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macaroonff · 2 days
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hello!! would you take my request for Sunghoon? best friend to lovers trope based on the song Tonight I'm Getting Over You - Carly Rae Jepsen.
Thank you 🤍
Hi sorry I don't think I'll be able to write anytime soon because of my final exams. However I'll add this as a wip for sure! Not sure when i'll find time to complete it tho ≡(▔﹏▔)≡
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macaroonff · 3 days
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boy next door ᡣ𐭩 surprise stream
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ᡣ𐭩 song eunseok x fem!reader
ᡣ𐭩 synopsis. in which yn keeps texting a random number life updates, that turns out to be the boy next door.
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₊ ⊹ prev | next ⊹ ₊
ᡣ𐭩 notes. contact name change !!
ᡣ𐭩 taglist. [open!] @kyusqult @starwonb1n @teddywook @seunghancore @molensworld @ahnneyong @lecheugo @eternalgyu @rksbae @hakkkuu @wonychu @nakam00t @totheseok @ilovechanhee @strawbaemi @miyawakiblossoms @kgyam4 @sseastar-main @rosesfortaro @dodot04lover @daegale @b-riize @snoopyana @lipsbyive @bludzk1llzyuzu @keilovr @ksywoo @bambisnc @poollabug @rllymark @jinanangel @bunni
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macaroonff · 3 days
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AN UNLIKELY FANMEETING.
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p — LEE JENO x female! reader. g — gang leader! jeno, actress! reader, humor, tension tension tension, jeno gets kidnapped by his celebrity crush, this is stupid, this is dumb, don't take this seriously. w — swearing, kidnapping, morally dubious characters HAHHAHA. 935 words.
note — happy birthday jeno. to the anon that sent the trope list curated for me, this is your fault. take responsibility. the prompt "accidentally kidnapping a mafia boss" suddenly terrorized my brain while i was studying. enjoy.
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when lee jeno opens his eyes, a dull ringing in his ears, he sees nothing but the faint impression of a lightbulb burning through the sack covering his head. it’s dark. there’s an echo when he grunts and tries to move, but upon feeling the rope pressed against his wrists, the stiffness of his shoulders and the metal scratching of the chair against the rough ground— he’s quick to understand the situation he’s in.
the last thing he remembers, he was about to board a plane to japan. to spend a few months lying low after the particularly risky job his gang had to undertake not too long ago.
seems like someone managed to sniff him out before he could flee.
splash!
“wake up, you slimy son of a bitch.”
cold water hits, seeping into the fabric covering his face and crawling down to his collarbones. now, considering his line of work, jeno isn’t too fazed by this situation. he has a lot of enemies. maybe this one’s from a rival gang. could be a relative seeking revenge for a brother’s cracked skull, or some shit. doesn’t matter. he’s not gonna stay sitting for long anyway.
“did you really think you could cheat on me and run away scot free?”  
cheat? the sack gets thrown off from his head, a hand yanking a handful of his hair to pull his head back and he lets out a grunt. the chair is tipped back. jesus fucking christ, that felt personal. but when the sudden illumination stops blinding him, and he can finally see who the hell had the guts to jump and kidnap him, he’s a little taken aback.
jeno has a lot of enemies. the list goes on and on.
“use your fucking mouth, bast—”
but he’s pretty sure that the darling angel of south korea’s film industry isn’t on that list.
jeno watches as the vivid scorn and disgust in your eyes slowly meld into confusion, then realization, then a slow but sure descent into panic alongside the loosening of your grip.
“oh.”
must be the skills of an award winning actress. he feels almost a hint of disappointment when you stop pulling on the roots of his damp hair.
“oh, shit. one moment.”
clang! the chair he’s tied to settles once more into the ground with a clatter, and jeno watches as you quickly secure a distance between you and him, pulling your phone out of your sweats while biting the tips of your thumbnail. it’s a little funny seeing the nation’s sweetheart pacing back and forth all jittery in what looks like a basement— maybe your basement. as far as jeno can remember, you’re always casted for romance films. those feel-good, slice of lives and the pocari sweat commercial you once did echoes in the back of his head. but maybe you have a hidden knack for some thriller.
he starts fiddling with the ropes tied around his wrists right at the moment you screech into your phone. dispatch would have a field day if they see this.
“you got the wrong guy! my ex isn’t this hot!”
his fingers slip. his skin scratches the rough threads of the rope.
“i paid you useless fucks a shit ton of money to get the job done, but you can’t even get— ugh! nevermind. just go and bring me the actual son of a bitch i asked for this time.”
the knot is almost loose. this is quite the show. it’s better than all the movies he’s seen of you.
“what?! hello?! what do you mean you can’t help me anymore, what about our—”
drop. jeno gets up from the chair. he stretches his joints, neck cracking, watching as you sputter out a trove of profanities at your phone. his clothes are still damp from the water you splashed him earlier. maybe he should have a bit of fun first before leaving. it’s not everyday that you get to meet your celebrity crush.
“hey, dollface,” he calls out. you freeze. you look at him with the drop of a needle, eyes growing a little bit wider when you realize he should be sitting down. damn, they really need to cast you in a grittier film. “you should pay a bit more attention when you have someone hostage.”
a beat of silence. 
“uhm,” your voice croaks. jeno takes a step towards you. you take a step back. “listen, haha, there has been a misunderstanding.”
your steps stutter a little, moving back and back and you swallow nervously, looking at him with almost sheepishly— a sense of feigned bravery in the midst of retreat, teeth tugging on the skin of your lips. “oh, yeah?” he says, and you visibly rattle. you’re prettier like this than when you’re batting your eyes and flirting at the camera. you’re definitely prettier.
“yes, ahaha, there was a minor switch-up, you see i— i didn’t mean to...uh, escort you from the airport, i actually meant to target someone else, and— o–oh, and there’s a wall behind me. oops, haha. do you mind backing away a bit, um—”
“how about i help you with the ex boyfriend problem you have?”
the tables turn. it’s him digging his face up against yours this time, but the mention of your ex strikes a chord. you’re looking at him, gaze unbreaking. he can feel your shallow breaths on his skin.
“who are you exactly?”
“someone who can do the job better that the fuckers you sent me, definitely,” he chuckles. “how about it?”
he won’t ask for much. maybe just an autograph in return.
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AN UNLIKELY FANMEETING. © hannie-dul-set, 2023.
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macaroonff · 7 days
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Domestic fluff is truly the best ahsh
The spray bottle squeaks out a few more splurts of all-purpose cleaner onto the kitchen counter. Just another thing for the monumental list of tasks you’ve acquired today. Taking a few paper towels, you scrub the quartz as if it personally victimised your entire family. There’s no laundry detergent either, not after all the bedding loads this morning. Did you turn on the dishwasher? It was loaded and you remember adding the tablet but there’s no tell-tale whirling nor incessant gurgling filling the room. 
“Shoot, shoot, shoot!” you grumble, turning on your heels. 
Steam escapes the machine’s vents – the drying cycle. One less thing to worry about. Though you didn’t have quite enough space to include the juice pitcher, for which you need to buy a few more instant tea packs. There’s a shopping list for all this, a simple way to give your mind a break, but then there’s also the counter. The spray is oh-so-patiently waiting to be wiped down. 
On autopilot your feet carry you to the fridge and the scrambled list clipped to it. In a scrawl near illegible you add what you remember: detergent, carpet cleaner, oh!, regular cleaner too, toothpaste, and…
What was the other thing?
“Honey,” Yunho calls, his voice breaking through the muck and mire of your overactive brain. His arm wraps around your waist as he presses a soft kiss to your temple. “Are you okay?”
With a clap you add ‘tea’ to the list. “Ah, you’re a lifesaver!”
He snorts. “I don’t know what I did but I’m happy to be of service.”
Slipping free of his embrace you return to the counter and the war you’re waging against it. After a solid minute it sparkles. Most of the kitchen does by this time of day, though it never lasts long. Dinner is right around the corner so the dishes will inevitably pile back up, and wouldn’t it be nice to bake some cookies for dessert? If only there was some–
“My little hummingbird”—large hands clasp yours, holding you in place before you can flit away once more—“let me take care of it.”
“Oh, it’s fine, really. Now for dinner I was thinking–”
“I’ll take care of it,” he insists, gently pulling you to his chest. Once more his arms wrap around your frame. Warmth encases you as he rocks you back and forth. The buzz slows and dulls, allowing a sense of serenity to wash through you. “I’ll take care of you.”
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macaroonff · 8 days
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Noooooo they aren't six SM stop trying to overwrite them as 6 wth this made me so sad
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macaroonff · 9 days
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Ahshshsh riize comeback is so perfect for summer but I miss seunghan omg 😭
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macaroonff · 10 days
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Hey!! I really enjoy your writings of Jungwon. May I request a longer writing of him based on the song Love by Keyshia Cole? Just angst, yet heart fluttering, but with a happy ending (if that's possible 😭)
Thank you 💙
Hi anonie, i'm so glad you like reading my works and thanks for requesting! I've been busy so I just saw this >﹏< .
Woah okay this song is so beautiful like its just so desperate and heart wrenching ugh. I felt like a right person wrong timing trope/ ex lovers would work really well for this, which is what I've tried in this story. I hope you like it!
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reunion- y.j.w
↪Pairing: idol Jungwon x gn! reader
↪wc: 2.4k
♪love- keyshia cole
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Late evening, a busy Friday, the neon signs of Seoul glow beneath the shadows of its sheer clouds. The streets are packed with people, all of whom walk with urgency. You watch as tides of people sway in and out of the enormous skyscrapers you weren’t used to seeing here. They stood their ground, massive, and haughty, reminding you of how much had changed  since the last time you were here.
Ten years ago, before you left Korea in a haste for university in New York. 
Your eyes wander past these buildings, all of them stuck to each other side by side until all you saw were buildings running into the horizon. You find your feet dragging along the intersection slowly, massive crowds of people rushing towards you until you reach the other end, where there was a bus stop. You also find yourself in a daze, the unfamiliarity of the streets coming back to hit you as you keep confusing the road signs, and your 'left-and-rights'. The bus stop is also busy, a crowd of office workers holding on to the seats. 
You stand to one side, going back to your newfound hobby of “Spot the differences”- differences between the Seoul in your memories and the Seoul of today. Just how Seoul had changed so drastically, you realised you had grown older, a noticeable change in how you carried yourself.
You were no longer a naïve student, excited yet afraid of the future. You were an adult, with experiences that had changed your outlook towards life, realising how much you’d matured over the years. 
By now your eyes discover that the glass-like buildings end with one even taller than the rest, adorned with billboards. This building, however, is one you recognise. It was HYBE, the reason you had flown back to Korea. 
You’d received mail from them 3 months prior, an invitation to collaborate on a music video. As a rising director, with awards being showered upon you for the last year, you were excited. They were going to debut a new girl group and wanted your unique style incorporated, while you had a chance to diverge into a new format. You had come out late this evening looking for inspiration, anything about the city that aligned with your vision. Your eyes go back to observing your surroundings, stretching your neck as you try to see where the building ends. Your eyes find the massive billboard sitting at the very top, displaying a face you’d gotten so used to knowing.
A face that you tried so hard to erase from your memories.
Like you, he looked extremely different compared to ten years ago. He was unrecognisable. His red hair was framed so perfectly, highlighting his cheekbones compared to his rounder cheeks when he was a teen. Like Seoul, he felt unfamiliar, so different from your memories of him.
You don’t know why it didn’t hit you before. Seoul had become cruel, and unlike your fame, his was explosive. To everyone except you in Seoul, Yang Jungwon was familiar. His and his band’s billboards adorned the road into HYBE, and you’re not sure why you didn’t recognise him earlier. This person you’d grown so used to knowing was now a stranger. 
When you first got on board with the project, you were fearful thinking about your path crossing his. You eventually shrug them off, calculating every possibility. He’s a superstar, packed with schedules, touring for all means. He wouldn't be present in any of your meetings. he would merely remain that- a billboard that used to be a memory. Plus you believed that fate, which kept you apart for ten years would not be so unkind to you. Fate always had your side, it wouldn’t betray you.
So why was it, as you’re setting up the cameras next week, and greeting the younger, cheerful girls that you see the man you so hate, get out of his car in the periphery? 
You feel your breath hitch, voice trembling slightly. You don’t want to see him. You turn your back towards him, bringing your attention back to the eager girls who don’t notice your predicament, as you focus on the script.
You hear his steps caving in closer, as his solid boots hit the concrete. The only thing louder than which would probably be your pounding heart.
 “Scene 8 involves a fight between you and your supposed boyfriend.” you ramble on, pretending to give them a breakdown of a scene. The girls fiddle about, their eyes shifting between your face and behind your head. 
You pause, a good guess as to why. 
You hear the girls’ voice getting higher as they bow and introduce themselves. “Please take care of us, sunbaenim,” their leader, Yunah exclaims. 
You gulp, feet stuck to the ground. You hear a small chuckle, a sound so familiar it could bring you to tears. “Mm, long time no see,” he replies and you're not sure who exactly he was addressing, despite feeling his eyes on the back of your head.
You can smell his perfume, the same strong woody scent that you had gifted him ten years ago. Everything from his voice to his appearance had changed, yet some things remained the same.
You let out a sigh, straightening your back as you finally face him, a poor attempt at being professional. A poor attempt at pretending like everything was okay. You’re too afraid to even look at him, to even say “hi”. What would you even say?
'Why’d you leave me out of the blue?' or 'why couldn’t you have told me earlier?' All of which were questions that would open up a box locked up in your heart. A box you don’t ever want to open again.
Your eyes eventually find his ones, unblinking, with new intensity reflected back. His expression is undecipherable. 
You feel his eyes wander all over your frame, from your hair to your hands, as though he were also trying to take in all of your presence, and everything it meant today. He seemed to be taking it so much better than you, seemingly calm, as though you were the only one shaken by the years past. Like he didn’t even remember you anymore.
You feel your assistant director nudge you out of the ghosting silence. “This is Jungwon, he’ll be our cameo since our actor got hurt this morning.” Your eyes follow as the towering figure bends in a bow. 
“Please take good care of me,” you hear him whisper, to which you blink in slight surprise. You remind yourself that it was a greeting, and not a nod to your shared past. 
You’d cared plenty for him. Except he ran away. How could you be sure he wasn’t going to do it today?
You nod stiff, before walking away hurriedly towards your monitor. You hear your assistant director apologise on your behalf, as you fiddle with your monitors, checking with the other staff.
Anything to distract yourself with.
You look back at the script, realising that he would be playing the role of the estranged boyfriend. You scoff at the irony. 
It was funny how the person you’d written this scene with in mind was the one playing it. It was funny how everything came back full circle just to kick you in the ass. 
You’re monitoring the shot of him being pushed away by one of the girls, as she walks out of his life. In what was supposed to be a liberating scene, you don’t know why you now felt pity. It held you back, his remorseful look, his pleading eyes, his figure against the concrete wall. 
You stop the cameraman who was about to pan from Jungwon to the girl. His tears you knew were fake wouldn’t stop, and his eyes looked into the camera in desperation. You find your heart stop with the way he looks at you through the screen- pitiful, and upset, yet so, so distant. His hair was wet from the fake rain created, and his lips trembled against the cold breeze. His left hand is on his heart, clutching onto his drenched shirt, as though all of the universe’s pain was consolidated there. But somehow, he still looked so good.
You feel a tear rolling down your cheek, landing on your closed fist, bringing you out of your visceral thoughts. “C..Cut” you finally say, realising how swept up you were in your own emotions. You see him sigh and lean back against the wall, staff running to help him.
“You okay?” you hear your assistant director ask you, seeing your shaken state. You nod to her, gulping down water as you see the boy approach your side.
“Jungwon, your acting was so good it made y/n cry,” your sound director chimes in once he notices your actor stationed at a monitor. The boy doesn’t say anything, choosing to give him a wry smile.
From the corner of your vision, you see his beady eyes following his previous performance, which under normal circumstances you would consider impressive. But both of you knew the bigger performance was pretending to be sane near each other. He leans in closer when the camera zooms in on him, and you feel his breath fanning you ever so slightly as he gasps. 
“Woah, I thought we were going to film Iroha walking away,” he says surprised when he sees himself on the monitor for a prolonged time. 
“Hmm that was y/n’s call” someone says behind you. 
 You close your eyes, anticipating all the questions he has, but he remains silent. You stare at your AD who understands your queue, rushing everyone for a break. After all these years, you still feel suffocated despite promising to push him out of your memories. 
You notice that he doesn’t leave immediately, instead grabbing a chair close to you. His hair falls in front of his eyes as he stares at the grass below you.
“You’ve changed a lot,” he says, his voice hoarse, fingers fidgeting with the pen you were using. You don’t really know how to respond.  
