#Lee So Byeol | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

forlix · 5 months

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‧ ❆ ˚ 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 (besides myself)・l.f.

— you spend three years loving him, six months losing him, and four hours waiting for him to get the hell out of your house. but the human heart is more stubborn than you know.

words・5.4k

pairing・lee felix x gn!reader

genres・babysitter!au, girldad!lix, nobody look at me, toothrotting fluff, more angst than originally intended tbh, exes to lovers, hurt/comfort, happy ending yayyy, non-linear storyline

warnings・cousin has a korean name and experiences one (1) minor head bump, mc is temporarily heartbroken and experiences one (1) breakdown

playlist・house song by searows・glad by tori kelly・let's pretend by del water gap・you were good to me by jeremy zucker

a/n・hiiii my loves, i'm so unbelievably excited to bring u my first contribution to my and @astraystayyh's collaboration, "winter falls" ♡ every time i write for our ray of sunshine i'm reminded of how thankful i am to love him. this fic ruined me. hope it does the same to you (smile)

I. everything

“One day,” you muttered to the toddler sitting on your shoulders, “you’ll experience something deeply, irreversibly humbling, and I’ll be there to witness your downfall.”

Byeol responded to this with an unbothered babble. She then gathered two handfuls of your hair and yanked using far too much force to be biologically possible.

You folded like a lawn chair. “Mother—!”

Oh, that word was not suitable for button-sized ears.

“—oh, my dear mother, why? Why me?”

Technically speaking, your aunt should’ve been the target of your lamentations, but all she did was produce the child presently steering you around the kitchen like you were her own personal bumper car. Your own mother was the one who volunteered you to watch said child during the first weekend of your winter break. Only for an hour until the babysitter arrives, she’d said (raising her voice, so as to be heard over your groaning).

You adored Byeol. She made scarily accurate chipmunk sounds and possessed an immobilizing fear of grapes. She bust out a dance move before she took her first steps. The girl could have you floored with laughter without being able to say more than three words at a time. Still, this was far from how you imagined onsetting your desperately-needed few weeks off. Not to mention it was now half past three; your shift should’ve ended two minutes ago.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Byeol emitted an excited onomatopoeia like a golden retriever detecting the mailman. Your reaction wasn’t too far off; you swiveled your head in the sound’s direction, sang out “coming!” in a delighted vibrato, and twirled into the foyer, your hands around Byeol’s ankles anchoring her in place.

You cracked open the door and found yourself face-to-face with Byeol’s babysitter. The freckles scattered across his high cheekbones and sloping nose seemed to you like they were imprinted by the sun itself. His hair was dark, falling just shy of pitch black, and long, ending an inch or so below pierced ears. A few misbehaving strands rested over his forehead but did little to obstruct your view of his eyes: profoundly brown and pointed at either end, like poinsettia petals.

He was the most beautiful man you’d ever seen. You felt your skin warm, your heart flip. You opened your mouth.

Then Byeol hit her head against the vertical edge of the front door, loud enough for it to echo.

The panic that seized you in that moment was truly unlike anything you’d experienced before. You caught one glimpse of the stranger’s expression (as mortified as you expected), and then you were seeing your own epitaph on the inside of your eyelids, engraved with the four words “Death by Furious Aunt.”

“Was that—?” The man sputtered, and his voice was rich and full and accented and just as breathtaking as the rest of him and holy fucking shit now was not the time.

“My fucking god,” you whispered, completely forgetting to watch your mouth. In a hurry, you swung Byeol off your shoulders and dropped to a knee. You leaned in close to examine her reddening forehead and cradled the plush of her cheek; she blinked at you a few times, fascinated by the sudden sight of your face again.

“You okay, Byeollie? That hurt a lot, didn’t it? I’m so, so sorr—”

Byeol started to laugh.

Not laugh as in those little chuckles she let out randomly, like there was something inherently amusing about the kitchen cupboard, but laugh as in a boisterous, resounding guffaw, like a great-uncle at a family gathering off one too many martinis.

This rendered you speechless for the second time in under a minute. Then, you lifted your other hand to cradle her other cheek, her face now sandwiched between your palms, and squeezed.

“I broke my cousin,” you whispered, your voice was so deathly serious that the man in the doorway had to stifle a laugh of his own.

His knee brushed against your shin as he sat down to your left, folding his legs into a criss-cross. You could discern notes of lavender and orange blossoms in the delicate cologne that clung to him, perforated the air and your mind both.

“Can I?” He asked.

“Please.”

Carefully, you shifted Byeol’s small frame towards him; the manner in which he accepted her was so smooth and practiced that there was no doubt in your mind you were watching a professional at work. He settled her on his right knee, then dipped his head to look her in the eye.

“Hi, princess,” he cooed with a dulcet smile. He curved his pointer finger, dusted it beneath her chin. “Why are you laughing, silly girl?”

Oh.

You might just continue your lineage after all.

“Y/N-ie,” she answered, still tittering.

He looked to you with a slight tilt to his head, and you nodded affirmatively. He murmured a quiet ah. “What about Y/N-ie?”

Somehow you sensed that she was about to embarrass you and pinched the bridge of your nose—in preparation.

“P-pretty.” I knew it!

The man let out the laugh he’d been holding back since earlier and tapped on her button nose, lowered his voice to a whisper that he knew you could hear.

“I agree.” His eye glinted playfully, matching his tone. “And so are you.” The bashful, high-pitched giggle she responded with sounded eerily similar to your inner monologue.

The two of you spent a little longer on the floor of the foyer making sure Byeol was okay, and then the girl upped and made a mad dash for the kitchen while yelling something about a horse, and if that didn’t confirm that she was completely fine (albeit incredibly strange) you didn’t know what would. You found her rolling around the carpet in the room adjacent to the kitchen and left her to her own devices while you and her babysitter fixed up a small fruit plate for her afternoon snack. No grapes, of course.

He told you he usually went by Felix, but that his Korean name was probably easier for Byeol to pronounce, with its easier consonants and whatnot. You asked which name he preferred, and he said either or. He was a recent college graduate, a year older than you, who was determined to spend at least the next two years doing nothing but working out his future. He accepted the part-time babysitting position to pick up some light cash in the process.

“And ‘cause I’m good with kids,” he added, splitting apart a tangerine. “So I’ve been told.”

“Oh, you definitely are,” you said, plating a couple blueberries. “You melted her earlier.”

“She melted me. She’s so cute. And you’re so cute with her—I didn’t realize I was robbing someone of their job.”

You turned your head to regard the tot and let out a helpless laugh. Byeol tired of being a human lint roller a few minutes ago and had since moved on to staring aimlessly out the window.

“She doesn’t take me seriously, and I can’t stay mad at her,” you mused. “I would be a nightmare as her babysitter, trust me. She’s all yours.”

Felix held out two overturned handfuls of tangerine slices, to which you quickly moved the platter across the counter. He didn’t respond to your comments as he placed them on the outermost edge so that they looked like rays of sun emanating from a multicolored core. Adorable.

“Will you be around much, then?”

You made eye contact with him across the counter. On his perfect face was a teasing smirk and a subtle blush. Ah, you’d been mistaken, writing off his silence as concentration—he’d been contemplating how to best flirt with you.

“Y’know. In case I need any help teaching her cuss words,” he appended.

It was then your turn to flush a couple shades darker. “Please don’t tell her mom.”

“I won’t, I won’t.” He walked around the perimeter of the counter until he was directly in front of you; the lavender and orange blossoms returned. “On one condition.”

Not even one hour on the job and he was already trying to blackmail you? You respected it. “Which is?”

As he shifted some of his weight onto the counter, something too shifted in his smile, giving it a quality that was every bit as hopeful as it was gentle.

It was then, while Lee Felix was looking at you like that, all dilated pupils and long lashes, when you predicted that he would one day break your heart. You predicted you’d let him.

“Be around,” he said simply.

It wasn’t a question or a demand. In hindsight, you think it was more akin to a birthday wish, ill-fated the moment it hit the air.

II. has changed

Felix pulled Byeol’s hood up and over her ears, and you realized he was right about the winter coat getting too small for her—she looked like a bowling pin. You muffled your snort into your scarf.

“And what was the last rule again?” He asked, his breath puffing into the frigid afternoon in tiny clouds. Byeol sighed like she knew anything of the world’s woes.

“No barking at other kids,” came the sad reply, but a toothy smile spread across her face anyways when Felix nudged the underside of her chin. She loved when he did that.

“That’s my girl,” he hummed. “I believe in you.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” you said, and the wounded look Felix shot you was like you’d just confessed to hating kittens. “Come on—she doesn’t have a good track record. I’m allowed to have my doubts.”

“I dunno what that means,” Byeol announced with admirable frankness, and then turned around and scurried down the porch stairs, scattering fun-sized footprints across the snowy streets.

As you braced yourself to follow her, Felix stopped you with a slip of his hand into the pocket of your puffer. His fingers first aligned with yours inside the insulated nylon, then chased the spaces in between. He leaned in close, placed a kiss on the apple of your cheek, another on the corner of your mouth. This brought a helpless smile to your face, too. He had a way of melting you and Byeol both.

“It’ll be fine,” he soothed. “A little barking never hurt anybody, baby.”

“Lix, last time somebody called animal control.”

“Ermm—a little barking never hurt most people.”

That winter, Byeol was four, and your relationship with Felix was about to turn two.

Funnily enough, you’d never figured out when your anniversary actually was. Felix wagered it was the day you met, as he knew he loved you the instant he saw you; you insisted it was months later, since it took both of you an entire winter break of open-ended flirting and informal dating to label yourselves for real. Imagine your horror when he showed up outside your college apartment on the last day of your fall semester, arms overflowing with flowers and gift bags brimming with your favorite things, the phrase “happy anniversary” on his lips three months before you perceived it to be. You’ve celebrated both days ever since.

You loved the ocean growing up. You didn’t get to visit it often, but when you did you would run up to the water’s very edge so that your toes dipped into the cold—and just stand there, observing, absorbing, until even the seam of your lips and the ends of your eyelashes were studded with crystals of seasalt. You found endless tranquility in its rhythmic whispers and unspeakable comfort in its oscillating waves, guaranteed to return after momentary departure.

Your fascination stemmed from the folktale your mother used to read to you before bed, about a sun goddess creating the earth. In the story, every component of nature was one of the sun’s beloved children. She allegedly loved them all, but you suspected the ocean was her favorite; it was obvious, the way she twinkled off its ebbing surface, the way every minuscule spot of light looked to you like a handprint of hers, left behind by eons of endless doting.

Felix reminded you of the ocean. Every day you grew more certain that you wanted to drown in him, to let his resonant voice and kind eyes sweep and keep you inside his depths. It was never salt that he pressed into your skin but warmth, stamped and sealed with caring hands and cautious lips. His deep whispers promised eternal love and temporary ecstasy and everything in between. You knew he would come back to you even if stranded in a different realm. And there was no questioning the goddess’ favoritism, either. The freckles on his face mirrored the sun’s very spots like an homage to his creator.

You didn’t love the ocean growing up, no. You had never loved before Felix.

The park was busy when the three of you arrived. Byeol and Felix recognized a few families as your aunt’s neighbors and hurried over to say hello. Your social butterflies.

“I’ll be over there,” you called after them.

Felix stopped in his tracks, looked over his shoulder. It had started snowing lightly on your walk there, and snowflakes now sat atop his sable locks. He looked like a painting. “You okay?”

“Yes, yes.” You shooed them off. “Don’t worry about me. Go have fun.”

With that, you withdrew to the sidelines, an unoccupied swingset adjacent to a baseball diamond covered in frost.

Your baby cousin was brawny for her age, which you could’ve seen coming with how she was hauling at your hair two years ago, but even she couldn’t yet terrorize the playground without assistance. Who better to make her partner in crime than her favorite Bokkie? You couldn’t help but giggle as the two revolved around each other for the better part of an hour, Byeol’s smile colossal as she frolicked every which way, Felix’s smile worried but hopelessly endeared as he followed behind. He never let her leave his shadow. She never tried to.

It was there on those icy swings that you experienced a moment of strange clarity, like you’d broken the fourth wall of your own story. You could feel the winds of change blowing your hair across your shoulders. You were aware of time’s trickling from the gaps of your fingers like liquid mercury.

Your laughter dissipated to a bittersweet smile; your smile mellowed to dewy eyes. It seemed like just yesterday when Byeol was small enough to sit on your shoulders and Felix stepped into your kitchen for the first time. Now, she was scaling a rope ladder with the celerity of a crazed monkey while Felix hovered a wary hand by her waist. The muted sunlight caught on the silver rings he wore, particularly the thin, bright one on his middle finger. You had one just like it, adorning the same place.

The last two years were the happiest of your life. Why couldn’t you remember where they went?

Lavender and orange blossoms announced your boyfriend’s arrival—that, and the sigh of fatigue that he expelled as he dropped into the swing next to you.

“I’m not cut out for this anymore.”

Byeol’s neighbor had temporarily relieved Felix of his post by taking her and his son to test out the seesaw, and you wouldn’t be surprised if the whole town could hear her enthusiastic shrieking.

“You know how people walk their dogs?” You mused. “Some dogs walk their people. She’s one of them.”

For a moment, he could only stare in disbelief at the grin creeping across your face; then, he groaned in a way that could only mean you were right on the money. You gave his thigh a sympathetic pat.

“You’re whipped, my love. It’s okay.”

“Maybe a little,” he admitted, suddenly perking up. “Hey, no barking though.”

“Are we considering that a win nowadays?”

“Do you see animal control anywhere?”

“Good point.”

Felix monitored your expression during the quiet interval that ensued—saw through the melancholy curve of your lips, the pensive slant of your gaze. There was a red tinge to the whites of your eyes that hadn’t been there before.

You saw him reach for you in your periphery. His fingers brushed a lock of hair behind the shell of your ear, remained there for three slow heartbeats, and then lifted away.

“Angel,” he murmured. “Talk to me.”

You shook your head. “It’s silly.”

“It’s not.” Not even ten seconds after the last time, he reached for you again, now to take your hand and bring it to his lap. “You know it’s not.”

“It’s just that—”

Felix thumbed over the ridges of your knuckles, his touch so gentle that it could’ve unraveled a chrysalis; it certainly unraveled you. You took a stabilizing breath.

“I wish could recognize my own happiness in the moment,” you sighed, “not just in retrospect. That way, even when it comes to an end, I’d still be able to look back and say with confidence that I was happy once. I’d like that, I think.”

His brows knit together as he processed your words, and, the next thing you knew, he left his swing trembling in his sudden absence and his trenchcoat became a black blur in the cold air.

Felix rested his elbows atop your knees as he knelt in front of you, cradled your face in his hands. He was achingly beautiful always, but you truly felt your breath swiped from your lungs at the new proximity of his ethereal features: petal-shaped eyes, wind-bitten cheeks, coral cupid’s bow. A painting.

“That’s easy enough,” Felix hummed. “How do you feel right now?”

You had zero agency in the smile this brought to your face. You wrapped your hands around his wrists, your answer quick, thoughtless. “Happy.”

He pressed his lips to the space between your eyes. “And now?”

“Happier.”

He pressed his lips to the curve of your jaw. “What about now?”

“Even happier.”

His gaze flickered to his final destination, but you beat him to it, sealing your mouth against his with urgency. The kiss that followed was so intensely loving that your head went fuzzy. How was it that you felt his adoration for you even in his pliant lips, his velvet tongue? You ran your fingers through the part of his hair. You loved when you could feel the locks flutter back into place afterwards.

“GET A ROOM!”

You and Felix pulled away from one another, wearing matching expressions of bewilderment. Byeol was approximately five Newtons away from soaring off into the stratosphere, her legs jostling around as she clung to her seat for dear life. It seemed your neighbor had a very aggressive way of seesaw-maneuvering. It seemed your cousin had a very aggressive vocabulary.

“Where did she learn—?” The two of you began in unison, then shot your heads back towards each other.

“It had to be you.”

“Outrageous—you’re the Australian here!”

“You cuss like one too!”

“Because of you!”

“So we’re just lying now?”

“Well, yes.”

Felix cracked a smile—and then the two of you were dying of laughter, his right eye squinting closed and your forehead thudding onto his shoulder. You hardly managed to get out your next words. “We have to do something about her vernacular, don’t we?”

“Oh, badly,” he replied. “Badly.”

After you expended your giggles, you nuzzled into the crook of his neck, blissful, glowing. “Thank you, baby.”

“What for?”

“Being my happiness.”

He angled your face back to his and kissed you once more, whispering I love you like it wasn’t enough that it graced your ears; he needed it embossed upon your flesh in permanent ink.

Your intermingled breaths floated up into the air like flare signals over a capsizing boat. Here marks the time we were happiest.

III. (besides myself)

He’s blonde.

That’s the first thing you notice when you see your ex-boyfriend on your aunt’s porch: the slightly off-white color of his silky tresses, grown out longer than you’ve ever seen, pushed off his forehead and tucked behind his ears.

It’s not the only thing you notice, of course. His face has thinned ever so slightly, the shadows thrown over his features by the streetlights behind him particularly opaque. His outfit is glorious, expensive, with the black blazer and white dress shirt, the top two buttons undone, the pendant of a silver necklace resting between toned collarbones. His hands are almost overflowing with what must be gifts for your family. It’s impossible to discern all of them from this distance, but you know the bouquet of white poinsettias is for your mom, the batch of brownies doused in sprinkles and icing for Byeol.

But the hair is where your gaze returns, because tucked among the platinum strands are black roots: millimeters of the color you grew to adore, peeking out as if trying to catch a glimpse of you, too.

You’re so occupied with this game of “I spy” that you don’t notice the rampant footsteps coming up behind you. Your six-year-old cousin collides with the back of your leg head-on and nearly topples you like a bowling pin.

“Is it him?” She asks breathlessly.

You come this close to berating her as you steady yourself against the wall—what did I say about treating human beings like couch cushions? But you look down to see her chin resting on the side of your thigh, her eager eyes shining so brightly that she puts her own namesake to shame. Your scolding tirade dissolves on your tongue like popping candy.

You simply sigh instead. “Yes, but—”

“BOKKIE!” She shrieks, and Felix’s head snap upwards at the sound of her voice. His tender smile melts some of the frost laminating your heart.

You crack open the door, making eye contact with Felix for the first time in six months.

“Put everything down. Quickly,” you whisper, and he obeys right away, alarmed by the urgency in your voice. A wise choice.

The last present has hardly touched down upon the wooden planks when Byeol wriggles through the doorway and charges towards Felix like an angered toro. He swivels at her bright holler of his name, lowers himself to a squat just barely in time to catch her in his embrace. The delighted laugh that leaves his mouth as he staggers backwards sounds like the sun itself; you feel lost in orbit hearing it again.

“Bokkie,” Byeol murmurs, her voice muffled in the dip of his shoulder, by the tightening of her arms around his neck.

“Hi, princess.” He kisses her temple, presses his nose against her hair. “Whoa, you’ve grown strong, haven’t you?”

“She takes taekwondo classes now,” you hum from above, and the shock in his face asks the very question that your poignant smile confirms. Yes, because of you.

Felix pulls away, cocoons her cheeks with cherishing hands. “Is that true?”

She bobs her head. “I want to be like Bokkie.”

And his eyes go impossibly, terribly soft, like he’s gazing at the horizon itself. The sight twists the knife in your gut and yanks on your tangled heartstrings. It’s all because of you.

“And kick some ass!” Byeol adds, knocking you out of your sentimental spiral. You clap a defeated hand to your forehead. Felix falls over himself. So much for fixing her vernacular.

A few minutes later, Byeol is pirouetting towards the kitchen with a couple of Felix’s smaller presents in her arms, all too happy to be of help. You linger behind as Felix takes off his shoes, your cousin’s departure leaving the two of you alone in the dim foyer.

Felix straightens. The two of you come face to face. The air hangs so heavily with unspoken words that you half expect it to start dripping.

“Hi,” he says.

You nearly laugh at the cruelty of it. The man you were certain you’d grow old with greeting you like you’ve been forced to sit next to each other on the first day of school.

“Hi,” you answer. “You look—”

The two of you say this last part in unison; old habits die hard.

“—nice,” you finish.

“—beautiful,” Felix breathes, his eyes flicking off to the side abashedly.

Your throat constricts, pulse quickens. Says you. If he was a painting before, you think he’s a sculpture now, his perfection as tangible as if hand-chiseled by the greatest artists of old. As clear as the sun’s beloved sea. You can’t tell if it’s his stylist’s doing or simply a product of him growing into himself.

“Thank you,” you reply quietly. “And thank you for coming.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I didn’t think you would.”

“I didn’t do it for me.”

No part of you wants to see the subtle wince that crosses his face at your statement, so you turn your gaze to his jewelry-laden hands instead.

For a split second, you swear you see the same promise ring settled in the same place on his middle finger. You realize what you’re really looking at only after blinking the phosphenes from your eyes: the thin tanline that it left behind. The realization fixes and destroys you all at once.

Then, Byeol starts wailing about Felix’s whereabouts like an actress hired to spare you from this very interaction.

“Her Highness beckons.” The smile you manage feels like drying cement. “Shall we?”

On your way to the kitchen, you notice the cologne emanating from his person smells only of citrus—no lavender. Its absence steadies you, deludes you into believing that it’s a stranger you’ve just let inside.

That illusion lasts for exactly three hours and forty-eight minutes.

It’s clear that the breakup has your family walking on eggshells, but it’s even clearer that their adoration for Felix has never wavered. You’ve never resigned yourself to the restroom so many times in one night, only to stand with your back against the door, unmoving, unfeeling, listening to the low thrum of his voice through the mahogany. Chatting comfortably with your aunt, bursting into laughter with Byeol, reminding you of the time you considered him family too.

With every glance you toss your reflection, you discover new cracks in your composure. Has he noticed them yet?

After you come out of the restroom for the sixth time, you notice a light spilling from Byeol’s bedroom into the hallway. A low Australian accent graces your ears, followed closely by a tinkling giggle, and your body nudges you towards the sounds before your head can intervene.

You give your cousin’s door a feather-light nudge. It opens a few centimeters more and grants you vision of Byeol tucked into bed, Felix knelt at her side. Both of their faces are illuminated by the flaxen light of the nearby lamp.

Felix brushes her choppy bangs out of her eyes, a teasing smile on his lips. “Can I tell you a secret, princess?”

This wrests from her another fluttering laugh; you swear he’s the only person in the whole world who makes her shy. “Sure!”

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?”

“Promise.”

“Not even Snernard.”

“M’kay.”

“Or Bong.”

“M’kay.”

“Especially not Trash the chicken. I don’t trust him.”

“I know, I know, I won’t!” Byeol huffs, and Felix laughs at her outburst. You also snort into your sleeve, amused (and deeply perplexed) by your cousin’s plushie-naming conventions.

“Thank you,” he hums, and he lowers his voice enough that you don’t catch the next thing he says.

All you perceive is the way that Byeol reacts. She sits up straight in bed, resting her back against her pillow. Her features rearrange themselves slowly, awfully, like the spread of cherry-flavored cough syrup over one’s sore throat, into the furthest thing from her trademark too-big-for-her-face smile.

Your stomach plummets to your fucking ankle.

“Why?” Her voice sounds microscopic.

“Well, do you remember what Bokkie’s dream job is?”

Byeol considers for a moment. “Being a singer?”

“That’s right.” He runs a knuckle over the hill of her cheek, the action achingly familiar, immensely fond. “And I found a place where I can do that, but it’s very, very far away. I won’t be able to come home very often.”

The telltale signs appear as he speaks; the final word sets them into motion. A tear streaks down the side of Byeol’s face. It hardly leaves the corner of her eye before it’s being intercepted by a doting swipe of his thumb.

“No,” she replies.

“You've grown so much.” Another tear falls. He wipes away that one, too. “You’re growing so well.”

“No,” she repeats.

“You’ve stolen the light of every star in the sky already. The whole galaxy will be yours someday, sweetheart. I know it.”

“I don’t want it,” she whispers. “I want my Bokkie.”

His vision starts to blur also. “But you don’t need me anymore.”

“We do.”

You know the precise moment Felix’s heart pauses in his chest because it is when yours does too.

“We?” He repeats, and she nods.

“Your dream job is being a singer.” Now Byeol is the one to reach for Felix, her delicate hand cupping the curve of his cheek. Her fingers are too small to catch his tears, she tries anyways—

“But what is your dream?”

It becomes too much for you.

You turn around. A choked sob escapes from behind the hand you have sealed to your mouth, causing both heads inside Byeol’s room to whirl in your direction. You don’t care that you nearly break both of your ankles beelining up the stairs; you only care to get the fuck out of that hallway.

You topple into your room, close the door behind you, and crumble.

Your quivering hands find purchase around your folded legs; your eyes squeeze shut against your knees. Rivulets of tears cascade over your shuddering lips like ruptured barrels of wine, left in the cellars of your soul to age, to spoil.

You never wanted your grief to see the light of day. Pouring your regret over every sidewalk wouldn’t change the past. Splashing your heartache across every wall like the world’s most fucked-up mural wouldn’t alleviate the pain of losing him. He was the one who left, but you were the one who’d asked him to. Feeling, yearning, mourning. Those always seemed so futile.

But you’re not just crying in this moment, rocking back and forth on your bedroom floor; you’re bleeding, the wounds you never treated igniting all at once as if exposed to vinegar, leaving you writhing and gasping in their wake. How you wish they’d been able to heal sooner. Maybe then seeing Felix tonight wouldn’t have splintered your soul like dropped porcelain.

Your door clicks open. Your breath hitches in your throat with a quiet scratch. The gulp of oxygen you intake tastes of oranges.

Every night before you fall asleep, you still think of the last time you visited the sea. The cool sand chafing against your toes, the coarse winds slapping your hair against your face hard enough to sting. The weather was terrible (you neglected to check the forecast before making the drive), but when you stepped onto the embittered coastline, you took what felt like the first real breath of your young adulthood. The fog melded to your skin as if melting a blindfold away, showing you the world in its entirety.

You return to that beach when Felix pulls you into his chest, and there’s no fog this time. Just the faint smell of lavender and your ocean, guaranteed to return after momentary departure.

Feverishly, Felix presses his lips to your temple, the apple of your cheek, rests his forehead against yours. Brokenly, he utters, “it’s you.”

You can feel his shaking in every part of him: the tickling breath, the fluttering eyelashes, the unsteady hand that reaches into the pocket of his blazer. You graze your fingers over his jaw, an attempt to steady his careening heart, only to lose yours in the fray also when he produces a small red box of unmistakable dimensions.

