of air onto his skin every few seconds.

it’s probably just another one of those dreams that yukhei gets every now and then. the kind he never wants to wake up from, because when he opens his eyes, all he sees is the dull grey ceiling of his dormitory before his bunkmates’ noisy snores snap him back into reality.

those mornings were the worst. yukhei would give up on going back to sleep. instead, he’d force himself out of bed to wash up and head to the canteen for an early breakfast, all while annoyed that his mind had once again translated his yearning for you into his dreams. he couldn’t help but feel like he was being mocked by his own self.

but this time, it feels different.

his back is resting on a bed that’s much comfier than the thin mattress he’s used to back at camp, and he’s awfully snug and cosy under what feels like a thick fleece blanket.

yukhei peels his eyelids open, ready to be met with disappointment again.

the first thing he sees is the sunrise peeking through the curtains, greeting him good morning with a dark orange glow — which is weird, because he’s always up before the sun is. even though his mind is still fuzzy, yukhei has an inkling that he’s not back at camp. so he lifts his head off the pillow and looks around.

there’s a messy work desk between two huge potted plants; a wall fully plastered with polaroids and pictures; and a clothing rack with clothes that clearly aren’t his but it’s the bra hanging over an armchair that finally tells yukhei that he’s in your bedroom.

he looks down and sighs in relief seeing you in deep slumber next to him. you’re sleeping on your side with a hand absentmindedly resting on his waist, your head tilted as if you fell asleep while gazing at him. your eyes are closed and the look on your face is so peaceful — it’s an image that yukhei wants to keep in his mind forever.

wrapping an arm around your hips, yukhei gently tugs you closer to him. your eyebrow scrunches in reaction and he panics a little, freezing when your hand lands on top of his. but you turn on your other side and snuggle back against his chest instead, and his lips curl into a lopsided smile at this tiny movement.

yukhei hugs you from behind, nuzzling into your hair and sighing when he gets a whiff of your apple-scented shampoo that he has missed so much.

just like that, the warmth of your bodies wrapped around each other and the thought of getting to spend the next few days with you — in real life, not just in his dreams — lulls him back to sleep.

yukhei would never forget the day he first met you.

or the sight of you sitting at the back of his mum’s restaurant, sipping on a glass of iced tea as you stared out of the window and silently observed the hustle and bustle of shatin plaza.

the fact that his usual seat was occupied and that a pretty girl was sitting in it left him speechless, but not annoyed at all. sure, it was his favourite spot. it also unofficially belonged to him, seeing how he sat there nearly everyday doing his homework — but that was years ago.

yukhei felt like the universe had something up its sleeve when it presented him with such a scenario on a day where he finally managed to pop by his mum’s restaurant and pay her a visit. he rarely popped by on weekdays anymore because of how hectic his academic life was becoming.

“look who it is! our yukhei who keeps growing taller and taller!”

yukhei smiled shyly as he stepped behind the counter and greeted the longtime staff — aunties who never failed to shower him with all sorts of compliments — and rushed into the kitchen looking for his mum.

mrs wong was less than pleased when she saw her son, to say the least. the smile on her face lasted for a good minute before she started nagging about how he should’ve gone home to study instead.

“i am going to study! right after i eat.” he whined, shocked that his presence had irritated her so much.

“you always say that, yukhei. but you just play games on your phone!” mrs wong retorted, not looking away from the refrigerator.

yukhei gulped at that statement, unwilling to admit that it was quite true.

“mum, who’s that girl outside? sitting at my table?”

“your table?” she chuckled before looking up at him.

yukhei watched her make her way towards the kitchen entrance to peek at the stranger outside.

“ah, that’s _____. she comes here often.” she said with a bright smile that even yukhei himself rarely received. “she helped us understand what the tourists were saying, talked to them in english for us a few times now. a very sweet and smart girl.”

if anything, yukhei became more attracted to you at that moment.

maybe it’s the thought of you helping his mum out while he’s not around — he knew how rude and impatient some tourists could be with language barriers, having personally dealt with them several times — or maybe it’s just the way you entered his life that, for some reason, felt like an important moment to him.

either way, he already made up his mind about one thing.

yukhei ended up serving you the pad thai you had been waiting for, warmly introducing himself as the lady boss’ first and older son and striking up a conversation with you that went on longer than he had expected.

he thought it was bad that he had to control his excitement when you suggested he take the seat opposite yours, but it only got worse as you both began to talk about everything and nothing.

when you smiled, he lost his train of thought. when you laughed or so much as even chuckled, his chest squeezed around his heart and he wanted to keep hearing the sound of it. and when you listened to him, he had to look away because your attentive gaze on him was truly too much.

by the time you were done with your meal, yukhei had your number saved in his phone. he offered to walk you out, opening the glass doors for you all gentlemanly as if you had just dined at a five-star hotel restaurant.

“it was nice talking to you, yukhei.” you turned to smile at him just before you stepped outside. “see you again, i guess?”

“yeah, let’s—um. yeah, see you around.” yukhei stuttered pathetically.

you giggled and waved goodbye to him and mrs wong before heading off. the lady boss had been subtly keeping an eye on you two after her son insisted on waiting your table.

once you were out of view, yukhei sighed, cringing at how nervous he sounded. before you, he had never in his life felt that self-conscious in front of anyone.

“my dear, what was that?” his mum asked with a sly look of amusement on her face.

yukhei wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

“i don’t know, mum.”

all he could think about was seeing you again.

when yukhei wakes up again, he’s alone in bed.

the midday sunlight glares into the room and shines on the empty spot next to him, prompting him to roll away and further into the shade.

he lies on his side, watching some plant-shaped shadows sway across the wall for a minute before forcing himself out of bed. those extra hours of sleep did wonders for his circadian rhythm and for once he doesn’t feel tired to be awake at all — just bummed that he woke up with you not in his arms.

something in the air shifted after last night. yukhei couldn’t get over the way you jumped into his arms when he appeared at your doorstep, or how you got emotional at his shaky confession as he presented you with the promise ring he had been keeping for so long.

he had been craving for your presence so much over the past few months that seeing you reciprocate those feelings made him relieved and somewhat clingy. all he wants is to stick by your side every second he has with you before he leaves again.

so he gets out of bed immediately, walking into your tiny living room where he hears the sound of running water and finds you leaning against the kitchen counter with your back facing him, busily tending to the roses he had gifted you last night.

yukhei makes his way to you fast. his hands sneak beneath your oversized t-shirt and around your waist, pulling your frame against his front as he places a kiss on your temple.

“morning,” you say, relaxing into his touch and reaching for the nape of his neck with one hand to tug his face closer to yours.

yukhei hums in satisfaction when you angle your face perfectly to lock your lips with his in a tender kiss and whines when you attempt to pull away. he wants to taste your lips for a little longer, he’s far from done and you know it too.

you turn around to face him properly, abandoning the stalks of roses that had your attention earlier. a gasp escapes you when he slides his hands down to your bum and swiftly lifts you onto the counter.

“missed my baby so much,” he mumbles against the juncture of your jaw and neck, relishing in your soft sighs by his ear.

he doesn’t miss the way your legs hook around his waist to pull him closer or the way your fingertips lightly scratch his scalp as he busily sucks at your skin, determined to leave a trail of love marks for his own appreciation.

the doorbell rings just as he’s licking over his masterpiece, rudely interrupting the moment.

“yukhei.” you squeeze his shoulders and yukhei forces himself to pull away.

“who’s that?” he asks, unable to hide the tone of disappointment in his voice. his hands refuse to leave your skin, his thumb gently caressing the curve of your underboob.

you giggle at his pouty lips before adjusting the short bangs hanging over his forehead that he hated despite the many times you told him he looked cute.

“i ordered brunch for us.”

dumbfounded and still in a half-asleep state, yukhei helps you off the counter. he watches you look into the peephole before opening the door and picking up a large paper bag that had been sitting on your doormat.

“i thought you’d be hungry after waking up.” you say, setting the bag into your small dining table for two. “i hope you don’t mind, bub. i didn’t want to cook anything because, well—i can’t. i haven’t been to the grocery store this week. but we can always head there later and get stuff for the next few days.”

yukhei lets out a huff of disbelief. “baby.”

but you don’t hear him. you’re so busy unpacking the small food boxes onto the table as you ramble on and on, oblivious to the way he was staring at you in adoration.

“i got you your favourite stuff. spring rolls, shu mai—what?”

at last you notice how quiet he has been and you freeze, looking at him with your eyes wide in concern.

“sit down and let me do the work, please.” yukhei pleads, dragging a chair out. “you did all that while i did nothing and slept like a log!”

you laugh, shaking your head as you sit down. “i just dialed a number and asked for some food. and i know you really needed that sleep.”

once all the food boxes are arranged neatly on the table, yukhei takes his seat next to you. you’re in the midst of reaching for a pair of chopsticks when his hand grabs onto yours, halting your movements.

there’s a moment of silence as you curiously watch him readjust his thumb below the joints of your fingers, bringing the back of your hand towards his lips.

“thank you, baby. i love you.” he tells you with a dazed smile, placing a kiss just above where the promise ring hugs your finger.

“you’re welcome.”

you tell him you love him too before you bite back a huge smile — the kind that satisfies yukhei so much because he knows he’s the reason behind it.

yukhei couldn’t put into words how elated he was when you texted him back a few days after your slightly awkward first meeting, agreeing to hang out with him that upcoming friday night.

truth be told, there weren’t any concrete plans for your first date. it was amusing to him really, how the conversation ended right after you both settled on a meeting place, with no discussions of what to do or where to eat.

maybe you were simply excited to see him again and didn’t really care about what the plan was — because that was exactly how yukhei felt.

the bus ride to the shopping mall felt longer than usual. yukhei found himself staring at his reflection in the window a few times, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket and making sure he looked good.

he had rushed home straight after javelin practice and taken the quickest shower of his life before spending a good amount of time styling his hair. it was not the wisest idea — choosing a late school day when there were six other days in a week where he wouldn’t have to rush — but he had been merely trying his luck when he sent that message asking if you were free. he wasn’t expecting you to actually say yes.

so when he spotted you waiting all by yourself from afar, he quickened his footsteps amidst the crowd, never taking his eyes off of you.

your face lit up as soon as you saw him and you waved, the crop top you wore lifting a little. yukhei’s gaze flew to the sliver of skin exposed and the nervousness that had been bubbling in his tummy earlier instantly melted into nothing.

the night went quite smoothly. yukhei could not have enjoyed himself more, from dinner at the sushi bar you had recommended to the impromptu movie session that had the both of you sharing the only available seat left: a couple seat.

he was falling harder as he got to know you more and it scared him just how fast it was happening.

“do you watch superhero movies a lot?” you asked as the two of you turned into another alley of food stalls.

yukhei had insisted on accompanying you back to the train station after the movie as it was getting late. he was not going to leave you alone when nightlife in the city was just starting, not when the streets were bound to get rowdy.

“not really. i mean blockbusters are nice but i love old dramas and action flicks, you know?” yukhei answered, turning to look at you in his jacket that had been on you since he noticed you shivering in the cinema. he couldn’t help but smile at how your fingertips were peeking beneath the long sleeves.

“wait, me too!” you gasped, turning to look at him with a huge smile. “why didn’t you stop us from watching iron man?”

“well you suggested it so i thought you really wanted to watch it!” yukhei laughed as he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “i’m sorry.”

“no, that’s my bad. i didn’t know what you liked so i just picked something popular.” you rolled your eyes playfully. “maybe we can watch the great gatsby next time. i think we might enjoy that.”

next time?

it took yukhei a few seconds to acknowledge the idea of a second date that you had brought up so casually.

“r-really?” he cringed as the single word fumbled through his lips.

“yeah?” you replied, the blank look on his face amusing you a little. “we can watch something else too, if you want.”

“no!” he perked up. “let’s watch gatsby.”

eventually the two of you arrived at the train station, where goodbyes were exchanged rather reluctantly and awkwardly. yukhei watched as you took a few steps away from him before abruptly turning back around.

“what’s wrong?”

“your jacket!” you ran a hand through your hair abashedly. “i almost forgot! i mean i did, but.”

yukhei’s hands flew to yours before he could stop himself, stopping you from taking his black denim jacket off.

“it gets cold in the train. you should have it.” his hands flew to his sides awkwardly. “you can give it back to me next time, it’s okay.”

“oh.” you said so softly that yukhei almost missed it. your eyes fell onto the short sleeves hugging his arms and he read your mind right away.

“i’ll be fine. my bus ride home is pretty quick.” he reassured you. it was a lie. the weather had started getting cooler and that’s why he brought a jacket out in the first place, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

yukhei noticed that your cheeks had reddened a little. why were you so cute?

“okay then,” you said with a tiny smile. “thanks again, yukhei.”

yukhei landed on his bed face flat after a warm shower, absolutely exhausted and ready to hit the sack. to be fair, it had been a long day for him and it was close to midnight.

if it was any other weekday night, he would be snoring already. but he had just sent you a text asking if you reached home already and was eagerly waiting for your reply.

at last, after a long five minutes, yukhei’s phone buzzed a few times in a row.

[from: _____][sent at 11:57PM]

hey

i just got out of the shower

thx for checking in :)

and thx for tonight again, i had a good time :)

wait it’s almost 12!!

you’re still awake?

yukhei didn’t realise a bunch of alphabets and symbols could make him so happy. his thumb hovered over his phone screen as he began to type out a reply, but a more texts came flying in.

[from: _____][sent at 11:59PM]

well

in case you’re already sleeping..

goodnight and sweet dreams~

just minutes ago, he had been so ready to fall asleep. but the rush of happiness he experienced as he read your texts over again made that impossible now. yukhei couldn’t put away his phone, couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

he was screwed. he knew he was, when that was the effect you had on him after only days of knowing each other.

“well, well, well. if it isn’t my favourite couple.”

“sorry,” you sigh while yukhei simply shoots an apologetic smile at kunhang as he slips into the booth after you. “you know how bad traffic is at this hour.”

“it’s okay.” says ten who’s sitting next to kunhang and shoving his nintendo switch into his bag. “but we ordered some stuff first because i’m starving my ass off.”

“oh that’s great!” yukhei cheers. “i’m hungry too.”

“already? weren’t you guys just at your mum’s restaurant?” ten chuckles as he looks up, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

kunhang snorts. “he’s hungry all the time, remember? you should see his snack stash back at our dorms.”

just before they parted ways at camp at the start of their vacation, kunhang had suggested to yukhei that they have a get-together meal with ten — the oldest of the trio who recently scored a job at a renown art gallery in town and decided to stay for good, instead of flying back to his hometown.

yukhei agreed to it, not just because he missed his friend dearly, but also because it’s been a while since all of you had a meal together. when he brought it up to you, you were thrilled at the idea of catching up with them, even if that meant giving up some of his already limited time with you. that’s how you and him ended up sitting across from his two best friends at a hot pot restaurant tonight.

as food arrives and gradually takes up every inch of space on the table, everyone takes turns giving updates on their lives. yukhei shares memorable incidents at camp and kunhang adds on to his stories with funny anecdotes that make you and ten laugh, while ten announces that his longtime boyfriend, kun, has moved into his apartment.

“so how’s it like living with kun so far?” you ask, ladling soup from the simmering pot in the center of the table for everyone.

“i’m getting used to my fridge having food and my kitchen actually being used.” ten replies with a shy smile that yukhei rarely got to see. “it’s only been a week and it’s getting messy in there, but i’m not complaining.”

“aw.”

yukhei hears you coo, and he can practically see the look of endearment on your face even though he’s focused on all the meat you’ve put on his plate earlier.

“and when are the two of you planning to tell us that you’re getting married?” the long-haired boy smirks, squinting at the gold band hugging your ring finger.

the question stunts you and yukhei and kunhang nearly chokes on his sprite. the innocent smile that was on ten’s face just seconds ago was now long gone and replaced with a mischievous one.

“married?” kunhang exclaims, his voice so loud that the couple in the next booth turns over to look. thoroughly embarrassed, he presses the front of his cap down to hide his eyes. “how am i not the first person to know this, yukhei?”

yukhei sighs. where, and how, should he begin?

as he glares at ten who’s enjoying this a bit too much, you set your chopsticks down and hold your hand out to an eager kunhang, who marvels at the piece of jewellery on your ring finger up close.

“so?” ten lets out a cheeky, high-pitched giggle at the look yukhei gives him. “did you guys just come back from telling your fam the good news or…?”

yukhei grins devilishly as he picks up a bean sprout with his chopsticks, ready to fling it at ten, but you’re faster than him.

“we’re not—i mean, we’re getting married. eventually! not now, obviously.” you chuckle in a flustered manner.

we’re getting married.

yukhei’s heart flutters at that sentence. he wants to hear you say that again, wants to be the one to tell his friends that.

“you’ll be the first to know when we do.” yukhei adds, nudging kunhang’s foot underneath the table, earning an eye-roll from ten.

“well, you better.” kunhang quipped. “we’ve been talking about this for years now. it’s time you two quit playing and actually get it done.”

“ah, so this is a promise ring?” ten cuts in excitedly. it’s now his turn to examine the ring as kunhang gets back to his food. “it’s so pretty. it definitely suits you.”

“thanks,” you beam as you pull your hand back. “yukhei got it years ago but won’t tell me when or where. says it’s a secret.”

the two boys gawk at yukhei right away and he sighs, bracing himself for what’s to come.

“oh xuxi, you romantic baby!” ten teases, clearly having the time of his life making yukhei blush tonight.

“so this is what you were nervous about!” kunhang scoffs in disbelief before looking between you and ten. “we were on the train back to the city and he wouldn’t shut up about being nervous for some surprise plan. and he just wouldn’t tell me what!”

“oh my god, you guys are so cute. it’s gross.” ten shakes his head. “you’re lucky i love you both!”

yukhei smiles bashfully. he was a little embarrassed at first, but of course ten and kunhang had to make it worse. he wanted to pull his beanie over his entire face and ignore everything.

you’re awfully silent next to him as you glance between your food and your lap shyly, your hair shielding your face from everyone else. a warm rush of adoration washes over yukhei and he finds himself gently adjusting your hair, tugging a loose strand behind your ear.

“okay, that’s it.” kunhang groans, grabbing his bag and pretending to leave the table. “thanks for the meal, you guys.”

“you can’t just leave!” ten exclaims, reaching for his cup of tea. “you haven’t asked _____ for her friends’ numbers yet.”

kunhang stares at ten, his eyes widening and jaw dropping in horror before he starts bickering with him — a scene that has you bursting into laughter and yukhei reminiscing the good old days where the four of you would hang out at the mall for hours after class. kunhang was always so starstruck by the popular girls at your all-girls school though you weren’t close with any of them. nothing has really changed since you entered university.

“you told me to remind you!” ten retorts.

“not in front of everyone!” kunhang cries dramatically.

“dude. it’s literally just the four of us.” ten deadpans. “always has been.”

“anyway,” kunhang rolls his eyes as he turns to face you. “so, _____. any of your friends single again?”

you do your best to look sympathetic before shaking your head. yukhei splutters out a laugh while ten pats kunhang’s shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

“this would be a lot easier if you were, you know, into guys.”

yukhei’s first kiss with you was, for him, a long time coming.

it happened at the end of your fifth date, after a day spent at the park.

summer had fully transitioned into fall and the weather was cool enough for the two of you to set up a picnic at a sunny spot. everything was perfect — from the calming sounds of nature to the desserts you both brought to the cute dress you wore underneath your sweater that matched the greenery around you.

more than a month had passed since yukhei first met you. with every date, the urge to hold your hands when you walked around in public and to kiss you and finally know what your lips tasted like kept growing.

yukhei smiled as he watched you talk about your week even though he already heard these stories since you text each other so much. your words went in and out of his ears and it was hard for him to concentrate because all he could think of was whether you liked him too.

there were moments that made him consider it a possibility, like how you surprised him with his favourite snacks after one of his javelin practice sessions or the way you would smile when you caught him staring at your face.

he was torn between over-romanticising those moments and acknowledging them as the plain and simple fact that you liked him too.

he felt it again as the two of you watched the sun set and slowly sink into the horizon across the river, the sky dissolving into hues of orange.

the scene in front of him was majestic, but yukhei could only concentrate on how close to him you and him were. so close that your arms were brushing against each other’s, so close that you could rest your head on his shoulder if you leaned a little.

“i like this a lot.” you said out of the blue, your eyes still fixed on the sunset in the distance. you leaned back, anchoring your palms against the mat to make yourself comfortable.

“i like you a lot.”

yukhei couldn’t stop himself. those words had been kept inside him for too long.

silence hung in the air as your proximity grew tense. yukhei couldn’t see your face and he was starting to think that maybe it was for his own good. when he felt you sitting up straight and he held his breath, expecting the worst.

“i like you too.” your voice was barely audible and you sounded just as nervous as he did, but yukhei heard you loud and clear.

his eyes widened as he turned to you at the speed of light. you had been looking at him nervously but as soon as your eyes met, your gaze quickly flickered towards your hands that were fidgeting with the sleeve of your sweater.

“really?” yukhei placed his hand over yours, gently circling the back of it with his thumb. “you like me… in that way?”

“yeah.” you mumbled, resting your head in the nook between his neck and shoulder exactly how he had pictured in his mind earlier. “i like you. a lot.”

relief flooded yukhei’s veins and he could finally breathe hearing you say the words he had so badly wanted to hear. nothing else mattered in that moment, because all he could think of was you seeing him in the same light he saw you in.

and suddenly, everything made sense to him. how could he be so stupid, after all that had happened in the past few weeks? the way you’d remember the little details of things he told you and how you’d blush at his terrible pick-up lines? of course you liked him too.

“what are you thinking about?” you squeezed his hand as you pulled back to look at him.

your face had never been so close to his. yukhei could count your eyelashes and have a proper look at your lips that looked soft and velvety. everything about this moment made it impossible for him to ignore what he had been dreaming of doing.

“can i kiss you?” yukhei asked.

all he could remember was how your eyes lit up instantly, every trace of worry fading away as an innocent smile graced your face. then you leaned in and closed your eyes just as he did, your lips meeting in a long awaited kiss.

yukhei cupped the side of your face with one hand, his thumb drawing soothing circles over your cheekbones. he felt himself sink into the feeling of your fluffy lips moving languidly against his, the way they tasted sweet like the strawberry shortcakes you shared earlier.

it took everything in yukhei to not whine when you pulled away to catch your breath, even though the kiss was probably longer than it should have been. he could still feel the butterflies in stomach as you pressed your forehead against his and he didn’t want them to fade away so soon, so he spoiled you with a few chaste kisses in a row that left both your lips tingling by the end.

“been wanting to do that for a long time.” yukhei beamed.

he reached for your hand that had been on his knee and interlocked your fingers — a small gesture he could now make anytime he wanted, and that made him a very happy boy.

the sun was almost gone but even under the dim fluorescent lighting from the street lamps, yukhei could tell that you were flushing and giddy with affection like him. the golden hour casted a warm orange glow onto your skin and you couldn’t look more like the girl of his dreams.

“i know. me too.”

the butterflies in yukhei’s stomach fluttered wildly at the sound of your airy chuckle. there was nothing that could take away the smile on his face.

yukhei did not expect to wake up to the sight of you in nothing but his camo jacket.

the lack of body heat woke him up and he found himself once again lying alone in bed and wondering where you were — but all his thoughts flew out of the window when he heard the bedroom door creak and saw you stepping back in.

he had to blink a few times to make sure his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him and that you were indeed, dressed only in his camo army jacket.

you’re standing beforeyour dresser to examine the love mark yukhei branded on your neck the night before, oblivious to how he’s silently observing you and getting hard again.

there’s something about the way his jacket reaches your midthigh and teasingly moves upwards to offer him a glimpse of your ass each time you lifted your hands to run over your skin that turns him on so much. and he has seen you in his t-shirts and muscle tanks many times before, but none of that could compare to how you looked right now and he has no clue why so.

maybe it’s the consecutive months of being deprived of your touch and having to picture your body as he took cold showers to relieve himself on some mornings. but he doesn’t have to rely on his imagination now that you’re here, in front of him, like a present waiting to be unwrapped and appreciated.

yukhei lets out a whine that gets muffled into the pillow, but you hear it immediately and whirl around in surprise.

“hey.” you smile lazily as you make your way back to bed, landing on your knees and crawling towards him.

yukhei’s eyes are glued to the gap between his unbuttoned jacket, which hangs loose enough on your body to bless him with the sight of your cleavage, the smooth expanse of your body, and as he lowers his gaze — your core between your parted thighs.

he’s visibly infatuated, and you clearly don’t entertain that as you sit on where his crotch is beneath the sheets, lying down on him to give him a quick smooch. your lips are warm and taste like lemon, which tells yukhei you just had your morning mug of tea.

“morning,” yukhei mumbles, slipping a hand beneath his jacket to rest on your back. your skin is smooth and warm under his touch as always. “this looks so much better on you.”

“yeah?” you chuckle softly. “hope you don’t mind, it was cold.”

“i don’t mind it at all,” yukhei smiles, raising his other hand to cup your cheek affectionately. “but i need you.”

“need you to warm me up, baby.” he says, his voice deepening with the next sentence. “want you to ride me in this.”

you’re looking down at him in a hazy gaze when your breathing pauses. you don’t answer him with words — instead, you slot your lips between his, never pulling away as you get on your knees and pull the covers off.

yukhei sighs into the kiss at the feeling of his cock standing tall and unrestrained, desperately begging for your attention. he lets out a heavier sigh as your hand wraps around his hard length and starts stroking him with purpose.

“just like that.” he groans, his eyebrows furrowed in pleasure as his hips start thrusting into your grip. you line his jaw with kisses, making him feel pampered and content.

“want you too.” you purr.

yukhei hears how needy you are and tightens his grip on your ass, but you’re already one step ahead of him. repositioning yourself, you let your slick folds slide against the length of his cock as you continue pumping him, lubricating him with your own arousal.

the room is filled with desperate sighs. you’re grinding your clit over his tip when it becomes all too much for yukhei, who wants to be deep inside you already.

“baby,” yukhei mutters, squeezing your ass cheeks which elicits a loud gasp from you. “need to be in you now. please.”

the urgency in his voice prompts you to lean forward and stable yourself with a hand pressed to his chest. yukhei watches you guide his cock towards your opening before sinking onto him in one go.

“fuck.” his throat goes dry at the feeling of your soaking walls enveloping all of him and his jaw slackens as he takes a few moments to appreciate how it feels to be buried in you.

“yukhei,” you whine. “it’s hot.”

he watches you shrug his jacket off, letting it hang past your shoulders in a teasing manner. at this point, he just wants to rip it off you. but all he manages is a guttural groan before running his hands up and down your thighs.

“you’re driving me insane, baby.”

you giggle softly at his words, the sound ringing in his ears and going straight to his cock.

“i love you.” you tell him sweetly and kiss him again. then you plant your hands flat against his lower abdomen where his abs are, lifting yourself off him until only his head is left stretching you open.

yukhei grunts when you drop back down slowly and start riding him at a hypnotic rhythm. he’s too overwhelmed to say a word, too entranced by your breathy moans and the lewd image of your chest rising and falling.

you’re clenching around him in such a delicious way that all he can do is knead your asscheeks with his large hands and let out deep “uh-uh-uh”s.

“fuck,” yukhei hisses as he watches you arch your back, moving you hips differently to get the perfect angle.

“let me take over, baby.”

yukhei plants his feet flat on the mattress just as he feels a familiar tight feeling in his balls. you oblige right away and collapse against him, ready for him to fuck you senseless.

pressed chest to chest, he grips onto your ass firmly as he starts pounding into you from below.

the scent of passion and desire wafted through the air. his cock leaves and enters you at a brutal pace, the sound of skin slapping only getting more erratic with your cries for his name right by his ear.

“yukhei…” you cry weakly as his tip nudges your sweet spot again and again.

“i’m here, baby. gonna come inside you, you want that?”

“y-yes. miss you filling me up.”

yukhei curses, and you reach your high just seconds before he does. your entire body shakes in pleasure before he comes into you, flooding your insides with his warm release. he groans as you ride out your high and roll your hips, the feeling of you being warm and full all too heavenly.

after a short while of nothing but heavy breathing as the both of you succumb to a blissful state, yukhei removes the jacket hanging off your elbows and rolls you over with his softening cock still snug in you. he hums in satisfaction, nuzzling his face against your neck as your fingers comb through his hair.

“i love you.” yukhei sighs contentedly. “didn’t get to say it back just now.”

he hears you hum softly and feels a peck on his forehead. when he gains the energy to pull back and look at you, he finds your eyes already on him, half-open in adoration.

“i’ll clean us up, okay?” yukhei asks softly, his elbows pressing against the mattress as he moves to get up. he’s sure there’s already a mess on your sheets.