After all those years, is that all he was going to say? After ghosting you for months, after removing you from his life so cruelly, you find his audacity baffling. 
“Obviously I’ve changed, you’d know earlier if you’d even left me a text,” you reply in spite. You see his fidgeting stop, instead holding it so tight that it digs into his palm. 
“I had my reasons,” he whispers. You scoff visibly irritated.
"Don't play with me Jungwon," his name rolls off your tongue just as smoothly as it did so many years ago. More tears threaten to spill, and you're afraid of people observing the two of you, knowing how rumours spread.
You get up in a haste, and walk towards the washrooms. Jungwon follows behind wary, eventually pulling you away from the main set, until you reach a building close by. You stop, with your back against the wall as he gets closer.
"Why would you think I'm playing with you y/n," you hear him say, tears rolling down his big eyes.
You didn't have the energy to ask him anything. Unlike your racing thoughts, the silence surrounding the two of you was comforting. Saying anything meant confronting a truth buried deep in the past.
As though he could understand your distress, he lets out a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry y/n," he finally says, confirming something you've wanted to hear for so long. "I was scared."
The tears from your eyes don't stop either as he continues.
"I had just debuted back then, and my career was on the line."
Your sobs get louder, and you feel pain inching closer to your fears, all stuck in your suffocated heart. So far, you'd guessed the reason as to why he disappeared so abruptly. Hearing it directly from him made it worse. "I loved you, I really did," he says, his hand trying to hold yours, which you shirk away. He pauses.
"I was given an ultimatum," he becomes softer. "I didn't know how to tell you. I knew it would hurt us."
You clench your fists, looking at everything else he could've said.
"It still hurt us didn't it?" you whisper.
You see him nod slowly. You pull yourself off the wall, reaching into your pocket, fetching for tissues. When you find some, you hold some out for him to take. Both of your eyes had become puffy, and it didn't help how obvious it was that there was tension between you. It must've been half an hour since you had left the site, and the others must've noticed your absence.
"Why don't you head on, my AD will continue the shoot" you say, trying to hail a taxi as you walk onto the busy road.
"Please don't run away ," he pulls you back, now pinned against the wall. "Don't leave me again y/n," you feel him lean his head on the wall, next to you. He looks beyond fatigued and instinctively you feel your hands go behind his broad shoulders, rubbing his back.
"I really missed you," he whispers continuously, breaking down in your arms.
"I missed you too Jungwon, so much that I'd even collect your posters just to see your face," you confess. You notice him smile slightly, before he giggles. "I'd never imagine you to do that," he says and you match his laugh, somewhat embarrassed.
For the first time in a long time, Yang Jungwon saw you smile. It was as gorgeous as he remembered it, as inviting as it had always been. Unlike the Seoul that remained so stale, your smile brought life into the city. It brought life into the last ten years that he couldn't find.
Your lips arched into the perfect 'U' and all he wanted to do was feel them on his. His hands go behind your neck as he looks into your eyes. "Can I kiss you," he whispers gently. You don't reply, instead pulling him in as if you desperately waited those 10 years for him to say this.
All these years you didn't realise what you missed, until this fateful kiss. In this moment, it didn't matter what your past was, or what the future would hold. Nothing mattered now, as long as you were wrapped up between his arms, tethered to his lips.
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Wahh sorry for the delay guys. I have my finals in less than 2 weeks so I haven't gotten to writing yet 😭
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macaroonff · 10 days
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Breaking up angst hits the worst fr
mend my heart.
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IN WHICH, you lie to keep his peace.
PAIRING : jake x reader
GENRE : angst, hurt no comfort
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“I think I’m falling out of love with you.”
3 years. Down the drain. Just like that.
What prepares you for a sentence like that?
Nothing. Nothing does.
It's a whisper of betrayal, a dagger concealed within the velvet folds of affection. Each syllable drips with the bitter taste of disillusionment, a venom that seeps into the cracks of your heart, poisoning every beat with the ache of loss.
When those words tumbled from Jake’s lips, they shatter the fragile illusion of security you've built around your love. They unravel the carefully woven tapestry of your shared memories, leaving behind a tangled mess of broken promises and shattered dreams.
You remember the way Jake’s laughter filled the air, warm and infectious, melting away the worries of the world. You recall the softness of his touch, the way his fingers traced patterns across your skin, leaving behind a trail of sparks that ignited a fire within you.
But now? Now, as you replay those memories in your mind, they feel like distant memories of a love that once burned bright but now flickers in the shadows.
“I think I’m falling out of love with you.”
It's a tidal wave of emotion, crashing over you with a force that leaves you gasping for breath. It drags you under, pulling you into the depths of despair, where every breath is a struggle and every heartbeat a reminder of the love you can no longer hold onto.
As those words echo in the caverns of your soul, they leave behind a hollow emptiness, a gaping void where his love used to reside. You reach out, grasping for something, anything, to anchor you to the reality of what he's saying, but there's nothing there, just the cold reminder of his confession ringing in your ears.
You remember the whispered promises exchanged under the moonlight, the stolen glances across crowded rooms that spoke volumes without a single word.
But now? Now, as you cling to those memories like a lifeline, they feel like shards of glass cutting deep into your wounded heart.
“I think I’m falling out of love with you.”
It's a symphony of heartbreak, each note a dagger to your soul, tearing through the delicate fabric of your happiness until there's nothing left but the raw, jagged edges of your pain. And as you stand there, drowning in the wreckage of your love, you can't help but wonder how something so beautiful could end in such agony.
"I think I'm falling out of love with you too"
You whisper just above your breath.
And what prepares you for this?
Nothing. Nothing does.
The admission is a dagger to your own heart.
A deception born out of love and desperation.
A love so deep for him that you’re willing to endure the agony in silence even when it’s devouring you from within.
It’s funny to think that you’re still protecting him after the betrayal your heart feels, the cracks deepening with each second of defeating silence. You know Jake wouldn’t be able to live with himself knowing you’re hurt. He may not be in love with you, yeah, but he still loves you, right?
Jake’s expression softens at your words, a flicker of relief passing across his features before he pulls you into a tight embrace. As you cling to him, you can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, you held onto him tight enough you would feel the shattered pieces of your heart mend together.
You would do anything to keep his heart still beating, even if it wasn’t for you.
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macaroonff · 12 days
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Changing my theme to a more spring vibe
It is me macaroon ahshsh just in case you're confused
🌼🌷🌻
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macaroonff · 12 days
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Taste- Lee Minho (Part 2)
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Genre: Undercover detective lee know x gang leader y/n; the roaring 20s Paring: Minho x fem! reader Content Warnings: Spice (no smut),mentions of alcohol, inaccurate historical representation, not intended to be factually correct, please forgive any inaccuracies. Word Count: 2.5k words Suggested Songs: Taste- Stray Kids Whatever Lola Wants- Ella Fitzgerald Fall in Love With Swing- Trio Manouche Smooth Operator- Sade
↪click here for part 1.
Refer to this for context regarding specific terms in bold
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Lee Minho should've known better, that a woman so beautiful was also secretive. That a woman so wanted in this mysterious club would obviously play hard to get. Did it help that she was also the owner of this place? No it did not.
But what did help was that a set of the smoothest pearls had fallen into his lap, and either on purpose or by accident, you had left him your necklace. Lee Minho couldn't decipher your intent, but at the very least, he found himself an excuse. It was as though petty fate that stopped him before was helping him proceed in this mission.
He searches for you in the crowd with continuous effort, but you seem to have disappeared a long time ago, as though your conversation with him was just another of his delusions. Lee Minho also realises that he's a little tipsy. He's starting to sweat under the warm suit in the crowded room, and he feels his heart rate pick up rapidly. Unlike how he had become tolerant of the alcohol here in Chicago, he wasn't used to this club as an entity, he especially wasn't used to you. For a trained detective like Minho, two minutes was all it took for him to decipher what a person desires, what their intentions are, but you were so hard to read. He had never felt so incompetent, so out of it before. He looks back at the bartender, who had offered him another free drink.
"What do they call her, that flapper?"
"She isn't just any flapper," the man replies with a smirk, "she's the most famous in the city, her stage name is Estelle Vin."
"Is she always that... mysterious? I can't help be drawn to her," Minho confesses foolishly, wanting to gauge the bartender further.
"Hmm, you're not the only one. Do you want me to return those pearls you're holding," the bartender replies.
"Don't worry, I need these as an excuse, if you know what I mean," he flashes a wink, pretending to be a lovesick fool, thouh he wasn't really sure it was pretention on his part. "Thanks for the free drink, I quite enjoyed it."
Lee Minho leaves with a small stumble, feeling the blood rush to his ears, his entire body getting warm. His vision is somewhat blurry, as he pushes his way towards the door he was eyeing before, his hands clutching the pearls close to his chest in his breast-pocket, holding on as though his entire life depended on it, and maybe it did.
He had to duck through the entrance to the dressing rooms, where he found himself standing in a complex maze. There were doors to the right and left of him, and a long corridor leading down. The shabby exterior was deceptive of the space within the club, and he could barely believe that it was just a small, rundown club that it lured people in as. He walks further down the corridor, when a singer comes out of a door on the left. She looks at him, startled by his intrusion. "Who...?How did you enter? It's authorised personals only."
He quickly apologises, and in convoluted sentences that his brain pushed out, explained that he had something to return. "The door was unlocked, and I need to see Ms Vin."
The lights dimmed nearby, signalling that a new performance was about to start. The stranger looks rushed and tries to shoo him away.
"Get out, and stop acting like a stalker. This would ruin your reputation Mr Claude Landry."
Lee Minho's eyebrows furrow in confusion. Why did a singer working here know his surname? He had only disclosed it to Mr Brown and a few other aristocrats. He was sure that most of them were tight-lipped about it, but now he was somewhat alarmed. Of course, as a man of public curiosity, along with him being a foreigner, it may not be as alarming. Maybe a clerk saw him sign it as Landry, and he overruled his previous suspicions. Absorbed in his thoughts, he slowly back away from this new area shrouded in mystery, until he feels the floor under his feet vibrating, as though something heavy was moving below.
"There's no way what I'm feeling is an earthquake now ma'am?" he questions, his suspicions aroused for perhaps the hundredth time in the night.
"I think you've had too much of hooch Mr Landry," the stranger replies.
Sure, he was somewhat intoxicated but there's no way he'd be this gone. He also made sure that the bartender didn't have any chance to spike his drink, which makes him feel fluky. The feeling increases, and he swears he can hear glass shatter below him, although faint. The Whangdoodle from the stage increases their volume as this happens, and Minho finds his ears ringing.
It was at that moment you spring out of your dressing room, almost alarmed. "Why are they so lou-" you exclaim but stop when you notice Minho.
His eyes look into yours, and for a second he feels relieved to see someone he knows, though barely. At least the situation didn't seem as unfamiliar as it did before.
"It's loud isn't it Ms Vin?" he asks, back to his stoic self, as though examining your anxious demeanour.
You hold back a breath, unsure how to answer the question. A new shipment was supposed to arrive today, and they're usually stored in the basement, which unfortunately happened to be right below where you were standing. You'd usually ensure that the entrance to this area was secure, but most of the men had gone to help carry the shipment in, which happened to be in excess today, and you must have left it open when you came back with your head muddled with thoughts of Minho. The fate that usually favoured you, happened to be sabotaging you today.
"Yeah, the band is louder than usual, I should probably check on them."
You locked your door to stop him from entering, and nod at your colleague. She tries to usher Minho back to the main area, and you also try to leave past him. He grabs your hands instead, and you feel his eyes on the back of your head.
"This must be yours," you see your pearls drop from his hands, clinking against his watch.
You only now notice that your neck was bare, putting your hand against it. Another sound erupts from the basement, and you get frantic. You watch as your colleague runs down to the basement to make them aware of how conspicuously loud they were being. Minho is quick to follow her with his eyes, suspicion written all over his face.
In spontaneity, you pull him into the dressing room you had previously locked. It was a last resort to distract him, stupid as it was.
"I... I can wear the necklace here," you say, pulling him closer to you. "Or maybe you'd like to put it on me?" you try flirtatiously hoping to keep his attention on just you. You sit down on the red chair, and remove the makeup from the counter. Luckily for you, Minho seems to appreciate this opportunity just as much as you, walking closer until his hand rests on your naked shoulders. He carefully held your long bob in a fist, placing the cold pearls as delicately as he could around your neck, taking quite some time. As he moves in closer, you feel his warm breath fanning your ear, where you're taken aback by his rapid breathing. You could feel it travel down your spine as he bends to snap it in place. It felt like he was holding himself back, deliberate, careful. Once he's done clasping the necklace, you look at him through the mirror, his eyes focused on you. You see him take your appearance in, and a small gasp leaves his mouth.
"You look beautiful y/n," he says in a deeper voice, taking you by surprise. Because you weren't taken aback by the compliment but by the fact that you had never once given him your real name, and the only thing he could find out was your stage name. Even some of your closest workers were hidden from your real identity.
But you didn't want to confirm this with this stranger, deciding it would be best to feign innocence. You furrow your brows as though it was annoyance. "Who's y/n? Your wife? A lover? A tomato you fell in love with?"
He smirks, "Future wife, maybe. Lover, if we're looking to start from today" he counters, snarky, yet in a weird way seductive. At this point you were beyond alarmed and tried extremely hard to keep yourself grounded to this new predicament.
"What do you mean by we? Besides if you want to address me, then you can call me Estelle."
"Well, are you jealous Estelle? Cause to be honest I'd rather call out your name later instead of y/n. I really hope you aren't y/n."
Who was he? Why did he care so much? Maybe he was mistaken, your name might be popular in France, or wherever he's from. Because there's no way he was referring to you.
You wanted to change the conversation desperately, you absolutely had to. In so many years of hiding behind a façade, it was scary having it disintegrated by a mere stranger.
"I'm not jealous, and don't be creepy, Claude. I don't think you should be here, unless you have more to speculate?"
He says nothing, instead he reaches for his breast-pocket for the umpteenth time, removing his linen handkerchief engraved with C.L and a classic fountain pen with gold borders.
"Time and date, for our next meeting," he asks sweetly, a charming smile painted on his lips.
You take his pen and examine it carefully. "Looks expensive, must be a family heirloom," you ask carelessly.
Minho smiles, as though he had already won this game of deception. Did he actually know your name? No. But he made a somewhat educated guess. Like most of the women of the time, you had tattooed on your back your social security number. As a celebration of autonomy, it had become a popular trend, which you also seemed to have followed. Luckily, for him, he had access to the case of a few bootleggers who were hidden so well that the only thing that could be traced was the social security number on someone's back. The number belonged to y/n l/n. Did it help that the social security number had no pictures? No. But did it help that the numbers on your back were visible to him as he placed the necklace on you? Of course it did. He decided to take a dangerous bet, and observe your reaction.
Beyond your unperturbed expression, he could see a shift in your body language, your fingers clasped onto your necklace tighter for sometime, before you recovered, your confident face wavering and your beautiful eyes shifting away from him . All he had to do was catch you in the act.
"You're such a liar Claude." you say out of nowhere. "What are you? A cop? you say also catching him off-guard.
"A cop, those incompetent people with a meagre salary? Of course I'm not, don't be ridiculous darling." he replies slowly.
He watches you smile, a menacing one that pretended to be comforting. "It was a joke, of course you're not a cop, you're big cheese around here," he takes the handkerchief from you, where he sees all you've written on it is "today" with a red lipstick stain on it.
"Today?" he raises an eyebrows in surprise. "Yeah, unless your bank's closed?" you entice.
He smiles and pulls you in swiftly. His unexpectedly rough hand that you would not expect someone rich to have, is on your back, drawing circles as his lips are pushed against yours. You taste the same cheap wine you had offered him towards the back of his tongue, except that it tasted so much better this way. You could taste remnants of the fake plum flavouring, mixed with the scent of your Chanel no 5 parfum taking over all your senses. You feel as his cold fingers trace definitely around your back. "Three" he whispers, "Eight," he continues, moving leftwards, causing goosebumps where he'd left his impression. "One" he continues. You pause for a moment, confused at the numbers he was repeating, until it eventually dawns on you. You push him away worried, your pearls clinking as you move back. "Anything wrong?" he asks innocently. You knew you couldn't directly admit to being a criminal. He wouldn't know just by your social security number, unless he was working with someone important. But he also somehow knew your name.
At this point you knew he wasn't a French Casanova, observing how his supposed "heirloom" had different initials engraved on the pen, L.M., which you were sure didn't belong to a Claude Landry, or that of a real family. It must have been a stolen good bought illegally, or that L.M were his real initials. The only way you could find out was if you played along.