“God, it’s you. It always has been, always will be. Anything can change except for this.” His voice disintegrates as he speaks. You disintegrate as you listen. “Everything has changed besides myself.”

Felix leans back in to pepper kisses across the expanse of your wet features, then brings himself to one fated knee. He flicks open the lid. You don’t even spare the ring a glance; you don’t doubt its perfection. All you care to look at is the love of your life, deliquesced to adoration and tearwater.

“Thank you for being around, my dream.” His soft smile tends to your scars like ambrosia. “Will you let me do the same?”

🔖 (send an ask to be added)・@astraystayyh・@like-a-diamondinthesky・@fire-08・@starsandrqindrops・@txtxlz・@laylasbunbunny・@strayghibli・@nuronhe・@seungminsapuppy・@vivisoni・@skzms・@moon0fthenight・@sweetpickledjins・@svintsandghosts・@nhyunn ・@ur-boyfiend ・@liknws・@hotgorloikawa・@randomwimp ♡

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ikeuverse · 11 months

Text

MARRY ME — l.heeseung

PAIRING: heeseung x fem!reader GENRES: fluff, humor WC: 6.1k+

WARNINGS: mention of alcohol, kissing and i think that's it. let me know in case i have forgotten something.

NOTES: here i am with my first enhypen story. this plot came to me from some funny video compilations i saw of hee and knew he would do it. so i just let my imagination run wild. i don't have a taglist yet, but i can provide one for the next stories. english is not my first language, so sorry for any spelling mistakes too. hope you like it!

masterlist

You felt that since you met Byeol, your best friend since the third grade, you would never be alone again. And you were really right. You look at that little girl who walked shyly into the classroom, her front tooth almost growing into a gaping smile as she clutched her box of crayons against her chest.

"Hi" was the first thing she said as she approached you "I'm Byeol, what's your name?"

"Y/n" you smiled too, but unlike her, your tooth had grown long enough since last month.

And since that moment you two have never been apart. Not even when Sunghoon, the younger boy next door, wanted to play with you in the school playground. There was born the purest friendship trio you could ever imagine.

Afraid of the inevitable changes in life like school life for example, your thoughts were flooded with "What if they find a better friend than me?", or you and Byeol always talked about Sunghoon starting dating in high school and just walking away from two female friends because the girl would surely die of jealousy.

"That will never happen" Sunghoon smiled at you two during the coffee the trio shared every Thursday morning before math class "Because I know you two long before you have all your full teeth. You are like my sisters."

That was extremely cute and comforting to hear, even more so coming from Sunghoon who rarely showed his feelings to anyone. But not to you and Byeol. As he himself said, you were like his sisters, and that was amazing.

In high school a lot changed, for sure, but the friendship of the three of you always became stronger and stronger. You both saw Sunghoon cry when he got a low grade in science, and Byeol comforted you together with Sunghoon when his model broke down because of the rain that had come without warning on the day of the art assignment. The three of you were each other's safe haven. You were always together and always shared almost everything - even the people around you. Like, for example, Byeol's younger brother.

Heeseung had never been anything but the youngest brother and later became one of Sunghoon's best friends. Byeol knew that this would happen even because Sunghoon would not deal with two female friendships for the rest of his life. And Heeseung was always close, so the feeling of losing his best friend would not be a problem. But for you it had been a nuisance.

Well, not so much. Heeseung was beautiful, outgoing and very funny. And this last fact made him make fun of practically everything that might be going on. And that wouldn't leave you out.

It all started with little teasing that he also had with Byeol. Because you two were always together, he might see you as a second older sister, hence the teasing and funny nicknames he gave you and your sister. But it wasn't just that.

You regretted the day you were at the Lee brothers' house, studying for the next big exam for the second year of high school. You and Byeol were paying attention to all the video lessons she had separated with the content while eating the last piece of chocolate cake Mrs. Lee left for both of you. Your attention quickly came to a screeching halt when a squawk came from the kitchen door.

"Who ate the last piece of cake?" Heeseung was panting and in baggy workout clothes. The basketball just below his arm and his hair stuck to his forehead in his sweat wave.

"Me" Byeol smiled victoriously as soon as her brother's scowl was present "And y/n helped me" at that moment you felt a strange chill in your stomach as his expression softened. Soon an angelic smile that was almost never given by Heeseung.

"Oh, she can."

"Why?" Byeol asked raising one of his eyebrows.

A short period of silence until Heeseung went to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. He made his way around the counter so as not to get in the way of the study session and returned to the kitchen door.

"Because since we're getting married, we need to give things away for each other. Right, y/n?" he cast a wink in your direction, leaving shortly thereafter.

And that's when the saga began.

Each and every opportunity that Heeseung had, he said that he would marry you. And the reason? You didn't know. Because he always annoyed you, just as he annoyed Byeol. So why, all of a sudden, did he simply say that he was going to marry you?

In the third year of high school, where parties became more frequent, it seemed that Heeseung took even more pleasure in saying this to each and every person who was around him. Besides Sunghoon, he now had a few other friends that he had met because of basketball and the extra-curricular classes he took to try to get a good college education. Jake and Jay joined the group without much effort, while Jungwon, Sunoo and Niki, even younger and in other years of high school, met because of the friendly basketball games Heeseung liked to play on the outdoor court on the weekends when the school allowed it.

"What's up man, are you okay?" Heeseung left his drinking cup on the kitchen counter, looking intently at Sunghoon, who was sitting in one of the chairs.

"I think…" the boy sobbed "I'm drunk" Heeseung let out a loud laugh.

"You think?" he saw that his friend was going to answer, but was interrupted by his arrival.

"Oh God, Sunghoon, I finally found you" you sighed with relief, nodding to Heeseung as you approached your best friend "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough for me to find him" Heeseung replied "Where's Byeol?"

"With Jay around" you shrugged.

"What?" Heeseung froze every muscle in his body, imagining Jay's hands on his sister's body and whatever he had to do to her. Soon a frown of disgust showed on his face.

"Come on, like you've never done that" you reached for a glass of water to offer Sunghoon.

"Of course not" he boasted "I'm waiting for our wedding day, then I can do whatever I want."

Again, you rolled your eyes at the typical answer, but you smiled because he was smiling - or because Sunghoon laughed, you wanted to believe faithfully in the latter option.

And over the years this had never changed, but you also didn't care how often Heeseung talked about it. Your friends had gotten used to the amount of flirting he gave you, and how your eye rolls had become smaller in comparison to the dull smiles you threw in his direction.

"It's a win" Sunghoon muttered once to Heeseung, pouring the cheese packet over his french fry. Heeseung tried to deny that it had made his heart beat faster, so he took a bite of his salad and went back to paying attention to his college book.

Because now he needed to graduate. Being in his last year was a lot of work, but he liked what he was doing. He liked the path his life was taking and he saw that all his friends were happy and fulfilled, so this made Heeseung call this the best moment of his life.

The best until he looked at Jay's dark orbs on a Saturday night, glowing and he didn't know if it was because of the light of the room or because they were watery.

"You… you're going to propose to her? Oh my God, man!" Heeseung now looked more nervous than his best friend.

"I don't know… Do you think it's a good idea?" Jay stammered "I mean, it's been two years. We've graduated and I've just stabilized myself in this new job, I wonder if I'm being hasty?"

He knew he wasn't. He knew that Jay had planned this since the third year of high school when he started dating Byeol. Heeseung was a jealous brother yes, but he was fully aware that his best friend made his older sister happy. And this was also due to the fact that if she was happy, the whole atmosphere was happy.

Your friends supported this, you and Sunghoon supported this, so Heeseung had to support it too. He had to give a positive sign so that Jay would finally make the big request.

And that was why now Byeol, you and Sunghoon were sitting at the bar. At the present moment of their lives.

"Why are you here, anyway?" Byeol asked Sunghoon "You are part of Jay's party, not mine" her sneaky smile made Sunghoon chuckle a little, turning his attention back to you.

"Am I being kicked out?" he whispered, but not loud enough since both you and Byeol heard perfectly.

"I guess so, and you know she's right" you tried to look serious, but giving away your lie as you smiled along with the boy.

"Okay, I'm leaving" he held up his hands in a sign of surrender, straightening to get up from his chair "I only came here because Jay and Heeseung wanted to know if everything was okay."

"Oh, yeah" Byeol rolled his eyes "Soon the girls will arrive and everything will be fine, I promise."

Sunghoon nodded and drank some of the contents of the cup that was right in front of him. You grumbled quickly, but let him drink, since you would soon fill it with soju once more.

"Okay, we'll get them as soon as you two can no longer pronounce your own names."

"You're the best friend in this world" Byeol hummed.

"Hey!" you pretended to be offended.

And with a stretch of her arms, she motioned for the two of you to come closer. You, who were sitting next to her, slid down the bench and soon snuggled in. Sunghoon approached seconds later, hugging you both as tightly as he could. Placing a kiss on the top of both of your heads as he whispered:

"I love you both too much, please stay safe until we come back for you."

Saying that you both loved him too, making sure that he could be reassured while he was with Jay and the rest of his friends, you and Byeol smiled until he left the bar.

"Okay, enough soju… How about something stronger now?" she winked at you, and as if your best friend read your thoughts, she nodded to the bartender in search of the most fiery drink in that bar.

"Shit, how am I going to call Jay now?" Byeol forced her eyes down the screen of her cell phone, trying to press her fingerprint to unlock.

"Ok, are we that drunk?" you giggled to your friend, staring at the other girls chattering at that table and continuing to drink the round they had ordered.

"I think I am" she laughed as well "Do you want to try calling?"

"To Jay?" you asked, wrinkling your forehead as she gave you her cell phone to call. She shook her head positively, hoping you were a little more sober. But maybe not. You and Byeol had about the same intolerance to alcohol, so you were either equally drunk, or you were even a little more drunk than she was because you had turned the last glass of booze over as if your life depended on it - or because you swore it was a little water and were too thirsty.

Your miserable attempt to unlock Byeol's cell phone took a good few minutes before a name started flashing on the screen. Your vision tightened just enough that you saw Heeseung's name flashing.

"Your brother is calling you" you pointed the device at her, but didn't actually hand it over. Byeol didn't ask either, letting you answer the call right away "Hi, Heeseung."

"Y/n? Hi" a little noise was heard in the background of the call. He and the boys were also at a bar for Jay's party, after all "Are you two okay?"

"Yes" Byeol always agreeing with your every look, as if you were going to lie to her little brother.

"That's great" he laughed muffled on the other end and right next to your ear from the pressure you were putting on the phone, it made your whole body shiver "Do we need to pick you and Byeol up now?"

A short pause for you to put the phone away and ask your friend if she wanted to leave at that moment. She nodded, but kept refilling her glass as she offered more to you as well.

"Y/n… Are you still there?" Heeseung called out.

"Hee, hi, yes I am"

"Yeah, you guys are totally drunk" he laughed.

"What? What do you mean?" you asked after drinking a crazy concoction that Byeol made. Projecting a quick grimace as you listened intently on the other end of the line.

"You called me Hee without any effort" he hummed victoriously "So if I talk about our marriage now, would you accept?"

"Yes" you replied. And it was Heeseung's turn to pause briefly before continuing.

"Okay, you guys are completely drunk. We'll be right there" and then he hung up.

From your drunken state, you didn't even notice Heeseung's nervous, flustered tone. Never had you called him by that nickname. And never, under no circumstances, had you accepted his offer to marry you. In all these years. Either you were very drunk indeed, or your thoughts of that offer were beginning to be considered deep in the back of your mind. And in your current state, you didn't even know what was actually true.

You and Byeol sat on the couch in Sunghoon's apartment, each at one end while the boys divided themselves up around the room. The three youngest in the group had said goodbye to you when they picked you up at the bar later that night. Byeol still tried to drag Niki to stay, so that he could save himself some of the lectures the older ones would probably give. But he couldn't. Niki had a faculty exam as did Jungwon and Sunoo, so they just said goodbye before Heeseung drove them home to meet all of you at Sunghoon's apartment.

"I didn't think you guys were going to drink that much" Jay was serious, not in his usual way because Byeol couldn't look at him straight. Maybe out of shame of his state, since he and the boys had gone out too, but they were nothing like you and her.

"Look, we can defend ourselves," you began, seeing that Byeol wouldn't say much in his current state.

The boys let you continue, nodding one at a time until Heeseung stared at you, as if trying to pass on the confidence you needed to continue.

"The girls arrived shortly after Sunghoon left" Byeol finally looked at you. Her head bobbing up and down as he agreed with your sentence "It would be rude of the bride, at her own farewell, to deny any drinks."

"That is true" Byeol said "Did you deny something your friends offered you?" she finally looked at Jay.

He then stared at his three best friends, Jake's laughter in the background as his fiancé's state started to get awkward and speechless. Jay didn't know what to say.

"Maybe they both have a great point in this" Jake held Jay's shoulders in the process.

"See that, I always liked you a lot better, Jake" Byeol celebrated.

"Hey!" Sunghoon, Heeseung and Jay said at the same time, causing everyone in attendance to laugh.

"Okay, since you guys worked it out" Heeseung stood up and walked around the room, stopping next to Sunghoon this time "How about we go home?"

"Can you give me a ride?" Jake smiled at his friend as soon as he got out of Jay's grip.

Being there at Sunghoon's apartment was the closest to the bar that Byeol had chosen for her party, so going there just to get some fresh air and chat before leaving seemed like a good idea. Of course, now his best friend had the need to be alone, take a long shower, and fall into bed. Jay's farewell had been lively and he even felt his stomach hurt from all the laughter he shared with the boys throughout the night.

"See you all in a few days" Sunghoon hugged you and then Byeol "The last preparations until Byeol puts up with Jay forever…"

"My God, you are terrible" Jake laughed when Jay threatened to slap him, but backed off because his hands had been caught by Byeol at that moment.

"Hey, why are you standing there?" your voice came out without thinking, looking at Heeseung who had been the only one not moving in that room. Everyone was already near the door to leave.

"Because Sunghoon didn't hug me too, and I demand that before I drive home."

"Really?" you laughed along with Jake. And Sunghoon really had to hug you because he wouldn't get out of there without teasing his friend and leaving.

Meanwhile, the walk to the car had not been uncomfortable because Jake kept you both company. He chatted with Heeseung all the time while sitting in the back seat, but leaning towards the middle of the driver's seat - where Heeseung was driving - and the passenger seat that you occupied. They were completely random subjects because Jake had this power, he liked to talk and you, in your normal state already talked a lot, drunk so you gave him even more subject so that the whole way was one long comforting chatter.

"And this is where I'm staying" Jake waved to both of you, squeezing your shoulder and Heeseung's in an affectionate way of greeting you as he got out and said goodbye. You and he waved before the boy drove back after Jake entered the house.

"Will you drive me home?" your question came out low after it was just you and Heeseung in the car. The U-turn he took on a familiar street indicating that he was, yes, taking the road to your house.

"Sure" he replied sarcastically "Or do you think I'm going to leave you here alone to get going?"

"Idiot" you grumbled next, choosing not to say anything else the whole way. Not least because your apartment wasn't that far from Jake's when you were driving. So it wasn't a long time in silence until Heeseung parked in front of your building.

"Okay, safe and sound" he turned off the car engine and picked up his cell phone. Typing a few things and quickly exiting the vehicle to make the turn. You stood there, waiting - not knowing why - until he opened the door next to you.

"What—"

"I was seeing if Jay and Byeol arrived safely" he put his cell phone away in his pocket "And now I'm taking you to the door of your apartment."

Strangely his smile made your heart beat more than usual. You mentally thanked yourself that any and every blush on your face had the drink as an excuse, and not Lee Heeseung's damn smile.

"I think I can make it on my own…" your sentence was interrupted by his laugh, causing you to frown in response, but still unbuckle your seat belt to get out of the car.

"You? Find your apartment alone?" Heeseung denied with a nod, braking the car and putting his hand on your back to guide you. The small, minimal physical contact making your whole body shiver. Maybe it's the cold in the city, you thought. But it wasn't even cold… what the fuck did you want to invent, anyway?

"What's the matter? You think I can't?" you asked.

"Well…" he shrugged, walking with you into the building "Last time you got drunk, you called Sunghoon because you pressed third floor and couldn't find your apartment at all" he let out a chuckle. His free hand pressing the button to call the elevator "And I remember you live on the fourth floor, it's not that hard, y/n" Heeseung wasn't whispering, but from the proximity you could hear the intonation of his voice a little lower.

And still carrying that fucking smile on his face.

You resolved that you wouldn't say anything else for the rest of the way - and because you were intimate enough with that proximity - so you just let the sound of the buttons on each floor of the elevator be the only sound in the room.

As soon as the elevator stopped at your floor, you got out first and Heeseung still behind, this time his hand no longer holding your back and you felt a huge void where his fingers had last touched.

Stop being ridiculous, y/n. Are you drunk and having these thoughts right away with Heeseung?

You sighed as you stopped right in front of your apartment door.

"Okay" showing his teeth in another smile, now a little warmer, he nodded "Now no risk of getting lost out there."

"Thank you, Hee" you said simply, noticing the wide-eyed look he gave in your direction.

"You… You did…" what the fuck, why was he stuttering?

"What?" you began to feel guilty, thinking you had done something wrong.

"You called me Hee again, and with such naturalness…"

"It's your nickname," you shrugged, trying not to sound affected by how natural you were being around him.

"But you don't even call me that" he joked "The most affection you call me is seductive jerk."

"Which is not a lie" you smiled along with him, Heeseung crossing his arms in front of his own body afraid that his hands would give away his nervousness at the closeness.

"Now I'll leave you alone, you need to rest" he tried to change the subject, forcing his brain to work on something other than the fact that at this very moment your eyes had gone straight to his lips.

He might have had something in his teeth, or you were aiming so hard that you were trying to punch him right there. But no, you just stared restlessly at the spot where Heeseung timidly bit his lips. And it seemed that you had realized that he had noticed your gaze, because you quickly turned away to face his eyes.

"You also need to rest, take a shower, and stop driving around town at this hour. It's getting late" you stuck the key in the lock, unlocking the door.

"Worried about me?" he forced his lips into a pout, you turned around quickly and rolled your eyes.

"What's your problem?"

"None" he winked at you "But I promise to get home safe and sound, nothing will happen to your future husband."

"Ugh" you rolled your eyes again "Don't you ever get tired of that?"

"Never" he celebrated you scowling, taking a few steps towards you to brush his lips against the top of your head "Good night, y/n" Heeseung whispered with his lips still in your hair.

That touch made you close your eyes for a moment. That was literally the closest he had come to you in all these years, it was the only time his mouth had ever touched you - even though he had plans for it to happen in other ways - but Heeseung never crossed any boundaries. And you wanted him to do it now.

Maybe it was too bold and you could even blame the drink afterwards, or blatantly say that you wanted it. So taking advantage that his lips still remained on top of your head, you pulled back far enough to tilt your head up. Heeseung hadn't moved to move away, so it was the perfect moment for you to lift one of your hands to meet his cheek. Your fingertips glided across his skin only to pull his chin toward you and seal your lips in a quick kiss. Leaning your mouth against his, the warmth of both your lips in mere seconds until you pulled away.

"Good night, Heeseung" you whispered with your face still close, turning and rushing into your apartment.

You just brushed your mouth against his, not going into the depths of that kiss at all. It was something simple, a kiss that anyone could receive. But why had it caused Heeseung to remain motionless in your hallway? Without feeling his legs, much less knowing how to react afterwards? You had finally kissed him, and never in his life had Heeseung thought that you would take the initiative.

Heeseung took a deep breath, trying not to let any tears fall as he held the glass firmly in his hands.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Sunoo asked genuinely concerned, while Niki held herself to keep from laughing.

"Yeah, it's just… Byeol is getting married, my older sister…"

"And he's all sentimental, so he wants to cry" Jake joked.

"What?" he shouted in amazement "I don't cry!"

"For nothing?" Sunoo asked again, Heeseung agreeing with a quick nod before clearing his throat to really not be a hypocrite at his own sister's wedding.

"Oh, I think y/n is flirting with a guy at the bar" Sunghoon came over to the table with a few glasses of drink, setting them down there. At the same moment Heeseung turned with all speed towards the direction of the bar, only to find an old couple - probably some relative of Jay's - but no y/n there.

Sunghoon, Jake and Sunoo fell into laughter.

"That wouldn't make you cry, but it sure as hell almost knocked over our drinks" Jake picked up his glass and raised it with his other friends in a quick toast that Heeseung also participated in.

"We found you guys" Jungwon came over to the table with Jay in his wake, both holding their glasses as well "What did we miss?"

"Heeseung almost crying" Jake spoke after taking another sip of his drink.

"Heeseung believing y/n was flirting with someone" Sunoo added.

"Heeseung almost killing you all" he said quickly, rolling his eyes before standing up.

"Come on hyung, I think you're a little nervous today" Jungwon said softly, trying to keep a tender smile on his lips.

"Actually since—"

"Don't you dare" the boy faced Sunghoon with his eyes glaring in his friend's direction.

Yes, he had told him about the kissing episode at his apartment door. Also, it was a subject he needed to shout out to his friends while they were trying on suits for Jay's wedding. Something had to be the subject, and this was a topic they all followed early on.

The boys were trying to encourage him to talk to you, after all, it was a kiss. You really kissed him even if it was only for a few seconds. But Heeseung thought you would barely remember because you had alcohol in your system still, even if you weren't completely drunk.

"You know that y/n, of all of us, is the one who remembers things the most when she ingests any drop of alcohol, right?" the phrase from Sunghoon echoed through Heeseung's mind all week until the present moment. And he knew it was true because you barely looked at him at the wedding. Your gazes would cross and you would quickly look away. When it came time to intertwine your arms in his as best man, Heeseung swore that you were trembling under his touch. Or he was trembling more than you, the boy couldn't tell. But you just followed everything as planned until you sat down after the ceremony. He had to drink something or he would go crazy.

"I think you have to go talk to her" Jay loosened his tie after long minutes of dancing, greeting the guests and thanking them for every congratulations he received. Heeseung let his eyes roll around the party only to land on you again. Now you were smiling and saying some compliment to Byeol and his amazing hairdo.

"Why?" he stared at Jay, at which he sighed heavily and waved to the boys who said to go dancing. Sunghoon decided to stay too, he wouldn't pass up a good gossip, even more so involving the relationship - not established, but well known - he and you.

"Because you two finally kissed" Jay spun the empty glass in front of him "And this relationship you and y/n have goes back long before I met your sister…" the other two at the table listened to everything intently as Jay stared at them "It's about time you and her were straightforward enough."

Silence. Only the music and side conversations at the party could be heard. Heeseung snorted.

"That means you're right, Jay" Sunghoon hummed "And he's probably cogitating the idea of getting up and going to talk to her…" Sunghoon seemed to be narrating exactly what was going on in Heeseung's head. Because as soon as he stood up and walked towards them, he looked back one last time to see Sunghoon laughing, Jay raising his thumb in approval and the other boys approaching the table. Probably wondering what had happened for Heeseung to be moving away.

"I just didn't like that nail polish" he heard his sister's voice loud enough as he approached her and the group of friends and bridesmaids "It could have been something more… Sober… Oh, little brother."

All the girls - including you - turned in Heeseung's direction. A few hopeful smiles coming from the girls who always complimented Byeol's little brother.

"Hi" he greeted them shyly, and Byeol looked at him fondly "You look so beautiful" Heeseung couldn't help but compliment his sister, and it made her eyes water at the statement. She quickly moved closer to him to hug him as tightly as she could.

"I love you, you know that, don't you?" Byeol whispered, causing him to close his eyes and hug her a little tighter.

"I love you so much more" Heeseung said soon after.

"Now go, you need to say it before it kills you inside…"

"What?" he whispered still hugging his sister.

"I'm your older sister, Lee Heeseung" she joked as soon as she pulled away enough from the embrace to be able to look him in the eye "I know you like the back of my hand. And I approve of what you are about to do."

Having Byeol's approval meant a lot to him. Even though they lived off of picking on each other, Heeseung never stopped being protective and listening to what his sister had to say. So hearing this from her seemed to give him even more courage.

After the little hug between the brothers, it seemed that the conversation between the girls was no longer focused on staring at their younger brother Lee. So this helped Heeseung to approach you without anyone staring at him for too long.

"We… Can we talk? In private" he called to you with a quick tap on your shoulder. Your eyes quickly landed on his and then you agreed, nodding and smiling at Heeseung.

He walked ahead of you, afraid that you would see his nervous expression and the bites on his lips that indicated that he might almost faint right in front of you. On the other hand, you felt the palms of your hands sweat and your legs almost wobble, but you pulled yourself together and followed him outside the party where there was no one.

"Is everything okay, because you're starting to make me worried" you said trying to break the silence that had settled since he had called you. Heeseung finally turned toward you and you could have sworn it was your turn to almost faint. He looked incredibly gorgeous, which was nothing new, but the serious look and his countenance contrasting with his perfectly lined hair made an almost inaudible sigh leave your lips.

"You know y/n, I want to know if you remember… If you… Well…" why did he feel like an idiot who couldn't form a single complete sentence? This intensifying after you let out a low chuckle immediately afterwards.

"Of course I remember kissing you" you said bluntly. Maybe the conversation with Byeol about your feelings starting to make sense for Heeseung, and her and Jay opening your eyes about how you could finally let it roll.

"Really? I mean—" he straightened his tone a little trying not to sound so excited because you remembered kissing him that night "You really wanted to do that?"

"Yes—" remember Jay's words, always be honest. You are an adult and to keep circling that conversation would only postpone what you no longer wanted. Spending years denying the requests - even jokingly - that he made, only brought you ruin because now you wouldn't stop thinking about him.

"Then do it again."

"What?" you widened your eyes. Being direct and honest was your part of the conversation, you just didn't count on Heeseung being much more like that than yourself.

"You heard me, y/n" he took a few steps in front of you, in a bold act to lift his hand and place it on your waist, pulling your body towards him "But kiss me decently this time, please."

What the fuck was the effect Heeseung had on you? Because with that simple sentence you couldn't say anything else, just close your eyes and feel his breath beat against your nose. Your hands went up to his neck and the moment Heeseung's lips touched yours, you finally had time to give way for his tongue to touch yours. Perhaps it was this decency of kiss that he was asking for. Tongues entwining each other as his lips pressed against yours slowly, in a synchrony surreal compared to the speed both of your hearts were beating. The whispers between the kiss contrasting with her nails on the back of his neck made Heeseung tighten his fingers around her waist and, consequently, press her body against his. Now that kiss was decent. Now that could be called a real kiss.