“no, don’t go.” you murmured, tightening your thighs around his hips in an attempt to lock him in place. you end up pushing him deeper into you instead, making him hiss. “stay like this for a bit.”

yukhei notes the clinginess in your voice and the way your hands trace love patterns along the curves of his back. he lies back down, joining your lips in a deep kiss.

“i’m not going anywhere.”

it’s so easy for him to do whatever you say, he realises. you have him wrapped around your finger because you’re just as clingy as he is — and only he gets to see that side of you.

yukhei had sex with you for the first time in a hotel overlooking the ocean.

it had been his first holiday with you. every december, yukhei would fly back to his mum’s hometown in thailand with his family to visit his relatives — that wasn’t anything new. what was new though, was you tagging along after his mum had enthusiastically asked you to join them.

the week-long trip was the most fun yukhei had in years. minus the shy introductions and teasing from his relatives who were overjoyed to finally meet his pretty girlfriend whom they’ve heard much about over phone calls, it was like a mini honeymoon for the two of you.

after catching up with his cousins in the first half of the trip, yukhei spent all the other days ‘having fun by yourselves’ as his mum had insisted. you ended up exploring the coastal town, hanging out at the beach, and eating the local food to your heart’s content.

the highlight of the trip for yukhei though, was finally being able to make love to you. the resort stay was a godsend opportunity after the many interruptions during your steamy makeout sessions in yukhei’s tiny bedroom. it was the perfect time and place that you both needed.

yukhei swore you were a goddess as you laid on the bed with your legs spread out, your hair fanned out against the pillows, patiently waiting for him to put the condom on.

it was his first time seeing all of you, your curves and body marks displayed to him like a work of art in a museum. he couldn’t look away, couldn’t ignore how rosy your face was from coming apart on his fingers just minutes earlier.

“is this okay?” yukhei asked tenderly, pausing when he stretched you out halfway. “can i go deeper, baby?”

you nodded fervently though the tense look on your face made yukhei unsure. he really wanted you to enjoy this too. sensing his hesitation, you pulled him down for a deep kiss.

“so tight, fuck—” yukhei mumbles against your lips as he pushed himself further into you, his hands caressing the underside of your thighs.

yukhei sighed, the pressure to not come quickly making him slightly nervous. it was difficult not to when your walls were warm and hugging his cock like a glove, letting him experience euphoria like never before.

“beautiful.” his voice gentle as he gave you an open-mouthed kiss. “all mine.”

as soon as you signalled for him to move, yukhei took charge, thrusting into you slowly as he gauged your reaction. his pace quickened after a while a combination of sighs and moans spilled from your mouth. your neck arched against the pillows, presenting him with the perfect location for a love mark.

but yukhei was distracted. he couldn’t take his eyes off your soaking core, couldn’t get over the way you stretched open to welcome him each time his cock slid all the way back in. he had seen his fingers disappear in you before so many times, but this image was incomparable.

“so deep,” you said breathlessly, your fingernails digging crescent moons into his back.

yukhei looked at you. from the hair that stuck to the side of your neck to your lashes fluttered shut in pleasure, you were a sight to behold.

“yeah?” he kissed you sloppily. “does it feel good?”

“yes—oh!” you whimpered just as yukhei’s fingertips landed on the sensitive bundle of nerves right above where you and him were connected.

he drew circles on it with his thumb, groaning when you clenched around him. “you feel so good around me too, baby. you’re doing so well.”

yukhei’s thrusts grew uneven as he coaxed you into your orgasm. by the time he shot his release into the rubber, you came undone beneath him too, crying out in rapture one last time as your thighs shook intensely.

a moment of silence hung in the air as your pants slowly faded into deep and slow inhalations. seeing you come all over him, because of him, gave yukhei’s ego a huge boost. it didn’t help that you were trembling in sensitivity while he cleaned you up as gently as he could and muttered praises into your ear.

“yukhei,” you called him softly and he halted his movements, worried that he had accidentally hurt you.

“i don’t know if i can go out tomorrow.” you mumbled, covering your eyes with the back of your hand.

yukhei instantly relaxed, a smirk taking over his face as he threw the wet wipes aside. “we don’t have to go out, but i can carry you wherever you like.”

when you didn’t respond, he crawled over you and pulled your hand away. you avoided his gaze, looking at his chest instead.

“i’m serious, baby.” yukhei tilted your chin up and looked into your eyes as genuinely as he could. “we can stay in all day if you want.”

“okay. sounds nice.” your hand quickly hovered over your face again.

the smirk on yukhei’s face softened into a smile. it was amusing and adorable to him, how you could still be this shy after the night’s events. he felt as if he was in heaven and within the next second, he was placing kisses everywhere on your face but your lips. when you broke into a fit of giggles, yukhei couldn’t help but keep going. he finally stopped when your hands framed his jaw, guiding his plump lips back to yours for a short, innocent kiss.

“thank you for being so patient with me tonight.” you paused, swallowing a lump down your throat. “it was nice even though i’m a little sore now.”

yukhei’s heart grew three times at your words.

“is that all? just nice?” he smirked.

you pinched his bicep playfully and hid your face again, muttering something about him being so annoying.

“i’m playing with you,” yukhei giggled, pretty sure he had hearts in his eyes as he looked at you. “love seeing you get all shy for me like this.” and with that, he pulled your hands apart and trapped them against the pillows.

just as he was about to kiss away the pout on your lips, the sound of a door slamming shut thundered down the hallway and echoed in the room, sending both of you into speechlessness.

yukhei put his boxers on hurriedly, rushing to the balcony and sighing in relief when he noticed the lights in the next room a distance away had just turned on — a sign that his parents, who had been out the entire evening, have just gotten back. at that moment, he couldn’t be more thankful that his plans for the night turned out well. he wouldn’t know how to face his parents if they overheard him and you, and just the sheer thought of it brought goosebumps to his arms.

“are they back?” you asked nervously, pulling the covers up to your chin.

yukhei nodded, turning the bedside lamp off before cuddling up to you. “we have to be quiet.”

“oh, we will be.” you yawned, making him smile and hug you more tightly. you responded by wiggling around in his embrace. “yukhei, i’m sticky.”

“don’t care.” he whispered against your skin. “just wanna hold my baby like this.”

after a few more indulgent kisses and sweet nothings were exchanged under the moonlight, you dozed off in each other’s arms.

the next morning, yukhei woke up to the sound of waves crashing onto the shore. you were already awake and sitting up with the covers wrapped around you as you silently admired the swaying palm trees outside. yukhei sat up sluggishly, planting a kiss on your shoulder.

you turned around to return a kiss to his lips, eyes still closed when you pulled away, the intimacy of last night clearly still in the air. you opened your eyes, looking completely lost in him just like he was in you.

“good morning to you too.”

the rest of the day was slow and relaxed. you both agreed to stay in the resort, and so the afternoon flew by as you lounged by the pool and dined at the restaurant next to the beach. safe to say, the sight of you in a bikini all day led to another intimate, even raunchier night.

yukhei thinks he’s ready to move in with you.

maybe it sounds a little impulsive. but that’s because there haven’t been a lot of opportunities for the two of you to live together, with yukhei studying at another university and you living in a shared apartment over the past few years.

but staying at your apartment over these few days has given yukhei a sneak peek of life under the same roof as you, and he loves it so much that he wants to be done with his enlistment duties and fast forward to the part where he gets to share a home with you already.

yukhei wants to wake up past noon on weekends and whip up a hearty brunch with you, wants to spend the rest of the day helping you with mundane tasks like laundry and watering all your plants.

yukhei wants to be there for you on days where you’re exhausted from grad school life, when you turn down his pleas for you to take a break despite being drained from staring at your laptop screen. but he’ll massage your tensed shoulders, take your glasses off, and pull you to bed where you doze off to his soothing back rubs and soft praises of how proud of you he is and how well you’re doing.

he craves that kind of domesticity even right now as you lay on top of him, your limbs entangled comfortably and your cheek squished against his chest while your eyes are glued to the great gatsby playing on the tv.

there aren’t any plans to go out today due to the simple fact that you were both too lazy to get dressed and leave the house unless it’s for food. and probably because, though you wouldn’t admit it openly, you want him all to yourself — which is fine because yukhei feels the exact same towards you.

the living room is hushed as you and him watch a drenched gatsby reunite with daisy in a lavishly decorated flower-filled cottage. you sit up just as the scene ends, elbowing the couch as you rest your chin on your palm.

“why are you looking at me like that?” yukhei asks. there’s an unsure look on your face that he can’t quite read.

“i think i remember.” you hold your other hand up, flashing the ring that has been making you so happy. “thailand?”

yukhei grins brightly, the top row of his teeth showing. he nods proudly, taking your hand in his to look at the ring — a thin gold band with a pale blue sapphire — and admire the way it gleams in the afternoon sunlight.

it’s just as beautiful as the first time he saw it in that gift shop in thailand.

yukhei remembers that day vividly. it was the last day of the trip, and both of you were shopping around for souvenirs for your friends back home. he caught you admiring a few vintage jewellery pieces by yourself as he stood in the corner of one of the many shops you stepped into that day, pretending to be interested in some touristy postcards. though it didn’t seem like much to him at first, he later noticed that you picked up the same ring a few times, looking back at it even as you walked away.

eventually, thanks to what he could say in his broken thai, he managed to charm the shop owner into reserving that very ring for him. yukhei secretly returned for them while you thought you were waiting for him to be done in the bathroom at a cafe. he felt a little bad at first, but he knew it had to be done or else he’d regret it so much in the years to come.

yukhei always imagined what the ring would look like on your finger. its design enthralled him when he first examined it up close and he quickly understood why you took such a liking to it — after all, anything vintage was right up your alley. little did he know it would look even more beautiful sitting on your ring finger.

“oh my god.” you let out a huff of disbelief as soon as he finishes explaining everything.

you’re speechless as your eyes flick back and forth between the ring and the coy look on yukhei’s face. this is the reaction he has been waiting for.

“yukhei.” your voice is fragile, like you’re about to cry any moment.

the smirk on yukhei’s face drops immediately. he does not like hearing his name from you like that.

“what’s wrong?”

“nothing,” you smile weakly, quickly brushing away the tears that escaped your eyes with the back of your hand. “i just love you so much.”

“and i’m going to miss you. a lot.” you continue before he gets to reply. “every day. all over again. i miss you already.”

“oh, baby.” yukhei croons as he wraps his arms around you, pulling you down for a tight hug. he rubs your back, feeling helpless at the sound of your sniffles.

yukhei knew this would happen. of course he did. he’s struggling just as much as you are to ignore the impending distance you’ll both have to deal with again — maybe that’s why he was clinging onto the idea of a future with you so tightly.

“we’ve talked about this. the sooner the better, right? ” yukhei says sadly, finding it hard to agree with himself.

“i know, i’m just being emotional again. i’m sorry.” you chuckle unhumorously. “i didn’t think i’d get to see you before the year ends, you know? but you came back. you’re actually here and i’m so happy.”

“and,” you prop your arm up on his chest, the promise ring once again in yukhei’s view. a moment passes as the two of you stare at it — the symbol of your love and future.

“i love you so much. i want to live the rest of my life with you, like the past few days.” you say resolutely.

yukhei is overwhelmed with happiness, love, and nostalgia all at once. suddenly he’s transported back to that park where you first kissed as teenagers, where he first found out that you liked him too. but loving someone and knowing that they love you back so much so that they want to be with you forever is something so much more special. it’s a privilege yukhei never thought he’d have.

and now, he does. as he looks into your eyes, he realises that you’ve blessed him with that privilege, and that you’re truly the best thing that has ever happened to him.

yukhei finds himself unable to express in words just how he feels at this moment. so he shifts your bodies around until you’re lying side by side, until all he sees is your face up close. he cups your tear-streaked cheeks before softly brushing his lips against yours, sinking in the warmth that blossoms in his chest.

“i love you.” he says delicately when he pulls away, tugging a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “i’m so glad the universe chose you for me.”

the fond smile on your face falters as a tear rolls down your cheek and your bottom lip begin to quiver, the violins playing in the long-forgotten movie adding more melancholy than needed to this moment.

yukhei’s heart breaks as he watches you avoid his gaze and desperately blink away the tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. but he knows that you two will make it, that the distance is merely temporary. and he knows you know it too. what you and him have is so strong.

“hey, look at me.” he whispers.

you turn towards him, your eyes curiously examining his face.

“i’m gonna come home. to you.” yukhei places a kiss on your forehead. “and it won’t be long. think about it baby, i’ll be out this time next year and we could be living together by then.”

“i can’t wait for that.”

“me too. you’ll get to wake up next to me everyday, but you’ll have to teach me how to not burn our pancakes for breakfast until they’re perfect.”

at last, the corners of your lips twitch and you chuckle into the sleeve of your sweater.

“how does that sound?”

“waking up to you everyday or the pancakes?”

“me coming home. and us living together.”

“like a dream come true.”

a moment passes as you smile at each other in a placid silence.

yukhei cups the side of your face with one hand, brushing over your cheekbone and memorising every little detail that adorned your face and made him feel at home no matter where he is. you lean into his touch, reveling in the warmth of his palm.

the fact that he only has one more day until he will have to wait months before he gets to be with you like this again makes his heart swell in longing. so he holds you close, enjoying the moment while he still can.

the first time yukhei told you he loved you, it was an accident — not really.

that morning, he was awoken by a ball of fur nuzzling against his bare shoulder.

he opened his eyes, looking around the room for a good minute before spotting a familiar siamese cat that was perched at the foot of the bed and observing him with its soft gloomy eyes like it had been waiting for him to wake up for the longest time.

“good morning, louis.”

the cat meowed once as if announcing its disappointment in yukhei before hopping off the bed and making its grand exit by squeezing through the slim door gap.

yukhei shrugged, reaching for his phone that had been charging on the nightstand right by the bed. a quick look at the time and date on his lock screen refreshed his memory, vaguely reminding him of the events of the night before.

he crashed against the mattress and let out a muffled groan into the pillows, shuddering at the thought of how much alcohol he had downed. he was absolutely regretting his idea of not having a birthday party, but instead an entire night of drinking to celebrate turning his legal age.

his final hours of being seventeen were fun, though. ten, kunhang, and a couple of other friends brought him to an upscale steakhouse located in the city’s nightlife district. but like every other boys’ night out, the night eventually descended into borderline chaos. in last night’s case, they went through too many rounds of drinking games and yukhei soon came to the realisation that he was the type to get all giggly and sappy when intoxicated.

yukhei threw the covers over himself and ignored the dryness in his throat, ready to slip back into slumber but he couldn’t. something felt off. he grabbed his phone again and there you were, smiling back at him in his lockscreen wallpaper.

oh no.

flashbacks of how he had asked for you last night and proudly claimed that you were “the one” for him came running back to him. he quickly unlocked his phone, checking his text messages.

[to: ♥][sent at 1:55AM]

hey baaby

baby

i miss u ;(

ii'm still with ten and. kunhang

he mahde me drink so muhch hheheehe

babyy reply me plz

i can seee u readin all of thiks :(

i miss You

[from: ♥][sent at 1:56AM]

oh my god yukhei

are you okay?

wru now???

[to: ♥][sent at 1:58AM]

hi bab

im OK

at tens place now…

he has 2 catss. theyre so Cute

anyway

i need to tell u sometxhing

its rneally imbportant

and that is i love u

u make me so happi

u r so pretttyjf n soooo smart

ur alsoreally kind.. lwiterally an angel

hdeheheheheheee

im so lucky to be youre boyfrjend

becayuse i get to see Ur smile everyyday. hold your hand whenegver i want

onlyi can call u Baby

did u know ?

i bet u djd not ;)

i l o v e LOVE you

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[incoming call from: ♥]

declined.

[incoming call from: ♥]

declined.

[from: ♥][sent at 2:00AM]

why aren’t you picking up yukhei

you’re making me worried now

are you okay :(

[to: ♥][sent at 2:15AM]

hey _____, ten here. don’t worry about xuxi! he just passed out on my couch.

[attachment: 1 image]

i’m just gonna let him crash here tonight since my parents aren’t back anyway. feel free to pop by in the morning btw, i think he would be really happy. and sorry for texting you at this hour!! goodnight :D

yukhei stared at his phone screen blankly, the jumbled letters of his drunk texts burning into his eyes. there was also that picture of him sprawled across the leather couch in ten’s living room in deep slumber, with his shirt completely unbuttoned and a party hat strapped to his forehead like a unicorn.

“morning, birthday boy.”

yukhei’s heart jumped. he jammed his thumb against the button on the side of his phone, turning around to find ten’s head poking out of the door.

“how are you feeling?” ten asked. yukhei sat up immediately when he saw a glass of water in his friend’s hand. “like shit, i’m guessing.”

ten sat himself down at the foot of the bed, handing the water to an eager yukhei who gulps it all at one go.

“close enough. i feel like i’ve been run over by a bus.” yukhei replied, coughing to clear the raspiness in his voice.

ten hummed. “well, your girl came over with a lot of food. i think you’ll feel better after eating.”

yukhei’s eyes widened, his voice lowering into a whisper. “she’s here? now?”

“sort of. she went out to get coffee with guanheng but they should be back soon.” ten narrowed his eyes at yukhei, trying to read the look on his face. “what’s wrong?”

“nothing.”

“uh huh.” ten snorted. “you suck at lying.”

“okay, fine. i might have spammed her with some texts last night while i was wasted.”

“oh yeah, i saw those. you were crying for her for at least thirty minutes last night by the way.”

“fuck.” yukhei let out a groan. “let’s not talk about that. not now please, ten-ge.”

“okay, okay.” ten smirked. “only because it’s your birthday. now, continue.”

“i told her i love her. like, love love her.”

“oh.” ten paused, his expression fading into one of confusion. “wait, i don’t get it. is that a bad thing?”

“no, no. it’s not.” yukhei cut in quickly, glancing at the door every few seconds nervously. “it’s just—i haven’t told her that before!” he whisper-shouted.

“i don’t know how she reacted to it! what if she doesn’t feel the same?”

ten burst into laughter right away, his eyes squinting into crescents. “oh, xuxi. you’re so cute when you’re in love, you know?”

“i really don’t think you have to worry about her not feeling the same. but i do think you should go tell her in person soon.”

yukhei blinked, relaxing a little when he realised that ten was probably right. the older male grinned, ruffling yukhei’s bed hair playfully before leaving the room.

in less than five minutes the door swung open again, and yukhei tensed a little when he saw you, almost as if he had seen a ghost. he didn’t realise you were back already and had been planning to sit in anxiety by himself for thirty more minutes.

“you okay?” you chuckled as you walked over and sat next to him.

yukhei hummed as you cradled the side of his face with one hand, your thumb smoothing away the drool crust on the corner of his lips that he didn’t even realise had been there.

“someone clearly had a lot of fun last night.”

yukhei’s lips curled into a silly, crooked smile as you crossed your arms and pouted. your attempt at guilt-tripping him had failed completely, it endeared you instead and suddenly he felt like his drunk self bombarding you with all those confessions last night.

your lips eventually cracked into a huge grin. you threw your arms around his shoulders, doing your best to engulf his big frame in a tight hug which made yukhei chuckle. he loved it whenever you hugged him like that or let him be the small spoon when you cuddled.

“happy birthday bub.” you coo dearly, giving each of his cheeks a loud smooch which made his face scrunch up adorably. “are you sure you’re okay?”

“thank you, baby.” yukhei smiled, his mind completely free from his worries already. “i’m okay, just a little hungry.”

“well, it just so happens that there are loads of yummy things waiting outside. maybe even some of your favourite desserts.” you smirked enticingly as you grabbed his hand and stood up. “c’mon, let’s go eat.”

“wait.” yukhei’s breathing stuttered, pulling you back quickly. “i need to tell you something.”

you moved into the spot between his legs, waiting for him to say something as your hands hung in the air intertwined.

“what is it?” you asked.

yukhei looked up at you, taking in the curious smile on your face. it brought so much joy and warmth to his life and he could never get tired of seeing that.

“i love you.” yukhei said, each word rolling off his tongue so naturally. “all those texts i sent you last night? i meant every single word. i love you, _____.”

your eyes were glossy as you relaxed a little, sinking into his touch when he clasped his arms around your thighs to pull you closer. yukhei could tell you were recalling all those cheesy texts as you bit your lip shyly.

he closed his eyes just as you bent down to slot your lips against his in the most delicate way possible before whispering those three words back, as if they were only for him to hear.

“i love you too, yukhei. you make me so happy.”

“say it again.” yukhei asked, his voice laced with desperation even though he knew it was the first of many ‘i love you’s to come.

your cheek was soft and warm in the palm of his hand. you grinned, closing the distance between your lips once more.

“i love you.”

it was the best birthday gift yukhei had ever received.

as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

in yukhei’s case, the past five days have flown by quickly and alas, it is the penultimate day of his short vacation.

but he’s more than satisfied with how the week has gone by despite how short it felt. he managed to visit his family, catch up with his closest friends, recover all the hours of sleep he had lost while on duty, and most importantly, be around you literally every day of this vacation so far. he woke up and slept next to you, cooked and ate all his favourite foods with you, and interrupted every other activity with sex and cuddling sessions — and he wouldn’t have it any other way. just looking back on those moments brought a smile to his face.

his thoughts are interrupted when the door to your bedroom opens and you walk in with a small stack of laundry in one hand.

”thank you baby.” he says, taking the clothes he had worn in the past few days, that are now clean, from you. they’re still warm from being fresh out of the dryer, and he gets a whiff of roses when he holds them under his nose.

“you’re very welcome.” you plop down right next to where he had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, packing his belongings.

as yukhei stuffs his sneakers deep into the bottom of his haversack, you look at all his other things that have been laid out neatly, side-by-side, on your bedroom rug. he doesn’t pay much attention as you pick up his wallet and entertain yourself with its contents.

“is this what i think it is?”

you ask, pulling out a small folded piece of paper that was stuffed into one of the card compartments. the look of curiosity on your face morphs into one of surprise as soon as you unfold it completely and realise what it is.

“you keep this in your wallet?”

it’s one of the few handwritten letters you mailed to him during his first month in camp when he, like every one of his teammates, had zero access to their phones and gadgets.

yukhei still remembers how tough that period of time was. being thrown into a whole new environment and expected to adjust to a lifestyle that was the complete opposite of university life was not easy at all. not only was his freedom snatched away, he had to deal with a long list of strict rules and responsibilities dumped onto him. and as if all that wasn’t enough, he had to witness his newly-made friends live through the countless military break-up horror stories he heard from his seniors.

it was a lot, but he got through each day thanks to the camaraderie he shared with his team and those letters you had mailed him, since they were the only form of communication he had with you.

“yeah. it got me through some tough times, you know.” yukhei admits, watching you read through your own words.

each letter was detailed with updates on your life and things his mum told you to convey to him. they all ended with a short paragraph of best wishes and sweet words which yukhei appreciated very much because he was absolutely sick of hearing about duty and honour.

yukhei had no idea he was so sentimental. he’d reread those letters in your voice, stare at your handwriting, and hold it up to his nose to get the faint scent of your perfume. it was like a piece of you — which was what he needed to fight the homesickness gnawing at him.

“maybe you should write to me.” you mumble, refusing to look at him as you slid the letter back into his wallet. “i mean, if you’re not too busy. i would love getting mail from you even though we can text and facetime now.”

“i’ll try to, baby.” yukhei smirks. “my good morning and goodnight texts not enough for you?”

“no,” you drawl, rolling your eyes playfully. “i love waking up to a bunch of heart and rose emojis.”

yukhei laughs, going back to packing his things while you roll his clothes into bundles that would help him save space. after a short while of teamwork between you two, his haversack is stuffed and he’s done.

“don’t forget these,” you hand him his leather glasses case that had been sitting on your bedside table. then you’re on your feet, pacing around the room as your eyes scan every inch of the space, looking out for anything he might’ve missed.

“i’ve looked everywhere earlier.” yukhei tells you before getting on his feet too. he stretches his arms high above him and lets out a silent yawn. “i think that’s it.”

“okay.” you answer in a small voice.

now that you’re done helping him pack, there’s just one last thing left to do and it just happens to be the hardest task of all — you’ll have to say goodbye to him this time, tomorrow, at the train station.

that realisation settles between the two of you, once again compelling yukhei to make the most out of the time he has left. with a sad smile he holds his arms out, instantly drawing you into his embrace like a moth of a flame. you squish your cheek against him, hands locked behind his back as he hugs you warm and securely.

“you need to stop working out so much, your abs are hard enough.” your voice comes out slightly muffled. “by the time you’re out, i’m gonna be hugging a rock.”

yukhei grins at your words, bursting into full-blown giggles when your fingers poke into his sides and smooth across his tummy. the faint muscle lines that were there before he enlisted were now more defined, some even visible through the cotton fabric of his t-shirt.

“you say that like i have a choice, baby.” he replies. “i can’t just sit aside while everyone else does seventy push-ups and ten laps around the field.”

you let out a disgruntled noise and hugged him even tighter, as if you were trying to mold your body into his.

“and you like it. admit it.” yukhei teases.

“i do.” you murmur. “you smell so good, by the way.”

yukhei giggles at how quickly you switched the topic.

“it’s that detergent you’re using. i wish my clothes smelled this nice when i’m there.”

“i’m talking about you, bub. the way you smell. my hoodie doesn’t smell like that anymore.”

“the way i smell?” yukhei laughs. “and i think you mean my hoodie.”

“it’s been mine for a while now.”

“well, wanna give it back to me? since it lost its purpose.”

“okay. i’ll trade it for this shirt.”

you tug on the hem of his shirt as you look up at him, eagerly waiting for his response. it’s moments like this where yukhei wonders if you know you have him in the palm of your hand.

“whatever you want, baby. i’ll give it to you.”

the lovestruck smile on his face widens as he places a kiss on your forehead, drawing circles on your back.

“can i have it now then?” you ask innocently, but yukhei’s ears pick up the hint of playfulness in your tone.

“right now?” he asks.

“yeah. what’s stopping you?”

“oh, i’ll give it to you now.” yukhei tells you lowly.

the cheeky smile on your face morphs into an ‘o’ shape as his grip on your waist tightens, guiding you towards the bed where you both crash against the mattress. there’s a moment of silence as he hovers over you, suavely tugging his shirt off with one hand and dropping the crumpled fabric next to your face.

“thanks.” you whisper.

it’s hard to ignore the way your core is perfectly aligned with his when you’re lying underneath him in a hoodie and a pair of grey boyshorts that have been testing his patience for a while now.

yukhei runs his hands up your thighs to your sides, bunching the hoodie up to your chest. wet open-mouthed kisses are left all over the smooth expanse of your tummy and he takes delight in how hard you’re breathing.

“it’s no problem, baby.” he replies nonchalantly, his fingers pulling at the waistband of your boyshorts. “anything else you want before i take this off?”

you shake your head and shoot him a silly smile, and it’s all yukhei can remember before he embarks on yet another mission to please you with his mouth. then he makes love to you again, his warm touch roaming every inch of your body which he memorises to perfection.

later, when you’re both sated and holding onto each other like two long-lost lovers, yukhei dreams of you again. this time, he’s hiding another velvet box in an even bigger bouquet of roses as he sits nervously in a dimly lit living room, waiting to surprise you when you get home.

the thought of you being his forever is enough to make him smile in reality, enough to push him through the upcoming months of separation. yukhei was more than ready to be done with that.

it’s only been a minute since you’ve gotten home but the place already feels too big for one person — which is laughable because your apartment isn’t even that huge to begin with. now that yukhei is gone, it feels as if life has been sucked out of these four walls. it has reverted back to nothing more than a roof over your head and a living space for one.

after hanging your coat up and stepping out of your shoes, you stroll to the kitchen and lean against the counter, staring into thin air with the refrigerator whirring softly behind you.

even though it’s only three in the afternoon, it has been an awfully long day for you. the few hours you spent outside drained you and all you did was sit at a restaurant with yukhei and his family for one last meal before sending him off at the train terminal.

the meal was nice and the send-off was not as bad as you thought it would be. but it was still an emotional farewell and you shed a few tears despite it being nowhere as difficult as the first time he had to leave you.

you and yukhei stood at the train platform hand in hand until the train finally arrived and came to a stop in front of everyone.

you let ten and kun attack your boyfriend with their bro hugs first, followed by mrs wong who affectionately caressed her son’s face and repeated her fifth “take care of yourself, my little soldier boy” of the day, and lastly, a less-emotional mr wong who gave his son a few encouraging pats on the back.

looking around, you were filled with dread as you watched the same thing happen with every other soldier who was hugging their loved ones and waving goodbye to them.

when everyone left and when it was just you and him again, yukhei instantly pulled you into his arms, clearly just as reluctant as you are to face this moment.

this was it.

he pulled back, cupping your cheeks and smiling at you forlornly. you stared back at him, taking in how smart he looked in his uniform and the beret framing his beautifully sunkissed face, and mustered all the strength in you to not cry.

it was impossible. tears swelled in your eyes within seconds and you couldn’t help it, the harder you tried to force them away, the more they wanted to spill out. you silently chided yourself for how naive you were to have wished for a tear-free farewell.

