#i just wanna read found family fic now | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

loudstan · 1 year

Text

The Moon Makes no Mistakes

Summary: It had to be some type of sick joke. There was no way Jeno had imprinted on his best friend's mate.

Pairing: Werewolf! Jeno x Female reader x Werewolf! Jaemin

Warnings: smut, A LOT OF angst, Jaemin has baby fever but what's new, this fic is VERY LONG SORRY. Also, there is some JenoxJaemin action so if that makes you uncomfortable, do not read this! OKAY LET'S GO

“So…,” Renjun spoke casually from he kitchen, without looking away from the sandwich he was making. “Do you wanna talk about it or…?”

“Huh?” Jeno asked absentmindedly, too occupied munching on his own sandwich and finishing the movie he and Jaemin had started earlier, before the later had gone out. “About what?”

Renjun hesitated, wondering if it was the right time or if it was even worth mentioning. Right now most of the pack was out working, in class or hanging out with friends. Only Jeno, Chenle (who was wearing earbuds and laughing at videos on his phone) and Renjun were in the living room, and he knew they wouldn’t get more privacy than this. It was now or never.

“Well,” Renjun sighed, making his way to the sofa and sitting down next to Jeno. “You were smelling Jaemin’s hair… again.”

Jeno choked on his food and coughed loudly. Renjun quickly gave him a glass of water and slapped his back until Jeno pushed his hand away and cleared his throat. With wide eyes, Jeno turned to look at Chenle, and sighed in relief when he saw that he was still laughing at whatever dumb tiktok he had found, meaning he hadn’t heard Renjun’s ridiculous accusations.

“What are you talking about?” He hissed in panic.

“Okay, we don’t have to talk about it yet-“ Renjun tried to calm him down.

“Talk about what? I never did that?!”

“You so did,” Chenle’s voice said from the corner of the room, his eyes were now on Jeno and he had put his phone down on his lap. “You’ve done it a lot in the last couple of months. You keep scenting him too.”

“You-,” Jeno wanted to accuse Chenle of eavesdropping, but in the end he decided denying the allegation was more urgent. “I didn’t smell his fucking hair!”

Renjun and Chenle looked at each other.

“Fine,” Renjun said. “But I just want you to remember that we’re a family. No one’s going to judge you for who you like-”

“But it’s our duty to tell you that it’s stupid to have a crush on a mated wolf,” Chenle said.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Jeno groaned. “I don’t have a crush on Jaemin!”

“Who has a crush on Jaemin?” Yuta asked, entering the room. He had just woken up from a nap.

“No one,” Renjun said.

“Jeno,” Chenle said at the same time.

“Oh,” Yuta simply said and made a dismissive gesture with his hand, like it was old news.

Jeno was almost offended by it. “What do you mean ‘oh’?!”

“Weren’t you two a thing some years ago?” Yuta asked, making his way to the kitchen.

“No?” Jeno replied, very confused at this new accusation to add to the list.

“Mark accidentally walked into you,” Chenle said as Yuta came back to the living room with an apple. “You two were watching porn and jerking each other off-“

Jeno gasped. “We were not jerking each other off. We were jerking off next to each other!”

“Shame,” Yuta shrugged and took a big bite off the apple. “Somebody else’s hand always feels better than your own.”

“We didn’t touch each other,” Jeno insisted. “We just watched porn together. Friends do that!”

“I don’t do that,” Renjun disagreed.

“Jisung and Chenle have done it!” Jeno insisted, pointing at Chenle.

“I ended up watching alone,” Chenle said. “As soon as Jisung got hard, he stood up and ran away.”

“What if he had stayed?”Yuta asked. “Would that have stopped you from getting off?”

“…No,” Chenle admitted.

“There you go!” Yuta said. “Nothing wrong with two best friends touching themselves in the same room. Case dismissed!” He declares, walking towards his room.

“But I don’t smell my best friend’s hair,” Chenle muttered.

Yuta stopped on his track and turned around. “That’s different,” he said, now giving Jeno a worried look. Jeno hated it.

“Okay, enough! I admit it, I really like the way he smells lately,” he confessed. “I don’t know if it’s a new shampoo or perfume or… I don’t know but his scent changed…”

“Really?” Chenle paused to think. “I haven’t noticed anything different.”

“Maybe it’s his mate’s scent mixed with his,” Renjun said.

“That makes sense!” Yuta agreed, nodding. “And I guess Jeno perceives it because he’s always been the closest to Jaemin.”

“It’s just the scent,” Jeno insisted. “I don’t like Jaemin like that. I don’t even like men.”

“…Jaemin is a pretty man, though,” Yuta gave the apple another bite. Everyone laughed and Jeno silently agreed. He had seen girls and boys alike fall head over heels for Jaemin since… forever. If he were into men, then Jaemin would have been his first love. Instead, his first love was his highschool homeroom teacher; a woman with an hourglass figure, long eyelashes and a sweet voice, who didn’t even look in Jeno’s direction no matter how hard he tried. When she got married to her fiancé, Jeno cried for hours, with Jaemin next to him trying to comfort him but also telling him that he was an idiot for thinking he stood a chance. Jaemin had always been there for him, and he for Jaemin. They were best friends and pack brothers. Nothing else. He just happened to smell really fucking good lately.

It was a couple of days later that he confirmed the source of this new scent. Jaemin, who had finally decided to go back to med school to become a healer, called Jeno and begged him to go to the apothecary where he and his mate worked.

“I’ve been so busy studying that I completely forgot the products we ordered would arrive today,” Jaemin whined on the other side of the line. Lack of sleep and excess of caffeine were evident in his voice. “I don’t want Y/N to carry those boxes by herself! She pretends to be tough but she’s my baby,” she rambled on and Jeno cringed at the pet name. “Please, Jeno! I have an exam in 7 minutes and 38 seconds, I really can’t-“

“I know, I know,” Jeno interrupted him, speaking in a calming manner. “I’m already putting my shoes on. I’m on my way.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Jaemin breathed. “I owe you.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s really nothing. Now go ace that test!” Jeno hung up and put his phone in his pocket, walking faster towards the bus stop. He started thinking about how no one in the pack knew Jaemin’s mate yet. They had met Jisung’s mate years ago, before they even got together , Doyoung took his time but ended up briefly introducing his mate to the pack, Haechan dragged his mate to a family dinner and Mark’s mate ended up being introduced to them against Mark’s will because everyone kept visiting her store out of curiosity. But Jaemin’s mate was a complicated case; she had had a bad experience with a werewolf in the past, which made her reject Jaemin at first. It took him months to get together with his mate and he was very protective of her, so Jeno felt honored Jaemin trusted him enough to let him be with his mate alone.

When he entered the apothecary he was immediately surrounded by the scent that had been haunting him for the last couple of months. It was floral and calming, like having a cup of tea by the window on a Sunday morning, and it came from a woman carrying a huge box. ‘Shit,’ Jeno thought. Jaemin would kill him if he found out his mate had to lift a finger.

“Hi, I’m Jeno, Jaemin’s pack brother,” he quickly introduced himself and easily took the box away from you, putting it on his shoulder and holding it with one arm. “And he says you can’t be carrying these.”

“Oh, hi! I’m Y/N,” You said, offering your hand to shake his but taking it back awkwardly when you saw that he was now holding another box, having both hands occupied. “Jaemin told me you would come, but I can do this myself, really!” You smiled at Jeno and he almost tripped. You had the prettiest smile he had ever seen and he had to physically shake his head to wake himself up.

“Nope, sorry, you know how he is,” Jeno said, leaving the boxes next to the shelves and walking back to get more, a bit surprised by how natural it felt to talk to you. “And this really is nothing for me- Hey! What did I say? Put that down!” He groaned when he saw you struggling to pick up a box.

“I won’t let you do everything by yourself!” You argued, walking slowly not to drop the box. “This is my job, anyways. There was no need to call anyone…”

Jeno snatched the box from your hands and gave you a pointed look. “I’m already here, so sit down and let me take care of this.”

You huffed and went to grab another box, making Jeno lose his patience. He grabbed your shoulders firmly and guided you towards a chair, making you sit down.

“Please, stay still,” Jeno pleaded. Your scent was starting to feel suffocating and he just wanted to finish the job and go get some fresh air. “For Jaemin?”

You sighed. “Then at least let me make you some coffee,” you bargained, standing up anyways and making your way to the little room at the back of the store where you and Jaemin often took breaks and ate.

Jeno nodded reluctantly. He was fine with it as long as it kept you occupied for long enough for him to carry the remaining boxes inside. He took his hoodie off because it was ridiculously hot in there and got the job done as quickly as he could with the way his body was acting up. He felt weak and warm like he was about to catch the flu, and the strong floral scent, which he now recognised as yours and Jaemin’s signature essence, was making him short circuit. He was this close to sprinting out of the apothecary and escaping when his phone buzzed in his pocket. Without unlocking it he read the messages that kept popping up.

Jaemin: is y/n ok??

Jaemin: sheisn ot replyi

Jaemin: ng

Jaemin: not replying***

Jaemin: did she get hurt??

Jeno unlocked the phone to type that you were just fine when another message came in.

Jaemin: can u send me a pic

Jaemin: of her?

Jaemin: can’t call bc I’m in class but

Jaemin: I need to see her

Jeno groaned. If there was one word to describe pre-rut Jaemin it was clingy. He typed a short ‘ok’ and followed you into the small resting area where you had just finished preparing two cups of coffee.

“Hey, Y/N, Jaemin wants me to send him a picture of you to prove you’re safe,” Jeno said, right as you turned around to offer him his coffee.

“Of course he does,” you rolled your eyes playfully. “Go ahead!”

Jeno pointed his phone at you and stared in awe; you looked gorgeous standing in front of him and holding a cup of coffee you had made especially for him, smiling at him, smelling so good for him-

Huh?

Jeno shook his head for the second time that day. What are you thinking? She’s Jaemin’s. She’s smiling for a picture for Jaemin, not at you!

He snapped a picture of you and quickly sent it to his best friend without even looking at it, and ignoring Jaemin’s complaint about it being too blurry.

“Your coffee-,” you offered but then you paid attention to how much Jeno was sweating. “Oh… hold on, I’ll make it iced!” You said, walking back towards the fridge to get some ice and fixing his drink. “You should have let me help you if they were that heavy!”

“They were not heavy,” Jeno huffed. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want you to think he was weak. “It’s just hot in here.”

“Hot?!” You repeated incredulously, handing him the cold drink and studying him. The AC was on so there was no reason for his shirt to stick to his body like that. And what a body he had; as good as Jaemin. His face was also pretty; but unlike Jaemin’s soft and beautiful features, Jeno’s strong jawline made him look almost hypermasculine. Not that one was more good looking than the other. Both were just different. And it didn’t matter anyways, because you only had eyes for your mate-

The sound of Jeno’s teeth pulverizing the ice after he gulped down the drink interrupted your train of thought. You looked Jeno in the eyes and noticed a familiar reddish tone on them.

“Jeno! That’s why you’re feeling so hot!” You exclaimed, placing a hand on his forehead. “Your rut is soon, right?”

“What?” No, it isn’t-“ Jeno started saying, but then his eyes widened in realization and his face became very pale. All the symptoms of pre-rut were there but the idea didn’t even cross his mind because 1. He had had a rut no more than a month ago and 2. There was no stimulus that could have triggered his rut except…

…You.

You and that damn scent.

“I… I think it’s my rut,yeah,” Jeno said awkwardly. “I should go. I can still make it home before it hits…”

“Wait!” You called after him, going through the shelves until you found a little jar with a sparkling blue potion and offered it to him. “This will calm your pain.”

Jeno grabbed the jar hesitantly and turned it around to see the price.

“Don’t worry about it,” you hurried to say and started pushing him towards the door. “It’s the least I can do after what you did for me today!”

“Y/n,” Jeno sighed and silently reprimanded himself because of how much he was starting to like the way your name sounded when it came from his lips. “This shit’s expensive.”

“I told you not to worry about it,” You giggled. “Just don’t tell Jaemin,” you added playfully.

Jeno let out a shaky breath, his eyes were shining bright red and he was fighting his brain from coming up with different scenarios of things he shouldn’t tell Jaemin.

Before he could stop himself his arms surrounded you and he lifted your body, rubbing his cheek and nose against your collarbone and murmuring weak ‘thank you’s.

It took you by surprise at first, but you knew wolves were not particularly rational during their cycle and this was probably just him being grateful for the potion. Ignoring the shiver that ran up your spine, you laughed and patted his back in a friendly manner before replying. “No problem! Now go before your actual rut hits.”

Jeno slowly let go of you and gave you a small smile and a polite nod, before rushing out of the apothecary. He was lucky to catch the bus right in time to get home in less than twenty minutes, and even luckier to find the house almost empty, saving him from the awkward questions about his hair sticking to his sweaty forehead and his obvious boner. As soon as he swallowed some suppressants, he quickly locked himself in his room, and desperately fought the button and zipper of his jeans with his sweaty hands. He sighed in relief once he freed himself from his jeans and boxers and was met with his reddened cock begging for attention.

‘It’s okay. It’s fine. It must be a mock rut. I’ll just rub one off real quick and it’ll be over,’ he thought, quickly laying in bed and unlocking his phone to find some short porn video on twitter. Instead, the first thing he saw was the picture he took of you, making his cock twitch with interest.

“No, no, no, fuck-” Jeno quickly circled the base of his cock and squeezed it hard as punishment for the precum that was already leaking. “Don’t you fucking dare,” he warned himself. What was even turning him on about that picture? It was blurry and not aesthetic at all, but it was clear enough to distinguish your features. Your smile was as bright as he remembered it and even though he hadn’t taken a full body picture, he could see you from head to your breasts…and you were wearing a v-neck shirt. Not low enough to be scandalous but if you had bent forward just a little, and considering that Jeno’s height gave him an even better perspective, he would have been able to see…

“No-Stop!” he hissed, squeezing harder, genuinely feeling betrayed by his own body. Jaemin was his best friend, and you were Jaemin’s mate. Period. He was not getting off to your picture. He quickly opened twitter and went to his favorite nsfw account, mindlessly scrolling down to find something, anything, that would make him cum fast. He clicked on a video he had seen before; it was a blowjob pov in which a woman would suck on the viewer while he was gaming. One of his to go videos, honestly. So he let go of the death grip he had on his base and started stroking himself slowly, letting out a shaky breath. But the relief didn’t last long; he soon noticed that the woman’s hair was similar to yours in length and color, her eyes looking up to the viewer innocently reminding him of the look you had given him when he had sat you down and asked you to stop moving the boxes yourself. Not that you and the actress had the same face, but for some reason she was reminding him of you…in the worst possible moment.

“Fuuck!”He pressed his thumb on the tip, trying to stop more precum from coming out, disgusted at himself and deciding to try a different video.

This time, he tried watching a video of straight up raw fucking on a sofa, the guy on the video going so fast and hard the woman could only scream and beg. That was hot. Jeno could definitely work with this. So he jerked off fast, grunting at the orgasm that was already so close. He imagined he was the dude in the video fucking her so good she was losing her mind.

“O-oh…,” he tilted his head back and the veins on his neck became visible as he sped up the movements of his hand. “Shit, you like that, Y/N?”

As soon as your name left his mouth he almost came. ‘Jeno, you disgusting piece of shit. Stop it! There are thousands of hot women in the world, pick another one. Literally anyone but her,’ he told himself, focusing back on the video and hyper fixating on the details that made the actress different from you as he once again tried to get off as fast as possible before he even had the chance to think of you. Everything from her hair, to her skin and her voice faking the moans were not like yours at all, but he still found himself imagining you under him on the sofa at the little room in the back of the apothecary, letting him fill you to the brim.

“No, p-please-” he begged himself at this point. He really didn’t want to do this. He felt sick just thinking about his best friend’s mate in such a way but he just couldn’t stop. “Please, please, I c-can’t-,” he mumbled incoherently but his dick paid him no mind, leaking more at the thought of being inside of you as Jeno fell deeper into temptation. One thing was for sure: this wasn’t a mock rut, but a real one. A disastrous very real rut.

Without a clue of what you had just triggered, you walked home and took a warm shower after a long day of work. You knew Jaemin would arrive soon, like he often did after class, and maybe stay the night, so you ordered his favorite food (no way you would cook after working all day) and patiently waited for him.

The moment he walked through the door, you knew his rut was going to consume him anytime soon. His red eyes were glossy, he was breathing heavily and his warm hands were almost burning your skin as he pulled your body close to his and kissed you fervently.

“Safe,” he mumbled between kisses. “You’re safe.”

You knew how protective Jaemin was, but during his rut it was a whole new level.

“Of course I’m safe,” you giggled, pressing your forehead against his. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Boxes are too heavy for a pregnant woman,” he replied as if it was obvious.

“I’m not pregnant, Jaemin,” you deadpanned.

“Shh… I’m manifesting,” he whined, his eyes closed as if he was praying to the Moon.

“Jaemin,” you sighed. You had had the baby talk before and you had finally convinced him you both didn’t have the means to provide for another human being.

“I know,” he said, opening his eyes to look at you pleadingly. “But I start my internship next week and with my curriculum I’ll get a good job in no time after graduating. I’m just saying that if we made a baby right about now,” he trailed off and his eyes landed on your stomach, biting his lip. “I would be able to provide for both of you by the time they are born.”

“What about healthcare while I’m pregnant?” You questioned. “Honestly, Jaemin, let’s just wait until you graduate and then we can have this conversation again.”

Jaemin didn’t reply, he gently caressed your stomach and let out a soft moan instead.

“Jaemin!”

“Sorry,” he said, slightly dragging his words like he was drunk. “Logically speaking I know you’re right, but…”

You knew. Jaemin’s baby fever was ridiculous whenever he was in rut. Denying him right now was pointless and straight up painful for him, so you could just let him live his little fantasy since you had started taking birth control once you both got together anyways.

“You should eat something before you can’t think straight anymore,” you suggested, trying to guide him to the kitchen.

“Too late,” he said, pulling you in the opposite direction, towards your bedroom. He pushed you on the bed and climbed on top of you. “Need you,” he whispered before he connected your lips again, this time more desperately than before.

You kissed him back and let him rut his hips against yours, his half hard cock already twitching in his pants. Tentatively, you lifted your pelvis and pressed it against his, eliciting a groan out of him.

“Y/N,” he moaned against your lips, then kissed your jaw. “Y/N, my baby, my-,” when his lips reached your chest his body suddenly tensed. He then pulled away and stared at you intently. “…Jeno?” He whispered to no one in particular, sounding confused.

“What?” You asked back, noticing the way the mood changed. “What’s wrong?”

Thankfully, Jaemin had some self control left and managed to pull a diplomatic smile. “You met Jeno today. How was it?”

His tone was calm enough, but you could tell something was bothering him.

“It was fine!” You quickly assured him, remembering how hesitant he was about you meeting his pack, wanting you to feel comfortable and safe. “He helped me a lot. He’s very nice.”

“He’s very nice,” Jaemin repeated automatically, nodding slowly. “Did he…” he gulped, not quite sure of how to ask and maybe not wanting to ask at all. “Did he t-touch you?”

You frowned and tilted your head. That was an odd question. But then it clicked that you probably smelled like Jeno, and Jaemin’s nose was very sensitive during his rut.