As the two of you clamored for some air, he decided to nibble your bottom lip to finally finish kissing you, but without disconnecting his forehead from yours so that their breathing calmed down a bit.

"I think… I think we can do this more often" he whispered still panting. You laughed low, sealing his lips once again as a silent response that you agreed with him in a long time.

"I found you two" Sunghoon said loudly.

"Oh my God" Jake shouted after seeing you and Heeseung still hugging, your lips both reddened from the fresh kiss as he didn't want to let go of you. But you pulled away enough to face the two of you who were in shock looking at you and him.

"What do you two want?" Heeseung asked, pretending to be angry at being interrupted.

"Byeol is going to throw the bouquet now" Jake said all too loudly, excited enough to finally see you and Heeseung together.

He then looked at you next, a smile making its way onto his newly kissed lips. Heeseung's perfectly aligned, white teeth right before your eyes.

"Will you take it to finally accept my request?" he looked hopefully at you.

"When will you give up?" you asked him.

"After this kiss and all the ones we're going to have for the rest of our lives?" he asked back, seeing that Jake had already come screaming into the party that you and Heeseung kissed. Sunghoon ran after, probably announcing that he had won the bet with Niki "I don't think I'll ever give that up."

You walked into the party, but you chose to stand a little further away and not pick up the bouquet, entwining your fingers in Heeseung's when you saw him slightly disappointed in that.

"You know what?" you said, and he hummed and looked in your direction, not caring who had picked up the bouquet at that moment. His eyes were far more inviting than that "I don't want to marry Byeol's bouquet."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I want you to choose them, after all, I find it much more romantic to marry your favorite flowers. Don't you?"

A glimpse of Heeseung's bright gaze, his smile widening even further and making even his jaw hurt. In all his life he would never have believed that you would actually consider his idea of getting married.

Even if it started as a teenage joke, he also didn't know that he woulddevelop feelings for you over the years. He didn't know that you would match him with it. Much less did he know that you would be kissing him at his sister's wedding, holding hands, and contemplating the idea of - finally - marrying him.

#heeseung fluff #heeseung au #enhypen au #enhypen fluff #enhypen x reader #enhypen heeseung #enhypen scenarios #enhypen masterlist #heeseung fanfics

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straykidsmoonlight · 1 year

Text

SKZ React- your baby gets sick

A/n: I’m back from the grave! I’ve been kinda busy lately and haven’t had the chance to write, but please keep the requests coming! 💛

Chan

Just takes it in his stride

Will be keeping a watchful eye on Karl as he keeps on cleaning the house

So careful with giving his little boy the right medicines, always making sure to keep a note so he can show you what’s he’s given him later on

Lee know

He’s always responsible for his little ones health, making soups for Byeol all the time

When his little baby Jeni gets sick, he ensures you are feeding her well, keeping a watchful eye as you sit with her, making sure you are well fed too

Gently rubs her tummy to make her feel better

Changbin

Quite overwhelmed when Jimin gets sick

Sort of just blankly watches as you fuss over your daughter, not quite knowing what to do

Feels really bad, so at night he goes and sleeps by his babies cot on the floor, in case she wakes up lots in the middle of the night

Hyunjin

His heart aches when his baby boy starts crying in pain

Will sit gently bouncing his son on his chest trying to stop his stomach upset

Rubs his babies belly, desperately trying to make his son feel better, until Cheon-Sa finally falls asleep in his arms. Breathes a sigh of relief and literally won’t move an inch until his son wakes up

Han

It’s not that Han can’t handle three kids, but when his youngest baby Dani gets an ear infection, he feels so out of his depth

Is at home all day with his three girls and you are out of town, so he FaceTimes you, as tears stream down his face

You tell him he’s doing a great job, and not to feel bad for putting the older girls in front of the TV while he focuses on his youngest baby who won’t stop crying

Felix

His literal worst nightmare when Hanuel gets diagnosed with a chronic illness

His heart breaks as you guys get your babies chronic pain diagnosis, as he prepares himself for many sleepless nights, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

From that day on, he devotes himself to being the one to comfort Hanuel when she’s in pain. He becomes an expert at baby massage, and learns what it is to have a week of sleepless nights.

Seungmin

So capable in this kind of situation

Literally stands rocking you side to side as you panick when your baby Ae-Cha has a coughing fit.

Stays calm, before scooping up his older twin daughter and gently patting her back

Jeongin

It was the shock of this man’s life when you had such a scary birth with your last son. With the last four births going so smoothly, he didn’t know what to do when the last one went so horribly wrong

He was unprepared for the implications on the health of his son and on you. Had to juggle taking care of his scarily injured wife and his sick baby as well as his four other children

Truth be told, this was the biggest challenge he ever had to face, but he carried on like a champ, continuing say in and day out to care for you both round the clock while his hyungs helped to take care of your guys other babies.

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skzhua · 1 year

Text

my treat ('my eyes' series)

♡ "Just one bite."

pairing: lee felix x reader.

genre: fluff, fluff, fluff (did i mention fluff?).

word count: 7,698

warnings: swearing, might cause a heart attack of cuteness.

summary: brownie boy was a myth for you. since the first day you had stepped on the campus, everybody would be praising brownie boy. you could not believe that a grown man was kind enough to be giving out free food, good food. when brownie boy heard about your suspicions, he was more than willing to prove you wrong.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Hyunjin tugged on your shirt once more and kept on pouting like a child. For being the big brother, he surely wasn't acting like one.

"I'm not helping you bring your luggage, gosh." you said for the nth time.

"Please, I can't make a fool of myself in front of Byeol, again." he tugged one more time. "Last year was a mess when I moved in, I wanted to die."

"I know, you told me this already." you rolled your eyes. "I've heard you're popular there, why are you being such a baby?"

"People think I'm good-looking, that's all. I swear I'm a loser."

You chuckled. "I didn't need you to confirm it."

He pouted. "Mean..."

"Hyune, I'm the one starting in a new college, so I should be the one stressing out." you pointed out. "Are you going to give me a tour later, or not?"

He pondered for a moment as he stared at his luggage. He knew he shouldn't be this dramatic but, between the two, you were definitely the sibling who succeeded in everything. Yes, he did worry about your arrival in his school, but he knew you would fit in just fine. You had decided to transfer school mid year since you didn't like the all-girls kind of vibe there was in your old one. The drama was intense, and because you were among the prettiest according to the other students, you were both praised and bullied. Having your brother around would definitely be of help, plus the fact it wouldn't be only girls going there.

"Sure, I suppose I can." he said nonchalantly. "Only if you help me bring my stuff today."

Being the good sister you were, you were driving Hyunjin to his apartment as your trunk was loaded with bags. You had already moved most of your things to your own place, and it didn't surprise you that Hyunjin was doing everything last minute. He struggled to bring all of his things with him and you mocked him as he dragged a bag behind him. Exhausted, he threw himself on his couch, exhaling a loud grunt.

"So? The tour?" you poked his cheek.

"Later." he mumbled into his pillow.

"Dude, school starts tomorrow and I want to be able to find my classroom, thank you." you pleaded.

"Ugh, fine." he groaned as he lazily got up from the couch.

You happily followed him as he opened his front door. You were suddenly stopped when Hyunjin didn't move, making you bump into his back. The impact made him stumble on his feet and he fell in the hallway. You were about to nag at him for being so clumsy, until you saw Byeol, his long-time crush. She laughed at the man and gave him a hand to help him get up, making your brother as red as blood.

"Be careful." she laughed.

"Yeah.. um... Thank you." Hyunjin coughed out while the girl went back into her own apartment.

As he kept his gaze on where she was standing seconds ago, you grew impatient with him and slapped the back of his head before walking towards the elevator. When the doors slid closed, you took the opportunity to slap his arm again, repeatedly.

"Ow! Y/N, the fuck!" he grunted in pain as he rubbed the spot you had hit.

"You're the dumbest person I know, for real." you rolled your eyes. "Why can't you speak to the girl normally?"

"I get nervous." he chuckled in shame, which earned him another hit. "What the hell?"

"Idiot." you muttered under your breath.

Hyunjin was surprisingly a decent tour guide. He showed you the common areas of the campus like the cafeteria and the library. You were intimidated by the size of the school, but Hyunjin reassured you that you would most likely stay in the same wing since they were all attributed certain departments. He ended the visit by showing you the dance studios. There, you met his friend, Minho, who was already practicing. You both sat on the couch in the corner of the room to watch him dance along the music. Not going to lie, you were more than amazed by his technicality and fluidity. You had thought about joining the dance club and Hyunjin had even told you he could get you a spot in no time. However, you deeply believed you should prove yourself instead of relying on your brother.

As Minho finished, he walked towards you, greeting Hyunjin before he sent you a sly smirk. "Hey there." he winked.

Your brother stood up right away and put his hand to stop Minho from approaching you any closer. "That's my sister, Min." he said sternly.

"Ah, Y/N?" he cocked his head on the side, still looking at you, as you nodded to confirm. "I heard you wanted to join the group. Auditions are next week if you are still interested."

"That'd be wonderful, of course I'll come." you squealed.

"Good, I'll post the information on our Instagram page, so you can go ahead and follow us."

You thanked him and he was quick to drop the talk and ask Hyunjin about his holidays. In the meantime, you took a look around the studio and were impressed at how clean and organized it was. You noticed on the table a tupperware full of brownies. While you did think it was odd, you didn't question Minho about it. The boys eventually ended their conversation and Hyunjin brought you to the courtyard.

"It's not much since we're still in winter, but it's very pretty in the summer." he said as he breathed in the fresh air. "I think I covered everything. Down for a snack?"

"Why not." you shrugged and followed him as he lead the way to the convenience store.

Minho frowned as he counted the people in the studio, again. Someone was missing. He sighed loudly as he passed his hand through his hair.

"Has anyone seen Yongbok?"

You looked at the other dancers who were doing the same as you before telling Minho they haven't seen him. He sighed once more before deciding he'll start the auditions without his second dance captain, the other one being Hyunjin.

"Alright, I want to see how good you are at both dancing and freestyling. I'll put some music and we can gather into a circle." he explained. "One by one, you'll show us what you can do. You'll know by the end of the day if I selected you or not. Shall we start now?"

Just as he had previously instructed, you gathered in a circle and, one by one, you danced for a some time, enough for Minho to take some notes. His expression was blank so it was hard to determine if he was pleased with what he was seeing or disappointed. The whole thing didn't last more than 20 minutes, and you were quickly dismissed.

"We have some brownies from yesterday if you want to take one before leaving. I'll reach out to you by tonight if you are picked." Minho concluded.

You walked to Hyunjin who was happily clapping his hands as a some sort of congratulations. "You did good."

"Good? Come on, now. I was amazing." you confidently affirmed.

Just then, you felt a tap on your shoulder. When you turned around, one of the guys who were auditioning was shyly smiling at you.

"Hey, I'm Junsoo. I thought you were great just then, and I was wondering if you are free this afternoon. Sorry, I just think you're very pretty." the man said, looking at you with hope.

"Oh... I'm flattered, I really am, but I'm not looking for a relationship." you said with an apologetic smile.

"It can be casual." he prompted, and it only caused Hyunjin to let out a laugh.

You nudged him for mocking the poor guy, but it didn't stop him from interfering. "I don't think she's interested."

Junsoo stared at the both of you for a moment, and he then gasped as a realization hit him. "Oh my god! You're already with him, I'm so sorry." he bowed his head, panicked.

In a hurry, he joined back his friend to leave the room, taking one last shy glance at you before the door behind him closed.

"Uh, I never even had this option in mind to scare people off from you." your brother said as he squinted his eyes in thinking.

"Don't even... People are not dumb enough. They'll realize we are siblings within days." you grunted, and went to the table at the back where you had left your water bottle.

A few girls were already surrounding the table and they were giggling about something. One plopped a brownie in her mouth and was almost moaning at the taste. Her friends were no better as they were squealing.

"Um, sorry, I left my bottle here." you made your way through the group.

"You're Y/N, right? Hyunjin's sister." a girl asked, to which you nodded. "Can you introduce me to him?"

"No."

"Y/N, you should try these!" another said and you saw her holding a brownie to you.

"Sorry, I'm not very hungry." you waved your hand as a no.

The girls all gasped at your refusal. "Do you even know who made these?"

"No..." you trailed off, rather uncomfortable from their reaction.

"Brownie boy!" a girl said dreamily.

"Ah, well I'm sorry to this brownie boy, but I'm not in for a treat right now." you said and left to go back to the boys.

"You good?" Hyunjin questioned, noticing you were a bit off.

"Yeah, those girls are... weird. Let's just go." you pushed him out of the studio.

Unlike what you had thought, those girls were not so different from the other students. As the weeks passed, things were being said more and more, spreading throughout the campus like a virus. Seemingly, brownie boy was this psychology major who liked to bake pastries for the other students. Apparently, his desserts were far better than the ones you could get at the cafeteria. And the best out of this was that they were free. First arrived, first served.

It sounded wrong to you. First of all, what kind of student had the time to bake while studying? You were barely managing your studies and the dance club. Second of all, you did not believe one bit they were that good, mostly because the majority of his clients were girls who claimed he was the prettiest man they have ever seen. And third of all, there was no way he was doing this without making any profits out of it.

"Alright." Minho clapped his hands. "I see Yongbok still has not shown up since the beginning of the semester. Anyone knows where he's at?" he said, frustration heard in his tone. Seeing that nobody was answering, he sighed loudly. "I'll really have to talk to him... Anyway, today we won't do much since I have plans, I can't be here for the entire hour. I just want to revise some moves we learnt last week."

Practice went on as usual, with Hyunjin sweating like crazy making girls fawn at how attractive he looked (though you did not understand how they even thought he was hot while being damped) and Minho was the usual strict instructor. When you were done, he summarized what you would do for the next practice and he dismissed you all. Once again, there was a tupperware on the table, full of cookies this time. You had never seen the guy drop off his food that you were starting to think he didn't exist.

"I'm going to Chan's tonight, you two coming?" Minho asked as he came to you and Hyunjin.

"I need to finish this painting for class, sorry." Hyunjin answered.

"Yeah, and I don't know Chan so well, I'll have to pass." you replied in your turn.

As the three of you walked out of the room, you went your separate ways since you still had one evening class before you could go home. Arriving at your locker, you noticed a man there, struggling to open your lock. He cursed a few words as he was starting to get impatient.

"Excuse me?" you tapped his shoulder and he jumped a little, not having noticed you were there. "This is my locker."

He looked at the number and gasped, feeling guilty. "Gosh, I'm so sorry! Mine is actually next to yours." he explained as he moved to his own locker. Meanwhile, you were taken aback by how deep his voice was and by how it did not match his freckled face at all.

"It's okay." you smiled as you both went to open your own.

While you put your dance bag away and took your books, you glanced at the interior of his locker. He didn't have much, but one thing caught your attention. A certain recognizable tupperware filled with even more recognizable cookies.

"Are you a fan of brownie boy or something?" you joked while packing your bag.

He chuckled. "Actually, I'm the one you would call brownie boy..." he embarrassingly admitted.

You stopped your action and slowly turned to look at him. You blinked a few before you laughed. "No way."

"I swear I am!" he pouted. "Do you want one?" he offered as he went to open the tupperware.

"No thanks, I'm fine." you continued to laugh. "Sorry, I just can't wrap my head around you baking to give it all away to people."

"I just like making people smile." he shrugged.

"I see..." you mumbled. "Why brownies?"

"Why not!" he smiled widely, his eyes almost closing. "I don't know, they're tasty and soft. It's comforting food."

"I guess so..."

He opened his phone to check the time, and then closed his locker. "I have to go now. Tell me whenever you want to taste my food, I'll gladly make a batch just for you." he winked, and then left.

Watching him walk away, you huffed as you were still taken aback from your interaction. Surely, he was a pretty boy, but was he as good as he claimed? You remained unconvinced.

The sound of your phone interrupted your thoughts, and you looked at your notifications quickly.

Hyunjin: I'm stuck outside my place... again.

Y/N: Can you stop stealing my keys?!

Y/N: I'll skip class to save your ass, I'll be there in 15 minutes.

Hyunjin: You're the best!

Y/N: I know, you're lucky to have me.

The next day, you met Felix again, in the hallway this time. Although you two were locker neighbours, you had never interacted before which Felix found unfortunate. Unlike you, he had seen you around before. How could he have not noticed you when you were the talk of the school? Hyunjin's sister, even prettier than the good-looking art major. He would never tell this to his friend, but he did think you were the prettiest girl he had ever laid eyes on. He never dared to talk to you, but that didn't stop him from talking about you. Being friends with Byeol, he had repeatedly heard about you from her. She had met you a few times because of your brother, so he took the opportunity to ask what kind of person you were. She mostly told him you would constantly nag at Hyunjin which he thought was hilarious.

So when he saw you again, he didn't lose the opportunity to talk with you. He wasn't intrigued much because you were that pretty girl anymore, no. He was intrigued by how unimpressed you seemed to be about his cooking skills. While he had amazed everyone, you were the first to refuse his snack when he offered.

"Y/N!" he exclaimed the moment he spotted you.

As for you, you frowned when you saw he was the one calling you. Did you tell him your name unknowingly the previous day? You couldn't recall doing so, nor did you know his name.

"Hey, brownie boy." you nodded your head at him as he caught up to you to walk with you. "How do you know my name?"

"Ah, sorry. I'm Hyunjin's friend, actually. My name is Felix." he held out his hand and you shook it.

"I don't remember him mentioning you."

"I haven't hung out with him much these days, that must be why. Anyway, where are you going?"

His friendly attitude was quite strange to you. Never in your life had you met someone so happy and sweet. You were weirded out, but in a good way.

"I wanted to stop by at the dance studio to check the schedule. Do you want to go with me?"

He happily nodded, his hair bouncing with the movement. It was cute, if you were being honest. "I have to drop cupcakes, anyway."

You stared at him in shock. "You made cupcakes?"

"Yeah, yesterday."

"How the fuck do you make so much food?" you said, baffled.

"I like it." he simply answered before linking his arm with yours, which only made you even more shocked. "Let's go."

Felix was leading the way since you could not focus properly. Your eyes were set on your arms, entangled together as if you had known each other for years. Or worse, as if you were a couple. You didn't mind necessarily, minus the fact your heart was pounding in nervousness. Felix didn't seem bothered, and he kept rambling about some random things. He complained about his teachers and his friend who had started the whole brownie boy story which explained how he became somehow famous. He also took the time to ask you about yourself, though your answers were brief since your focus was on something else. The walk to the studio had seemed longer than it actually was, but you had finally reached it. You went in and spotted Minho immediately. You walked to him while Felix took the box full of cakes out of his bag.

"Hey, Min. Do you have the schedule for next week?" you asked the man as he was scrolling through his music on his phone.

"Next week is my week off, so no practice."

You had forgotten the school had been paying Minho to instruct the club. Not that he wouldn't do it without the money, but it did motivate him to run the entire club and do his studies simultaneously. He took his eyes off his screen and then spotted your new friend. His gaze immediately turned hard and he put his phone away to go to Felix. Confused, you called out for Minho, but he ignored you, still heading straight to the young boy.

"Yah! Lee Yongbok!" he grunted furiously.

Yongbok. So this was the dance captain who kept on skipping practice...

"Hey..." Felix waved, clearly nervous.

"It's not by leaving us food that you'll get away from this conversation so easily. Where the hell have you been? Hyunjin and I can't do everything alone, we actually need you." Minho nagged.

"I know, I know! I swear I don't mean to skip practice, but there is always something coming up. Seungmin has been asking me to replace him for his shifts at the café and you know I can't say no..."

The older man shut his eyes, and you could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears. "I really don't want to kick you out, and I should have already, but if you keep missing-"

"I won't!" he cut him off. "I promise."

Still not convinced, Minho glared at Felix one last time, and went back to the speaker to pick a song to dance to. You had watched the scene in silence and you coughed in awkwardness.

"You have two names?"

Felix grunted, discouraged. "Yeah, don't question it much."

With that, he left the room and for some reason, you followed him. "Where are you going?"

"My day is done, I'm going to bake something and watch something." It wasn't intended, but you scoffed, loudly. "What is it?"

Searching for your words, you didn't know how to tell him you found this whole baking thing ridiculous without hurting him. "I don't know why you do this." was the best you came up with.

"I told you yesterday, I like making people happy. What's wrong with that?" he started to get defensive.

"No, don't get me wrong. I'm not judging, but you realize you're like wasting time with this? And you get nothing out of this but happiness? I just don't get it." you said in all honesty.

He stopped walking and turned to you, a frown on his face. "Have you even tried my brownies?" You shook your head. "I'm 100% sure you'll change your mind and be glad I do this once you taste them."

"Felix, I'm very picky with what I eat, especially when it comes to desserts. I doubt they are that wonderful, no offense."

He grinned. "None taken because I'll make you eat some one day whether you like it or not."

"So never? Good." you snickered, but Felix answered back by grabbing your hand and dragging you somewhere. "Felix, the fuck?"

"Do you have school still?"

"No, my day's over, why?"

"You're coming to my place and you're going to eat those brownies. And you will love them." he smiled confidently.

He ignored your incoherent protests and still had a firm grip on your hand. Giving up on trying to change his mind, you looked at your hands intertwined together and noticed how small his were. What was not cute about this man? After walking for a while, you arrived at his dorm. He hurried you inside and you were welcomed by a plate full of the cupcakes, the same he had brought to school that day. You assumed it was his leftovers. They looked delicious, yes, but you were not going to assume just by the look of them.

"Serve yourself." he prompted, but you didn't budge.

He waited for you to move and yet, you were still standing at his entrance. He ended up picking up the plate and bringing it to you. He held it up to you and, with a smile, you refused to eat one. To this, he pouted. He seemed like a pouty person and it was adorable.

"Please..." he pleaded. "Just one bite."

He took one cupcake and offered it to you. At that point, you just couldn't say no. Hesitantly, you took it from him and slowly bit on the food. As you chewed, you were met with an explosion of flavours. While they were intense, they were surprisingly insanely good. Needless to say, you were beyond impressed.

"They're fine, I guess." you lied and his smile dropped.

"Fine? They're fine?"

You felt bad and wanted to tell him the truth, but thinking again, you had an idea. You could not give him the satisfaction of being right. Plus, if this means he'll try to make you like his baked goods by making more, you weren't going to complain. Food is food, after all.

"Yeah, they are fine. I still doubt you made them yourself, though."

In doubt, Felix took one himself to eat and stared at nothing as he munched, proceeding the taste. They were excellent as usual, why weren't you happy with them?

"Do you have a preference for something else? Cupcakes might not be your favourite."

"It's not that, I just don't see how they're so special."

Felix paused a moment. He wasn't sure if you were messing with him, but if you were, you were good because it worked. He wouldn't force anyone to like his food, but you were different for some reason. He just knew he had to prove himself. Why? He wasn't sure why he needed your approval, but he was determined to get it.

"I'll make another type of pastries and you'll let me know if they're good?" he suggested.

"Sure." you acquiesced.

He invited you to sit at the counter and he started to pull out the ingredients. You observed him as he laid out the bowls in front of him, and it was quite attractive how he frowned in concentration and rolled up his sleeves. His forearms were surprisingly veiny, and his muscles flexing as he moved his things around were also something you noticed. Realizing you were literally checking him out, you quickly spoke to snap yourself out of it.

"When did you start baking?"

"Hmm." he thought for a moment. "A few years ago. I don't know why, but I find it satisfying. I don't think about anything else, and the fact I get rewarded with food in the end is a plus."

"Fun." You looked around the place in the meantime. There wasn't much, but it was cozy. "Do you have this place alone?"

He shook his head. "No, there's my roommate Seungmin. He's more often at the coffee shop where we work than at home, though recently he asks me to replace him a lot. I think he's escaping a girl or something."

You laughed, imagining a grown man scared of a girl. "People tend to escape what they like. Maybe that's just the beginning of somethig nice."

He huffed as he placed the flour back in the cabinet. "I doubt it. Seungmin is not so fond of relationships."

"Are you?"

To that, he sent you a knowing smirk. "You curious?"

"I'm just making the conversation." you held your hands up in defense.

"Sure you are." he still grinned.

He focused back on his recipe after you connected your phone to his speaker to play some music. You offered yourself to help but he refused, saying it would ruin the cookies. You found it odd how easy going it was with him despite having met him the day prior. He brought such a warmth and it wasn't difficult to take a liking to him. Most importantly, you were quite mad at Hyunjin for never introducing you to the sweet man.

"How did you meet Hyunjin?" you asked while he put away the tray in the oven.

"Dance club. I thought he was mean at first, but turns out he's only a tall good-looking dumbass." he chuckled.

"That, he is." you laughed with him. "But you're the same year as him?"

"Second year." he corrected. "Same as Seungmin and our friend, Jisung."

"I know him! He lives in the same building as Hyunjin."

Your conversation was cut when the front door opened and, presumably, Seungmin walked in. He looked at you suspiciously, but then smelled the cookies.

"Again?" he said to Felix.

"It's your favourites, don't complain." he rolled his eyes at him.

"What is Hwang Y/N doing in our dorm?" Seungmin asked as if you were not in the room.

"She's here so I can prove to her how good of a baker I am." he said proudly.

"She would love to see us bake together then." he chuckled, but Felix glared at him. "Fine, I'll be in my room."

He left the two of you alone, and you continued to chat with Felix. You didn't see the time pass until the oven's timer rang, indicating that the cookies were ready. Felix got them out and displayed them beautifully on a plate. Then, he opened a drawer full of tupperware boxes and filled three of them. For the last one, he brought it in front of you.

"You can bring them home."

"That's very kind, but I don't think I'll eat the whole box." It was a lie, you knew in advance you would devour it completely by the end of the day.

"Bet."

Putting the box in your hands, he came incredibly close to you. He wasn't a tall guy, but tall enough so he was hovering you. You felt small, but it was somehow comforting. You didn't dare to move, afraid to ruin the moment. You studied his freckles, his soft eyes and the pink of his lips. There was no denying he was good-looking, a hundred times more than your brother you would say.

"Can I have your number? I'd like to do this again with you." he said softly.

He gave you his phone and you entered your phone number. "I should go home, it's late." you said sadly as you gave him back his device.

"Yeah, it might be a good idea." he rubbed the back of his neck. "Tell me about the cookies, yeah?"

"Will do, brownie boy."

The day after, Hyunjin had texted you to tell you that Felix asked him for help to get you to like his pastries. You were touched at how he had to reach out to your brother only to please you. However, he didn't have to do anything since you already thought he was talented. But you lied again, and said they weren't so good. So the week after, he invited you over again to make some cinnamon rolls. This time, though, you had finally admitted how good of a baker he was.