"Nothing, I just needed a breather, your kisses are quite intense," you make a stupid excuse. Despite realising that you weren't yourself around him, you go back to making out with this handsome stranger, his hands going back to where they were until he managed to trace your entire number. He removes his tweed suit, and lifts up your dress until it was hiked far above your thighs, and with every movement the tassels of your dress get tangled up near his zip. You unbutton his cotton shirt, holding the fabric close, revealing his chest which was so much warmer than your hands. A chill blows through the window, and you shiver in between his warm touches. He stops there for a minute, and eyes the bottle of rum on your counter. He lifts you with ease, and places you on the counter, where your social number was reflected in the mirror, as though everything about you had finally been revealed.
"We should make our last toast," he speaks up breathless, sipping out of the bottle, then holding it to your lips. You accept, and gulp down more than you usually do. Something tells you it would be the last time you'd be this delirious, yet so satisfied. It was like with every kiss, he meant to take you down, in more ways than one. His kisses travelled down your body, scattered, frenzied. He kissed as though this was the first and only time he'd be this close to you. Soon you also gave in to the delicate pressure with all your being, overruling your innate intuition, lost in his seduction.
You were so guilty of doing this. Of finding comfort in the way he moaned your name, your real name, in low whispers, something you'd never trust anyone to do. And it didn't matter what secrets he hid when he made you feel this good. Though you were always guilty of lying to others, so was he. In a weird way, for tonight both of you would be equals- equally guilty parties for betraying yourselves.
Similarly, no one would ever fathom how utterly guilty Lee Minho felt with his tongue driven down your throat, enjoying it despite knowing you were a criminal. It was as though he couldn't let go, and for a minute he felt like none of it mattered, and that you were as innocent as your kisses fluttering over his collarbones. For tonight, he'd become the sinner, not you.
The same Lee Minho who hated being drunk during work hours, was beyond pleased, convincing himself that it was just for tonight. For just this night, he'd given into this hedonistic urge, of wanting nothing but a taste of your body, of your attention and your entire world which he would eventually have to destroy tomorrow. But tomorrow was so many kisses, so many secrets and so many bottles of alcohol later. So he continued deluding himself with your moans and soft lips, until he could no longer despise himself for his new intoxication: you.
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macaroonff · 13 days
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Hey!! I really enjoy your writings of Jungwon. May I request a longer writing of him based on the song Love by Keyshia Cole? Just angst, yet heart fluttering, but with a happy ending (if that's possible 😭)
Thank you 💙
Hi anonie, i'm so glad you like reading my works and thanks for requesting! I've been busy so I just saw this >﹏< .
Woah okay this song is so beautiful like its just so desperate and heart wrenching ugh. I felt like a right person wrong timing trope/ ex lovers would work really well for this, which is what I've tried in this story. I hope you like it!
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reunion- y.j.w
↪Pairing: idol Jungwon x gn! reader
↪wc: 2.4k
♪love- keyshia cole
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Late evening, a busy Friday, the neon signs of Seoul glow beneath the shadows of its sheer clouds. The streets are packed with people, all of whom walk with urgency. You watch as tides of people sway in and out of the enormous skyscrapers you weren’t used to seeing here. They stood their ground, massive, and haughty, reminding you of how much had changed  since the last time you were here.
Ten years ago, before you left Korea in a haste for university in New York. 
Your eyes wander past these buildings, all of them stuck to each other side by side until all you saw were buildings running into the horizon. You find your feet dragging along the intersection slowly, massive crowds of people rushing towards you until you reach the other end, where there was a bus stop. You also find yourself in a daze, the unfamiliarity of the streets coming back to hit you as you keep confusing the road signs, and your 'left-and-rights'. The bus stop is also busy, a crowd of office workers holding on to the seats. 
You stand to one side, going back to your newfound hobby of “Spot the differences”- differences between the Seoul in your memories and the Seoul of today. Just how Seoul had changed so drastically, you realised you had grown older, a noticeable change in how you carried yourself.
You were no longer a naïve student, excited yet afraid of the future. You were an adult, with experiences that had changed your outlook towards life, realising how much you’d matured over the years. 
By now your eyes discover that the glass-like buildings end with one even taller than the rest, adorned with billboards. This building, however, is one you recognise. It was HYBE, the reason you had flown back to Korea. 
You’d received mail from them 3 months prior, an invitation to collaborate on a music video. As a rising director, with awards being showered upon you for the last year, you were excited. They were going to debut a new girl group and wanted your unique style incorporated, while you had a chance to diverge into a new format. You had come out late this evening looking for inspiration, anything about the city that aligned with your vision. Your eyes go back to observing your surroundings, stretching your neck as you try to see where the building ends. Your eyes find the massive billboard sitting at the very top, displaying a face you’d gotten so used to knowing.
A face that you tried so hard to erase from your memories.
Like you, he looked extremely different compared to ten years ago. He was unrecognisable. His red hair was framed so perfectly, highlighting his cheekbones compared to his rounder cheeks when he was a teen. Like Seoul, he felt unfamiliar, so different from your memories of him.
You don’t know why it didn’t hit you before. Seoul had become cruel, and unlike your fame, his was explosive. To everyone except you in Seoul, Yang Jungwon was familiar. His and his band’s billboards adorned the road into HYBE, and you’re not sure why you didn’t recognise him earlier. This person you’d grown so used to knowing was now a stranger. 
When you first got on board with the project, you were fearful thinking about your path crossing his. You eventually shrug them off, calculating every possibility. He’s a superstar, packed with schedules, touring for all means. He wouldn't be present in any of your meetings. he would merely remain that- a billboard that used to be a memory. Plus you believed that fate, which kept you apart for ten years would not be so unkind to you. Fate always had your side, it wouldn’t betray you.
So why was it, as you’re setting up the cameras next week, and greeting the younger, cheerful girls that you see the man you so hate, get out of his car in the periphery? 
You feel your breath hitch, voice trembling slightly. You don’t want to see him. You turn your back towards him, bringing your attention back to the eager girls who don’t notice your predicament, as you focus on the script.
You hear his steps caving in closer, as his solid boots hit the concrete. The only thing louder than which would probably be your pounding heart.
 “Scene 8 involves a fight between you and your supposed boyfriend.” you ramble on, pretending to give them a breakdown of a scene. The girls fiddle about, their eyes shifting between your face and behind your head. 
You pause, a good guess as to why. 
You hear the girls’ voice getting higher as they bow and introduce themselves. “Please take care of us, sunbaenim,” their leader, Yunah exclaims. 
You gulp, feet stuck to the ground. You hear a small chuckle, a sound so familiar it could bring you to tears. “Mm, long time no see,” he replies and you're not sure who exactly he was addressing, despite feeling his eyes on the back of your head.
You can smell his perfume, the same strong woody scent that you had gifted him ten years ago. Everything from his voice to his appearance had changed, yet some things remained the same.
You let out a sigh, straightening your back as you finally face him, a poor attempt at being professional. A poor attempt at pretending like everything was okay. You’re too afraid to even look at him, to even say “hi”. What would you even say?
'Why’d you leave me out of the blue?' or 'why couldn’t you have told me earlier?' All of which were questions that would open up a box locked up in your heart. A box you don’t ever want to open again.
Your eyes eventually find his ones, unblinking, with new intensity reflected back. His expression is undecipherable. 
You feel his eyes wander all over your frame, from your hair to your hands, as though he were also trying to take in all of your presence, and everything it meant today. He seemed to be taking it so much better than you, seemingly calm, as though you were the only one shaken by the years past. Like he didn’t even remember you anymore.
You feel your assistant director nudge you out of the ghosting silence. “This is Jungwon, he’ll be our cameo since our actor got hurt this morning.” Your eyes follow as the towering figure bends in a bow. 
“Please take good care of me,” you hear him whisper, to which you blink in slight surprise. You remind yourself that it was a greeting, and not a nod to your shared past. 
You’d cared plenty for him. Except he ran away. How could you be sure he wasn’t going to do it today?
You nod stiff, before walking away hurriedly towards your monitor. You hear your assistant director apologise on your behalf, as you fiddle with your monitors, checking with the other staff.
Anything to distract yourself with.
You look back at the script, realising that he would be playing the role of the estranged boyfriend. You scoff at the irony. 
It was funny how the person you’d written this scene with in mind was the one playing it. It was funny how everything came back full circle just to kick you in the ass. 
You’re monitoring the shot of him being pushed away by one of the girls, as she walks out of his life. In what was supposed to be a liberating scene, you don’t know why you now felt pity. It held you back, his remorseful look, his pleading eyes, his figure against the concrete wall. 
You stop the cameraman who was about to pan from Jungwon to the girl. His tears you knew were fake wouldn’t stop, and his eyes looked into the camera in desperation. You find your heart stop with the way he looks at you through the screen- pitiful, and upset, yet so, so distant. His hair was wet from the fake rain created, and his lips trembled against the cold breeze. His left hand is on his heart, clutching onto his drenched shirt, as though all of the universe’s pain was consolidated there. But somehow, he still looked so good.
You feel a tear rolling down your cheek, landing on your closed fist, bringing you out of your visceral thoughts. “C..Cut” you finally say, realising how swept up you were in your own emotions. You see him sigh and lean back against the wall, staff running to help him.
“You okay?” you hear your assistant director ask you, seeing your shaken state. You nod to her, gulping down water as you see the boy approach your side.
“Jungwon, your acting was so good it made y/n cry,” your sound director chimes in once he notices your actor stationed at a monitor. The boy doesn’t say anything, choosing to give him a wry smile.
From the corner of your vision, you see his beady eyes following his previous performance, which under normal circumstances you would consider impressive. But both of you knew the bigger performance was pretending to be sane near each other. He leans in closer when the camera zooms in on him, and you feel his breath fanning you ever so slightly as he gasps. 
“Woah, I thought we were going to film Iroha walking away,” he says surprised when he sees himself on the monitor for a prolonged time. 
“Hmm that was y/n’s call” someone says behind you. 
 You close your eyes, anticipating all the questions he has, but he remains silent. You stare at your AD who understands your queue, rushing everyone for a break. After all these years, you still feel suffocated despite promising to push him out of your memories. 
You notice that he doesn’t leave immediately, instead grabbing a chair close to you. His hair falls in front of his eyes as he stares at the grass below you.
“You’ve changed a lot,” he says, his voice hoarse, fingers fidgeting with the pen you were using. You don’t really know how to respond.  
After all those years, is that all he was going to say? After ghosting you for months, after removing you from his life so cruelly, you find his audacity baffling. 
“Obviously I’ve changed, you’d know earlier if you’d even left me a text,” you reply in spite. You see his fidgeting stop, instead holding it so tight that it digs into his palm. 
“I had my reasons,” he whispers. You scoff visibly irritated.
"Don't play with me Jungwon," his name rolls off your tongue just as smoothly as it did so many years ago. More tears threaten to spill, and you're afraid of people observing the two of you, knowing how rumours spread.
You get up in a haste, and walk towards the washrooms. Jungwon follows behind wary, eventually pulling you away from the main set, until you reach a building close by. You stop, with your back against the wall as he gets closer.
"Why would you think I'm playing with you y/n," you hear him say, tears rolling down his big eyes.
You didn't have the energy to ask him anything. Unlike your racing thoughts, the silence surrounding the two of you was comforting. Saying anything meant confronting a truth buried deep in the past.
As though he could understand your distress, he lets out a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry y/n," he finally says, confirming something you've wanted to hear for so long. "I was scared."
The tears from your eyes don't stop either as he continues.
"I had just debuted back then, and my career was on the line."
Your sobs get louder, and you feel pain inching closer to your fears, all stuck in your suffocated heart. So far, you'd guessed the reason as to why he disappeared so abruptly. Hearing it directly from him made it worse. "I loved you, I really did," he says, his hand trying to hold yours, which you shirk away. He pauses.
"I was given an ultimatum," he becomes softer. "I didn't know how to tell you. I knew it would hurt us."
You clench your fists, looking at everything else he could've said.
"It still hurt us didn't it?" you whisper.
You see him nod slowly. You pull yourself off the wall, reaching into your pocket, fetching for tissues. When you find some, you hold some out for him to take. Both of your eyes had become puffy, and it didn't help how obvious it was that there was tension between you. It must've been half an hour since you had left the site, and the others must've noticed your absence.
"Why don't you head on, my AD will continue the shoot" you say, trying to hail a taxi as you walk onto the busy road.
"Please don't run away ," he pulls you back, now pinned against the wall. "Don't leave me again y/n," you feel him lean his head on the wall, next to you. He looks beyond fatigued and instinctively you feel your hands go behind his broad shoulders, rubbing his back.
"I really missed you," he whispers continuously, breaking down in your arms.
"I missed you too Jungwon, so much that I'd even collect your posters just to see your face," you confess. You notice him smile slightly, before he giggles. "I'd never imagine you to do that," he says and you match his laugh, somewhat embarrassed.
For the first time in a long time, Yang Jungwon saw you smile. It was as gorgeous as he remembered it, as inviting as it had always been. Unlike the Seoul that remained so stale, your smile brought life into the city. It brought life into the last ten years that he couldn't find.
Your lips arched into the perfect 'U' and all he wanted to do was feel them on his. His hands go behind your neck as he looks into your eyes. "Can I kiss you," he whispers gently. You don't reply, instead pulling him in as if you desperately waited those 10 years for him to say this.
All these years you didn't realise what you missed, until this fateful kiss. In this moment, it didn't matter what your past was, or what the future would hold. Nothing mattered now, as long as you were wrapped up between his arms, tethered to his lips.
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Wahh sorry for the delay guys. I have my finals in less than 2 weeks so I haven't gotten to writing yet 😭
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macaroonff · 16 days
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To the anon who sent me a request I'm so sorry for delaying it.
I've actually been busy because my finals are in 2 weeks. I'll try posting it this weekend 😭
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macaroonff · 19 days
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sorry just finished editing grammatical errors
Deep side of the pool- Yang Jungwon
feat. Wingman Jungwon but he's secretly in love with you
Lowkey angst
1.1k words (this was meant to be a short drabble but it became longer >"< )
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"Falling in love is similar to how someone gets into a pool," Jungwon says philosophically, staring into the distance, particularly at the chaos unfolding, with the others dragging Sunoo into the pool.
"Weird metaphor, what makes you say that?" you ask, humoured by his timing, as Sunoo falls in with a resounding splash.
"Well, there's people like me who dive into it headfirst, uncaring of how deep it is, unafraid of the fact that our feet may not touch the ground," he continues now looking at you ,"and then there's people like you, who dip your toes in first, checking if the temperature's alright, then you'll put your entire feet in sitting along the edge, testing the waters to see if its ok to go in. If you like it, you'll go in, if you don't then you won't; even if you see the other person frolicking in a frenzy."
"What about Sunoo? He was pushed in without a warning," you ask playfully.
"That's just fate I suppose; life, as well as love is unpredictable."
You laugh his observations off, although somewhere you knew he made sense. Sure, you liked to take your time, ensuring that the person you were going to invite into your life was deserving of that trust.
"I'm quite proactive actually," you retort.
"Yeah if proactive means hanging on the edge of this pool, worrying about your crush balancing on a floatie. Just go talk to him," the red haired boy notions towards Jake, who, despite being the best swimmer amongst you could barely keep himself up on his pink donut floatie.
You look down at your feet, kicking it gently until the tiny waves spread like a stack of rings around the two of you. After a few minutes of repeating this action, Jungwon lets out a sigh in boredom.
"Let me show you how I fall in love y/n," he says getting up, while you watch in curiosity. Water drips from his thighs when he's up, and creates a trail as he moves a little further from the edge. He looks at you and waves his hand in a motion telling you to move, and so you do, out of his way. He runs towards you as fast as he could before taking a big jump, another splash that gets droplets of chlorinated water on your hair. You were about to complain until you see him laughing until his eyes resemble those familiar crescents, his entire head, now wet thrown back as he does so.
"Look, my feet touches the floor. You'll be alright too," he adds as reassurance, holding out his hand, offering to help you as you get in.
You accept graciously, and walk through the shallow parts with him, hands gripping on tightly. Slowly he leads you towards Jake, a grin taking over as you get close. Was what he was going to do next middle-school-boy-who-doesn't-know-how-to-talk-to-their-crush-level-silly? Yes. Was it going to work? "You don't know until you try," he thinks to himself. He lets go of your hand and pushes you towards Jake, who was in the deeper side of the pool.
You're taken by surprise and feel yourself fall below the surface, as you try to keep your hands above water, feeling it go into your ears, the chlorinated water stinging your eyes. The feeling was only temporary though, as you feel arms wrap around your waist firmly, pulling you up until you feel the sun hitting your closed eyelids. You feel someone pushing your hair back gently, water dripping from their wet hands. When you do blink your eyes open, you have your breath taken away. Jake stood their under the sunlight, his wet hair slicked back, his golden tan glowing. He was ethereal, and you catch your self staring at him as he scolds the younger one. "Jungwon-ah! Why did you push her?"