“don’t cry, baby.” yukhei pleaded softly, his big eyes looking watery too. “remember what i said?”

you swiped your tears away with the sleeve of your turtleneck and nodded frantically, not trusting your voice at the moment.

“i’m gonna come home to you. we’re going to live our lives together.”

his voice was soft yet grounded with conviction, calming you down instantly and offering you the consolation you needed.

“i’ll be waiting for you.” your voice croaked and you rolled your eyes at how pathetic it sounded.

“i know you’ll be.” yukhei smiled, gently stroking your back. “and you’ll be getting your first letter really soon, i promise.”

“something else i get to look forward to.”

you tightened your arms around him, closing your eyes to really savour what it felt like to be in his arms one last time before forcing yourself to let go.

yukhei interlocked your hand with his, pressing a kiss to the back of it and stealing a glance at your favourite ring.

“i love you so much.” you said, adjusting the collar of his uniform thoughtfully. “eat well and be safe, okay? don’t worry about me. you know you can call me—”

he intercepted you with a long kiss to your lips, letting go only when you pinched his arm. unlike him, you weren’t bold enough to be this affectionate in public.

“i will.” yukhei answered breathlessly. “promise me you’ll sleep early and not overwork yourself while i’m away. i need you to take care of yourself too.”

“i promise.” you mumbled, locking your pinky with his as you looked around anxiously. “you should get going now. don’t want you missing your train.”

he squeezed your hand to bring your attention back to him. “i love you.”

“love you too.”

and with a final kiss to your lips, his hand loosened from yours, reaching for his haversack on the ground and swinging it over his shoulder in one go.

“text me once you’ve settled down?”

“i will, baby.”

after one last peck to your forehead, he turned around and trudged towards the edge of the train platform, where kunhang had been taking pictures with his sisters while waiting. you stood rooted to the ground as you watched your boyfriend’s figure become smaller, waving at him when he turned around to look at you one final time before getting onto the train.

ten and kun kindly gave you a lift home afterwards. you nearly teared up again when you walked past the parking lot and spotted the two of them patiently waiting for you in the comfort of their heated car. on the way home, they even made dinner plans and insisted you didn’t spend the rest of the day alone — which you were extremely grateful for.

you still have a few hours to yourself before meeting them, and it dawns on you that you should probably take a short nap after the sad amount of sleep you got last night. so you force yourself to stop moping and drag yourself to your bedroom to find a comfy set of clothes.

you spend what feels like hours under the hot shower that by the time you step out of the steamy bathroom, the skin of your fingers are wrinkly. just as you start combing your hair, your phone buzzes, its screen lighting up to show you a single notification.

you whisk it off the table, gaping at the sight of yukhei’s name staring back at you.

[from: yukhei][sent at 4:10PM]

hey baby i miss you ♥

[to: yukhei][sent at 4:10PM]

miss you too :(

you guys back there already?

[from: yukhei][sent at 4:11PM]

we’re still on the train

i didn’t get to nap. kunhang snored so loudly :(

[to: yukhei][sent at 4:11PM]

poor baby…

[from: yukhei][sent at 4:11PM]

it’s fine

your boyfriend is a strong man. a day without a nap is nothing :D

you snort at his reply. the typing icon appears next to his name so you wait for his next text.

[from: yukhei][sent as 4:12PM]

anyway, i left a surprise in your desk drawer for you

i think you already know what it is ;)

you don’t.

[from: yukhei][sent at 4:12PM]

i hope you like it baby ♥

you never know what to expect from yukhei because he’s always surprising you with the sweetest, most meaningful gestures. even the story behind your promise ring has you in wonder still. when you pull open the drawer and realise just what he had left for you, a huge grin spreads across your face and you take a second to appreciate the sight of it. he was truly something else.

there, carefully placed on top of the paperwork you had kept in the drawer, is an envelope with your name on it.

“yeah. you’ll be getting your first letter really soon, i promise.”

you reach for it, immediately peeping inside when you notice it’s unsealed. there was indeed a letter as yukhei had promised. you recognize the lined paper that he clearly tore off from one of your notebooks and assume he wrote this secretly while you were sleeping. the mental image of that melts your heart.

to _____, my favourite girl in the world.

i have been staring at this blank piece of paper for ten minutes now while you’re sleeping so peacefully. i still don’t know what i should write for my first letter, so here’s an old-fashioned love letter from your admirer for life, your boyfriend, and your future husband: me <3

you giggle to yourself like an idiot. it’s funny how a single paragraph could switch your mood instantly, how yukhei manages to make you happy even though he’s so far away now.

was that too cheesy? i’m sorry. you know i’m not a poetic person even though i wish i am. you’ll probably laugh as you read on but that’s okay, because i want you to be happy whenever you read this.

so where should i begin?

how about the first time we met? when i saw you sitting at the back of mum’s restaurant, i had butterflies in my stomach (is this how that phrase goes?) and quickly hid in the kitchen. do you remember?

the smile on your face grew as you continued reading yukhei’s letter. it spoke of the vivid details of all your firsts in your relationship, of the little habits you have that he adores. of the warmth and safeness he feels when he’s around you, of how in awe and inspired he is by you — and how lucky he is to get to experience all that for the past few years and hopefully, the rest of his life.

by the time you reach the end, you’re laughing and crying. you miss him so much.

i love you, _____. nothing else matters. you’re the light of my life and i hope i can keep making you feel the way you make me feel: safe, happy, and loved.

until we meet again,

wong yukhei

p.s. i hope you’re not crying. and if you are i really hope it’s because i made you laugh too much.

you reread the letter again, letting his voice linger in your head for a bit because you’re not ready to let it go yet. then you laid on the bed for a good fifteen minutes as you stared at the ceiling with his letter clasped to your chest, yearning for his presence all over again.

it’s going to be fine, you tell yourself. you can handle a few months without him. after all, you already have. and he’s never completely away from you, you realise, as you hold your hand up and admire the gorgeous ring shining in the afternoon sunlight.

for now, that’ll do.

306 notes · View notes

yoontopia · 4 years ago

Text

sobremesa | kth

pairing: kim taehyung x (f) reader

genre: childhood friends to lovers(?). tiny amounts of smut in the form of grinding, heavy makeout sessions in a car, mostly fluff, microscopic amounts of angst HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAE!!!!

rating: M

word count: 9.1k

sobremesa: a spanish word for that time spent after a meal, hanging out with family or friends, enjoying each others’ company

summary: you’ve known Kim Taehyung practically all your life – your parents are best friends and that inevitably leads to the two of you being forced to hang out at family gatherings – being the same age and all. But you don’t really know Kim Taehyung beyond cramped bedrooms, family potlucks, and annual New Year’s Eve parties. He’s never been a part of your picture and you’ve never been a part of his. You know Kim Taehyung in snapshots, periodic glimpses into his life over shared meals that will never overlap with yours outside these little moments. Or so you think.

-2006-

“This is my boy – Taehyung – he’s twelve too!” Mr. Kim announces, with a wide smile on his face. You stare curiously at the little boy hiding behind his father. He’s got a tuft of dark hair and he looks over at you curiously, like you’re a specimen at a museum. Your dad pats you on your back and one look at his face tells you that you’re meant to entertain this Taehyung kid.

“Oh, um,” you say, stepping forward. “We can just hang out in my room, I guess.”

“We’ll call you when dinner’s ready,” your mom tells you, smiling encouragingly. You nod and beckon Kim Taehyung upstairs. He follows you wordlessly and you usher him into your bedroom. He looks around, that same curious expression on his face before making himself comfortable on the beanbag chair you keep in your room.

“So, do you wanna like—watch a movie or something?” You don’t have a lot of experience with boys. Taehyung is small for his age though, and you can look at him in the eye if he stands up. He’s a lot smaller than the boys you’re used to at school, and so you find yourself more comfortable with him. He shrugs in response and you heave out your beloved laptop your dad had so kindly let you use for the night. Taehyung’s eyes flicker towards your bookshelf and his expression visibly brightens.

“You like Cardcaptor Sakura?” he asks, and you hear his voice for the first time. You look at him in surprise. No boy at your school likes Cardcaptor Sakura, but you love the series and your parents bought you a couple of volumes for your birthday.

“Yeah! It’s really cute. Uhm… do you wanna watch that instead? I have the DVD set.” Taehyung nods, looking far more enthusiastic than before and the two of you binge the entire first season, sitting shoulder to shoulder on your double bed.

-2007-

You don’t know anyone here. It’s somebody’s birthday, but they’re an adult and you don’t really care. These kids are unfamiliar and rowdy and honestly all you want to do is go home and read Harry Potter until you fall asleep. You’d hang out with your parents, but they’d ushered you to go play with the other kids. Looking through the various bedrooms in this ridiculously large house you hear voices coming from behind a shut door.

Knocking before opening it slowly, you peek in only to find Kim Taehyung with his arm around some kid’s neck. They’re on the floor, wrestling. Boys, you sigh mentally. Taehyung looks up, hair in his eyes, a sheen of sweat covering him.

“My phone—get my phone!” He’s yelling your name and you’re surprised he even remembers you. You’d only hung out a handful of times after your first, fateful meeting after all. You glance down and pick up the small black device the other boy is trying to reach for. Taehyung lets the other kid go and he’s gasping for air as you hand the phone back to its rightful owner.

“I’m Jungkook,” the boy introduces, voice high. “Junghyun’s younger brother,” You have no idea who Junghyun is, but you nod and introduce yourself anyway. “Are you Tae’s age?” Your eyes travel to Taehyung, who’s scrolling on his phone now.

“Yeah,” he answers for you, and you’re surprised to hear how his voice has deepened. “She’s my age. Close the door, will you? We’re watching Claymore and Kook’s mom will have a stroke if she finds out—he’s only ten.” You shut the door behind you cautiously. At least he hadn’t demanded you leave.

Feeling weirdly accepted and elated, you sit down to join the boys.

-2008-

Jungkook becomes a part of your small family-friends group. None of you even go to the same schools, but you see each other occasionally when your parents want to spend time with their friends. You like Jungkook, even though he’s younger. He’s friendly and bubbly and likes manga as much as you do. You’re still scared of his older brother though, but Junghyun is old (three whole years older than you!) and he’s allowed to stay home alone when his parents leave so he never comes anyway. Rumor has it that he even has a girlfriend.

You’re making it through life like any middle-schooler would. You have two close friends at school that you do everything with and it’s the year your dad presents you with your first phone. It’s got a full keyboard and you can text Jiyeon and Solhee whenever you want. You spend hours into the night talking about Jung Hoseok, who’s a ninth grader, and how cool he is. You have the tiniest crush on Hoseok – he’s the dance team captain, and he always smiles at you in the hallways even though he doesn’t know you. Hoseok smiles at everyone, it’s just how amazing he is. You’re too shy to talk to him though, envying the girls he speaks to on the daily. You think you and Hoseok would be good friends if you were braver.

-2009-

“You’re going to a French immersion high school? Seriously?” You don’t know if you’re more impressed or exasperated. Maybe both. Taehyung nods and accepts the cup of tea you offer him. You can hear your parents heartily belting out to some 80’s pop song in the basement – it seems the karaoke session is going well.

“Figured its never too late to learn,” he shrugs, taking a sip of the drink and wincing because its piping hot. His voice has deepened now that the two of you are fourteen, sounding like it’s dipped in honey. “Plus, all my friends are going there, and I don’t wanna be that guy who knows no one at his high school on the first day.” You try to laugh along, but it comes out all awkward—you don’t want to admit that that’s going to be you at your new school. Taehyung eyes you suspiciously.

“But of course,” he continues, in that same airy tone. “I think it’d be cool to start over somewhere where no one knows you. A clean slate.” You smile privately at his tact.

“It’s nerve-wracking though. What if I don’t make friends?” you sound small as you voice out the one fear you’ve been too scared to admit. Taehyung hums and sips his tea again.

“You will,” he says easily. “But if you don’t you always have me and Jungkook. We’re practically forced to hang out with you.”

You throw your wet teabag at him. He laughs, the sound rich and deep and you find your mind cleared of your anxiety.

-2010-

“Ay here comes the Frenchie,” Jungkook wolf-whistles and you turn around to see Taehyung making his way toward you. “Are you fluent yet?”

“No, but I can tell you to fuck off in more than one language now,” Taehyung grins, giving you a one-armed hug in greeting. He smells like vanilla and clean laundry – a refreshing contrast from the boys at school that drown in Old Spice. You want to bury your nose in his sweatshirt.

“Wow, school fees well spent,” Jungkook nods sagely. “I can’t believe I’m the only middle-schooler left.” Taehyung is taking his seat in the chair next to you, your hand still grasped in his, much larger and warmer one. Taehyung has always been physical – not just with you, but with everyone. You’re all at a restaurant this time, celebrating the fact that Junghyun not only got into his dream university, but managed to survive without flunking his first semester. You don’t know why you had to squeeze into a dress for this occasion, but alright. You barely even know Junghyun – he doesn’t fraternize with his kid brother’s best friends. “Oy, here’s Jimin.” The two of you look up to see another boy making his way towards you. “My mom’s best friend’s kid,” Jungkook whispers to you two, rather like he’s divulging the nation’s greatest secrets.

Jimin sits down next to Jungkook and you mutter polite hellos at each other. As it turns out, he’s the same age as you and Taehyung.

“So, this is the kid’s end of the table, huh?” Taehyung murmurs in your ear and you laugh.

“Don’t complain – would you rather sit next to my dad and have him clap you on the back hard every minute?” Taehyung winces at that, clearly having multiple war flashbacks. Jimin stares at you two.

“So how do you all know each other?” has asks. Taehyung blinks.

“Oh me? I’ve known her—since when—? We were like twelve,” you nod. Has it really been that long? You’re sixteen now. “And I met Jungkook not long after, I think.”

“The three musketeers,” Jungkook cheers, raising his glass as if its not full of just orange juice. Jimin nods. Taehyung rolls his eyes

As the dinner progresses, you find out you like Jimin too. He’s friendly and before you know it, you have each other on Facebook. Jungkook proclaims that all of you need a way to keep in touch and that’s how you find yourself in a group chat with three noisy boys.

-2011-

“Uno motherfucker!” Jungkook dramatically throws down his second-last card onto the pile. You groan. How is this boy so ridiculously good at literally every game?

“Not so fast, Jeon,” Taehyung is next to you, wearing pajama bottoms with ducklings on them. Throwing down his only wild card, he’s changing the color of cards up. You laugh delightedly because thank-you-Tae-you-lifesaver. He gives you a hearty fist bump. Jimin is on your other side, and as always, the man is more action than words because he quietly puts down a +4 that has Jungkook screaming into his pillow.

You’re all cooped up in your bedroom. Taehyung’s parents have already told him he could stay over, and he’s promptly changed into his sleeping clothes. It isn’t a rare occurrence for him to crash in your guest bedroom every time your parents hang out late into the night. Jimin and Jungkook are still in their jeans getting more and more uncomfortable by the hour. It’s past midnight and the parents downstairs have no intention of ending the party any time soon.

“You should’ve just stayed over too,” Taehyung says, watching Jungkook trying to change his sitting position for the third time in the last twenty minutes.

“I live literally down the block,” Jungkook snaps. It’s true – Jungkook’s family had moved onto your street only last year. “I’ll sleep in my own bed thanks.”

“Besides, is Jooyoung okay with you staying over at another girl’s house?” Jimin mutters, picking up a card and frowning. “Won’t she have a fit?”

“Who?” you and Jungkook ask at the same time.

“His girlfriend,” Jimin giggles next to you, and Jungkook is practically yodeling. Taehyung’s ears go slightly red. You look at him in surprise.

“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” you tell him and his ears, if possible, go even redder.

“He’s been with her for a whole month,” Jimin proclaims proudly and you’re looking at Taehyung again because wow—that seems serious.

You have no expertise in dating. There’s a cute boy in your English class called Choi Seungcheol that you like to look at. He’s got a nice smile and really long eyelashes over eyes that look like they hold galaxies in them. One time, he lent you his dictionary and you almost melted into a puddle of goo. But Seungcheol runs with the popular kids, even though he’s always been sweet to you, and you’re still somewhat of a recluse. All of a sudden, Taehyung seems really grown up and faraway.

“She already knows,” Taehyung says testily, and gestures wildly at you, “Plus it’s not like the two of us are even remotely close enough for her to care too much.”

You find you’ve suddenly lost all interest in the card game.

-2012-

“Can’t believe you’re leaving us,” Jungkook pouts as he stares at you and Taehyung. “Can’t believe I only have Jimin from now on.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Jimin quips. It’s your graduation party – the third graduation party you’ve attended in the last two weeks – Taehyung had his first, then Jimin, and now you. You’ve chosen a university that’s three hours away. Jimin chose to attend college in town.

Taehyung, surprising you all, is moving a whopping six hours away, across the country. The art program he’s chosen is super elite and you’d all had a potluck at his house with your families when he’d gotten accepted. You sip on your wine, still getting used to the taste of alcohol. You turned eighteen only last month, but Jimin and Taehyung are still minors, and are both sporting matching cups of sparkling apple juice.

“We’ll be back for the holidays,” you tell Jungkook. “I can even drive back on some weekends!”

“Yeah, but when our families hang out, I’ll be the only one there,” Jungkook continues, looking genuinely upset. “Gonna just stay home from now on.”

“What about me?” Jimin asks indignantly. “I’m still here!”

“You have, like, a billion friends,” Jungkook huffs. “And a girlfriend.”

“Good point.” Jimin agrees. You and Taehyung laugh.

“Well, we still have all summer,” you say. “The four of us should find some time to hang out before I move at the end of August.” Jimin nods at that, reaching forward to eat the chips off the plate in front of him.

The four of you look at each other. Your lives really don’t overlap outside the confines of your bedroom and while Jungkook is upset, you know he’s got his own horde of friends back at school. He’s on the football team, and in the multimedia club. Your best friend’s little sister goes to his school and you’ve heard through her that he’s basically the school’s heartthrob. A little hard for you to believe though – Jungkook will always be that small child who Taehyung tackled to the ground for trying to steal his phone back when you were twelve.

You look around your room. You only have around ninety days left in these four walls, in this particular life, before all of you move into the next chapter.

-2013-

You’re shut up in a bathroom stall at your dorm, tears threatening to spill. Your first year as an engineering undergraduate is almost over, but your mother’s voice over the phone has opened all the flood gates you’d been so carefully keeping close these past few months.

“I can’t do this anymore,” you’re bumbling, and your mother can hardly make sense of you. You know that it’s probably coming as a huge surprise to them. You’ve spent so long pretending you’ve been fine all year that your family hasn’t had a clue how rough things really had been for you. “I want to drop out, mom, my grades are so bad, I’m so close to flunking out.”

Your mother is comforting you over the phone, but you continue to sob, months and months of tears and anxiety finally getting their chance to flow freely. You don’t care if your dormmates hear you – they were never really your friends anyway.

Weeks later, when your parents have picked you up, and have driven you back home, you know you’ll never go back to that place. You lie in your bed staring up at the ceiling, feeling void of any emotion. You’d always done fairly well in school so the significant drop in your grades at university had taken a toll on your mental health. The sun shines outside, the first signs of summer peeking through, but you can’t bring yourself to push open your curtains. You feel like a failure. You are a failure.

At some point during the day, Taehyung comes into your room, knocking quietly. He doesn’t speak, and you haven’t seen him for a whole year. Contact was few and far between and seeing Jimin and Tae do so well in their respective programs had made you put up a front with them too. He probably had no idea that anything was ever wrong.

Even if he had, you tell yourself, there was nothing he would really do. You find you barely know Taehyung, are only obligated to spend time with him because your parents are friends with his folks. But he’s here, in your room now, and you can’t hear Mr. Kim’s booming voice downstairs. You selfishly wonder if he came to see you by himself. Only for you, and not because of his parents.

He quietly lies down next to you, and the two of you lie there, shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the ceiling.

He stays like that until you finally fall asleep.

-2014-

You scream when you open the mail and Jimin jumps next to you, spilling milk all over the kitchen island.

“I got in!” you scream and Jimin blinks owlishly up at you. “Chim, I got in!”

“Oh my god that’s amazing!” Now Jimin is screaming, grabbing you out of joy and pulling you in. The two of you are jumping up and down in your kitchen and your parents are here wondering what the ruckus is. You’re merely shoving the letter towards them, too overjoyed to speak.

After taking the summer off, and pulling out of your old university, you’d applied to the college in your town – the same one Jimin attends. You figured you were better off in a program that genuinely excites you and come September, you and Jimin would be attending the same school.

“We gotta party,” your dad exclaims, a big grin on his face. You know your parents had partially blamed themselves for everything that had happened last year. For maybe forcing you towards a program you weren’t really interested in, only because the employment opportunities were higher, and you had the grades to get in. You’re pleased to see them so proud and happy for you. You’re in a better place now, have gotten the support you needed to help you get through that rough patch. Last year feels like a fever dream, like it belongs to someone else, someone that’s not you.

Your dad is calling the usual crowd up to celebrate, and you can’t wait to see Jungkook and Junghyun. It’s been months since you saw them last and you know Jungkook is a senior and is swamped with college admissions and his football games.

Taehyung doesn’t come home this year – working at an internship somewhere on the other end of the country that’s been keeping him busy. You don’t hear from him much at all.

-2015-

You gratefully accept the glass of wine from Jimin and glance over at the giant Christmas tree in his living room. The Parks have decorated it up to the nines, a real step-up from last year.

“Your ugly sweater is so not ugly,” Jimin groans from next to you, and you look down. It’s a simple grey sweater with a giant ornament on it, the baubles are three-dimensional.

“It was the only one I had,” you sigh, leaning back into his couch. “Where is everyone?”

“Jungkook is spending Christmas at his girlfriend’s,” Jimin tells you and you roll your eyes. “But he says he’ll see us for New Years. Tae’s family just arrived actually – he’s in the kitchen saying hello to everyone.”

“Bet all the moms flocked to him,” you mutter. Taehyung is the group’s golden boy – the success story. He’d secured himself a fancy internship and was pretty much guaranteed a job straight out of university when he graduated in a couple years. Jimin nods sleepily next to you. You cozy up next to him, resting your head on his shoulder.

Taehyung arrives in the living room then, his eyes travelling from the giant Christmas tree to the two of you folded onto the couch. You wonder if you’ve had too much wine already because you’re definitely imagining the strange look that crosses his face when he sees Jimin lean into you. It’s been a while since you’ve seen him in person – Instagram pictures really don’t do him justice. For some reason, Jimin quickly pulls away from your embrace.

He’s grown taller, and his hair is dyed a soft honey blonde falling into his eyes, a piece tucked behind one ear. He’s wearing a sweater that’s literally the same color as the Grinch but he manages to effortlessly pull it off. Taehyung has always been pretty, you tell yourself, but somehow, he’s managed to get even prettier. He’s half-tucked his ugly sweater into black slacks and looks more like a runway model than someone you’ve known since you were twelve.

He fist-bumps Jimin before collapsing into the couch on your other side.

“What’s the plan tonight Park?” he asks, taking a sip of his wine.

“I brought my poker kit,” Jimin says over your head. “Thought we could play.”

“Poker,” you sigh amusedly. “When only yesterday Jungkook was beating our asses at Uno.” Jimin laughs with his whole body and you giggle sleepily next to him.

“And, how are you?” It takes you a while to notice that Taehyung is talking to you. You straighten up, letting go of Jimin

“M’fine,” you murmur. Taehyung hums. There’s a strange sort of silence that befalls you. You and Taehyung never had a chatty relationship, but it was never like this either. Taehyung feels more and more like a stranger these days. You know facts about his childhood that you’re sure no one else does – the time he broke his arm falling off a bike you had dared him to get on, or the time he’d accidentally eaten a cookie with hazelnuts in it despite being allergic to them – but you don’t know this Taehyung. You don’t know the first thing about him. And it makes you sad.

The two of you make small talk – the weather, Taehyung’s internship, your finals – but it just doesn’t feel the same.

-2016-

It’s really been a whole year since you’ve seen any of these people – except Jimin, you see his ass on campus every damn day. The music is in full swing and your parents are laughing at something Taehyung’s mom is saying.

You’re sitting in a chair next to Jungkook, fresh off his first semester of university. His hair is longer, he’s inked up his right arm and smells like expensive cologne. Despite that, he’s still the lovable goofball you’ve known practically all your life. He lets you tease him about his ink, good-naturedly pulling at your cheek. He towers over you now, has for a few years.

Taehyung sits directly across from you. His hair is back to black, curling and long. He’s wearing thick black-framed glasses today, complaining about leaving his contacts back at university. Jimin isn’t here, having made plans with his dancer friends. It feels like every year, the only constant at these end-of-the-year parties, is you. The only one who makes a conscious effort to attend, who doesn’t treat these family gatherings like back-up plans.

“Jieun said she wants to meet you,” Jungkook is saying. He’s been dating this girl for six months now. “She’s gone home for the holidays, obviously, but maybe in the New Year. When do you go back Tae?”

“The twelfth,” Taehyung answers, mouth full of mashed potato.

“That’s later than usual,” you say in surprise. Taehyung shrugs.

“Didn’t come home for the summer, so figured I’d stay for winter break longer,” he answers, and you nod. You’re still on the “kids” end of the table, despite all of you now being full-grown adults. Some things really never change.

“Y’know we really should hang out,” Jungkook is saying. “I haven’t seen Jimin in two years – isn’t that crazy? Hey, remember when our parents would hang out and drag us with them. At least that meant we saw each other constantly. Now that we have our own lives, I don’t even go when our families hang out.”

You ruffle Jungkook’s hair and he gives you an adoring smile.

“I miss you guys,” he pouts, and something warm floods through you.

“I miss you guys too,” you answer, a little melancholy, a little sad, and Jungkook gives you a dopey grin, completely clueless. But Taehyung doesn’t return your smile, only surveying you quietly through his glasses.

-2017-

Jimin, Jungkook and Taehyung said they weren’t going to attend this year’s annual New Year’s bash. You can’t say you aren’t crestfallen at the news. It’s clear they all have lives outside their family. Taehyung and Jimin have graduated already. Taehyung doesn’t have enough time off to come home, and Jimin has plans with some guy he’s been seeing lately. Jungkook is going home with Jieun this year to meet her family.

You make plans with your friends from college, and the four of you end up at a bar. It’s fun – you sing karaoke and drink copious amounts of alcohol. You even makeout with strangers.

But somewhere deep down, you know you rather be sitting at the kids end of the table, stuffing your face with food.

-2018-

Taehyung hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you walked into his house. You’re wearing a dress and some heels because Jimin insisted that the four of you dress up for the occasion, considering you hadn’t been able to get together last year. It’s been a while since the gang was back in town at the same time, and you’d just graduated and secured a decent job right away. Jimin claimed it was a cause to celebrate.

The four of you are at the usual family party this winter, because where else would you be?

Taehyung is very obviously drunk. He isn’t rowdy like Jimin or Jungkook, but you can tell. He sways faintly to the music and his eyes are dark.

At the end of the night Jimin goes home to his boyfriend, and Jungkook to his girlfriend, leaving you and Taehyung to clean up the messes they leave behind. Your parents have long gone home, no longer caring if you stay a little longer, or stay over. Taehyung’s family is practically your family.

You eye him subtly as you’re putting away the board games – his hands are in the pockets of his burgundy trousers. A cream dress shirt is tucked into his pants. As always, he looks good. Taehyung suddenly turns to look at you and you feel your face go warm at his stare.

Before you know it, he’s reaching over to kiss you, large hand cupping your face, head tilting so he can slot himself better against your lips. Your hand grasps at the front of his shirt as you pull him closer and you don’t hesitate to intertwine your free hands.

He wordlessly pulls you towards his bedroom in the basement, careful not to wake his parents. He pushes you down on his bed before climbing on top of you to continue where you’d left off in the living room.

That night, you fall asleep in his arms, naked and satisfied.

-2019-

Kim Seokjin whispers in a terrible joke in your ear, making you giggle. He’s your date for the night – but the two of you aren’t actually dating. Seokjin was a friend from college, albeit your senior, but you’d asked him to accompany you to this year’s New Year’s party and by some miracle he’d said yes.

You know Jin doesn’t think about you in that way – you’re at most like a baby sister to him – but he plays his part and holds your hand and sits next to you and brings you refills whenever he sees your drink is running low. A part of you thinks he knows what the deal is, if the soft way he looks at you is any indication. You owe Jin a big one.

You didn’t want to be the only one in the group without a date. Jimin has brought Min Yoongi, his boyfriend of two years and Jieun is here with Jungkook.