However, it wouldn't be the last time you went over at Felix's to watch him cook, until you actually started to bake with him. The last time you went, he had explained to you each step to make brownies. You had listened attentively and tried your best to be as precise as possible. You could say this moment had pretty much confirmed how close you had become. You had played with flour, which made a mess in the apartment, and you stayed at his place until very late that night, cuddled up to him as you took a little nap. You had learnt quickly he liked physical contact as his way to show he cares for someone, but since he was also chasing Minho around for hugs during practice, you didn't see it as more than friendship. Plus, you were as much of a hugger as he was.

One day, you were in the courtyard reading your book for your class when Byeol came up to you. Removing your earphones, you invited her to sit with you.

"I heard about my brother offering you to live with him." you said with a knowing look, and the girl blushed.

"Yeah, I'm moving in tomorrow, actually. Hyunjin told me he'll skip class to help me out." she let out a laugh.

"I have the afternoon off if you'd like me to stop by." you suggested, though you were pretty sure she would want to be alone with your brother.

"No, it's okay. I have Felix helping me too, so I think I'll be fine. Thank you, though."

One more thing you had learnt about Byeol was that Felix shared everything with her since she didn't talk to many people and he couldn't keep his mouth shut about his own secrets. It was as if she was his personal diary. Since learning this, you became a bit closer with her, in hopes she would know if the guy was as interested in you as you were in him.

"Felix? Can I come, then?"

"Y/N..."

"Please, Byeol. I only see him when baking and dancing, it'd be good to do something else with him."

She eventually agreed and that's how you found yourself in her now-old room with Felix, trying to move her bed out to Hyunjin's place. Though Felix did have a certain amount of muscles, his strength did not correspond to it. To your surprise, you were the one who was able to push the bed further. Giggling as you both mocked him for his lack of endurance, Byeol had nagged you for not actually helping her. In the end, you managed to move the bed and she told you two off, saying she had the rest under control.

"I wanted to try out this doughnut recipe if you wanted to assist me on the task." he said as you walked out of the apartment building.

While you adored cooking with him, the past three weeks had solemnly been this. You were not joking when you said to Byeol you wanted to do something else with him. For once, you felt strong enough to resist his puppy eyes.

"Not this time. Sorry, Lix."

His face dropped when the words left your mouth. While you were comfortable with how the friendship was blooming, Felix was overstressing about it. He wanted to spend as much time with you as possible because you were so easy to be with. He felt the happiest with you, and that's a lot considering he's constantly a ball of sunshine.

"Oh." he murmured, disappointed.

It broke your heart seeing him sad, so you were quick to suggest him an idea. "I do have this new Mario game I bought for my Switch, though. I know you mentioned you like gaming, so if you want to try it out with me."

Grinning from ear to ear, he cheerfully said yes and you were on your way to your dorm. At that point, your hangouts were always at his place, meaning he had never stepped foot in your dorm. You hoped internally that you had cleaned up. When you opened the door, you were happy to see that your dirty dishes and clothes were no longer laying around. Hearing a growl, you searched in the living room for the source of the noise. You soon spotted the black and white ball of floof.

"Kkami!" you ran to the dog and petted him as he tried to run away from you. You eventually managed to pick him up and cuddle him.

"I didn't know you have a dog." he said, joining you to tickle Kkami.

"He's Hyunjin's. He's at my parents' usually, but they went on a trip and Hyunjin can't keep him or he'll make a mess out of his art." you explained, letting him go since he clearly didn't want to be in your arms. "He's not very social, but I know he loves us."

"He's like you! You're mean to me, but I know in reality, you just love me."

While you blushed, you hid it by turning your face away from him and scoffing. "Keep dreaming, Yongbok."

"I told you not to call me that." he complained, but you acted as if you didn't hear.

You opened your Switch, started the game and went to sit next to your friend, giving him a remote. It started well as you were leading on the chart board, until Felix stopped going soft on you and was beating your ass. Again and again, he was winning, and you were growing frustrated. Game rage was never something you liked experiencing, even less in front of the boy you liked. Eventually, you gave up on trying to win, and grew tired as time passed.

Yawning after another round ended, you stood up to turn off the console, and then plopped right back on the couch. Felix scooted closer to hold you in his arms, and you snuggled comfortably into his warmth.

"You okay, Y/N?" he asked softly.

"Mhmm, tired." you mumbled before closing your eyes.

"Can a sweet treat comfort you?" he whispered.

You smiled weakly. "Depends which one."

"Can it be a surprise?"

"Lix…" you whined quietly. "I don't like surprises."

"Just one bite."

Too tired to bicker back, you nodded before you felt him move a bit, probably getting whatever snack he had packed with him. Seconds passed before you felt something on your lips. It was sweet, indeed, but it was definitely not something edible. It was soft and tender, and you recognized Felix's lips despite never having kissed the man. After the shock dissolve, you kissed him back slowly, scooting closer to feel his embrace as much as you could. As it got more heated, his mouth had opened slightly, allowing you to carefully bite his bottom lip. Startled, he back away from you and stared at you in shock.

"What was that?" he shyly spoke, blushing.

"You said one bite." you shrugged your shoulders, and he laughed.

"I should have asked, I'm sorry."

"Hey, I kissed you back. Don't worry about it." you smiled kindly.

"So… um… I kind of like you?" he confessed, though it came out more like a question.

"That's very convincing, yeah." you teased making him pout at you.

"You're mean."

"Sorry, sorry. I like you too." you confessed back.

Not knowing how to answer, Felix could only grin like a child as he grabbed your hand in his, rubbing it softly with thumb. He brought you closer to cuddle, and since you were still very tired, you eventually fell asleep in a matter of seconds. Felix, on the other hand, observe you as you snored quietly, not quite grasping what had just happened.

The next day, you woke up surprisingly late. You noticed the moment you opened your eyes that you were no longer on your couch, but in your bed. Suddenly, you heard a loud thud coming from your kitchen, along with a deep voice cursing. You got up in a hurry and ran to the kitchen to see what was happening. There was Felix, lost in front of your counter as he searched for ingredients. You soon noticed a mixing bowl on the ground, thus the noise from earlier.

"Are you trying to ravage my kitchen or something?" you exclaimed, not sure on how to react to the poor state of your kitchen.

"Good morning to you too." he smiled awkwardly only for you to send him a glare. "I just wanted to make you some pancakes for breakfast, but I never came here before so I have no idea where you stuff is, and I got a bit clumsy so I made a mess… I'm sorry."

You sighed loudly before you picked up the bowl from the ground and went to the counter to reorganize it better. "There you go… You could have woken me up, you know?"

"You look pretty when you sleep." he giggled, and damn, your heart melted.

"I snore."

"And it's adorable." he affirmed. "Now that you're awake, do you want to make those with me?"

"Gladly." you smiled and the two started to mix the ingredients.

Felix was being nothing but a gentleman. He didn't let you do the dishes and hurried to prepare the table. He decorated the pancakes with butter and whipped cream, as well as some fruits. You were still fighting to help him, but he didn't let you as he only allowed you to sit at the table and look beautiful (His words, not mine). After a while, he finally finished everything and brought the plates to the table.

"This looks yummy!" you complimented, clapping your hands in excitement.

"Serve yourself."

You wasted no time to dig in and eat the pancake whole under a minute. You had not even realized how hungry you were until you were already done eating. Felix still had half of his, so he cut a piece he aimed at your mouth as he brought the fork closer.

"That's cheesy."

"Shut up and eat." he rolled his eyes, and you gladly obliged.

"Thank you, Lix. This is so good." you hummed contently.

"My pleasure." he chuckled, but stopped and frowned instead.

He did the same move, only this time, he stopped moving the fork forward and brought it back to his own mouth. You pouted, disappointed, and he could only laugh at you.

"Wait, you have something on your lip."

He leaned closer and reached out to wipe off whatever you had. You thought he was done, but he kept his palm on the side of your face. You eyed him in confusion, and he answered with a smile. Without you noticing, he was getting dangerously closer, making your heart pound. It pounded so loud, you were afraid he was going to hear it. The instant he was close enough to almost be kissing you, he leaned backwards into his seat and laughed cutely.

"You are so evil." you huffed in disbelief.

"What can I say? You like bad boys." he joked.

You could only huff at him once more. "I'm this close to kicking you out of here."

"You wouldn't"

"I totally would."

"No."

"Felix!" you whined, frustrated.

The next month or so was not so different from how things were before. Well, other than some kisses here and there, but you and Felix still acted like friends at school. You had never talked about labels, nor did you speak about your feelings. In other words, the situation was confusing. While he acted like you were one of the bros in public, he was the most touchy person when you would hang out alone. Even then, his behaviour apart from physical contact wasn't that different.

The last day of the semester eventually came. As per usual, a group of guys was staring at you the moment you stepped outside of the classroom, having finished your final exam. You saw a guy, Yooheon you believed, acting more nervous than usual. You didn't think much of it, until he walked up to you.

"Hey, Y/N. I'm actually in your class and, um, I just wanted to ask you something." he spoke anxiously.

"Yeah, I know who you are." you chuckled. "What can I help you with?"

"Do you want to go on a date with me? I believe you are single, so I'm simply taking my chance."

Technically speaking, you were single. With Felix, however, things were blurry. He had never told you how he saw you. Were you his girlfriend or his friend he would occasionally kiss?

"She's with me." you heard a familiar voice coming from behind.

Yooheon bowed apologetically and you gave him a sad smile before he went back to his friends who were teasing him. You turned on your heels and walked away from the scene, a frantic Felix catching up to you.

"Hey, what is it? I saved your ass." he breathed out.

"I didn't need to be saved. I can reject someone alone, you know?"

"Right, but I know he was probably going to insist and then you would have been stuck. With me there, he knows you're taken already." he justified as it made perfect sense in his mind.

"Lix, I'm not taken." you rolled your eyes.

He stopped walking and his eyes squinted, lost. "What are you saying?"

You turned around to face him, and exhaled loudly. "You never explicitly told me we were dating. I mean, on that point, I get it. I've been busy, you've been busy. I can understand we didn't have the mindset to figure that out. However, you only ever kiss me if we are at your place or mine. At school, it's almost as if you see me the same as you see my brother or Minho, or even Seungmin. It's like you're ashamed or something..." you trailed off, uncertain if you worded correctly what had been in your mind.

Felix slowly turned red, and he coughed to buy some time to think, and he then spoke in his turn. "I thought you were not comfortable with PDA or something. I don't know, I just figured it was a "at home" thing? Plus, consider the fact dozens of men are looking at you every day because, might I remind you, you are quite literally the most beautiful girl on campus. And, like, jacked men look at you all day, which can be intimidating. Meanwhile, you chose the guy who bakes cookies and brownies, and who likes Mario Kart." he explained the best he could, without wanting to sound too weird.

You let out a small laugh as a response. "You feel intimidated by other guys?"

He looked around, and nodded slowly in shyness. "Shush, it really is intimidating." You only laughed more, but it kind of reassured Felix in a way. "As for the labels, I just assumed it was obvious you are my girlfriend."

"It wasn't."

"Okay then." he took a deep breath and stepped closer to you, taking your hands. "Hwang Y/N, will you have the pleasure of becoming my girlfriend?"

You smiled at how precious he was being. "Gladly."

With that, he brought you closer to kiss you, other students around watching you as some of them gasped in surprise.

"Ah!" he exclaimed as he pulled away from you. "For Chan's party tonight, you're already stunning but I want you to dress to feel good about yourself."

You couldn't believe how sweet he was being. You had went back to your respective dorms to get ready, and later met up in front of Chan's building to go inside together. Felix had Seungmin and his girlfriend, Dahye, tagging along with you. You were among the first people to get there and installed yourselves comfortably. Felix went to get you some drinks and it didn't get missed by his friends how he called you baby before leaving.

As the evening went on, you were starting to wonder when Hyunjin was going to show up. You had pestered him into coming to the party to socialize for once instead of staying at home. The questioning in your mind was soon answered when you finally spotted Byeol. You got up to hug her tightly, and then doing the same with your brother.

"I could've sworn you wouldn't come and stay at your place to watch cheesy ass movies together." you joked.

Byeol sent you a shy smile and then said "That was the plan."

You smiled at her. "I'm glad you came."

You went back to Felix and he grabbed you by the waist to bring you into his embrace, nuzzling his face into your hair. You chuckled at his behaviour, since he was clearly starting to feel the effects of alcohol.

"Are you okay?" you asked as you rubbed his arm in a soothing way.

"Yeah." he said, voice hoarse. "I just love to have you in my arms."

"I love it too. A lot." you murmured to him, and he pecked your cheek lovingly.

#stray kids #stray kids x reader #stray kids series #stray kids scenarios #stray kids college au #stray kids fluff #stray kids fanfic #stray kids your eyes #stray kids felix #lee felix #lee felix x reader #lee felix fluff #lee felix college au #lee felix scenarios

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mi-rae07 · 11 days

Text

Park Seonghwa : His Sunshine (Part 1/?)

Pairing : Park Seonghwa (Ateez) and named character (Lee Byeol)

___________________________________

Synopsis : Lee Byeol is known as the star girl of the magic world, her beauty, wit, wisdom and power second to none. Her smile could make the hardest of men melt, her sparkling green eyes having the power to enchant anyone. Her presence itself radiated glory and royalty.

Park Seonghwa was the opposite, a morally grey man in most ways. Cold, mysterious, private, powerful and hard. His jet black eyes considered similar to his shut off heart of steel. His powers were the only ones that could possibly compare to byeol's. If hers were emerald green, his were jet black.

And now byeol is out to find a husband for herself, in order to acquire her estates. Seonghwa is meant to find someone for her, but what if he doesn't want someone else to have her?

What if he wants her to himself, all his?

__________________________________

The second Lee Byeol had walked into the party at seonghwa’s family manor he had understood why everyone called her the star girl of magic world. With her bobbed ginger hair, sparkling green siren eyes, hourglass figure, exquisite and expensive taste in fashion, rich and powerful family background, he could immediately guess what kind of a person she was. The kind of person that had that aura and confidence that made everyone want to be with her, friend or enemy, just be with her. She seemed to be flawless.

Keyword, seemed.

Seeing the way she smiled at people that came up to talk to her, shaking hands and pretending as if she hadn’t killed two of the most powerful demons that once cursed this land at the mere age of 17, seonghwa knew there was something inside her that she let no one see. Considering as how Seonghwa had killed 5 of those demons before he reached 20, that kind of power and magic came at a price. It required something, something dark.

Seonghwa watched as he saw san recognize him, quickly ushering byeol towards him as he said excitedly

San : seonghwa, this is lee byeol.

Byeol looked expectantly at seonghwa, waiting for him to take her gloved hand and kiss it like every gentleman in her life did. It was a custom, a sign of a well brought up man. But she probably didn’t know seonghwa didn't care about those customs, he did not engage in those kind of things either.

He did not believe that the sign of a well brought up man was that of kissing a lady's hand. And so he stared right at byeol before saying in a cold tone

Seonghwa : yes, good evening miss lee.

Byeol raised her eyebrow in amusement as she smiled before saying

Byeol : park seonghwa, yes? The one who killed-

San : ugh yes four greater demons. No one ever gets tired of that do they?

Byeol : how many have you killed again, mr choi?

San : it’s because I didn’t know, alright? I was uh…sleeping at the time, yes. If it was in the morning I'd have it done within seconds.

Byeol chuckled as san’s eyes widened at something far from them, excusing himself shortly before rushing off somewhere. Byeol turned to face seonghwa again as she eyed him carefully before saying

Byeol : I’ve heard you’re the classic type of man, morally grey they call it. Cold, mysterious, angsty, private, what not?

Seonghwa : I take that as a compliment, thank you.

Byeol : back where I come from we take that as an insult, mr park. A man who cannot engage in human conversations and live as such in this world is considered…insecure, out of touch even.

Seonghwa : well, thank the angel I don’t come from Italy then.

Byeol's lips quirked up in amusement as she asked

Byeol : oh? So you researched about me?

Seonghwa : Beatrice Byeol Lee, heiress of the richest most powerful magical family in all of Europe. Known for her charms, beauty, wit, wisdom, and other things I didn't bother paying attention to. It got quite boring.

Byeol rolled her eyes as seonghwa said

Seonghwa : san told me all about you, he’s trying to set me up with you it seems.

Byeol hid the disappointment.

Byeol : he has taste.

Seonghwa : last lady he dated was a secret vampire. Almost drained him of all his blood while he was sleeping before he managed to rid himself off her.

Byeol squinted her eyes as she smiled and said softly

Byeol : so you’ve killed 4 greater demons, yes?

Seonghwa just nodded at that

Byeol : well there’s another one coming, and you’ll let me impress the folks here as it is my first time with them, yes? Be a gentleman?

Seonghwa frowned as he felt sudden demon energy around him, his hand instinctively going to the blade sheathed in his waist. He was just about to pull it out as precaution when byeol held his hand instead, bowing down as she kissed it before whispering with a wink

Byeol : I owe you one, mr park.

Byeol swiftly turned around and walked towards the ground just as the demon appeared, making the people around gasp as their hands all went to their blades as well.

Seonghwa sighed as he leaned against the pillar, deciding to just watch byeol. He supposed intruding now would be quite low even for his standards, plus he was intrigued to see what the fuss about her was all about.

Byeol clicked her heel against the other as the heel part changed into knives, making seonghwa scoff. Was she really going to fight with knife shoes? He couldn't imagine landing on those without tripping and fracturing a bone.

The demon snarled, walking closer to byeol as no one around dared to enter the fight. They were all interested to know how byeol would handle this. The demon wasn’t really a greater demon either, but it did have considerable amount of magic in it. Seonghwa wondered if byeol would be able to manage it unprepared.

Byeol brought her right hand out as her family sword appeared in it magically, it's green flames sparkling. The necrosword, the world's most powerful sword ever made. It had enough magic in them to be transformed into a bow, knife, two knives, swords, whip, anything the owner required it to be. The sword chose it's bearer, and it had always remained in the Lee family for decades.

Seonghwa watched as byeol leaped towards the demon, ducking it's blow as she slashed the sword against it's back. For the next few minutes she fought against the demon, seeming like she was delaying the process just to give the people a show.

Seonghwa now knew what the fuss was all about, she was not only good at talking to people and making them follow her around but she was also good at dueling, too good even. The precision with which she used the sword, her speed, good thinking at the right time, she was a natural warrior. Her moves were sleek, elegant, even lady-like. But it was swift, deadly, and quick.

Seonghwa was now impressed.

Finally byeol decided it was enough as she summoned up her magic into the sword, green flames dancing around her as she leapt up high into the air before bringing her sword down onto the creature's head with force. It let out a gargling sound as it burst apart, disappearing into whichever realm it came from.

Byeol landed right on her feet effortlessly without a single glitch as the sword disappeared, her eyes going right towards seonghwa as the others clapped. She raised her eyebrows at him as seonghwa rolled his eyes, letting out a breath as he turned and walked away.

Byeol felt a smile spread on her lips as she looked at the others that were clapping, impressed. She gave them all a small bow, but all she could think about was the fact that park seonghwa had been impressed. It gave her a sort of satisfaction.

_____________________________

Seonghwa : what?

Seri : there's a storm, son, and lee byeol cannot be going back home tonight. It is unsafe, you know demons and humans alike come out during the rain for bad reasons. Hence she'll need somewhere to stay and I decided the best place would be this manor. The hotels here aren't…safe either.

Seonghwa scoffed, leaning back against the chair in annoyance as he asked

Seonghwa : and if the storm continues? Then what, she'll continue to stay, eomma?

Seri : seonghwa, it would be an honor to have someone like her in our manor-

Seonghwa : I don't want her here.

Seri frowned, sitting up straight as she asked

Seri : what? Has she done something wrong?

Seonghwa : her presence annoys me.

Every other man was head over heels for her, anyone else would've been ecstatic to have byeol here. Why was seonghwa being like this?

Seri : okay, why?

Seonghwa : it just does, she seems uncanny eomma. Someone cannot be this…perfect. There has to be something wrong, something off.

Seri chuckled, patting seonghwa's hand as she said

Seri : so you don't like her because she's too perfect, that just seems like you're annoyed by the fact that you're falling for her.

Seonghwa laughed at the ridiculous thought

Seonghwa : falling for her? Never in a million years would that happen, she's the embodiment of everything I hate.

Seri raised her eyes as seonghwa stood up and walked past her, muttering under his breath

Seonghwa : I'll let her stay, but tell her I don't want her bothering me or my work. If that happens, you can find her some place else to stay. Safe or not, I do not care. She's well than capable of taking care of herself.

Seonghwa opened the door as he stepped out into the hallways, climbing up the stairs to the third floor which was where his bedroom was located. As he neared his bedroom he saw a figure opening the room opposite seonghwa's, making him walk faster towards it before holding the person's hand as he banged them against the wall. A pair of green eyes glittered against the dark, making seonghwa's hold on the person loosen

Byeol : finally you've come around?

Seonghwa stared at byeol who was looking up at him with a glint in her eyes, her hot breath falling against seonghwa's neck as he whispered

Seonghwa : miss lee.

Seonghwa quickly let go of byeol's arm as he stepped back, frowning as he asked

Seonghwa : what are you doing here?

Byeol : trying to open my room, of course.

Seonghwa : and who told you this was your room?

Byeol : I did, I liked this room most so I decided I should sleep here for the night.

Seonghwa scoffed in disbelief, looking away as he muttered in annoyance

Seonghwa : unbelievable. You cannot sleep here, get out.

Byeol : and why is that?

Seonghwa : because it's opposite my room.

Byeol stared at the door in front of her, it's doors different and more grand than the other room doors. It screamed seonghwa's room, she had known it the second she got here.

Byeol : I figured.

Seonghwa : you will sleep in the south wing, or west or east. Just not this wing.

Byeol : I prefer this room.

Seonghwa : this isn't your call to make.

Byeol : I am the guest.

Seonghwa : this is my manor.

Byeol : and? You offered to let me stay here.

Seonghwa : my mother did.

Byeol : basically the same thing.

Seonghwa let out a breath in annoyance as he said

Seonghwa : can you just stop being so difficult and leave?

Byeol : no?

Seonghwa : miss lee, leave.

Byeol : I said no-

Byeol cut herself off as seonghwa banged her against the wall once again, glaring down at her as he said

Seonghwa : this isn't Italy, miss lee, and I am not someone who will go according to your ways and deal with you being such a spoiled, pampered brat. You can throw that away while at my manor, for I don't care about the fact that you're rich, or beautiful, or whatever. This is my manor, my estate. Here you will go according to my rules-

Byeol : you think I'm beautiful.

Seonghwa paused as byeol smiled that victorious smile, patting seonghwa's cheek as she whispered

Byeol : have a good night, mr park.

Byeol walked past seonghwa as she stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her and locking it as seonghwa just stood there, blinking his eyes in absolute shock.

What the fuck was this woman.

______________________________

Seri : it seems this storm could last for a week, at least.

Byeol smiled as she chewed at her breakfast, seonghwa rolling his eyes as he looked at his mother through the newspaper he was reading before saying

Seonghwa : get her to the nearby hotel.

Byeol : I heard it's unsafe.

Seonghwa : I heard you were capable of fending after yourself?

Byeol : but would your manly conscience let a lady like me endanger herself at such a dangerous hotel?

Seonghwa : easily, yes.

Byeol : so yo-

Seri : you lot should just get married already.

Seonghwa : ew-

Byeol : I already discussed that, as a matter of fact mrs park. The lord does not seem to appreciate the idea very much.

Seonghwa : I'd rather cut my heart out than spend a night together with you.

Seri : seonghwa!

Byeol smiled as she took another bite of her salad before saying

Byeol : it is alright, mrs park.

Byeol smiled sweetly at the maids around as she stood up, saying in that same voice that annoyed seonghwa to the core

Byeol : the breakfast was just wonderful, thank you so much.

The maids around bowed at the rare compliment, seonghwa rolling his eyes again as he said without taking his eyes off the newspaper

Seonghwa : it is their job.

Byeol : well your job is to make sure I feel at home in your manor and you don't seem to be doing that properly.

Seri’s hand came to her mouth quickly as byeol smiled, walking past seonghwa as she let her hand hold seonghwa's shoulder for a second before saying

Byeol : you'll give me a house tour now, won't you mr park?

_____________________________

Byeol : do you not have any hobbies, mr park?

Seonghwa : none that you need to know about-

Seonghwa cut himself off as byeol suddenly held his hand, bringing it in front of her as she eyed it for a second before saying

Byeol : horse riding.

Seonghwa snatched his hand away from byeol's with a frown as he asked

Seonghwa : so you can just look at people's hand and tell their hobbies now?

Byeol : some of them. Your hand show marks of having held the reins, having pulled it hard enough to bleed, to scar. Such callouses cannot be gotten from battle, there is a difference.

Seonghwa let out a breath, looking away as he said

Seonghwa : do not do that again.

Byeol smiled, looking through the manor courtyard as she said

Byeol : what, read through you? Has no one ever done that?

Seonghwa : I have never let anyone.

Byeol turned to look at seonghwa as she said

Byeol : the manor is beautiful, it makes for a nice house. But not a home, it's too cold for a home. Can't you…plant some nice flowers? Buy nice paintings-

Seonghwa : they're a useless waste of money.

Byeol : they're comforting, makes you feel less alone.

Seonghwa : I do not find comfort in inanimate objects.

Byeol : so then where do you find comfort in?

Seonghwa : do I need to tell you my entire life?

Byeol shrugged, looking out the manor as she smiled at the workers around who bowed at them as seonghwa and byeol walked past them. She noticed how seonghwa did not even look in their direction. She crossed her arm as she suddenly said

Byeol : I came to Korea in order to find a husband.

Seonghwa paused on his tracks, making byeol chuckle as she stopped too and looked at seonghwa before saying

Byeol : what, are you afraid I'm going to propose to you right now?

Seonghwa : I do not wish to marry.

Byeol : ever?

Seonghwa : ever.

Byeol gave a low whistle as she said

Byeol : many ladies are going to have their hearts broken at that news.

Seonghwa : no lady is stupid enough to want a future with someone like me.

Byeol : mm. everyone likes a little bit of a mystery man, it's appealing to want to fix it.

Seonghwa stared at byeol as she smiled, shaking her head before saying

Byeol : I for one have no time to fix a man, don’t worry. I am not a therapy center. I need a husband, a man that has enough influence, is magically and physically strong, can give me an heir and leave me alone when required. If you have someone in mind, you can tell me.