Jungwon shrugs, "It wasn't me," he screams, sending you a poor attempt at a wink, before getting out of the pool to join Heesung in the basketball arcade game.
"I'm so sorry for that," Jake says, in his familiar accent that you loved so much. "Here, hold on ," he takes your hands and puts them on his shoulders, where you could feel his muscles flex as his grip on your waist became lighter, leading you towards the floatie he was on. You offer him a small smile, because you were too nervous to physically thank him.
"Wasn't Jungwon teaching you how to swim?" he asks, reaching an arm out to pull the floatie closer to the two of you. "Not really, it's just that we start of serious, but end up splashing about, and I don't end up learning much. He chuckles, and you hear the melody resonate around you, causing your cheeks to heat up. "I'm looking for someone to teach me properly actually," you say shyly, hoping he got your hint. Since he was a fantastic swimmer, this excuse might actually work.
"I don't mind teaching you," he replies, a small smile settling on his face, "If you're okay with that?" You nod in excitement, and he finally lifts you up onto the floatie, gently dragging you along the pool as you continue in conversation. All in all you were glad Jungwon had given you that one push, physically and metaphorically. You look back to give him a smile of appreciation, and see his brows furrowed, what you assumed was because of the harsh sun.
From the other side, Jungwon couldn't help but be somewhat bitter. He was bitter about the fact that he lied to himself. Unlike what he told you, Jungwon loved similarly to you. He was definitely the type to dip his toes in carefully, testing to see if the temperature was okay, except this time, he went a step further- running away. Did he smile back at you when you acknowledge his efforts at match-making, being oblivious to his love? Of course he did, because even being friends, and assuming this unassuming role would be okay as long as you continued speaking to him. He was too scared to cross this invisible line, too scared to end up near the deep side of this massive pool in your heart.
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macaroonff · 19 days
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Ahshshsh omg I'm so glad you liked it 😭🤧
This Autumn, - Shin Ryujin
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Genre: Roommates x lovers, College +Domestic Au, Autumn feels Pairing: Shin Ryujin x fem! Reader Content warnings: Mentions of a dysfunctional families, slight angst, mentions of homophobia, mention of insecurities Word Count: 7k+ words Suggested Songs: We found Love in October- Girl In Red I wanna be your girlfriend- Girl in Red Bubble gum- Clairo Duvet- Bôa October Passed Me By- Girl in Red Girls-Girl in Red Softly- Clairo You know where this playlist is heading- feel free to recommend more
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Sometimes fall meant that the clarity of summer had ended, and that the dryness wasn't accompanied by sweat, but by the heaviness of hoodies and the bareness of barks. A bore compared to the freedom and excitement that summer offered, a dispirited time when you look back to the last three months. 
Of course autumn wasn't all bad. The colours took on a warmer palette as the trees bared themselves devoid of its warmth: warmth which could be found in campfires and cosy sheets; in people's hugs and weighted blankets; in hot lattes, crunchy leaves and early sunsets.
But when assignments piled up from the start of the season, finding opportunities to revel in such warmth seemed unsuccessful. You hurriedly tried composing yourself from last month's activities; internships, staycations and pool parties, returning from a whirlwind of adrenaline. It was exhausting and you were burnt out before the semester even started. 
But a student you were, a decent one that you tried to be, as you organise and file your assignments, albeit slowly due to sleep deprivation. The first week of autumn went by with professors dumping assignments immediately as you try to ease the pace at which you deal with it. Clearly, autumn had you drained from day one.
Autumn hated you more than you hated it.
Autumn, two weeks in wasn't too bad. You took time to catch up on deadlines, you made plans with friends, went on walks and you got especially close to your new roommate. Her name was Ryujin, a dark haired divinity with prominent features that meshed gently. Someone who never forgot to get you your daily dose of iced latte and her favourite mocha bread from the café opposite your dorm.
It started when she came back from her evening lectures on a Thursday, holding one mug in her hand, a woolly scarf tucked into her shirt. She came in to see you with your hands knitted in your hair, frustrated at the work you had, feet bobbing as you concentrated. 
A small 'hi' was all that you returned when you noticed her presence.
"Another stressful assignment?," she asks, concerned. Her low timbre is soothing and takes you out of your sums for a slight moment, a sigh escaping your chapped lips.
"It’s calculus." You make eye contact for the first time since she entered, a polite smile greeting her, though the frown almost tilted the other way. 
She waved her hands in a light motion acknowledging your concern, the room key in her palm dangling in it to make a soft clack. 
"Understandable, it's a real headache, especially since you're in Mr Lee’s course. Anything I could help you with?"
"I just need a break," you reply dejectedly, hoping to get away from your monotonous, monstrous tasks. 
"Wanna watch a movie?" she asks, a soft grin hiding on her face. She watches your ears perk up and your eyes shine at the suggestion, to which a chuckle remains stuck in her throat.
"Why don't you choose something and I'll join you after I'm done freshening up." she hands you the remote before walking into her room, grabbing her white towel from the laundry rack.
You sit in silence and wallow in contemplation. Choosing a movie, should be easy. 
Would a sappy rom-com distracting you from your lamentable, gapingly non-existent love life suffice? Or did you need another of those poorly directed and filmed action ones, which would, undoubtedly help you fix your sleep schedule. But then again, would Ryujin watch it? What’s a movie she’d like? Slice of life? Coming of age? Horror?
A change in the lighting of the room, and Ryujin’s tap on your shoulder was what eventually brought you out of your dilemma, and you take your vacant stare off of the blank tv screen towards your roommate instead.
The warm lights had blurred everything in the background in a way that it brought Ryujin’s face into focus, a soft glow emanating from her cheeks. Her hair was wet, the towel lazily wrapped around her supple hair, doing a measly job at keeping it from seeping into her t-shirt. Her oversized black t-shirt had patches of darker spots that clinged to her because of it, making you worried she might catch a cold. You rush to hand her a new towel, one that would actually help. 
“Don’t catch a cold, not the best time of the year to fall sick.” you whisper.
She smiles in appreciation and holds your arm, accepting the fabric for you. "You're cold too y/n. It'd probably be best for us to grab some blankets." 
After ten minutes of rummaging through your creaky cabinets and five minutes of popping corn, you were ready to distance yourself from your headaches, with new-found warmth in your newly washed duvets. 
Snug and pressed against the cushions of the sofa, with your head on her shoulder. Snug as she pats your back until the television's whisper no longer has your attention and you find your heavy eyelids closing on their own. 
Snug as you embrace sleep after months of running away from it.
Snug, however, wasn't what you felt when you woke up in the morning, blankets tangled between your legs, and an annoying ache in your ribs, due to the crushing weight of your favourite cushion. 
Snugness was replaced by the bitterness of another new day, and your long forgotten assignments weighed heavier than they did before. 
All of a sudden last night's peace was something you regretted. And you regret having been swayed by someone you considered an acquaintance.
If Shin Ryujin hadn’t offered, you'd never have taken a break. You'd never have given yourself the opportunity to be wasteful with time. You shouldn't have been tempted by the thought of a moment's freedom. 
Freedom that remained a mirage. A mirage that showed you a time of comfort. Comfort that would last one evening until you'd have to revisit everything you ran away from.
What's the point in having comfort if it's given by someone you interact with for three hours a day? What was the point in comfort if it was momentary?
Shin Ryujin was a roommate you'd have for only two more months until her grandparent's apartment was done with renovations.
Shin Ryujin was temporary.
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Autumn three weeks in, was no different. Except that your backlog had increased, your sleep schedule got worse and all that you cared about was getting over with your to-do lists. How you had energy to do everything one by one remained a mystery, but you soon realised that it wasn’t energy that drove you to finish work, but the fear of running out of it sooner or later. As if it wasn’t already obvious, you were on the brink of burnout.
Not that you hated burnout. For some reason being burnt out meant that you'd be forced to take time out for mental health sooner or later. You would be forced to slow down like you did last week. 
Sitting down and finally looking back, last week felt like a distant memory so far away from your reality. It was a privilege you gave yourself, and it was so worth it, contrary to what you felt immediately. She was right, the movie did help, the movie did get you back into a safe space from your anxiety; and you never cared to thank her for it. 
You’d do it today. Thanking her. You absolutely had to.
You spent the next ninety minutes planning the best way to return the favour. Essentially, you spent the next ninety minutes going back on all the little things Ryujin did for you. Which led to the realisation that her love language was a careful amalgamation of acts of service, quality time and physical touch. 
“Maybe I’ll just bake mocha bread. I couldn’t go wrong with that,” you contemplate. You weren’t the best baker on earth, however you had enough experience to go ahead with it.
All you needed was milk, eggs, flour, yeast, sugar and coffee. Everything you had at home, really not much could go wrong.
Until it did. There was no way the universe would let you have anything good before your semester tests. Of course it had to sabotage you when you tried to do one thing with actual love behind it.
The microwave oven she brought in with her beeped once before a loud pop stopped you in your tracks. It was overheated, and nothing you did brought the irksome device back to life. No matter how many buttons you pushed vigorously, or hit the back of it tiresomely, the empty  black box on the door showed no sign of the tiny numbers signalling time left.
Time left. You look at the Ikea clock hung on the wall. Ten minutes more for the bread to be baked until completion, and thirty minutes until she’d come back and discover this mess and the damage to her microwave.
And boy does she love that microwave.
Shin Ryujin knew something was wrong when she entered later at night, almost too late for you to be up right now, just a little before midnight, the smell of sweet coffee greeting her. She’d gone to visit the apartment her grandparents had bought for her, a half hour from here. She was so caught up in finalising the layout that she forgot to mention that she’d be late home. What’s worse was that she had got caught in heavy traffic, and her phone lost charge in the middle of dialling you. 
And when she got up here, completely spent from the work, it took very little for her to be consumed by frustration. Not particularly because of you. None of it had to do with you. She knew that the tedious microwave was ancient and that her parents only gave it to her to get rid of it. She also knew that she should’ve told you about it sooner, before it actually became a problem. So no, in no way was this your fault. 
She looked at your head buried under your arm on the dining table with a mitten on one hand and a post-it under your elbow. The post-it didn’t say much, just scribbled and crossed out words that all seemed to resemble different “I’m sorrys" and “microwaves". You had multiple other post-its crumpled nearby and she picked all of them up and carefully opened them one by one. Between the creases, one said, “I’m so sorry for the microwave Ryujin, ik you treasure it because your parents lent it to you. I just wanted to thank you for last week and I thought I’d bake your favourite but -” it stopped there at which point you must’ve crumpled it. 
Ryujin let her sight wander across the baking utensils washed and stacked neatly on the drying rack and a box of half baked, burnt dough nearby. She smiles, both grateful and apologetic, an urge to caress your head settling in. She takes a closer look at you, trying to figure how she could deposit you to your bed. 
She slowly lifts your head up, wiping excess dough from near your frowning mouth, and her eyes wander up, to your slightly fluttering eyelids facing the yellow lights. It was then under the warm lights that she noticed semi-dried tears under your lashes. Another surge of guilt ran through her, thinking of how worried you must’ve been. 
In the cold kitchen, she lifts you off the chair as carefully as she can and gently drags you across the living room. It was when she’d propped you against the headboard that you stir awake.
Through half-lidded eyes, you take in whatever you can. Ryujin was holding on to your hand gasping slightly.
“Ryujin?” you whisper.
“Shit I didn’t mean to wake you up,” she looks at you a little surprised.
“I’m so sorry-” you mumble in desperation.
“Shh," she places a palm over your eyes, "don’t worry about it love. Go to bed, we’ll talk in the morning”
You aren’t convinced but you also realise that now isn’t the best time to talk. Ryujin’s eyebags seemed deeper in the warm light and you knew both of you needed a decent rest. It had been a hectic time for the two of you, and all you needed was sleep.
Ryujin still had the benevolence to pull the blanket over you and stroke your hair until you fell asleep.
It was the second time you fell asleep in her arms.
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The following weekend you were on a shopping trip.
At a semi-large Ikea warehouse about forty minutes away from the campus. It was Ryujin's idea to come out here despite you convincing her to find a shop closer, but she insisted.
"Trust me, it'll be fun. We can look at furniture too."
Of course, she needed new furniture. It slowly dawns on you that you have very little time to spend with her in your home. Home.
You don't remember the last time you called your dorm a home. For all that you knew, it was a messy damp space that you couldn't wait to escape from, an absolute nightmare with it's cramped furniture. But it was cosy, something you couldn't deny now.
Maybe because you were with her. All her little habits that grew on you, her impeccable daily routine that had become a source of stability in your life, even her lesser known quirks such as keeping a picture of her two cats at home framed on her desk and kissing the before going to her classes in the morning.
You admired all of it, and it wouldn't have been the same if it were someone else. You never felt like this with your previous room mates. They were just people who lived in their own solitary spaces. But with Ryujin, somehow you were involved in most housework together. You felt involved, and somewhere more loved than in your own home.
Your family wasn't bad, at least on the surface. They never compromised when it came to your education or your standard of living. But somewhere between those lines were impossible expectations they wouldn't hold themselves to either. And you got tired of them easily. They hid toxicity behind "criticism", where criticism only meant negatives beyond your control. Your last year of high school, particularly faced extreme criticism, and you felt your confidence dipping. You managed though. You're not entirely sure how you coped, but with support from school, you managed a scholarship, a meagre one but still enough to get away from your family.
You hadn't seen them in three years.
Ryujin, on the other hand, had a lovely family, and you were, at times jealous of how perfect she seemed; how perfect everything around her seemed.
She seemed to have every aspect of her life in order. Whether it be top of the class majoring in Business, or being captain of the girl's football team, or the fact that she could spare three hours to stay with her paint brushes and that they would come out having the entire beauty of the universe encompassed in them. She could manage being both a homebody, while still being popular in school, she could be assertive when she needed to be without actually disturbing the fragile ego of most in her class.
She surpassed every definition of balance mentioned in the dictionary. She was living it, breathing it. Stability.
You admired her, a lot, but you couldn't stop this ridiculously miniscule base of malevolence in your heart. And every day you were scared it would become worse.
Especially now, when all she wanted was to spend precious time with you, constantly putting effort into your friendship whereas you were held back by bitter thoughts. And you hated yourself for it.
You force back your envy, distracting yourself by browsing through the shelves of cutlery displayed. You notice the absence of Ryujin's presence, and slowly find yourself lost in this maze of a shop. Maybe it was better that she wasn't in this aisle now, or else you wouldn't be able to face her with the guilt of having thought of her so poorly.
You find yourself interested in the array of pretty pink melamine plates stacked in front of you, in the stainless steel spoons with animal handles, and little napkin holders shaped like boats. You pick up different pans, weighing how heavy each is, looking to keep your brain unnecessarily busy. If you spend a second more comparing yourself with Ryujin, you knew you wouldn't be able to think of anything else for the entire day, or week.
You remember what your therapist told you, all the comfort and validation that you needed pouring in through words. You open up your notes, all the affirmations typed out one by one. You repeat them in your mind, with a new goal in sight.
You wouldn't let your insecurity ruin another good relationship. Especially not with Ryujin.
She emerges after some time, holding in her hand, a grey device, and a grin painted on her face. "I think this is the one. It's a cool toaster cum oven sort of thing, and it's cheap," she winks at you.
How was she so decisive? you think again. It had only taken her fifteen minutes. If it were you, you'd have taken forty minutes more.
"I trust your decision," you reply, giving her a soft smile. You notice her eyebrows raise a little. "You sure?," she asks. "You usually don't agree this fast. You have this terrible habit of sitting on decisions for ages." she rambles on.
You take a moment to process this. You knew it was true, and she probably didn't mean malice, but it was not something you'd accept easily.
Ryujin never had to think twice about what she wanted. She knew exactly what she wanted, and she always got it. Whereas every decision you seemed to make bore consequences you didn't want. And often, the times you didn't heavily weight them out was when things backfired. The last time being with the microwave oven.
It was the only way you knew to trust yourself.
So it irks you greatly when Ryujin calls it a "terrible habit". Because for you, it was a habit that gave you security. Certainty wasn't achievable, but you'd try as fucking close as you could get, and Shin Ryujin won't tell you otherwise.
She'd never understand how imperfect you were. She'd never understand the little complexities that hold you back. For the most part, she had life easy. What would she ever understand?
You ignore her comment, instead picking up a ceramic mug from the shelf, thumbing on the floral patterns glazed onto it.
Ryujin barely senses your predicament, instead grabbing onto the mug placed besides the one you hold onto. "These are pretty, it's like a cute matching set. We should get them," she winks.