And then there’s the pretty girl on Taehyung’s arm.

You bite your lip. After spending that one night together last year, you and Taehyung had woken up with smiles on your faces. It had been a happy moment, until you’d had to sneak out of his house without his parents noticing. He’d laughed, kissed you on the lips and you’d left. When you’d seen him next, you’d been with Jimin, Jungkook, and all your families. The two of you had shared secret smiles but hadn’t got a moment to yourselves and before you knew it, Taehyung had had to head back across the country – back to his life without you in it.

You hadn’t even gotten a chance to discuss whatever had happened between you, and you didn’t think it would be appropriate to discuss over the phone. You’d carried on talking to him like normal, assuming that you’d discuss this whenever he came back home next, and he never brought it up either. You hadn’t realized then that Taehyung only ever came home once a year – for Christmas.

Your heart sinks now, watching as he leans in quietly to talk to her over the loud bass of whatever rap beat Yoongi has chosen. You hadn’t told anyone, not even your college friends, about what had happened. You feel used – that whatever the two of you had, was maybe just a drunken one-night stand. But it hadn’t felt like that to you. It had felt… right. Like the conclusion to something that had been building up for many years now. But looking back, maybe it’s just you that thinks that.

Taehyung has never shown any interest in you in that manner, and you’ve known him for years. He’s dated in that time – even had relationships (Jooyoung from high school comes to mind, and you rack your brain trying to think of other serious girlfriends, but you only come up with girls he’s mentioned once or twice and then never again). Jimin already lives with Yoongi and Jungkook and Jieun are discussing moving in together. In your little group, only you and Taehyung have no strings when it comes to relationships.

You’ve dated too – of course – but never seriously. Your longest relationship lasted three months.

“Is he the one?” Seokjin leans over to ask you in a low voice. You turn to look at him nestled comfortably on the couch next to you, long limbs spread out. “The one you like?”

“Like...huh?” you take a large gulp of your wine. “I’ve never thought about him that way.”

“Then pray tell me why your face has longing written all over it?” Seokjin is astute.

“Thanks for coming today,” you say instead. Jin smiles lazily, long lashes casting shadows on his elegant cheekbones.

“I’ll even peck you on the lips at midnight if you want me to,” he says cheekily, and you slap his face away laughing.

“Aren’t you two adorable!” Jimin collapses on the couch next to Jin and offers him a friendly fist bump. Jimin knows Jin isn’t your boyfriend but is smart enough to not say anything.

“Are we?” Jin grins, throwing his arm around your neck to pull you towards him, your cheeks smushing together. “You hear that babe?”

“Oof,” you groan against him and he lets go of you to stand up. Motioning towards the bathroom, he flashes one of his infamous grins before making his way through the living room. Jimin slides over towards you, neatly taking your drink from your hand before taking a sip.

“Where’s Yoongi?”

“His parents called, he’s talking to them out on the deck,” Jimin looks at you. You look at him and raise your eyebrows. “You okay?”

“What makes you think I’m not?”

“I dunno, you always get this look on your face when you’re not,” he hums, sipping your wine again. “How long do you think I’ve known you?” You roll your eyes. You’re eyeing Taehyung again. He came to the party late and hadn’t as much as introduced his lady friend to you. He hadn’t even looked at you. Was this how your friendship with Taehyung was going to end?

“Who’s the girl?” you can’t help but ask, jutting your chin in the direction of the pair. A knowing look crosses Jimin’s features.

“Yoona something,” he says. “They work together, I think. Her flight home got cancelled so Tae brought her back here.” Jimin looks at you again. “They’re not dating – if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Fucking, then.”

“Well, probably,” Jimin laughs. “It’s Taehyung,” Of course. It’s Taehyung. You huff sarcastically. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t.”

“You do,” You groan. What is with your friends today. “When will you admit it to yourself?”

“Admit what?”

Jimin gives out a short laugh and stands up.

“You’re both so painfully alike, I’m going to get frustrated,” he mutters, half under his breath. You tilt your head curiously at his wording, but he doesn’t elaborate. “One is horrible with making a move and the other too dense to realize what’s staring at them in their face.” You watch Jimin head off, muttering to himself and shake your head.

When Jin returns with another bad joke about the toilet and pinches your cheek adoringly, taking up his spot next to you on the couch, you’re far too busy laughing to notice the way Taehyung’s eyes flash across the room.

-The Present-

“Tae’s coming home this year, isn’t he?” you mother casually asks. You’re in the middle of putting the cakes in the oven and you pause.

“Is he? I haven’t asked,” you answer, schooling your voice carefully.

“His mother mentioned that he doesn’t seem too happy lately,” you mom continues on from the other end of the kitchen. “They want him to move back here, or somewhere closer to here.”

“Good luck with that,” you snort. There’s three feet of snow that arrived last night and you’re not looking forward to shoveling it all by yourself. You haven’t seen Taehyung properly since the two of you had… fooled around some two years ago. Whatever idea you’d entertained about the two of you after that, it had all just been clearly in your head. Taehyung was barely home long enough for you to hang out as a group and if the rumors amongst the parents were anything to go by, you weren’t surprised he wanted to avoid the gossiping small town feel of this place.

Frankly, you’re dreading seeing Taehyung this year. This year’s party is definitely more exclusive than last year’s. It’ll just be the four of you this year. Like the old days. And Jieun and Yoongi, but you’ve known those two for years now.

“He’s such a good-looking boy,” Oh god, your mother is still talking. “I’m surprised he hasn’t thought about settling down yet. Of course, how can he think about settling down without a stable career first – freelance photography was it?”

“Mom, it’s none of our business,” you mutter.

“Oh, I know,” she says quickly. “But I’d always thought he’d go places, you know? He did so well at one of the country’s best universities, got that amazing job right after. And now what? He quit it after all this time and that Jimin who only did community college is earning twice the amount Tae is!”

“Mom!” you snap. “Let. It. Go.” Your mother stares at you in disbelief, closing her mouth quickly, and thankfully shutting up. “I’m gonna go shovel the driveway,” you mutter, taking your apron off, and shoving it onto its usual hook by the pantry.

You’re just opening up the garage and grabbing the big purple shovel when you see Jungkook floundering through the snow towards your house.

“When did you get home?” You ask, forgetting about your mother for a second.

“Two days ago—look,” Jungkook’s face is serious. “We need to throw Taehyung a totally bitchin’ birthday party.”

“What?! Why?” You begin shoveling while Jungkook stands there. You’ve never thrown Taehyung a party before – usually that goes hand in hand with the annual New Year’s Eve bash and the two are celebrated together, even though Tae’s birthday is the day before.

“Because he’s been weird ever since he came home – he never says anything, but I know, alright?”

“What? He’s back?” You stop shoveling and stare at the younger man.

“He didn’t tell you?” Jungkook asks, after hesitating. You bite your lip. You’ve always been the first to know whenever Taehyung decides to visit. “Is everything okay?” You sigh.

“Yes… I don’t know… probably not,” you groan. Jungkook blinks down at you, utterly clueless. “We…fooled around, alright?”

“When?!” Jungkook’s voice has gone up three octaves. “Oh, holy fuck.”

“Two years ago,” you hiss, motioning him to pipe down. “After that party at his house. We never spoke about it and I just assumed he wanted an easy fuck.”

“You’re an idiot,” Jungkook says and you wonder at his wording. “A blind idiot.”

“What?” you’re so confused. Jimin had mumbled something similar last year. Jungkook shakes his head, bits of snow falling off his beanie.

“Aside from that, I think the dude is just going through an overall rough time,” he says. “And no, it’s not because you two fucked. You in?”

“What—yeah fine,” you give in.

“Cool – then my house on the 30th. Bring your own booze. Wear something cute but comfortable.”

“Who else is coming?” You yell after him, watching Jungkook shuffling back down the street. He turns to look at you questioningly.

“It’s just us,” he says, surprise evident in his voice. “Who else?”

“Right.” You say, sighing inwardly.

That night, you run straight into Taehyung outside Jungkook’s door.

“Uh,” you say, wincing at yourself for sounding so horribly awkward. Taehyung stands in front of you, readying himself to knock on. You’d hoped to avoid him for a little bit longer but here you were, running into him right as you arrive. You grip your bottle of Merlot tightly. “Hey.”

“Hey,” he says back, raising an eyebrow at you. Taehyung is intimidating – has always been. You vaguely remember a time when he didn’t scare you, when you were both young and Taehyung was this small scrawny kid with big eyes and a mop of hair. “How’ve you been?” He towers over you now, all broad shoulders and long legs.

“Good,” you clear your throat. “You?” A ghost of a smile flits across his features.

“I’m sure you’ve already heard,” he says, almost bitterly.

“That you quit your fancy job? Yeah, I heard.” Maybe it’s your offhanded tone that throws him off but he’s gawking down at you before chuckling to himself. “What?”

“Nothing,” his face breaks into a bigger smile. “Should’ve known that you of all people wouldn’t give a shit if I quit my job or not,” You’re rushing to correct him that that was not how you intended to come off but he’s grinning, raising a hand to stop you. “No, it’s a good thing. I’m sick of people pitying me for something that was so obviously the correct decision.”

“Pity, huh?” you grin back at that. “Do they give you the sad head-tilt too?” You tilt your head mockingly to the side to demonstrate.

“Oh my god yes,” he snorts. “I’ve been getting those all week.”

“Welcome to the world of failures Kim,” you grin, holding out your hand in an honorary handshake. “We hate it here, but at least the expectations are now at a rock bottom. You can only go up from here.” Taehyung is about to reach for your hand when the door opens.

“Can you two quit flirting out here and come in?” Jungkook is indignant, holding a bottle of beer in each hand. Taehyung gives you a look you can’t quite decipher before heading in. You follow in after him, setting your wine down on Jungkook’s kitchen island. His apartment is small – only one bedroom – but it’s so Jungkook that you smile.

You hug Jieun as she comes out of their shared bedroom before moving on to join Jimin in the kitchen. Jieun is hugging Taehyung, wishing him a Happy Birthday. You watch them as you open your wine and reach for a glass from one of Jungkook’s cabinets.

“Not drinking tonight?” you ask Jimin. He’s dyed his hair blonde and it curls slightly. You think you like this look on him.

“I drove here,” he says easily. “What about you?”

“I’ll figure it out,” you grin. Taehyung comes up to dump the cheesecake you hadn’t noticed he’d been holding earlier on the counter. “Want me to put that in the fridge?” You address him.

“Yes please,”

“Not drinking tonight Tae?” Jimin throws your question at the dark-haired boy, as you shove the cake into Jungkook’s fridge. Taehyung’s eyes quickly glance at you before he speaks up

“I drove here,” he mutters and Jimin snorts.

“It’s your birthday party and you’re gonna stay stone cold sober? That’s sad man. Not to mention you brought your own cake,” he says, chin resting on his hand as he leans on the counter. Taehyung shrugs.

“Where’s Yoongi?” you ask and Jimin motions towards the living room where Jungkook and Yoongi are deeply immersed in what looks like Super Smash Bros Brawl. Judging by the way Yoongi is yelling, you assume he’s already tipsy. Taehyung comes up behind the counter to stand next to you to observe their game. You’re only faintly wary of his presence next to you as you sip on your drink. You don’t even realize Jimin has left the two of you to yourselves to go join Yoongi and Jungkook.

“Why’d you quit?” you ask, still staring at the TV. If Taehyung is surprised at your question, he doesn’t show it. “Your job, I mean.”

“It’s not what I went to school for,” he answers, hands in his pockets. “It became less about the art and more about kissing the asses of big corporations so they would fund us. I took the job because it paid well but at what cost?”

“Yeah, I understand,” you say softly. Taehyung looks at you.

“I know you do,” He says after a while, and your heart blooms at the honest faith in his voice. “My parents are disappointed. They don’t say it out loud, but I know they are. They think I’m going through something when the truth is that I know exactly what I want to do.”

“And that is?” you’re looking at him now and things suddenly fall into place. It’s as though the last few years never happened, that there was never a distance between the two of you. It reminds you of a different time – a time when you and Taehyung would tell each other everything even if you didn’t see him every day.

“Photography,” he answers. “My own studio. Maybe even sell my work – I don’t know. Just me, and art.” You smile.

“That sounds nice,” you say. “You know, Jungkook threw this party thinking you’re going through a quarter-life crisis,” Taehyung snorts at that and you can’t help but giggle along. “I wanted to tell him that he was crazy, but I didn’t have the heart to.” Taehyung is looking at you, questions evident on his face. “Call me crazy, I don’t know, but there has never been a day where you’ve been lost in your life. You’ve always known what you want, and you’ve made sure you get it,” You look down at your wine. The words unlike me are at the tip of your tongue but you don’t voice them. You know what—who you want, but you’re a coward.

You weren’t lying. Taehyung had always been ambitious – a go-getter. If he wanted you, he would’ve made it clear. The realization is heart-breaking.

Taehyung doesn’t reply to your statement, and only hums in response.

The night gets rowdier after that – Jungkook and Yoongi are a deadly combination when drunk and you’ve made it through your bottle of wine by yourself so you’re not doing too badly either.

Jimin and Yoongi leave first – Jimin basically dragging the older boy out. You’re scrolling through the train schedule when you notice Taehyung come up to you.

“I’ll drop you off,” he says. “You’re on the way to my parents house anyway.” You can only nod at that before he’s helping you stand up. The two of you bid a goodbye to Jieun (Jungkook has long since been put to bed and she’s collecting the myriad of beer bottles for recycling), and before you know it, you’re comfortably seated in Taehyung’s car.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been to your place,” he says at last, sounding only slightly guilty. You laugh and tell him your address and watch as he plugs it into the car’s GPS system. You had moved out only last year, finally in a place to be able to afford. The two of you drive in silence, with you watching Taehyung.

He’s wearing a dark button down, tucked into equally dark jeans, hair falling over his forehead. Rings adorn his fingers that are gripping the steering wheel, and you swallow as you eye his thighs in those pants.

The wine was a bad idea.

“Something on my face?” he asks lightly, eyes still on the road. You start in your seat. The wine has lowered your inhibitions considerably.

“No, just admiring how pretty you are,” you say and Taehyung chokes on air. “Did you know you’re pretty? You always have been,”

“Is that so?” There’s a wry smile on Taehyung’s face. You prop your elbow up on his window, chin resting in your hand as you look outside.

“Yeah, since the fucking beginning,” you snort. “Even when you were scrawny and twelve, you were this pretty little thing. Next to you I looked like a drowned rat.”

Taehyung scoffs, running one hand through his hair, pushing it back.

“The day you wake up and realize your self-worth,” he mutters. “You’re far too intelligent and beautiful to belittle yourself like this,” You freeze and turn to look at him. “What? I’m telling you a truth. Stop undermining yourself – you’ve done it all your life.”

“Do you want me to pull up photos from that one trip our families took in 2010? Your puberty kicked in and turned you into a teenage model. My puberty kicked in and I looked like Phineas and Ferb’s long lost sibling.”

“Chat shit all you want, but Jungkook and I spent that trip sneaking glances of you in that bathing suit.”

“You two did what?”

“And I told Jungkook to back off,” Taehyung says it so easily. He pulls up in front of your building and turns off the car. The two of you sit there in silence. “Do you know how hard it is for me to control myself around you?”

You’re dimly aware that Taehyung hasn’t had a single sip of alcohol tonight – that he’s completely himself.

“Then why are you controlling yourself?” you whisper. Taehyung gives you another one of his wry smiles, this one rather sad.

“Because you’ve never seen me the way I’ve seen you,” he says, voice just as hushed. “And for a while, I didn’t mind. It was just a little crush – and I only saw you once or twice in a year so how could it mean anything? I had an entire life outside of you that you weren’t even a part of. So how could any of this be real?” He pauses, and you wait for him to continue.

“But then… That Night happened,” and you know what he’s talking about. “And I thought ‘finally’ and once I’d had a taste, I wanted to keep coming back for more.” He looks up at you now, eyes distant. “And because you never brought it up again, I just thought that it didn’t mean anything—”

“Wait,” you interrupt him, heart racing so fast you can hear it thrum through your ears. “I thought you wanted nothing more.”

“Why would you ever think that?” he whispers. “When I never heard from you, I tried to move on—I had to move on, y’know? And this year I told myself that when I saw you, I’d be content with being your friend. I know I’ve been distant these past few years, but I needed that time to pick myself up—it was too hard to see you and know nothing could come of it.”

“Wait wait wait,” you wave your hands in front of your face, eyes tightly shut. “B-but you never mentioned that night again! I-I just assumed it was a one-night thing!” Taehyung blinks.

“A guy would have to be completely blind to only want you for one night,” he says quietly, and your heart soars. He’s reaching over for you and you shyly intertwine your fingers with his.

“You’re going to have to spell it out for me,” you whisper, tracing patterns on the back of his hand with your thumb. “Because I’m stupid and I won’t believe it until I’ve heard it—”

But Taehyung is reaching over to your seat and pressing his lips to yours. You’ve missed this taste and you reciprocate almost instantly. He tastes like the strawberries that were topped on his birthday cake and you lean into the kiss, sighing in pleasure.

Before you know it, he’s undoing your seatbelt and pulling you over to his side. It’s uncomfortable and you almost ram your head against the rear-view mirror, but eventually you find yourself comfortably straddling his lap, back to the steering wheel. Taehyung’s large hands span the width of your back as he holds you in place.

“I think I like you,” he says. You smile down at him, running a hand along his cheekbone, jaw, finally resting it on his shoulder.

“I think I like you too,” you say back. You lean down to capture his lips in yours one more time and this time he doesn’t hesitate in sliding his tongue into your mouth. You grasp at his shirt on his shoulders, while his hands travel down to rest on your thighs where they travel under the flowy dress you’re wearing, moving over your thighs and finally resting on your ass. You whimper into the kiss and Taehyung doesn’t miss the opportunity to explore more of your mouth.

It’s when you let yourself sit down on his lap completely that you feel it – the hardness in his pants. You gasp before straightening up, but he pushes you back down onto his crotch. You pull away from the kiss, lips swollen.

“T-Tae!” you’re gripping his shirt almost painfully right and he smirks up at you.

“See what you do to me?” he whispers. “We’ve barely done anything except swap spit and I’m already so hard it hurts.” Your ears go warm at his dirty words and you hide your face in the crook of his neck. You squirm on top of him and he groans in pleasure. “Any more of you moving that cute little ass on top of me and I’m going to cream my pants right here and right now.”

His lips latch onto your exposed collarbone where the strap of your dress has slid off and he sucks a bruise there. Your hips are swirling on top of him of their own volition and Taehyung has to throw back his head to let out a deep moan of pleasure. You stare at him in wonder – he looks so beautiful like this, dark hair clinging to his forehead, eyes blown out, lips swollen – and at your complete mercy. You kiss up his neck, biting his earlobe, before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.

“I’m soaked,” you say, blushing. Your hand reaches down to tease your clit and you whimper before bringing your slick fingers up to show him. “See?”

Like a man starved, Taehyung is wordlessly reaching over to take your fingers into his mouth, and you watch in awe as his tongue swirls around them, licking up your juices instantly. His gaze doesn’t leave you for even a second and you’re so mesmerized. When you kiss him again, you taste yourself on him.

“You’re gonna have to stop here,” he puts a hand on your thigh to halt your ministrations. “I’ll seriously cream my pants.”

“I’m okay with that,” you mutter, leaning in to kiss him again, but he pulls back, a sly smile on his face.

“No, I’d much rather cream your pussy,” his grin is so wolfish that you feel a new wave of juices flow through you.

“Lucky for us we’re at my place though isn’t it,” you smile against his mouth. He laughs, a low, comforting sound before opening the door. You climb off him and out onto the sidewalk and straighten your dress. Taehyung gets off after you, hair mussed (thanks to you), and shirt half unbuttoned (also thanks to you). He reaches for your hand, which you take with a smile. This time, there is no hesitation, no hidden meaning.

-Sometime in the (not-so) distant future-

“Will you hurry up?” You hiss at Jungkook, but he’s too busy brushing his hair to pay any attention to you. “We’re so gonna be late!”

“You’re trampling on my mojo,” Jungkook tells you, straightening his tie and staring at himself in the mirror. Taehyung is next to you, tapping his foot in impatience.

“Okay, Jeon, that’s enough, you are not going to be late for your own wedding.” He says, face impassive and Jungkook sighs.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll be right out – you two go take your positions. Tae – you got the rings?” Taehyung rolls his eyes and pats his front coat pocket pointedly. Jungkook grins, face guilty and Taehyung is opening his mouth, probably to tell Jungkook off once and for all.

You laugh, knowing this is your cue to interrupt the fight before it actually happens, and pull Taehyung away from his best friend and push him out of Jungkook’s dressing room.

“Let’s go – if he’s late that’s on him but I don’t want us to be late either and you’re in the wedding you need to be up there.” You push Taehyung towards the main church towards the altar.

“God,” Taehyung is grumbling. “Promise me, our day won’t be so anxiety inducing.”

“How can it be when you’re such a micromanager,” you smile. “I expect our day to run like a German train schedule.” Taehyung rolls his eyes and glances at a dainty ring on your left hand. He does that often, as if to reassure himself that this is the reality, that you’re here and present and beside him. It makes you unbearably fond. Because even now, years later, Kim Taehyung still can’t believe he has you.

“Honestly, we could do it at city hall and I wouldn’t mind,” Taehyung hums. “Without all these clowns present.”

“Fine,” you play along. “Wanna go this weekend?” You’re not expecting the raised eyebrow he gives you, or the coy answer that follows – but it does make your heart race in a way only Kim Taehyung has ever been capable of.

#kwritersworldnet #bangtanarmynet #btswriterscollective #kim taehyung #taehyung fluff #taehyung angst #taehyung #tae #bts v #bts #bts fic

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nothin---g · 5 years ago

Text

June 29, 2019

My family attended my goddaughter’s baptismal in Pampanga. My father made a decision that before we go to my Lolo’s house, we should visit Uncle M’s house first. One of my cousins questioned me if I am a lesbian or a bisexual one because of my hair then later on he advised me about how I should understand my father's sentiments about boys, love, and relationship. Actually, I disagree when it comes to educating me about boys’ behavior because boys should be the one educated when it comes to respecting girls. I just want to share that our family barely visit my father’s side (Pampanga) and I am really not close with my cousins there that’s why I appreciate 'that' cousin that I've mentioned above because he really tried reaching out to us.

My goddaughter is so cute!!! I already have 4 goddaughters but I think I suck as a godmother. I told myself that I will spoil them if I became a doctor in the future regardless of their age knowing that they will be teens at that time. I didn’t expect that at the end of the day, I will wish that we should have stayed longer. This time, I feel like I’ve gotten closer to them and I actually miss being there right now. We bought Silvanas (my favorite!!!!) before we travel back in Laguna. My father stopped by my auntie’s house and we ate at a restaurant near their apartment.

July 3, 2019

MMI chatted me if I wanted to catch up with her and JG. To be honest, I feel something is suspicious and off since it is unusual for someone like her to invite me. Anyways, I agreed to meet up with them since I miss JG so much because the last time I was with her, she is so quiet and busy with her phone. We chose a milk tea place (Sediento) and stayed for 3-4 hours? MMI told a lot of stories about herself and how is she and RDG got into a fight(?) which is not really my story to tell. She also said that I was mentioned by JCV because her girlfriend(?) asked if I was the one who told MMI about her tweets and I won’t deny that because before I wanted to know MMI’s side but then JG and AMM clarified that JCV’s girlfriend is just like that. The part that really touched me the most is that JMN cleared my name by saying that I’m not like “that” because maybe JVV and his girlfriend doesn’t like that I know such things. MMI and JG were blaming me for knowing too much information about our batch, as if I wanted this!!!

JG and I accompanied MMI who bought medicine for her mother(?) then let her ride a jeep first before we go home. JG and I were waiting for her jeep to come when she mentioned Sef, an omegle(?) guy, then I asked her if she wanted to tell the story somewhere (more like 7 11). She was irritated and then blamed me for offering MMI that we should accompany her. She told me that MMI was obviously wanted to catch up so that she can tell a lot of things about herself. I told her that I knew that there was something suspicious when MMI let us know about her little situation with RDG, MMI looked like she needs our sympathy. All in all, I really love this day because I cleared some misunderstanding I’ve had with JG .

July 10, 2019

I really promised myself that this summer, I will be able to visit at least 5 museums before school starts but I guess the last one will be in December. I am with my two sisters and we decided to visit National Museum of Anthropology first before National Museum of Fine Arts. National Museum of Anthropology has 5 floors that has 3-4 exhibits/gallery per floor if I remembered it correctly. We always start at the top floor and my siblings were already tired when we were about to reach 3rd floor. While waiting for a grab driver, there’s a couple (boy-boy) that I noticed outside the building and they are so cute!!!! They also have hickeys motherfu- !!! I really whispered to myself that famous line “sana all.”

We decided to eat at SM Manila and I give up on thinking that we can also visit National Museum of Fine Arts at the end of the day because we really have to be at the terminal before rush hours to avoid traffic. I really think that I spoiled my sisters because I let them taste Macao Imperial Milk Tea's best seller and bought them Whatta-Box from Wendy’s for lunch. I hope that next time, the money that I would spend comes from a job that I love and I also hope that my parents would be there too. We were all tired when we arrived at our house but it was all worth it!

July 11, 2019

Overnight with two of my favorite peeps!!! First, we headed to Puregold to buy drinks and snacks then we were about to go to JG’s house, AMM asked JG at the counter (non-verbatim) “bat ka ba layo nang layo? mabaho ba hininga ko?” After this scenario, JG and I can’t stop laughing out loud.

I am so weak when it comes to “purong” empi! I’m already drunk at my 5th or 6th cup. AMM and I were a mess! We shared the same bowl just to puke. I crawl into the bathroom. AMM was continuously saying a phrase that I forgot while typing this. JG took care of us but she has a lot of videos of ourselves! One thing that I regret from that night is that I embarrassed myself to JG’s younger brother (i have a crush on him). I giggled loudly when he came home the fuck. Honestly, I don’t remember everything that happened that night since I just sleep whenever I feel drunk.

The next morning, I blamed empi for everything! My head hurts (fuck). We all love what happened to us last night. We ate breakfast and continued sharing stories about ourselves until I plead that I have to go home because my sister is alone at our house.

July 15, 2019

Enrollment day! I thought that I can go home early but there’s a lot of procedure when enrolling and what sucks is that it is in different buildings ugh. My batchmates were shocked because I cut my hair short but I am really thankful that they are complimenting it because I am so done with people who always tries to drag my confidence down. At the bus, I decided to meet up with my barkada.

Another milk tea place again! The place is so far from where my bus dropped me off. Two of us walked and that's why we both laughed at each other when we met because we fucking know the struggle just to be there. We tried to play Jenga but it is so noisy that’s why we stopped. All of us hooted with laughter when AFDR told RDS, "sa akin ka na magpay." We are also happy because RDS treat us. We stayed a little bit longer and we didn't expect we will experience brownout inside a cafe. To be honest, there's a lot of things that happened this day and I tried asking my friend for that tiny moments that made me happy but she can't also remember. I really wanted to type those things but I won't push myself because the important thing is that I don't think my day was wasted. I just want to add that JNG is so funny when she persuades me to have an overnight.

July 20, 2019

Our plan to come by at Enchanted Kingdom finally happened!!! I AM PROUD THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED ALL THE EXTREME RIDES!!! Even though the weather is really hot, I really loved the fact that we didn't fall in line that long. As far as I remember, we rode Flying Fiesta ▶Rialto ▶Space Shuttle ▶Anchor's Away ▶AGILA ▶Roller Skater ▶Bump Car ▶Jungle Log Jam ▶Disc-o Magic ▶Rio Grande ▶Air Race ▶Ekstreme Tower ▶Wheel of Fate ▶Air Race ▶Space Shuttle. Believe it or not but I only have one photo (Ferris Wheel) on my phone because of extreme happiness that I felt this day. Mostly, our topics were about AFDR's flings. She even mentioned that she met NB's boyfriend there. Frankly, my friend and I (single) planned to find handsome men inside but sadly they were only few. AFDR found one and she named him Eleven. LRM found someone too but that guy has a girlfriend. I found someone too after we watched the fireworks because he is wearing a white shirt + he looks so tall.

July 23, 2019

Even though we were incomplete, we managed to continue having an overnight before our vacation ends. First, we went to SC's house (specifically rooftop). We tried to guess her cat's name and we laughed so hard when they mentioned ~toptop liagibma~ JNG told us that she is one of the reasons why RA broke up with DR then we shared our sentiments about the way he chats us. We also cornered RDS if he still have feelings for NB and when he said no we asked him when. We stayed at SC's until eight o'clock because: 1) we played mafia and I am flattered because they praised me and they said that I am a good mafia and a good doctor 2) it's hard for us to decide where to eat 3) the rain won't stop 4) we pleaded to SC's mother to let her join with us.