“Well, he took the boxes from me so yeah, a little,” you replied honestly. “And then he gave me a goodbye hug before he left. That 's all.”

“A goodbye hug?” Jaemin asked skeptically. “He’s not a hugger…”

“It’s probably just his cycle,” you assured him, trying to ease whatever worry he had. “You also get more clingy when it happens.”

“His cycle?”

You nodded. “His rut also started today. You told me you two were close, but I didn’t know even your cycles were synced!”

Jaemin remained silent for a few seconds. His cycle and Jeno’s were synced in the past. Then Jaemin met you, which triggered an unscheduled rut and they were not in sync anymore. Jeno’s rut was not due today, he was sure of that. But then, like you said, maybe they just synced again because of how close they were. Maybe hugging you was just a friendly gesture. Maybe scenting you was accidental. He had always trusted Jeno and he wanted to continue trusting him.

However, he couldn’t stop his possessive side from diving back into your neck and scenting you, trying to cover up Jeno’s scent.

“Jae- Jaemin,” you breathed out while he bit and sucked on your neck. “Is everything-…Are-ah!… are you o-kay?”

“Mmhm,” he simply replied, too focused on his task of getting you both undressed as quickly as possible.

“You sure?” You asked, shivering at the contrast of the cold air caressing your naked body and his hot skin against yours. “Y-you don’t wanna talk about it…?”

“Not right now,” he said shortly, pressing his member against your pussy lips and moving back and forward to create pleasurable friction for both of you. “Mmh… Oh!”

“Fuck, Jaemin,” you breathed out when the head of his cock rubbed your clit. “More, baby- ah!”

“Mmyeah?” He panted, rutting against you hard and making you sink deeper into the mattress. “My baby loves it right here?”

“Fucking love it- Aaah! Jaem- oh!” you moaned when he rotated his hips, and one of his hands pinched your nipple playfully. “Fucking love you.”

Jaemin hissed and decided he couldn’t wait any longer. Lining up against your entrance and sliding in as slowly as he could in his frenzied state of mind (which was not slow at all). After months of being mates to Jaemin, you had learned to take his size, but the stretch was always a bit uncomfortable if he didn’t open you up first. Thankfully you thought ahead, and knowing his rut was coming, you had prepared yourself in the shower before he got home.

“Y/N,” Jaemin called for you when his cock was completely engulfed by you. “Say it again , baby.”

“I love you,” you said firmly although you could barely think with the way the head of his cock was kissing the right spot before he even started moving.

“How much do you love me?” He asked darkly, staring into your eyes and sliding in and out of you slowly.

“S-so much,” you babbled , somehow not breaking eye contact. “I love y-you so much…Ngh!”

“Enough to let me give you a baby?” He asked, thrusting into you hard and pulling your hips against his. “Mmh?”

You knew the rut was feeding Jaemin’s baby fantasy and that he would actually wait until you were ready. But right now? You felt like you would give him anything.

“F-uh… fuck yeah, give it to m-me,” you hissed, still maintaining eye contact with your mate, whose jaw went slack and let out the loudest moan yet.

He started fucking you faster fighting his eyes from rolling back in favor of the intimacy of looking into your eyes as you fell apart for him. “Gonna make you the p-prettiest mommy,” he promised and his hands looked for yours to intertwine your fingers and pin you against the mattress. “Fuck! Knock you up for g-good n’ take care of you f-ooh… forever.”

Leave it to Jaemin to be romantic and domestic while dirty talking.

“Oh my g-god,” you whined, feeling your eyes roll back. “Jaem—Aah… Hah, oh!”

“Look at me,” Jaemin demanded, but made it very hard on you by snapping his hips harder and faster than before. “Don’t you d-dare look away from me,” he warned, resting his forehead against yours.

Somehow you forced yourself to look back into his eyes, although yours were full of tears of pleasure now.

“Love it when y-you … Hah ah, mmm- love it when my cock m-akes you cry, baby,” he admitted, panting against your open mouth. “Fucking love it w-when you feel s- suh… so good all you c-an do is cry and cum over, and over,” he groaned, stressing his words with sharp thrusts. “I fucking love you, Y/N.”

“J-jaemin,” you moaned, wrapping your legs around his waist. “L-love you s-so muh uh! Oooh, fuck! Fuck, Jaemin, baby-,” your eyes finally rolled back and you came with a silent scream. Jaemin didn’t seem to mind that you broke eye contact. He still got to relish on the way your face twisted in pleasure and your walls contracted around him.

“That’s it, baby,” he licked his lips and continued to look at your post orgasmic face. Nothing could get him off faster. “Gonna cum, fuck, gonn-aaah! Fuck, Y/N!” He panted like a dog in heat while his knot expanded enough to confine his cock inside of you, the bulbous head kissing your cervix and prolonging your pleasure. Jaemin had lost all capacity to think. “Baby, gonna cum, I’m g-…aaah shit, Y/N I’m gonna- ooh, baby, fuck yeah! Make me a daddy, baby, c’mon, be a g-good girl and- Ah! Ooh, hah… ah, fuuuuck t-take it baby, take it all- Oooohhh…”

Jaemin’s body trembled on top of yours, and his brows furrowed in pleasure as he emptied himself inside of you, his red eyes eating up the way your eyes unfocused as more tears fell down your cheeks.

Once you both came down from your highs, Jaemin kissed you sweetly and caressed your face as you enjoyed the warmth of your bodies against each other.

“…That’s the fastest you’ve popped a knot,” you commented, making Jaemin laugh breathlessly. “Was it because I told you to give me a baby?”

Jaemin’s dick jerked excitedly inside of you and he let out a pleased hum, letting one of his hands travel down to your belly with gentle touches. He seemed very pleased with the idea.

“What is it about pregnancy that gets you like this?” You genuinely asked. Not that you were complaining. It was hot, but you had never been with a guy who was so excited about it before.

“Mmh… many things,” Jaemin shrugged,kissing your cheek as his fingers drew patterns on your stomach. “I want to be a dad, and I think you would be the most beautiful mom. I also like the idea of others knowing I did that to you?I know this is very primal, but I want people to know I fucked you so full you are carrying my baby. Other guys would know you’re taken and wouldn’t dare make a move.”

You snorted. Normally Jaemin wouldn’t say things like that, because he wanted to respect your autonomy. Boyfriend Jaemin knew he didn’t own you, but wolf Jaemin hadn’t yet agreed to that.

“Don’t worry, Jaemin. No one even looks at me,” you assured him and yawned, ready to sleep for a bit before the next round.

“No other guy should hug you either,” he said under his breath, barely perceptible.

“That was just Jeno,” you mumbled, slowly losing consciousness.

“Yeah,” Jaemin said, tightening his arms around you. “Just Jeno…”

Somewhere else, at the very same time, Jeno had come all over his phone, white drops of cum tainting your picture zoomed in on the screen. Jeno was panting heavily, with his hand still holding his hard cock and his eyes were full of tears of guilt and regret. He looked out the window to see a full moon shining brightly, like it was mocking him. Because this had to be a sick joke. There was no way he had imprinted on his best friend’s mate.

The words you had casually said to him when giving him a painkiller potion echoed in his head with a totally different meaning now.

‘Don’t tell Jaemin.’

He wouldn’t. He could never tell him.

Once his rut was over he deleted your picture and swore he wouldn’t see you ever again, because Jeno was no homewrecker and he was a loyal friend. He couldn’t help thinking about you, but he would be damned if he did something about it. One of the biggest obstacles was the guilt he felt whenever Jaemin was around, but he tried his best to act normal.

Jeno was sure if he just ignored his feelings for you, the problem would go away.Plus, he had heard of wolves surviving without mating the person they had imprinted on. Sure, they lived a miserable life, incapable of loving and slowly isolating from everybody else, but they didn’t die.

Jeno’s plan went great for a couple of weeks. All he had to do was take a cold shower whenever he thought of you, not go anywhere near the apothecary and not reply to the message Jaemin had just sent- oh god…

Jaemin: Jeno

Jaemin: I need a flavor

Jaemin: favor**

Jaemin: Can you please drop by the apothecary?

Nope. No way. If he just pretended he didn’t see the message then maybe Jaemin would ask somebody else.

Jaemin: Someone broke into the store

What?!

Jeno: wtf?

Jaemin: it happened during the night

Jaemin: when she got there everything was a mess and there was a dude sleeping on the floor

Jeno: fuck is she alone?

Jaemin: yeah I can’t leave until my shift is over

Jaemin: if I go I’ll fail this stupid interview

Jaemin: internship*

Classic Jaemin. He tended to make typos when he was nervous. But now Jeno was nervous too. Someone broke in? And you had to face it alone? No, it didn’t matter, it wasn’t Jeno’s problem because he had nothing to do with you.

…But it was Jaemin’s problem. And Jaemin’s problems were Jeno’s too. He was going but only as a favor for Jaemin, and not because he was dying to see you.

Jeno: Omw

Jaemin: Thanksgiving

Jaemin: Thanks** stupid autocorrect

Jeno didn’t see the last message because he was sprinting to the bus stop. He got on the bus and sat down, his leg bouncing anxiously all the way until the closest stop to the apothecary, where Jeno got off and ran for a couple of blocks until he reached his destination and pushed the door open. There you were, casually cleaning the store like nothing had happened.

“Oh, Jeno! Hi!” you smiled at him. “Jaemin called you, didn’t he? I’m sorry he made you come all the way here.”

“He didn’t make me do anything,” Jeno assured you, walking in and inspecting the place. Besides being a little messy, there wasn’t much damage. You also seemed to be fine. Almost too calm to be normal. “...Are you okay?”

You nodded and laughed. “I’m good. It was just surprising.”

“What happened exactly?”

“A guy broke in last night and thought this would be a good place to sleep. He didn’t even steal anything? I mean, he did open a couple of potions and drank a bit of each, but that’s about it. I think he was high on mushrooms or something,” you laughed but your laugh grew quiet when you saw Jeno scowling at you. “Anyways, he woke up when I arrived and he looked like he had no idea where he was. He just stood up and left.”

“Did you call the police?”

“Yeah, they left a while ago. I’m sure it wasn’t half as bad as whatever Jaemin told you.”

“It’s not— Ugh, Y/N, what if that man had done something to you?”

You stopped to think about it for a second and then went back to organizing the shelves. “But he didn’t.”

“But what if?” Jeno insisted. “You know this isn’t the safest neighborhood, right?”

“Well, what was I supposed to do then? Not coming to work? How was I gonna know there was a dude spending the night here?”

Jeno bit his lip. You had a point. It wasn’t your fault, and you hadn’t done anything unreasonable. You came to work, saw a stranger inside and called the police. But he was so angry at the possibility of you being in danger, even if it was no one's fault, that he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” he finally asked.

“...Mmh, not really,” you again gave him that killer smile. The smile he hadn’t stopped thinking about for a second in the last few weeks. The smile he had popped a knot to. “I’m sure you have stuff to do, so you can go. Thanks for checking on the store!”

Jeno grimaced. He wasn’t checking on the store. He didn’t give a fuck about the store. He was checking on you. “I don’t have anything else to do. I’ll stay until Jaemin finishes his shift.”

“You don’t have to-”

“Did you eat anything?” Jeno asked abruptly.

“Uh…,” you trailed off when your stomach growled. “I was about to make coffee.”

Jeno scoffed. “No, not that. I mean actually eating. I saw a bakery down the street. I’ll be right back!” and Jeno was gone before you could complain, coming back a few minutes later with a paper bag.

“I don’t know what you like, so I bought…everything,” he said, walking towards the kitchenette and placing the bag on the table. You quickly hung a sign to indicate that the store was closed and followed him. You were planning on closing the store early today after what happened, and Jaemin was about to pick you up after his shift anyways. You could use a little break and eat something before heading home.

“Thank you! Anything would have been fine, honestly,” you giggled, looking at the wide variety of bread and pastries Jeno had bought. “I’ll make some coffee then, okay?”

“You know,” Jeno said as he looked for some plates to put the food on. “Too much coffee is not good for you. Jaemin’s a bad influence for you,” he half-joked.

“You’d be surprised. Actually, Jaemin doesn’t want me drinking much coffee,” you hummed, boiling the water. “I used to drink way more, but he’s made me cut it down to one cup a day.”

Jeno was indeed surprised. That didn’t sound like Jaemin at all. “Why?”

You shrug as you finish preparing the coffee and pour it in the mugs. “Something about too much caffeine being bad for pregnancy.”

Jeno choked on his saliva, staring at your tummy with wide eyes. “Preg–...a-re, are you…?”

“No!” you replied and you couldn’t help but laugh at his comical reaction, taking the mugs and walking towards the table where the food was waiting. “He just thinks it’s better to cut caffeine down in advance, just in case.”

“O-oh,” Jeno replied dumbly, following you and sitting down in front of you to eat together. “Are you two t-trying to…?” he asked awkwardly. He didn’t mean to intrude, but he was dying to know.

“Mmh…Jaem really wants to, but we’re not ready,” you said, using your fork to stab a piece of strawberry cake. “He needs to graduate first and then we can plan it properly.”

Jeno nodded absentmindedly. He knew Jaemin wanted to be a dad, and now that he was mated it was only natural for his wolf to want to start a family as soon as possible. After all, a wolf’s animal side was driven by their purest desires. “Jaemin will be a great dad. And an even better mate. He’ll take care of you.”

“What if he falls out of love when he sees me gaining weight during pregnancy?” you joked. “I’ll probably look like a mess.”

“You’ll look good,” Jeno whispered, his eyes glued to your body like he was in a haze. “Very good,” he added.

You blushed. The room suddenly was feeling very hot. If you didn’t know better, you would think Jeno was checking you, his best friend’s mate, out. You let out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t know about that, but we’ll see when the time comes.”

The awkward conversation was interrupted by the door bursting open and showing a panting, sweaty Jaemin, still wearing the hospital lab coat. His terrified eyes landed on you and he ran towards you, lifting you from the chair and hugging you tight.

“J-jaemin! Calm down, I’m fine, I promise! I’m okay!” you stuttered, as he inhaled your scent and pulled you impossibly closer.

“I can’t do this Y/N,” Jaemin’s voice cracked as he tried not to cry. “I can’t do the internship when you’re in danger.”

“I am not in danger!” you argued, putting some distance between you.

“I’m not too sure about that. I know you hide stuff from me because you don’t want me to worry. You told me about today’s incident hours after you called the police, and only because I called you.”

Jeno, who had been trying to make himself small on his chair, feeling like an intruder in this conversation, gasped and glared at you. Now he too was annoyed at you, because if you had told Jaemin sooner, then Jaemin would have contacted Jeno sooner, and he would have come to make sure you were safe sooner. “Hours?! You should have told him immediately!”

Jaemin, who had completely forgotten about Jeno, turned around in surprise but quickly recovered to team up with him. “Right?! How can I do the internship if I know she won't tell me immediately when something bad happens?”

“I would be freaking out if my mate did that, the fuck?!” Jeno agreed.

“I just can’t trust her to be alone at night when closing the store.”

“Absolutely not.”

You looked at the two men incredulously. “I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m not calling you a child, Y/N. I just want you to stop trying to solve everything by yourself. This is not the first time. Why won’t you just…ask me for help?” Jaemin’s broken voice asked, holding one of your hands between his.

“You’re busy,Jaem. And you’re already stressed.”

“I can handle it,” he quickly assured you.

“But I don’t want you to. I don’t want you to deal with stuff that I can fix myself. I don’t want anyone to have to deal with my problems. Everyone is already busy enough.”

“I’m not,” Jeno suddenly said, catching everyone’s attention. You tilted your head in confusion, but Jaemin’s eyes bore into Jeno’s as if he was reading his mind, with a glint of hope in them. “I graduated last semester and I’m taking a break before applying for a job. I’m not busy at all,” Jeno repeated, his voice getting quieter as if he regretted what he was saying half way through the sentence. He knew he was definitely crossing the line with what he was offering, but the indirect suggestion escaped his mouth before he could stop himself.

“Jeno…,” Jaemin called his name softly and raised his eyebrows in a silent question.

Jeno sighed and nodded before looking away. Jaemin nodded too, as you gave them both a confused look.

“What’s going on?” you finally asked.

Jaemin slowly teared his eyes away from Jeno and gave you a gentle smile. He seemed incredibly relieved compared to when he entered the room. “I’ll tell you after Jeno and I talk for a bit. But first let’s get you home; you had a long day,” he said, kissing your forehead and looking for your coat.

You let Jaemin help you put your coat on, as Jeno packed the remaining pieces of cake for you to take home. After closing the store, both walked you home. Jaemin held your hand as he told you all about his internship and how he was surrounded by idiots, but at least he had good chances of getting a good job later on. Jeno walked a few steps behind you, in complete silence.

“You’re not staying the night?” you asked when you reached your apartment and Jaemin kissed you goodbye.

Jaemin shook his head. “Not tonight, baby. I’m going home with Jeno.”

“Okay,” you said, giving him another kiss and then looking at Jeno, who was staring at his own feet awkwardly. “Bye, Jeno!”

Jeno gave you a smile and waved his hand and you walked into your place, leaving the two men outside. They started walking by the seaside, towards their house in silence until Jaemin spoke up.

“Jeno,” he said and stopped walking.

Jeno stopped walking too and looked at Jaemin. Jaemin’s voice was stern, and for a moment he feared he knew something. “Yeah?”

“What you said earlier… Does it mean what I think it means?”

Jeno’s attention was on a little pebble on the floor, which he kicked weakly just to keep himself occupied. He nodded.

“So you are offering to take care of my mate when I can’t be around,” Jaemin stated. It wasn’t a question.

Again, Jeno nodded.

Jaemin didn’t say anything for a few seconds. They could only hear the sound of the ocean waves, the street empty of cars and people due to the late hour. And then Jeno heard Jaemin sob.

Jeno quickly looked up and saw his best friend desperately wiping away his tears with the lab coat sleeves.

“Why– what’s wrong?!” Jeno asked, alarmed.

“I’m not a good mate,” Jaemin sobbed louder.

“W-what?! What are you talking about?!”

“I can’t take c-care of her and I ended up dragging you into this and I–...” Jaemin cried and it broke Jeno’s heart. “I need to g-graduate so I can offer her a b-better future but I worry something will happen t-to her while I’m away and–”

Jeno pulled Jaemin into a firm hug and patted his back in a comforting manner. “You’re a good mate, Jaemin,” he said.

Jaemin scoffed and cried on Jeno’s shoulder.

“I mean it. You’re good to Y/N. You’ll take good care of her and your family,” Jeno said, trying not to show the sadness in his voice. He always knew one day he and Jaemin would imprint on someone and go separate ways. What he was not expecting was that both would imprint on the same woman and that Jaemin would be the one to have her. The reality was that his best friend was going to start a family with the woman of Jeno’s dreams. And Jeno was not in the picture.

“...Really?” Jaemin asked in a tiny voice, sniffling.

“Really,” Jeno assured him. “You’re just stressed. But I’ll help you, okay? I’ll keep an eye on her until your internship is over if that makes you feel more at ease.”

Jaemin nodded, still hiding his face on Jeno’s shoulder and they both stayed in silence once again.

“Jeno…,” Jaemin whispered when he calmed down. “You’re scenting me again.”