Seonghwa : what about love, care, protection? All those things that ladies usually want?

Byeol snorted as she said

Byeol : we both know I'm not going to find all that in this life. I just need a husband to fulfill this prophecy my grandmother believes in, she refuses to give me the estate and manor without a husband. She's a bit old-fashioned like that. So a manageable husband who doesn't care about whatever I do, that's all I want for now.

Seonghwa watched as byeol unfolded her arms, giving seonghwa a smile as she said

Byeol : thank you for the wonderful tour, mr park.

Byeol walked past seonghwa as she said out loud

Byeol : and fret not if you wish to give your own name to me in matters of marriage! I do not think I would mind having you as a pretend husband, you would give me a handsome heir at least.

________________________________

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fluffycrow · 2 years

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Our Blues (2022) – episode 16

#Our Blues #kdramaedit #ourbluesedit #Go Doo Shim #Kim Jung Hwan #Min Ji Ah #Gi So Yoo #Kim Hye Ja #Cho Hye Jung #Lee So Byeol #Baek Seung Do #kdrama #all #m:gifs #I think I'm going to gif next episode as usual and then make the last three eps in one set

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fake-married-my-dead-fiance · 4 months

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Pre-Show Timeline of Sh**ting Stars

I made this because the past parts are told out of order and I wanted to pin down the timeline

Tae-seong is in 9th Grade (14 ish years old):

His grandmother dies, his mother sets it up so he can live alone. Director Choi Ji-hoon prevents his mother from getting off the plane.

Tae-seong 16/17 years old:

Director Choi Ji-hoon harasses him about becoming an actor. At this point no one knows the identity of his mother.

He watches his mom's movie in an empty theatre, sees Han-byeol there crying

He asks Director Choi Ji-hoon to make him more famous than his mother

Last Year of High School (most likely):

Tae-seong joins Starforce, switches high schools, and meets Lee Yun-Wo.

Tae-seong and Han-byeol are in university:

At some point he does one or multiple group projects with Han-byeol (no wonder she hates him so much if he didn't pull his weight)

They watch a movie together

Tae-seong debuted when he was about 20, so during this time. He is already famous enough that his offer to be on the advertisements every year is worth something

(Han-byeol said Tae-seong is her senior, but they are the same age and graduated at the same time. Since she was crying about her grades, she might have entered a year late and since he was working it took him an extra year to finish)

6 years before the beginning of the show (2016):

Han-byeol is a junior employee at Starforce

The eunuch incident

3 years before the beginning of the show (2019):

Tae-seong says he's dating his co-star, right after Han-byeol thinks that he may like her. She cries while writing the press release.

2 years before the beginning of the show (2020):

Their friend/colleague Lee Yun-Wu commits suicide. His manager quits and opens the Organic Bar. Jo Gi-bum defies her boss to support Han-byeol at the funeral.

(The subtitles say that the crazy lady housekeeper started working for Tae-seong 3 years ago, but given that it's implied Yun-wu just died, she must have started working for him shortly after the suicide)

1 year before the beginning of the show:

Tae-seong goes to Africa to volunteer, partially to spite Han-byeol, but mostly because Lee Yun-Wu wanted to go

Present (2022): They are both 30 years old (born in 1992) and Tae-seong has been an actor for 10 years

Events without specific dates:

Kang Yu-sung was Tae-seong's manager. He got beat up trying to defend Tae-seong, afterwards they became friends

Kang Yu-sung scouted Baek Da-hye at a Tae-seong fan event. Park Ho-young thought he was hitting on her and is impressed by his professionalism

#because it was confusing me #sh**ting stars #no one asked for this but now it is created #I know that Koreans count years differently so some of these ages may be wrong or seem wrong #please correct me if i got anything wrong

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mymelodypink · 2 years

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Oh Han Byeol: It was after 6pm? Jo Ki Peum: Yes. He waited for me. My heart almost fluttered.

#sh**ting stars tvn #sh**ting stars #Shooting Stars #Shooting Stars tvn #Jo Ki Peum #Park So Jin #Do Soo Hyuk #Lee Jung Shin #Lee Sung Kyung #oh han byeol #kdrama #office romance #kdrama office romance #kdramaedit #as a resident workaholic do soo hyuk's character has always been attractive to me #and jo ki peum's character hits too close to home :')#loving their dynamic

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m3loria · 17 days

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BLUNT AND STOIC ! ── ❛ you really get me so frustrated ❜. member 003, ko junmin !

ぅ( FILE ONE ) ## BASIC INFORMATION

̟ ˖ ⁺ birth name : ko junmin. ( 고준민 ) ̟ ˖ ⁺ preferred name : junmin. ( 준민 ) ̟ ˖ ⁺ name meaning : junmin. ( of korean origin, "준" meaning "talented, handsome, ruler" and "민" meaning "strong robust, tough" or "stone resembling jade". )

̟ ˖ ⁺ nicknames : jun, junie, min-min ( everyone. ) shadow, cloud, kumin ( meliora , specifically j-line. ) divorcee ( hajoon. ) junminki ( byeol , taro. ) raine ( kyuhyun , 01z. ) junjae ( meliora. ) angel eyes, meliora's pretty eyed man ( his fans , meliora. ) lovebug, honey bunches, cutie pie ( meliora , specifically hajoon and haneul. )

̟ ˖ ⁺ date of birth : may 29, 2000. ̟ ˖ ⁺ legal age : 23 years old. ̟ ˖ ⁺ zodiac sign : gemini. ̟ ˖ ⁺ lunar zodiac sign : dragon.

̟ ˖ ⁺ place of birth : gangnam, seoul, south korea. ̟ ˖ ⁺ hometown : gangnam, seoul, south korea. ̟ ˖ ⁺ nationality : south korean. ̟ ˖ ⁺ ethnicity : korean. ̟ ˖ ⁺ residences : gangnam, seoul, south korea. ( 2000 —— present ).

̟ ˖ ⁺ spoken languages : korean ( 100% , gyeonggi dialect ). english ( 88% , standard english ). japanese ( 45% , basic japanese ). mandarin ( 17% , unspecified dialect ).

̟ ˖ ⁺ gender identity : cisgender male. ̟ ˖ ⁺ pronouns : he/him. ̟ ˖ ⁺ romantic orientation : unlabeled. ̟ ˖ ⁺ sexual orientation : unlabeled. ̟ ˖ ⁺ relationship status : single.

̟ ˖ ⁺ height : 174 cm ( 5 ft 8 ). ̟ ˖ ⁺ weight : undisclosed. ̟ ˖ ⁺ blood type : b-.

̟ ˖ ⁺ natural eye color : dark brown. ̟ ˖ ⁺ natural hair color : black. ̟ ˖ ⁺ current hair color : brown/red.

̟ ˖ ⁺ body modifications : 2 piercings. ( left ear ) 2 piercings. ( right ear ) 1 tattoo.

̟ ˖ ⁺ face claim : park jihoon (soloist). ̟ ˖ ⁺ speaking claim : park jihoon (soloist). ̟ ˖ ⁺ vocal claim : choi soobin (tomorrow x together). ̟ ˖ ⁺ dance claim : lee 'lee know' minho (stray kids). ̟ ˖ ⁺ rap claim : park jihoon (soloist).

ぅ( FILE TWO ) ## CAREER INFORMATION

̟ ˖ ⁺ stage name : junmin. ( 준민 ) ̟ ˖ ⁺ explanation : his birth name.

̟ ˖ ⁺ current agencies : louvix audio (2019 —— present). sonata media (2020 —— present). ̟ ˖ ⁺ former agencies : n/a. ̟ ˖ ⁺ training period : 5 months. ̟ ˖ ⁺ years active : 2020 —— present. ̟ ˖ ⁺ occupation : singer-songwriter. dancer. kpop idol.

̟ ˖ ⁺ group : meliora (2020 —— present). ̟ ˖ ⁺ debut date : may 1, 2020. ̟ ˖ ⁺ debut age : 19 years old. ̟ ˖ ⁺ position : main dancer, lead vocalist.

̟ ˖ ⁺ representative color : amaranth ( #9f2b68 ) ̟ ˖ ⁺ representative emoji : ☄️ ̟ ˖ ⁺ representative color : eunha ( 은하 — is the korean word for "milky way", and it's a very pretty word, in junmin's opinion )

̟ ˖ ⁺ instagram : _eunjuns ( personal , 2.2m followers , 12 following )

̟ ˖ ⁺ known for : being the monotone member. his ability to accurately imitate australian accents. treating everyone but hajoon fairly. his ongoing beef with netizens because of what they say about him. cringing at the members loving nicknames for him. pushing away the members whenever they try to hug him. having those hypnotizing big brown eyes. laughing at everyone's misery. being the quietest 00 liner. posting the members more than himself on his own instagram. his unintentionally organized jean jacket collection. pretending he doesn't know his members. "cho haneul? i've never met a guy with that name".

ぅ( FILE THREE ) ## PERSONAL INFORMATION

̟ ˖ ⁺ analyzing the mbti : intp // logician. is someone with the introverted, intuitive, thinking, and prospecting personal traits. these flexible thinkers enjoy taking an unconventional approach to many aspects of life. they often seek out unlikely paths, mixing willingness to experiment with personal creativity.

̟ ˖ ⁺ strengths : analytical, objective, enthusiastic, imaginative, open-minded, honest. ̟ ˖ ⁺ weaknesses : insensitive, absent-minded, disconnected, perfectionistic, chronic overthinker, very private.

̟ ˖ ⁺ family members : father. mother. younger sister. ̟ ˖ ⁺ family dynamics : junmin isn't necessarily close to his parents, it's not that he hates them or anything, he just doesn't know them. he doesn't keep in much contact with them unless it has to do with yejin. ̟ ˖ ⁺ household history : junmin was born as the eldest of two in the heart of gangnam on a seemingly random may day. his father, a psychologist, and his mother, a college professor, were not looking to have kids, so they didn't know what to do with him, so they didn't do anything. junmin grew up not knowing his parents, or if they even liked him, they were either at work or had no time for what he had to say. to them, he was just a little mistake they made, so if they acted like he didn't exist, eventually he'd leave them alone. the lack of attention at home made it a suffocating place for junmin, so whenever he could, he spent most of his time at school, what was there to do at home anyway besides get ignored? nothing really changed when yejin was born in late 2009, the most they'd do was give their kids occasional allowance money and lackluster birthday gifts, but work was always first, so junmin pretty much assumed responsibility over his baby sister, always attending her events, graduations, accompanying her to school every single day, picking her up from school every single day, he became the parent for her he never had, and while their neglect was never physically in any way, junmin is never sure if he can really have a relationship with his parents these days.

̟ ˖ ⁺ father : ko junho, born april 27 1973 in yongin, gyeonggi, south korea, resides in gangnam, seoul, south korea, employed as a psychologist, father of 2. ̟ ˖ ⁺ mother : sim gyuri, born march 10 1974 in gangnam, seoul, south korea, resides in gangnam, seoul, south korea, employed as a college professor, mother of 2. ̟ ˖ ⁺ younger sister : ko yejin, born november 28 2009 in gangnam, seoul, south korea, resides in gangnam, seoul, south korea, high school student.

ぅ( FILE FOUR ) ## TRIVIAL INFORMATION

̟ ˖ ⁺ habits & mannerisms : scrunching his nose when he's focused, shoving his hands into his pockets, picking at his fingers, always maintaining eye contact, covering his own ears whenever his members get too loud, always rechecking to make sure things are in order, laughing in scary situations, smiling without his teeth, letting people lay on his shoulder.

̟ ˖ ⁺ hobbies and skills : reading, analyzing literature, organizing his room, dancing, room decoration, sleeping, knitting, sewing, foreign language learning, listening to music and reading at the same time, jotting while reading, playing old korean games, imitating australian accents, pretending to not know his members.

̟ ˖ ⁺ likes : success, swans, teaching others, silence, his bed, listening instead of talking, books with happy endings, renaissance paintings, thrillers, hapkido, debates, puzzles, red velvet cake, sleeping, peace, story games, specific nicknames, burgundy, being alone (on most occasions), chocolate bars, being able to go non-verbal with his members. ̟ ˖ ⁺ dislikes : talking too much, honey, stupid interview questions, being put in charge, noise, when everyone's voices are overlapping, getting touched by strangers, public speaking, giving speeches, cooking, personal questions, being forced to speak up, strawberry cake, ceiling fans, talking to people he doesn't like.

̟ ˖ ⁺ phobias : n/a

̟ ˖ ⁺ favorite colors : amaranth, burgundy. ̟ ˖ ⁺ favorite season : autumn. ̟ ˖ ⁺ favorite animals : swans, puppies. ̟ ˖ ⁺ favorite numbers : 16.

̟ ˖ ⁺ personal playlist : parlé à ta tête, indila. cloud 9, exo. let the night, aimyon. rising sun, tvxq. i guess, mitski. 1+1, beyoncé. the family jewels, marina. kiss of life, sade. hotline, psychic fever. endless, nameless, nirvana. eat the rich, aerosmith. one hundred sleepless nights, pierce the veil.

̟ ˖ ⁺ close friends : lee kyoungyoon, dkz. kim suhyeon, kim haram, billlie. ahn jaehee, cherryade.

ぅ( FILE FIVE ) ## FACTUAL INFORMATION

001 ▬▬ junmin is someone who doesn't talk if he doesn't have to. he could sit through a whole group video or live without even making a noise, the members usually have to get him to talk on most occasions.

002 ▬▬ junmin quite literally cannot deal with being in charge, he would rather die before ever becoming leader for a day. according to him, if he was chosen as the leader of meliora, nothing would ever get solved.

003 ▬▬ junmin posts himself once in a lifetime on instagram, but besides that, his page is just full of photos of the members, when he does upload photos of himself, fans celebrate it all across social media.

004 ▬▬ junmin was literally not supposed to be in meliora, the only reason he ever got into louvix audio was because he took a wrong turn while going somewhere to meet a friend. a scout spotted him and handed him a business card, he says he remembers thinking it was a scam.

005 ▬▬ junmin is one of four meliora members with a college degree. he has his bachelor's in entertainment design, which he received from yonsei university.

006 ▬▬ junmin, literally, has the prettiest eyes ever. he has a whole nickname dedicated to them ("angel eyes"), and he considers them to be one of the traits he's most proud of.

007 ▬▬ he is a known disliker of overly sweet nicknames ("honey", "sweetie", "sweetheart", etc..), which is why hajoon and haneul call him just every cringey nickname they know of. they enjoy seeing him get annoyed by their antics.

008 ▬▬ junmin prides himself on how good he is at listening, he's super attentive to others and what they say, so while he might not talk much, he listens in and always remembers what other people say.

009 ▬▬ he does not like going out that much. he will literally spend all day at home reading if there's no practice or stupid interview he has to do. the only reason he really goes out is because the members (hajoon mainly) drag him out to do stupid stuff with them.

010 ▬▬ he has his drivers license, but he dislikes driving. he'd rather be driven around.

mentioned @chcrryade

#𓂃٠ LIKE A DÉJÀ VU 𓋰 PROFILES !#𓂃٠ LIKE A DÉJÀ VU 𓋰 JUNMIN !#fake kpop group #fake kpop idol #fictional idol group #fictional kpop boy group #fictional kpop community #fictional kpop company #fictional kpop group #fictional kpop idol #fictional kpop oc #idol oc #kpop boy group #oc kpop group

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okabehk · 8 months

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Title: #MaskGirl

Main Cast: #Nana #LeeHanByeol #GoHyunJung #YeomHyeRan

Episodes: 7

Platform: Netflix

I'm fresh off this one and I have to say it was excellent!!!! All three of the main actresses playing Kim Mo Mi were amazing and of course I am a bit biased towards Nana as she is one of my favorite actresses. That being said newcomer Lee Han Byeol hit it out of the park, it's hard to believe this is her first part. The story follows Kim Mo Mi over the years through various stages of life. And what a terribly poor life it was. Trashed for her looks, sexually assaulted, stalked, and so much more 😢 I actually felt sorry for her quite a bit. I did love seeing Nana going crazy on the bullies in the yard though! I felt the ending was very sad just like her life. Overall it was fantastic though. I would definitely 100% recommend this!

#mask girl #nana #lee han Byeol #go hyun jung #kdrama #netflix

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onyourhyuck · 2 years

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𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭. | Jung Jaehyun. (M)

Synopsis;; Jung Jaehyun and Han Byeol have been best friends since they were six. Byeol announces that she’s ready to date now that she’s in her last year of university. What happens when Jaehyun is determined to keep his best friend single throughout the senior year because of his hidden feelings for her?

Character credits;; Jung Jaehyun As Jung Jaehyun, Lee Hojung as Han Byeol, Winwin As Winwin, Soojin As Soojin, Yuqi as Yuqi.

PLAYLIST: I Like Me Better Jaehyun, Something’s Wrong Dear M OST, Low Key Finn Matthews, I want U bad Fern, ILYSB Lany.

“I think I’m ready to start dating.”

Jaehyun’s body gags forward, lips spewing out the ice cold water on the school campus ground, incomprehensible noises of water gushing down clicking the solid floor, lips gasping for oxygen. Byeol let’s out a shocking sigh, eyes watching her best friend in disbelief. However that emotion soon turns into embarrassment once realising that the other campus students has witnessed the scene.

Byeol bows to the other students. “I’m sorry for the disturbance this early in the morning! Please, carry on about your morning.”

The students chitter chatter, some shaking heads and some even cursing the two for the loud troublesome distance this early in the morning at 7:20am. Seeing the people vanish, heading into the main building for the class starting in about ten minutes— Byeol was the first to slap Jaehyun’s shoulder.

“Yah! Why did you react that way!” She shouts with a dagger forming in the eyes. Jaehyun let’s out a scowl, “obviously because you shocked me, doesn’t take a genius to know that.”

Byeol huffs backing away. “What’s so shocking about me dating?”

Jaehyun goes slightly quiet, but he lowers his voice muttering under the breathe in ushering whispers. “Because you don’t know how I feel.”

Byeol moves forward to hear whatever he said again, because her ears couldn’t pick up on what he spoke to himself the first time.

“Sorry what did you say I didn’t quite catch that?” She said out loud, causing the boy to turn his head around to face her.

Byeol backs away at the quick movement, Jaehyun shouting aloud enough for the girl to head crystal clear. “I said you’re an absolute noob at dating so no one would take you at this point!”

Jaehyun saw her lips falter down, dropping like a massive stone on concrete ground, he moves past her, the shoulders touching slightly. Byeol standing speechless she coughs out a laugh, she felt her pride hurt. More or so, her best friend literally told her that she is a late bloomer and now one would want an inexperienced partner.

“Did he just…shout at me?” Byeol tells turning around, watching Jaehyun in the distance walking to class ahead of her. “Yah! Jung Jaehyun! I’ll have you know i could get a guy easily I just chose not to all these years!” Byeol shouts starting to run to catch up to the boy.

The class settles down once the teacher came into view up front, seating himself down in front of the enlarge green chalk board with a screw projector and his computer. A paperboard attendance list crawling into the teacher’s hands as he gathers an ink pen.

Jaehyun and Byeol take a seat at the back of the class, sitting together. Next to Byeol was Yuqi, her friend in the same major English. Jaehyun has a friend too who majors in his subject too, called Dong Sicheng also known as Winwin.

Winwin and Yuqi are dating all thanks to Jaehyun and Byeol’s connections.

Yuqi whispers. “Hey Byeol, are you ready for our senior year? What’s your goals for this last semester? My goals are to make as many fond memories I can with my friends and Winwin.”

She hears Byeol hum chillingly. “I’m going to get a boyfriend this semester. I’m determined to get in a relationship.”

She hears the Chinese girl curl against her shoulders, also seemingly shocked. Byeol couldn’t help but think why is everyone so shocked at the news? It’s not like she’s never thought about dating before.

Yuqi exclaims in whisper shouts. “Han Byeol, are you serious? This is great news! I mean, took you long enough. All you’ve been doing in University is studying and slaving yourself to get your degrees.”

“I know but, I passed all my exams. I have my degrees too. I experienced everything but dating.” Byeol tells.

Winwin hearing the conversation, he tilts his head nudging Jaehyun’s elbow. The Chinese raising an eyebrow motion to Yuqi and Byeol chatting away privately next to them. The pale boy glances down to Winwin with a confused expression.

Jaehyun mouths quietly. “What? What are you saying?”

The boy never wanted to slap someone mentally so hard into their senses before. Winwin croaking out as if it were the most obvious thing. “Byeol is ready to start dating, aren’t you going to confess anytime soon?”

Jaehyun sinks into his seat, clearing the throat as he looks down. “I don’t know yet.”

Winwin looks at the boy, not really understanding why. Was it the fear of rejection? Maybe Jaehyun wasn’t ready to commit? What was holding back the boy from confessing?

He was about to ask why, but the teacher spoke first beating Winwin from speaking. Professor Choi coughing aloud. “Okay Class N 127!”

“We’re all here, it’s good to see you back on your last semester. We all came a long way, but it’ll be worth it trust me. For this year, we won’t be doing much work, but we will be doing lots of travelling together. Lots of festivals and we will also be doing parties.”

The students roar with excitement, the hard patience work of fighting through the stressful exams and memorising the tests— it all is being rewarded with fun memories.

Byeol lifts her hand up, Professor Choi nodding to the girl. “Yes Byeol?”

“So what are we going to do right now?” Byeol trails intriguingly. The professor lightly smirks. “Ah, good question Byeol.”

“I mentioned travelling did I not?” The teacher spoke coming out of his seat and to the front now walking, the students nod listening well.

The teacher sighs as he stops in front taking every glance to the student in the class. All twenty students thinking what could be the first reward for them. The teacher hums out. “We will be travelling to a camp site. Yes, we are camping everyone next week.”

Yuqi and Byeol face each other already squealing at the idea. Camping sounds absolutely fun! Jaehyun and Winwin smile satisfied too.

Camping with other students and their teacher? What could go wrong?

The teacher sees the class clap in excitement, Professor Choi lifting his hand to silence the students who did exactly that, going quiet like a remote controller on command.

“There will be another senior class joining us however.”

The students turn to each other whispering about who it could be, who they want it to be, predicting everything. Winwin hums out to his friends, “maybe it’s another English class?”

Jaehyun says uncertain. “I don’t think that English class is a senior class like us.”

“Who’s the class joining us, sir?” A girl at the front shouts out. Professor Choi glancing to the female student. “Mathematics class C127.”

Byeol raised an eyebrow. “Class C mathematics? I don’t think i met any person from that major at all.” Yuqi nods, “me too! Have you Winwin and Jaehyun?” The two boys shake their heads as well. The girls shrugging, they will find out next week anyways.

The class ended on a good note. The students within the English major are already packing their bags even though there is a week still ahead.

Jaehyun and Byeol stand in front of the cafeteria line together, In quiet peaceful silence. Byeol turns to Jaehyun who was looking around the cafeteria that was kinda half empty half full.

“Yah,” Byeol brings her attention to Jaehyun, the boy turning back to the girl looking down at her. Their height difference was visible as the girl stood tall at five foot five. Jaehyun was six foot. Byeol spoke again when meeting those dreamy eyes. “What are your final semester goals?”

The line shortens allowing Byeol and Jaehyun to collect their red school trays, picking out the food one by one slowly. Jaehyun didn’t really think about what his goals are. “I mean, maybe the same as last year?”

Byeol groans out. “You say that every year, Jae. Seriously, you want to be stuck with me this year too?” The girl couldn’t believe the boy but he was serious. The two were friends since very young,,same middle school, same high school and college. Now even the same uni, he’s stuck by her side.

They are the definition of two peas in a pod.

The university always ask students every new semester year what their goals are and if they will commit to them. It’s sorta like a tracker to get you through the year. Jaehyun’s goal was always to be with Byeol, every single year.

Byeol’s goal was always studying and studying until she slaves herself to the books and exams.

Jaehyun and Byeol walk with their trays in the hands back to their table with Yuqi and Winwin sitting already. The two sit next to each other, Jaehyun responding to Byeol.

“Yeah, I do want to be stuck with you.” Jaehyun said back casually, nomming on the rice. Byeol sighs out, chewing onto the kimchi by the chopsticks. “Goodness Jae, why don’t you get a girlfriend at least? Should we..go blind dating together?”

“That doesn’t like a bad idea.” Yuqi adds. Byeol turning to the girl, “right? Me and Jaehyun should go on a blind date together and see what people are picked out for us.”

Jaehyun scoffs. “Blind dating still exists?” Winwin eyes Jaehyun up and down. “Of course, it’s popular to do. Why don’t you go?”

The boy urging Jaehyun, the man turns to Byeol with a pleading smile. Jaehyun looking away as he sips from the cola can. “No I’m not going, I have basketball training.”

“Alright then! I’ll go alone.” Byeol adds, it’s whatever. If he can’t make it, it’s okay, as long as she goes is what matters.

Jaehyun bites the inner tongue. He doesn’t want her going either but how can he make her not go?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The following day, Byeol really left for the blind date. Jaehyun couldn’t focus on anything but his thoughts thinking of Byeol meeting other guys. It somehow boiled him from inside until it was unbearable.

Jaehyun stood in middle of the court watching the ball getting thrown to him, the moment he was moving to catch it with his hands— he felt nothing but a swooshing air hitting the palms. His skin shivering as he felt something passing by him, but where was the ball when he was reaching for it?

The boy heard his teammates groan, seeing Jaehyun turn around to see the basketball rolling on the ground one inch away from him. He was one inch late, slower and dazed, not focused whatsoever.

Winwin sighs watching his friend from the right side, shaking head as sweat drops to the floor. Jaehyun breathing heavily, still unable to believe that he missed a passing ball.

“Gosh, Jaehyun what’s with you today?”

“Seriously, focus. We have a game coming up at the end of the semester.”

“God, let’s just pack up. This was the worst practice game.”

Jaehyun hearing those complaints from the other players he shaves the sweat off and watches the many players go into the changing room to change off the sweat, possibly even shower. Winwin and Jaehyun were the only ones on the court now, the Chinese boy approaching with a gently shoulder tap.

“Come on, you did well. What was on your mind that made you so distracted?” Winwin leisurely asks quietly, Jaehyun sighing as his pupils avoid eye contact with the boy in front. He looks away, shaking his head. He took off the red basketball player uniform with the number 14 and his name on the back. “It doesn’t matter.” Jaehyun adds.

Winwin hums out. “I think Byeol is already on her blind date.”

Jaehyun flinches at the name, overflowing jealous thoughts running wild in his mind. The boy suddenly ran forward grabbing the bag. “I’m going, see you later.”