The rest of the day follows with more furniture in your cart, and mostly unnecessary plushies plaguing your living room. New pillows, potted plants, wardrobe organisers, a work desk and the biggest Djungelskog bear lying near the couch.
It dawns on you the next morning, after waking up to the chaos, that she was shifting out in two weeks.
On the first of October.
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All of a sudden she was busy, very busy, and the two of you barely met, with bigger gaps in your schedule. Part of it was because of Ryujin arranging her main furniture in her new house, and part of it was because you were busy with academics, only that it was voluntary this time. It just so happened that you needed a few more credits to retain your scholarship, the only thing weighing your new found freedom. Along with that, you busied yourself so that you didn't have to face Ryujin later at night.
You were scared. Other than the obvious rent that you'd have to pay by yourself, you also avoided other parts of this change that bothered you. Which was spending time with her. You were scared you'd miss her a bit too much.
Sure, you were friends who were only half an hour away, but now that her colourful room started fading into a bleak white, the emptiness of it reminded you of why you hated autumn. The fall orange left you feeling lonely, and like the very leaves that craved pigmentation, you craved more life. Regardless of the minimal time you spent with her in the evenings, she slowly integrated herself into your life in the smaller ways.
Now they weigh too much in your life for you to be able to cope without it. You ended up distancing yourself from her, in a pathetic attempt to cope with the anticipation of absence. Maybe you just needed more friends, the thought crossing your mind a lot more these days. But you had plenty of them at uni, most of who you loved. But none of them were Ryujin.
None of them cared for you as much as she did. None of them taught you how to care for yourself like she did. None of them held you in their arms throughout the night, until you felt rested and loved. Nobody inspired you as much as Ryujin did.
Maybe Ryujin wasn't just a friend, something you were scared to consider in the past few weeks. It was a feeling completely new. Other than a failed situation-ship in high school, you never considered the possibility of a relationship, much less exploring your sexuality.
It was an intimidating prospect that you hadn't considered. Something that initiated urgency more than curiosity. Unlike the diverse spectrum that your feelings for Shin Ryujin belonged to, your thoughts focused on just one. She was important in more ways than platonic, and the distance that was to be would be extremely difficult to cope with. The distance that you had created seemed silly, but at the same time there was nothing you could think to resolve the conflict. You were going against this wall you'd built for yourself, and the facade of distance only grew day by day. So much so that at one point, Ryujin stopped approaching you first.
In a way, you deserved it. For someone who had been so unreceptive to her life as a coping method, this is the least you deserved for being a little jerk. Why would someone pursue any relationship, even platonic if you'd put yourself back into the mega cage you thought you'd escaped from. Something you'd escaped from only temporarily in her presence. Something you're going back to by the next week when she's gone.
You suffer multiple sleepless nights, the mid terms only a catalyst to your loneliness, when all you remember is Ryujin and her quirks.
You do accept another roommate later on, a mutual contact in your friend group, someone who was introduced to you by Ryujin herself. She'd dropped in a small text at 8 in the morning, on the way to class, you'd assumed. All it did was talk about how a common friend, Yeji needed a room to stay.
You accepted it of course, because you didn't have to foot the entire month's bill but also because you thought having someone else would curb your loneliness. And this loneliness was stupid. Ryujin wasn't the only thing you had in your entire life, and she should've been inconsequential, the same way the daylight hours gradually decreased. But it isn't too hard to notice once the sun's gone down.
The new roommate was like a transition from summer to winter, but unlike Ryujin , who helped ease the transition between the seasons, this one only reminded you that it would be cold. She wasn't a bad roommate, no she was perfect, did the laundry on Wednesdays, did the evening dishes at 6 in the evening and gave you a lot of personal space. She was nice, but not like Ryujin.
You hated how you compared her to Ryujin, how you compared everything to her. "She isn't your entire world," you remind yourself. "Shin Ryujin was only temporary."
You'd decided that your feelings for her were only a means for you to be validated. That was all you'd craved from her, validation. That was all she'd given you, validation.
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October 15th, you felt relieved. Your mid terms were over with and you had a little bit of free time. Were you going to spend it wisely? No. You were going to sit in bed all day, scrolling through Youtube, a luxury you'd afford yourself rarely in the last month. You went home early, to a somewhat excitable Yeji, another rare sight.
"What's up?" you ask her, noticing her vibrant demeanour.
"Nothing much, just excited because Ryujin's coming over today."
You're surprised to hear this, and a little disappointed that Ryujin never told you herself. Or maybe there was no reason to, it's not like you kept in touch with her.
"That's cool, are you guys ordering something? Or should I make food for you two?" you offer, realising the amount of free time you had.
"We'll just order pizza," she replies. She hesitates for sometime, as if she has something to say. "Y/n?" she calls out slowly.
"Hmm?" "...you're nothing like what Ryujin described you as."
You still in your spot.
"It's just that you're really kind you know. I thought you'd be more distant, and cold."
"Ryujin said that? About me?"
She nods her head.
Is that really how she saw you? Distant and cold? Sure you were closed off towards the end, but is that really who you were to her? After all the good memories? You weren't sure anymore, insecurity creeping inside you.
It hurt. Was it this easy for people to be unforgiving? But then again, you never apologised, so in a weird way what Yeji relayed sounded justified.
You offer her a stiff smile.
"I'll be in my room then, tell me if you need anything."
Dejected, you go back to your blank room, where even the orange of autumn feels comforting, something you hated previously. You stay inside the entire evening, occasional sounds of muffled laughter behind your walls being all that you focus on for the duration. Every time you heard her laugh loudly from behind the door, you wondered if she ever laughed like that in front of you. Did you ever make her feel happy? The same way she did to you?
You want to go out and say hi, but after what Yeji said, you stop yourself. She must hate you now, there was no other way.
It isn't later at night, after you're sure the laughter was no more, and only when the silence of the room becomes comforting, you step out to see a dim blue light in the darkness of the living room, Yeji working on the dining table. "Y/n, didn't come out to say hi to Ryujin?" she asks, with pity that sounds forced.
"Yeah, no I was just napping," you lie, "did anything fun happen?"
"Mhm, we were discussing Ryujin's blind date tomorrow with a senior from the engineering department. Apparently, he's handsome," she shrugs her shoulder.
"Ryujin likes boys?" you ask without realising.
"Hmm, I'm not sure actually."
A small part of you feels dejected as you get a glass of water, all while contemplating if you should have reached out.
"You like her don't you?" Yeji whispers, looking up from her laptop.
It's the second time you still in your spot. Yeji had brought up something you never thought was prominent.
"Your lights were on, I could tell from your slightly ajar door. You weren't sleeping were you?" she gives you a knowing smile.
"I'm not judging you- it's just that it's obvious that you miss her. It may or not may be romantic- but you do miss her don't you?". You don't know how to reply to her. You barely knew Yeji, but somehow she very accurately read your emotions.
As if she knows what you're thinking, she continues.
"You know, every time that I've tried bringing up Ryujin, you've always changed the conversation, instead isolating yourself in your room."
Looking back, it made sense. You didn't want to think about her anymore. Your meeting with Ryujin's was temporary and never mattered. It was almost crazy how dependent you were on her within just a few months.
" I realised that I don't know much about Ryujin, nor does she about me. Sure I know she loves mocha bread, she loves her big Ikea Djungelskog soft toy, that she's watched the perks of being a wallflower more times than she can count; but I don't think I could be truly vulnerable with her. I'm scared to be vulnerable with her."
Yeji sighs, almost disappointed. She went back to working, despite her twitching lips, like she had more to say.
That night, you reflect for longer. Why was it that you felt scared to lean on Ryujin? Technically you told her about troubles with academics, problems with some of your classmates- that is considered being vulnerable right? Then what was it that you wanted her to know, but you never wanted to admit? Was it your insecurities? Was it the thought she'd never understand it?
It was like your mind had accepted that you and Ryujin had come from two different worlds, and if you invited her into yours, she would run away, like your family. Despite you coming to terms with it, the distance with your family was a wound still fresh. And nothing would change, until you could put it behind you.
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25th October, Yeji handed you an invite to one of her friend's Halloween parties.
After your confession, she'd been a little nicer; she was more active in initiating conversations, and you realised she was more extroverted than your first impression. Eventually, you did watch the Maze Runner with her again, and you appreciated how she gushed about Dylan O'Brien throughout it, dispelling any awkward moments.
"I designed this invitation by the way, cool isn't it?", she asks about the party invitation in your hand. It had black bat details engraved in a glossy reflective paper. "Please come, we've had a difficult week, one party won't hurt will it?" she states, the question more rhetorical.
You agree quietly, excitement bubbling in you.
Until it did hurt, a week later.
Barely five minutes after you enter the loud, congested apartment, with strangers in costumes, you felt a part of your heart drop. There was a tight feeling in your chest, something you were sure wasn't because of the new corset you wore. Because you felt comfortable seconds before you saw Ryujin with her hands wrapped around this guys neck, kissing him on the couch as if he were her entire life. At first, you weren't even sure it was her- her hair was shorter, dyed a platinum blonde. She wore a leather jacket and a white skater dress, dressed so differently than what you were used to seeing her in.
You weren't able to comprehend how good she looked in his arms, with all her attention focused on him, smiling. The same smile that you'd missed for a month. When she does look away from the vampire- you assumed was her boyfriend, her eyes scan the crowd and she almost looks bewildered. You were stood so motionless near the entrance from where you could see them, that even the crowd that pushed past you couldn't bring you to move. It was suffocating, and unconsciously you head for the exit, looking to get away.
But fate wouldn't be so kind would it? The universe wouldn't just let you be would it? "Are you leaving already y/n?" Yeji screams from across the room, which you were sure was audible to everyone. She finds her way to you, a smile on her face. "You just came in, why are you leaving? Cool outfit by the way."
"Thanks," you offer her a stiff smile, eyes going back to Ryujin, who because of Yeji, had finally found you.
Yeji, who just noticed the tension, holds your hand and pulls you towards Ryujin.
"Atleast say hi, y/n, it won't hurt."
Yeji's assurance of "it won't hurt" was what brought you here, it was indeed what hurt you. Her saying this now wasn't helping, and you scoff. It was almost like Yeji knew this was going to happen. It was like she knew how much it hurt you, and may even enjoy it.
"Why did you invite me Yeji? You knew about this didn't you? It hurts, I..I shouldn't have come." you spit out, trembling.
"Y/n, there's something you need to know."
"What? that she has a boyfriend?" you spat, annoyed by her deception.
Yeji sighs, holding onto your shoulders, somewhat urgent.
"No, it's something only Ryujin can tell you. Please, just talk to her. This once."
At this point, you couldn't trust anyone, neither Yeji, Ryujin, nor yourself. It was like you were at different crossroads- to run away, or to confront her again. She hadn't even done anything wrong, all she did was kiss a guy. She didn't owe you anything.
You choose to run away, until you notice Ryujin approaching you with her boyfriend. It's like she withheld any decision you make, with her forcing you into a circumstance you would not choose for yourself.
"Y/n?" she asks softly. Her otherwise comforting voice now made you uncomfortable, almost bringing you to tears by how much you missed it.
"It's been so long," she holds your hand gently.
Her hands felt colder than before, and before you could say anything, the tall, matching vampire spoke up.
"Hi y/n, I'm Jason, her boyfriend. I've heard a lot about you." he looks friendly, and he doesn't seem to hold any malice. But you still hated this guy.
"You have?" you ask saltily. "...good things I hope." you couldn't help but say drily, hands fiddling with the witch hat you'd worn.
"A moment please love," Ryujin signs to her boyfriend, who goes towards the bar with Yeji.
Ryujin takes your hand and drags you towards what you assume to be the bedroom, away from the crowd.
You enter the bedroom with her, with your head ringing because of the way she called him love. You remember how she'd called you love the day you'd tried baking, the day you'd fallen asleep in her arms. You thought the word "love" meant nothing, that it was an endearing term with no implications. But if that was the case- why did she address him as love?
Jealousy eventually overrode the confusion, and the hurt that stained you previously had multiplied. You couldn't feel more stressed, it was so much more than any calculus assignment you'd ever come across.
"Are you crying?" she eventually speaks, eyes concerned. You didn't even realise the visible tears falling down your cheek slowly, your mascara ruined in the reflection of the mirror behind her.
"What do you wanna talk about Ryujin?" you huff. "Y/n, do you need time to calm down? I don't think you're in the mood to talk."
"I'm fine. Just get to the point please." you say, barely concentrating on what was going on. She comes in to hug you, but you step back.
She looks upset by this, seemingly as confused as you. "I...I thought we were friends y/n," she whispers in the same tone she'd always used to comfort you. "We weren't this far apart were we? Why do you hate me?" she raises her voice in desperation.
This was an accusation you could not believe she had made, hate was too strong for what you felt for her.
"I don't hate you Ryujin." you speak, resigned. "Then why do you look so upset, why can't you even say hi?" she emphasises, her voice breaking in between.
"Because it hurts... I can't"
You fall against the bed post. Eyes finding the bear plushie you bought her. You slowly realise that this is her bedroom, and that you were in her new house- the apartment you'd never come to before. You were barely able to process all of this when she speaks up again.
"You can't what y/n? You can't accept the fact that you like me?" You look back at her, eyes widened, as though whatever little sanity you had remaining was destroyed like the branches of an autumn tree- fallen, and weak. It was almost humiliating.
"I don't like you Ryujin," you hide behind your words like a coward. "Don't lie to yourself y/n, is it that difficult to accept that you like me?"
You don't know where this was coming from. If she knew you liked her, couldn't she just let you down gently?
"What does it matter? You have a boyfriend. Even if I did like you; no even if I loved you, nothing would change." you say dejectedly. It must have been true, because there was silence that persisted for longer than you wished it would be.
"What if it did change? What if I said I liked you too? Would you believe me?" she asks quietly, reverting back to her calm persona as she takes a big breath. You scoff, noticing how different she had become in a month. The audacity she had to ask you if you believed her, right after making out with her boyfriend in front of everyone in the room disgusted you, something you don't think you'd ever be able to comprehend.
"Why would I believe you? I saw your boyfriend. Besides, if you did like me, you'd be honest with me. I think that's the least I'd expect from you, so don't play with my feelings; because unlike yours, I can say with conviction that mine are real."
You see her expression change, her eyes becoming teary.
She sits beside you, against the wooden footboard. "I can't be honest, because I'm scared. There's so many people watching me- so many people who my family knows. I barely had, or still have any privacy in my life. Do you know why my grandparents left me this apartment? Because they don't trust me." she pauses for a minute. Taking another deep breath, eyes now fixed on to the floor.
You don't know where she's going with this, but don't say anything because this may be the last time you'd get any closure.
"There was a girl I really liked in high school, but we could never be together, because my family refused to let me meet her. They pretend to be liberal in their thoughts- but they're as homophobic as they get. There's no way they'd understand. The only time I felt safe was in our dorm, because there was no one who would snitch on me, nobody who cared. It was utopia- where you were my solace, and I just basked in the temporary peace.
But when my grandparents asked about you, they'd worry I'd gotten too close to you, refusing to believe you could be just a friend. Two months after I shifted in to our dorm, they made preparations to isolate me in this house of theirs."
She couldn't continue, as tears you'd never seen from her before, collected as a tiny stream between the cracks of the tiles on the cold floor. You understood what she meant. In an evening's moment, you realised that she wasn't this perfect being that she always projected. Yes, she was amazing, but she had her own challenges, something you thought she'd never had. Unlike the two different worlds you thought you were in, your access into her world made you realise you were more similar than you could've imagine. All of a sudden you hated your past self for being so mean to her, for harbouring insecurities that in hindsight were not worth the pain.
"Jason, is my neighbourhood friend, and he's the one of the few people I can trust. He's pretending to be my boyfriend, so that if my family ever found out, they wouldn't doubt me." she explains, trying to resolve your distrust.
"I'm so sorry," you whisper, leaning your head against her shoulder, gently holding onto her hand."
The two of you sit their in silence, reflective, though relieved.
She gently kisses your forehead, arms wrapping around your waist.
"I missed you y/n. So much. But I'm also scared to go back to you, to our place. I don't know what we're going to do. I'm sorry too, for the situation I put you in. For the situation I've put both of us in."
You rub her arms gently,
"It's ok, we'll figure it out slowly. I'm sorry too . You were always there for me- and I, like the coward I am was scared of being attached to you, your generous love . I was also so insecure of how perfect you were- but now it's all so inconsequential."
To this Ryujin laughs, and she wipes her tears. "It's funny how both of our insecurities hurt us in the end. I promise, I wont' let it affect us in the future. I won't ever hurt you again y/n. I love you, so much."
"I love you too Ryujin."