Jeno tensed, but didn’t move. He knew if Jaemin was uncomfortable he would have pushed him away already.

“You’ve been doing it a lot whenever I’m stressed or tired,” Jaemin continued. His tone wasn’t accusatory. “Thank you, it does help. You’re a good friend.”

Jeno gulped. He certainly didn’t feel like a good friend with the thoughts he had of you. “It’s nothing,” he said softly. “Now let’s go home.”

You woke up to a call from Jaemin reminding you of how much he loved you, thanking you for supporting him in his career and letting you know that Jeno would be working at the apothecary with you for a few months. You tried to argue that he didn’t need to bother Jeno, but he had to hang up because his shift was starting, so you had no choice but to accept that you had a new coworker.

Or maybe you could reason with Jeno.

“Nope,” he would simply reply whenever you tried to convince him to go home. “I’m staying right here. I’ll be around whenever Jaemin can’t.”

You groaned when he snatched yet another box from your hands and carried it inside himself. “I don’t remember mating both of you,” you mumbled, and then bumped into his back when he abruptly stopped walking. “What?”

Jeno sighed and pushed the thought away. “Don’t say stuff like that,” he said, putting the box down and opening it to take the products out. “It’s…weird.”

“And you being my babysitter isn’t?” you argued.

“That’s not what this is.”

“You’re right. Your best friend simply asked you to hang out with his girlfriend when he’s busy. Not weird at all.”

“Listen,” Jeno groaned, finally turning around to look at you. “When a wolf has mated, they need to spend more time with their partner to feel at ease. Jaemin can’t do that now because he’s trying to graduate to take better care of you in the future. The stress of studying and knowing his mate is on her own and possibly in danger is killing him. I’ve never seen him this distressed before,” he confessed, his tone going soft. “He will feel better if he knows someone he trusts is with you. Can you just do this for him?”

You bit your lip. It was a bit suffocating to have someone watching over you all the time. But if it was just for a few months, you could compromise. For Jaemin.

“Fine, but you let me carry boxes too.”

“No.”

So Jeno and you spend most days together at the apothecary, working, eating and talking. At first he tried to keep the conversation minimum, wanting to control his growing feelings for you, but the way you talked and smiled to him had him falling harder than he would ever want to admit, and he naturally started speaking more, laughing at your jokes and listening to you go on and on about some cringe show you were obsessed with. Sometimes his eyes would linger on your body for a bit too long, and sometimes you would catch him staring. And he knew you knew he was staring, but both of you would pretend it never happened. It was like a silent agreement between you.

Jeno was crazy about you, as any imprinted wolf would be, but he already considered himself lucky enough by spending this much time with you so he would never act on his feelings.

You, on the other hand, thought staring was just a thing that men did, and that it didn’t mean that he was attracted to you, but simply that he was a man. You felt safe with him, not only because Jaemin trusted him, but also because there was something about him. You couldn’t quite tell if it was a wolf thing (although you never felt that way with your ex), but whenever Jeno was around, you would feel at ease, just like when Jaemin first hugged you months ago.

In Jeno’s opinion, you felt too comfortable around him; and that’s how one afternoon he found you napping on the sofa, unguarded, in such a position that your skirt had rolled up and was barely covering your ass. Part of Jeno was glad you felt safe with him, but the other part kind of wished you were more aware of the fact that he was still a man. A man who was very attracted to you and could now see your panties as you stirred in your sleep. A man with needs, who quickly locked himself in the restroom and tried to solve his problem before you woke up.

When you opened your eyes, you noticed that it was getting dark already. It was probably time to close the store and you felt bad that Jeno had done most of the work and let you sleep. You went towards the front desk and saw that he indeed had finished everything and closed, but his coat and backpack were still there, so he hadn’t left. You walked through the shelves, looking for him to thank him when you heard a muffled sound coming from the restroom.

The sounds grew louder as you got closer and you could distinguish what sounded like Jeno’s voice groaning. But before you could call his name you heard him speak.

“Oh god, o-oh fuck,” he cried, sounding pained like he was trying his best to be quiet and failing miresably. “J-just like that, yeeess.”

Oh, he was doing that…

Feeling your face get really hot, you decided to leave and give him some privacy, but then he called your name.

“Y/N,” he whispered and you took a deep breath in, ready to tell him you didn't mean to listen. “Ah…Mmh, Y/N… such pretty legs…”

You opened your mouth in shock. What?

“Y-yeah…pretty legs, pretty smile uuh- fuuuck,” he hissed, panting faster and mumbling nonsense. “Bet you have a p-pretty pussy too, yeah?”

‘Oh, my god,’ you thought, getting a little wet at such dirty words coming from him.

“Oooh wanna– oh, fuck wanna taste you,” he whimpered, sounding desperate and close to his climax. “S-shit Y/N...should’ve… should’ve buried my face between y-your legs right there, fuck– Aah! Y/N,Y/N!”

You couldn’t take it anymore. You walked away quickly and grabbed your stuff, almost running to your apartment and taking a cold shower as soon as you got in because you would not allow yourself to get horny because of Jeno, even if he had shamelessly touched himself thinking of you (unless he knew another Y/N). You tried to find a logical explanation to what had just happened, but there was none.

Your boyfriend’s best friend moaned your name while touching his cock. He said you were pretty. He said he wanted to taste you.

You weren’t blind, you had seen the way he looked at you when he thought you weren’t paying attention, but you didn’t think much of it because you knew how loyal he was to Jaemin.

You were loyal to Jaemin too. You were madly in love with him. No matter how hot (again, you weren’t blind) Jeno was, or how warm your chest felt with each of his sweet gestures, Jaemin was the only one for you.

So when Jeno texted you asking you where you had gone, you tried to keep your cool. You told him you thought he had already gone home so you left too.

Jeno: Why would I go home??

Jeno: You know I always walk you to yours first if Jaemin isn’t done with his stuff

There he went again, reminding you of how both he and Jaemin basically took turns to be with you. No wonder Jeno had mixed things up if he had to spend so much time with you. He was just confused. Yeah, that must be it.

Y/N: Sorry, I didn’t think of that

Jeno: Just don’t do it again

Y/N: Ok

And with that, you went to bed, deciding to pretend today never happened.

“You’re acting a bit…weird lately,” Jeno said one day.

“Weird how?” you asked monotonously, pretending to be too busy checking the tags on a random product.

Instead of answering, Jeno stood right behind you and reached for a product on the top shelf, making you jump and move away faster than he could blink. “This. This is literally what I’m talking about. Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not!” you defended yourself and walked towards another shelf, standing on your toes to reach for a specific jar with dried herbs.

“Let me help you,” Jeno offered, trying to do it for you, but once again you scurried away, this time so fast and clumsy that you lost your balance, accidentally pulling Jeno to the floor with you. You landed on your back, and Jeno on top of you, caging you with his arms on each side of your head to avoid crushing you with his body. “See? You’re being jumpy and weird! Why?!” Jeno scolded you.

You let out a shaky breath. Jeno looked so big and intimidating and the position you were in was dangerous. “I…I’m not–”

“You are!” He groaned. “There’s no need to be so tense. It’s just me!”

“Exactly,” you mumbled to yourself, trying to move from the awkward position you both were in.

“What was that?” Jeno asked.

“Nothing.”

“No, Y/N. You said ‘exactly’. What does that mean?” he insisted, not letting you go.

You sighed. “Jeno, let’s just forget about it, okay?”

“About what? Seriously, what even is your problem? You’ve been distant ever since…,” Jeno trailed off, suddenly remembering the last time you had been your normal self around him had been right before he got a boner because of you flashing him in your sleep. “Y/N, when you went home without me on Tuesday,” he gulped and spoke nervously. “Why did you really leave?”

“I told you. I thought you had left already,” you lied.

“Lies. You saw, didn’t you?”

You tried to avoid making eye contact. “I didn’t see a-anything.”

“Did you hear, then?”

When you took a little too long to reply, he knew he was screwed. You knew his secret. ”You did. Fuck. Listen,” he sighed, pushing himself a bit further away from you. “You were not supposed to hear that. I thought you were sleeping.”

“Yeah, obviously,” you spit. “Look, I know it was just a moment of weakness. Boys will be boys, right?”

Jeno glared at you. He wished it had been a moment of weakness instead of the months of unreciprocated devotion. “Right,” he grumbled.

That’s where the conversation should have ended. You didn’t need to dig deeper. But you did. “I get it. It’s just because you see me often. Otherwise any other woman would do.”

Jeno’s jaw tensed and he clenched his fist next to your head. He knew the best option was to agree with you and let you believe whatever you wanted. But it made his blood boil that you thought you were just like any woman for him. Hold it, Jeno. Don’t say it-

“That’s not true,” he said through gritted teeth, ignoring the voice of reason yelling at him to stop speaking. “I couldn’t control myself because it was you.”

You forced yourself to laugh. “What, you got a crush on me or something?”

“I imprinted on you,” Jeno growled.

You weren’t laughing anymore. Your boyfriend’s best friend was hovering over you, while you were still lying down on the floor, and he had just confessed to the worst possible crime.

“That’s not funny,” you hissed.

“Damn right it isn’t. It sucks,” he said seriously. “I imprinted on my best friend’s girlfriend. I think about you day and night, and I can’t do shit about it, even when we spend almost everyday together. So yeah, it isn’t funny. It fucking hurts.”

You breathed shakily and squirmed under Jeno’s intense gaze, which was turning red. “J-jeno, you’re just confused-”

“I wish I was,” Jeno scoffed. “I’ve been sensitive to Jaemin’s scent ever since he mated you, you triggered my rut when we met, I can only cum when I think of you and it kills me to know I’m not the one mated to you, but what’s even worse is that by feeling like this I’m betraying my pack brother.”

“Jeno I…,” you gulped. “I don’t know what to say…”

“Don’t you feel anything for me at all?”

“I’m in love with Jaemin.”

“That’s not what I asked,” he said, looking at your eyes pleadingly. “Do you not feel the pull?”

You’d be lying if you said you didn’t. There had always been a weird feeling of comfort whenever Jeno was with you. You found yourself missing him when you didn’t see him and you couldn’t deny a small part of you was attracted to him. But all those sensations were often overpowered by your love for Jaemin.

“It doesn’t compare to what I feel with Jaemin,” you said honestly.

“Ah, but there is something then,” Jeno confirmed his suspicions, licking his lips. He knew if a wolf had really imprinted on someone, that person would feel desire for them too. It was never completely one sided. Of course what you felt for Jaemin was stronger because you were mated to him, but it didn’t mean that you were indifferent to Jeno.

“Nothing worth thinking about,” you said proudly. “Now get off, and let’s never talk about this again,” you said, trying to push him away but he didn’t budge.

How Jeno had managed to control himself around you all this time was a mystery. But he was reaching his limit, and having you in such a compromising position was making him lose his mind.

“Since the cat’s out of the bag anyways,” Jeno murmured, leaning closer to your face. “I want to test something.”

Afraid of how close he was to your lips, you turned your head to the side, but Jeno aimed for your neck instead, gently rubbing his lips against it until you got goosebumps.

“J-jeno what are y-you…”

“You really don’t feel anything?” he asked hopefully, placing a single chaste kiss where Jaemin’s mark was.

“N-nothing.”

“Then why are you shaking?” Jeno asked innocently, tracing your neck with his tongue, now too lost in his fantasy to control his instinct. “Why can I smell your arousal?”

Embarrassed, you tried to close your thighs but one of Jeno’s knees was between them, so you ended up accidentally brushing against it and gasping. “Jeno...”

Yes, Jeno wanted you to say his name just like that. But louder.

“You’re so pretty, Y/N,” Jeno said, pressing his knee harder against your center. “I could bite you right now and overwrite this mark,” he panted against your neck, bearing his teeth and growling. “You’d be mine–”

“No!” you yelled, pulling at his hair. “JAEMIN!”

Like you had said the magic words to break a spell, Jeno pulled away from you abruptly, his eyes shining a golden hue now and his face pale. Now he had done it, he had been this close to claiming somebody else’s mate and losing his best friend forever. Fuck what the fuck is wrong with you.

You crawled away from him and both of you stared at each other.

“Fuck… I’m sorry,” Jeno said, visibly shaking. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me…”

“...When’s your rut?” you asked nervously.

Jeno swallowed, trying to do the math in his head. “ Uh, by the end of next week…probably…” he whispered.

You nodded. Just in time for the end of Jaemin’s internship AND his own rut too. “That must be why you’re behaving like this,” you tried to reason, still in denial. “I think you’ve helped me enough. I’ll work on my own next week, okay?” you said standing up.

Jeno knew you weren’t telling him that for him to rest. You were trying to push him away. “No,” he said quickly. “Jaemin said to take care of you,” he reasoned.

“It’s just one more week. I will be fine.”

“Exactly, just one more week!” Jeno tried to bargain, quite desperately if he was being honest. He hadn’t noticed how fast time had gone by and he wasn’t ready to stop seeing you just yet. “One week and I’ll be out of your life. But just for one more week, let me–...”

You didn’t answer. One more week with him, would mean you would be together right before his rut started. Judging by what had just happened, he probably wouldn’t be able to control himself. You were not too sure if you would stop him a second time either. “I wanna go home,” you simply said.

“I’ll walk with you,” Jeno said.

“No,” you quickly replied. “I want to be alone.”

Jeno let out a small whimper, but he nodded, knowing he had fucked up badly and you needed space. “I’ll close the store.”

“Thanks,” you said, grabbing your bag and walking through the door, sparing Jeno one last glance. “Goodbye,Jeno.”

The way you said it made Jeno anxious. He knew it meant he wouldn’t see you again and he felt a sharp pain in his chest that had him bending over as he saw you leave. All those testimonies from wolves who survived without mating their real love must have been lying. He felt like he could die right now. He needed you.

You also felt heartbroken when you left teary-eyed Jeno in the apothecary alone, but you wouldn’t risk your relationship with Jaemin. You walked home fast, wiping your tears away.

Why were you even crying?

When you opened your apartment’s door you were greeted with a smiling Jaemin, wearing an apron.

“Surprise!” he exclaimed. “I finished a little earlier today and I thought I should make dinner for my beautiful, hard-working… were you crying?”

You shook your head quickly. “Well, a little,” you admitted when he furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief. “I missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Jaemin cooed, kissing your forehead. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. But after next week I’m all yours, baby.”

You nodded and let him guide you to the table, where he had prepared a warm meal for the both of you, with a bottle of wine and some candles. Since tomorrow was Sunday, none of you had to worry about work or studying, so you had plenty of time to catch up. You talked about silly little things, and he smiled brightly when you complimented his cooking skills. Then he asked you how you felt about meeting the rest of the pack after he graduated, to which you gladly agreed, and it led to Jaemin telling you funny stories about his life as a wolf with the rest of them. Most of his stories were about Jeno.

“How did you meet Jeno?” you asked, when you both were cuddling on the sofa as he played with your hair.

“Mmh…we were the only wolf pups in the village where we grew up. They were not too accepting of… our type in that place, so we often were bullied by other kids…and adults,” he huffed. “We were each other’s only friend for a while and we decided to move to a bigger city for high school and look for more wolves together.That’s when we met Taeyong and Doyoung hyung.”

“...You’ve been together for a while, then,” you murmured.

“We’ve always been there for each other,” Jaemin confirmed. “He’s an amazing friend. Even now he’s helping me so much.”

“Y-yeah, about that,” you mumbled, sitting up straight and pulling away from his grasp. “I think he’s done enough already, so I told him not to come to the apothecary next week.”

“Oh… Yeah, he has been working really hard but,” he scratched the back of his head in deep thought. “Why not let him stay until I finish my internship by the end of next week?”

“No!” you quickly yelled, making Jaemin give you a surprised look. “I mean, it’s only a few days. I’ll be fine on my o-own, just… just tell him to stay home.”

Jaemin stared at you gravely. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“I’m n-not lying.”

“I didn’t say you’re lying. But you’re not telling me all the truth;” Jaemin said, turning his body in your direction to sit face to face with you. “What’s going on?”

You bit your lip and tried to stop the tears from escaping your eyes. “I think it’s better to keep some distance from Jeno…”

“Why?” your boyfriend asked, confused but slowly growing more anxious.

“It c-could be that– maybe he’s confused…”

“Confused about what?”

You looked at Jaemin and then at your lap, wondering if it was really worth saying. You didn’t want to ruin years of friendship for what could be a misunderstanding.

“The truth, Y/N,” he commanded. “Now.”

You took a deep breath in. “He said he imprinted on me.”

Jaemin frowned in confusion, catching himself before he could ask you if you were sure of what you were saying. He knew you enough to know that you would always avoid telling him about things that could upset him unless it was absolutely necessary. If anything, the situation was probably way more serious than you wanted to admit, and you were playing it down right now.

Everything started making sense for Jaemin as he remembered that Jeno had scented you when he first met you. The reason Jeno’s rut had synced with his again, had to be you. Jeno didn’t offer to help out in the store just because he was a good friend, but because he wanted to be around you…Fuck. He felt betrayed, but mostly he felt dumb. How did he not notice the way Jeno looked at you? How could he

trust him with you while he was away? The fact that you were now asking him to tell Jeno to back off meant that Jeno had crossed the line…and you had had to take care of it on your own.

Jaemin had basically offered his mate on a silver plate.

Jaemin palmed his face and cursed under his breath. “What else?” he growled. “What else did he say? What did he do?”

“Jaemin, please consider that Jeno’s rut is just around the corner,” you tried to defend Jeno, for the sake of his friendship with Jaemin. You knew losing him would be devastating for your mate. “He c-can’t control himself–”

“What the fuck did he do?!” Jaemin shouted, pulling his hair. “What the fuck happened to finally make you tell me about this?!”

“I…I wasn’t hiding anything from you,” you breathed out. “I just found out today…”

“You would have dismissed it as a joke if he had simply said something like that out of the blue, Y/N. Something else happened. What did he do?” he snarled, hovering over you and trapping you on the sofa.

You blinked away your tears, deciding to show him instead of telling him, and tilted your head to the side, offering him your neck. Jaemin gave you a confused look, until he picked up on a scent he was familiar with.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Jaemin hissed, getting closer to your neck and inhaling deeply before letting out a possessive snarl. Jeno’s scent was all over Jaemin’s mark. That had to be the most disrespectful shit a wolf could ever do. “That son of a bitch,” he breathed out, completely forgetting about years of friendship for a moment.

“H-he couldn’t c-control it,” you hiccupped in between sobs.

“Don’t you fucking defend him. The only reason a wolf would get this close to someone’s mark is to overwrite it,” he said severely. He then cupped your face with his hands. “Do you understand what this means, Y/N? I almost lost you today. Another wolf almost claimed you while I was buying ingredients for dinner. You almost became his mate. I’m such an idiot. I should have never trusted him,”

“He’s your best friend,” you whispered sadly.

“I don’t care, Y/N. He’s still a man and I left him alone with you all this time. It’s almost like I invited him into our relationship.”

“Because you trust him,” you reminded him. “He controlled himself the entire time until now. He didn’t want to betray you…”

“But he did. And he’s the reason you were crying today, right?”

You looked away.

“Do you still love me?” Jaemin asked you seriously. He had never doubted your feelings before, but he needed to confirm if you wanted to continue this relationship with what was happening.