The man said chillingly, as well not even changing from his basketball clothes. He looks at the front door, as if he were complementing on his next actions. He starts exiting finally. Winwin smirking as he already knew what Jaehyun were about to do.

He will always find his way to be with Byeol.

Winwin stands in the empty court with hands creeping to be tucked in the front short pockets. He sighs. “See you Jae!”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Byeol awkwardly looks at the guy who happened to be her blind date. It was Johnny Suh, he turns out to go to the same University as her. Byeol also couldn’t help but feel so awkward because he’s really handsome.

The Café with the large logo name THE CAFFEINE FIX stands outside with a poster and an enlarge menu box for others to glance at walking past on the city street.

Johnny watches Byeol staring at him a little too long, he starts to raise suspicion and wiggles his eyes at her. “Do I…have something on my face, Byeol?”

The girl broke out of the daze as quickly as he spoke, shaking her head in denial. “No! No, sorry I was zoning out, you’re very…handsome.” Byeol mutters the end, Johnny giving an endearing smile. “Thank you, you’re very pretty.”

He thinks I’m pretty, Byeol thought caught by complete surprise. “Me? Ah- thank you, haha. Sorry I’m a bit awkward right now, aren’t I..?”

The cool man who’s aura was relaxing and comforting shook his head a little “no you’re fine don’t worry.” , a sip of coffee passing him plum tannish heart lips as his dark brown slick hair was roughed up by his naturally big hands, touching the strands into neat spaces. He wore a brown coat and a simple white shirt with jeans. It suit his body build too, he had a very lean built it made him look good with the clothes he wore.

Byeol on the other hand was sorta fancied up. She wore a black skirt with fancy black loafers with thigh high stockings, a white jumper with a turtle neck and a jacket over it. She went for the dark academy aesthetic if anything, to look smart and cute at the same time nothin too formal.

It was a first date after all.

Johnny slowly starts. “I enjoyed this, would you perhaps like to meet again? We go to the same university surprisingly but I’ve never actually ran into you which is crazy.”

Byeol nods. “I know right! How could we never run into each other. Seriously, but it doesn’t matter anymore I’m sure I’ll be seeing you a lot now.” The girl slowly puts the warm coffee cup down on the table, Johnny humming. “Right? Can I have your phone to put my number in?”

“Oh sure! Do whatever you wish.” Byeol smiles forward sliding the phone across the table to Johnny, watching the man slip it in his palms as his fingers tap on the screen dialling the numbers.

Johnny then gave Byeol back the phone, the girl staring at the number and the contact name ‘Johnny’, she smiles lightly glancing back to face him.

The two came to a quick decision that he will walk her back to the university dorms. Byeol was happy to know that Johnny was a gentlemen who wouldn’t let a girl walk home alone. Especially at night. Johnny gives a short smile to the girl as he stops in front of the café see through visible glass doors, he’d open it and then turns to Byeol with a sheepish sweet grin. “Ladies first.” He tells romantically almost— or maybe Byeol’s ears are deceiving her.

Byeol would stand still wowing and then walks as Johnny opened the door, he leaves straddling behind the girl. The two eventually walk on the same wavelength down the empty streets.

There was a moment of silence spreading in the air, the street golden fairy lights shining above the beautiful night city life, small quiet cars trailing by the road but barely any people out except for them two. It was a very calming vibe. Relaxing.

“I really enjoyed this, I’m not just saying that.” Johnny said clearly to the short girl next to him. Han Byeol looking up at the tall six foot man, a cute smile flashing the man. Johnny swore he never thought he would be obsessed with a smile before until he laid eyes on to hers today.

Byeol hums cheerfully. “Me too. I don’t sugarcoat things.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Do you reckon that I have the honour of going on a second date with you?..”

She takes a moment to answer watching the confident man with a classy fashion sense, black slick hair with a middle part, a coffee in his pretty clean hands. The confidence in the man differs massively when there was a long pause from the girl. Byeol giggles seeing the anxiousness on Johnny’s face.

“I guess not?” Johnny states awkwardly. He suddenly felt a hand wrap around his shoulder, giving it a gentle comforting pat. “Im kidding. I thought the second date was obvious?” Byeol said innocently and Johnny smiles at the little jokes she’s already pulling. “Ah really? I see how it is.” Johnny replies with a laugh.

Johnny turns to the front where he stops in confusion, a built figure panting in the night heavily with his breathe ragged, smoke coming past his teeth due to the cold weather. Byeol moves to look the same direction where Johnny were looking at after the sudden change in the atmosphere.

Jaehyun holding the side of his training bag, eyes tighten themselves in the sockets as he eyes Johnny up and down. Although the analysis cuts short when he was only watching Byeol as if she was his entire world and he was living in it.

Johnny noticed the boy’s eyes as he squints them at Jaehyun. Byeol spoke first with a raised voice. “Jung Jaehyun?” She mutters out.

“Don’t you have practice what’s going on?”

“It ended early. I came to get you.”

Johnny felt like he was a third wheel already just by their eyes communicating. Jaehyun switches the gaze to Johnny. “This is..?”

Byeol’s hands pull away from Johnny’s shoulder which Jaehyun were mentally cutting off in his imagination; he hates the physical touch-ship they have already.

“Ah!” Byeol exclaims. “This is Suh Johnny! Jaehyun believe it or not he’s actually from our university! Crazy right?” The shared excitement coming from Byeol wasn’t met , instead a gloom-short dry response came out Jaehyun. “Ah, right. Let’s go Byeol.”

“Huh?”

Byeol spoke out loud.

He tells approaching the girl grabbing the left wrist in his hands. “Whoa wait—“ Byeol whispers to Jaehyun, completely shocked at the action to grab her away. He’s never been like this before. Johnny watches Byeol get dragged away in confusion, she lightly waves smiling. “I hope to see you next time Johnny!!” She shouts. Johnny’s lips fall apart as he tilts his head. “Did my date just get dragged by someone..?”

Johnny was left dumbfounded but he didn’t let it bother him. Who knows maybe it’s a brother…? Or… a cousin?

“Jaehyun.”

…

“Jae.”

…

“Yah Punk!”

Jaehyun turns around letting go off Byeol’s wrist to face her, the woman standing still in front of the women dorms from the university. The man looks down seemingly being unbothered and calm— why is he that he’s never showing a hint of bothersome emotions?

Byeol couldn’t find the answer to her thoughts, but instead she stares at Jaehyun in a prance.

“Yah you’re so weird today do you know that.” Byeol starts, shaking head as Jaehyun slightly fidgets annoyed. “You’re imagining things.” He told her .

The girl shifts stepping forward to Jaehyun, raising eyebrows. Did he just try to shift the situation?

“Yah…”

Byeol tilts her head. “I know what I’m seeing and this isn’t you. You’re usually clingy but this is to the max. You told me you were busy to come to the blind date! And now you’re even dragging me away from Johnny.”

“So tell me why the hell are you being this way, because it’s confusing. You’re off, I feel like we aren’t as close anymore because of this. What’s bothering you? Is it your basketball practice?”

“No…I love you.”

The ears felt deceived and in this moment forward, the girl wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or if not. Those three words that weren’t supposed to be shared between two best friends, are now shared on a glorious gourmet plate handed to Byeol made by the one and only Jung Jaehyun.

The girl wasn’t sure what to say or do, she could easily laugh it off…play it off as a joke and save the embarrassment from Jaehyun.

Maybe he’s drunk.

Or maybe he’s actually in love with her and Byeol now has to deal with such situations and drama she only saw on TV movies and kdramas; except now it’s happening to her.

Byeol was to speak but Jaehyun slowly starts, doing the favour of breaking the silence. “I love you Byeol, I always have but I never told you because you weren’t ready for a relationship.”

“I kept in my feelings for so long, you have no idea what torture I put myself through because I never wanted to CROSS that boundary scared that you’ll let me drown if I do jump that boundary. But now.”

“I will take the risk to drown and jump. I’m confessing to you Byeol before it’s too late for me to tell you my feelings. So please, put me down slowly…”

The receiver stands still rooting to the ground underneath her. Goosebumps and shivers travelling down the knees and fingertips, she felt the sudden adrenaline hearing those deep meaningful words. Time was able to be comprehended between them two; they were more than sure people saw and heard them speaking outside the dorms but did that matter? Her best friend, someone who she trusts so much confessed some forbidden secrets he’s kept.

She could only feel flattered, touched and at the same time bothered with worrisome thoughts. But why did she feel her stomach twist and turn full of sickening butterflies?

Why did she feel the sweaty palms, blushing cheeks and her lips quiver with underlying excitement that wasn’t meant to happen.

Why and why was Byeol questioning her relationship with Jaehyun. What was stopping the girl from flat lining rejecting Jaehyun right there and then? What made her stop?

Was it maybe because the girl sparked a feeling or two? Maybe it was because she is touched upon such meaningful confession.

It was conflicting the girl to the point… she can’t tell her own feelings between love and friendship.

“Jae…— No, Jaehyun.” Byeol stops herself looking down at the two feet, bringing the head up to face Jaehyun once she has composed herself. She met eyes with the boy she’d spent all her life with, where arguments did not last longer than a minute, where their families were comfortable living together too. To the point when Byeol’s parents passed away, Mr and Ms Jung immediately took in Byeol as their own.

With no hesitation, it was clear that there is a lot to think about. Jaehyun understood why the girl was taking her time to gather the correct words to speak. Byeol softly lites. “I’m sorry but, you don’t love me okay?”

“Who are you to tell me what my feelings are? How would you know what I feel to you!”

His ears perk down, eyebrows arch as she felt the boy begin to fuel and emit anger. The shoulders tighten. Something within Jaehyun exploded, was it his heart?

The voice raising, Byeol flinches back enhancing the eyes into a glare. “Because it’s wrong Jae!” She screams back, looking down. Jaehyun backs down immediately, shutting up. The explosive girl in front of him represents a falling bird that picked a fight with a bigger bird. “We can’t be together. It can’t happen. I won’t let it happen.”

Jaehyun looking at her, Byeol felt the saddest eyes linger on; he felt tears threatening to spew.

“Why..Why do you think that?” Jaehyun mouths out mournfully. Byeol shifts to the side, avoiding those puppy-like sad eyes that she can’t seem to stare at.

“Because to me you’re someone more than family.” The voice tells Jaehyun desperately. “To me, you’re more than my dead parents, more important to me than anyone. You were there for me in the worst darkest times, there for me all my life. You listened, taken me in, took care of me, protected me… hell you even—“

“You even know my damn menstrual cycles and what to buy for my cravings off by heart! Not only that whenever I’m struggling who will I turn to when we’re together? . That’s something I don’t want to lose.”

“Our relationship is fine as it is. If we were to date— and it all goes bad to the point we have to breakup, our friendship is ruined and doomed. I don’t want to lose you Jae..”

“I can sacrifice anything but I can’t fucking lose you.”

Jaehyun stands quiet once Byeol poured her heart out with her own innovative opinion and feelings. He knew she was right too, there will always be a risk for them both.

But at the end of the day, he can’t forget his own feelings for Byeol.

She looks down once more, curling her fingers side by side. “I need to protect our friendship. So I’m going to give us space until you come to your sense and take back your confession.”

“Goodnight Jae..”

Byeol murmurs leaving the boy as she enters the girl’s dorms. Jaehyun standing in the outside building with his hands crawling up to his fluffy blonde-ish brown hair, tugging it roughly. The low screams he’s holding in from shouting in the night, so he won’t have someone scream at him to shut up due to them sleeping.

“Fuck.” Jaehyun let’s out. He feels like he messed up.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The next following days Jaehyun tried his best to meet up with Byeol to talk this out, but she ignored all his messages and phone calls. Jaehyun resorted to staying at places Byeol will always be at.

Byeol went to the library Thursday to study, the girl opens the library doors and quietly enters. The librarian welcomes Byeol with a wave.

She slowly stops midway from going to the table where she will be studying, noticing Jaehyun on the same table watching around the library and watch on his wrist.

Byeol lifts her head up to the ceiling sighing deeply, turning around and left the building.

The same thing happened with the cafeteria table, Byeol told Yuqi and Winwin a lame excuse that she has to do something important. Nevertheless they believed her.

But it wouldn’t last long this ignoring, Byeol knows this.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Okay Class N 127 I’ll do the attendance check.” Professor told as he was surrounded by the tired students, he turns to the attendance paper humming, licking the edge of his finger tips to flip the papers over.

He begins to call out peoples names, until their names starts to pop up.

“Dong Sicheng?”

Winwin lifts his hands amongst the many students, waving. “Here sir.”

The professor looks back down humming.

“Song Yuqi?” He utters out and Yuqi did the same next to Winwin. He nods.

“We’re missing Han Byeol.” The professor urges, Jaehyun looks around worrisomely. He knows how often she sleeps in. Jaehyun points up to speak to the professor.

“Sir she’s probably slept in, wait a few minutes.” Jaehyun states and the teacher gave a nod understanding him. Within the same moment, Byeol came to the crowd in the front with a very tired yawn hitting the back of the throat. “I’m here sir..” Byeol tells quietly as she looks at Jaehyun who seemingly knows her too well.

The professor sighs looking at Byeol as he nods. “And we have Jaehyun. Okay everyone’s here, go into the mini bus and sit down. We will arrive shortly to meet with Mathematics class.”

The students roar with excitement even though it’s tiring to be up at six am, it was a short lived cheer. The students rush in to sit next to their friends, Yuqi and Winwin were sitting together already, most seats were taken too and Byeol was the last to come in.

She notices an empty seat by Jaehyun but hesitantly makes eye contact with the boy. He looks up with almost puppy-like pleading eyes, Byeol looks away noticing a stranger sitting alone so she begins to walk to the far back of the bus, then a large hand grabs Byeol pulling her to sit in the seat next to Jaehyun. She lightly thuds to turn around, wide eyes. “Sit here, you don’t like sitting on the back. You have travel sickness.” He tells worryingly.

Byeol purse her lips in a blank line. He was right and she hates it. He knows her more than she knows herself.

The girl didn’t say anything but stayed, Jaehyun assumed she’s going to agree and sit next to him. Jaehyun places on a white pair of earbuds on listening to music, he would be jamming on the full bus ride.

Byeol sits still in her seat, soon falling asleep halfway around. She took the travel sickness pills that are slowly kicking in. Behind them was Yuqi and Winwin cuddling to watch a Netflix film on the bus drive. In the very front of the bus was the teacher and another teacher driving the bus.

The drive was peaceful until they had hit the city, the road being more rocky and less abundant, causing many students to spill stuff and their food.

Jaehyun looks at Byeol admiring the sleeping state quietly, she shifts closer to Jaehyun unknowingly, the head falling onto his shoulders. The heart thumps as loudly as a basketball, the hair scent inflicting his nostrils, her soft skin hitting the white and blue hoodie fabric, the way her small shoulders touch with his biceps.

He was in heaven. The sleeping girl would curl up even more into Jaehyun, where he smiles uncontrollably to be this close to his best friend that he has feelings for.

Tracing his fingers through Byeol’s soft silky brunette hair, he cuddles in as well and then rests a head on top of her head. Closing eyes enjoying the bus drive.

Winwin and Yuqi peak upwards at the sight with their phones taking as many pictures as they could. The couple snicker out giggles, sitting back down in their seat.

They won’t let them live this down.

The students wow once the mini bus has stopped on its track in the woods, nothing of civilisation except for them and some animals roaming the place. No cars, no buildings, just greenery and trees.

The teacher comes out first to greet the other teacher who brought in the mathematics students.

The students of N 127 come out, leaving only Jaehyun and Byeol who were still asleep. Yuqi lightly taps Byeol’s shoulder who wakes up in a jump. She looks at where she’s snuggled into, by Jaehyun where she slowly backs away with a blush across the face.

How can she be this close to his face so carelessly?

Yuqi smirks once Byeol glances at her. “Wake up the other sleepyhead, we’re here at the camp site!” Yuqi left to join Winwin outside. Byeol looks at Jaehyun complementing if she should.

She sighs. Fuck it, she will have to eventually speak to him. “Jaehyun.” Byeol mutters, tugging on the man’s shoulder. It didn’t work. Byeol would have an upside frown painted on her face, leaning closer where she grabs one of the earbuds to listen in to his music.

It wasn’t music. But a voice recorder of Byeol’s voice. She widens her eyes when Jaehyun shifts up, awakening from the sleep. He looks around seeing no one but Byeol awake. He takes a minute to process his sleepiness from the eyes, the girl pulling the earbud away.

“I tried to wake you up but it didn’t work.” Byeol said, the first words spoken between them after the last incident outside the dorms. Jaehyun wide eyes was happy to hear that she was talking to him at least. “Ah, sorry.” He plainly apologises, Byeol shakes her head standing up.

Byeol left with Jaehyun following after her, them joining their class N 127 with Yuqi and Winwin too. The mathematics class comes out with less students but one student looking too familiar to Byeol.

She would come closer noticing it was exactly who it was. She runs to the man with a wave. “Johnny!”

Jaehyun would stand afar with his blood boiling and Winwin next to him. Yuqi would awe assuming it’s the blind date from before.

Johnny glances down to Byeol with a smile. “Byeol, you’re in N127 right? I knew I’d see you here.” The girl shyly looks down. “What the heck you should’ve said you’re from this math class.”

Johnny and Byeol chatter in the distance and Jaehyun pushed through the other students following the teachers where the others have to set up camp especially the tents for tonight. Every students were chatting and linking up, some built the fireplace, some went for exploring the woods gathering berries or what not— and some helped to get the luggage out for every student in this camp experience involved.

“Oh right Johnny,” Byeol starts as she helps with the tents like the other students next to them are doing. Johnny hums not sparing a look at Byeol, fixing the handles of the tent. “Do you have a tent buddy?” Byeol asks.

Johnny hums. “I do, our teacher set us up with people we never spoken to before.” Byeol would let out an Ah with her mouth. “So, who are you with?”

“Seo Soojin, I think she’s nice. We didn’t speak much, I’ll tell you if she is when we do.” Johnny laughs a bit. Byeol nods with a smile. “Of course! I think I’m going to find someone to bunk with then.”

Johnny nods and Byeol leaves. She then turns to Yuqi who was obviously with Winwin paired..

She tried every other student who rejected her because they already had someone. Jaehyun on the other hand was a single Pringle in the tent, he hums as he already had his tent set up before anyone, he’s used to setting this up as he and his family would camp frequently. Byeol knew that.

The girl sighs as she sees no choice but a dead end. She has to share with her best friend who she’s ignoring because.. yeah.

Jaehyun sees Byeol as he waves. “You got a partner yet?” He tells and Byeol huffs throwing her own bag into the tent. She glances at Jaehyun giving him a minor upsetting glare, she goes into the tent leaving jaehyun in the open outside without a word. He smirks at the adorable expression.

He’d join her inside the tent humming, he was set up with his stuff already. Byeol sits down on her side putting the pillows and blanket there on the side next to Jaehyun’s bed. She unpacks other stuff too.

Jaehyun would watch her with a slight laugh. “Why are you upset?”

“Shut up.” Byeol cackled out with a pout. “Why is it so hard to stay away from you?”

Jaehyun smiles cutely. “Because, I like you?”

Another confession. Byeol felt her heart walk an entire marathon with the way its beating so quickly, she side glances away sighing. “You don’t.” She stated strongly.

Jaehyun hums out approaching forward. “I do.” He emphasised. Byeol turns around to look at Jaehyun again but the moment she had turn her head, “you don’t—“ she was inch away from Jaehyun’s face as he came closer.

“I do..” Jaehyun mutters looking into her eyes lovingly. The same eyes that were looking into her pupils, fell instantly to her lips staring at them in temptation. Byeol was doing the same too, staring into Jaehyun’s plump lips where her intrusive thoughts began thinking wrong sinful things of her best friend. This wasn’t what she had in planned. This tension. It wasn’t what she planned at all.

“You…” Jaehyun murmurs, his hand reaching for the sudden bag behind Byeol where she stepped on accidentally. “You’re on my bag.” He tells, pulling his bag on his own side. Byeol gulps heavily when the boy pulls away, going to his side of the tent. Byeol swore she had a slight flush on her cheeks already.

Why was I expecting a freaking kiss, Byeol thinks to herself.

The students within the tents would suddenly hear a large microphone with a teacher’s voice coming through. “EVERYONE COME OUTTTT.”

Jaehyun and Byeol stumble out of the tent along with meeting Winwin and Yuqi too. The four of them come into the middle meeting their teacher, Johnny and Soojin paired up as well.

The teacher clears his throat. “Okay, our first activity is fishing. So get your best swim trunks on and get into the water. Some students will have to rely on using wooden spears.” He explains the shortage of fish rods was immensely inevitable.

Fishing couldn’t go wrong right? Jaehyun was wrong for thinking that.

When the activity began every student was either fishing with the rod or some where swimming carelessly in the stream of water. It was their mistake, especially Jaehyun’s.

Byeol with her fishing rod smiles as she caught her fourth fish of the day. Winwin on the other hand was struggling. Yuqi laughs a bit seeing her boyfriend fish a snail instead. “Yah that’s a snail haha!” Yuqi giggles and Winwin sighs.

Maybe fishing isn’t his sport. “I give up sir!” Winwin pessimistically tells, the teacher shakes his head. “Come on try again! Be resilient son.” The teacher told and Winwin glared. “I would rather be sleeping honestly sir!”

The teacher shook his head dismissing Winwin’s whines. Yuqi pushes Winwin on her side where she takes over the fishing rod, “look babe I’ll do it for you.”

Johnny turns to Soojin who jumps into the stream of water on the other side. She was beautiful, charismatic and smart. Soojin smiles at Johnny. “I don’t think we ever talked before.”

“I know right? I guess it’s a first for everything.” Johnny tells. Soojin nods. “Do you like that girl over there by the way?” She asks, ever since Johnny links with this class for the first time he already seemed to know Byeol. His eyes land on Byeol as he nods. “Mhm I do like her. What about you? Have anyone your eyes laid on?”

Soojin smirks as she points to the boy in the water swimming leisurely. “Him.” Soojin said. Johnny looks over to find the boy she wants, and it was none other then the jung Jaehyun.

“Ah Jaehyun? I believe he’s Byeol’s best friend.” Johnny tells. “I think anyways.” Soojin hums as she sits up next to Johnny now. “We should get with them together right?”

He nods. It doesn’t sound too bad getting with them both.

A sudden scream brought the two mathematic students to reality away from their conversations. Other students jump hearing such cries when Jaehyun comes out with leeches sucking on his skin especially his back and front abs. Byeol stands up calming the boy as she sits him down, taking them off one by one.

Yup. Jaehyun officially hates fishing.

The teacher sighs at the sight. “Ignore this! Continue fishing!” The student nod having no choice but to turn back to their fishing spots doing their work.

Jaehyun groans a whine when Byeol roughly takes them off. He flinches. Everytime her cold soft hands touch his body it sparked a painful yet excitement in his body because his feelings for her were growing stronger the more he’s around her, but the pain was not easy to ignore. Those damn Leeches such on him as if they were vampires.

“Can you… be more gentle?” Jaehyun trails and Byeol scoffs. “You can handle a bit of pain can’t you?” She tells him plainly and Jaehyun bites the bottom of his lips. “I…can?” He said with a question of uncertainty than a statement. He wasn’t sure if he can handle anymore of this.

Byeol clears his back as she then sighs. “Turn around to face me.” The girl sees the boy obeying as he turns around, she looks at his chest and then down to his abs sighing. Every leech was hanging onto him for dear life.

“Why do they like you so much..” Byeol huffs out. Turns out leeches love him, but it was a clear one sided relationship because Jaehyun seems to be a hater instead of a fan of them. “Why don’t you like me so much like the leeches do?” The boy tells again.

Another minor confession. Byeol took a heavy breath in, grabbing the leeches with heavy force of her hands.

Jaehyun’s stomach breathes in roughly when Byeol’s hands reach for his abdomen, his cold body reacting to her warm hands. She notices it and Jaehyun shuts his eyes, he really was a cry baby about this.

Byeol smirks teasingly moving forward whispering. “Open your eyes.” Jaehyun opens his pupils, only to scream because he was met with a leech in Byeol’s hands that she grabbed, jump scaring him. He jumps up falling on his bum after. Byeol laughs a little, Jaehyun glaring.

“Yah! Han Byeol that’s not funny!” He exclaims and Byeol stands up holding her stomach, that twists and turns because the face Jaehyun made was priceless! “Be honest it was kind of funny.” Byeol shouts back.

“No!”

“Yes it was! Your expression was amazing.” Byeol tells with a wide smile and Jaehyun scoffs out, Byeol throws away the leeches into the river stream again— but ultimately notices Jaehyun laundering bride her where he pulls Byeol into the river with her.

She lets out a long lived scream , swimming back up with Jaehyun next to her. She gives him a playful glare splashing the boy with water. “Oh you’ll pay for that.” Byeol revengeful tells, where she jumps into him, holding Jaehyun underwater with herself.

Jaehyun let’s the girl pull him underwater where the two play with each other, these two crawl back to the surface smiling together happily. Swimming together. The teacher watches them as he turns to Winwin. “You have strange friends.” The teacher tells, he never met such chaotic students in his life before until now.

Winwin witnesses his girlfriend Yuqi fishing about six fish in the bucket. “You…are a great fisher.” Winwin states and Yuqi smirks. “Thank you baby, how about you tell Byeol and Jaehyun to come out because they’re scaring my damn fish away.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The campers went back to their camping site late evening, it turns dark quickly so they turned on the fire camp and sat by each other.

The two teachers with the students gathering by the fire pits, roasting marshmallows and other snacks over the fire as they told horror stories and myths.

Other discussed politics and other discussed the fishing experience. Overall the vibe was well done and relaxing. Jaehyun was sitting next to this girl called Soojin.

Soojin tried every way to make convo with Jaehyun but his gaze was fixated on Byeol with Johnny. It was undefeated and left her feeling that way too.

Johnny on the other hand brings Byeol two marshmallows, since she was away from the fire pit, the two had their own little privacy away from everyone who sat and joined them on the campfire, one marshmallow stick for her and one for him. The two smile as they ate the snacks. Winwin nudges Jaehyun sighing. “You’re gonna get wrinkles if you keep glaring.”

Jaehyun scoffs. “I was not glaring.”

Yuqi quickly jumps in. “You were, your eyebrows went like this.” Yuqi tells as she builds with two think sticks on her face, indicating arch angry eyebrows. Winwin smiles at the cuteness radiating from his girlfriend and Jaehyun opens his mouth to protests but he would rather not.