We ate at Onyang's and oh boy the foods are delicious!!! I really loved the chicken even though it is spicy. We arrived at our house around 10 and start mafia game again around 11. Boy, we are so serious to catch the mafia. I just want to brag that I think I just failed 2 to 3 times to catch a mafia. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT WE WERE ALL HAPPY THIS TIME TO THE POINT THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER THE REASON WHY WE LAUGHED SO HARD WHILE PLAYING THIS. We also played kindat killer and it is so funny too. I never thought that I would be this happy again even though there's no liquor. We decided to sleep around 3 AM? The next day, we just watched Escape Room and they go home right after because 1) i think we were still sleepy 2) they don't took a bath.

#hindimalilimutan #long ass post I'm sorry

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chendersonfic · 4 years ago

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Fall River Street

The yellow cab exhaled as it rolled to a slow stop in front of the quaint four-bedroom house nestled at the end of Fall River Street. The house reminded Addison of a mausoleum, untouched by the passing of time and preserving everything on the inside without any discernment. The golden red fall leaves swept along the front yard like a royal cape. This picture was exactly why local real estate agents would favor fall as the best time for their listings, the foliage added a type of natural magic that you simply couldn’t conjure up or recreate with photoshop.

He stepped out of the cab and closed the door behind him, gazing at the house with childish apprehension. His father was dead, and this was going to be a long week. He was here to help his mother prepare the house for sale. She didn’t need four bedrooms all to herself, and she had long forgotten her past dreams of having grandchildren that would run through the hallways and bring the house alive with their noisy laughter. She was ready to downgrade to a one-bedroom apartment close to him and planned on spending the rest of her time volunteering and knitting scarves for the homeless.

But first they had to tackle a lifetime worth of accumulated garbage. If hoarding was a woman, his mother was her cousin. Nowhere near as bad as ceiling-tall piles of useless trash, but prone to collecting tchotchkes, broken kitchenware, and sentimental rubbish. Now they had a week to sort through it all before the realtor would come back with a photographer and list the empty house for sale.

“There you are honey,” said the tiny silver-haired woman who came out to greet him on the stoop. His mother looked so small, much smaller than he remembered her. Then again, it had been years.

He walked up the stairs which still had a print of his boyish hands embedded in the concrete.

“Hey ma,” he said, and gave her a long overdue hug, then followed her inside back into his past.

Everything was just as he remembered it, down to the creaky floorboards in the hallway and the janky seashell vintage living room lamp that would provide erratic light bursts in capricious intervals.

“I made you lunch,” his mother said, making her way into the kitchen.

“I’m not that hungry,” he called back from the living room, still looking around at all the familiar yet long-forgotten details that painted the picture of his childhood.

“You have to eat,” she replied, walking back in with a tray of soup and sandwiches. If anyone really had to eat, it was her, but he decided to skip that conversation for now. This wasn't the time to stress her out about her food intake.

He grabbed the tray from her, and they ate in the living room, surrounded by silence. If there was one thing he appreciated, it was the fact that his mother knew better than to cry in front of him. He wasn’t good at handling people’s emotions anymore, he only had room enough for his own.

“The house is in good shape,” Addison stated, taking a sip of the chicken soup. His mother nodded.

“You know, Tom Hadley comes by to help with it,” she replied casually. He felt the soup suddenly stuck in his throat.

“He does?”

“Yes, he’s been a big help. He came by the other week and fixed the refrigerator. Are you boys still in touch?” Addison tried to swallow, but the lump remained. He shook his head no, not being able to utter a word.

There was a time, so long ago it felt like another lifetime altogether, when it wouldn’t have crossed his mind to leave his town and move away. He had no grandeur plans of making it out, or the need to test the waters anywhere else. He would have been content staying right where he was, close to his best friend Tom.

“Oh, before I forget. You wouldn’t mind going to check on Mrs. Beckett next door, would you? I try to look in on her at least once a day, but I think seeing your face might be good for her.” When Addison appeared confused, she added. “She has dementia now, her memory fluctuates. I think it started with Mark’s suicide you know,” she added with sadness. “I think it just permanently broke her.” The boy’s face flashed in Addison’s memory with vivid cruelty. His green eyes, his brown curly hair, and the smile that seemed almost a permanent feature of his mouth.

“Mark Beckett killed himself?” He wanted to make sure he didn’t mishear her.

“Hung himself right there in the bedroom,” she said, shaking her head. “He was a good friend of yours, wasn’t he?” Good friend was a stretch, Addison thought to himself. Mark was universally beloved at Fall River High, and if he was ever in Addison’s vicinity, it was because he was good friends with Tom. Really if he thought about it, all of his friends were Tom’s friends. He had a natural knack for it, getting people to like him. Addison was the opposite. His nose had been mostly buried in books growing up, apart from the occasional hoop session with Tom, or riding his bike through the neighborhood. His friendship with Tom started out mostly due to convenience, as the boys lived down the street from each other. But it had quickly developed into a strong bond.

“Can I sleep in the guest room?” He asked, finishing his soup.

“Sorry honey, it’s packed with stuff. You’ll have to sleep in your old bedroom until we clear it out tomorrow.” He nodded in defeat, and after cleaning the dishes, he slowly made his way upstairs, back to his childhood bedroom. It was a museum, with everything preserved just as he had left it. The blue bed sheets, the wooden desk with carved words and scribbled phrases, and the deflated basketball abandoned in the corner.

He put down his bag and sat down on the small twin bed. He had spent countless hours in this room, and many of them had included Tom. But he left it all behind the second that he turned 18. He first kept afloat with a restaurant job while going to a community college in the evening. And now he made his living as a video editor, making just enough to be comfortable. His small apartment housed two plants as his only company.

He got up and walked over to the desk and opened the drawer. It contained two old textbooks, four pens, a yo-yo, and an old notebook. He opened the notebook and flipped through the pages, until he found it. A list of names scribbled over and over again, like a mantra or a spell. The ink was dark, and it looked as if he had stabbed the pages with the pen that wrote it.

Steven Hades Michael Dornes Sean Trevley Mark Beckett

The list of names went on for a countless number of pages, in that same exact order. Until he got to the last page, where a new name appeared.

Steven Hades Michael Dornes Sean Trevley Mark Beckett Tom Hadley

He closed the notebook with force, then shut the drawer in a hurry. He would get rid of it tomorrow, burn it or throw it out with the rest of the garbage. Bury it forever, never to be found again. He turned off the light and tossed and turned on the small bed for the rest on the night.

In the morning, feeling sleep-deprived and emotionally empty, he turned on the coffee pot, hoping the brown liquid would keep him awake enough to tackle the boxes he needed to sort through in the garage. It wasn’t an easy task, and he spent the next hours rummaging through countless cords and cables, old tv remotes, Christmas decorations, pictures, and even managed to find parts of his old bicycle.

On his lunch break, he took a beer from the fridge and sat on the front porch, watching the street. He noticed a group of people walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. He spotted Tom’s distinct shuffle right away. He raised the beer to his lips and tried to remain calm. He wasn’t going to run back into the house like a coward. The group got closer, and he recognized Tom’s wife and his childhood friend, Jodie, walking next to him, along with her parents. In his arms there was a small toddler.

The group decided to stop right across from him—because God possessed a dark sense of humor—as Jodie bent down to tie her shoelace. That’s when Tom’s gaze drifted in his direction and froze. The two men made eye contact, and it wasn’t until Jodie pulled Tom by the hand a minute later, that he finally looked away and continued walking.

Addison took a few shaky breaths. He tried to focus on something, anything, to take his mind off of what had happened. He looked at his small handprints in the pavement. His father wasn’t thrilled when he saw what Addison did to the brand-new stairs. In fact, if he remembered correctly, he caught a few belt lashes for the stunt.

He brought his right hand and placed it over the handprint. “Nothing happened. Nothing happened. NOTHING HAPPENED!” He heard the chant in his ears and dropped the bottle of beer, letting it crash on the pavement. The yellow liquid slowly seeped into the cervices of his childhood fingers. He looked at the broken glass for a long moment, then slowly began to clean it.

The next day of cleaning was no better than the first. He finally got through the garage, then made his way into the office, while his mother still worked on the guest room. Later in the day they had lunch together, after which his mother asked him to go check in on Mrs. Beckett.

He walked over to the house next door and knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again. Still nothing. Just as he was about to leave, the window curtain fluttered. He stopped in his tracks.

“Mrs. Beckett? It’s Addison, your neighbor,” he called out, hoping he hadn’t scared her. A moment later the door opened, and a small older woman in a silk vintage robe and hair rollers appeared, scrunching her eyes at him, as if she were trying to place his face.

“Remember me?” He asked.

“Well of course, of course my dear. Come on in,” she replied, smiling. He felt strange about accepting her invitation, still unsure if she really remembered him, but he decided to walk into the warm living room anyway.

“Sit down, please. I’ll make us some tea,” she motioned towards the couch, and Addison listened obediently. A few minutes later she came back, a tray with tea rattling in her shaky hands. He quickly took it from her and put it down on the table.

“Here, your favorite,” she said, handing him a small plate with toasted bread, butter, and honey. Addison stared for a moment, trying to remember if he ever ate that food combination before in his life, but he decided not to comment.

“So, how are you?” She asked excitedly while adding sugar to her tea.

“I’m good Mrs. Beckett. I’m here helping my mom with the house. I’m sure she’s already told you that she’s selling it,” he replied, trying to make polite conversation. She chuckled.

“My silly boy. Always with the jokes. How is school going?” She asked, and Addison was starting to get the feeling that something was not quite right.

“Uhh, I graduated many years ago, Mrs. Beckett,” he replied, but she cut him off, slightly flustered.

“Will you stop calling me Mrs. Beckett? It’s not funny anymore.” Addison stared in confusion.

“Who…who do you think I am?” He asked, and she rolled her eyes.

“Well you’re my son, of course. You’re Mark,” she replied, smiling at him with fondness. “Eat up,” she said, watching the toast in his hand. Addison took a bite, unsure of how to proceed.

“I’m not Mark, Mrs. Beckett, I’m Addison. We went to the same high school. I lived in the house next door. Don’t you remember?” He asked, and something flickered in her eyes.

“Oh, don’t. No, please don’t. Don’t talk about him, Mark, you know it makes me sad,” she said, her voice quieter now.

“Why does it make you sad?” He asked.

“What those boys did to him…it’s terrible Mark, truly awful,” she said.

“What those boys did to who, Mrs. Beckett?” He pressed on, already knowing the answer.

“Addie, of course,” she replied, and his childhood nickname caused a sudden sharp pain in his chest.

“More tea?” She asked, smiling all of a sudden.

“Who told you about that?”

“Who told me about what?”

“About what they did to…Addison,” he said, his name feeling clunky coming out of his own mouth.

“I don’t know what you mean honey,” she replied confused, then brought the delicate china up to her lips and took a sip, forgetting she had said anything. He left shortly after, with Mrs. Beckett still thinking he was Mark. He didn’t have the heart to tell her twice.

He came back home and continued to work until it got dark. After dinner, he went to his bedroom and looked out the window, onto the back yard. Him and Tom would lay on that same grass and look for their constellations in the sky. They would spend hours, shoulder to shoulder, diligently making their way through the stars. They could always spot Addison’s large Pisces constellation with ease, but no matter how hard they tried, they could never find Antares—the star that marked the Scorpion’s heart.

On the fifth morning he found that the coffee machine which allowed him to get any work done while running on no sleep, broke. And despite the fact that his mother had every other unnecessary extra kitchen appliance, she did not have another coffee machine, so Addison walked over to the local breakfast spot in order to get one. He sat sipping on the hot coffee and waiting for the waffles his mom had requested, happy that her appetite seemed to be returning, when the door opened and Tom walked in, carrying his son. There was no time to hide, he saw Addison right away, and walked straight on over to him.

Tom hadn’t changed all that much, except for the beard and the few wrinkles that now surrounded his tired blue eyes.

“Still pulling on those fingers eh?” He said by way of greeting after 17 years. Addison quickly untangled his hands, embarrassed by his nervous tick. The curly blonde child in Tom’s arms clung to him like a baby koala.

“He’s got Jodie’s hair, but he has your eyes, nose, and lips,” Addison replied, studying the beautiful boy. Tom smiled.

“Jude,” he said, then to clear up Addison’s confusion added, “That’s his name. Jude.”

“Ah, the patron of lost causes,” Addison said.

“Let’s just say he came to me at the right time,” Tom replied, and Addison finally met his gaze.

“He’s a beautiful child.”

“How long are you in town for?”

“Just until Sunday.” Tom nodded.

“I’m sorry about you father,” he said, and now it was Addison’s turn to nod.

“Selling the house?”

“Yeah, my mom’s downsizing, and moving closer to me.”

“You on your own?” He asked, and both men felt the strangeness of the question.

“Yep, just me and my books and my work,” Addison replied.

“Sounds like a good life,” Tom replied.

“I heard about Michael…Beckett.” He didn’t know what made him say it. Tom looked embarrassed.

“Yeah,” was all he could come back with. “Dornes is doing 20 in prison for distributing drugs. And Trevley was hit by a drunk driver. Died on the spot,” he added.

“And Steven?” Addison asked, barely able to get the name through his mouth.

“He’s still around. Drinking his way to the grave,” he replied. Another name hung between them in the uncomfortable silence, but neither one of them said it.

“Here you go,” the waitress appeared and handed him the bag of food.

“Thank you,” he replied, getting up to leave.

“Listen, why don’t you and I go out for a drink?” Tom suggested. Addison thought about it for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

“I have too much work to finish up at the house. Some other time,” he lied. He opened the door and walked out, but Tom followed him.

“Hey,” he called out and Addison stopped. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I was a coward.”

“Don’t,” Addison pleaded, but Tom continued.

“I should have stopped it. I don’t know why, I don’t know why I froze,” but Addison couldn’t listen anymore. He walked briskly, until the voice behind him faded.

On his way back he tried to block out the swarming memories of his childhood best friend that were now viciously attacking his mind. He couldn’t allow himself to remember. Not now, not when he had a whole day of work still ahead of him. For the next eight hours he tirelessly threw out boxes of trash, then sorted through more boxes in the attic, until his hands were black from the dust and dirt. He was so tired that he felt like he would finally be able to get some sleep. Only two more days, and he would be out of here for good. But while he could control his thoughts and memories in the daytime, he couldn’t control his dreams.

The grass felt cool underneath his body, making him break out in goosebumps. Tom was right next to him, staring at the sky yet again.

“Still can’t find it Addie,” he complained frustrated, as his constellation continued to evade him. He had just changed the brand of his deodorant, and Addison inhaled the pleasant citrus scent. The soft white cotton shirt that clung to Tom’s rapidly growing teenage body was illuminated by the moonlight. Addison turned towards him, laying on his side. Tom turned his head. He would usually make a stupid joke, but not that night. He studied the other boy’s face carefully, then slowly leaned in. The first kiss was as soft as a feather. But when their lips touched and the world didn’t end right then and there, Tom went in again, this time more forcefully. His mouth tasted like the orange popsicle he ate on their way home from school.

Addison woke up with a start, his shirt soaked in sweat. He never thought anything could be worse than the nightmares he’d had on and off for years. But he was wrong. This was far worse. This memory that he had so carefully locked away years ago, felt like hell on earth.

He took off his drenched shirt and changed into a dry one. It was still dark outside, but he turned on the light and began to pack his room. He needed to finish everything as quicky as possible, before he’d end up like Michael Beckett, hanging from the ceiling, waiting for his poor mother to find him.

On the 6th day Addison and his mom finished cleaning the kitchen. All that was left was the living room. They met a couple buyers who picked up some of the furniture, although his mother had insisted on keeping the unreliable vintage lamp. They were eating lunch, when the house phone started ringing. It was another neighbor. There had been a tragedy out on the lake.

“Tom Hadley? No, not possible,” he heard his mother say, and his heart felt still. Suddenly, he remembered it as clear as day. Waiting outside of the building for Tom, who was taking longer than usual. Deciding to walk in and meet him in the locker room, where he would shower and change after hockey practice. But Tom was still talking to the coach. It was Steven Hades and Sean Trevley that he bumped into that day.

“What the fuck are you doing in here, weirdo?” Steven spat out, his voice venom in Addison’s ear.

“Where’s Tom?” Addison asked, uncomfortable but not yet afraid.

“Where’s Tom?” Steven mimicked him in a girlish voice. “Tom, Tom, Tom. Why do you follow him around like a creep?” He asked, approaching him. Addison felt his throat tighten. Michael Dornes walked in, and he hoped the stupid encounter would be over, but Steven continued.

“Answer me, weirdo!”

“He’s my friend,” Addison replied, his voice shaky now. Dornes ignored the scene and started changing out of his uniform. Addison prayed for Tom to come, but instead he saw Mark Beckett enter the locker room next. His famous smile still in place.

“You wanna know what I think?” Steven said, ignoring everyone else in the room and zoning in on Addison. He was inches away now. “I think you’re a fag.” Addison saw Michael’s smile vanish from his face.

“Come on Steve, leave him alone,” he said. Steven’s head snapped back to him.

“Why are you defending him, are you a fag?” He asked. Michael laughed nervously.

“No man, come on,” he replied, then went silent.

Steven turned around and walked towards his locker, and for an incredibly naive moment Addison thought he was leaving him alone. Until he saw him grab the hockey stick.

What followed next was a blur. He was on the floor, Steven’s massive form pressing into his back with his knee. He couldn’t breathe. He heard Steven shouting for Michael to hold down his legs, which he didn’t realize were flailing around, trying to kick off the larger boy. And then he felt his pants and underwear being roughly pulled down, and everything went white as the piercing pain tore him in half. At some point he looked up, and saw the blue eyes staring back at him in frozen horror from the locker room’s entrance. They were Tom’s.

He was discovered by the coach, about 10 minutes later, who ushered him to the nurse. When they asked him about what happened, all he could reply was, “Nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing happened!” If he said it enough times, it would surely come true.

“There was an accident,” his mother said, sitting down across from him and waking him up from his memories.

“What happened?” She wasn’t sure yet, but the neighbor said it involved a dead body and Tom Hadley. It was later that night that the woman would call back with the full story.

In the early hours of October 4th, a small fishing boat containing two men left the local harbor. Only one man returned: Tom Hadley. Steven Hades’ body was fished out by divers a few hours later. Tom Hadley was let go almost instantly, without any suspicion of foul play. He told the sheriff that they had been drinking, and he fell asleep. When he woke up, a drunk Steven had gone overboard. The sheriff had no reason to doubt the story. Steve was a notorious drunk.

The next day was his last day in town. The house was almost empty, apart from a few more pieces of furniture. His mother was going to stay with her sister for a week, and then come down to her new apartment.

Later that day, without even really knowing why, he found himself at Tom Hadley’s house. He stood at the front door for a moment, but just as he had decided to leave, the door opened, and a curly haired blonde woman popped out.

“Addie!” She chirped. “I didn’t know you were in town!” He smiled.

“I’m leaving tomorrow morning just thought I’d pop in and say goodbye.”

“No! If I knew you were here earlier, I’d have invited you over for dinner. You’re catching me at a bad time now, I’m getting ready to fly out for a conference in a couple hours. But please, come on in. We can catch up while I pack!” He wanted nothing less than to catch up with Jodie, but he didn’t want to be rude, so he followed her inside.

He sat on the edge of the bed as she stuffed her suitcase with clothes.

“Is Tom here?”

“No, he took Jude for a ride. That little sweet monster is teething and being a complete nightmare. He only calms down in the car for some reason.”

“The joys of parenthood,” Addison replied, not knowing what to say. The good thing about Jodie was that you didn’t have to say much, she usually had the conversation covered from all angles on her own.

“Tell me about it. I thought I was going to be the good parent. Turns out I’m the one that can’t get away fast enough,” she laughed, stuffing another blouse into the already overloaded suitcase. “Don’t tell anyone this, but Tom didn’t want him when he found I was pregnant. He asked me to get an abortion. I told him no way was I killing a baby. You know what his stupid answer was? That murder was justified in that case, because he was going to be a shitty father.” She shook her head in disbelief. “But he’s way better at it than me now. He has a lot more patience,” she mused, and Addison nodded. “Frankly, I wish he’d agree to move out of this damn place and it’s nonstop rain. I want to go somewhere tropical, like Florida. Can you imagine the three of us in Florida, with a beach house that has an outdoor shower? But I can’t even see Tom anywhere else. This town’s gloom has almost become a permanent part of him, you know?”

“What happened with Steven Hades by the way?” Addison asked, changing the subject.

“Oh gosh, what a freak accident, right? I mean we all know Steven and the bottle were best friends, but I didn’t realize how damn bad it was. But you know the strange thing?” She asked, scrunching her nose is deep thought. “Not many people knew this because he was embarrassed about it, but he was deathly afraid of water. Couldn’t swim. Not sure how Tom even got him to agree to go fishing to be honest,” she replied, then went back to talking about Florida.

As he was leaving, Jodie promised she would tell Tom that he visited.

On his last night Addison walked out onto the back porch and popped a bottle of beer. Four miles away, Tom wrangled with his son, who wouldn’t stop crying. His wife had already left, and it was too late to get his parents to help. The little boy continued to wail for no particular reason.

“What is it, Jude?” He asked, but got no reply expect for the continued screams. He was slowly losing his mind. The stress of the week catching up with him finally. And now his son wouldn’t stop crying.

He brought him outside into the back yard, into the cold air, hoping it would calm him down. But the crying continued. It was the most helpless feeling, not knowing what to do, and not being able to ease his pain. “Please, please Jude,” he begged the little boy, bouncing him in his arms. “I don’t know what you want. I don’t know,” he stammered. Then finally he broke down in a long sob, startling the boy into silence. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled through the tears, “I’m sorry.” His legs felt shaky, so he sat down on the grass, holding onto Jude tightly, and looked up at the sky.

Four miles away, and halfway through his beer, Addison’s eyes also drifted to the sky. They both saw it at the same time. The large star shining as bright as the sun. It was Antares, the Scorpion’s heart.

The beautiful sight made Addison breathless for a long moment. He smiled and felt shivers run down his arms and back. Tom held onto his boy, suddenly feeling the weight of the world release from his shoulders. “It’s okay now,” he said. “Daddy’s got you.” After a long while, they both went back inside. Addison to his childhood bedroom, and Tom to the living room couch.

The next morning, Addison woke up early and gave his mother a kiss goodbye. He took the box with the vintage lamp, then grabbed his bag and walked outside shivering in the brisk morning air, passing his handprints on the front steps, and getting into the waiting yellow cab. The low hum of the idling engine was the only sign of life on Fall River Street.

#heartbreak #love #highschool love #lgbt #lgbtromance #gaylove #gay #shortstory #short story #romance #valnetinesday #dark #fallriverstreet #gayshortstory #fiction #crime #rape

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g0ldpainted · 7 years ago

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6th December - CtC’17

St. Nicholas Day with the chocobros

Hiya guys C:

Some of you may not know, but at least over here in Germany, we celebrate St. Nicholas' Day today. Over here that means you place a shoe, usually a boot, in front of your door overnight. Some people also place them in front of their chimneys. And when you wake up "St. Nicholas" will have filled it with sweets or little gifts. That's basically it.

And therefore I decided to make some not-so-little family life drabble-scenarios about the chocobros and how they handle St. Nicholas Day.

Words: 2300+

Genre: December, Christmas time, family life

Spoilers: None

Noctis:

It's the middle of the night when he snuck out of the bed he shared with his spouse. Although he's usually too tired to even wake up in time, he was suddenly wide awake. He's pretty sure his spouse got the hang by now. They know he will fill their children's boots with some delicious sweets from all over Eos. Candy from Altissia, chocolate from Lestallum, gum from Galdin Quay.. Noctis ensured to order it all. If there's one thing he strives for, it's making his family happy. Even though he's a very busy person, he makes sure to spend all December with his family. It's a special month for him. The atmosphere, the snow, the decorations - he loves it.

So, just like every year, he snuck out of the couple's bedroom and quietly headed towards their garden. Since the public was very interested in his life, he had to consider all the possible situations they could be wanting to see. One of them could easily be Noctis how he filled his children's boots or how his kids collect their shoes. Being the private person he's always been, he really didn't want that. So his kids took their shoes out into the indoor garden. There was no way anyone could sneak into it nor take any kinds of photos. Sure, he could've just let them put their shoes in front of the chimney but his kids actually preferred to take them outside. It was them choosing this.

As the king started filling up his children's boots, he couldn't help but smile. He could already imagine their bright smiles once they'd discover their favorite sweets. However, he also includes all kinds of nuts and some mandarins because, of course St. Nicholas, would also provide something healthy. But he wouldn't stop there. He didn't only want to make his children happy. No. Noctis also wanted to surprise his spouse. So while they were fast asleep, he brought one of their shoes and began filling them up with little gifts. Their favorite chocolate, favorite tea, favorite hand lotion - all kinds of tiny little gifts to show how much he appreciates them. He's always been very attentive to his families favorite items - they will surely be surprised to find them in their boots, though.

Just to play pretend that St. Nicholas was actually visiting them, he placed one of his shoes next to his children's ones and filled them up with some leftovers. And when the kids wake up a couple hours later, wake their parents up by hopping into their bed, full of excitement because St. Nicholas brought them some amazing gifts, he knows it's all worth it. Their smiles, their giggles, their hugs, their excitement. It warms his heart. And when his spouse finds their shoe is also filled with some little gifts, giggles because he's being too cute, he melts. He'd always do it again. Every. Single. Year.

Prompto:

Being a father of a toddler isn't always easy. They're loud, clumsy, noisy and interrupt the best kinds of nights - but they're so incredibly lovable. While his little boy was way too young to understand St. Nicholas in his first year, he was totally ready for it in his second year. And that's why Prompto was overly excited. He couldn't help but videotape the first time his tiny man carried a shoe in front of their chimney. It was too adorable not to. So while his lover was busy placing their two pairs of shoes next to each other in front of the chimney, Prompto carried an entire box of possible little gifts into the room. A few sweets, a new stuffed animal, a new toy, short goodnight-story books - those were the kinds of gifts his baby boy was about to receive. The couple wrapped all of them up carefully and placed a sweet bow on top of the shoe. Actually, merely one of the packages fit into the shoe. Most of them were scattered around it. But they certainly didn't care. Their baby was being spoiled because they were way too excited to see him unwrapping it all. This would be the first Christmas he could properly participate in so, of course, they wanted this entire month to be special.

While their little bean apparently had a nightmare, cried for his mother, Prompto prepared a surprise for his lover. They had been together for a while and he surely wanted them to know how much he really loved them. Little did he know that his lover thought the exact same. The second time their son woke up, they sent Prompto out to care for him.. Just so they could prepare his shoe. Both times neither of them noticed that the filling of their shoes was different.

The morning after preparing St. Nicholas Day, their toddler clumsily headed towards the chimney, his father proudly holding his hand, guiding him. Needlessly to say, he didn't quite understand, yet. But what he knew was that all these gifts were amazing! His eyes shone so brightly, his heartfelt laugh was so cute - the couple almost cried because he was the cutest thing ever. It was him who pointed out that his parents' shoes were full of stuff as well - and he was so eager and into unwrapping, he carelessly unwrapped his parents' gifts while they were busy swooning over how cute their baby was. But the moment the little boy held a jewelry box and a camera lens in his tiny hands, both his parents went pale. That morning, Prompto's lover gifted Prompto a new camera lens - as his old one had been scratched over and played with by their son.

And right after that, Prompto, with the help of his son, proposed to his long-time lover.

With teary eyes and a cheerful baby at their feet, they got engaged.

Ignis:

Ever since they had a child running around their home, the married couple began to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. They switched responsibility for gifts ever since their daughter was born. Ignis was doing it the first year - which was hardly any work - his spouse the year after. By now, their daughter was 9 years old. And that meant it was, once again, Ignis' turn. Which sure was something his daughter wasn't going to like. If she had known it was Ignis turn again, she probably wouldn't have been excited. Because, although Ignis tried really hard, he couldn't help but fill her shoes with healthy foods in the past. Nuts, mandarins, apples, tea, pears, carrots, potatoes. Definitely, stuff a child doesn't necessarily look forward to - Ignis daughter certainly didn’t.

Only if she's lucky, he'll put some candies in. All his spouse's convincing didn't help, he was ready to go through with his health offense once again.