You glared at him. “Of course I do. I’m crazy in love with you.”

Jaemin smiled at you and kissed you gently. “Then Jeno has to go,” he whispered, before deepening the kiss.

The next day Jeno felt like he had got hit by a train. He couldn’t sleep all night, crying and overthinking everything instead. He knew it was your right to not want to see him, but it pained him that your last encounter had been such a mess. If only he hadn’t confessed he could still be around as a friend. If only he hadn’t lost his temper, he wouldn’t have scared you. And now he couldn’t even be alone to drown in self-pity because absolutely every single member of the pack was home, making a lot of noise while preparing everything for a full moon family dinner.

“No, you can’t skip dinner,” Doyoung told him, passing him more plates to set on the table. “Kun finally came back from his business trip and I want everyone here because I have to make an announcement. If you’re really not feeling well, just stay for a bit and then you can go to bed– Chenle, put that down!” he yelled at the younger wolf who was practicing levitating plates with magic instead of carrying them with his hands.

Jeno was about to argue when he heard Haechan’s voice yelling. “Our future healer is here!”

“Dude, you look…tired,” Mark told Jaemin, who was making his entrance.

“Didn’t sleep,” Jaemin mumbled.

“Didn’t shower either,” Haechan said. “You reek of sex.”

Jaemin chuckled. “I took a shower…but we did it again after.”

Mark whistled, impressed. “Things going well, then?”

“Better than ever,” Jaemin forced a smile, walking past them to greet the rest of the pack. When he saw Jeno, he tensed. There were many things he wanted to say to him, but the moment he made eye contact, he still saw the pup he grew up with. His best friend. “Jeno…”

Jeno gave him a weak smile and wrinkled his nose at his scent. “How’s school?”

“It’s fine…” Jaemin said vaguely. Why wasn’t he angrier at Jeno? He had made a move on his mate. He couldn’t go soft on him now. “Listen, I gotta talk to you–”

“Jaemin, you’re here!” Doyoung interrupted the conversation and pushed Jaemin to the table. “Take a seat, food is ready– Jaehyun, no! Wait until everyone is sitting.”

Jaemin sighed. Maybe he could talk to Jeno after eating. He didn’t want to make things awkward with everyone there anyways.

When everyone took their seats by a long table in the backyard, Taeyong stood up to ask for everyone’s attention. “Thank you for coming, brothers! I know everyone is busy, so I’m very grateful that you still found the time to share a meal with your pack. Although we don’t need a reason to call everyone here, one of our members has an important announcement to make,” the leader said, sitting down and looking at Doyoung.

“Okay, here we go uh…,” Doyoung mumbled as he stood up.

“LOUDER!” Yuta yelled.

“IF YOU WANT TO HEAR WHY DON’T YOU SIT CLOSER,” Doyoung yelled back, taking a deep breath to collect himself. “As I was saying… I uh…I’m getting married.”

Immediately everyone started cheering and clapping, except for Haechan, who let out a shocked ‘WHAT?’

“I proposed last week,” Doyoung continued, now a bit more relaxed and smiling shyly. “And she said yes.”

Louder cheering exploded around the table, mixed with Haechan’s ‘NO WAY!’

“I wanted to be the first,” Haechan whined when everyone calmed down. “I bought the ring and everything…No, Jisung, don’t even think about it!” he warned when he caught the youngest daydreaming at the mention of a ring.

“I didn’t say anything!” Jisung defended himself, blushing.

Jeno laughed at Jisung. “Take it easy, pup. You’ll scare her away if you go too fast.”

“I wasn’t going to!” Jisung insisted.

“Hyung,” Jaemin suddenly asked Doyoung. “Have you found a good place to live yet? Y/N and I are looking for a house to move in together too.”

Everyone’s attention was on Jaemin now, yelling their approval. Jeno tensed on his seat in front of him.

“What about Y/N’s apartment?” Doyoung asked.

“It’s okay if it’s just the two of us, but we’re planning on starting a family,” Jaemin confessed, making everyone scream in delight and surprise.

“WHAT?!” Haechan shouted again, frustrated that he wouldn’t be the first to do anything.

“Isn’t it too soon?” Jeno asked before he could stop himself, his serious tone making everyone stop cheering.

Jaemin glared at him from across the table, remembering that Jeno wasn’t just his pack brother anymore, but a wolf who wanted Jaemin’s mate for himself. Of course he didn’t want Jaemin to start a family with you. “No,” he replied superbly. “As a matter of fact, I do not think it’s too soon.”

Everyone remained silent around them. This was not an atmosphere that they had ever felt between Jeno and Jaemin.

“Last time I checked, Y/N thought you two weren’t ready,” Jeno said, mentally reprimanding himself because what was he even trying to accomplish by delaying the inevitable.

“Ah, you must have checked a long time ago,” Jaemin replied, faking a smile. “Because when I checked last night she really wanted it. In fact, I double checked today and she really, really wanted it.”

“Maybe she just agreed because you want it,” Jeno said pettily, shrugging.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jeno shrugged again. “I’m just saying.”

Jaemin nodded. He was smiling, but he seemed far from happy. “You are just saying.” He repeated slowly. He had planned to have a proper private conversation with Jeno, but if he was going to disrespect him and his relationship in front of the entire pack, then Jaemin wouldn’t hold back either.

By now everyone was alert. These two had never talked to each other like that before. The youngest members, especially Jisung, were getting nervous because of the excess of alpha pheromones being released. The more experienced wolves could see that this was a territorial battle and were getting ready to intervene if things escalated, but why?! Why would Jeno and Jaemin fight?

“That’s an awful thing to just say,” Jaemin said. “But you seem to be saying weird things a lot lately,” he purred maliciously. “For example, yesterday you told my mate you had imprinted on her.”

Immediately all eyes were on Jeno. A few members let out audible gasps, while others straight out cursed in disbelief, slowly putting two and two together. This wouldn’t end well.

“Did you also just say that? Or did you mean it?” Jaemin asked.

Jeno gulped but he couldn’t continue lying. He looked Jaemin in the eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said.

Jaemin’s eyes were clouded with tears that he fought as much as he could. “Fuck you, Jeno. You said you would keep an eye on her so I wouldn’t worry, but you were trying to steal her away? You deceived me for months!”

“That wasn’t my intention! I really wanted to help—“

“Then why the fuck did you try to overwrite my mark yesterday?!” Jaemin shouted, standing up and causing several other members to stand up too, ready to stop whatever was happening. “All these years of friendship mean nothing to you?! How could you look me in the eyes and think of fucking my mate?!” Jaemin asked with a pained tone.

Jeno felt a couple of tears slide down his cheek. He had screwed up. He had hurt his best friend and he had no idea what to do to make it better.

“Stay away from us,” Jaemin tried to sound intimidating, but he just sounded tired and sad. He turned around and left, not being able to handle seeing Jeno for another minute.

Everyone was quiet, staring at Jeno who was sitting still on his chair.

“What are you all looking at?” Jeno asked, annoyed. “You think I wanted this to happen? We can’t choose who we imprint on. And it’s not like any of you had an ideal courting stage anyways,” he added, laughing bitterly and turning his attention to Doyoung. “Hyung, you’re getting married now, but your mate drank a potion to break the bond before,” he accused.

Doyoung gave Jeno a sad look, but he didn’t reply.

Jeno’s next victim was Haechan. “You pursued a woman who was already in a relationship. So you and I aren’t too different,” he said, laughing, but Haechan didn’t find it funny. No one did.

“You,” Jeno continued, this time staring at Mark. “Only approached your mate because you were afraid she would suck Yangyang’s cock if you didn’t.”

Mark clenched his jaw and looked away.

Jeno pointed at Jisung. “And your mate…”

“Jeno,” Taeyong said in a warning tone, but Jeno was too blinded by anger and sadness to listen.

“Your mate got dicked down by Jaehyun hyung,” Jeno spat, his eyes boring into Jisung’s.

“JENO!” Taeyong roared. “That’s enough!”

Jeno didn’t think it was enough. He had plenty he wanted to say, but the way Jisung had whimpered brought him back to reality. He knew how sensitive the youngest was to his mate’s past with Jaehyun and that he was trying his best not to let his insecurities affect the pack dynamic. When Chenle scented Jisung in a comforting manner and glared at Jeno, he took it as his cue to leave, locking himself in his room and hoping no one would bother him.

But of course it was impossible to be completely alone in a house with more than 20 men.

“May I come in?” Doyoung’s voice asked from the other side of the door, knocking gently.

Without a word, Jeno got up and unlocked the door, sitting back on the bed. Doyoung entered the room and closed the door behind him and walked cautiously towards the bed and sat next to Jeno.

“I’m sorry,” Jeno finally said. “...For what I said.”

“I didn’t come here looking for an apology,” Doyoung said. “What you said wasn’t a lie. We all have made mistakes when it comes to our mates.”

“No mistake is worse than mine,” Jeno mumbled sadly.

“You didn’t choose to imprint on her,” Doyoung argued. “It was the Moon’s choice.”

“The Moon fucked up,” Jeno said.

“The Moon makes no mistakes.”

Jeno looked at Doyoung through mournful eyes. “Hyung,” his voice cracked and he started sobbing quietly. “I don’t know what to do…”

“Oh, Jeno,” Doyoung cooed, hugging the younger. “You kept this to yourself all this time. Suffering on your own…”

Jeno cried louder, allowing himself to be taken care of for once after months.

“You’re not a bad person,” Doyoung insisted. “This isn’t your fault.”

“W-what do I d-do?” Jeno asked between sobs.

“First, let’s give Jaemin some space,” Doyoung suggested. “It will be alright…”

You were surprised when Jaemin came back to you not even an hour after he left. “You’re back! What happened to the family dinner?”

Instead of replying, Jaemin kissed you desperately, pushing you against the wall. You kissed him back hesitantly, wondering what got him so worked up. “Jaem– hold on…” you mumbled, breaking away from the kiss, which he took as a chance to kiss down your neck until he found the mating mark, and he finally broke down crying.

“Jaemin? W-what happened?”

“He w-wont bother you again,” Jaemin replied, sniffling.

You hugged him tight and patted his head. “Did you two have a fight?” you asked fearfully.

Jaemin kissed the mark on your neck and remained silent, the only sound coming from him being his weak sobs. He had lost a friend and a brother, but he had to protect his mate. If Jeno had said the truth about being imprinted on you, then Jaemin really resented the Moon right now. What a twisted sense of humor She had.

That night, Jaemin cried himself to sleep with your body curled against his, and the next day he went to the internship like nothing had happened. He decided to just stay with you that week, not wanting to see Jeno, but also feeling incredibly clingy due to the proximity of his rut. He was glad the internship would be over by Friday, right before his rut hit, so he could spend it with you in peace.

It was Wednesday night when you heard a knock on your door and your door and you were greeted by an unfamiliar face.

“Hi, is Jaemin here?” the handsome man with doe eyes asked.

“Uh…Sorry, but who are you?” you asked suspiciously.

“I’m Taeyong. I’m the leader of Jaemin’s pack,” he introduced himself politely. “And you must be Y/N,” he said, scanning your face.

“Hyung!” Jaemin’s voice called out from behind you before you had the chance to speak. He rushed to the door and positioned himself in front of you protectively. “What are you doing here?”

“Just checking on you,” Taeyong said casually. “You haven’t answered your phone nor dropped by in a few days.”

“Sorry,” Jaemin whispered. “I’ve been busy…”

Taeyong smiled. “Are you too busy now too? I was hoping we could go for a little walk…”

“He would love to!” you replied before Jaemin had the chance to come up with an excuse not to. Jaemin gave you a look that made it clear he was not in the mood for a walk, but you ignored it. “He needs to exercise,” you insisted, pushing him out the door. He had been looking depressed since Sunday and you hoped his pack leader could cheer him up.

“I’ll bring him back by 10!” Taeyong smiled at you, resting his arm on Jaemin’s shoulders, who let himself be dragged along hesitantly.

“This is a nice area,” Taeyong sighed, sitting on a bench where he could see the sea. “If you two move in together around here, you’ll be able to listen to the ocean waves all the time.”

Jaemin sat down in silence next to him.

“Or do you prefer a house closer to the forest? I saw this little house for rent the other day–”

“Just spit it out,” Jaemin said, tired of the small talk. “What did you come here to say?”

Taeyong bit his lip nervously. “Talk to Jeno.”

Jaemin rolled his eyes and stood up, ready to leave.

“You know we don’t choose who we imprint on.Do you think he would purposely fall for the mate of the person he cares for the most?” Taeyong said, making Jaemin halt. “From what he told Doyoung, he tried to avoid Y/N at first but you asked for his help. And then he thought it would be fine to stick around just until you finished your internship. He really tried his best to control his feelings.”

Jaemin frowned, sitting down again slowly. “So? What do you expect me to do?” he hissed. “I won’t give him my mate.”

“Just don’t cut him off,” Taeyong pleaded. “He’s willing to live as an unmated wolf, but not without you.”

“That’s dumb,” Jaemin replied. “He’ll be in pain whenever he smells Y/N on me. It would be a pathetic excuse of a life.”

“But he would rather do that than losing you,”

“That’s dumb. He’s dumb,” Jaemin repeated, wiping away a rebel tear. “… How is he?”

“Well… he’s not eating,” Taeyong disclosed.

“That idiot,” Jaemin groaned. “Force him to!”

Taeyong chuckled. “You know how stubborn he is…but I think hearing from you would make him feel a bit better…”

“I’ll…text him, or something,” Jeamin mumbled.

“Thank you,” Taeyong smiled at him. “That would mean a lot to the pack,” he said, standing up, ready to go back.

“Hyung,” Jaemin called out abruptly. “Is it true that an imprinted wolf can’t fall in love with another person?” He asked anxiously. He had been dying to ask that for days. “Jeno won’t love again?”

Taeyong had met wolves who hadn’t mated their person before and in all cases they lived empty lives. They usually started by avoiding eating and spending time with others due to sadness (which Jeno was doing right now), and after a while they would leave their pack to avoid the pity looks that others gave them and live alone in an isolated hut in the mountains. But Taeyong couldn’t tell Jaemin that when he looked like he was about to have a breakdown.

“Maybe he’ll be the exception,” Taeyong offered instead.

“What are the odds of that happening?” Jaemin insisted.

Taeyong shook his head sadly. Even if Jaemin forgave Jeno and they remained friends, chances were Jeno would not imprint on someone else, and once everyone in the pack had found their destined partner, Jeno would be alone.

Jaemin was thinking the same thing.

“Is there nothing we can do?” Jaemin asked.

“We can only be there for him,” Taeyong replied. “There’s nothing else we can do if there’s no destined partner for him.”

“There is a destined partner for him,” Jaemin groaned. “But she’s mine.”

“Only because you met her first,” Taeyong shrugged. “If Jeno had been the one to find her, then you would have imprinted on her later on and the problem of one of you two ending up alone would still be there.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“She’s your destined mate as much as she’s Jeno’s. But he decided to take a step back and live alone instead of challenging you. Because you’re the most important person to him.”

Jaemin stared at his own feet for a minute, processing everything he was hearing. “What if…what if there’s another way?”

Taeyong raised his eyebrows in interest, waiting for Jaemin to continue.

“What if the Moon gave us the same mate for a reason?” Jaemin whispered.

Taeyong smiled. This was exactly where he wanted the conversation to go. “The Moon makes no mistakes, Jaemin.”

Jaemin came back exactly at 10PM. He looked a bit more energetic, restless. He walked around the apartment, and looked at you nervously from time to time, opening his mouth to say something but changing his mind and walking away. You knew something was in his mind.

“Did you enjoy the walk?” you asked him when you were both lying down in bed about to fall asleep.

“It was…interesting,” Jaemin croaked, lying down on his side and looking directly into your eyes.

“Mmh? Interesting how?”

“We talked about Jeno,” Jaemin admitted.

You nodded. You had guessed that much would happen when the man on your door introduced himself as the leader of the pack.

“...And?” you asked, hoping to hear good news. Jaemin didn’t seem as blue as before, so whatever Taeyong had talked to him about had to be good.

Jaemin licked his lips and scooted closer. “What if…I mean,” he gulped and inhaled deeply. “Do you like Jeno?”

You sighed. “I’m in love with you, not Jeno,” you whispered, a bit hurt at what you thought was an accusation.

“I know, baby, I know,” he assured you, placing his palm on your cheek. “I’m not testing you. This is an honest question.”

You frowned at him and he sensed your uncertainty so he decided to explain a bit further. “Do you remember when we first met?” he asked you.

You nodded, kissing his palm softly.

“Do you remember feeling something pulling you towards me even though you fought it?”

You nodded again. “You called it the pull,” you replied.

“Exactly,” he murmured. “When we imprint on someone, the pull makes it hard for that person to resist us.”

“I know,” you chuckled. “You didn’t make it easy for me.”

Jaemin laughed too, caressing your cheekbone with his thumb, before getting serious again. “If Jeno imprinted on you, you must feel something.”

Your smile dropped, feeling judged again. “I would never–”

“I know,” Jaemin repeated, kissing your lips gently. “I’m not mad, baby, I promise. I just need you to be very honest with me on this, okay? Do you feel the pull with Jeno?”

You looked at Jaemin. His eyes were sincere. He really wasn’t angry at you, nor was he sad. If anything, he looked excited. So you nodded in defeat. “I’m sorry,” you sobbed, feeling your eyes getting teary. “But I wouldn’t cheat–”

Jaemin interrupted you by connecting his lips to yours, kissing you passionately and pulling your body against his. “Shh…It’s okay, baby,” he uttered. “We’ll be alright, I promise.”

“I won’t even look in his direction,” you pledged desperately. “I want to be with you. P-please, don’t break up with me,” you cried incoherently.

“Wolves don’t just break up with their mate, Y/N. Especially not after all I went through for you to be mine,” he whispered, pushing you on your back and kissing your neck and chest. “No, you’re staying with me…”

“Thank you, thank you,” you mumbled, tangling your fingers into his hair and pulling him closer as he pulled your shirt up and positioned himself a bit lower, biting and sucking on every bit of skin he found.

“...But maybe there’s space for one more?” he asked, looking up at you innocently.

You lifted your head to look at him. “W-what do you mean?”

Jaemin shrugged, kissing right between your boobs. “Jeno’s not that bad…,” he said, moving to your left breast and licking your nipple slowly, while maintaining eye contact. “He took care of you all these months,” he continued, sucking it into his mouth lewdly. “I mean, it’s kind of like you had two boyfriends the entire time…”

You arched your back and gasped, confused at the situation you were in. Why was he talking about another man while touching you like this?

“I’m not following…” you panted.

“No?” Jaemin pouted, releasing your nipple and kissing down your stomach. “Don’t you think Jeno deserves a little reward after everything he’s done?” he asked playfully, licking your navel and making you shiver.

You bit your lip and shook your head. “Jaemin, what are you t-talking about?”

Jaemin sighed. “I guess I need to be more explicit,” he agreed, positioning himself even lower so his face was hovering over your shorts. “What do you think about having two tongues licking your pussy?” He breathed out.

You let out a scandalized gasp and tried to close your legs, but Jaemin pinned them firmly to the bed and licked your core over the fabric lazily. “What do you say, baby?” he moaned, pushing your tiny shorts to the side and cursing under his breath when he found out you were not wearing any panties. He dove in, licking all over your cunt messily. “Mmmh…why don’t we let Jeno have a little taste?”