You know that it's going to be a long road ahead of the two of you, but you'll be alright. You comb through her hair, leaning in to meet her lips. Her quivering lips are not soft as you expected, but slightly chapped, brushing against yours. She drags a cold finger down your spine, causing you to lose your breath. Her pulling you closer, slipping behind your corset, unzipping it. Your hands are tangled in her short locks, and you pull away in between to breathe.
With the kiss, and this new path, the autumn you hated so had come to an end. Autumn had become easier to think about, among the loneliness of the dry leaves and the warmth devoid in the air, you'd treasure the warmth that she provided. Shin Ryujin, unlike autumn wasn't temporary. Autumn will come and go, but Shin Ryujin would always stay, and you'd treasure her in every season. In the end, autumn didn't hate you as much you did, because despite everything, autumn gifted you Shin Ryujin.
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Am I actually posting an autumn fic when its almost summer? Yes, yes I am. This is long overdue and idk why it took me this long to finish it ahhhh.
I appreciate any feedback, feel free to interact with this post!
-Macaroon
69 notes · View notes
macaroonff · 27 days
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omg thank you for 80 notes! This is kind of crazy
YAY okay so Can I pls request an angsty comfort fic where Jungwon comes home from practice and he’s already been having such a bad day and then reader says something small but because he’s already upset she makes him cry and she’s rlly confused why he’s having such a strong reaction when he’s not usually the type to. Then she suggests they go for a walk to the park and he opens up to her and they talk things through
Here you go! I really appreciate a good comfort fic and I hope you like it anon! Thanks for being my first request (❁´◡`❁)
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We'll be alright- Yang Jungwon
Y.J.W x gn!reader (Idol boyfriend Jungwon)
↳ Wc: 1.9k
↳Angsty fluff, hurt comfort
♪ Jasmine- DPR Live
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By the time Jungwon had reached the familiar door to your shared apartment, he could barely feel his arms from the weight of the backpack he had carried, as though the entire day’s mistreatment was packed in that small vessel. If that wasn’t enough, his back hurt from the excessive dance practice, where even Ni-ki looked fatigued from exhaustion due to the demands of their concert a month later. That coupled with how his entire day went wrong didn’t help him. From burning his fingers while trying to make simple pancakes to packing your sports shoes for his practice which- being two sizes too small- didn’t fit him well. Did he still use them? Yes because he didn’t want to hear anything from the choreographer nor waste time looking for another pair, even if it made his ankles hurt. Did his day also get worse when a bird decided his shirt would be the perfect urinal while he was waiting for a cab back home; after his manager left early to drop the others to the dorm while he had to stay in the longest meeting of his life, discussing concert plans that he knew weren’t feasible? Yes, and he quite literally and metaphorically felt like shit. 
He had already had two weeks of longer days, with his schedule extending beyond what he was used to, longer than the most arduous of comeback preparations. So far, he was just grateful that he hadn’t collapsed from fatigue and that the worst he felt was due to a few minor aches in his body. But today? Today he truly embodied exhaustion, from the physical aches getting exponentially worse, to his mental capacity being drained. Unlike before, he didn’t even have the energy to pretend like his usually stoic self, his head both empty yet throbbing with the entire day’s happenings, affecting his mental peace. He reaches out a fragile finger to ring the doorbell, taking him longer to press it. He leans his head against the door, from where he can hear your footsteps coming closer, and he tries to smile for you, a tiny one settling on his dehydrated lips. You swing the door open, to which he stumbles a little, but gathers himself placing his backpack on the floor, the temporary weight off of him.
You close the door behind him, and see him lean against the wall, removing his shoes with heavy steps, not even bending down. You take in his detached presence, a frown settling on your face, your previous excitement sinking. Jungwon seems to sense this in your disappointed eyes. “Babe it’s movie night,” your exasperated voice brings him out of his thoughts, “you promised you’d buy popcorn from the store?” you ask him, looking down at his empty hands.
You see him take in a deep breath, his hands clenched into fists before he stretches them out. “Let’s do it another day,” he whispers emotionless, pushing past you as he heads towards the bathroom. You’re stunned by this, as despite the increasing distance between the two of you, he’d volunteered to at least continue with movie nights. At first you’d assumed the distance was because of work, like it always was, but unlike before, Jungwon didn’t come ranting back to you about what went wrong, instead he’d silently wash up and go to bed, no goodnights whispered, no kisses bestowed. It was almost like he didn’t love you anymore. You did consider the fact that you might be overthinking it all, but you’d heard of the 'three year rule', the exact stage you were with him at right now. It was hard keeping such insecurities aside when he barely communicated with you.
Him volunteering to make time for you through tonight’s movie night was what eventually broke you away from those thoughts, and you started bubbling with enthusiasm, looking forward to today after an entire week of planning. If after so many days, he couldn’t even care about popcorn, of course you’d feel as hurt as you currently do. Did it not matter to him at all? Was it just you who was so invested in this activity, or the relationship?
“Do you not love me anymore?” you voice out frustrated. You see him pause, his back that is towards you stiffens. He turns around and you see slow-moving teardrops rolling down his face, to which you’re taken aback. “Jungwon?” you hesitate.
“I really want to freshen up, please,” his voice breaks. You remain silent as you watch him walk away again, confused. You sit back down on the sofa, thinking about everything that could possibly be going on in his head.
You lay your head against the warm cushion and close your eyes. What made your usually patient boyfriend this upset? And what wasn’t he telling you? Did he not trust you anymore? It was now time for your head to be swirling with demoralising thoughts. You hear the door unlock, and open your eyes to see your boyfriend's puffy ones, his T-shirt patchy and wet, which you’re not sure is because of his tears or the shower. “Are you busy?” you ask softly, noticing his eyes shift. 
Jungwon felt guilty towards you, and he really didn’t mean to break down in front of you. Furthermore, the fact that you doubted your love meant that there were other underlying issues in your relationship, something he knew the cause for. For the past few weeks, when you’ve been trying to initiate conversation, Jungwon, too depressed and exhausted to say anything, ignored you unintentionally. He felt bad that his work was getting in the way of his love for you, something he promised you, and himself, would never happen. He knew he couldn’t ignore it any longer, and neither could you.
“Not really, I just don’t think I want to watch a movie right now,” he replies, knowing he didn’t have the mental capacity for the thrillers the two of you usually enjoyed.
“Let’s go for a walk then, I think we both need it.” an idea you throw at him, getting up and grabbing your overcoat. He follows you, this time grabbing his jacket and the correct shoes, a matching pair of Converse that he’d bought with you.
Before the two of you had officially started dating, he’d always notice you on his morning walks with Maeum, confident, and joyful, headphones on. From then on, he used your interactions with Maeum as an excuse to initiate conversations, which ended up with him taking you on an official date. Walks were symbolic in your relationship, a dedicated bonding event for the two of you, something you’d subconsciously agreed to. 
Like previous walks, you intended for this one to be just as meaningful, glancing at him in between steps. His tears had dried in the cold air, and his own steps, although still heavy, had become somewhat faster. His hands fiddled with the zip of his hoodie, opening and closing it rapidly, and his hair still wet, had drops seeping into his shirt every time he left it open. 
You realise how your steps become more rapid as you reach the park, the same one where you’d first met him. You weren’t excited per say, you just happened to walk with more urgency, a sense of foreboding settling in your heart. As your rushed steps get you farther away from him, you feel someone’s hold on your wrist. You look back and see his hand that had stopped fidgeting, gently held on to you. His eyes had softened, and he looked at you concerned. “Slow down love,” he says, breaking the silence that had been a bystander on this walk. He pulls you closer, interlacing your finger as you continue to walk at a slower pace until you reach a bench. Jungwon removes his jacket and places it on the bench, motioning for you to sit. Once he’s sat behind you, he looks at you properly, eyes observing every part of your face, following the noticeable question mark imprinted all over. 
“I love you y/n, and I’ve never stopped loving you,” he finally lets out, to which your brows furrow. A part of you is relieved, but also more frustrated, as contradictory as it sounds. You were relieved that he didn’t hate you, and that there was hope in the relationship, but more of you was upset at how his actions didn’t follow that, confused at what made him so disheartened. “Then why have you been so distant? What made you so upset, if not for me?” you ask.
He holds your hand again, taking a deep breath in, releasing a shaky sigh. “Honestly, I’m so exhausted. It’s work that’s got me feeling so muddled. It’s evidently my passion which makes me happy, but at the same time it demands so much of me that there’s none left for me to give to you, or to myself. The past few weeks have been hell, and today feels especially bad. It’s like nothing’s been going my way, starting from burnt breakfast, to the choreographers scolding me for holding everyone else back, to the confusion in the meetings. Everything just feels so burdensome, even though I’m used to it.” he reveals with no pause, letting everything out.
You gulp at this confession, a part of your heart breaking with every word coming out of his mouth. You hated seeing him like this: absolutely dejected. You knew better than everyone how hard he worked, and how hard he tried to make things easier for everyone, reducing their burden, which is why it hurts to see him bottling everything up within himself. You gently put his head on your shoulder, engulfing him in a hug as warm as you can gather. “I’m so sorry,” you whisper, “I didn’t know.”
You can feel him smile, and at the same time he sobs a little, tears now collecting on your coat. “It’s not your fault, I was being so selfish,” he replies in between breaths. You rub circles on his back, trying to ease his pain. You feel him relax in your arms and you sigh. “Jungwon, you know you can lean on me right? Please don’t keep things like this to yourself. Please trust me, so we can go through hardships like this together.” 
You hear a soft hmm against your shoulders. He looks back at you, once he’s done crying, and you wipe any tears settled on his cheeks. “How’d I get so lucky?” he whispers as he kisses your eyelids, when you realise that you’d shed a few tears too. You smile, as his lips eventually meet your own. “I’m sorry”s and “it’s okay”s are whispered in conjecture to “I love you”s in between the long kiss, until a dog disturbs the two of you by pawing on your legs. You laugh, and eventually get up. Jungwon stretches as he stands up, his hands thumping his back. “Does it hurt?” you ask concerned. “A little,” he replies shyly. 
“We should get back then, I’ll give you a massage,” you offer, taking his hand in yours. “Really?” he perks up at the thought, his voice becoming louder, as he gets more excited, a stark contrast to an hour ago when he entered home wearily. This time you’ll be going back home together, a sense of calm inhabiting the two of you, confident that it’ll be alright. 
---
99 notes · View notes
macaroonff · 28 days
Text
This Autumn, - Shin Ryujin
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Genre: Roommates x lovers, College +Domestic Au, Autumn feels Pairing: Shin Ryujin x fem! Reader Content warnings: Mentions of a dysfunctional families, slight angst, mentions of homophobia, mention of insecurities Word Count: 7k+ words Suggested Songs: We found Love in October- Girl In Red I wanna be your girlfriend- Girl in Red Bubble gum- Clairo Duvet- Bôa October Passed Me By- Girl in Red Girls-Girl in Red Softly- Clairo You know where this playlist is heading- feel free to recommend more
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Sometimes fall meant that the clarity of summer had ended, and that the dryness wasn't accompanied by sweat, but by the heaviness of hoodies and the bareness of barks. A bore compared to the freedom and excitement that summer offered, a dispirited time when you look back to the last three months. 
Of course autumn wasn't all bad. The colours took on a warmer palette as the trees bared themselves devoid of its warmth: warmth which could be found in campfires and cosy sheets; in people's hugs and weighted blankets; in hot lattes, crunchy leaves and early sunsets.
But when assignments piled up from the start of the season, finding opportunities to revel in such warmth seemed unsuccessful. You hurriedly tried composing yourself from last month's activities; internships, staycations and pool parties, returning from a whirlwind of adrenaline. It was exhausting and you were burnt out before the semester even started. 
But a student you were, a decent one that you tried to be, as you organise and file your assignments, albeit slowly due to sleep deprivation. The first week of autumn went by with professors dumping assignments immediately as you try to ease the pace at which you deal with it. Clearly, autumn had you drained from day one.
Autumn hated you more than you hated it.
Autumn, two weeks in wasn't too bad. You took time to catch up on deadlines, you made plans with friends, went on walks and you got especially close to your new roommate. Her name was Ryujin, a dark haired divinity with prominent features that meshed gently. Someone who never forgot to get you your daily dose of iced latte and her favourite mocha bread from the café opposite your dorm.
It started when she came back from her evening lectures on a Thursday, holding one mug in her hand, a woolly scarf tucked into her shirt. She came in to see you with your hands knitted in your hair, frustrated at the work you had, feet bobbing as you concentrated. 
A small 'hi' was all that you returned when you noticed her presence.
"Another stressful assignment?," she asks, concerned. Her low timbre is soothing and takes you out of your sums for a slight moment, a sigh escaping your chapped lips.
"It’s calculus." You make eye contact for the first time since she entered, a polite smile greeting her, though the frown almost tilted the other way. 
She waved her hands in a light motion acknowledging your concern, the room key in her palm dangling in it to make a soft clack. 
"Understandable, it's a real headache, especially since you're in Mr Lee’s course. Anything I could help you with?"
"I just need a break," you reply dejectedly, hoping to get away from your monotonous, monstrous tasks. 
"Wanna watch a movie?" she asks, a soft grin hiding on her face. She watches your ears perk up and your eyes shine at the suggestion, to which a chuckle remains stuck in her throat.
"Why don't you choose something and I'll join you after I'm done freshening up." she hands you the remote before walking into her room, grabbing her white towel from the laundry rack.
You sit in silence and wallow in contemplation. Choosing a movie, should be easy. 
Would a sappy rom-com distracting you from your lamentable, gapingly non-existent love life suffice? Or did you need another of those poorly directed and filmed action ones, which would, undoubtedly help you fix your sleep schedule. But then again, would Ryujin watch it? What’s a movie she’d like? Slice of life? Coming of age? Horror?
A change in the lighting of the room, and Ryujin’s tap on your shoulder was what eventually brought you out of your dilemma, and you take your vacant stare off of the blank tv screen towards your roommate instead.
The warm lights had blurred everything in the background in a way that it brought Ryujin’s face into focus, a soft glow emanating from her cheeks. Her hair was wet, the towel lazily wrapped around her supple hair, doing a measly job at keeping it from seeping into her t-shirt. Her oversized black t-shirt had patches of darker spots that clinged to her because of it, making you worried she might catch a cold. You rush to hand her a new towel, one that would actually help. 
“Don’t catch a cold, not the best time of the year to fall sick.” you whisper.
She smiles in appreciation and holds your arm, accepting the fabric for you. "You're cold too y/n. It'd probably be best for us to grab some blankets." 
After ten minutes of rummaging through your creaky cabinets and five minutes of popping corn, you were ready to distance yourself from your headaches, with new-found warmth in your newly washed duvets. 
Snug and pressed against the cushions of the sofa, with your head on her shoulder. Snug as she pats your back until the television's whisper no longer has your attention and you find your heavy eyelids closing on their own. 
Snug as you embrace sleep after months of running away from it.
Snug, however, wasn't what you felt when you woke up in the morning, blankets tangled between your legs, and an annoying ache in your ribs, due to the crushing weight of your favourite cushion. 
Snugness was replaced by the bitterness of another new day, and your long forgotten assignments weighed heavier than they did before. 
All of a sudden last night's peace was something you regretted. And you regret having been swayed by someone you considered an acquaintance.
If Shin Ryujin hadn’t offered, you'd never have taken a break. You'd never have given yourself the opportunity to be wasteful with time. You shouldn't have been tempted by the thought of a moment's freedom. 
Freedom that remained a mirage. A mirage that showed you a time of comfort. Comfort that would last one evening until you'd have to revisit everything you ran away from.
What's the point in having comfort if it's given by someone you interact with for three hours a day? What was the point in comfort if it was momentary?
Shin Ryujin was a roommate you'd have for only two more months until her grandparent's apartment was done with renovations.
Shin Ryujin was temporary.
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Autumn three weeks in, was no different. Except that your backlog had increased, your sleep schedule got worse and all that you cared about was getting over with your to-do lists. How you had energy to do everything one by one remained a mystery, but you soon realised that it wasn’t energy that drove you to finish work, but the fear of running out of it sooner or later. As if it wasn’t already obvious, you were on the brink of burnout.
Not that you hated burnout. For some reason being burnt out meant that you'd be forced to take time out for mental health sooner or later. You would be forced to slow down like you did last week. 
Sitting down and finally looking back, last week felt like a distant memory so far away from your reality. It was a privilege you gave yourself, and it was so worth it, contrary to what you felt immediately. She was right, the movie did help, the movie did get you back into a safe space from your anxiety; and you never cared to thank her for it. 
You’d do it today. Thanking her. You absolutely had to.