The only thing that made him change his mind was his daughter actually eating up. She ate all her vegetables. And on top of that, she also loved to snack apples and pears. He was pleasantly surprised by that and in return thought he could reward her for it. That's why he spent two nights baking in the kitchen. If his daughter was going to eat some sweets - it better be the ones her dad made. Those are the best anyway. It was pure luck that neither his spouse nor their daughter heard him rummage through the shelves and the fridge multiple times. They didn't even hear the alarm clock going off. So when his spouse, their daughter and him finally carried their shoes over to the chimney, he was fairly eager to fill them up. But since Ignis was still Ignis, even when he was at the peak of his 30s, he could just casually keep a cold demeanor. After taking his daughter to bed, reading her a book and kissing her forehead, he started getting impatient. His spouse was well aware of Ignis actions, knew he had something planned and therefore tried to stay awake for as long as they possibly could. But their husband was used to staying up late - and getting up early - thanks to his trip with Noctis all those years ago. They stood no chance against him. He ended up carrying them to bed and tugging them under their blanket.

And then he finally started packing their shoes. He carefully packed tiny sachets with all his cookies and sweets. Vanilla crescents, star-shaped cinnamon biscuits, gingerbread, macaroons, and brownies,… the list was endless. He completely overdid it but both shoes were filled with sweets that he made with love. As a little extra, he also bought the new album of his daughter's favorite artist and a book she secretly wished for. His spouse received a voucher for one candlelight dinner at their favorite restaurant.

That night, he went to bed with a satisfied smile. He couldn’t wait to witness the reaction of his two ladies. Smiles, giggles, lots of chewing noises,...

The following morning the kiss from his beloved spouse and a simple statement of how he outdid himself made his day. And his daughter blasted that album all day long while eating all the sweets in less than 3 hours - they were too good, she couldn't stop. Both his most favorite women in the world were satisfied and glowing from happiness. Like mother like daughter, they almost ate in sync. All sweets, even the extra ones, were emptied within a day.

They certainly were sweet tooths but he loved them with all his being.

Gladiolus:

December had always been a little weird for him. His father was always gone, his mother wasn't around - all he had was his sister. The only reason he always celebrated St. Nicholas Day was his sister. He wanted her to feel the joy of receiving sweets and little gifts from "St. Nicholas" because he never could. That was until he met his lover. They brought the Christmas-spirit back to him, helped him get into a festive mood.

Ever since they started dating, he considered them part of his family. They met his sister pretty early on and soon figured that he sincerely cared for her. While Gladio never considered filling his lover's shoe, too, they surely did. The first St. Nicholas Day they spent together he received a shoe filled up with sweets for the first time in his entire life. It moved him so much, he decided he would return the favor.

Now their second St. Nicholas Day was coming up and Gladiolus was beyond prepared. With his sister's help, he baked some heart shaped cookies - it was so cute it almost hurt his pride but Iris was convinced his lover would like it. On top of that, just in case the cookies wouldn't taste good, he bought their favorite cookies and some skin care product that they always used and complained about not having any left. But Gladio wouldn't be Gladio if he wouldn't prefer some skin-to-skin touching action over gifts. He actually bought a card and wrote a voucher for one heavenly massage into it.

Since they weren't living together yet, he at least didn't have to worry about them suddenly standing at the door and watching what he was doing. Nonetheless, his lover was over at his place almost every day, so he still had to be cautious. They also slept over most days but not always. The 5th December happened to be one of those sleepover days.

After spending a beautiful day hiking up some hill to have a picnic with a view over Insomnia, the couple was deadly exhausted. They took a quick shower, cuddled for a few minutes and dozed off. It was mere luck that Gladiolus woke up in the middle of the night. After spending a few moments waking up, he climbed out of their bed and slowly headed towards the entrance door. Imagining their beautiful face lighting up at the sight made his heart skip a beat. He had never felt this way for anyone else before. They were special. So when he filled up their shoe with the heart-shaped cookies, he suddenly didn't feel so embarrassed about them anymore. And when he added the skin care product and voucher, he couldn't help but smile to himself. He couldn't wait to see their reaction. Little did he know that he wouldn't have to wait.

While he was busy filling Iris' shoe with sweets but also a bit of money, his sleep-drunken lover stumbled into the room, holding a package in their hands. At first, they didn't even see their bulky boyfriend but when he inhaled sharply, they also realized he was here. An awkward silence filled the room for barely a second before both ended up laughing. So far his lover didn't even realize he filled their shoe, they just thought he filled Iris'. But when they sat beside him, ready to fill his own and noticed how little gifts were poking out of their shoe, they almost started crying.

The couple ended up exchanging gifts. Gladiolus received a framed photo of them both from their anniversary and a card explaining how much they love him and why. The usually so stoic man was ready to burst into tears about how adorable they were being. And when they unwrapped his gift, they giggled all along. In their eyes, those cookies were the cutest. It was more emotional than it should've been, both accidentally started shedding tears because they loved each other so much. From there on out he knew he never wanted to stop making them happy. They ended up making out on the floor but falling asleep midway through - on the floor. That sure was a sight that was both heartwarming and ridiculously funny to Iris. Never had she seen her brother love someone else so much, nor had she witnessed him sleeping on the floor in front of their chimney. But one new person coming into your life can change so much.

2nd December ; 3rd December ; 4th December ; 5th December ; 6th December ; 7th December ; 8th December ; 9th December ; 10th December ; 11th December ; 12th December ; 13th December ; 14th December ; 15th December ; 16th December ; 17th December ; 18th December ; 19th December ; 20th December ; 21st December ; 22nd December ; 23rd December ; 24th December ; 25th December

Masterlist

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arielle0808 · 7 years ago

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Jumin MC week. Day 7- Birthday!

I’m sorry this took so long T^T. I know I said I would update it the other day but I was just too busy and hadn't have time until now T^T. Still, I wanted to finish the prompts, so here it is.

You can also read it on AO3

I really hope you like it.

Thanks once again to @juminmcweek for organising this wonderful event.

Thank you for reading <3

How to surprise Jumin Han? You’ve been all week wondering how to prepare the most perfectest of birthdays for your beloved, but you still have no idea of how to do it. How can you get to surprise or impress the person who can get anything with just a call? So you decide you’re going to do what you do best and gives worst results! You’re going to figure it out as the days goes by!

You decide you’re going to surprise him going to his office to pick him up with a bouquet of roses and chocolates, but you definitely were not expecting what happens. Once you arrive to the C&R building, you have to pass through a bunch of controls where you are made to put the gifts in a metal detector machine. The flowers lose a couple of petals, but the chocolates are still intact, so you don’t give in! You enter his office after greeting Jaehee with a big smile only to find Jumin putting on his coat.

“Just on time, darling,” he greets you, giving you a peck on the lips. “We have exactly one hour and a half to go lunch.”

Stunned, you look at him for some seconds.

“Wait, you knew?” you point dramatically at him.

“Of course. Assistant Kang, put the roses on water and keep the chocolates for later.”

“As you wish, Mr Han.”

You hold back a pout as you give your precious gifts to Jaehee and Jumin takes your hand to take you to the restaurant he himself has booked.

“Father is waiting for us there,” he says. “I’m sorry we couldn’t go on our own, but it’s the only moment I have to celebrate my birthday.”

“Jumin, happy...”

“Driver Kim, take us to...” he interrupts you, telling Driver Kim the name of the restaurant.

You three spend a nice meal together, but you cannot help but feeling somehow disencouraged at your failure surprising him. Then, you realise. You have to do something more eccentric! After leaving Jumin at the office again, you path around, thinking about something original to do. You discard a couple of options, like playing music at the window of his office, for it is at the last floor of a skyscraper and he wouldn’t hear it, or surprising him going out from inside a cake, though you almost go for this one, and decide to ask for help for the RFA members Nevertheless, they come out with even worse ideas than you.

But still, it is his birthday and you want to make it special no matter what, so you decide you’re going to visit him at the office again. You know for sure he’s not leaving it today, so you rush there with your best set of lingerie and a ribbon (to say you’re his present) and enter it. You get startled when you don’t see Jaehee at her usual desk, but that only make things more comfortable to the three of you. With a smirk, you knock the door, expecting to hear your boyfriend’s low voice inviting you in, but you hear... nothing.

“Jumin?” you call him, opening the door and finding his office empty.

Your phone rings, as if he knows what you’re doing, and you take it, pouting.

“MC? Can you hear me properly? I’m calling you just to let you know that I will be out until late. I was unexpectedly asked to go to the neighbouring city to solve some problems with one of our partners. MC?”

“It’s alright,” you whine. “Have a nice journey.”

“Thank you, my love. See you tomorrow.”

“Happy birthday,” you make sure to say, but he has already hung up.

You go home, a pouting and sobbing mess, and let yourself fall on the sofa, Elizabeth 3rd trying to cheer you up with her tiny, elegant paw.

“Elizabeth, what can we do?” you pout, looking at her, and she meows. “You’re right!” you exclaim taken her with a smile of resolution. “We cannot give in.”

Jumin has had the most tiring day and the only thing he can think about is lying next to you on the bed. He gets home, trying not to be too noisy since it’s late in the night and you must be sleeping, but gets startled at a small noise in the living room and a low light that seems to be coming from there. He enters it and a look of surprise draws in his features when he sees you holding a cake for him and whisper.

“Happy birthday, Jumin.”

You had gone to the nearest supermarket to buy candles and ingredients to make what you thought had turned out as the crappiest cake in the world. It’s shape was terrible, it’s colour... intriguing and the flavour... unique. But you didn’t mind by then and had taken Jumin’s favourite wine and Elizabeth and waited for him on the couch. When you had heard his keys on the door, you had rushed to light the candles, cleaned the line of drool than went down your mouth –you had inevitably fallen asleep on the couch –and presented him the cake, and there you are now, wishing him happy birthday, your heart beating like crazy in your chest, hoping he would at least appreciate the effort you had put in making him this surprise.

How to surprise Jumin Han? You had wondered. Well, Jumin is, indeed, surprised. He clears his throat and speaks up, trying to remain calm.

“Have you stayed up to congratulate me on my birthday?” he asks and you nod. “Have you taken all this trouble just to celebrate it with me?”

“This is nothing,” you say, still embarrassed of your cake. “I just wanted you to have the birthday you deserve. Well, it’s already past twelve in the morning,” you apprehensively say, looking at the clock, but I hope it still counts?” you try to smile.

Jumin takes the cake from your hands, his expression unreadable, and leaves it on the table, making you startle.

“You didn’t li...?”

He interrupts your question taking you into his arms, his face dug on your neck, taking in your scent, which he has missed so much throughout the day. You return the embrace, chuckling lightly at his reaction, glad that he seems to like it.

“This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” he whispers in your ear, making you tighten your embrace, moved.

“It’s not such a big deal, but I wanted to make it special for you.”

“It is special because of the feelings you put into it. Thank you, MC. You’re the only one who could have made me feel so loved and happy.”

“That’s because I love you a lot. Happy birthday, Jumin,” you hold back a sob.

He moves back to face you and rubs his thumb against your cheek.

“I love you too.”

You take his hand and lead him to the bedroom, to eagerly show him how much you love him, the cake completely forgotten on the table, the day of his birthday passed, but everything feeling just right, on its place. Just full of love.

#jumin mc week #day 7 #birthday #jumin han birthday #jumin han #jumin x mc #jumin x reader #mystic messenger #mysme fic #fluff

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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Best Holiday Destinations In South Africa For 2019

From Cape Town to Stellenbosch and Durban to Kruger National Park, these are the best holiday destinations in South Africa for 2019.

South Africa has been on my dream destination list for a long time now. From the country’s amazing wildlife (big five, whales and more) to the wine regions, the beautiful scenery and the food, there are plenty of reasons South Africa is a popular holiday destination.

Giraffes in the wild in South Africa

I’ve wanted to pop a South Africa blog together for a while, as I’ve had so many messages from you guys asking if I have any posts or tips on places to visit.

So I decided the best thing to do was to hand over to some of my blogger pals to recommend the highlights from their adventures in SA. So without further ado, here are the best holiday destinations in South Africa, by those who REALLY know!

Stellenbosch

Lucy from On The Luce absolutely loved Stellenbosch, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

South Africa’s Stellenbosch is heaven for wine lovers. Valleys full of vineyards surround the town, and along with neighbouring wine regions Franschhoek and Paarl, it’s home to hundreds of wineries. Stellenbosch is most famous for its Pinotage reds and Chenin Blanc whites, but there’s a whole range of different grapes and wine styles, including some tasty sparkling wines that give Champagne a run for its money at half the price!

Wine Tasting

It’s not just the wines that make Stellenbosch worth a visit though, there’s also its beautiful scenery. One of the best ways to explore is to hire a bike and ride out along the country roads. Stellenbosch is only half an hour outside Cape Town so you can easily visit on a day trip, but it’s worth staying for a night or two and soaking up the relaxed atmosphere.

It’s South Africa’s second oldest town and is packed with period charm, with historic Cape Dutch houses and streets lined with old oak trees. There are some gorgeous B&Bs and Victorian guesthouses where you can cosy up for the night, and some incredible restaurants at the wineries. But Stellenbosch’s big student population means it’s not too sleepy and you can finish your day in one of its clubs and bars, if you’re not already all wined out.

Stellenbosch, South Africa

Cape Peninsula

Sylvia from Wapiti Travel absolutely loved South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

The Cape Peninsula makes a great day trip from Cape Town. A ride along the cape on a sunny day offers breathtaking views. The Cape of Good Hope is a highlight, but right next to it is Cape Point, the southernmost point of this peninsula. These may be some of the highlights of your day trip but there’s plenty more to explore.

Animal lovers will be endeared by the cute but noisy penguins at Boulder’s Beach. It’s easily one of the most unique holiday destinations in South Africa! You don’t have to spend the whole day in the car. When you pass Kommetjie you can stop to make a romantic stroll in the surf at Long Beach. If you love hiking, look at the Farmer’s cliffs trail or any of the other hikes available in the Cape Point Nature reserve. The trails range from 2 hours to 2 days!

Penguins on Boulder’s Beach, South Africa

Lastly you have the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive, often cited as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. The route winds along the coast and is completely carved out of the rocks. Plan your trip so that you arrive shortly after sunrise or before sunset. The sun casts beautiful yellow colours on the rocks, making for magical photos.

Find out where else Sylvia loved in her 2 Week South Africa Itinerary.

Knysna, South Africa

Elaine and Dave from Show Them the Globe absolutely loved Knysna, South Africa. Here’s why they thought it was so special…

The waterfront town of Knysna is a highlight of the Garden Route and is a fantastic place to visit in South Africa. Knysna is most well known for the Knysna Heads, two imposing sea cliffs which protect the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon from the relentless Indian Ocean. A boat trip to the Knysna Heads features on most Knysna itineraries and it is spectacular to watch the sea crash through the narrow gap at the entrance to the lagoon.

Knysa, South Africa

Knysna is surrounded by lush green forests and sandy beaches. Long days at the beach, boat trips and hikes in the Featherbed Nature Reserve are must-dos. It is also famous for two local delicacies, its oysters and its beer. You absolutely must try them when you visit!

The nearby town of Wilderness is home to the Map of Africa where, from a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Kaaimans River Basin, it’s possible to see where the flow of the river has formed a piece of land shaped exactly like a map of the African continent. The mix of mountain, forest and river is a beautiful sight and it is well worth the short jaunt from Knysna.

Cape Town

Christine from The Travelling Pinoys absolutely loved Cape Town, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

Cape Town is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been. Voted as one of the best cities in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine, Cape Town boasts one of the most stunning landscapes in the world. The panoramic view of city bowl is out of this world. There’s the natural amphitheatre-shaped area of Cape Town bordered by Table Bay and surrounded by the mountains of Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak – just mind blowing for photography!

Along with its stunning landscapes, there are plenty more reasons to add Cape Town to your South Africa itinerary. There are the beautiful beaches (although the water is freezing cold all year round!) amazing wildlife, rich history, world-class architecture and diverse culture too.

Cape Town

Cape Town also boasts some of the most scenic drives in the world. From Chapmans Peak, with its views of the cliffs and the ocean, to Victoria Road in Camps Bay where you’ll be amazed by Twelve Apostles and the million-dollar houses on its foot, you’ll be reaching for your camera regularly.

Cape Town beach, South Africa

This city is also famous for its top food and wine scene. Plus, if you love the great outdoors, you can hike, surf, wind surf and plenty more around Cape Town.

And the best part? Cape Town is fairly affordable right now! Plus looking is free!

Find out more of Christine’s top recommendations in her Cape Town itinerary.

Hermanus

Nicole La Barge absolutely loved Hermanus, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

One of my favourite stops on my tour through South Africa was the small town of Hermanus just outside of Cape Town. It’s a seaside town with wonderful places to eat and shop, but the best thing is that it is THE place to see southern right whales in South Africa.

Located in Walker Bay it is the premiere place to watch the whales frolic in the waters. You can actually see the whales from the shore! Funily enough, there’s a town crier who blows a horn every time a whale is close to the shore. Along with spotting them from the bay, you can also take a boat cruise to see the whales. I’d recommend both because most of the whales are on the other side of the bay, so you tend to see them being more active and maybe even breech.

Whales in Hermanus, South Africa

The best time to see the whales in Hermanus is between May to December when the whales are visiting the warm waters to mate and calve. It’s an incredible experience to see them, so this is definitely one of the best holiday destinations in South Africa.

Kruger National Park

Kate from Our Escape Clause absolutely loved Kruger National Park, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

Kruger National Park is known worldwide as one of the best places for a safari, and the fact that it is easily accessible in South Africa (about a 7-hour drive from Johannesburg or a quick flight to Nelspruit) is a bonus!

Come to Kruger National Park is be amazed at seeing some of the globe’s most impressive wildlife: not only is Kruger a fantastic place to try to spot the famous big five (lion, rhino, leopard, water buffalo, and elephant), it’s home to many more fantastic creatures as well.

Lions in South Africa

Everything from zebras, hyenas and giraffes, to hippos and warthogs can be spotted in Kruger National Park, and after seeing all of these animals in person, you just may walk away with a couple of new favourites!

Elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Though you can book guided game drives in Kruger National Park, it’s also a popular place for a self-drive safari. Simply grab a map, hop in your car, and set off in search of animals. They are surprisingly easy to find, and for me, there was nothing more magical than observing wild elephants up close for 20 minutes with no one else around!

Find out where else Kate loved in her 2 Week South Africa Itinerary.

Tsitsikamma National Park

Anna from Would Be Traveller absolutely loved Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

Tsitsikamma National Park should be on every South Africa itinerary. It’s the place to be for thrill-seekers and nature lovers, as well as those looking to relax.

For adrenaline junkies, not only can you bungee jump off one of the highest bungee bridges in the world above Bloukrans River (216m!) but you can also go zip-lining, kayaking and snorkelling too. For those who prefer to explore, the dramatic coastline in Tsitsikamma has some beautiful walks and trails overlooking crystal clear waters. Lucky visitors may even be able to spot some of the park’s wildlife, including rock hyrax, dolphins and Blue Duiker (a tiny species of antelope). Otherwise, relaxing in one of the restaurants on the seafront is a great way to spend time too.

Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa

The National Park is also the official start of the Garden Route, which means it’s full of forests just waiting to be explored. Visitors can even marvel at the 2,000 year old tree, which is just on the outskirts of Storms River, where most people stay when in the Tsitsikamma area.

Storms River has a wonderful village vibe, with a huge variety of guest houses and hotels, as well as plenty of grocery stores and restaurants for visitors to re-fuel following a busy day in the park.

Durban

Verushka from Spice Goddess absolutely loved Durban, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

Durban is without a doubt a hidden gem in South Africa. Often skipped in favour of Cape Town and Kruger National Park, Durban is a vibrant coastal city and a melting pot of flavours and culture. With great weather all year round it’s a great place to visit on your South Africa holiday.

The Durban food scene is incredible, with the iconic Bunny Chow a must eat! Don’t know what it is? It’s a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with a spicy lamb, chicken or bean curry, which is eaten with your hands.

Durban, South Africa

Along the Golden Mile you’ll find colourful rickshaws – a part of the city’s history when only the strongest Zulu men would be given this job.

Victoria Street Market is a must visit for tourists and locals. A shopper’s paradise you’ll find local Indian spice shops, traditional African herbs, jewellery and clothing. It’s one of the most affordable holiday destinations in South Africa.

Find out Verushka’s other reasons to visit South Africa.

Amakhala Game Reserve

Sam from Yokomeshi absolutely loved Amakhala Game Reserve, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

Amakhala Game Reserve is located in the Greater Addo region of the Eastern Cape and at the Northern end of the Garden Route. Just a 50 minute drive from Port Elizabeth Airport, the private game reserve offers a combination of budget and luxury accommodation. My personal favourite is the mid-range accommodation at Leeuwenbosch Country House.

Home to the elusive big five plus a whole host of other wildlife including zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, giraffes and vervet monkeys, a game drive at Amakhala is always full of life. The reserve is unique, as it also has a river which guests are invited to cruise down for more wildlife spotting.

Elephants at Amakhala Game Reserve, South Africa

Aside from wildlife, the malaria-free game reserve is also packed with scenic views perfect for sundowners with a gin or South African cider! The reserve boasts year round wildlife viewing however the best opportunities are seen from June to September – the driest months when the animals are more attracted to the natural water sources.

The Wild Coast

Erin from Sol Salute absolutely loved The Wild Coast, South Africa. Here’s why she thought it was so special…

When I came across the Wild Coast while researching our trip to South Africa, I knew we had to go. I even rearranged our entire itinerary to make it happen! The Wild Coast, also known as the Transkei, makes up a large portion of the South African Eastern Cape.

We stayed at Mdumbi Backpacker’s hostel (near the famous Coffee Bay but more peaceful). Mdumbi works with the local community and even shares their property with the local kindergarten! It felt good to stay in a place that focuses on ethical practices. It allowed us to interact with people from the village, who worked at the hostel or gave tours.

The rolling green hills and expansive beaches were even more beautiful than the photos I’d seen before coming (and the photos are pretty stunning!) We spent our days lounging on the beach or in the hammocks.

The Wild Coast, South Africa

The only time we ventured out of our relaxed stupor was to go on a tour of the village. Two young men took us along the paths that weave amongst the rondavels (South Africanhuts). We explored where we’d never have dared to go without a local, which really made the Wild Coast a highlight of our South African road trip.

Find out more about Erin’s South Africa road trip.

This post was sponsored by Flight Centre who offer plenty of holidays to South Africa. Big thanks to all the fab bloggers who have recommended places for my South Africa bucket list. Must be time to book a flight soon!

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visariga-blog · 8 years ago

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Neighborhood #11: Zasulauks

Name: Zasulauks Meaning: Translates roughly to “Zasufield” (”Zasumuiža” being the name of the manor which used to be on this land) Area: 1.19 km2 (56th) 2014 Population: 7358 (25th) 2008 Population density: 6283 people/km2 (12th) Distance from Riga Central Station by public transit: 9 minutes (train) Public transit lines: #4, #4z, #21, #37, #38, #39, #41, #46, #54 busses; #9 and #29 trolleybusses; #2 tram; Tukums-Rīga electric train Places of interest: LU Botaniskais dārzs (botanical garden), Zasulauks Stacija, Āgenskalna skeitparks (skate park) Where to eat: Kafejnīca Iberija at Jūrmalas Gatve 14 Date of Visit: October 1, 2016

Tucked away at the very heart of “Pārdaugava” is the square kilometer of Zasulauks, Rīga's third smallest neighborhood. Wedged between Dzirciems and Imanta to the north, Āgenskalns to the southeast, Šampeteris to the southwest, and Imanta to the northeast, the neighborhood's manta ray shape may look a bit arbitrarily drawn.

Looking down from a bird's eye view, the neighborhood's boundaries appear even more inscrutable than before. Aside from the obvious railroad in the southwest and thoroughfare of Jūrmalas gatve in the north, it seems a bit like someone drew this manta shape over a random assortment of light industry, apartment blocks, small houses, and parks. This is due in part to Zasulauks' original history as, like many of Rīga's neighborhoods, a german manor. The manor itself was located on what is now the Latvijas Universitāte (University of Latvia) botanical garden, which makes up about one fifth of the neighborhood's area. The rest of the manor's territory was sold off over many decades and developed for a wide variety of purposes. Additionally, during Soviet times many of Zasulauks' traditional small houses were replaced with various types of apartment blocks in a development plan that completely disregarded the neighborhood's history and boundaries. This has led to the somewhat enigmatic borders and geography of the tiny neighborhood, which is apparent from satellite view. According to our friend Kosntantin who lives in Zasulauks, though, they make a bit more sense when considering that the buildings in the eastern part were created as the living quarters for the workers of the western industrial area across the tracks.

Zasulauks is one of Rīga's few neighborhoods accessible by train, which stops less frequently and is therefore much faster than other means of public transportation. Though it would have only taken five or so more minutes to get there by bus, any excuse to take a train is a good excuse in my book. We tried taking pictures of the stunning Daugava on this sunny day, but they didn't quite come out very well. Regardless, you should be able to get an idea of how nice the weather was. In less than ten minutes, we had arrived at Zasulauks Station.

The current Zasulauks Station was built nearly 100 years ago in 1919, although there has been a station here since 1873. Unfortunately, this station was not chosen as part of a massive project to modernize the platforms of stations on the Rīga-Jelgava and Rīga-Tukums lines, unlike the far more frequented Imanta and Zolitude stations a bit further down the line. Although it was already too late in the year, I had seen pictures elsewhere of outdoor seating for the “Mini-Kafejnīca” attached to the building.

Just beyond the train station, the #2 tram and railroad briefly share a right-of-way before the train line veers to the left. Although we weren’t able to see it since we didn’t want to walk too far down the railway in fear of trespassing in broad daylight, a few of the tracks go into a large building abut a half kilometer away from where the tram and train tracks split apart from each other. This building is part of VRC Zasulauks, a company that does maintenance and renovation on many of the Baltic states’ aging passenger and freight trains.

We continued along the cobblestoned Tapešu iela which was still lined by some of Zasuluaks' beautiful historic wooden houses, one of which housed a funeral parlor with morbidly convenient hours on its first floor. According to Konstantin, some of these wooden buildings served as working quarters for factory workers during Soviet times. He also told us that although the factories on the other side of the tracks are technically on Šampeteris' territory, they make up an industrial park called “Zasulauka Manufaktūra” which produced goods as varied as textiles, furniture, and airplane engines.

Once the cobblestone road ended, we continued along the tram tracks. We passed more trees just beginning to change to fall colors, old factories, and Hruščovka buildings.

When we got to the “Kandavas iela” tram stop, we saw that the tram tracks cut the road in half and that only a pedestrian footpath connected the two sides. It was time to explore the small northwestern area of the neighborhood, so we crossed the tracks and began down Kandavas iela. We were only able to go about 150 meters before the road abruptly ended at a walled-off industrial park that included the train renovation center I mentioned earlier, so we had to turn around and continue north down Mazā Kandavas iela. Throughout this walk we saw some beautiful houses hidden by trees, offices for Rīgas Siltums (the city's heating utility), and a garden wagon bursting with apples.

At the intersection with Zārdu iela, we turned left and followed the northwestern border of Zasulauks all the way to the end, most of which was sandwiched between heating piping on the right and semi-abandoned factories on the left. When we reached the end, we doubled back and continued northeast through some blooming trees towards Jūrmalas gatve. Unfortunately, we had no food for the friendly cat who approached us.

So far, we had traveled in this sort of route:

We were pretty hungry by this point, so we had a perfect excuse to finally visit the Georgian restaurant that I had passed by so many times traveling back and forth from Imanta. Kafejnīca Iberija can be found just under the bridge over the tram tracks and next to the train tracks, and offers some of the best Georgian food in the entire city. Since we were short on time with our dance lesson in just a few hours and we still had to se some significant places of Zasulauks, we opted for some soļanka. The friendly server suggested that we have it with some hačapuri, Georgia's traditional bread. We agreed, and just a short time later we had an absolutely delicious lunch for a very reasonable price. Luckily, it wasn't too late in the year to enjoy our meal outside. If you're looking for somewhere to eat a bit off the beaten path and away from the noisy city center, I would strongly recommend giving this place a try.

After the very nice meal we went on and crossed the bridge that led us over the train tracks. We had a nice view of the line of twelve story Czech project buildings that makes up the neighborhood's border. Continuing on, we saw some elderly ladies sitting on a bench and enjoying the nice Indian summer afternoon, looking after their laundry that was hanging in the nice warm autumn breeze to dry. Līga mentioned that there are jokes in the post-Soviet countries that pensioner ladies are the best guards who see everything and know everything that is going on in their neighborhoods.

We began to approach the botanical garden, Zasulauks' most well-known location. Līga noticed that the old, green wooden fence that she remembered from her childhood and associated so much with the garden had been replaced with a newer metal one. It was already half past one and our dance class started in an hour and a half, so we decided to spend not more than an hour in the botanical garden.

Since we were short on time, we were a bit disappointed to have to wait at the ticket booth. The girl who worked there had taken a break, so we had to wait for a few minutes for her to get back. After finally entering garden, we saw some buildings that belonged to the old manor as well as some very modern Easter-themed art projects.