“J-jaem,” you moaned, your thighs shaking against his firm hands. “Fuck, baby, are you–aah! o-oh… are you serious?”

“Mhmm,” Jaemin hummed around your clit, vibrations making you scream. He detached himself from it and started circling his tongue around the bundle of nerves just the way you liked it, as if he was trying to convince you. “Imagine both of us doing this to you…” he coerced, giving your clit another harsh suck before kissing it gently. “Bet you would cum real good, yeah?”

You tried hard not to imagine that scenario. Jaemin had to be messing with you.

“Don’t fight it, baby,” Jaemin cooed in between sucking and licking. “I told you this isn’t a test. I’m being serious,” he said like he could read your mind. “Wouldn’t you like that?”

“I j-just–nngh… oh g-god,” you panted, close to reaching your climax. “I d-dont know– aah, fuck, Jaemin!”

“No?” he tilted his head. “You don’t know if you want to feel two tongues all over your body?” he asked, feigning innocence. He trailed two of his fingers between your pussy lips, getting them nice and wet before placing them against your entrance. “How about two cocks?” he proposed, as he slid the fingers into you with a slick movement.

“F-fuuuck–” you groaned, rolling your eyes to the back of your head and squirming under Jaemin’s skilled hands. “Oh…m-my god, fuck, fuck…” you moaned when he fucked you with his fingers and flattened his tongue against your clit, letting you fuck yourself on his face. “Jaem–...Jaemin I’m g-gonn–ah! Aah, oh…Oh my god!” you moaned, tilting your head back when toe-curling orgasm finally hit. Jaemin kept pressing his fingers inside of you, giving your clit little kisses until you weakly pushed his head away.

“W-what the hell was that?” you croaked, still panting and shaking.

“A proposal,” Jaemin replied simply, resting his head on your thigh and caressing your belly.

“You’re proposing we let Jeno in?”

“...When I found out about Jeno’s feelings I was furious,” Jaemin said. “And wolves are possessive by nature, so I wanted him away from you but…” he sighed, looking up to meet your eyes. “I adore Jeno,” he confessed. “And I love you. I don’t want to lose any of you.”

“And you think all three of us being together is the solution?”

“Yes,” he replied simply. “All three of us have a bond. Jeno and I bonded as kids. You and I bonded when I imprinted. And then the same happened when Jeno met you. All three of us love and care for each other, so why wouldn’t it work?”

“...And will you be okay with him touching me?”

Jaemin tensed and squeezed your thigh possessively. “I will be after we set some rules…”

You stared into the ceiling in deep thought. To be fair, it was true that all of you were already connected. You didn’t want Jaemin to lose his best friend for something none of them had control over and to be honest, you also didn’t want to stop seeing Jeno completely; after spending months with him, you had grown used to his comforting presence. And Jaemin was right; you could feel the pull.

“...So?” Jaemin asked hopefully. “Can we give it a try?”

“I’ll think about it.”

Jaemin let out a relieved sigh and kissed your thigh. “Thank you.”

On Friday morning (more like midday), Jeno woke up to a text from Jaemin. His heart beat fast in anxiety as he opened the message, ready to read everything about Jaemin not wanting to see him ever again.But he found none of that.

Jaemin: Jupiter’s 8th Moon Restaurant 6PM

Jaemin: See you

Jeno re-read the message a couple of times.

Jaemin wanted to meet him. Fuck, that could be really good news or really bad. But just thinking about seeing his best friend again gave him the energy he lacked for the last few days. He quickly got up from bed and looked around.

His room was a mess.

He was a mess. He hadn’t showered in days.

He picked up the clothes from the floor, opened the curtains and window, seeing the light for the first time in a while. He adjusted his eyes to the light, made his bed and grabbed a towel to go take a shower.

After finding a decent outfit, and overthinking every possible scenario in his head, he left the house and found his way to the restaurant. He was so nervous, he ended up arriving half an hour early. To his surprise, Jaemin was already there.

“You’re early,” Jaemin blurted out in surprise, looking up from the menu.

“...Y-you too,” Jeno stuttered.

“Yeah…I was too anxious to wait at home,” Jaemin admitted. “Why don’t you sit down?”

Jeno dried the sweat off his hands with his shirt and sat down across Jaemin.

“What do you want to eat?” Jaemin asked calmly, making Jeno even more uneasy.

“I’m good,” he replied quickly. “I’m not hungry.”

Jaemin closed the menu and stared right into Jeno’s soul, making him squirm in his seat.

“That shirt didn’t look this loose on you before,” he spoke through gritted teeth. “You can’t continue like this. You’ll eat a proper meal and then we’ll talk,” he declared sternly before calling the waitress to place an order for both of them, ordering enough food to feed an army.

Jeno couldn’t protest when large plates of food were served to him under Jaemin’s severe eyes. Only when he grabbed a fork and started eating, Jaemin turned to his own food and ate too. They had been eating in silence for what seemed like an eternity and Jeno couldn’t take it anymore.

“The internship,” he mumbled awkwardly. “D-did you finish?”

Jaemin nodded. “Had my last shift this morning.”

“Oh, c-congratulations...”

“Thanks,” Jaemin said, putting his fork down. “Now let’s talk about what really matters.”

Jeno sighed and sat up straight, ready for what was going to come.

“I’m not mad at you for imprinting on Y/N,” Jaemin said.

“I know…,” Jeno sulked, looking down. Then he frowned and looked back up. “Wait, did you say ‘not’?”

“That’s what I said. It’s not your fault,” Jaemin confirmed.

“...Aren’t you taking it too well?” Jeno asked suspiciously.

Jaemin sighed. “ Fine, I admit I was mad when I found out, but I’ve been thinking about it and… it really wasn't something you could control.”

“I guess I’m the Moon’s least favorite wolf,” Jeno half-joked.

“What do you mean?” Jaemin asked, sipping from his glass of wine. “She chose the prettiest mate for you.”

Jeno rolled his eyes. Of course Jaemin would rub it on his face. “But she gave her to my best friend.”

“So? We’ve always shared everything since we were kids.”

Jeno tensed and glared at Jaemin incredulously. “It’s not the same.”

“Why not?” Jaemin asked, cutting a piece of steak from his food and putting it on Jeno's plate. Jeno blinked twice. Jaemin couldn’t be serious.

��Jaemin, I’m sorry I didn’t control myself that time, but it won’t happen again,” Jeno said, pushing the piece of steak to the side. “I don’t need a mate.”

“The hell you don’t,” Jaemin hissed. “You weren’t even going to tell me you imprinted on her. I bet your dumb plan was to keep it a secret, cry at night and then die alone in the woods, while I married the woman you love.”

Jeno blushed. He didn’t plan to cry at night, it just happened naturally.

“I’m your best friend, Jeno,” Jaemin said softly. “You should have told me sooner.”

“You would have been mad anyways.”

“Yes,” Jaemin agreed. “But we would have solved this sooner too.”

“I’m sorry,” Jeno whispered.

“I forgive you,” Jaemin said. “Y/N isn’t angry either.”

Jeno’s eyes sparkled at the mention of your name and Jaemin chuckled.

“Is she okay?”

“Mhmm…She wants to talk to you,” Jaemin beamed. “Right after dinner.”

“...I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Jeno argued. “My rut is due–”

“I know. I’ll be there the entire time, you won’t hurt her. It will be okay. ” Jaemin purred, stabbing the piece of steak he had put on Jeno’s plate and offering it to him. “Now eat,” he persuaded Jeno by swinging the piece of meat close to his mouth.

Hesitantly, Jeno ate what Jaemin was feeding him and Jaemin smiled slyly.

“Would you like anything for dessert?” a waitress who had approached the table asked politely.

“No, thank you,” Jaemin replied merrily. “We’re having dessert at home.”

Jeno soon recognised the path Jaemin was taking in through was the way to your apartment. He thought about protesting, insisting that it wasn’t a good idea, but Jaemin had said he was forgiven and that you wanted to talk to him. This could be his only chance to make things right, so he tried to calm his racing heart and keep up with Jaemin’s cheerful conversation.

Jaemin opened the door to your apartment and turned to look at Jeno, who was pale and squirmy. “It’s okay,” Jaemin whispered, grabbing Jeno’s hand and pulling him into your place gently. “Come in.”

Jeno had walked you to your place many times, but he had never been inside. As soon as he entered, your scent surrounded him and made him stumble back towards the door.

“It’s okay,” Jaemin repeated, now holding both of Jeno’s hands in his. “C’mon, Y/N is waiting.”

Jeno nodded and let Jaemin guide him to a room at the end of the corridor, trembling as he smelt more and more of you. When they were both facing a door, Jaemin took a deep breath in and opened it, showing Jeno something he hadn’t seen even in his darkest fantasies:

What seemed to be your bedroom was illuminated by tons of candles, and there, on the bed, were you, wearing a white set of lingerie and…oh fuck, are those stockings?

“Hi, Jeno,” you said shyly and Jeno cursed under his breath, ready to turn around and leave, but Jaemin pushed him in, locking the door behind them.

“Baby,” Jaemin purred. “Isn’t that right we’re not mad at Jeno?”

You nodded, standing up from the bed and allowing them to appreciate your outfit (or lack of it).

Jeno was breathing heavily. “What’s going on?” he asked, thinking that maybe Jaemin hadn’t forgiven him, and this was some sick way of punishing him. Pure torture.

“Isn’t it obvious, Jeno?” Jaemin spoke softly, approaching Jeno from behind.

“No?” Jeno replied.

“I said it before,” Jaemin whispered next to Jeno’s ears, making him shiver with desire. “We’ve always shared everything, haven’t we?”

“Jaemin, if this is a joke…,” Jeno hissed in annoyance, but hope was growing inside of him.

“Is this a joke, baby?” Jaemin asked you.

You shook your head. “This isn’t a joke, Jeno,” you assured him, playing with the strap of your bra and pulling it down your shoulder. “Jaemin and I were talking and…We would like you to be part of this. Of us…unless you don’t want to…”

Jeno was taken aback. Was this what Jaemin had tried to imply earlier at the restaurant? Did you dress like that for him? Was he really allowed to touch you? Apprehensively, he lifted his hands and reached out for you, but as soon as his fingertips made contact with your skin, Jaemin’s hands were on his, pushing them away from your body and pinning them to Jeno’s sides. Jeno cursed out loud. So this had been a test after all.

“Not so fast,” Jaemin warned him. “I agreed to this, but my wolf won’t like it. Especially during our rut.”

“Then what the fuck do you want from me?!” Jeno was losing his patience. You were basically naked in front of him and they wouldn’t let him touch you. He was pissed.

“We need to trick my wolf,” Jaemin said as if it was simple. “He won’t like another alpha touching my mate…unless he doesn’t perceive you as a threat.”

Jeno nodded slowly, still looking at your body covered in lace. “How?”

“We make him believe you’re my mate too,” Jaemin declared, nuzzling Jeno’s neck with his lips. “You know what that means…”

Jeno gulped, getting goosebumps at the attention his neck was receiving. “But…an alpha biting another alpha…,” he didn’t finish the sentence. Both of them knew it would mean the bitten alpha was submitting to the other. Was Jeno willing to give up his pride?

Jaemin sensed his hesitation and exchanged a worried look with you, releasing Jeno’s hands. Maybe it had been too much for Jeno. Maybe he would really rather die alone than whatever this was. Jaemin was about to call it off when Jeno took off his shirt swiftly and threw it somewhere on the floor.

“Bite as hard as you want,” Jeno growled, looking at Jaemin over his shoulder.

Jaemin stared back at him with wide eyes. “Are you sure?”

Jeno nodded. “I have nothing to lose,” he said, allowing his eyes to land on your body again. “And plenty to gain.”

Jaemin looked at you, giving you one last chance to change your mind. When you gave him a reassuring smile, he moved closer to Jeno’s neck again. Now he was getting nervous. What if Jeno’s wolf rejected the bond? Then it would really be over for their friendship. But he had to give it a try. Without wasting another second, he sank his teeth into Jeno’s skin, right into the crook of his neck. Jeno groaned and squirmed, his instinct trying to set him free from the supposed threat, but Jaemin quickly put a hand around his neck as a warning and hugged his waist with his other arm to keep him in place..

You took a step back, seeing how the defiance in Jeno’s eyes soon softened and became pure want. Jeno panted heavily, and finally tilted his head back to rest it on Jaemin’s shoulder, letting out a weak moan.

Jaemin hummed appreciatively and licked the wound, allowing his hands to caress Jeno’s body comfortingly. He then nodded, letting you know it was safe to step forward.

You got closer to the wolves and placed both your hands on Jeno’s pecs, making Jeno jump slightly and look at you in anticipation.

“Is this okay?” You asked.

Jeno nodded quickly and let out a shaky breath when you ran your nails over his skin.

“What about you, Jaemin?” You asked your mate.

“My wolf doesn’t seem to mind you touching Jeno,” Jaemin breathed out, still holding Jeno in place and nuzzling his neck. “Holy shit, it worked…,” he let out a chuckle. “How do you feel, Jeno?”

“Dizzy as fuck,” Jeno mumbled, letting out little whimpers as Jaemin and you continued feeling him up. “Can’t believe this is happening…”

“Baby, I think Jeno needs some reassurance,” your boyfriend told you, giving you a sweet smile when you hesitated. “Go ahead. I’m okay.”

You bit your lip and moved closer to Jeno, whose dilated pupils were set on your mouth. He seemed to know exactly what you wanted to do, and didn’t hesitate to kiss you back when you gently pressed your lips against his. He sighed into the kiss, finally relishing on the feeling he had denied himself for months, and placed his hands on your cheeks, pulling you even closer. The kiss remained sweet and slow, because you didn’t want to overwhelm Jeno and he wanted to savor the moment for as long as he could. But as much as he wanted to take things slow, your scent, your lips and Jaemin’s mouth on his neck were driving him crazy.

When you felt something hard rubbing against your lower abdomen, you looked down and gasped at the obvious tent forming on Jeno’s pants. “Can I?” You asked as your hands landed on Jeno’s belt and the way both he and Jaemin nodded in sync was almost funny.

You unbuckled his belt and pulled his jeans down roughly, kneeling down until you were face to face with his impressive erection trapped in his boxers. You licked Jeno’s bulge through his boxers, starting at the base and slowly making your way to the tip, tasting the salty precum.

“Oh god, oh f-fuck,” Jeno whined, trembling in his best friend’s arms. “This is a d-dream… I have to be dream—aaah! Mm shit, Y/N…”

“Do it properly, baby,” Jaemin instructed,placing his hands on Jeno’s hips to prevent him from moving. “Show him how lucky he is to have imprinted on you…”

Looking up through your lashes, you pulled down Jeno’s boxers torturously slow, letting out a pleased mewl when his cock was freed and bounced against his lower abdomen, the reddened tip oozing precum. Jeno’s wide eyes were focused on you, his hands holding onto Jaemin’s arms for support because of how much his legs were shaking.

Without breaking eye contact, you gave the tip a teasing lick and relished in the way Jeno’s whole body convulsed, as he kept repeating ‘I must be dreaming, this is a dream’ over and over.

You sucked on the head gently and Jeno’s knees buckled. He would have fallen hard on the floor if it wasn’t for Jaemin’s strong hold on him.

“Oh fuck, o-oh please, more. M-more—aah! Ah! Oh!” Jeno cried out as you swallowed more of him. “Oh my f-fucking god…”

You bobbed your head up and down his length, hollowing your cheeks once in a while and seeing Jeno slowly lose his mind. His trembling fingers dig into your hair.

“I’m not gonna last,” he warned you, out of breath. “Y/N… Ah, s-shiiiit Y/N, gonna c-cum, gonna fucking cum—“ his slurred words were interrupted by a high pitched moan when you circled his tip with your tongue and Jaemin used his hands to pinch his nipples hard. “F-fuck! Jaemin—aah! Ha… Oh m-my god— Y/N-“

Unexpectedly for all three of you, Jaemin pulled Jeno’s hair and kissed him hard, wasting no time to slide his tongue into Jeno’s mouth and making him moan into the kiss. Right then, you deepthroated Jeno and swallowed around him, making his dick twitch desperately as thick cum slid down your throat. Jaemin swallowed Jeno’s broken sobs, with his hands still playing with Jeno’s nipples.

You released Jeno’s cock and sat down on the floor. Soon Jeno and Jaemin fell on their knees in front of you too, both a blushing mess, with a string of saliva connecting their mouths.

“Do you still think you’re the Moon’s least favorite wolf?” Jaemin asked Jeno, giving the mark on his neck a languid lick.

Jeno shook his head tiredly.

“That’s right, look at our pretty mate,” Jaemin purred and his eyes and Jeno’s focused on you, making a shiver run up your spine. “Only we can have her like this, nobody else. Isn’t she lovely?”

Jeno nodded like he was in a haze, his eyes starting to turn red.

“Wanna know something?” Jaemin whispered in Jeno’s ear, massaging his arms and shoulders. “She tastes just like she smells.”

Something snapped in Jeno at that moment. You yelped when he pounced on you, grabbing your legs and manhandling you so you were on your back with him between your legs. Immediately he buried his face between your legs, inhaling as much of you as he could and letting out muffled moans. He was shuddering in bliss, finally being able to be as close to you as he wanted. He was getting hard again just by smelling your arousal.

You were mortified, shrieking and covering your face.

Jaemin chuckled at the view. “Why don’t we get her on the bed first?” he suggested, gently grabbing Jeno’s shoulder to push him away from you, but Jeno replied with a feral snarl, like he was a starving animal protecting the only source of food he was able to find.

Jaemin appreciated the enthusiasm, but not so much the challenge. One of his brows lifted in disapproval and he requested for cooperation once more. “Let her go, Jeno.”

Jeno’s fingers dug into your thighs and he shook his head stubbornly, brushing your clit with his nose in the process and making you mewl. Not only was he entering his rut, but he had been dying to do this for months. There was no way he was just going to let you go when he was this close to tasting you.

Jaemin inhaled sharply, his own eyes starting to turn red too. In the blink of an eye he grabbed Jeno by his hair, pulling his head back and making him hiss. “Don’t be ungrateful, pup,” Jaemin warned.

Jeno shivered. Normally we would fight back, but just the thought of defying Jaemin made his fresh mating mark hurt. He wanted to be good for him. So he whimpered and lowered his eyes.

“Patience,” Jaemin cooed, massaging Jeno’s scalp. “You’ll get what you want, but we have to make sure our baby is comfortable. You don’t want her to hurt, right?”

Jeno shook his head quickly and looked at you with sorry, watery eyes. He feared you were now scared of him and he had ruined his chance with you. Plus his rut and Jaemin’s mark were making him unreasonably sensitive. “Sorry.”

“I’m okay,” you quickly assured him, trying to close your legs in embarrassment. You knew what you had gotten yourself into, but having this much attention on you was something else.

“Still okay, baby?” Jaemin asked you.

“Yeah,” you said confidently. “Just a bit nervous…”

“Mmh…,” Jaemin kissed you tenderly, before curling his arms around your body and carrying you to the bed, lying you down carefully, with your legs hanging out the edge of the bed. “We’ll help you relax,” he assured you, kneeling in between your legs and kissing your thighs lovingly. “Won’t we?” he asked, turning to the other wolf.