You spent the next ninety minutes planning the best way to return the favour. Essentially, you spent the next ninety minutes going back on all the little things Ryujin did for you. Which led to the realisation that her love language was a careful amalgamation of acts of service, quality time and physical touch. 
“Maybe I’ll just bake mocha bread. I couldn’t go wrong with that,” you contemplate. You weren’t the best baker on earth, however you had enough experience to go ahead with it.
All you needed was milk, eggs, flour, yeast, sugar and coffee. Everything you had at home, really not much could go wrong.
Until it did. There was no way the universe would let you have anything good before your semester tests. Of course it had to sabotage you when you tried to do one thing with actual love behind it.
The microwave oven she brought in with her beeped once before a loud pop stopped you in your tracks. It was overheated, and nothing you did brought the irksome device back to life. No matter how many buttons you pushed vigorously, or hit the back of it tiresomely, the empty  black box on the door showed no sign of the tiny numbers signalling time left.
Time left. You look at the Ikea clock hung on the wall. Ten minutes more for the bread to be baked until completion, and thirty minutes until she’d come back and discover this mess and the damage to her microwave.
And boy does she love that microwave.
Shin Ryujin knew something was wrong when she entered later at night, almost too late for you to be up right now, just a little before midnight, the smell of sweet coffee greeting her. She’d gone to visit the apartment her grandparents had bought for her, a half hour from here. She was so caught up in finalising the layout that she forgot to mention that she’d be late home. What’s worse was that she had got caught in heavy traffic, and her phone lost charge in the middle of dialling you. 
And when she got up here, completely spent from the work, it took very little for her to be consumed by frustration. Not particularly because of you. None of it had to do with you. She knew that the tedious microwave was ancient and that her parents only gave it to her to get rid of it. She also knew that she should’ve told you about it sooner, before it actually became a problem. So no, in no way was this your fault. 
She looked at your head buried under your arm on the dining table with a mitten on one hand and a post-it under your elbow. The post-it didn’t say much, just scribbled and crossed out words that all seemed to resemble different “I’m sorrys" and “microwaves". You had multiple other post-its crumpled nearby and she picked all of them up and carefully opened them one by one. Between the creases, one said, “I’m so sorry for the microwave Ryujin, ik you treasure it because your parents lent it to you. I just wanted to thank you for last week and I thought I’d bake your favourite but -” it stopped there at which point you must’ve crumpled it. 
Ryujin let her sight wander across the baking utensils washed and stacked neatly on the drying rack and a box of half baked, burnt dough nearby. She smiles, both grateful and apologetic, an urge to caress your head settling in. She takes a closer look at you, trying to figure how she could deposit you to your bed. 
She slowly lifts your head up, wiping excess dough from near your frowning mouth, and her eyes wander up, to your slightly fluttering eyelids facing the yellow lights. It was then under the warm lights that she noticed semi-dried tears under your lashes. Another surge of guilt ran through her, thinking of how worried you must’ve been. 
In the cold kitchen, she lifts you off the chair as carefully as she can and gently drags you across the living room. It was when she’d propped you against the headboard that you stir awake.
Through half-lidded eyes, you take in whatever you can. Ryujin was holding on to your hand gasping slightly.
“Ryujin?” you whisper.
“Shit I didn’t mean to wake you up,” she looks at you a little surprised.
“I’m so sorry-” you mumble in desperation.
“Shh," she places a palm over your eyes, "don’t worry about it love. Go to bed, we’ll talk in the morning”
You aren’t convinced but you also realise that now isn’t the best time to talk. Ryujin’s eyebags seemed deeper in the warm light and you knew both of you needed a decent rest. It had been a hectic time for the two of you, and all you needed was sleep.
Ryujin still had the benevolence to pull the blanket over you and stroke your hair until you fell asleep.
It was the second time you fell asleep in her arms.
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The following weekend you were on a shopping trip.
At a semi-large Ikea warehouse about forty minutes away from the campus. It was Ryujin's idea to come out here despite you convincing her to find a shop closer, but she insisted.
"Trust me, it'll be fun. We can look at furniture too."
Of course, she needed new furniture. It slowly dawns on you that you have very little time to spend with her in your home. Home.
You don't remember the last time you called your dorm a home. For all that you knew, it was a messy damp space that you couldn't wait to escape from, an absolute nightmare with it's cramped furniture. But it was cosy, something you couldn't deny now.
Maybe because you were with her. All her little habits that grew on you, her impeccable daily routine that had become a source of stability in your life, even her lesser known quirks such as keeping a picture of her two cats at home framed on her desk and kissing the before going to her classes in the morning.
You admired all of it, and it wouldn't have been the same if it were someone else. You never felt like this with your previous room mates. They were just people who lived in their own solitary spaces. But with Ryujin, somehow you were involved in most housework together. You felt involved, and somewhere more loved than in your own home.
Your family wasn't bad, at least on the surface. They never compromised when it came to your education or your standard of living. But somewhere between those lines were impossible expectations they wouldn't hold themselves to either. And you got tired of them easily. They hid toxicity behind "criticism", where criticism only meant negatives beyond your control. Your last year of high school, particularly faced extreme criticism, and you felt your confidence dipping. You managed though. You're not entirely sure how you coped, but with support from school, you managed a scholarship, a meagre one but still enough to get away from your family.
You hadn't seen them in three years.
Ryujin, on the other hand, had a lovely family, and you were, at times jealous of how perfect she seemed; how perfect everything around her seemed.
She seemed to have every aspect of her life in order. Whether it be top of the class majoring in Business, or being captain of the girl's football team, or the fact that she could spare three hours to stay with her paint brushes and that they would come out having the entire beauty of the universe encompassed in them. She could manage being both a homebody, while still being popular in school, she could be assertive when she needed to be without actually disturbing the fragile ego of most in her class.
She surpassed every definition of balance mentioned in the dictionary. She was living it, breathing it. Stability.
You admired her, a lot, but you couldn't stop this ridiculously miniscule base of malevolence in your heart. And every day you were scared it would become worse.
Especially now, when all she wanted was to spend precious time with you, constantly putting effort into your friendship whereas you were held back by bitter thoughts. And you hated yourself for it.
You force back your envy, distracting yourself by browsing through the shelves of cutlery displayed. You notice the absence of Ryujin's presence, and slowly find yourself lost in this maze of a shop. Maybe it was better that she wasn't in this aisle now, or else you wouldn't be able to face her with the guilt of having thought of her so poorly.
You find yourself interested in the array of pretty pink melamine plates stacked in front of you, in the stainless steel spoons with animal handles, and little napkin holders shaped like boats. You pick up different pans, weighing how heavy each is, looking to keep your brain unnecessarily busy. If you spend a second more comparing yourself with Ryujin, you knew you wouldn't be able to think of anything else for the entire day, or week.
You remember what your therapist told you, all the comfort and validation that you needed pouring in through words. You open up your notes, all the affirmations typed out one by one. You repeat them in your mind, with a new goal in sight.
You wouldn't let your insecurity ruin another good relationship. Especially not with Ryujin.
She emerges after some time, holding in her hand, a grey device, and a grin painted on her face. "I think this is the one. It's a cool toaster cum oven sort of thing, and it's cheap," she winks at you.
How was she so decisive? you think again. It had only taken her fifteen minutes. If it were you, you'd have taken forty minutes more.
"I trust your decision," you reply, giving her a soft smile. You notice her eyebrows raise a little. "You sure?," she asks. "You usually don't agree this fast. You have this terrible habit of sitting on decisions for ages." she rambles on.
You take a moment to process this. You knew it was true, and she probably didn't mean malice, but it was not something you'd accept easily.
Ryujin never had to think twice about what she wanted. She knew exactly what she wanted, and she always got it. Whereas every decision you seemed to make bore consequences you didn't want. And often, the times you didn't heavily weight them out was when things backfired. The last time being with the microwave oven.
It was the only way you knew to trust yourself.
So it irks you greatly when Ryujin calls it a "terrible habit". Because for you, it was a habit that gave you security. Certainty wasn't achievable, but you'd try as fucking close as you could get, and Shin Ryujin won't tell you otherwise.
She'd never understand how imperfect you were. She'd never understand the little complexities that hold you back. For the most part, she had life easy. What would she ever understand?
You ignore her comment, instead picking up a ceramic mug from the shelf, thumbing on the floral patterns glazed onto it.
Ryujin barely senses your predicament, instead grabbing onto the mug placed besides the one you hold onto. "These are pretty, it's like a cute matching set. We should get them," she winks.
The rest of the day follows with more furniture in your cart, and mostly unnecessary plushies plaguing your living room. New pillows, potted plants, wardrobe organisers, a work desk and the biggest Djungelskog bear lying near the couch.
It dawns on you the next morning, after waking up to the chaos, that she was shifting out in two weeks.
On the first of October.
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All of a sudden she was busy, very busy, and the two of you barely met, with bigger gaps in your schedule. Part of it was because of Ryujin arranging her main furniture in her new house, and part of it was because you were busy with academics, only that it was voluntary this time. It just so happened that you needed a few more credits to retain your scholarship, the only thing weighing your new found freedom. Along with that, you busied yourself so that you didn't have to face Ryujin later at night.
You were scared. Other than the obvious rent that you'd have to pay by yourself, you also avoided other parts of this change that bothered you. Which was spending time with her. You were scared you'd miss her a bit too much.
Sure, you were friends who were only half an hour away, but now that her colourful room started fading into a bleak white, the emptiness of it reminded you of why you hated autumn. The fall orange left you feeling lonely, and like the very leaves that craved pigmentation, you craved more life. Regardless of the minimal time you spent with her in the evenings, she slowly integrated herself into your life in the smaller ways.
Now they weigh too much in your life for you to be able to cope without it. You ended up distancing yourself from her, in a pathetic attempt to cope with the anticipation of absence. Maybe you just needed more friends, the thought crossing your mind a lot more these days. But you had plenty of them at uni, most of who you loved. But none of them were Ryujin.
None of them cared for you as much as she did. None of them taught you how to care for yourself like she did. None of them held you in their arms throughout the night, until you felt rested and loved. Nobody inspired you as much as Ryujin did.
Maybe Ryujin wasn't just a friend, something you were scared to consider in the past few weeks. It was a feeling completely new. Other than a failed situation-ship in high school, you never considered the possibility of a relationship, much less exploring your sexuality.
It was an intimidating prospect that you hadn't considered. Something that initiated urgency more than curiosity. Unlike the diverse spectrum that your feelings for Shin Ryujin belonged to, your thoughts focused on just one. She was important in more ways than platonic, and the distance that was to be would be extremely difficult to cope with. The distance that you had created seemed silly, but at the same time there was nothing you could think to resolve the conflict. You were going against this wall you'd built for yourself, and the facade of distance only grew day by day. So much so that at one point, Ryujin stopped approaching you first.
In a way, you deserved it. For someone who had been so unreceptive to her life as a coping method, this is the least you deserved for being a little jerk. Why would someone pursue any relationship, even platonic if you'd put yourself back into the mega cage you thought you'd escaped from. Something you'd escaped from only temporarily in her presence. Something you're going back to by the next week when she's gone.
You suffer multiple sleepless nights, the mid terms only a catalyst to your loneliness, when all you remember is Ryujin and her quirks.
You do accept another roommate later on, a mutual contact in your friend group, someone who was introduced to you by Ryujin herself. She'd dropped in a small text at 8 in the morning, on the way to class, you'd assumed. All it did was talk about how a common friend, Yeji needed a room to stay.
You accepted it of course, because you didn't have to foot the entire month's bill but also because you thought having someone else would curb your loneliness. And this loneliness was stupid. Ryujin wasn't the only thing you had in your entire life, and she should've been inconsequential, the same way the daylight hours gradually decreased. But it isn't too hard to notice once the sun's gone down.
The new roommate was like a transition from summer to winter, but unlike Ryujin , who helped ease the transition between the seasons, this one only reminded you that it would be cold. She wasn't a bad roommate, no she was perfect, did the laundry on Wednesdays, did the evening dishes at 6 in the evening and gave you a lot of personal space. She was nice, but not like Ryujin.
You hated how you compared her to Ryujin, how you compared everything to her. "She isn't your entire world," you remind yourself. "Shin Ryujin was only temporary."
You'd decided that your feelings for her were only a means for you to be validated. That was all you'd craved from her, validation. That was all she'd given you, validation.
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October 15th, you felt relieved. Your mid terms were over with and you had a little bit of free time. Were you going to spend it wisely? No. You were going to sit in bed all day, scrolling through Youtube, a luxury you'd afford yourself rarely in the last month. You went home early, to a somewhat excitable Yeji, another rare sight.
"What's up?" you ask her, noticing her vibrant demeanour.
"Nothing much, just excited because Ryujin's coming over today."
You're surprised to hear this, and a little disappointed that Ryujin never told you herself. Or maybe there was no reason to, it's not like you kept in touch with her.
"That's cool, are you guys ordering something? Or should I make food for you two?" you offer, realising the amount of free time you had.
"We'll just order pizza," she replies. She hesitates for sometime, as if she has something to say. "Y/n?" she calls out slowly.
"Hmm?" "...you're nothing like what Ryujin described you as."
You still in your spot.
"It's just that you're really kind you know. I thought you'd be more distant, and cold."
"Ryujin said that? About me?"
She nods her head.
Is that really how she saw you? Distant and cold? Sure you were closed off towards the end, but is that really who you were to her? After all the good memories? You weren't sure anymore, insecurity creeping inside you.
It hurt. Was it this easy for people to be unforgiving? But then again, you never apologised, so in a weird way what Yeji relayed sounded justified.
You offer her a stiff smile.
"I'll be in my room then, tell me if you need anything."
Dejected, you go back to your blank room, where even the orange of autumn feels comforting, something you hated previously. You stay inside the entire evening, occasional sounds of muffled laughter behind your walls being all that you focus on for the duration. Every time you heard her laugh loudly from behind the door, you wondered if she ever laughed like that in front of you. Did you ever make her feel happy? The same way she did to you?
You want to go out and say hi, but after what Yeji said, you stop yourself. She must hate you now, there was no other way.
It isn't later at night, after you're sure the laughter was no more, and only when the silence of the room becomes comforting, you step out to see a dim blue light in the darkness of the living room, Yeji working on the dining table. "Y/n, didn't come out to say hi to Ryujin?" she asks, with pity that sounds forced.
"Yeah, no I was just napping," you lie, "did anything fun happen?"
"Mhm, we were discussing Ryujin's blind date tomorrow with a senior from the engineering department. Apparently, he's handsome," she shrugs her shoulder.
"Ryujin likes boys?" you ask without realising.
"Hmm, I'm not sure actually."
A small part of you feels dejected as you get a glass of water, all while contemplating if you should have reached out.
"You like her don't you?" Yeji whispers, looking up from her laptop.
It's the second time you still in your spot. Yeji had brought up something you never thought was prominent.
"Your lights were on, I could tell from your slightly ajar door. You weren't sleeping were you?" she gives you a knowing smile.
"I'm not judging you- it's just that it's obvious that you miss her. It may or not may be romantic- but you do miss her don't you?". You don't know how to reply to her. You barely knew Yeji, but somehow she very accurately read your emotions.
As if she knows what you're thinking, she continues.
"You know, every time that I've tried bringing up Ryujin, you've always changed the conversation, instead isolating yourself in your room."
Looking back, it made sense. You didn't want to think about her anymore. Your meeting with Ryujin's was temporary and never mattered. It was almost crazy how dependent you were on her within just a few months.
" I realised that I don't know much about Ryujin, nor does she about me. Sure I know she loves mocha bread, she loves her big Ikea Djungelskog soft toy, that she's watched the perks of being a wallflower more times than she can count; but I don't think I could be truly vulnerable with her. I'm scared to be vulnerable with her."
Yeji sighs, almost disappointed. She went back to working, despite her twitching lips, like she had more to say.
That night, you reflect for longer. Why was it that you felt scared to lean on Ryujin? Technically you told her about troubles with academics, problems with some of your classmates- that is considered being vulnerable right? Then what was it that you wanted her to know, but you never wanted to admit? Was it your insecurities? Was it the thought she'd never understand it?
It was like your mind had accepted that you and Ryujin had come from two different worlds, and if you invited her into yours, she would run away, like your family. Despite you coming to terms with it, the distance with your family was a wound still fresh. And nothing would change, until you could put it behind you.
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25th October, Yeji handed you an invite to one of her friend's Halloween parties.
After your confession, she'd been a little nicer; she was more active in initiating conversations, and you realised she was more extroverted than your first impression. Eventually, you did watch the Maze Runner with her again, and you appreciated how she gushed about Dylan O'Brien throughout it, dispelling any awkward moments.