One of the buildings contained a wide variety of tropical butterflies. Līga visited it once with her mum and out friend Otto. She said it was very interesting and definitely worth visiting, but since we were short on time and still had much else to see, we decided to leave it for another time.

While walking through the botanical garden, we realized that we had chosen the best time to visit Zasulauks. So many flowers outside the greenhouses were still blossoming yet unharmed by the frost. Līga was especially excited to see the beautiful colorful dahlias. There were also some daisies and nice late blossoming roses.

We went inside the greenhouse, the very central building of the botanical garden to see the palms, cactuses, and different tropical plants. After that, we started our way back to the center.

On our way out of the garden we passed a few more brick and concrete-panel buildings before we reached the intersection with Rododendru iela. We turned right and entered the final part of our small walk through the residential area of Zasulauks. The neighborhood was rich with diverse architecture styles; Soviet-era Lithuanian and “special project” buildings stood just next to pre-WWII apartments and houses. Konstantin told us that the locals call the newly constructed apartment that you can see below the “colosseum” due to its resemblance to the Roman arena.

After passing through a variety of back yards, we found our way to the historic, cobblestoned Kuldigas iela. Just a few meters later, Līga stopped to take some pictures of a house which once was inhabited by Zenta Mauriņa (1897-1978), a well known Latvian author. She was a lecturer, translator, and author of well-known essays about different cultural figures. Despite crippling polio she suffered at the age of five that left her wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life, she became University of Latvia's first female PhD in the field of humanities (her specialty being philology). The building we saw on our way was likely the last place she and her husband lived in Latvia before leaving the country at the end of WWII in order to go to Germany and later to Sweden.

We checked our phones' clocks and were horrified to realize that we had just a few minutes before our bus bound towards the dance class. We took a turn onto Āgenskalna iela and ran straight ahead. Just before we hopped on the bus, we took a few pictures of the bustling skate park (which used to be a fountain) adjacent to the bus stop. While we ended up being five minutes late for the dance class, we were quite happy with our quick exploration of Zasulauks.

All in all, Zasulauks was a great little place to visit that has something to offer for just about anyone. Fans of architecture have plenty to look at in this diverse microcosm of Rīga's styles, history buffs can enjoy some of the neighborhood's historic sites, foodies can sample some of the city's best Georgian cuisine, and nature lovers could probably spend the entire day just at the botanical garden. In fact, our only regret was that we hadn't budgeted more time to comfortably and thoroughly explore this lovely little neighborhood. If you're looking for something a bit different and out of the way but not too far from the city center, Zasulauks might just be the place to spend your next weekend stroll.

A few random observations:

As I mentioned before, Zasulauks' geography is confusing even to locals. I have a few friends who swear that they have lived in Zasulauks their whole lives, but when they showed me on a map it actually turned out to be Šampeteris or Āgenskalns. Of course I don't make it my business to correct them since people can be very emotional about the place they grew up, but people are usually also surprised to find out that the botanical garden is part of the neighborhood as well.

This was the beginning of what would turn out to be an incredibly strange autumn. Although it was still just about warm enough to wear a tee-shirt on this first day of August, within a month a half the leaves still hadn't all changed colors yet there was significant snowfall.

Just in case this was not clear earlier, Līga and I visited in early October (fall). Sadly we were busy/lazy throughout the winter, so the next neighborhood's photos will have similar weather but budding leaves instead of ones changing color.

And that's it for not only Zasulauks, but for Kurzemes rajons, one of the six administrative districts in the city. I'll get around to writing a post about the region as a whole at some point, and Līga and I will also be visiting the first of the Zemgales priekšpilsēta regions, the famous Āgenskalns, with our friend Konstantin this weekend. Until next time, enjoy the new spring weather!

Nākamā Pietura: Āgenskalns!

#Zasulauks #Riga #Latvia #Rīga #Latvija #Pardaugava #pārdaugava #urbanexploration #urbanphotography #Рига #Латвия #railroad #trainhard

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putnamrm-blog · 5 years ago

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Day 93 - Exploring Hong Kong

Will and Juliet are at work today so we're on our own until they finish about 8pm. First on the list is The Peak (purple on the monopoly board). We can walk from the flat so we head out just after 9am to get going. Through the residential streets (still all high rise) until we reach the turn for the Morning Trail, a concrete path up through the forested hills. It's nearly two miles up to the top and takes us about three quarters of an hour. Sweating profusely at the top we have to wait for my sweat patches to dry before we can take any photos. It's surprisingly quiet on the trail and at the top, probably because it's relatively early on a weekday. From the observation deck we carry on up to the very top to Victoria Gate and past the gate house that once guarded the governor's summer residence on the very top. Burned down by the Japanese during the war, I read.

Ready to come down, we choose to take the tram down into town. It's unbelievably steep, particularly given that it was opened in 1888, and gets us down in under 10 minutes. From here we want to explore the other end of town so jump on another tram heading west towards Kennedy Town. These trams are amazing - they're double deckers but comically narrow, and they're old and rattly as well. Perfect for us though as they bumble across town. We sit in the top deck and watch Hong Kong unfold around us. With it being built into the hillside there are so many different levels. Walkways go from being trenches to pavements to bridges and gangways in just a few metres. The roads are mostly narrow and bendy so the whole place is like a multilayered maze. It's not chaos though as I first thought yesterday. It's organised chaos. It's noisy and smelly but there's a certain order to it. Like the trams lines and bus routes give it some kind of structure.

At the far end of the tram route we get off just a few stops from the end of the line. We've just read about a restaurant here that serves good dim sum. It's described as a working class dim sum joint so we're not sure what we'll find. Our first problem though is just finding it. We have the name - Sun Hing - but of course, they don't use Roman characters here and we can't read the Chinese names! Studying the posters in the windows carefully we find the right place as we find a food hygiene certificate or something with the same written in English. Inside we find a tiny little place that's chocka block with locals eating at low round plastic tables, all sitting on red plastic stools. After a few minutes of looking lost in the doorway, two seats free up and we sit down. There's no menu at the table but we did look at one outside so we have a rough idea what we want. No use though, as no one comes to take our order, they just walk through the tables with trays of dim sum shouting out what they have while diners grab bowls from them. All in Chinese of course so we're lost again. Thankfully, we're near the cashier's desk and he takes pity on us, gesturing us to come and look at the bamboo steamer pots stacked up on one side. They're all filled with dumplings and steam buns and, as he lifts the lid to show us the contents of each one, we say yes or no (based entirely on guesswork of what might be inside) until we've chosen three pots. He takes them to our table for us and we tuck in. Our lucky dip has resulted in prawn dumplings, veggie dumplings and custard filled steamed buns. All washed down with green tea that they deliver as standard. We're just finishing up as another older waitress beckons us over and shows us some more buns so we take one each - barbecued pork filled. A bit odd after the sweet of the custard but delicious nonetheless.

We pay up (HKD 100) and head out, walking back along the tram lines to get a closer look at what we saw from the top deck on the way here. Through the car garage district onto a long street where every shop sells dried products. Mostly fish it seems but, to be honest, most were unidentifiable. One that we kept seeing looked like small cubes of fudge until we found a pile labelled in English - dried scallops! They had dried everything though, just the bits we could identify were whole fish, whitebait, octopus, blowfish, chicken skins, whole snakes coiled up, prawns, whole geese, a pig's face and shark's fin. A very unusual sight and smell too!

Exhausted, we walk back up the hill to the flat for a rest and a shower before going back out to meet Will and Juliet for drinks. We take the escalators down to Central. A series of about 20 or so escalators that run all the way down from mid-levels to Central. Here we meet them in Sevva, a fancy rooftop bar with views over the final court of appeal and the harbour. The view is made all the more atmospheric by the fog that has gathered in the harbour and is lit up orange by the city lights. Can't spend too long here as beers are £10 for a bottle and Holly's on the cocktails at twenty quid a go! We escape after two drinks but jump from the frying pan into the fire as dinner is booked at Tokyo Lima, a Japanese/Peruvian fusion. We struggle to find the place at first as it's hidden behind a plain wooden door above a car park entrance. Inside is buzzing in the soft light and we tuck into the chef's menu and a pisco sour! Excellent meal but we're all absolutely stuffed by then end and can only just manage to clamber back up the escalators for a cup of tea at the flat.

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easytravelpw-blog · 6 years ago

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Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/7-english-pubs-worth-an-overnight-stay/england/

7 English Pubs Worth an Overnight Stay

01 of 08

Would You Stay in a Pub?

Courtesy of The Barrow House

If you've never even imagined staying in an English pub, maybe it's time you reconsidered. Outdated ideas about pubs, like comparing them to bars, could be keeping you from finding some real gems.

Today's pubs offer unique and uniquely British accommodations, conveniently located, moderately priced and usually serving pretty good food.

Their rooms range from clean and basic to boutique hotel stylishness; their menus from English pub classics to genuine gastronomy. And for budget minded travelers, pub rooms often cost 30 to 50 percent less than equivalent quality hotel accommodation.

Think about it – pubs originated as way-stations where travelers could find rest and refreshments (the clue is in the name, pub is short for public house). As many people seem to be drinking a lot less, enlightened English pub owners are beginning to return their premises to those origins.

So don't be put off by the word pub — when the French call the same kind of accommodation an auberge it seems glamorous and welcoming. Start thinking about pub accommodations in that light and a whole new world of experience opens up.

The following seven pubs are worth booking for your next trip to Britain. For purposes of comparison, the price of a classic burger is shown for all the pubs listed here — but most have menus that are more adventurous than that.

Continue to 2 of 8 below.

02 of 08

The Orange Tree: Richmond, London

Courtesy of Young's Pubs

The Orange Tree, located in the outer London borough of Richmond, Surrey, has been a fixture on Kew Road since the late 18th century. Its late Victorian brick and terracotta striped facade was added when the pub was rebuilt in the 1890s.

Richmond's famous Orange Tree Theatre was founded in an upstairs room in 1971 and was located here until 1991. Today the pub sits right beside the new theater, handy for a pre-theater drink or meal.

In 2014, the Orange Tree closed its doors, so that its owners, Young's Pubs, could give it a total makeover. When it reopened, several months later, a 13-room boutique hotel took over the space above the still popular pub.

This west London location is very convenient for visitors who want to be within easy reach of Central London yet out of the hustle and bustle of the city. From Richmond Station, about 100 yards away, it's less than half an hour to London's West End on the District Line or 20 minutes to London Waterloo on mainline trains. It's also within walking distance of Richmond Park.

Decor at the Orange Tree reflects the pub's location between Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, with botanical artwork and even some deer antlers. The 13 designer rooms range from a smallish boutique double to the stylish feature rooms. Some can be arranged for families or linked to adjoining rooms.

Included are all the features you expect from a luxury hotels room — cable television, free wi-fi, posh tea and coffee making kit, hairdryer, safe, fridge and so on. What's not comparable are the prices which are substantially less than similar quality hotel rooms. At the height of the British sport and social season, in July 2017, prices range from £144 to £164 for bed and breakfast for two. In August prices dropped to £119 to £139. To put these prices in perspective, similar quality accommodation in Central London could cost £50 to £150 more per night.

Pub-wise, the Orange Tree remains a traditional, and classy, pub. Bar snacks include wild boar and sage sausages and duck croquettes. Food is served throughout the day, from breakfast, through evening meals. Expect to spend £12 for a burger.

Inside the seating is divided into bar seating, table seating, booths and a soft seating section. There's also a garden room suitable for parties. During Rugby matches, two large screens drop down and there's an outdoor BBQ with outdoor TV as well.

On the down side, you can hear daytime traffic in rooms overlooking Kew Road and although the rooms are well soundproofed, during matches, Rugby fans in the pub can be boisterous.

Continue to 3 of 8 below.

03 of 08

The Barrow House: Egerton, Kent

Courtesy of the Barrow House

If a quiet stay in a country pub close to plenty of attractions is what you're after, the Barrow House, on The Street, in the tiny Kentish village of Egerton might be more your style.

The white clapboard (or weatherboard to the British) village pub dates from 1576, built from timbers used in sailing ships and cob and straw plaster. It was once known as The George. The current owners, ex-London chef Dane Allchorne and is wife Sarah, renamed it after a prehistoric barrow that you can hike across the Kent Weald to visit. It has been modernized inside but retains much traditional 17th century oak timber framing and slate floors.

The Barrow House is perfectly positioned for a few days of touring Kent, its oast houses, gardens, castles and family attractions. Top attractions within about 10 miles or less of the pub include the Leeds Castle (known as the loveliest castle in England); Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens; Pluckley (reputed to be the most haunted village in England), and the Ashford International Station for Eurostar and other trains to Continental Europe.

The pub offers three guest rooms — two doubles and a twin room — each named for a type of Neolithic barrow: the Bowl, the Bell and The Disk. Rooms have large beds, modern bath or shower rooms and individual decor featuring British made fabrics and locally sourced art and photography. The views from all guest rooms, of the village and the valley, are glorious. Bed and breakfast rates for two range from £90 to £140 depending upon the season.

The Barrow House operates as a restaurant with rooms. The ground floor areas include a traditional pub and two light and spacious dining rooms. One corner of the pub has a large stone hearth covered with signatures of the Canadian airmen who were based nearby during World War II.

The seasonally changing menu includes small plates and sharing plates as well as sandwiches, starters and mains. It combines pub classics – bangers and mash, liver and onions – with more sophisticated offerings such as asparagus & mint risotto balls, roast apricot & orange blossom fool. Expect to spend £12 for a burger with chunky chips.

Continue to 4 of 8 below.

04 of 08

The White Cliffs Hotel and the Cliffe Pub & Kitchen: St.-Margaret’s-at-Cliff

Photo by Gavin Oakley

Facing the long, monotonous drive from London to the ferry port at Dover first thing in the morning is daunting. Staying overnight before an early sailing makes a lot of sense but the hotels in the port are singularly uninspiring.

Luckily, the White Cliffs Hotel and its Cliffe Pub & Kitchen is a comfortable alternative and the perfect stopover before leaving for a continental vacation. The pub on the High Street, St Margaret's at Cliffe, is only about 5 miles from the ferry port. It is a 16th century, white clapboard coaching in with 16 rooms in the main building, in mews cottages and old school rooms.

Arrive early so you have time to explore the lovely medieval village surrounding the inn and the 12th century, Grade I Listed Church of St Margaret of Antioch across the street. It is believed to be the oldest aisled Norman church in Britain and is built on Saxon foundations.

Inside, quirky, twisting corridors and narrow staircases lead to comfortably old fashioned rooms with down comforters, tea and coffee-making trays, hairdryer and other basic amenities. Bathrooms are a bit tired and in need of updating but clean and perfectly adequate for an overnight, pre-ferry stay.

Double rooms in 2017 start at £130 with breakfast. If you are leaving for an early ferry, the hotel will supply a generous packed breakfast that includes breads, yogurts and fruit.

The Cliffe has a small bar and several large, New England style dining rooms. The kitchen aims at gastropub fare. Reservations are recommended but on a weeknight in May the restaurant was not particularly busy though the pub was exceptionally noisy.

The menu is interesting, competent and reasonably priced with an emphasis on locally caught seafood, shellfish and produce. The Cliffe doesn't do burgers, even at lunch, so we can't make a comparison with pub food elsewhere. They offer ham and mustard, cheese and onion and smoked salmon sandwiches at lunchtime for about £5. Dinner mains cost between £14 and £18.

Continue to 5 of 8 below.

05 of 08

The Windmill: Clapham Common, London

You'd hardly believe you're in London when you look out of the windows of this historic pub and and see grassy meadows, mature trees and, in good weather, sunbathers around a pond.

The Windmill, another Young's pub, is embedded in Clapham Common, a 220 acre south London park. Yet it's a 10 minute walk to either Clapham Common or Clapham South Underground Stations. From either station it's under 15 minutes on the Northern Line to London Bridge Station and the center of town.

The Windmill's 17th century facade camouflages a modern addition, which looks on first glance, like another building in the little residential enclave of Windmill Drive. It's actually a modern, 42-room, 3-star hotel.

Rooms at the Windmill have boutique styling, with freestanding, roll top baths in the feature rooms. There's free wi-fi, flat-screen satellite television, and luxury tea and coffee making facilities. For the best views, ask for a Common View room with lovely views into the surrounding park.

High season rates in July 2017 ranged from £165 for a twin room with breakfast for two up to £225 for a glamorous master suite with separate seating area.

The pub itself is large with a good variety of beers on tap and a generous menu of traditional pub grub — burgers, gammon with egg and chips — as well as salads, lighter choices and vegetarian options. The pub serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and evening meals as well as bar snacks throughout the day. Expect to spend £9 for a classic cheese burger or £14 for a burger with all the trimmings — it's worth the extra for their fabulous triple-cooked chips.

Spacious seating areas include the cool, dark, traditional pub interior, a soft seating area, a sunny conservatory with chandeliers and outdoor tables. Look for the glass panel on the floor next to the bar. It marks the original location of the windmill that gave the pub its name.

Continue to 6 of 8 below.

06 of 08

The Victoria: Sheen, London

The Victoria

Sheen is a posh, tucked away residential corner of Richmond and the Victoria, run by the small Jolly Fine Pub Group, is so tucked away amid suburban villas that you'll need a car and a satnav to find it. It's worth the effort for a very different experience. This is a cozy local gastropub with seven tidy guest rooms, a dark and woody traditional pub, a sunny conservatory and a sheltered beer garden. Be warned, though, try to avoid the end of the school day. The pub is beside a school and when school's out and parents arrive with their kids for the child-friendly garden, the decibel level can be deafening.

The Victoria is easy to reach from Heathrow and a 15 minute walk along Fife Road to the Sheen Gate to Richmond Park.

Rooms in converted stables at the Victoria are simple but spotless, colorful and modern.They are all doubles but one can be made up into a twin room and some can be fitted out with an extra cot or camp bed for a small child. They're equipped with high-speed, fibre-optic wi-fi, coffee makers and home made cookies. The year round rate, with continental breakfast for two is advertised at £135 but in fact varies from day to day and hovers around £100 during the summer months.

The emphasis at the Victoria is on gastronomy with a slightly Mediterranean style – celeriac and apple soup, radicchio and pear salad, pan fried gnocchi, wild mushroom ravioli, rosemary roasted peach melba. The pub is listed in 2017 Michelin Guide and and has landed a diners choice award from Open Table. But it is still a pub after all and an Angus burger with those wonderful thrice-cooked chips is £12.50 for 5oz and £15.50 for 10 oz.

Continue to 7 of 8 below.

07 of 08

The Malt House: Fulham, London

Photo courtesy of JFP pubs.

The Malt House is a spacious urban pub in West London less than half a mile from Chelsea Football Club at Stamford Bridge. If you think that means the pub will be busy and rooms will be at a premium during Chelsea matches, you'd be right. But most of the time, this is simply a lively, typically London place tucked into a hidden square five minutes from Fulham Broadway Underground Station.

From the station there are District Line connections to Wimbledon and, through the Earl's Court Station to just about everywhere else. Catch the Number 14 bus route outside the Underground Station and you are on one of the most useful bus routes for tourists in London, going past: the Victoria and Albert, The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum; Harrods; the West End Theater District and Chinatown; and the British Museum.

The pub looks Victorian, but actually it dates from the early 18th century, when it was called the Jolly Maltser. Completely refurbished in 2013, it has a traditional bar and several large rooms with tables and chairs, sofas and bar stools and windows overlooking a small, green square. There's a small outdoor area with picnic tables.

For all its size, the Malt House has only six guest rooms — each large, modern and well equipped with coffee machines, free wi-fi, homemade cookies and flat screen televisions. Cots and rollaway beds for children are available on request.

Standard doubles are fixed at £135 but may be higher when Chelsea is playing at home.

The Malt House was named the Casual Dining Pub of the Year 2017 in the Casual Dining Pub and Restaurant Awards. They have several different menus, depending upon the time of day but their a la carte menu features hearty but ambitious dishes — seared bream fillets with curry laksa and pak choi, slow cooked pork cheeks with mash. Weekday afternoons there is a set menu of two courses for £10 or three for £12.50. Burgers with chips are available on the all day bar menu £12.50 for 5oz or £15.50 for 10oz.

Continue to 8 of 8 below.

08 of 08

The Red Lion: East Haddon, Northamptonshire

The Red Lion in East Haddon, Northamptonshire, is more a traditional country inn than a pub in the true sense. But as country inns go, it is a classic in golden stone with an impressive thatched roof and slate floors.

The pub is well located for visiting Princess Diana's childhood home, Althorp, and Holdenby House – the remains of a once Royal palace and a Civil War prison for King Charles I. But you will definitely need a car and satellite navigation or GPS device to find it in its very rural setting.

The seven rooms include a loft with a romantic looking freestanding bath on a platform next to the bed. It's marketed as a suite but it's really just a slightly larger room. Other rooms could be called quirky or dark and cramped depending upon your personal taste. The toilet/shower rooms are tiny. Rooms are quoted at £95 for one and £110 for two. Weekend rates are sometimes offered.

Dining areas are divided into a pub (tied to Charles Wells, a Bedford-based private brewery and pub chain with operations in the UK and France), and a more formal dining area. The menu, the same in both, is described as modern British but is actually very traditional, and meaty — lots of steaks and chops, lamb shanks, and pork belly. There are limited selections for children and a couple of sandwiches offered. A classic cheese and bacon burger with “fries” and coleslaw costs £13.50

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services (in this case, lunches) for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, we believe in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.

#travel #airlinetickets #airtickets #cheapairfare #planetickets #travelinsurance #travelquotes #travelblogger #traveller #travelling #travelocity #travelodge #vacation

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sarahburness · 6 years ago

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How to Honor Your Sensitivity (Because It’s Actually a Strength)

“The opposite of sensitive is not ‘tough.’ It’s insensitive. Sensitivity is a gift. Let’s nurture it, not squash it.” ~Glennon Doyle

I would run no matter how much snow and ice there was, no matter how tired I was or how much my joints hurt. Even if I was hungover. It didn’t matter. Sometimes I would be in incredible pain, but I wouldn’t stop.

I worked as a tree planter in the summers and got paid per tree. I would push as hard as possible, sometimes planting as many as 3,000 trees in one day. And, not surprisingly, I had my first back spasm at age twenty-one.

That’s how I lived my whole life in my early twenties. Pushing. I barely had enough time to get everything done with college, volunteering, and a part time job. I would consistently end up exhausted.

On top of this, bright lights and loud noises easily overwhelm me, but I pushed through that too. I didn’t really want to go to my friends’ loud parties, so would drink to the point that the loud noise didn’t bother me anymore.

Years later I learned I was a highly sensitive person (HSP) and it all made sense. HSPs are sensitive to loud noises, bright lights, and other people’s emotions.

And because HSPs only make up 15-20 percent of the population, it sometimes seems like the basic needs of quiet, space away from family members with big emotions, and soft lighting are self-indulgent or greedy. So HSPs often push through their sensitive nature.

In my twenties, despite my sensitivities, I pushed through. I didn’t feel like my life was worth much unless I was highly productive, getting good grades, and pleasing my friends, family, professors, and pretty much anyone I met. I was determined to be perfect, and it was killing me.

It finally came to a head during my first job after college. I was working hard to please my supervisors, co-workers, and the youth that were our clients. It was my dream job, but I ignored my own needs as a highly sensitive person to the point that I couldn’t do it anymore. I was exhausted and didn’t want to get out of bed in the mornings. I quit but I didn’t know what to do.

Are You Highly Sensitive?

Does any of this sound familiar? If you sometimes push through your own needs it could be a sign that you’re highly sensitive. Other signs you’re an HSP include:

You feel the tragedies reported on the news very deeply

You sometimes get overwhelmed by beauty—a breathtaking view or the kindness of a friend

You’re sensitive to bright lights and loud noises

You’re highly empathetic

If someone’s in a bad mood, you feel the energy in the room

Sometimes when a coffee date gets cancelled, you’re ecstatic that you get to stay hiding under the covers

You love creativity whether it’s music, dance, photography, writing, visual art or interior design

And when an HSP tries to fit in, it takes a lot of energy. Ignoring your sensitivity will leave you drained. You’ll end up exhausted without much to give.

What Happens When an HSP Ignores Their Sensitivity?

HSPs often end up ignoring their sensitivities because they’re pressured to do so. Whether it’s a cubicle where you can hear 100 other people talking or your group of friends that want to meet in a noisy restaurant as an HSP, you’re constantly being asked to ignore your sensitivity.

And so many HSPs end complying and pushing through. You don’t want to disappoint your friends or inconvenience your boss, so you say yes even though your nervous system is over stimulated. Or other times you want to save money, so you’ll share a hotel room with your noisy and emotional cousin even though it would be better to have your own room.

The problem is, when your nervous system is constantly over stimulated, you end up exhausted. Your exhaustion might start out small, but if you continue to push, you may end up with a complete breakdown like mine. And because I’ve been through it, I really don’t want this to happen to you!

The good news is that it’s possible to protect your sensitive nervous system. It takes time and practice, but step by step, you can start to take better care of yourself and not worry about other people’s expectations.

How HSPs Can Heal After Years of Pushing

1. Rest when you’re tired.

The first and sometimes most difficult step is to get some rest. If you’re determined to fit in, you’re probably exhausted. You’ve been going and going and going and never stop to take a breath. You could:

Take a five-minute walk outside

Look out the window and breathe

Nap

Make time for meditation

Take a day completely off to recharge

Spend time in nature

So start small and see if you can schedule even five minutes today to be quiet and rest.

2. Learn about your sensitivity.

The fact that you’re reading this article means you’re already on track to completing this step!! The more you learn about your sensitivity, the easier it will be to take time to rest, to say no to that overwhelming party invitation or to walk around downtown wearing giant headphones playing white noise to block out the sound.

And it doesn’t matter whether it’s through reading or podcasts or watching videos. Whatever format you like best will get you on track. Some of my favourites include the Highly Sensitive Refuge website and the Introvert, Dear podcast which is hosted by an HSP.

3. Honor your needs.

I know this is difficult to do especially when there are other people involved, but as you begin to honor your needs, you’ll begin to get your energy back. You’ll feel calmer, more relaxed, and more excited about life.

And so, even though it will involve some difficult conversations with your friends, your partner, you family and co-workers, I promise you it’ll be 100 percent worth it.

When I was in a new relationship where my partner was definitely not an HSP we would have a lot of conversations that went something like this,

Sweetie, you have to remember you’re dating someone sensitive.

If my blood sugar crashes, I won’t be able to recover.

I’m getting really overstimulated by that music.

It would really help me if you just sat quietly with me for a minute.

You can send your loved ones articles to teach them about highly sensitive people and what’s really happening for you. And sometimes, you just have to explain it to them step by step.

Some common HSP needs include:

A slow pace of life

Beautiful spaces

Time in nature

Deep and meaningful relationships

Time to cry and feel your emotions

A good night’s sleep

Physical space after a conflict or challenging discussion

Nourishing food

And yes, I get it; it’s hard to ask for. It’s taken me a decade but I’m learning to take better care of myself and now am able to share my supportive nature more fully with others. And you can too.

The less you worry about fitting in and the more you can take care of your HSP needs, the more you’ll be able to bring your sensitive strengths forward to make the impact you were meant to make.

Your Sensitivity is Your Strength

As a highly sensitive person, you have the real gifts of empathy, creativity, attention to detail, and bringing quality into everything you create. Because of this HSPs like you make the world’s best writers, therapists, coaches, interior designers, actors, caretakers, and artists.

According to an article by Jim Hallows, famous HSPs include Nicole Kidman, Edgar Allen Poe, Leonardo Di Vinci, Bob Dylan, Princess Diana, and Mother Teresa.

You’re meant to protect and bring forward your sensitive strengths.

By taking care of yourself you’re not being a diva. You’re not being selfish. You’re not being greedy and you’re not crazy. You’re being gentle with yourself so you can share your beautiful, powerful sensitive strengths with the world.

About Bryn Bamber

Career Coach Bryn Bamber helps people like you find a career that’s aligned with your goals. Her Burnout to Brilliance program teaches you how to make small shifts that will free up tons of energy for the things you really love. Start today with your FREE Checklist: Decrease Stress and Get an Hour of Your Day Back!

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The post How to Honor Your Sensitivity (Because It’s Actually a Strength) appeared first on Tiny Buddha.

from Tiny Buddha https://tinybuddha.com/blog/honor-sensitivity-actually-a-strength/

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anneedmonds · 7 years ago

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Domes of Elounda: The Haute Living Holiday (With Kids)

When Mr AMR and I first had Angelica, we vowed never to take a holiday abroad for at least five years. Just getting to Sainsbury’s was enough of a faff – getting her into the car seat, getting her out again for a feed and a change, stopping for another feed halfway down the dual carriageway, getting her into the buggy – we couldn’t begin to imagine what going abroad would be like.