“We?” Jeno asked hopefully, looking for the other alpha’s approval.

“We,” Jaemin confirmed with a cheeky smile, forcing your legs to open wider and making you gasp.

Jeno didn’t need to be told twice. He stepped out of his wrinkled pants and boxers and crawled towards you, situating himself beside Jaemin and waiting for further instructions.

“These are very nice,” Jaemin commented absentmindedly as he ran his fingers over your stockings. “I haven’t seen them before…”

“I-I bought them yesterday,” you said, tense at the view of two wolves slowly being consumed by their rut staring at your legs.

“Oh? For our special guest?” your boyfriend asked.

You nodded, and then yelped when he grabbed the elastic of one of the stockings and snapped it on your thigh.

“You hear that, Jeno? She bought these for you. What do we say?”

“T-thank you,” Jeno stuttered, ready to pass out. His hands hovered over your legs cautiously. “Can I?” he asked no one in particular. Or to anyone who was willing to give him permission.

Jaemin looked at you, silently asking for confirmation.

“Y-yeah…if you want…” you said shyly.

Jeno placed his hands gently on your legs, drawing delicate patterns with his fingertips which soon turned into rough grabbing and kneading. He placed a daring kiss on an area of your inner thigh that was not covered by fabric and then turned to look at Jaemin, hoping he hadn’t gone too far. But his best friend just gave him a lazy smirk, resting his head on your other thigh.

So Jeno became braver and gave your thigh an open, wet kiss, making you moan out loud and shiver. He groaned, sucking on your skin candidly. “Taste so good, s-so sweet…” he breathed out.

“You have no idea,” Jaemin alluded, lifting Jeno’s chin with his hand to divert his attention somewhere else.

“Oh, fuck…Oh, god,” Jeno weeped when he saw a dark stain on your panties. “Please, I need to…”

Smirking, Jaemin took the lead and licked the border of your underwear, right where your thigh and your core met.

“Ah!..haa… Jaem–,” you mewled, tilting your head back when he slid only the tip of his tongue under the fabric.

Hesitantly, Jeno joined him, kissing the visible wet patch before giving it kitten licks, groaning at the taste.

“Shit…” you cursed. They had barely touched you and you were dripping.

Jaemin pushed his tongue deeper under your panties, and Jeno followed, both licking blindly and collecting as much of your wetness as they could. But soon it wasn’t enough, and Jeno started pulling your panties down, and although Jaemin would have loved to tease you more, he was losing himself to his rut too, so he assisted Jeno in taking your underwear off and exposing your wet pussy.

You didn’t have time to get shy at the sudden exposure, because immediately both mouths were on you, Jaemin attaching himself to your clit while Jeno penetrated you with his tongue. Jeno couldn’t believe his luck; he had you where he always wanted, but he couldn’t help thinking that it was unfair that he couldn’t have you sooner. He had to make up for all the wasted time. He had to devour you.

He licked and sucked everything on his way, until he reached your clit and joined Jaemin in licking it.

“FUCK! F-fuck o-ooh…w-wait ahh–AH!” you moaned brokenly and lied back on the bed when you felt both tongues on each side of your clit, licking up and down, slow and then fast, occasionally colliding with each other and moaning at the wet mess they were making. “Jaem, b-baby this is…,” you had no words to describe it. “J-jeno…”

Jeno groaned, and gave your clit an open kiss, right at the same time Jaemin was toying with it with his tongue, which ended up with them messily making out with your clit trapped between two mouths.

“Haa…ah, shit,shit,shit.. oh my f-fucking…,” you panted heavily, squirming and pulling the bedsheets desperately. “T-this is insan–Aah! Ah, ah–oh–Fuh–!” you arched your back when you felt someone’s finger slide inside of you, making you cum harder than ever before in your life. Jeno hummed and Jaemin chuckled, the vibrations making you feel like the climax would never end.

Jaemin was the first to pull away and got undressed, while Jeno was still drinking your release and making you whimper in oversensitivity. Once Jaemin got rid of his clothes, he got on the bed and pulled your helpless body towards him, ignoring Jeno’s protests.

“I wasn’t done!” Jeno growled.

“You can have more later,” Jaemin said.

“…Promise?”

“Promise. But now I need to breed her,” your boyfriend explained, positioning you on your belly with a pillow under your hips for a better angle.

Jeno choked on his saliva and climbed on the bed. He had walked into your place without knowing what to expect and now they were talking about breeding? Like, being inside of you? He stared at Jaemin with pleading eyes.

“What? You want to fill her up too?” Jaemin asked casually. “Hmm… I guess the more cum the better if we want pups. But you have to wait for your turn.”

Jeno nodded dumbly. He would agree to anything if that meant he could cum inside you.

You tried to rock your ass against Jaemin’s hips, letting him know you were growing impatient and he let out a breathless laugh.

“Yeah? You want to be full of cum? Hmm?”

“P-please…” you hiccupped.

And who was Jaemin to say no? At first he slid only the tip in, enjoying seeing you squirming for more. He was going to tease you by making some mean comment, but just when he opened his mouth, Jeno (who had positioned himself behind him) grabbed your hips and pushed you towards Jaemin harshly, making him enter you all the way and all three of you moan.

“J-jeno!” Jaemin yelped in surprise and pleasure. He was trapped between Jeno and you, feeling his best friend’s erection on his ass cheek and your warmth around his cock. “Jeno I told you to… w-wait for your t—oohh!” He moaned, his body bending over yours as Jeno thrusted against him and pulled you closer rhythmically.

“I’ll wait b-but… wanna— wanna feel good too…” Jeno slurred, sliding his cock between Jaemin’s ass cheeks and rutting against him harder without letting you go.

“If…if you p-put it in I’ll kill you, I swea—aah!” Jaemin moaned, inevitably letting the pace be decided by Jeno.

“I won’t,” Jeno promised, going faster. “Juh-just like this, I’ll d-oooh! Do it just like this, fuuuck…”

Letting out broken moans, you looked over your shoulder and saw Jaemin lost in pleasure, for the first time letting somebody else be in charge and god his facial expressions were so hot you felt yourself close to your release in record time.

“F-faster… Jeno, harder—Mmmh fuck, yes! Yeah…aah,” Jaemin pleaded, the volume of his moans escalating. “Need to…need to g-give her pups, need t-to fill her…”

Jeno groaned and pressed his whole body against Jaemin’s, using his weight to give forceful, animalistic thrusts that had your clit chafing the pillow and seeing stars.

“Jeno! I’m s-so close— too close gonna… ah! Ah! Oh, Jaemin’s too… too deep, gonna—“ as if wanting to show you it could get deeper, Jeno pushed hard, forcing Jaemin’s knot inside of you and making you come undone. You screamed as loud as your lungs allowed you and shook violently while Jeno and Jaemin kept fucking into you.

“Oh shit…,” Jaemin panted, feeling himself losing all control. “Gonna give you my pups, one after the other, you won’t… haaa fuuck yes, you won’t remember what it’s like n-not to be pregnant, baby, gonn—aaah! Ah! Uuuhh…” Jaemin babbled incoherently until his release, emptying himself inside of you and groaning.

Jeno sighed, continuing to rut against Jaemin very lightly for a bit, before he removed himself from top of both of you to let you rest.

But Jaemin had a different idea: holding your shaking body against his, he sat up, pulling you with him, so he was now sitting with you on his lap, cock still buried inside of you.

“J-Jeno, get in front of her,” Jaemin requested. “Let’s make her cum again.”

You shook your head weakly and whined and Jeno seemed unsure you could take it.

“She has to cum again,” Jaemin mumbled incoherently, all rational thoughts gone, just his primal desires left. “Help her suck my seed deeper inside… secure a baby…”

Jeno groaned in approval. He hadn’t thought of pups until today, but Jaemin made it sound so right… and you would look so good…

Carefully, Jeno sat in front of you and kissed your lips softly, before moving to your cheek and neck, this time avoiding Jaemin’s mark as a sign of respect. Gently, he lowered the straps of your bra and exposed your boobs, taking turns to kiss and touch them equally and listening to your sighs… and then he remembered, Jaemin had promised Jeno he could taste you again.

So Jeno wasted no time in positioning himself on his belly in between your and Jaemin’s legs.

“Jeno…w-what are you…?” You whispered tiredly.

Jaemin caught on faster, his eyes glinting maliciously and reaching for your thighs to force them to remain open. “Shh… you’re gonna love this,baby…”

“Wha—FUCK!” You screamed when you felt Jeno’s tongue on your pussy again, moving his head up and down enthusiastically. “J-jeno I…I can’t…”

“She can,” Jaemin contradicted you. “Suck on her clit, hard,” he instructed the other wolf.

Jeno did just that. His mouth surrounded your clit and he suctioned it like it was the sweetest candy.

“Oh…hoo,fuck, please, I can’t—“ you cried, trembling in Jaemin’s strong arms.

Jeno looked up and let go of you falteringly.

“No! She was so close,” Jaemin lamented. “Why did you stop?!”

“She's crying…”

“Already?” Jaemin turned your head towards him to check on you. “Oh, baby… are you loving it that much?”

“Is she okay?” Jeno asked

“Yeah… she gets like this when she’s too cock drunk,” Jaemin chuckled, kissing your tear stained face.“Keep going,” he commanded Jeno.

“You sure?”

“She has a safe word, don’t you, baby?”

You nodded weakly.

“Do you need to use it?”

This time you shook your head.

“See? She’s fine…” Jaemin purred, kissing your neck comfortingly.

Jeno got back to lapping at your pussy, but very delicately compared to before. Jaemin rolled his eyes and grabbed the back of Jeno’s head, pushing him as close to your core as possible. Jeno groaned and you screamed, throwing your head back and fidgeting, your hands scratching Jaemin’s arms in desperation.

Jaemin kept Jeno’s head in place and started rutting into you messily until you finally let out a silent scream and your walls contracted around his cock, squeezing some more cum out of him.

“O-ooh yeah… That’s right, baby—take it…Nngh…” Jaemin grinned. “That’s a good girl…”

You sobbed, trying to push Jeno away, but he didn’t move even after Jaemin set him free. He was just lapping at your core happily.

“Don’t be selfish, Y/N,” Jaemin scolded you playfully. “Jeno has been taking such good care of you these months. Let him have some fun.”

“I k-know but I…it hurts,” you complained faintly.

“Fine,” Jaemin said, successfully pushing away a pouting Jeno and lying you down on your belly again. “Ah, shame…my knot is deflating,” he grunted as he started to pull out of you and his cum leaked out. “What a waste…”

Jeno, now sitting next to Jaemin, was mesmerized by the view of your release mixed with Jaemin’s dripping out of you. Jaemin glanced at his friend and smirked.

“...You wanna help me push it back in?” Jaemin suggested casually.

Jeno nodded, using his fingers to push some sticky cum into your hole as you whimpered and squirmed.

“Not like that,” Jaemin laughed. Jeno gave him a confused look and Jaemin sighed, frustrated. He really had to do everything himself around here. “Don’t you think she could use something bigger?”

Jeno, feverish and dumbed out because of his rut, stared down at his hands, never before considering he had small hands…until what Jaemin said clicked, and he looked down at his hard cock, and then at your wet pussy, and then at Jaemin.

“R-really?”

Jaemin shrugged. “I’m getting her pregnant today, with or without your help. You might as well help, since you’re here.”

“Oh shit…” Jeno mumbled. This was really happening.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll just go again–”Jaemin warned him, already positioning himself in your entrance again.

“NO!” Jeno blurted out. “Please, I’ll…I’ll help.”

Jaemin bit back a smile and got off the bed, giving Jeno as much space as he needed.

“C’mon, don’t be shy,” he encouraged Jeno.

Jeno nodded nervously, kneading your ass cheeks and staring at your presenting body. But something wasn’t right. This wasn’t how he wanted to have you, so he placed his hands on your hips and turned you around, making you face him.

You blinked in surprise at the man on top of you and he gave you a shy smile.

“Hi,” he said.

“H-hi…”

“I want to see you. Is that okay?” he asked quietly, like he was afraid it would be too intimate for you. Because he wasn’t the one mated to you, after all. He wasn’t Jaemin.

You lifted your upper body and kissed his lips sweetly, trying to relieve his nerves. “I’m okay with that. Now fuck me…”

Jeno groaned and slid into you in one smooth movement. You arched your back and moaned, while Jeno bent over you, his abs contracting in pleasure.

“Fuck, I can’t b-believe this is happening,” Jeno’s lips trembled with each word, slowly pulling out and in again. “Wanted this for so long, Y/N…”

“Nngh…ah…”

“So wet for me…” Jeno purred, giving a harsh thrust and hitting a spot that made you shake and scream. “There?”

“Y-yes…the-AH! You yelled when he aimed at the same spot repeatedly, accelerating his movements.

“Yeah? Is t-that where you like it, baby?” Jeno hissed, the nickname slipping after hearing it so many times. He avoided it before because he thought it was something Jaemin could call you. But now that he had you impaled on his cock it was hard to see where the boundaries were.

Jaemin was enjoying the show next to the bed, palming himself slowly. “Give it to her harder, Jeno. Like you mean it.”

Jeno’s eyes met Jaemin’s and he saw a challenge. So he grunted and snapped his hips harder and faster, pulling your legs around his waist.

“Aahh… O-oh my g–ooh…” you moaned, fat tears sliding down your cheeks and staining the bedsheets.

Jaemin kneeled next to you on the bed and caressed your face. “Is Jeno doing a good job, baby?” he whispered.

You nodded and sobbed.

“Should we keep him?” your boyfriend asked.

You nodded faster and Jeno fucked you even harder.

Jaemin chuckled. “Jeno,” he called out. When Jeno managed to focus his eyes on him, Jaemin pushed your hair away from your face and neck and he pointed at a spot on your neck on the opposite side of where Jaemin’s mark was. “Here,” he instructed.

Jeno’s movements halted and he stared from your neck to Jaemin with wide eyes. But when Jaemin gave your forehead a kiss and stared back at Jeno, expectantly, Jeno knew exactly what to do. Not wanting to give Jaemin time to take it back, he dove in and bit your neck, holding your fidgety body firmly against his while Jaemin whispered comforting words in your ear. When Jeno let go of your neck, and looked at you, your dazed face was enough to almost make him cum in the spot.

“F-fuh…fuck she looks so pretty…”

Jaemin nodded dreamily. “She’s definitely meant to carry two marks on her skin…,” he agreed, but then he looked at your stomach. “But there’s something else I want her to carry right now…”

“Leave it to me,” Jeno said, grabbing your hips and pulling you harshly towards him.

“Aahh! Too much…J-jeno…too-ah! much…”

Jeno groaned and bounced you on his dick harder while Jaemin cooed, massaging your boobs and kissing you here and there. But your boyfriend couldn’t continue ignoring his painful erection, so he positioned himself next to your face and turned your head to the side, rubbing his tip against your lips. You opened your mouth wider eagerly, allowing him to fuck your mouth lazily.

“Your tiny mouth’s so good baby,” he panted, throwing his head back and pushing his hips closer to your face. “Normally I would think it’s a waste not to cum inside of you…but I think once is okay, since Jeno will make sure you’re well bred, right Jeno?”

Jeno nodded automatically, watching his cock disappear inside of you over and over. His thrusts became more desperate when his knot started to grow and you tried to squirm away unconsciously, but Jeno’s strong hands on your hips and Jaemin’s hold on your head had you trapped.

“You’re getting s-so tight, Y/N…,” Jeno grunted, fucking into you sloppily and rolling his head back. “Born for this, for me, for us…Maybe one day this pussy will take both our knots, hmm?”

You choked and moaned around Jaemin’s cock and he fucked your face faster, sighing and panting. “Fuuuck, we’ll breed you s-suh…so good,” Jaemin mumbled deliriously. “Day and night, baby–oooh!”

“And you’re gonna t-take it all, yeah?” Jeno groaned in pain, finally pushing his knot inside of you and rutting into you hastily. “Take all our cum? Carry our pups, y-yeah? O-oh…oh shit, Y/N I’m… oh fuck, fuck, fuck I’m gonna…Ah! Aaaah fuck, Y/N FUCK!” he moaned loudly, finally releasing his cum inside of you and rubbing your clit fast until you tightened around him and spasmed, swallowing your moans along with Jaemin’s cock. “Ooooohh fuck, yeah…”

Jaemin let go of your head and took his cock out of your mouth, jerking himself off furiously until he released all over your face and chest, panting heavily. Once he was content with how he painted your skin, he sighed and laid down on the bed next to you, caressing your hair until you started dozing off.

Once Jeno calmed his ragged breath, he hovered over your body and started licking Jaemin’s cum off your skin. Jaemin looked at him tiredly, raising an eyebrow.

“I know I asked this years ago but are you sure you’re not… bisexual or something?” Jaemin asked.

Jeno snorted, giving your fresh mark a kiss. “Says the one who kissed me first.”

“Oh please, like you weren’t humping my ass,” Jaemin scoffed.

Jeno laughed. “To answer your question, I’ve never liked men. But I guess I’m okay with you…”

“I guess I’m okay with you too…” Jaemin conceded, starting to feel sleepy too.

“Jaemin…” Jeno whispered.

“...Hmm?”

“Can I really…be with you two? Is this really okay?”

Jaemin sat up and glared at him like he was the most stupid creature on Earth. “Jeno, I marked you. And you marked Y/N. Where else would you be if not with us?”

Jeno shrugged. “Just asking.”

“You ask the dumbest shit. If we imprinted on the same person, it was because we’re meant to stick together one way or another.”

“Yeah…,” Jeno sighed remembering what Doyoung had told him. “The Moon makes–”

“...No mistakes…” Jaemin completed his thought. “Who told you that cringe inspirational quote?”

“Doyoung hyung. Who told you?”

“Taeyong hyung.”

“...”

“They set us up, didn’t they?”

#nct imagines #nct smut #nct scenarios #nct drabbles #nct jaemin #nct jeno #nct dream smut #nct jeno smut #nct jaemin smut #na jaemin x reader #lee jeno x reader

2K notes · View notes

milesmolasses · 10 months

Text

they’re just people (42miles x african!reader)

— this was a request that I very stupidly deleted

— idek how I fricken did it bruh just read the fic 😭

— miles is nervy cause he’s meeting ur family.

— ⚠️: unedited, reader and miles are aged up to be 17-18 (because it makes sense. what african parent do you know who is letting their child date at 15??), miles having a cute moment with his mom <3

— “senator style” dressing is very common among men in nigeria. look it up and you’ll see what i’m talking about

“you need to calm down.”

you could feel the anxiety radiating off of your boyfriend from a mile away as he was pacing up and down your room, while throwing around a bean bag he found in your drawer. he had quietly snuck in through a window while you were getting ready just to rant to you about how nervous he was.

a birthday party.

your mother had told you to bring him to a birthday party being held for your cousins at a venue. she thought it would be a nice idea to see how he would interact with the rest of your family (and to see if he was any good with children.) in miles' head, he was hoping for a small get-together like you had when you met his mom and uncle.

as he came over to you and and wrapped his arms around your waist he said, “mami, tell me to calm down one more time and I might explode.”