Yuqi can be quite scary when you’re debating and arguing with her.

The teachers stand up on one of the logs they sat on previously. “Students I just want to remind you that you cannot leave the camp without a teacher!”

The students all let out a ‘Yes’ as in they understood the rules. Some students called it a day already and went into the tent to sleep, One of them being Winwin. Yuqi went too so she can sleep without disturbing Winwin whenever she comes back later.

Leaving only Byeol, Jaehyun and Johnny. Soojin on the other hand was struggling catching the boy’s attention so she gave up and left, going back to the tent.

Jaehyun would hear a few guys next to him speak in whispers about Byeol. It only boiled him more.

“Yah she’s really pretty I’m tempted to ask her out.”

“That’s clearly her boyfriend right there dumbass.”

“She’s outta your league for sure.”

“She’s sexy guys trust me, I was in her class and she’s a genius. She has so many degrees.”

“It’s nuts, I’m going to speak to her.”

Jaehyun just about had enough. Why was she suddenly attracting perverts and guys towards her? Don’t get him wrong, she is beautiful, smart and she is sexy; but that’s only for him not for anyone else.

He is possessive. He’s attached to Byeol. He’s like her first and it was hard to act civil with other guys when it comes to Byeol.

Jaehyun turns to the boys with a deep glare. “Guys.” He states catching the boys attention. “You’re wrong! She snores, overheats and she eats like a pig trust me.”

“Trust me I’m her best friend and she finishes the fridge in just twenty four hours.”

“Not only that, she has such a bad temper, you don’t want her. She is a spawn of Satan offspring!”

The exaggeration on Jaehyun’s face was absolutely terrifying as if he was a victim of Han Byeol. The guys nervously laughed as they stand up and left Jaehyun as he scared them away.

He wasn’t lying but he did expose the unpretty parts of Byeol- which he found the unpretty parts to be the prettiest parts of Han Byeol. He loves the way she eats so much, he loves the way she has this bad temper because it’s easy for her to forgive him too and to know what triggers her and what doesn’t.

He loves all of those things. If the guy doesn’t like everything about you he isn’t the one. Those guys, don’t belong to Byeol. She should only belong to Jaehyun who knows her inside and out.

“That was easy.” Jaehyun states to himself, laughing. He scared the guys that had a crush on Byeol, funny isn’t it?

Byeol would suddenly shift uncomfortable when Johnny would offer to move closer to the fire. Actually, all students were around the fire pit but Byeol was the only one far away.

Jaehyun notices the more the fire got bigger because some students are reckless and stupid by throwing water, it would cause large flames to dance out engulfing the area.

Byeol flinches as her heart suddenly raced quickly, sweaty palms and her breathe going short ragged, she felt her eyes flash a light, seeing the flames engulf her. Or maybe it was her imagination, but what she saw was a flashing past memories or rather a flashback— a flashback of that house burning to the pits of hell.

Only survivor was a child. Crying in an arm of some boy, screaming out for people in the fire. The smell of the fire pit causing bad nostalgia to happen, she smelled gasoline suddenly and it caused Byeol to cry and scream .

Johnny was unable to do anything because he was shocked by the sudden panic attack Byeol was having. Jaehyun came quickly from the seat knowing exactly what was happening.

He pushed through the teachers and students, hugging Byeol deeply into his chest where he rocks her one by one in the embrace.

Byeol cries into his white shirt, tears overflowing the fabric wetting it. Jaehyun’s hands lightly petting the back of her soft brunette hair, softly speaking. “I’m here Byeol, Jaehyun’s here.”

“Fire… burning down.” Byeol croaks out and Jaehyun covers her eyes from the fire pit. “There is no fire baby, okay?”

“It’s just me and you.” Jaehyun said softly, noticing her calming down. The teachers come joining Jaehyun and Byeol, he explained the situation to them and then they dismissed Byeol to go into her tent and stay with her.

Johnny wasn’t sure what’s happened but he’s now sure that it wasn’t just a panic attack. It felt like a trauma hitting Byeol. All because of a single fire growing bigger.

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Later, Jaehyun and Byeol went back to their tent to sleep. Byeol seemingly needing all the sleep she can get after that tiring traumatic hallucination she’s got from the fire earlier.

That night Jaehyun went back into the tent late because he changed in the toilets, Byeol was already asleep or so he thought. The boy shifts into his side of the bed next to Byeol, where he would watch her back in awe. The blue pyjamas matching with his pink pyjamas that he wore as well after he changed into them. They had couple pyjamas… yes.

Jaehyun wearing the pink and Byeol wearing the blue, it was adorable to see the opposite Colours.

Just about when Jaehyun was to fall asleep, Byeol turns around facing Jaehyun with her eyes open. Their eyes making eye contact, Jaehyun wasn’t sure what to say, but to be honest nothing was meant to be said.

The silence was comforting.

Byeol laying on the side watching Jaehyun back, she was the first to let out her voice softly. “You’re still wearing the matching pyjamas?”

Jaehyun let’s out a short and gentle nod. “Mhm..I like them a lot.” The girl murmurs out. “Why do you like them a lot?”

“Because you’re wearing them.” Jaehyun said immediately, with nothing but honesty. Byeol’s eyes falter down speaking quietly. “Jaehyun please come to your senses.”

The boy sighs out. “I love you Han Byeol.”

This time he never said like, but love. The L word that Byeol feared he would say in a different context and meaning. The girl was about to turn away, only to be pulled into a warmth hug.

“I’m sorry I should’ve been there for you sooner knowing that you are scared of fires.” He explains deeply in guilt, Byeol embraces back the boy nuzzling closer in his chest. She sighs. “Don’t be ridiculous it’s not your fault.”

Jaehyun murmurs. “I want to protect you..” those sweet words made Byeol flicker between him and her. He knows everything about her.

He knows how her parents died in the fire when she was younger. He was the first one to hug her, to make her look away from the burning house. He was the first one to take her into the family with his parents.

He was there for her everything. Through the happiest and saddest moments of her life.

Byeol whispers in his chest. “You’re always there for me.” She admits and he nods. “It’s because I love you. I care for you, I want to be there for you.”

“You’re the most important person in my life, Byeol..” Jaehyun tells her and the girl looks up at Jaehyun with soft eyes.

“So please be understanding of my feelings for you.” Jaehyun tells her once again.

For once the girl felt like she was being not understanding enough of Jaehyun, and that she was too harsh on him when he confessed. Byeol came to the conclusion that he does love her, but she isn’t sure if it’s worth taking such a big risk to get with Jaehyun and love him.

Byeol hums. “Okay..I acknowledge your feelings to be true.”

Jaehyun tightens his arms around Byeol with a smile. “I’ll win you over, Byeol.”

He was determined.

He will win her over.

He will belong to Byeol.

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Han Byeol was introduced to a line of sunlight peaking into the tent directly hitting her sleeping face. She starts to slowly wake up as she then comes to her senses, feeling two tight arms around her and a tired face leaning on her back.

Byeol turns around slowly, now met with Jaehyun’s sleeping state. The eyebrows were softer, his long thick eyelashes curl up against the eyelid, his nostrils flare a little and his cheeks puffed out. The girl smiles seeing her best friend so fondly, that her body subconsciously begins to play with his hair.

Allowing the small hand to wrap around the light brownish blonde locks, brushing it softly.

“You’re the cutest when you’re asleep.” Byeol mutters quietly. Something quickly catching the girl off guard once Jaehyun sleepily talks back.

Jaehyun gives a tired smirk. “You’re adorable.” Was all he said to her to cause inner panic in the girl. Byeol flys back, pushing off Jaehyun and ultimately cutting the hands off once her body pulled away.

Byeol sighs. “Oh my god how long have you been awake,” jaehyun slowly turns around pulling the duvet over his head, burying himself away from the annoying sunshine. “I just woke up.” He replies muffled underneath the blankets.

The girl breathes out heavily shaking her head. The adrenaline ran away once Jaehyun seemed seemingly unbothered.

Byeol heard shuffling outside between tents, maybe few people are waking up to take a shower. She glances back at jaehyun before grabbing her a new towel and showering products. She grabs her phone in case too.

“I’m going to take a shower, go back to sleep.” Byeol tells and Jaehyun nods humming, falling back to sleep.

On the way to the bathrooms Byeol would be the first in it. It’s those open bathrooms with your shared gender, it was quite normal for Koreans to shower together especially if they’re the same sex.

Byeol was comfortable enough to strip midway, beginning the comforting relaxing morning shower. The cold droplets turning slightly lukewarm just the way she looked it, the way it embraces her body with this warm heat replacing the old clothes.

Closing eyes as she applies the hair products, she sings in the shower just a little, ‘Nayeon Pop.’

The bathrooms have little rectangle shaped windows to keep the light in, to be honest no one would try to peak in. Unless you’re an absolute pervert like these boys from last camp in the mathematics class.

The three boys who were planning to ask Byeol out yesterday were back for more.

“Yah take your phone out.” The boy with black hair tells the boy with blue hair who nods, he slips his hand behind his jean pockets,

But a muscular hand stops the boy’s hand from behind, suddenly twisting it and then kicking the lower butt pushing the blue boy on the black hair boy and the blonde too.

Jaehyun coming into view where he stops in front of the window they were spying on to see Byeol, he glared down at the perverted boys. “Run along before I absolutely kill you guys and bury your body here.” Jaehyun snarls and the boys back away very slowly.

As if they were scared Jaehyun would chase after them. The blue boy runs and then followed by the two boys doing the same. Jaehyun knew something was up the moment he heard distant chattering with the boys saying how they’re going to spy on someone showering.

It left a worried gut feeling and he just had to follow them. Luckily he was just in time to stop them, otherwise he would’ve actually killed them.

Jaehyun curses. “God she should’ve told me to fix the windows for her. She’s so unaware.” He tucks hands the front in his sweatpants, awaiting for Byeol to finish.

Unfortunately a large voice echoing from the camp coming from an teacher was gathering a meeting for every student to wake up. Byeol heard even inside the showers that’s how loud it actually was, she panics because he said whoever comes last will be cleaning the camp all by themselves.

Byeol curses, rushing out with a towel wrapping the wet body and leaving smaller towel for the wet hair, she can survive catching a cold but not cleaning the entire camp!

The girl runs out and Jaehyun comes from behind watching the girl run with her sandals. He smiles at the sight of rushed Byeol but he goes inside the girls bathroom to grab the hair towel she left in the front doors. He sighs, rushing after Byeol.

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Students groan at their teachers half asleep still because he woke them up, well most students he woke up with the authority’s voice.

“Now now don’t be grouchy with me.” The teacher scowls watching the students as he did attendance check. He was missing Kevin.

“Ah looks like Kevin will be cleaning the camp.” He told. Byeol sighs, “I’m not late.”

Jaehyun appears behind Byeol. “You rushed here so of course you wouldn’t be late.” The girl jumps up and notices it’s just jaehyun, she groans. “What the— don’t creep up on me you scared me!”

Jaehyun gives a short smile noticing the beautiful wet hair, he lightly gulps as he could also smell the strong shampoo scent. Jaehyun leans forward sniffing, Byeol blinking at the boy.

“You smell good.” Byeol hears him say. Jaehyun clears his throat and shows the towel for her hair. “I figured you’d want this.”

Byeol widely smiles. “Wah! You’re right, thanks Jae.” She slowly wraps up the hair into a towel bun. As she was doing this, Jaehyun noticed a lot of male attention especially unwanted attention staring at Byeol, the revealed neck and collarbones with shoulders catching their eyes. Jaehyun slowly wraps an arm around Byeol where he pushes her in front of his body and into it. The girl said nothing but looks up at Jaehyun who gives a comforting smile.

“What was that for?” Byeol whispers and Jaehyun leans closer to whisper back. “I’m just protecting you from the male attention.”

The girl shyly smiles, appreciating his hard work. It wasn’t unusual to see Jaehyun be protective or possessive of Byeol, but now that she knows his feelings, it sent a bit of a different signal in her body. An outnumber of butterflies forming.

Byeol leans closer towards Jaehyun’s body, humming. “Thank you.” She tells him, the boy grinning. “You’re so sweet today, have you fallen already?”

The girl chokes on the saliva, teachers looking at the girl as she interrupted them. Byeol apologies with a head bow, glaring at Jaehyun. “No i have not.” He smirks humming. “Alright then.”

He was so unbothered and cool, it pisses Byeol off sometimes. Especially when trying to tell him otherwise he sounds more arrogant about it. She pouts her lips at the boy.

The teacher hums out. “Okay so, today we are split into different teams. Three teams to be exact. Me and Sir have planted six scavenger egg items around the woods, however nothing beyond the woods alright?”

“It’s your job to find them before the hour and a half minute timer runs out. Whoever gets the most eggs wins a prize, a big prize too!”

The teachers were met with a cheer and many roars, they were expecting this. Who wouldn’t love big prizes?— Aside from that the students were questioning their groups, seems like the teachers picked it out too. So the chance of being with your friends is awfully slim. The mathematics class is slightly bigger than the English class only by four more people.

Professor Choi and Professor Song stand next to each other as they take the team names to start calling them out. But before that, Mr Choi looks at Byeol questioningly. “But I suggest Byeol to finish her morning shower before she actually goes scavenging just saying.”

The students chuckle as they face Byeol the moment he’s mentioned his joke. The girl nervously laughing, fidgeting hands at the amount of attention she’s got. Jaehyun reassuringly tightens his hold on Byeol, rubbing her hand with his thumb, those small actions quickly calm Byeol down and it was a miracle honestly.

What could she be without Jaehyun? He’s always there to protect her.

The teachers begin calling out a few of the team out with the people in it, awaiting for their trio teams. It was almost nerve wrecking, Byeol kind of wants to stick with Jaehyun because he seems good at this team game; same with Yuqi, she is a great runner.

“Jung Jaehyun, Seo Soojin and Choi Yeojun.”

Byeol looks up at Jaehyun the moment his body lays off, pulling away and looking back at the girl and boy in the distance who are both from the mathematics class. Jaehyun looks down at Byeol, smiling. “I will collect all those eggs, Byeol.”

He was competitive, always. Jaehyun could fight over the smallest things to win, if it meant to win he will do it. Byeol was the same, but Jaehyun took it to the extreme sometimes. The girl smirks back, pulling back slightly to face him. “Hate to break it to you but, I don’t plan on losing.”

The brunette with blonde highlights makes his way to Jaehyun halfway with a red head girl trailing behind the taller boy. Jaehyun introduce himself as it was natural, they are from different class first time meeting— even though Soojin has been eyeing him lately to the point she knows his name and age off by heart. Yeojun on the other hand never spoken to Soojin even though they are in the same class…

Yeojun clears his throat. “Can I call you..Hyung instead? I like to be respectful.” Jaehyun gives the younger boy a nod. “Sure, I don’t mind. Be comfortable as much as you like. Same to you, Soojin.”

The two boys look at Soojin who nods with a short smile. “You can call me whatever too. I am the oldest here though..”.

“Okay noona.” Jaehyun trails before he turns to the taller boy in the middle.

Jaehyun and Yeojun began scheming their strategies for the upcoming hunt. The teachers gave everyone twenty minutes to prepare as well as for Byeol to change into clothes. Soojin was meant to join them in for input of the strategies but the way Jaehyun said noona gave her a shocking amount of butterflies it was crazy to imagine how many were residing in her stomach at the moment.

Soojin fell for Jaehyun even more just by the slightest way he spoke.

Byeol ends up with Johnny and Winwin. She was happy to have Winwin around, at least she doesn’t need to be extra awkward now.

Winwin hums out catching both his teammates attentions. “Let’s go to the lake, I have a feeling there will be something there because we were there before. So it would make sense the teachers would go and out an egg there.”

He did have a point, Johnny nods because it seems to have good hideout spots. Byeol also agrees, there was no reason to reject that idea out of the way.

“Okay so as for our jobs, I’ll defend.” Byeol adds. Johnny hawks open in surprise, not insulting way, but because he was surprise. “You want to defend? Are you sure I mean—“

Winwin laughs openly. “Oh goodness Johnny I don’t think you know how strong Byeol actually is.” He leans closer to Johnny with wide eyes, he whispers. “Byeol here took martial arts before, she’s scary.”

Johnny wows , sharing eye contact with Byeol. The girl smirks with arms crossed. “It’s nothing much but I’m not that weak as I look to be.”

Johnny nods, now that he knows he can’t wait to see Byeol in action. He mentions. “Then, I’ll be a runner. Winwin you can be the finder for the eggs.” The Chinese boy nods being okay with that. Looks like their teams were sorted.

“Oh right..” Byeol trails, looking up at Winwin. “What team did Yuqi get into..?”

Yuqi stands in between the teachers awkwardly. Seemingly the class was massively uneven, so she ends up with the two professors.

The student curses under her breath. “This is embarrassing.”

Professor Choi and Professor Song look at Yuqi clearing their throat. “How about you do the points Yuqi, write the team points at the end.” The girl nods as she obliged, taking a whiteboard with a pen.

How great!

Winwin and Byeol look at Yuqi in the distance, Byeol sighing as she withstanding a laugh. “How did she end up with the sirs..” Winwin shrugs as he giggles a bit. Just a bit, but he does feel bad for Yuqi. “Probably uneven numbers, but it’s okay, I’ll make it fun for her.”

Byeol smiles at Winwin, he’s considerate of Yuqi no matter what it seems.

The professors call out seemingly adding a new rule. “To make this more fun, Yuqi suggests to allow the teams to have the ability to take out other team players if they take off the team tail.” The teacher shows a different colour team shirt, that needs to be worn in the pocket, Acting like a tail.

Winwin pouts. “Yuqi had to add tag to the game.” Byeol laughs a little as she goes up front with the other students taking three same coloured team shirts. Byeol comes back with blue, giving Johnny and Winwin it.

The boys stand up putting it on their behind with a hair tie from Byeol. The girl doing the same thing, humming. “This seems fun, Yuqi is the evil mastermind here though.” Byeol tells and Johnny nods a bit. “Your friend has a good sense of fun though. It’ll make it easier if the runner gets out as much people as they can so no one will get the egg.”

“Yeah, it seems to make this easier for us.” Byeol tells.

The game starts now. The teams began their strategy to find the eggs as well as to get as many people out as possible. The tension was on, everyone was on alert in the woods, every sudden movement was cautious to the people, it could easily be a trap or an enemy from the opposite team.

Byeol follows Winwin from behind protecting the boy. He was the most important one in the team, he is the leader and brain. He is the egg finder, the only one who can carry the egg back to the camp base. Quite important roles.

Johnny runs from the side chasing a boy who rolls on the ground once he took off the yellow coloured shirt from the behind. The giant smirks down at the boy on the ground, waving the yellow shirt in front of them. “You’re out, scram off the playing field.” He tells and the boy walks out going back to camp, groaning.

Winwin observed the tree, climbing up as he sees something shiny in the branch above. Byeol looking around seeing no Winwin the moment she looks at Johnny for a second. “What the.. where’s Winwin.” Byeol trails in panic. Winwin calls out from above as he reaches his hand to the wobbling branch. “Here Byeol, I found an egg!” Winwin shouts grabbing the egg and then slowly falling off the tree to land on two crouched legs.

Byeol gasps. “Wow you found one already! Okay go, I’ll defend you.” She said as Winwin starts running to make his way to the camp hopefully without trouble and safely, Byeol looking around the area checking for enemies.

Just when Byeol thought they were safe, Jaehyun appears in front of Winwin and Byeol. He is a runner it seems.

Byeol pushes Winwin to the side as she comes in front of Jaehyun. “Run Winwin! I can handle him.” The boy smirks. “Hey Byeol,”

The girl gives him a nod. “Hey, ready to go out of the game Jaehyun?” Byeol sassily adds and Jaehyun laughs. “Oh you’re such a mean person Y’know.” He steps forward watching the Blue team shirt behind Byeol, he quickly swipes his hand to the behind but Byeol steps back two steps, making Jaehyun miss his grab.

They smirk with their eye contact never breaking, tension rose as well as their feelings too, it wasn’t nothing aggressive but rather competitive and exciting. Jaehyun steps closer each time he did, Byeol steps back each time. The location the two were at was the lake, Winwin was somehow right that they would place an egg in this area somewhere.

Byeol goes in for an attack this time, running in a circle to catch the red team shirt that Jaehyun has flying in his pocket on the side rather than behind. She misses when Jaehyun grabs her wrists pulling her closer to his chest. She squirms in the tight grip, but he feels her chest pause with her hitching breath once he leans closer down to Byeol’s face.

Jaehyun’s breathing slowly hitting the soft surface of her pink lips, the eye contact hasn’t broke off once. The girl slowly met a tree surface with her back, when the boy pinned her forward to trap her down there. Byeol closes eyes when Jaehyun was hovering just about her lips, he smiles.

He couldn’t believe the sight of Byeol waiting for a kiss, it’s as if she was expecting it. Jaehyun wasn’t going to rush into their first kiss yet, even though it was hard not to kiss Byeol right there in the moment. He smiles as he moves Byeol’s hand to the red shirt on his right hip, pulling it and pushing it in Byeol’s hands.

“Open your eyes Byeol.” Jaehyun calls out, the girl opening them in surprise to see his shirt taken by her. “But I, didn’t take it off you-“

“You did.” Jaehyun skips through her sentence, him going on his knees dramatically doing an musical death scene. Byeol chuckles as she runs off, heading to help her team with some more eggs. He watches her run off happily, as he sighs in satisfaction.

For her, he could be the most competitive turned into the least competitive if she is not on his team.

The students gathered around once the game has ended, Yuqi revealing the white board of each team points. Green team zero. Yellow team zero. Blue team Two. Red Team One. Pink team Zero. Purple team three.

The purple team celebrates aloud as the rest of the students clap in celebration too. Winwin approaching Yuqi as he helps her off the small one tiny log she stood up on like it was a stadium, her wrapping arms around Winwin tightly as he lifts her up off the log.

“You did such a good job.” Winwin tells his girlfriend who smiles in appreciation, Yuqi leaning in giving a forehead kiss to her boyfriend. “You too, one egg is a good job. well done.”

Soojin would lean to Jaehyun’s side, smiling. “So, Jaehyun. Would you perhaps like to meet more often after this camping trip ends?”

The boy shifts down at Soojin, humming aloud. “I don’t mind, Noona.” Soojin nods as she grabs her hand out with a pen. “Write your number down on my hand then, I’ll contact you after the camping ends.” Jaehyun looks down at the pen as he grabs it, holding onto Soojin’s hand so warmly as he starts writing the number on her palm very lightly.

Byeol turns around looking for Jaehyun after the announcement of the team points, she rushes to Jaehyun when noticing him, but then a shorter female came into view. Byeol stops running, stopping midway as Soojin was held tightly by Jaehyun. He was laughing and smiling with the beautiful red hair girl.

It wasn’t just a moment of realisation for Byeol, that she does actually like him. The burning insecure jealousy burning made Byeol feel sick. The girl turns around when Johnny taps her shoulder, smiling.

“Hey, you done well in the game!” Johnny praised causing Byeol to lightly smile. But not as happy as he thought she would be. “Thank you Johnny, you too.” Byeol tells him and he nods.

Yuqi comes in towards Byeol jumping on the girl’s back from behind. “Wooo! Byeol, you actually did so well you know.” Her best friend praises and Byeol lightly laughs at Yuqi’s affectionate hug.

She lets go off the girl and then allows Byeol to hug her properly. “You did so well too though.” Byeol adds, Yuqi grinning. “Thank you, I was a great mc wasnt i?”

Johnny and Byeol nod as well as Winwin who joins next to Johnny’s side. Yuqi grins, she then notices Jaehyun approaching them as he stands next to Yuqi and Byeol.

“Jaehyun! How did you get out off the game so early.” Yuqi gasps and Jaehyun chuckles. “I encountered a very powerful player.” He stated as he looks down at Byeol.

The girl gave a blank expression as she looks down at Jaehyun’s hand, noticing a scribble of numbers on the palm. Byeol wasn’t aware that her hand clench’s itself in a ball just by being reminiscent of the beautiful girl holding Jaehyun’s hand.

Byeol looks away as she turns to everyone but Jaehyun. “I’ll be back I’m going to get my water bottle from the tent.” She begins walking away to the shared tent, Jaehyun blinks as he found her awfully distant with him suddenly.

She looks around the tent with a sigh, shaking off the heavy feeling of wanting to scream; she didn’t know what was this feeling of being hurt, shouldn’t she be happy her best friend has someone who likes him romantically? Then why isn’t she happy.

She feels the complete opposite of happiness right now. It hurts her heart causing it to be heavy.

Byeol feels a presence entering as she turns around noticing Jaehyun, he flinched at the quick alert movements from her. His hands coming in the air, speaking softly. “whoa it’s just me, relax.”

She’d turn away grabbing the nearest water bottle, walking past Jaehyun, drinking from the bottle. He lightly grabs her hand with the shared bottle, holding it in his hand now that he took it away, drinking from the same lid. Byeol watches Jaehyun drink casually from the same bottle, same places that her lips were drinking from previously.

Byeol’s eyes fixated on the Adam Apple swallowing the water leisurely, breaking from the sight once Jaehyun closes the lid giving it back to her. “Thanks for the water,”

He earned himself a nod from Byeol as she looks away, scoffing a bit. “Wasn’t that an indirect kiss?” He hears her remark, Jaehyun smirking. “So you caught on huh?”

Byeol rolls her eyes at the bottle. “Shouldn’t you..” Jaehyun listens in but seemingly, she held herself back.

“Shouldn’t I what?” Jaehyun trails back and forth with Byeol, standing in front of her. The girl clearing her throat, unsure if she should’ve said it anyways. “Shouldn’t you do this with the girl you held hands with..” Byeol jabbers quietly, looking down at the bottle in her hands as she fidgets. Jaehyun smiling ear to ear at the response. She was getting jealous, honestly it was a good sign for him, that she now might have sort of feelings for him. Byeol has this pouty expression, almost like a sad puppy who was disappointed and awfully conflicted by the idea of Jaehyun being liked by someone else.

If only Byeol knew how much Jaehyun loves her, to the point he doesn’t care if someone else likes him because to him, as long as he likes Byeol he won’t ever like anyone else.

Byeol felt a hand wrap around her waist as Jaehyun pulls her entire body mass into his warm embrace. Jaehyun rocking side by side in the hug, a hand behind Byeol’s head keeping the girl buried in his chest softly. She could take a whiff off his perfume, becoming addicted to the way his bodily scent and perfume mix together; the way she felt his heartbeat skipping quickly, same with her heart he could hear loud and clear.