Then we had Ted, a year and a half later, and the faff didn’t just double – it tripled. Two buggies, or one gargantuan megatron buggy, no other space in the boot for the shopping, relay nappy-changing trips to the toilets, vom-poo-vom-wee-wee incidents, lost shoes, hangry rants at the tills. We very firmly decided that holidays, for the foreseeable future, would not be for us.

But fast-forward a year, through what felt like the world’s longest winter (I thought I’d somehow become trapped in an episode of Game of Thrones) and we were desperate to see some sun. I think I even said to Mr AMR that I would endure anything – anything! – for just a few hours lying on a lounger somewhere relatively hot.

Which was how we found ourselves – against all of our own advice – boarding a plane to Crete with a toddler and a baby and not nearly enough snacks or amusing things to see us through a four hour flight. We had been warned, by many, that going on holiday with small children was a sort of “same sh*t different scenery” affair – you have the same routine, made harder by lack of familiarity, but you perform it in the sunshine whilst looking at the sea. If you’re lucky.

If you’re unlucky, you’ll be stuck in a teeny hotel room with no air conditioning and noisy neighbours who drink boxed wine at 3am and do the conga in their swimwear. If you’re neither lucky nor unlucky, just – I don’t know, normal – you’ll be woken up by your kids at the usual time, even though they’ve had no sleep, you’ll have an empty mini-fridge and be desperate for some water but not know where the shop is yet, you’ll have to eat a cobbled-together breakfast of crisps and an apple that you find in the bottom of your handbag before spending three hours getting ready to walk to the pool, which is already so full that all of the loungers have been taken.

But Domes of Elounda* promised a slightly different experience to the typical holiday abroad, which was – admittedly – the one thing that enticed us along. The five-star Domes of Elounda is a family-friendly resort in Crete, overlooking the amazing UNESCO-protected island of Spinalonga. It’s already luxurious, with its all-suites and villas accommodation and brilliant on-site facilities, but we were invited to test out their new Haute Living concept which promised to take comfort and luxury to a whole new level.

Haute Living is the resort’s new luxury offering which comes as part of the package when you book one of the Private or Luxury Residences (which all come with their own pool) or Luxury Villas. It’s like (and this is the only thing I can think of to compare it with) a First Class upgrade. So you’re on the same plane, so to speak, but your experience on that plane is a very different one.

“HL” benefits include a luxury lounge with 24/7 access and constantly refreshed snacks as well as a long row of fridges with all kinds of drinks, both soft and alcoholic. (Your kids want continual snack-feeding? Here’s your new second home!) There were dedicated villa managers to cater to your every whim – milk for the baby’s bottle at 7am? No problemo. A new baby monitor? There within minutes. A doctor, you say? (Don’t ask.) She’ll be round at five.

Other things that are all rather appealing: private section of the beach with – again – complimentary refreshments; grocery delivery service; pillow menu (I don’t even know why this is a thing but it always sounds good) and an ultra-private in-villa check-in service. This sounded excellent when I read about it pre-departure – no need to wait at reception when you arrive after your mega-journey; a buggy takes you straight to your villa and your manager shows you around before leaving you to settle in. Bingo. Just what you need when you’re traipsing two temperamental toddling humans around with you.

And in practice? Yes. Oh yes. The in-villa check-in was an absolute Godsend – when we arrived at our Luxury Residence we were knackered, the kids were knackered, I just wanted to get them into bed. (Two travel cots were waiting, perfectly made-up and ready to sleep in. A huge proportion of people who stay at Domes of Elounda have babies or small children, so they are well-prepared in that respect – dozens of high chairs in every restaurant, kids’ menus, vegetable purées and mushes widely available…)

The Luxury Residence was very modern and – though reasonably compact – well thought-out. And incredibly stylish – definite modernist influences going on, with huge corner windows and clean, graphic lines. There were two bedrooms, both en suite, both with very efficient air conditioning units as well as ceiling fans. (I hate air con and prefer a fan if the temperature outside is bearable so I appreciated the choice.) Then there was a kitchenette-in-a-cupboard with a microwave, fridge and sink as well as a small hob and then a living area with sofa and chairs and folding glass doors that opened out onto the pool terrace.

And the pool – ah! Now when I say pool, I’ll reiterate that I’m talking about your own pool. And when I’m talking about your own pool, I’m not talking about some tiny patch of water that’s like sitting in a large bucket, I’m talking about a pool you can actually swim in. A proper pool. In your back garden. Bloody marvellous. No collecting together of sunscreens, hats, nappies, more nappies, spare nappies, spare shorts, spare hats, multiple bottles of water, snacks, more snacks, spare snacks: keep all of the crap inside the villa and simply open the back doors.

You want easy, laid-back, no-effort entertainment? There it is, right there, a few steps from your sofa. Of course you’d enjoy it a lot more if you weren’t trying to constantly stop a toddler from running on the wet tiles/throwing himself off the edge of the pool/put his fingers in the jet stream thingy but that’s just called being on holiday with a kid/s. I’ve realised. Nobody can make a holiday-with-babies perfect, unless they provide a free Mary Poppins for a few hours a day to give you a bit of a break (we’ll get to that), but it did seem that Domes of Elounda had gone a long way to making life en vacances a hell of a lot easier.

The best thing about the private pool was that we could lie in the sun for the whole time that Ted and Angelica were taking their afternoon nap – which ended up being 2pm-4pm every day. Two solid hours to just loll around, read books, drink all of the fizzy drinks from the fridge (everything in the fridge was free, by the way, until we used it up – also the drinks and snacks on the middle shelf of the kitchenette, which was CRAMMED with stuff!) and then stand in the shallow end of the pool trying to quietly de-bloat. Had we not had the pool right there, we would have been tethered to our room, perhaps sat on a balcony, but probably using the time to have a nap ourselves in the darkened bedroom. Which, quite frankly, would have been a bit of a waste because the sunshine was so great for our spirits and energy levels. I love the sun – absolutely adore it. I’m sensible in terms of how much time I spend in it, but for me the whole reason to go on holiday is to get to be outdoors, in the warm, breathing in fresh air and feeling my bones heat up.

So in a way, the private pool made the holiday. We didn’t really need to leave our residence. And there was a turn-on-and-offable waterfall feature that was so smart – it sort of neutralised any outside noise when it was on. The Luxury Residences are actually very close together – semi-detached, if you like – but so cleverly designed that you can’t actually see anyone else, and nobody can see you. I sunbathed in just my pants when the babies were napping and felt completely comfortable that nobody could see. Mr AMR did his “washcloth on the privates” sunbathing routine so I bloody hope nobody could see! Haha.

We were in a Residence that was right across from the Haute Living lounge, which had papers and extra snacks and a concierge to answer all of your most obvious and ridiculous questions. Also across the road, the Italian restaurant Blend, which was where we had breakfast every day. It was excellent – a huge array of fresh fruits and yoghurts and cheeses and meats, pastries and breads as well as cooked-to-order eggs and on-demand juices (the beetroot and celery one was great) and an a la carte menu with pancakes and omelettes and so on.

And talking of food, there’s another huge benefit to the Haute Living deal that makes it a very worthwhile thing to do, and that’s the Dine Around concept. It means that you can eat at any of the restaurants (there’s an Italian, a Japanese fusion, a traditional taverna, a buffet-style restaurant) for free, every night. Bearing in mind that a meal for one person in the Italian restaurant, Blend, could set you back around eighty euros, not including drinks, you can save quite a considerable amount. Especially if you have older children eating from the main menu, or you’re travelling in a group of adults. I thought that this was a magnificent perk; if you’re normal half-board then you can eat at the buffet for free, but the restaurants feel like more of a night out, an event. And I like being able to order from a menu and have table service! It’s also slightly more formal, so you can get dressed up without feeling like a berk. When it comes to the bill, you just pay for drinks and service, which you would do anyway at the buffet restaurant.

So is the Haute Living concept good value for money? Well, as I said, it’s only available as part of the deal if you book one of the private or luxury residences or a luxury villa (those look so swanky, but no idea what they cost per night!) so you’re already jumping up a huge step anyway in terms of the accommodation. Your own pool, more space, more privacy. You’d expect to pay more anyway, just for that. But then you get all of the HL bonus balls thrown into the mix – just the Dine Around perk alone must be worth a fair few bob each night. Not to mention the unlimited drinks available in the lounge. I mean, you could just park up there for the night and you’d be dancing with your undercrackers on your head by ten pm. (Unless you have kids with you, obviously.)

Before I left for our week away, I did quite a lot of price-searching and comparing and I think that the Luxury Residence (which includes Haute Living) was about £390 per night and a two-bed family suite with jacuzzi (doesn’t include Haute Living) was a hundred or so pounds less. (Bear in mind that this was in late April, the prices are not anywhere near that now it’s getting into season!) The Haute Living that came with the Luxury Residence would probably save around 150 euros a day just in food bills without even taking into account the lounge, snacks, free drinks, beach bar refreshments and so on. And the fact that the room you’re booking has a private garden and pool…

A few people have already asked me about the difference between the Luxury and Private residences. The Private Residences (see here*) are older in style – all of the new Luxury Residences, along with the lounge, look like something that wouldn’t be out of place in the Californian desert. They are so beautifully designed. Quite Frank Lloyd Wright, in a way, and a million miles from your typical whitewashed Grecian holiday abodes! But the Private Residence styling is more traditional, it’s on two floors, larger inside and comes plopped in the middle of a one acre plot, so your neighbours aren’t right on your doorstep. We took a cheeky little stroll up to the private road that they’re situated on and they looked lovely. Amazingly, they were actually cheaper than the Luxury Residences at the time – I think, if I remember correctly, they were just over £300 per night – but the pools are much smaller and, I suppose, the properties themselves are older. Next time, though, I’m booking a private one just so that I can compare – I hate being next to other people, so the idea of a separate villa but with hotel amenities is incredibly appealing to me!

Which, to be fair, is exactly what you get at the Luxury Residence too, it’s just if you like your space (and your accommodation on two levels) then the Private Residence looks like a great bet.

What else can I tell you? I’m wracking my brains.

Oh God, I’ve just actually checked the prices per night for the week after next and it’s £847 per night! If you can, then go at the end of April, like I did, or at the start of May – the weather was hot, but fine for little ones, and the flights were cheap. And the villa was less than half the price. The pool was nippy, despite it being heated – I think that it’s a sort of eco-system they use – but that’s the only drawback I can see for going very early in the season. Or very late in the season. I wonder what the weather is like in October? I have to say, I worried about it being 21/22 degrees and thought that might not be hot enough, but it felt absolutely BOILING when I was lying there on our secluded patio terrace. I wouldn’t have wanted it any warmer. One day it was twenty six and I almost expired – gone are the days when Mr AMR and I would go to Greece in July and suffer temperatures in the forties!

In summary, then, I think that the Haute Living package is a brilliant idea. The fact is, you’d probably pay loads more for the residences anyway, even if they didn’t have the Haute Living, so the HL part is just one massive, money-saving bonus. We felt very special, being able to phone up our manager, Georgia, at any time and get her to sort out our inadequacies and packing oversights, but she also kept her distance and was very discreet. There was no overly-perky social calling or anything like that. Which Mr AMR is allergic to.

The crux of this post was supposed to be whether or not it’s possible to have a luxury holiday with kids – or at least very tiny kids – and I do think that Domes of Elounda have managed it with their Private and Luxury Residences. It’s a good hybrid of self-catered villa and hotel – there’s enough fridge space to store milk and limited snacks for toddlers, but not enough that you’d ever want to cook for yourselves. Which is excellent. The restaurants are fully child-tolerant and friendly, highchairs are plentiful, travel cots are sound, the beach area is small and safe and easy to play on. For the number of babies and small children I saw, there could maybe be a few more areas with play things and slides, or a dedicated kids pool with inflatables and slides, but then I totally see what the resort is doing in terms of their branding; it all feels very adult and luxurious. No Disney characters stuck to walls or garish plastic toys everywhere. Which keeps the premium feel and makes grown-up guests feel as though they are in a five-star resort.

There are pros and cons to this, as a family staying there; I loved that it felt like a grown-up trip away, and that we were sort of smuggling our kids in naughtily yet they were still brilliantly catered for. But some kids’ plates and cutlery in the kitchenette could have been good and perhaps some more facilities to keep them occupied. There was a park next to the creche (the creche is really excellent; purpose-built, airy, clean, friendly and professional staff) but something a bit jazzier might be nice, a bigger park perhaps, with more play things, if they ever want to add another string to their family resort bow. It could always be hidden away behind some stylish screening to keep with the luxury feel!

You can find out more about Domes of Elounda at Mr & Mrs Smith here* – many thanks to Mr and Mrs Smith and the team at Domes of Elounda for organising the trip – we will be back!

The dress I’m wearing in almost every photo is from Hush – you can read my post on it here. My swimsuit is from Miraclesuit, that also has it’s own post here, if you want more details.)

(Domes of Elounda provided four nights accommodation for my review, I covered all other costs for the week.)

The post Domes of Elounda: The Haute Living Holiday (With Kids) appeared first on A Model Recommends.

Domes of Elounda: The Haute Living Holiday (With Kids) was first posted on May 31, 2018 at 7:55 am. ©2017 "A Model Recommends". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at [email protected] Domes of Elounda: The Haute Living Holiday (With Kids) published first on https://medium.com/@SkinAlley

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noplacecalledhome · 7 years ago

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10 Best Hostels To Stay In Piedmont California – Top Hotel Reviews

Piedmont California is beautiful and has lots of hostels. Ofcourse we are only looking for the best hostels in Piedmont California. It’s important to compare them because there are so many places to stay in Piedmont California. You’re probably wondering where to stay in Piedmont California. To see which hostel sounds better than the other, we created a top 10 list. The list will make it a lot easier for you to make a great decision. We know you only want the best hostel and preferably something with a reasonable price.

Our list contains 10 hostels of which we think are the best hostels in Piedmont California right now. Still, some of you are more interested in the most popular hostels in Piedmont California with the best reviews, and that’s completely normal! You can check out the link below.

Skip to the most popular hostels in Piedmont California.

10 Best Hostels In Piedmont California:

Casa Hacker – Fruitvale

Description:

Casa Hacker – Fruitvale offers accommodations in Oakland.Every room has a flat-screen TV and DVD player. Some rooms have a sitting area to relax in after a busy day. You will find a coffee machine in the room.There is a shared kitchen at the property.San Francisco is 10 miles from Casa Hacker – Fruitvale, and Berkeley is 6 miles away. Oakland International Airport is 4.3 miles from the property.

Reviews:

No reviews yet.

For more info click here.

Downtown Berkeley YMCA Hotel and Residence

Description:

Downtown Berkeley YMCA Hotel and Residence is located in the Downtown Berkeley neighborhood in Berkeley, 9 miles from San Francisco and 29 miles from Half Moon Bay.Some rooms feature a sitting area for your convenience. Each room is equipped with a shared bathroom fitted with a shower.There is a shared lounge at the property.Oakland is 4.5 miles from Berkeley YMCA, and Napa is 30 miles from the property. Oakland International Airport is 11 miles away.

Reviews:

I like that the property was kept very clean. The location is excellent with historic landmarks, a fresh, open-air farmers market, movie theaters, eateries, a Starbucks, CVS and Target around the corner. Bus and BART transportation is easy and convenient. And of course UCB is right there.

Clean, safe and conveniently located near the downtown Berkeley BART. Showers were hot and a community kitchen available. Just steps from a well-stocked drugstore. If you a want a budget option closer to UC Berkeley campus, look at the nearby YWCA instead.

The staff were helpful. The bedding was clean and the towels were switched daily. There was 24 hour hot water for tea and free tea bags, as well as free use of computers. The shared kitchen is well-equipped if you want to cook your own food to save some money. Location is 1 block away from BART transit and is very central. There are lots of bookstores and cafes within 2 blocks. Sadly many homeless people live in the area. Also you can use the YMCA gym for free including exercise classes and pool, steamroom etc.

The location of the hostel is very good, close to many restaurants, shops and the BART transit system. Generally my stay was okay and reasonably quiet. It is a hostel like atmosphere which some tourists may not like, but I found it to be satisfactory on the whole.

The BART station is very near. The place is quite good and convenient.

For more info click here.

Europa Hotel & Hostel

Description:

Europa Hotel & Hostel is located in San Francisco, 0.7 miles from Union Square and 0.7 miles from Xanadu Gallery.All rooms come with a flat-screen TV with cable channels.You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.Geary Theater is 0.8 miles from Europa Hotel & Hostel, and Golden Gate Theater is 1.1 miles away. Oakland International Airport is 11 miles from the property.

North Beach is a great choice for travelers interested in atmosphere, city walks and walking.

Reviews:

We were in the Bay Area for a conference and wanted to spend some days in SF city. This is definitely one of the cheapest hotels available in SF city and is located at a great location if you’re there to explore the city. Cleanliness and confirm weren’t there best feature but it was value for money given the low price as compared to other hotels in the city.

Nothing. I guess if you are despirate and need to book a place in an emergenxy for one night…..as long as its only one night….ON ABSOLUTE DESPIRATION ONLY

To be so horrible and drab looking, it was pretty clean.

I can’t believe that I’m an adult and they’re trying to tell me that I can’t have any visitors in my hotel room after 9 and let a child it was run down it was just gross I would never say that again

The bed and sheets felt nice and clean, however I wouldn’t shower there unless I had to or if I atleast had shower sandals. Good stay if you don’t have high expectations.

For more info click here.

Columbus Residence

Description:

Offering rooms with free Wi-Fi, this extended stay hostel is located in a historic building in San Francisco’s Jackson Square. Chinatown and North Beach are less than 0.6 miles away.A flat-screen satellite TV is provided in each room at this hostel. The shared bathrooms come with a shower. Each room includes a work desk.A 24-hour reception greets guests of Columbus Residence. Other facilities offered include a fully equipped shared kitchen with a custom coffee maker, a guest launderette and vending machines with snacks and drinks. Zip cars are available in the parking lot.Union Square is 0.8 miles away from this hostel. Fisherman’s Wharf is 1.2 miles away.

North Beach is a great choice for travelers interested in atmosphere, city walks and walking.

Reviews:

Staff members who was on duty when we arrived was incredible kind and helpful.

Good location, walking distance to the Piers and to the city.

This is definitely a value for money. The facility is clean and conveniently located. There is a kitchen to cook, washing/drying machines in the basement and micro-wave on the floor.

I just needed a place to get dressed and then sleep after a wedding. Adequate for my purpose. Tiny room – pillow FLAT. Glad I had brought my own! It was remarkably quiet, but the reviews had said it was noisy, so I asked for a quiet room. Staff friendly!

This place is a great value for money in SFO. The facilities are simple but clean. Actually, I was impressed by the overall level of cleanliness they managed to keep in their shared bathrooms and the kitchen, given the number of people that use it.

For more info click here.

Green Tortoise Hostel

Description:

This property is a 20-minute walk from the beach. In the lively North Beach Little Italy district, this San Francisco hostel is just a 3 minute walk to the renowned City Lights Bookstore and the entertainment district. Free Wi-Fi is provided.Shared dormitory accommodations are provided by Green Tortoise Hostels San Francisco. Guests have access to a shared kitchen and a large lounge with free foosball and billiards.A free daily breakfast consisting of eggs, oatmeal, bagels, fresh fruit and orange juice is served every morning at this hostel. Coffee and tea are available all day. A free dinner is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the menu varies.A 24-hour front desk is available to guests at the this hostel. Other facilities include a tour desk, luggage storage and a laundromat. An airport shuttle can only be arranged for a return to the airport.Ferry Building shops, farmers market and restaurants are just over half a mile from Green Tortoise Hostel. Fisherman’s Wharf attractions are a 20-minute walk away.

North Beach is a great choice for travelers interested in atmosphere, city walks and walking.

Reviews:

A huge hostel with some nice old characteristics. They seem to attract a very wide audience and offer fun ‘traveler’ events every evening at the hostel, unfortunately I don’t get a chance to participate.

Amazing accommodation. Great value. Staff are extremely helpful

Super eco-friendly, self-conscious hostel. Nice breakfast, good selection of teabags. Occasional free dinner and whole big box of free delicious pastries for midnight snack. Comfy mattress. Excellent location.

great kitchen to cook in, great wifi in the hostel, good vibes and happy people, free dinner on Monday was superb, definitely stay here, you won’t find better for the location and price

Awesome place!! All staff members were super nice and helpful. Reallu good value for a reasonable price.

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HI San Francisco City Center Hostel

Description:

Located less than 1 miles from Union Square shops and bars, this hostel features 3 lounge areas, a cafe and bar. All shared or private rooms offer free Wi-Fi. A free continental breakfast is served daily.Styled in vintage decor, each shared room at HI – San Francisco City Center Hostel provides a spacious desk, a sitting area, a free locker (guests must provide their own lock) and access to a shared private bathroom. All private rooms have an in-room safe and iPod docking stations.Staff led movie nights, walking tours and dinners are available. A 24-hour front desk is available to guests at the HI – San Francisco City Center Hostel. Guests have access to a shared kitchen and shared common area. Vending machines featuring snacks are on site.Civic Center is a 6-minute walk from this centrally located hostel. The Fillmore music venue is a 10-minute bus ride away.

Tenderloin is a great choice for travelers interested in tourist attractions, architecture and city walks.

Reviews:

We stayed in a premium double room which was great for us and good value compared to other SF hotels

The staff was really friendly and helpful. It’s a good hostel with an ambiance that allows you to meet new people. Also the room was really clean.

The breakfast was super nice. Only one dollar and you get four eggs or four pancakes! The kitchen was really useful. You can basically cook anything you want in the kitchen.

Super nice sociable Place. The Location is very central. Easy to get there from the Airport by BART. The Staff is super nice, if you need recomendations about where to get good Food just ask NICO SUAREZ, a nice dude with a great attitude. Many thx Nico.

The staff was attentive and willing to help. The facilities were clean and well maintained.

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HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Description:

One of our best sellers in San Francisco! In San Francisco just a 5-minute walk from shopping and dining in Union Square, this hostel features a theater room. Each bright room is practically furnished and includes a continental breakfast.Featuring a sink and vanity, each room at HI San Francisco Downtown showcases large windows. All rooms are decorated in cool tones and modern furnishings. Select rooms include a private bathroom.Guests have access to all common areas including a full kitchen and an amply furnished lounge. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. Secure lockers are available. A laundromat is on site.San Francisco Downtown HI is a 7-minute walk from Chinatown Gates. Shopping at Westfield Mall is a 5-minute walk away.

Union Square is a great choice for travelers interested in shopping, city trips and food.

Reviews:

Staff were great and knowledgeable. Shared rooms were large, breakfast was free and plentiful. There were plenty of events available to take part in. Location was absolutely perfect

Really liked almost everything. The location is perfect, really close to union square, the staff reallly wants to help you with everything. They have a good preparation for solo travelers and they have a nice set o events happening in SF which we can look at a blackboard in the lobby.

Good breakfast but eggs or pancake/waffle (as I have had in other hostels) would have made it complete. Take advantage of all the activities offered, especially the historical/cultural tour of the city!

Staff were nice and friendly. Location of the property can’t be beat – very central and accessible to public transportation and shopping.

Great brekky! Those bagels are delicious! Really great staff, lots of events on, fantastic facilities on such – huge kitchen, laundry and dryer, water fountain, comfy beds and good pillows. Also love the water saving toilets

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USA Hostels San Francisco

Description:

Offering a daily free breakfast and free WiFi, USA Hostels San Francisco is just a 5 minute walk to cable cars and Union Square. San Francisco’s Chinatown is just a 10 minute walk away.All of the 4-person dorm rooms at this hostel feature Privacy Pods, which include a reading light, a shelf and an outlet along with privacy screening. All rooms include linens. Select rooms offer en suite bathrooms.A daily breakfast consisting of all-you-can-make pancakes, oatmeal, a variety of baked goods, fresh fruit and juices is served every morning at USA Hostels San Francisco. Coffee and tea are available all day. Free dinner is provided to guests on Mondays and Fridays.A 24-hour reception is offered to guests of this hostel. Other facilities include a tour desk, luggage storage and a guest launderette with free laundry powder provided. Guests have access to a shared kitchen, a library, a yoga room and an on-site theater, as well as a large lounge with free foosball and billiards.Guests of this hostel have easy access to buses and cable cars. Japantown is 1 miles away. San Francisco International Airport is 12 miles away. A variety of bars and restaurants are within walking distance.

Union Square is a great choice for travelers interested in shopping, city trips and food.

Reviews:

Position is perfect, staff is very kind and friendly. Rooms are clean and beds are comfortable. Breakfast is free every day and almost every day the staff organizes some free events (dinners, drinks, pizza nights, bike tours etc ..). After check-out we were allowed to leave our bags and luggages at the hostel until late night.

the staff are so friendly, and they help me a lot; there are many activities, like free walking tour, bike trip, and so on.

Breakfast is simple but good, you can make your own pancakes.. Staff recommend restaurant and places, lots of activities

The staff is friendly and professional. They changed my room placement immediately when I requested.

First hostel stay, so I was nervous about safety and feeling comfortable but the staff and other guests made me feel safe and welcomed!

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Orange Village Hostel

Description:

In downtown San Francisco, Orange Village Hostel is just a 5-minute walk from Union Square Park. A full kitchen and free Wi-Fi access are featured at this hostel.Private rooms as well as male and female only dorm rooms can be found at this hostel. All rooms have hardwood floors, and dorm rooms have backpack-sized lockers.Orange Village Hostel offers a continental breakfast to guests, including waffles, fruit, oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, and bread. Coffee, juice, tea, and milk are also provided. This hostel also has a shared lounge area, bike rental, and a 24-hour front desk. For added convenience, laundry facilities and luggage storage can be found on site.The Moscone Center is a 10-minute walk away, and the Cartoon Art Museum is a 15-minute walk from the hostel. The San Francisco Ferry Building is just over 1 miles away.Powell Street BART Metro Station is an 8-minute walk from the hostel. San Francisco International Airport is 15 miles away.

Union Square is a great choice for travelers interested in shopping, city trips and food.

Reviews:

staff was friendly, location close to union sq and some walgreens.

The room which had it’s own shower and toilet was comfortable. The breakfast which consisted of cereal, bagels, toast, waffles, fruit, juice and tea or coffee was very nice. The staff were pleasant and helpful. The building is undergoing some upgrade work but this did not get in the way of my stay. Close to public transport, shops and restaurants. Social events put on every evening. Laundry facilities available. Would stay here again.

The breakfast was enjoyable with a little variety. The organized activities each day were great. Was lucky to be there on a free pizza and beer night. Lounge room and kitchen were spacious . Close to a convenience store and restaurants. Maccy department store just down the road to stock up on anything you may have forgotten to pack. 2 blocks away from Union Square. Fabulous location. Shuttle to the airport around $15

Comfortable bed, spacious room, helpful staff, cleaned and well-equipped kitchen

Everything was fairly clean – the towels were actually great (which is a lot to say for any hotel…). There was free wifi, laundry was available, and there was free breakfast.

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Minna Hotel

Description:

Centrally located in the SoMa District of San Francisco, this hostel is 1 block from the Moscone Center and Warfield Theater. It features 24-hour front desk service and free Wi-Fi.The simply furnished guest rooms at The Pontiac Hotel & Hostel are equipped with cable TV. A shared bathroom is available.A continental breakfast is served every morning at this San Francisco hostel.The Orpheum Theatre and Civic Center BART Metro Station are a 10-minute walk from The San Francisco Pontiac Hostel and Hotel. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a 15-minute walk away.

Reviews:

Staff were very friendly and helpful – all shifts! Great morning food, coffee, and juice! Loved the rooms – perfect for one person – didn’t mind shared bathrooms or showers! Entire hotel was very clean!

– Good stuff. – They have luggage storage, so you can leave there your baggage if you are leaving in the evening (for example). – Many showers and restrooms on the floor.

Big bed, good breakfast, location not far from public transport to the airport and close to the city center, shared bathrooms and toilets are clean

For the price it was better than expected. Bathrooms were usually clean, breakfast had few options but good colombian coffee, and the staff was nice.

I liked that the 2 Mohammad’s stationed at the front desk are extremely helpful. Especially the one that was stationed at night during our check-in. He gave us an in-depth knowledge of where to visit, tips, etc. The common area is also great. For some reason, I found the 3rd flr. Women’s shared restroom a bit creepy. Dunno why, but other than that, everything is good.

For more info click here.

Top Hostels In Piedmont California Conclusion:

The above is a top selection of the best hostels to stay in Piedmont California to help you with your search. We know it’s not that easy to find the best hostel because there are just so many places to stay in Piedmont California but we hope that the above-mentioned tips have helped you make a good decision.

We also hope that you enjoyed our top ten list of the best hostels in Piedmont California. And we wish you all the best with your future stay!