“eww don’t do that I don’t wanna have to clean up your guts,” you joked as you turned to kiss his cheek.

turning around in his arms, you pushed him away from you slightly to examine what was in front of you. miles was freshly dressed in a matching blue “senator style” shirt and pants. you reached for his newly braided braids as you brought them forward to lay on his shoulders. “you look extremely handsome. they’re going to like you, okay?”

he huffed as he rolled his shoulder back, a little tense from all the worrying he’s been doing. “okay.”

when miles snuck out your window and went back to his own home, his mother caught a glimpse of what he was wearing.

“wow, te ves bien. where are you going?” his mother asked sounding impressed by how her son had cleaned up so nicely.

“i’m meeting the parents…” he mumbled looking at the floor. she could tell his nerves were getting the best of him by how his eyes were darting around the room and not maintaining eye contact.

“oh wow, that’s why you’re dressed like this huh?”

“yup”

Rio sighed as she went up to her son, placing both her hands to rest upon his shoulders.

“miles, you listen to me. they are just people. they can’t hurt you, okay? and judging by the person they raised, they’re good people,” she reassured him the best she could as she slid her hands down his arms, rubbing small circles to sooth him.

“what if they don’t like me?”

Rio sighed as her eyes darted to the side, thinking of what to say. she suddenly stepped away from miles as she put her index and thumb on her chin. she began to circle around miles, examining everything about him.

miles could only stand there confused as to why his mom was inspecting every inch of his body. “uh.. ma?” she put a finger to her lips to shush him, still looking and studying him while deep in thought. until she finally came to a stop right in front of him.

“mmk now, ask me what I see when i look at you.”

“ma w-what are you-”

“shhh play along! now ask me what I see, ¡vamos!”

miles threw his arms up and let them fall down in defeat. “fine, what d’ you see mami?”

Rio smiled as she grabbed her sons hands into her own.

“I see the boy I raised,” she explained. “I see him in all his glory on his way to navigate the world he’s been given.”

"I see him trying his best understand what it means to have feelings — what it means to love someone. I see someone who cares enough to immerse himself in a different culture than the one he has all for the sake of a special someone."

she looked down as she continued, “I see a talented, intelligent, kind, respectful little boy who’s not so little anymore. I see someone I couldn't be more proud of, and y’know what—?” she lifted her head so her eyes could meet his, “if they can’t see what I see, están locos.”

miles couldn’t help the soft smile he had on his face as he looked into her sincere eyes. pulling his mom into him, he hugged her and gave her a small kiss on her head.

“te quiero, mami”

“ay mami please I gotta go-!”

“in a minute!”

you stood outside smiling with your hands crossed over your chest watching the scene in front of you; miles mother trying to make him look more presentable by straightening out his shirt and tucking away any miss placed hairs on his head as best as she could.

when she finally kissed her son goodbye and started her way back to the bus stop, she quickly waved and smiled at you before speed-walking to catch the next bus. there were people from your family all outside the venue, chatting each other up and taking pictures, and suddenly this all felt very real to miles.

taking a deep breath, he crossed the street and made his way over to you.

“hi baby,” you swiftly linked your arm around his and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

“damn, how many people you got in your family ma?” he took a quick look inside through the windows and saw a hefty amount of people, which didn’t make this any easier for him.

“don’t worry, most of these people aren’t actually family. they’re more like family friends who we call aunties, uncles, and cousins,” you explained.

“okay okay, yeah sure,” miles let out a breath that he didn’t even know he was holding in. he started to look around at all the people outside the venue: they all looked so extravagant in long fitted dresses, and in suits that matched or looked similar to what he was wearing. all of the adults mingled with each other, and children were beginning to group off and mess around.

miles felt a bit like a fraud; like he didn’t belong there. this was all new territory for him. of course he had a few african friends in middle school, but he never really had to face their culture head-on like he was now. when he tried listening to what people were saying, he heard a few english words incorporated into their sentences, but he hadn't a clue on what was being communicated.

he couldn't stop the doubts that began to cloud his mind as he looked around him. doubts that he wasn't the kind of guy your parents wanted you dating, that he couldn't live up to their expectations. doubts that told him in big bold letters, "you don't belong here."

miles' facial expressions and body language often gave away what he was thinking, so when you noticed him begin to shrink slightly, him rapidly tapping his thigh, and his lip twitching slightly, you saw right through him. grabbing his hand, you gave him a small squeeze of affection, and soon enough, you were leading him through the doors of the venue, dodging people and children as you made your way through.

you led him right to your table which your parents saved for you and your siblings, plus miles.

as he saw your parents seated at the table, the first person he noticed was your father's presence. he took notice of the stoic look on his face, and his hand on the table which was intertwined with your mother's.

"hey guysss," you greeted with a smile as you dragged miles over to the table. "this is milesss, the boy I was telling you about."

you could feel miles tense ever so slightly as his father held his gaze.

"good evening sir, my name is miles," he introduced himself with a small smile.

“thank god this boy even knows how to greet,” your father said while nodding in approval.

when he reached his hand out for miles to shake, miles thought to himself, “okay, making progress.”

taking his hand, he gave a firm handshake to your father to which he nodded in approval again. turning to your mother, he extended his hand and said hello and was met with a softer touch and welcoming smile.

“I like your hair,” she mentioned, her hand gesturing to the two braids rested on his shoulder.

miles smiled as he look down to his braids. “thank you, my mom actually does these for me.”

“tell her i said she did well,” she complimented.

“please, sit down i’m sure the food will soon be ready, and then we will see what we can take home with us,” your mother mumbled that last part directed to your father, but you still heard and laughed.

“so, miles, we have been told many good things about you. you want to study physics?” your father asked.

miles squeezed your hand under the table, eyebrows raised in shock. “you guys talk about me?” he felt his heart swell at the mental image of you even mentioning him to your parents — especially your mom.

“of course na, our daughter comes up to us and tells us she’s been seeing a boy — how can we not talk about you?” your mother asked rhetorically. you could see the small almost unnoticeable smirk etching onto miles face. he would never let you hear the end of this.

after almost half an hour of talking, laughing, (mainly between you, miles, and your mother), and getting to know one another, miles started to feel much more relaxed. words started flowing out of him much easier than before, and he even managed to make your dad crack a smile with one of his silly jokes. miles nerves and doubts slowly but surely began to dissipate as the night went on; relief washed over his entire body.

it wasn't until your mother covered him in a layer of fear 4x as heavy as the one he just washed off.

“ah! see your cousin!” you mother told you. you looked in the direction she was looking and saw a toddler running around and giggling.

“why don’t the both of you go and say hi!”

she knew exactly what she was doing.

— bro idk what’s wrong but I really don’t like this (¬_¬)

— but I tried

— idek why but i think the other one was SOOO much better

571 notes · View notes

stylesispunk · 1 month

Text

"The not so invisible string" | part 7

Not outbreak!Joel Miller x f! reader

previous chapter | next chapter | series masterlist

summary: you and Joel were made right for each other at the wrong time. Now, thirteen years later your paths crossed when both of your daughters get in trouble at school. Would be the right time for you now?

word count: 7,8k>

warnings: none but, angst, mentions of bruises, and FLUFF

a/n: Hello, hello! chapter 7 is here! The next one may be the last since it's time to say goodbye to this silly fic, by the way, I hope you like this one because I added everything I could and it's kinda cute. Reblogs and comments are always appreciated. Happy reading 💌 Remember my dm and asks are always open for you if you wanna talk.

dividers by @/saradika.

Joel

I miss you; I haven’t seen you in a week!

You thought that by now, Joel would have begun to behave very differently from the teen boy trying to win your heart back in time, that in your 30s he was going to find different ways to show affection, but he still got the boyish smile on him all the time he saw you, as if you hang up the moon. He still got the dirtiest jokes about salad dressings, and most importantly, he still got your heart in the palm of his hand, but this time he was taking care of it as if it were crystal, and you were so grateful for his actions, talking louder than his promises.

You loved him; he still made you feel like the only girl in the room.

You

Well, sorry for being on a job trip.

I miss you too, but I’m back tomorrow!! Don’t be so needy.

Joel

A delicious dinner will be waiting for you at my house when you arrive.

And well, me.

You

I have a daughter to go see first!

Joel

I will be waiting for the both of you then.

You chuckled at Joel's response; his enthusiasm was evident even through text messages. Despite being apart for just a week, you found yourself eagerly anticipating the moment you would be reunited with him.

You adored the way he always had the time to make you feel special, but he also made his time to include Tara too, as if she were a tiny extension of you to love and take care of as if she were his own daughter.

He was behaving like the father Tara needed.

And you didn’t know this, but Joel was starting to love Tara as if she were his daughter. He knew you and her, plus he and Sarah will become a family soon.

When you arrived again on Tuesday, you made your way to your mother’s house. You couldn’t wait to see Tara. She had been staying with her grandmother while you were away, and you missed her terribly after seven days apart.

As soon as you stepped through the door, you were met with your mother’s smile, welcoming you to enter the house; however, she stopped you for a second.

“Tara seemed to be bothered by something.” Your mom warned.

“What do you mean? Did Dwight do something?” Of course, Dwight was the first person to put the blame on him since he was going to have a day with his daughter because you allowed him to see her once this week while you were away.

“I don’t know, but she was really upset today, and she doesn’t want to talk to me,” she said, her voice tinted with worry.

“Don’t worry, I’ll fix it,” you assured her, with determination in your voice. You knew that Tara often kept her feelings bottled up, especially with all the drama between you and her father.

Heading towards Tara's room, you knocked softly on the door before gently pushing it open. Tara was sitting on her bed, her gaze fixed on the floor, lost in her own thoughts.

"Tara, sweetheart, hey!"" You greeted her, approaching her carefully.

“Mom, you’re back,” she said, stepping up from her bed and welcoming you in a tight hug. You knew her so well that you noticed something was off with her.

You held her close, feeling her warmth and the familiar comfort of her embrace. "I missed you so much," you whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Is everything okay? Your grandma mentioned you seemed upset."

Tara pulled away slightly; her expression was troubled. "It's nothing, Mom," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. But you could see the sadness in her eyes; the weight of whatever was troubling her was evident in the way she held herself.

You reached out to gently cup her face, tilting it up so you could look into her eyes. "You can talk to me, Tara," you reassured her, your voice filled with love and understanding. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

“Shouldn’t you be at Joel’s by now?” she mentioned, dismissing the topic.

You sighed softly, recognizing Tara's attempt to divert the conversation. "I was planning on going there, but you're more important to me right now," you replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "If you want to talk about what's bothering you, I'm here. But if you'd rather not, that's okay too. Just know that I'm always here for you."

Tara's expression softened at your words, a hint of gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Mom," she said quietly, leaning into your touch. “But you should go; he must miss you by now.”

“He actually wanted both of us over for dinner,” you mentioned, studying her face, which shone at the mention of Joel’s invitation, but it faded soon.

“I just... I don't feel like going out tonight," she admitted softly, avoiding your eyes.

Your heart sank at her words, knowing that Tara's reluctance to go to Joel's house was a sign that something was truly bothering her. "Okay, sweetheart," you said, trying to hide your own disappointment. "We can stay in tonight and talk, just the two of us."

“No, you must go,” she said.

You could sense Tara's insistence—her desire for you to go and spend time with Joel—conflicting with her own reluctance to join. It was clear that she was trying to put on a brave face for you, but you couldn't ignore the underlying sadness in her eyes.

"Tara, if something is bothering you, I want to be here for you," you said gently, reaching out to grasp her hand. "Joel will understand if I need to stay with you tonight. Your well-being is my priority."

Tara squeezed your hand, her gaze meeting yours with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. "I know, Mom," she said softly. "But I'll be okay. And I don't want you to miss out on time with Joel because of me."

You sighed, torn between your desire to comfort Tara and your longing to see Joel. But ultimately, you knew that Tara needed you more in that moment.

"Okay, Tara," you conceded, offering her a reassuring smile. "I'll go to say hi to him, but I'll be back later, and we can talk more then, okay?"

Tara nodded, her expression filled with understanding. "Okay, Mom," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With one last squeeze of her hand, you rose from the bed and made your way to the door, feeling a pang of guilt as you left Tara behind.

As you made your way to Joel's house, your heart raced with anticipation. Despite the conflicting emotions stirring within you about leaving Tara behind, the prospect of seeing Joel filled you with a sense of excitement and longing.

Finally, you arrived at Joel's doorstep, your heart pounding with nervous energy as you raised your hand to knock on the door. The sound echoed through the quiet night, and you held your breath, waiting for Joel to answer.

Seconds felt like an eternity until you heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door. And then it swung open, revealing Joel standing before you, his eyes lighting up with joy at the sight of you.

"Hey," he said softly, a smile spreading across his face as he pulled you into his arms. "I've missed you."

"Hey," he said softly, a smile spreading across his face as he pulled you into his arms. "I missed you,” he whispered, placing a kiss on your lips.

You melted into his embrace, feeling a rush of relief and contentment wash over you. In that moment, all the worries and uncertainties faded away, leaving only the comfort of being in Joel's arms once more.

“I missed you too,” you replied, your voice filled with warmth as you leaned into him and into his embrace, where you belonged.

“Where is Tara?” Joel asked after noticing the absence of the teen behind you.

“At my mother’s. She said she didn’t feel good, and I know she is lying, but she insisted on me coming to see you,” you said to him.

Joel's smile widened at Tara's thoughtful gesture, his eyes softening with affection but still showing worry. "She's always looking out for you," he remarked, his voice filled with warmth.

You nodded, feeling grateful for Tara's care and concern. "Yes, she is," you agreed, feeling a surge of love for your daughter. "I'm lucky to have her, but she is my priority, so I just came to say hi.”

Joel pulled you closer, his arms enveloping you in a comforting embrace once again. "Maybe you could ask Sarah," he whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Maybe she knows something.”

“Are you sure?” You mumbled against his shoulder.

“Yes, she is inside; come on.” Joel took your hand, leading you inside his house.

As you entered the house, Sarah greeted you with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hey," she said, stepping forward to hug you. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, sweetheart," you replied, returning her embrace. "How have you been?"

Sarah shrugged with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Same old, same old," she said cryptically, her gaze flickering towards Joel before returning to you. "What brings you here?"

“Your dad is her boyfriend, and he missed her terribly,” Joel answered to his daughter for you.

You glanced at Joel; a smile creeped on your lips at his words.

A mischievous grin spread across Sarah’s face. "Is that so?" she teased, shooting a playful look at her father. "You must really like her."

Joel chuckled, giving Sarah a mock glare. "She wants to talk to you about Tara."

Sarah's grin softened into a more sympathetic expression as she turned her attention back to you. "Is everything okay with her?" she asked, her tone serious.

You sighed, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders at the opportunity to discuss your concerns with Sarah. "I'm not sure," you admitted, your voice tinged with worry. "She seemed upset earlier, and I can't shake the feeling that something's bothering her."

“Dad, can you let us alone for a bit?” Sarah asked Joel.

Joel nodded, but before heading towards the kitchen, he placed a soft kiss on your forehead as a sign of affection and love for you, saying he was there for you whenever you needed him.

As Joel left the room, Sarah turned her attention back to you, her expression filled with concern.

"What do you think could be bothering her?" you asked gently.

“Well, she seemed off this morning at school. I knew she was with her dad yesterday, so I guess it has to do with him,” she confessed, carefully not to say beyond what she knew; it was Tara who should tell you once she feels ready for it.

You nodded, understanding Sarah's hesitation to delve too deeply into Tara's personal affairs. "That's what I was thinking too," you admitted, feeling a knot of worry tighten in your chest. "But I don't want to push her if she's not ready to talk about it."

Sarah nodded in agreement, her expression sympathetic. "I get it," she said softly. "But maybe knowing that you're here for her, whenever she's ready, will give her some comfort."

You smiled gratefully at Sarah, touched by her insight and understanding. "Thank you," you said, feeling a sense of relief knowing that Sarah was there to support Tara too.

Sarah returned your smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "Of course," she said. "Family looks out for each other, right?"

Your heart warmed at those words, and you looked at Sarah, driven by pure adoration, and found Joel was there spying on the both of you. You couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Joel peeking in on your conversation with Sarah; his expression was genuine adoration. You couldn’t help but admire the girl he had raised on his own all this time.

As Sarah caught sight of Joel, she grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying the playful moment. "Dad, you're such a spy," she teased, her tone filled with playful banter.

Joel chuckled, stepping fully into the room and wrapping an arm around your waist. "I can't help it if I'm curious about what you two are plotting," he replied with a wink, his gaze shifting between you and Sarah.

You leaned into Joel's touch, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you at the warmth and love radiating from your little family. "We're just talking," you reassured him, exchanging a knowing glance with Sarah.

With a smile, Joel pressed a kiss on your temple, his love for you evident in the gentle gesture. "Well, don't let me interrupt," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

As Joel made his way out of the room, you turned back to Sarah, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "He's something else, isn't he?" you remarked, feeling grateful for the man by your side and the daughter who had grown up under his loving care.

Sarah nodded, her eyes sparkling with fondness. "Yeah, he is," she agreed, her voice filled with warmth. "But we wouldn't have it any other way, would we?"

You shook your head, feeling a surge of love for your family. "No, we wouldn't."

As your conversation with Sarah came to a close, you felt a sense of resolve settling within you. It was time to return to your mother's house and check in on Tara, even if you didn't have all the answers yet.

Turning to Joel, you reached out to take his hand, a gentle smile playing on your lips. "I think I should head back to my mom's house now," you said softly, your voice filled with determination. "I want to see how Tara's doing."

Joel nodded in understanding, squeezing your hand gently. "Of course," he replied, his gaze filled with warmth and support. "Let me know if there's anything I can do."

You leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips, feeling a rush of affection for the man who had stood by your side through thick and thin. "Thank you, Joel," you murmured against his lips, savoring the closeness between you.

With a final smile, you pulled away, reluctantly releasing his hand as you approached the door. As you stepped outside, you paused momentarily, casting one last glance back at Joel, looking back at you with bright eyes and mouthing “I love you”.

You made your way back to your mother's house, your mind buzzing with thoughts about Tara and what could be bothering her. When you arrived, Tara greeted you at the door with a warm smile, ready to go back home with you.

Since you and Dwight ended your marriage, you stayed at your mother’s house for a day until you found an apartment that was perfect for you and Tara to live together.

"Hey, Mom," Tara said, wrapping you in a quick hug before grabbing her bag. "Ready to head back?"

You returned her hug, giving her a reassuring smile. "Yes, let's go."

As you drove back home with Tara in the passenger seat, you couldn't shake the feeling of unease about her. Finally, you turned to her, breaking the silence that had settled between you.

"Tara, sweetheart," you began, your voice gentle. "I know something's been bothering you. Can you tell me what's wrong?"

Tara glanced out the window, her expression troubled. "It's just... I don't know, Mom," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I guess I've just been feeling really confused lately."

You reached out to gently squeeze her hand, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's okay to feel confused, sweetheart," you said softly. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what. You can talk to me about anything."

Tara nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Mom," she whispered, leaning into your touch. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart," you replied, feeling a surge of love and gratitude for your daughter. "We'll figure this out together, okay?"

She nodded. “You know you deserve all the best in the world,” she said to you, her voice cracking a little bit.