"I designed this invitation by the way, cool isn't it?", she asks about the party invitation in your hand. It had black bat details engraved in a glossy reflective paper. "Please come, we've had a difficult week, one party won't hurt will it?" she states, the question more rhetorical.
You agree quietly, excitement bubbling in you.
Until it did hurt, a week later.
Barely five minutes after you enter the loud, congested apartment, with strangers in costumes, you felt a part of your heart drop. There was a tight feeling in your chest, something you were sure wasn't because of the new corset you wore. Because you felt comfortable seconds before you saw Ryujin with her hands wrapped around this guys neck, kissing him on the couch as if he were her entire life. At first, you weren't even sure it was her- her hair was shorter, dyed a platinum blonde. She wore a leather jacket and a white skater dress, dressed so differently than what you were used to seeing her in.
You weren't able to comprehend how good she looked in his arms, with all her attention focused on him, smiling. The same smile that you'd missed for a month. When she does look away from the vampire- you assumed was her boyfriend, her eyes scan the crowd and she almost looks bewildered. You were stood so motionless near the entrance from where you could see them, that even the crowd that pushed past you couldn't bring you to move. It was suffocating, and unconsciously you head for the exit, looking to get away.
But fate wouldn't be so kind would it? The universe wouldn't just let you be would it? "Are you leaving already y/n?" Yeji screams from across the room, which you were sure was audible to everyone. She finds her way to you, a smile on her face. "You just came in, why are you leaving? Cool outfit by the way."
"Thanks," you offer her a stiff smile, eyes going back to Ryujin, who because of Yeji, had finally found you.
Yeji, who just noticed the tension, holds your hand and pulls you towards Ryujin.
"Atleast say hi, y/n, it won't hurt."
Yeji's assurance of "it won't hurt" was what brought you here, it was indeed what hurt you. Her saying this now wasn't helping, and you scoff. It was almost like Yeji knew this was going to happen. It was like she knew how much it hurt you, and may even enjoy it.
"Why did you invite me Yeji? You knew about this didn't you? It hurts, I..I shouldn't have come." you spit out, trembling.
"Y/n, there's something you need to know."
"What? that she has a boyfriend?" you spat, annoyed by her deception.
Yeji sighs, holding onto your shoulders, somewhat urgent.
"No, it's something only Ryujin can tell you. Please, just talk to her. This once."
At this point, you couldn't trust anyone, neither Yeji, Ryujin, nor yourself. It was like you were at different crossroads- to run away, or to confront her again. She hadn't even done anything wrong, all she did was kiss a guy. She didn't owe you anything.
You choose to run away, until you notice Ryujin approaching you with her boyfriend. It's like she withheld any decision you make, with her forcing you into a circumstance you would not choose for yourself.
"Y/n?" she asks softly. Her otherwise comforting voice now made you uncomfortable, almost bringing you to tears by how much you missed it.
"It's been so long," she holds your hand gently.
Her hands felt colder than before, and before you could say anything, the tall, matching vampire spoke up.
"Hi y/n, I'm Jason, her boyfriend. I've heard a lot about you." he looks friendly, and he doesn't seem to hold any malice. But you still hated this guy.
"You have?" you ask saltily. "...good things I hope." you couldn't help but say drily, hands fiddling with the witch hat you'd worn.
"A moment please love," Ryujin signs to her boyfriend, who goes towards the bar with Yeji.
Ryujin takes your hand and drags you towards what you assume to be the bedroom, away from the crowd.
You enter the bedroom with her, with your head ringing because of the way she called him love. You remember how she'd called you love the day you'd tried baking, the day you'd fallen asleep in her arms. You thought the word "love" meant nothing, that it was an endearing term with no implications. But if that was the case- why did she address him as love?
Jealousy eventually overrode the confusion, and the hurt that stained you previously had multiplied. You couldn't feel more stressed, it was so much more than any calculus assignment you'd ever come across.
"Are you crying?" she eventually speaks, eyes concerned. You didn't even realise the visible tears falling down your cheek slowly, your mascara ruined in the reflection of the mirror behind her.
"What do you wanna talk about Ryujin?" you huff. "Y/n, do you need time to calm down? I don't think you're in the mood to talk."
"I'm fine. Just get to the point please." you say, barely concentrating on what was going on. She comes in to hug you, but you step back.
She looks upset by this, seemingly as confused as you. "I...I thought we were friends y/n," she whispers in the same tone she'd always used to comfort you. "We weren't this far apart were we? Why do you hate me?" she raises her voice in desperation.
This was an accusation you could not believe she had made, hate was too strong for what you felt for her.
"I don't hate you Ryujin." you speak, resigned. "Then why do you look so upset, why can't you even say hi?" she emphasises, her voice breaking in between.
"Because it hurts... I can't"
You fall against the bed post. Eyes finding the bear plushie you bought her. You slowly realise that this is her bedroom, and that you were in her new house- the apartment you'd never come to before. You were barely able to process all of this when she speaks up again.
"You can't what y/n? You can't accept the fact that you like me?" You look back at her, eyes widened, as though whatever little sanity you had remaining was destroyed like the branches of an autumn tree- fallen, and weak. It was almost humiliating.
"I don't like you Ryujin," you hide behind your words like a coward. "Don't lie to yourself y/n, is it that difficult to accept that you like me?"
You don't know where this was coming from. If she knew you liked her, couldn't she just let you down gently?
"What does it matter? You have a boyfriend. Even if I did like you; no even if I loved you, nothing would change." you say dejectedly. It must have been true, because there was silence that persisted for longer than you wished it would be.
"What if it did change? What if I said I liked you too? Would you believe me?" she asks quietly, reverting back to her calm persona as she takes a big breath. You scoff, noticing how different she had become in a month. The audacity she had to ask you if you believed her, right after making out with her boyfriend in front of everyone in the room disgusted you, something you don't think you'd ever be able to comprehend.
"Why would I believe you? I saw your boyfriend. Besides, if you did like me, you'd be honest with me. I think that's the least I'd expect from you, so don't play with my feelings; because unlike yours, I can say with conviction that mine are real."
You see her expression change, her eyes becoming teary.
She sits beside you, against the wooden footboard. "I can't be honest, because I'm scared. There's so many people watching me- so many people who my family knows. I barely had, or still have any privacy in my life. Do you know why my grandparents left me this apartment? Because they don't trust me." she pauses for a minute. Taking another deep breath, eyes now fixed on to the floor.
You don't know where she's going with this, but don't say anything because this may be the last time you'd get any closure.
"There was a girl I really liked in high school, but we could never be together, because my family refused to let me meet her. They pretend to be liberal in their thoughts- but they're as homophobic as they get. There's no way they'd understand. The only time I felt safe was in our dorm, because there was no one who would snitch on me, nobody who cared. It was utopia- where you were my solace, and I just basked in the temporary peace.
But when my grandparents asked about you, they'd worry I'd gotten too close to you, refusing to believe you could be just a friend. Two months after I shifted in to our dorm, they made preparations to isolate me in this house of theirs."
She couldn't continue, as tears you'd never seen from her before, collected as a tiny stream between the cracks of the tiles on the cold floor. You understood what she meant. In an evening's moment, you realised that she wasn't this perfect being that she always projected. Yes, she was amazing, but she had her own challenges, something you thought she'd never had. Unlike the two different worlds you thought you were in, your access into her world made you realise you were more similar than you could've imagine. All of a sudden you hated your past self for being so mean to her, for harbouring insecurities that in hindsight were not worth the pain.
"Jason, is my neighbourhood friend, and he's the one of the few people I can trust. He's pretending to be my boyfriend, so that if my family ever found out, they wouldn't doubt me." she explains, trying to resolve your distrust.
"I'm so sorry," you whisper, leaning your head against her shoulder, gently holding onto her hand."
The two of you sit their in silence, reflective, though relieved.
She gently kisses your forehead, arms wrapping around your waist.
"I missed you y/n. So much. But I'm also scared to go back to you, to our place. I don't know what we're going to do. I'm sorry too, for the situation I put you in. For the situation I've put both of us in."
You rub her arms gently,
"It's ok, we'll figure it out slowly. I'm sorry too . You were always there for me- and I, like the coward I am was scared of being attached to you, your generous love . I was also so insecure of how perfect you were- but now it's all so inconsequential."
To this Ryujin laughs, and she wipes her tears. "It's funny how both of our insecurities hurt us in the end. I promise, I wont' let it affect us in the future. I won't ever hurt you again y/n. I love you, so much."
"I love you too Ryujin."
You know that it's going to be a long road ahead of the two of you, but you'll be alright. You comb through her hair, leaning in to meet her lips. Her quivering lips are not soft as you expected, but slightly chapped, brushing against yours. She drags a cold finger down your spine, causing you to lose your breath. Her pulling you closer, slipping behind your corset, unzipping it. Your hands are tangled in her short locks, and you pull away in between to breathe.
With the kiss, and this new path, the autumn you hated so had come to an end. Autumn had become easier to think about, among the loneliness of the dry leaves and the warmth devoid in the air, you'd treasure the warmth that she provided. Shin Ryujin, unlike autumn wasn't temporary. Autumn will come and go, but Shin Ryujin would always stay, and you'd treasure her in every season. In the end, autumn didn't hate you as much you did, because despite everything, autumn gifted you Shin Ryujin.
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Am I actually posting an autumn fic when its almost summer? Yes, yes I am. This is long overdue and idk why it took me this long to finish it ahhhh.
I appreciate any feedback, feel free to interact with this post!
-Macaroon
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macaroonff · 29 days
Text
dancing with the devil. preview
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IN WHICH, he wants you but you need him.
pairing : fuckbuddy!jake x afab!reader
genre : angst, smut, fluff ????, hurt no comfort, totga
warnings : heartbreak, mature and sexual themes, drinking, smoking weed, usage of profanity (a lot!), jake can be a dick, morally gray characterization, just hear me out it's a ride of emotions
taglist : OPEN leave a comment or ask!
wc : 1.5k??? idk sorry LOL (estimated 15-20k)
reblogs are super appreciated 💝
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THE BASS SHOOK YOUR BODY, reverberating in your chest as you navigated through the sea of bodies in the crowded living room. You were shocked as to how hundreds of university students could fit in a shitty basement suite, but who were you to complain? Lights illuminated the crowd in hues of the most vibrant of colours, casting large shadows against the walls. You had never been one for loud, crowded places, but tonight was different.
Tonight? You were on a mission.
Your eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face amidst the chaos. And then, you saw him.
Ah, Jake Sim. The very (and only) reason you even thought of, let alone decided to go to a party. It's not like you didn't drink or didn't have any friends, quite the contrary. You just never found any interest in mingling with sweaty bodies for hours just to stumble home and wake up with a raging headache.
All of that is thrown out the window, anyway. You're already here, faced with the purpose of your arrival.
You and Jake have a somewhat complicated relationship. You've known of each other since middle school and even became apart same friend group for all four years of high school. But back then you weren't friends with Jake.
No, no you weren't allowed to be friends with Jake.
Park Sunghoon, your now ex-boyfriend and current best friend of Jake absolutely hated the idea of you getting close to him. You never understood why he hated the idea of you and Jake being close; you never got the chance to even talk to the guy, let alone give Sunghoon a reason to forbid a friendship. You were quick to assume maybe he just didn't like you being around guys, which was even quicker to be ruled out as a possibility. You were friends with every other one of his best triends except Jake.
It's no surprise to anyone that Jake found you extremely attractive. Hell, he found you more beautiful than anyone, anything he's ever seen. He sees more than just physical perfection; he sees the essence of everything he's ever longed for. Your eyes hold a universe of secrets and desires, each flicker of emotion a tantalizing invitation to explore the depths of your soul. Your smile is like the first light of dawn, it dances across your lips, a melody of joy and mischief that leaves him breathless.
Jake jumped at the chance to talk to you the second he heard the front door of his and Sunghoon's shared apartment slam shut, the second he saw his best friend standing with his head hanging low in the middle of their shared space. He knew that was it. You guys were done and he yearned for you both but God, was he excited. He knew Sunghoon messed up when he didn't tell you he was leaving to study abroad until days before his departure. He knew you were going to break up when your face shifted through all kinds of confusing emotions when Sunghoon told you he was leaving. He knew this was his chance to finally get you.
He remembers how surprised you were when he first texted you out of the blue, even if it was a simple
hey
ik this is so outta nowhere
but
how are you doing?
He remembers how surprised he was when you started responding to him in longer sentences. He remembers when your conversations prolonged for hours. He remembers when you confided in him on your problems. He remembers you told him when something good happened, and most of all? He remembers when you finally agreed to go to a party.
Sometimes he feels bad for himself. Sunghoon was being selfish and kept you away from him for the past four years? Jake thought Sunghoon was the luckiest motherfucker alive for having you as his girlfriend. He envied that Sunghoon would be able to call you his, he would be able to wrap his arm around your waist and pull you close to his body around everyone, he would be able to kiss your plush lips that he could only dream of tasting, he would be able to hear you would moan out his name and chant it like a mantra. At the same time, Jake understood why Sunghoon kept you from him.
Sunghoon knew the way Jake looked at you.
He never said it, he didn't want to confront it, so he dealt with it how he could to keep both your love and his friend in his life.
It's funny how time can be so cruel.
It was inevitable that you started to slowly fall for Jaks as time went on. He filled the void that his best friend left in your heart. He was there for you and was objective with his opinion, he was soft yet stern with his words, he made your bad days good and your good days better, he made you feel new heights of joy, and he was exactly what you needed. You wanted Jake and there was nothing you could do about it; you were falling before you could catch yourself. You were unsure with if what you felt for Jake was right, if Sunghoon would be upset if he knew you guys talked- Wait, did he even know you guys talked?
Yet, you found yourself excited and void of any feelings of uncertainty when you saw Jake sporting a toothy smile on his face as he took another sip of God knows what in his cup.
He stood out like a scorching flame in the darkness of an abyss, his golden hair catching the hues of neon casting the room as he laughed with his friends. There was something so captivating about him, something that made everything around him glow, something that drew you in despite your better judgment.
With a deep breath, you pushed your way through the compact crowd, determined to make your move before doubt could take hold of you and push you away from this scenario. As you approached him, your heart pounded in your chest, the sound drowned out by the pulsing music. You could feel the second he saw you; the heat of his gaze burning your skin as you drew nearer, anticipation mingling with nerves in the pit of your stomach.
When you finally reached him, he looked down at you with a grin. It sent shivers down your spine, goosebumps coated your skin, so much so you couldn't tell if you were cold or if this was just the effect he had on you.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence," he teased, his voice low and husky, yet loud enough to reach your ears over the deatening music.
You laughed, trying to ignore the flutter of butterflies in your stomach as he pulled you into a warm embrace. His arms looped loosely around your waist after pulling out of the hug, you swear your skin was burning under his touch.
You could smell the alcohol radiating on his body.
Alcohol. That's what you needed.
Before you could stop yourself, you grabbed the red cup in his hand and downed the rest of what he had left. You felt the fiery burn flow through your body and veins- why the fuck is this so strong?
For a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes, a vulnerability that you had never seen before. A dark gaze that you couldn't quite put your finger on.
God, Jake could cum to the image of you downing his drink.
"Couldn't stay away, could I?" you shot back, your tone playful despite the rapid beat of your heart.
"I'm glad you came," he said, his lips ghosting the shell of your ear, "didn't think you would."
"Yeah?" you respond, Jake looks at you with a slight shrug before grinning.
"Yeah, but you did," he tightened the hold on your body and pulled you closer to his body, your arms found home looped around his neck, "for me."
You felt the warmth spreading to your face after his last sentence. You weren't sure whether it was the alcohol or the fact he made you so flustered.
"It's okay though," he leaned in closer to your face, lips centimetres apart, "I came here for you."
He was about to kiss you, you're sure. You could feel his breath ghosting your lips, but then he loosened his grip on you and back away. Before you could question if you did something wrong, he grabbed a hold of your hand and pulled you into the crowd, seemingly forgetting about his friends the second you arrived.
All that mattered to him was that you were here, in front of him, and he wasn't going to let anything keep him away from you again.
"Sorry princess, my favourite song is playing and I need to dance," you laughed in his face in disbelief. He mirrored the smile that you had.
Happiness looks good on you, he thought.
You were swept up in the whirlwind of the night, lost in a haze of laughter and music and stolen glances. But even as you danced with Jake all night, you couldn't shake this odd feeling that beneath the surface, there was something darker lurking, waiting to pull you under.
But for now, you pushed those thoughts aside, allowing yourself to get lost in the moment. After all, tonight was about forgetting, about losing yourself in the chaos of the night and pretending, if only for a little while, that everything was okay, that this is your new normal.
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adie yaps : this preview is a repost bc it wasn’t doing that good 😭 hopefully it does better this time lolollllll bc i have no motivation to finish it rn
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