Jaehyun loving the way Byeol’s soft hair had that shampoo scent lingering in his nostrils, flaring with delight. He was happy to be in the presence of his loved one and Byeol, felt a lot more calm and forgiving just by receiving the physical touch from Jaehyun.

“Byeol,” Jaehyun calls out in a teasing tone. The girl buries further into his chest trying to block out him voice that he’s going to call her out for the jealousy issue. She knows already.

“As long as I love you, I won’t ever need anyone else.” Jaehyun suddenly said in a genuine tone that wasn’t in any shape or form..joking. Where did that teasing tone go? Byeol was left stunned by her best friend’s words, looking up to see Jaehyun.

Those beautiful big loving eyes glancing right at the honey brown eyes , circling and rotating around him like they were the sun and he was merely just a planet observing from afar.

She was his star as much as he was her sun in her dark times, lighting any path to help Byeol out in every situation to make it better for her. To protect her. Whilst she was his star, a star that keeps him happy.

“So..don’t worry about Noona.” Jaehyun tells softly as he sweeps a peace of Byeol’s hair, tucking it behind the ear lovingly. Byeol’s happy expression drops into a pout. “Noona?”

Jaehyun chuckles as he repeats. “Yes, she’s older than me.” Byeol huffs letting go off Jaehyun, “ah what the, I got jealous for nothing.” Byeol quickly tells and the boy shrugs crossing his arms.

“Ahuh? I told you,” he’d trail wrapping an arm around Byeol as they walk out of the tent together. His biceps around Byeol’s neck like a piece of jewellery necklace. “I don’t need anyone else as long as I have you.” He said.

Winwin and Yuqi coo see their friends clinging together like beads hanging by a thread. Johnny and Soojin sitting by the logs with the fire out so Byeol can sit with them. Jaehyun and Byeol sat together, next to Soojin and Johnny and on the left would be Yuqi sitting on Winwin’s lap.

Yuqi smirks eyeing Byeol who leans her head on Jaehyun’s shoulder comfortably. Byeol notices the long stares, glancing at Yuqi with a raised eyebrow once her friend wiggles the front eyebrows.

“What?” Byeol mouths as the loud conversations between Winwin, Johnny and Jaehyun began. Yuqi whispers back. “What’s this huh? Clinging to each other like kangaroos.” Byeol blushes at those words, reaching her foot to kick Yuqi who backs away laughing as she misses her.

“Oh! Oh! You’re resorting to violence! I must be right.” Yuqi teased running away and Byeol getting up, Chasing after Yuqi. “Yah Come back!”

“No you’ll murder meee” Yuqi shouts, running past a teacher and quickly hiding behind one of the professors, as Byeol tries to circle around the teacher to grab Yuqi who was ultimately using professor Choi as a shield.

Jaehyun laughs watching the two girls in the distance. Johnny clears his throat crossing arms as he looks at the younger boy. “So.. you and Byeol, I heard you’re childhood best friends?”

He earned a nod, looking at Johnny. “Mhm, our families were good friends from high school. They even planned to have children at the same time.” Johnny would let out a ‘ah’ before watching Byeol with Jaehyun.

“So, there is no feelings involved?” Johnny states and Jaehyun hums. “You’ll need to be more blunt and specific about what you mean.”

“Romantic feelings I mean..” Johnny sways. Jaehyun turns to Johnny with a smirk. “There is.”

The sudden tension rose when Jaehyun leans to Johnny warningly. “I don’t plan on giving up on Byeol too. I hope you know that.” With those words, Johnny saw Jaehyun leaving and he lightly glares over at Soojin.

The girl who was heartbroken at the words she hears from Jaehyun.

Soojin was left with nothing but upsetting emotions and jealousy. Half of it became anger overtime. Only thing she knows is, she has to destroy Byeol. She has to break them apart.

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The two classes have returned back on campus, due to the free time most students have been partying or going back home.

Byeol and Jaehyun discussed to go back home soon this week to see family. Winwin and Yuqi decided they will go on a short holiday to jeju island.

“Okay then I’ll see you soon whenever you’ll come back from your couple trip.” Byeol tells Yuqi and Winwin as Jaehyun does the same. The couple enter the taxi as they need to go to the airport.

Byeol turns to Jaehyun who starts walking side by side to the university building. “So, don’t you have any sub classes to attend?” Byeol trails and Jaehyun shakes his head. “I finished photography, I only have basketball training and the upcoming game. What about you?”

“Oh right you do have an upcoming game with the rival school.” Byeol plays with her lips, smacking it together. “I have art still. Just finishing tiny bit of my project left.” Jaehyun would coo interested, as he smiles. “Let’s go together, I want to see your work.”

The girl had no choice because Jaehyun has started running dragging Byeol with her, she could only laugh at his actions, going along with his plan.

Arriving the art class there was already a few people working. The two quietly settle down as Byeol brings Jaehyun to sit down next to her seat. She opens the canvas of a familiar person in his eyes, a realistic painting of himself.

Byeol shyly looks away coughing. “I told you that it’s better if you didn’t come.” Jaehyun would wow quietly, smiling ear to ear. “What are you on about? I freaking love it. The painting looks more human than me.” He gasps at the inner detail the more he comes close to look at it. He was truly amazed. Byeol lightly chuckled as she slaps his shoulder, pulling Jaehyun away.

“Come on you’re exaggerating.” Byeol mutters, taking a seat in front of the canvas as she mixes the pallets of the colours she needs. Jaehyun hums in disagreement. “I’m not, truly I’m not.”

The boy lets his best friend focus on the work as she puts on the black and yellow earphone sets, blasting music to keep her mood of the painting lingering. Jaehyun observed the beautiful girl sweeping lightly and elegantly with the brush, mixing so well with the colours. Byeol in his eyes was so cool and beautiful at the same time.

She has this tomboy cool vibe about her all the time. Wearing the medium length brown hair in a Wolf cut almost, all the time dressing in comfortable and dark colours on the clothes. But once in a while you’ll get this pretty, sensitive and shy girl who loves to paint for hours on end.

Honestly speaking, Jaehyun is the only person to see this side of her, it’s pretty rare but he wants to cherish it to the point he’s the only one who can see this side of Byeol.

He would capture the moment of focused Byeol painting him on the canvas with the Polaroid camera. She turns around once she saw the light flicker, smirking. “What the.” Jaehyun chuckles. “I wanted to take a photo, my bad.”

Byeol grins cutely where the body turns around away from the canvas, putting the pallets and brush down on the table as she squeezed Jaehyun’s face softly. She smiles when Jaehyun became flustered, their foreheads touching lightly. “You’re kind of adorable.” Byeol mutters out and Jaehyun letting out a flustered laugh. “I am?”

She nods, finding the courage to compliment Jaehyun some more, maybe even confess.. Byeol has been thinking a lot when they group came back from the camping trip with classes. Especially the time when she’s been jealous. Byeol decided she should confess quickly so that she wouldn’t feel this horrible jealousy any longer. “Also..you’re..”

The moment was perfect to confess right here and then because the other art students left. It was just Jaehyun and Byeol alone in an art class.. peaceful quiet, the mood was perfect.

“Jaehyun?” A feminine deep voice calls out by the side, Jaehyun looking away from Byeol to glance at the doorway of the art class entrance. Byeol sighs. But of course someone has to ruin it.

Jaehyun blinks. “Oh, Soojin Noona? What brings you here?” The red head laughs a little stepping inside the class. “Ah, I’m an art and design student next door. I saw you and thought I should say hi.”

The girl walks towards them, making eye contact with Byeol. Soojin gives a fake smile but doesn’t spare anything else more than a minor 0.5 seconds. Byeol gives an awkward smile looking down, bringing headphones back on the ears as she paints.

Jaehyun looks at Soojin who starts chatting about whatever she could, him listening and chatting back.

Byeol couldn’t help but bury this deep down with a distraction to the paint. She puts the paint brush down as she notices her body not being as calm as it was before. Jaehyun taps Byeol’s shoulder. “Hey I’ll be back, I’m going to get drinks for us at the vending machine.”

He earns a nod from his best friend as he stood, walking out of the room, leaving the two girls in the awkward tense room. Byeol not paying attention, Soojin lightly awes at the painting. “Is that supposed to be Jaehyun?”

Byeol hums uninterested, blankly speaking without a spare glance at the girl. “Yeah, that’s Jaehyun.” Soojin hitches her voice back. “I see, so, how long have you and Jaehyun been friends for?”

The girl shifts out of the seat, Soojin watching Byeol walking to the sink cleaning the pallets and brush. “Since we were children.” Soojin gasps. “That’s a long time.” Byeol whistles. “Yup.”

Byeol notices Jaehyun coming back from the door with three drinks in his hands. A strawberry drink for Soojin but for Byeol he has orange juice, same for himself. “Here your favourite, Byeol.”

He saw Byeol smile thanking him, as she drank. Soojin watches in envy growing even more, as she drinks the strawberry drink. She doesn’t even like strawberry or milk, god she’s lactose intolerant. But she has to act.

“Oh wow Jae, you got my favourite. How did you know?” Soojin brags forward, Jaehyun widen eyes looks at the older girl. “Noona you’re for real? I got this because I had no idea.”

Soojin laughs a little as she drinks it, no matter if it’s disgusting to her she will force herself to get Jaehyun. She wants him.

Byeol takes the art supplies as she struggles to carry them all one by one, the girl kept going without needing help. Jaehyun however quickly grabs the fallen water cup and pallets, following Byeol from behind. “Yah let me help you Byeol.” Jaehyun said and Byeol huffs. “I could do it myself you know.”

“Ahuh? And drop everything else to the point you break it?” Jaehyun shot back teasingly, and Byeol pouts. “Whatever. Lets go to the supply room quickly.”

Soojin walks out with them. “I’ll be leaving too, it was nice catching up with you.” Jaehyun and Byeol stop, the boy nodding as he waved. “Yeah Noona, bye! See you later.”

Soojin watches them leave as the smile vanished into a frown, an angry frown. She glared at the picture in the room left unattended. Soojin walks back into the room grabbing a nearest paint, opening the jar.

“Why does he like you so much, Han Byeol.” Soojin trails as the paint spews open at the canvas, grabbing another colour paint, spilling it on the canvas. Soojin scoffing. “She’s nothing special, a basic girl with no parents I hear.”

“She doesn’t even come from a good income family.” Soojin mutters out, kicking the canvas roughly to the point it skids over, falling down. She left the room as quickly as possible, before Jaehyun and Byeol come back.

Byeol and Jaehyun talk quietly entering the classroom, only met with lots of paint spilling on the classroom floor, the canvas drop on the floor with the entire painting filled with acrylic paint ruining the hard work she has gone through for months every night, sacrificing sleep for this masterpiece…

That is no longer a masterpiece, but a disaster piece. Byeol gasps at the sight going on the knees lifting the canvas. Jaehyun left searching the room for help as he got teachers attention, Byeol was clutching deeply on the painting with a pause.

One of the art staff members arrive seeing the mess, the same mimicking gasp left their lips. The female art teacher helping Byeol to stand.

“How did this happen? Oh my gosh, was this your final piece?” The teacher enquires and Byeol nods, saying nothing. She was so hurt and speechless it actually was difficult to answer anything.

Who did this, was all that’s running in Byeol’s mind. Jaehyun wraps an arm around Byeol quietly. “I’m sorry Byeol, I’ll find who did this.”

Jaehyun said softly and Byeol shook the head. “It could be anyone.” She said, defeated.

“It can’t be anyone. Who would do this to you? You don’t have any enemies or anything. No one wasn’t here when we left either, it must’ve been someone from the art department.”

He was right. It doesn’t make sense for Byeol’s art piece to be sabotaged, she has no enemies. If anything, Byeol has only friends around and if not then people she doesn’t speak to. Jaehyun doubts a stranger would do this, it has to be someone they both know. Otherwise who would do this without a reason?

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“Are you okay?” Yuqi wonders as she saw the blank out expression on Han Byeol’s face. Her friend blows out air passing the lips, holding her face in palms. “My final piece is disqualified from the grade. I’ll have to take the B grade I got last year semester.”

Yuqi pouts. “That sucks, wait till I find the culprit I will make sure the town committee kicks them out!” She exclaims to encourage Byeol to smile, but nothing. Byeol huffs, sighing, depressing as hell.

All the hard work just to go down in vain because of someone’s stupid evil actions having to ruin Byeol’s school work.

“Where is Jaehyun?” Byeol would ask, Yuqi humming. “Probably at practice right? He’s awfully busy with training because of the upcoming game this week.”

“I’ll go then, are you waiting for Winwin?” Byeol said standing up with her bag hanging on the shoulder. Yuqi nods. “He’s coming soon, I’ll see you later Byeol!” Yuqi said and the two girls bid goodbye.

Leaving the cafeteria, Byeol leaves the building and starts heading to the gymnasium. The NCIT university is known for the basketball team also known as the ‘lions’. Jaehyun has always loved basketball, he loves the game itself and the competition.

Byeol has never missed any of his games before, cheering him on from the bystander stadium seats. He has reserved the best seats for her all the time and it’s not going to change now either.

She sets foot in the sweaty gymnasium,footprints and skid marks on the ground exclaim a large chalking sound almost; the boys running in huddled trying to gather the ball from shooting. Jaehyun flys through midway catching the basketball. Byeol feels like she saw him fly right now, like a bird literally. Watching the beautiful boy quickly land on two feet, running past the opposite team as he then jumps flawlessly, hanging by the hoop and scoring a point for his team.

The ball falls down rolling down to Byeol’s feet. The players all look at the girl, some giggling and giving a short smile. They know who this is, but they often tease Jaehyun about it. He didn’t mind though. She picks up the ball bowing her head at the other players.

Sungchan coos teasingly. “Jaehyun’s girlfriend arrived.” Mark would drag Sungchan across the entrance. “Shut up you’ll bait him up.” Byeol listening well to these two boys she smirks, turning to the boy ahead.

Jaehyun drops from the basketball hoop no longer hanging by it, as he drops down he gives Byeol the happiest smile, wrapping an arm around Byeol pulling her close to his chest where he embraces her. The players left the gymnasium giving them space too.

“Byeol!” He emphasis with a joyful slur. Byeol gasps at the red white and yellow jersey. “Yah, take a shower please.” She blurts out and Jaehyun smirks.

“Awh come here, you love it.” He tells her as a tease, lifting the jersey revealing his abs that caught Byeol’s full attention down below. What she didn’t realise was that Jaehyun wraps her face in the jersey, trapping her inside his shirt. She squirms, hitting his shoulder on the side as she shouts. “AH Jung Jaehyun! Get me out of this sweaty shirt right this instant!”

He giggles watching her struggle, pulling her out of the jersey now. She breathes heavily for fresh oxygen, as she slightly pouts at the teasing fun he’s pulled.

“What brings you here? You would’ve told me you were coming to see me practice .” Jaehyun questions it, because Byeol would always tell him beforehand. She looks by her feet. “I am bummed out so I went to see you.”

Hearing this makes Jaehyun even happier, his ears go slightly red as he became flustered hearing such meaningful words. Byeol clears her throat. “Anyways, how’s practice going?” She trails walking around the court, Jaehyun follows Byeol around the court as they walk around side by side.

“Going well, we are prepared.” Jaehyun tells, “actually, Byeol I have something to tell you.” Byeol turns around to the boy and he pulls out an white envelope, he smiles as he hands her it.

“On the day of the game when it finishes, come and meet me at the court.” Jaehyun tells Byeol as he wraps her hands around the envelope together. She blinks at the boy as she glances down to the white paper. “Don’t open it until the game finishes.” He said, and Byeol nods slowly.

“Okay, I won’t.” Byeol murmurs and he grins. “Good.”

The two stared in each other’s eyes lovingly. It was a comforting stare at none wants to look away from, their vulnerability and comfort ability was beyong anyones relationship. It’s as if they could speak through their eyes, peak married behaviour. No words were needed to be shared, only one look with their eyes and it was said.

“Let’s go home today, your mom told me to drag you if you don’t come today.” Byeol said, laughing a bit. Jaehyun sighs as he walks to the entrance. “Yeah I forgot yesterday to go, let’s go then.”

The two students almost forgot how their house looks like, that is how long they haven’t been home to visit. The Jung Family took in Han Byeol once her parents died in the fire as their own, they were her family’s best friend, it was natural for them to take in the child .

Jaehyun has begged them too. He was there for Byeol since day one, he wouldn’t leave her since the great loss. Byeol sometimes resorted into bad mechanisms to deal with her family loss, by being a trouble maker in high school. Jaehyun has helped her become a better person, despite him doing the bad things with her to make her realise how bad it is. She used to smoke and hang in a group that are bad people, and Jaehyun smoke for her, he fought for her, he took the teacher’s punishments for her. He never lets her have the punishments knowing it’s not her.

He did so much stuff for her. Byeol wants to repay them one day, all of them.

Jaehyun opens the door wide, revealing ms Jung rushing from the kitchen to her son. She gasps , jumping up and then hugging Jaehyun and Byeol tight. The girl chuckles as she hugs Ms Jung back.

“My babies arrived home finally, how are you ?” She asks them both, closing the door. Mr Jung rushes down the stairs with a grin. “Guess who finally showed up huh? You rascals.”

Mr Jung banters about before giving a warm welcome to Byeol and Jaehyun as well. The four of them sit down in the living room, Ms Jung about just made dinner it was a perfect timing to eat together as a family once more before they have to return to campus.

Jaehyun told them what has happened in art. Ms Jung gasping in anger. “Yah, Byeol-ah, just call me if you need me to exclude that person once they find out who done it. I’ll help you.” Ms Jung shot back protectively and Mr Jung nods. “I’ll tell the headmaster too, Lee soo-man is my junior from high school.”

Byeol’s lips drop into a thin smile, going shy and grateful to have such a good kind family take care of her all the time. But she didn’t want to be a burden, and Jaehyun knew that. “I’m sorry, but it’s okay! There is no need for that, i have a good grade from last year luckily.” Byeol softly tells.

Jaehyun disagrees immediately in a stern voice. “You should take action. That person did it because you’re not doing anything about it. Your work was so good too.” Byeol pauses as she turns to Jaehyun slowly, staring at him. “Why are you so upset?” Byeol said.

The boy murmurs. “You know why I’m so upset.” He looks down stirring the soup. Ms Jung nervously laughs. “Don’t argue alright, hug it out. also Byeol.”

Ms Jung then pours water to Byeol, watching the calandra with a red mark on the day Friday. Tomorrow.

“Byeol, on Friday is your parents anniversary.” Ms Jung utters slowly. Byeol going silent with Jaehyun.

Mr Jung gets up to pick up his phone call, ms Jung went to pick up the dishes and wash them up. Leaving the two alone in the living room together. Jaehyun looks down sighing .

Byeol goes silent thinking on the death anniversary. “Jaehyun don’t you have a game on Friday?” She trails and Jaehyun nods. “Mhm, but don’t come. Your parents anniversary is more important.”

she goes cold and cursed the bad timing. She will have to miss her best friends game, and it sucks. She never missed any game of his before. Jaehyun gives a soft smile to hide the minor disappointment. He doesn’t want her to feel obliged to go, he wants her to go because she wants to. Not because she needs to go.

“Thanks Jae.” Byeol tells to Jaehyun and he gave a nod. “I’ll watch it from the tv then.” Byeol lightly tells.

Tv sounds great, but it won’t go as plan as Jaehyun wanted it to.

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Friday. Byeol hates Fridays. She hates any day her parents anniversary lands on.

The girl is dressed in a black traditional Korean hanbok, hair braided on the side as she sits down in the wooden small tables, pouring soju to her parents friends she has never met once in her life.

Byeol looking at the tv as it starts to show her campus court with the basketball team introduction. She lights up immediately from the gloomy demure into a happy one, once Jaehyun was shown on the screen from afar.

He was handsome, but looked rather disappointed and empty. Byeol purses her lips into a thin line as she murmurs sadly. “I’m so sorry Jae. I couldn’t come to your game for the first time.”

She drops the soju glass, humming out as she looks at her parents pictures. Murmuring softly. “Mom. Dad. Do you think I made the right decision?” Byeol tells, rubbing the back of her head. She turns around, not sure why she expected an answer from a non living picture of her parents.

The girl turns the moment something white falls down underneath her feet. Jaehyun’s envelope. She glances back at the tv screen looking at the basketball game.

Byeol remembers that he said not to open it until the end of the game, but, she wasn’t even attending anymore. But she stuck to the rules, not opening it until the end of the game.

She can at least promise him that.

Yuqi sits amongst the other basketball fans, cheering with a Winwin banner. “Dong Si Cheng! Dong Si Cheng!”

The guy looks up hearing the passionate cheering from his girlfriend as he waved happily. He blows a kiss to Yuqi and kept running after the ball after. Jaehyun in the middle watches the ball like a predator jumping in as he stole the ball midway, turning a twirl on his feet.

He was able to miss a few players with the blue jersey, as he jumps throwing a ball in the hoop. Jaehyun looks at one of the blue jersey players who has marked and glares at him in hateful manner. Jaehyun smirks at the guy, bumping shoulders purposely.

The blue guy, with the name tag Bae Hanuel. The guy grabs Jaehyun growling. “You better watch it.”

Jaehyun turns to look at Hanuel with an unbothered shrug, not sparing a reaction to the boy as he was let go. Winwin grabs Jaehyun as he glared at Hanuel. How dare he touch his 97’ liner best friend!

“Did he do anything to you?” Winwin tells and Jaehyun shook his head with a slight smirk. “He only bitched but that’s about it. Don’t worry.”

Winwin croaks out. “Where’s Byeol she isn’t in the crowd?” Jaehyun looks down, he feels like he’s losing his cool with Byeol not being around. She is the only thing setting him high hope. “She has her parents death anniversary today, she can’t make it.”

The Chinese boy looks at Jaehyun. “Shit, it’s today?” Jaehyun gave a nod. “It’s fine, she’s watching from the tv.” He tells as an encouragement to to do well for her still.

As the game become tougher, it was harder to score points. But the Lioners stuck to their resilience, crushing through the Sharks. Every point was important, Winwin scoring a double pointer until Sungchan defends Jaehyun to go for the third point.

On tv it seemed less tense, but Byeol was sure the tension was massive out there. The crowds were as silence as a grave waiting to be erupted by the final point.

Jaehyun rushes to the side but Hanuel blocks him, leaving it open for only the Sharks to score a point. However, not one person noticed Mark. The guy who always missed a shot, had finally the courage and the ball to jump.

The ball swinging round the hoop, falling in the middle. Jaehyun stares at Mark in shock, as he comes and hugs him, the lioners rushing to pick up Mark and carry him to celebrate. He score the last point needing to break the tie pointer.

“Wah! Mark Lee, you finally scored.” Sungchan beams causing Mark to pout nevertheless he left out laughter. The crowd chanting Lioners and Mark Lee all together. The blue crowd staying silent in dwelling of their loss.

Jaehyun won. His team Won. But why was he feeling like he lost?

The guy sighs, he wonders only what Byeol is thinking. She probably saw the letter now, or maybe not..

Byeol looks away from the tv as she stares at the letter, opening the envelope in complementing manner. It didn’t feel right if she didn’t open it in front of the court.

as she opens it. She looks away and runs out the door. Byeol has to meet Jaehyun. It’s the only way. The girl ran out to change clothes as she did, she ordered an uber, it will be quicker with an uber than a bus.

The winning day was still young, the entire university of NCIT has been celebrating in drinks and autographs given by the players. Jaehyun surrounded by girls and guy wanting his autograph, he obliged in slaving away to sign them all.

Winwin meets Yuqi as he kisses her deeply, hugging his loving girlfriend. Yuqi giggles. “Congrats on winning the game!” Winwin smiles back as let’s go. “Yuqi, it’s all thanks to you my good luck charm.”

Oh how badly Jaehyun wishes this could’ve been him and Byeol. The boy looks away when he signs the last autograph. If anything, he’s scared that Byeol is blaming herself, if anything, he’s worried that she’s depressed and alone.

He wishes he could be there for her and not at a game. That’s not something he’s used to. Being far away from her.

“Jung Jaehyun!”

A piercing voice from a microphone brought the crowd to silence as Jaehyun was called in middle of the court, looking up at the stadium seats. A young girl to his age with soft brunette short hair length, watching Jaehyun from afar with a white square envelope shown in the air with her hand holding.

“I came, I came like you said.” Byeol said, dropping the mic giving it to the teacher she stole it from. Running down the stairs and approaching Jaehyun with a pant. The confused boy staring down at the shorter girl, he was flustered, to see this beautiful girl committing to what he told her even though it was a big decision to choose.

Jaehyun stuttering. “Byeol— what about your parents- I mean I’m happy you’re here but, is that okay? Are you okay—”

The boy has million questions but not a single sentence was finished, it was carried by a strand of his thought carrying a question. Byeol sighs as her lips pucker in a grin, watching Jaehyun going shy as million people watch them all from the university. She pulls Jaehyun’s jersey down dragging the taller Man to bend down.

As he bends down, he starts to feel soft plum lips kiss his. Byeol kissing him deeply, finally, what he’s dreamed of for so long. He closes his eyes, a smile crafting in the kiss from his lips, he returns it as he lifts Byeol twirling her in the air softly, holding her waist deeply pulling Byeol in once he’s dropped her on her feet.

Byeol pulling away as she shows the opened envelope. “Yes, Jaehyun you can be my boyfriend”

Jaehyun smirks happily, kissing Byeol once more. He was beyond happy. The girl saw the envelope, a love letter where he asks her to be his if he wins the game and she comes down to the court where he could propose the idea.

It was risky, but sweet and Byeol loves the originality. Not only that, it was on her parents death anniversary. The day she lived all her life celebrating it as something sad. She doesn’t want to live that way anymore where she has to be depressed on this day every single year.

Jaehyun changed that. As he made her his on the day she was the most unhappy, making her happy.

She Met Him At The Court.

Johnny sighs as he watches Byeol and Jaehyun. “I guess that’s a no to the second date.” He trails and Soojin huffs crossing arms. Johnny looks down at the red hair girl. “Wanna grab some coffee with me later?”

Soojin looks up at Johnny questioningly. “Like a date?” Johnny smirks, showing her the flirtatious eyes. “Only if you want it to be.”

She rolls her eyes as she gives her hand to Johnny. A ghost smile hovering her lips. “Okay, let’s go get coffee.“

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@onyourhyuck please refer from translating, plagiarising and copyrighting my work thank you!

Masterlist to Ballin Series <3

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