“Do you think so?” You asked playfully, your eyes still focused on the road.

“Yes, and my father never deserved you,” she finally said.

You felt a pang of sadness at Tara's words, knowing the pain she must have been feeling about the situation with her father. But you also felt a sense of pride in her strength and honesty.

"I appreciate you saying that, sweetheart," you replied, your voice soft with emotion. "But he's still your father after all. What’s between us is just between us; don’t hate him just because he wasn’t a good husband.”

And hating him won't change the past or make things better. It's okay to feel hurt or angry, but holding onto that resentment will only weigh you down."

Tara nodded, her expression thoughtful as she absorbed your words. "I know, Mom," she said quietly. “I just see Sarah and Joel, and sometimes I wish he was my father.”

Your heart ached at Tara's words, understanding the longing she felt for a stable and loving family dynamic. You reached out to gently squeeze her hand, offering her comfort and reassurance.

"I understand, sweetheart," you said softly, your voice filled with empathy. "But “what you have left to say was interrupted by the sound of your phone ringing as if Joel sensed his name being mentioned; he was the one calling, “Oh my god, I’m going to dump him.”

Tara laughed at your words, encouraging you to answer the call, so you put your phone on speaker.

You glanced at Tara, sharing a laugh with her before answering the call. "Hey, Joel," you said, trying to hide the amusement in your voice.

"Hey, Doe," Joel replied, his voice warm and familiar. "I was just thinking about you. How's everything going?"

"We're on our way back home now," you replied, glancing at Tara as you drove. "I just had a little heart-to-heart."

"Everything okay?" Joel asked, his concern evident in his tone.

"Yeah, everything's fine," you reassured him. "Just some family stuff. How about you? How's your evening going?"

"It's going well," Joel replied. "Sarah and I just finished dinner. She's upstairs doing homework now. I miss you, though.”

You smiled at the warmth in Joel's voice, feeling a surge of affection for him. "You just saw it like an hour ago.”

“I know, but still,” he said. “However, I was calling you for another reason.”

“Oh?” you questioned, furrowing your eyebrows.

"I wanted to ask if Tara would like to join Sarah and me for lunch tomorrow after school; I’m taking the afternoon off," Joel said, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

You glanced at Tara, who perked up at the mention of her name. Tara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, I would love to!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a tint of enthusiasm.

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at Tara's eagerness. "You heard her," you confirmed to Joel, a sense of gratitude washing over you for his thoughtful invitation.

“Great!" Joel replied, his tone filled with genuine pleasure. "I look forward to it. See you tomorrow, then.” He paused, “Please tell your mother she is pretty and that I love her.”

“Bye! I love you,” you said on the phone.

You loved the way he had been including Tara in his life since you had returned to his, making an effortless attempt to make her feel loved and included in every single aspect of your now-joined lives.

The next day, Joel led the way to their table, his smile infectious as he engaged in playful banter with Sarah and Tara. The three of them seemed to hit it off effortlessly, their conversation flowing smoothly as they shared stories and jokes.

Throughout the meal, Joel made sure to include both girls in the conversation, asking about their interests and sharing stories from his own life. Sarah and Tara seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, their laughter ringing out amidst the bustle of the restaurant.

Tara hadn’t felt this loved by a paternal figure since she was nine, and she couldn’t help but feel the beating of her heart increasing, knowing that this may be her reality for the rest of her life.

Tara found herself opening up to Joel in a way she hadn't with anyone else since her parents' divorce. His kindness and attentiveness made her feel seen and valued, filling a void she hadn't realized was there.

Unbeknownst to them, Dwight was nearby, observing the scene from a distance. His heart clenched with jealousy and bitterness as he watched Joel bond with his daughter. He had always believed that he was the only father figure Tara needed, but seeing her smile and laugh in Joel's presence made him realize that he had been wrong.

Dwight's resentment toward Joel only grew; the man hasn’t only kept the hold of his heart in the palm of his hand, but now he is stealing his daughter from him, and his mind is swirling with thoughts of how to regain control over Tara's affections. But little did he know, Tara's heart had already begun to open up to Joel, and there was no turning back.

As Joel led the way back to his truck, Sarah and Tara chatted animatedly behind him, their laughter ringing out in the crisp afternoon air. But their jovial mood came to an abrupt halt when Joel suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he examined the side of his truck.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

Joel crouched down, inspecting one of the truck's wheels. "It looks like we've got a flat tire," he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

Tara peered over his shoulder, her heart sinking as she saw the damage. "Is there anything we can do?" she asked, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over her.

Joel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll need to call for a tow truck," he replied, his tone resigned. "It looks like we're going to be here for a while."

As Joel pulled out his phone to make the call, Tara glanced at Sarah, her mind racing with thoughts of what could have caused the flat tire.

But a few seconds later, Joel came back. “I called Tommy; he is going to take the both of you home while I stay here waiting for the tow truck, okay?”

The teens nodded as Joel made the arrangements, and Tara and Sarah exchanged glances, silently communicating their concern. Despite the unexpected turn of events, they knew they could count on Joel to take care of the situation.

"Thanks, dad," Sarah said gratefully as Tommy's car pulled up beside them.

"Yeah, thanks," Tara echoed, offering Joel a reassuring smile.

Joel returned their smiles, though there was a hint of worry in his eyes. "No problem, girls," he said. "Just make sure to get home safely, okay?"

"We will," Sarah promised, giving Joel a quick hug before climbing into Tommy's car.

Tara followed suit, offering Joel a hug of her own before joining Sarah in the car. As they drove away, Tara couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Joel's kindness and reliability, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

After the girls were out of sight, a voice interrupted Joel’s solitude.

“First, now, are you trying to steal my daughter too?”

That voice. Joel knew that voice that damn well, and he was getting exhausted from hearing it.

Joel's jaw clenched as he turned to face the source of the voice, his expression a mix of frustration and irritation. "Dwight," he said evenly, his voice tinged with disdain. "What are you doing here?"

Dwight's lips curled into a sneer as he approached Joel, his eyes flashing with anger. "I saw you with your little girl and my daughter," he spat. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to."

Dwight scoffed, his gaze cold and accusatory. "Right, like I'm supposed to believe that," he retorted. "You've been trying to worm your way into their lives ever since she came back and got to know my daughter.”

Joel's temper flared at the insinuation, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I care about Tara,” he said firmly. "And unlike you, I actually want what's best for her." He accused,” You saw her here, and you waited for her to go instead of saying hello to her, just to come up at me just like the pathetic loser you are.”

Joel's words struck a nerve with Dwight, his face contorting with anger. "You think you're better than me, huh?" He snarled, taking a menacing step closer to Joel. "You think you can just waltz in here and take over my daughter's life?"

Joel stood his ground, refusing to back down in the face of Dwight's aggression. "I'm not trying to take over anything," he said, his voice steady. "I just want to be there for Tara, to support her and care for her like she deserves."

Dwight scoffed, his fists clenched at his sides. "You don't know the first thing about being her father."

“And you do?” Joel asked, but the answer he received was Dwigth’s fist directly in his face.

As Dwight's fist connected with Joel's face, the impact sent a shockwave of pain through him. Joel stumbled backward, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch his throbbing eye. Anger flared in his eyes as he regained his balance, his jaw clenched tight.

"Is that how you fix your problems?" Joel growled, his voice laced with defiance. Despite the pain, he refused to let Dwight intimidate him. "You think you can just throw a punch and scare me off?"

Dwight's expression twisted into a snarl as he lunged forward again, this time hitting on Joel's jaw, causing him to bleed, but still, with a swift motion, Joel sidestepped Dwight’s attack, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back.

“I’m not going to hit you, not because I can't, but because I have respect for Tara,” Joel said, letting Dwight go from his hold.

Dwight's expression softened slightly, though suspicion lingered in his gaze. "You think you're some kind of hero, huh?" He muttered, rubbing his sore arm.

Joel shook his head, his expression serious. "I'm not a hero," he said.

Dwight regarded Joel for a moment longer before finally turning away, his footsteps heavy as he retreated. Joel watched him go, his jaw still throbbing from the impact of Dwight's punches on his face.

After receiving a call from Tommy about the altercation between Joel and Dwight, you knew you had to go check on Joel. Despite the late hour, you made your way to his house, your heart heavy with worry.

When you arrived, you felt an uneasiness before knocking on the door. When Joel appeared behind the door, you took a look at his appearance. His purple eye and swollen jaw made your stomach twist in pain.

His eyes softened at the sight of you, but the tension on his shoulder told you he wasn’t pleased at all.

“Who told you?” he asked, not a greeting, nor a hug, nor a kiss.

"Tommy,” you replied carefully, studying his subtle behavior.

As you spoke, Joel's expression tightened, mixed frustration and resignation crossing his features. He didn’t step aside, and he didn’t invite you into the house. He just stood there with a weary expression.

“Are you okay?” You asked again.

“Let’s see. I look like an idiot with this on my face; I can’t go to work like this, and I feel tired of your ex-husband.”

You winced at Joel's words, feeling the blame on his words. You couldn’t help but feel guilty; after all, Dwight had appeared in his life because of you. You wished you could take away all this, but you knew that wasn't possible. Instead, you feel small in front of him.

Feeling the weight of Joel's frustration, you took a step closer, wanting to offer him comfort despite feeling somewhat responsible for the situation. "I'm sorry," you said softly, your voice filled with genuine remorse. You lifted your hands to cup his face delicately, but Joel grabbed your wrists before you could feel his face on your palms.

Your breath left your lungs, and your heart sank.

You could feel the tension radiating from him; his eyes were dark and unreadable as they bore into yours. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of the situation hanging heavily in the air.

"I appreciate your concern," Joel finally said, his voice strained. "But right now, I just need some space."

His words stung, a sharp pang of hurt shooting through you as you withdrew your hands from his grasp. You nodded silently, feeling a lump form in your throat as you struggled to contain your emotions.

"Are you putting the blame on me?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. You needed an answer before breaking down in front of him.

Joel's expression softened slightly at your question, his eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions. He hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice tinged with regret.

"No, I'm not blaming you," he replied, his tone softer now. "I just... I need some time to process everything that's happened."

You nodded, understanding his need for space but unable to shake off the hurt that lingered within you.

“Go home, Doe,” he whispered.

With a heavy heart, you nodded in response to Joel's words. His request for space was clear, and though it pained you to leave him in such a state, you knew that respecting his boundaries was crucial in this moment.

"Okay," you whispered back, your voice barely above a murmur. "Take care of yourself, Joel."

Turning away, you walked slowly back to your car, the weight of the situation settling heavily on your shoulders. As you drove home, the silence of the car mirrored the heaviness in your heart, your thoughts consumed by the turmoil of emotions stirred up by the encounter with Joel.

It felt like the night he didn’t fight for you when you left him.

Arriving home with a heavy heart, tears threatened to spill from your eyes as you stepped through the door. Tara, ever-perceptive, noticed your somber expression immediately.

"Mom, what's wrong?" She asked, concern evident in her voice as she hurried to your side.

You tried to offer her a reassuring smile, but it faltered as the weight of the day's events pressed down on you.

"It's nothing, sweetheart," you replied, your voice trembling slightly. "Just a long day."

Tara studied you for a moment, her gaze searching yours for any sign of what was truly bothering you. Seeing the unshed tears in your eyes, she wrapped you in a gentle hug, offering you the comfort of her presence.

"Is it about what dad did to Joel?” She asked, waiting for your answer.

Your heart ached at Tara's question; her perceptiveness never failed to astound you. You pulled back slightly from the embrace, meeting her concerned gaze with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

"How did you know?" you asked softly, impressed by her ability to see through you.

Tara sighed, her expression filled with empathy. "Sarah”

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you nodded, grateful for Tara's understanding. "Of course,” you said. “Yes, it's about that," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "I just feel so helpless, Tara. It’s all my fault for thinking we could be together again.”

“I don’t want you to say that ever again, mom,” Tara said, her tone clear enough.

Tara's words struck a chord deep within you, her unwavering support providing a glimmer of solace in the midst of your turmoil. You looked at her, your eyes brimming with tears, and felt a surge of gratitude for her strength and wisdom beyond her years.

"I'm sorry, Tara," you whispered, your voice choked with emotion. "I just... I thought I could make things right, but instead, I've only caused more pain."

“I bet Joel wants space tonight, but that doesn’t mean anything bad.” She reassured me, “The way he looked at you, mom, He wouldn’t lose you over the prick of a father I have.”

Tara's words brought a small glimmer of hope to your heart; her unwavering faith in Joel's feelings for you offered a sense of reassurance in the midst of your doubts.

"Thank you, sweetheart," you said, your voice soft with gratitude. "I hope you're right. I just... I hate seeing him hurt because of me."

“He is not hurt because of you.”

Tara's reassurance was like a balm to your wounded soul, her unwavering belief in Joel's love for you providing a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of your doubts.

"You're right," you said, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders. "Thank you for reminding me of that, Tara. I needed to hear it."

As the night wore on, you found yourself tossing and turning in bed, unable to shake off the nagging feeling of unease that lingered within you. The thoughts of Joel consumed your mind, his bruised face haunting your thoughts.

Despite Tara's reassurances, you couldn't shake off the guilt that weighed heavily on your heart. The urge to reach out to Joel, to check on him and apologize for everything, gnawed at you relentlessly.

You glanced at the clock beside your bed, its hands ticking away the seconds of the sleepless night. With a heavy sigh, you reached for your phone, the temptation to call Joel becoming too strong to resist.

But as your fingers hovered over the dial button, doubt crept in. What if he needed space? What if he was still angry?

With a frustrated groan, you set your phone aside, resigning yourself to the torment of your thoughts. Sleep remained elusive, the weight of guilt and uncertainty pressing down on you like a leaden blanket.

Just as you resigned yourself to the torment of your thoughts, your phone vibrated with the arrival of a notification. With a flutter of anticipation, you reached for it, your heart racing with hope.

The message was from Joel.

Your breath caught in your throat as you read his words, a mix of relief and apprehension flooding through you.

“Are you awake?”

You typed out a simple "yes,” and just seconds later, he was calling you.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you answered Joel's call, the sound of his voice washing over you like a balm. "Hey," he said softly, his tone carrying a hint of weariness.

"Hey," you replied, unable to mask the relief in your voice.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Joel spoke again, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "I just wanted to hear your voice," he admitted, his words sending a shiver down your spine.

A rush of warmth flooded through you at his confession, dispelling some of the tension that had been coiling in your chest. "I'm glad you called," you said softly, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "How are you feeling?"

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I just want to say sorry for the way I acted, and I wanted to remind you that I love you so much, Doe.”

"I love you too," you replied, your voice filled with tenderness. "More than you'll ever know."

“Go to sleep now, love,” he said, knowing you finally felt at ease. He would never repeat the same mistakes with you again.

The next day, you found yourself standing in front of Dwight's house, your heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and determination. You took a deep breath before raising your hand to knock on the door.

After a moment, the door swung open, revealing Dwight's girlfriend, his mistress. Her expression hardened when she saw you, and she spoke with a hint of disdain in her voice.

"My daughter is here," she stated bluntly, her tone bordering on hostility.

You held your gaze, refusing to be intimidated by her. "I didn't come for her," you replied evenly. "Where is Dwight?"

Her eyes narrowed at your question, and for a moment, she seemed to consider whether to answer. Finally, she stepped aside, allowing you to enter the house. "He's in the living room," she said tersely.

“Can you tell him to come outside?” you said, not showing emotion.

“Okay”

As Dwight stepped outside, closing the door behind him, you couldn't contain the surge of anger that coursed through you. Without a word, you lifted your hand and delivered a sharp slap across his face.

"Ouch, what the hell is wrong with you?" Dwight exclaimed, his hand instinctively rising to his stinging cheek.

"You know damn well what's wrong," you retorted, your voice laced with frustration and indignation.

Dwight's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with defiance. "I don't have to listen to this," he snapped, turning to walk away.

But you weren't finished. "Oh no, you're not getting away that easily." You grabbed him by the neck of his shirt.

As Dwight attempted to walk away, you couldn't let him escape so easily. Fueled by anger and frustration, you moved swiftly, grabbing him by the neck of his shirt to prevent him from leaving.

His eyes widened in surprise as you held him firmly, your grip tight and unwavering. "Let me go!" he growled, struggling against your hold.

You tightened your grip, refusing to back down. "No," you replied firmly, your voice dripping with determination. "We're going to have this conversation, whether you like it or not."

“Listen to me now. Joel didn’t press charges against you, but I will if you don’t stop acting like this.” Your grip on his shirt left him speechless. “I’m tired of you trying to ruin my happiness when you know damn well what you did, and not only that, but acting like a bully when you’re pushing your 40s is pathetic; you may be older than me but not wiser.”

Dwight's eyes narrowed as he listened to your words, a mixture of anger and resentment flashing across his face. Despite his attempts to break free, your grip remained firm, holding him in place.

“Are you threatening me?” he spat.

You met his glare with steely resolve, feeling fury and disgust towards that man. "I'm not trying to dictate anything," you replied, your tone unwavering. "I'm simply telling you how it's going to be if you don't change your behavior."

He didn’t say a word, inviting you to continue.

“Tara doesn’t want to see you, but I told her you’re her father, and what happened between us should define her relationship with you, but if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll make sure you will never see her,” you stated firmly, your voice leaving no room for argument. "I won't hesitate to protect myself and my family from your toxicity, so you will take a step away for a while; you will change your behavior and start acting like a man; and once you’re ready to be a father, you call me, and we can arrange a meeting with Tara.”

He gulped. “Okay.”

His shoulders slumped slightly, and he averted his gaze, seemingly unable to meet your eyes.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice lacking its usual bravado. "I'll stay away... for now."

You nodded, not entirely convinced of his sincerity but determined to hold him to his word. "Good," you said firmly. "And remember, this is your chance to make things right. Don't waste it." You paused, “Now I want you to get on your knees and promise me you will never go for Joel like that.”

As you waited for Dwight's response, he hesitated for a moment, his expression conflicted. But eventually, he let out a heavy sigh and slowly sank to his knees before you, a begrudging acknowledgment of your authority in this situation.

"I promise," he muttered, his voice strained with reluctance. "I won't go after Joel like that again."

You watched him carefully, your gaze unwavering, as you waited for him to finish his vow. Once he had spoken the words, you nodded, satisfied that he understood the gravity of his promise.

"Good," you said firmly, your tone leaving no room for doubt. “Go to be happy with the family you choose; you have the chance to be a good father for that little girl of yours. And you will let me be happy with a daughter and the man I love.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, ashamed for the first time, but you didn't want to buy his act so easily yet.

You observed him silently, your resolve unwavering as you awaited his apology. When he finally spoke, offering a half-hearted sorry, you shook your head.

"Say sorry when you mean it," you replied firmly, your tone leaving no room for ambiguity. "And remember your promise."

With that, you turned on your heel and walked away, leaving Dwight kneeling on the ground behind you, you were determined to protect your family and ensure that Dwight stayed true to his word.

When you returned to your apartment, your heart skipped a beat as you noticed Joel standing by the door, a concerned look etched on his face. His eyes softened when he saw you, and he took a step forward, his expression filled with worry.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, stepping back at the sight of him, still carrying the colored traces of Dwight’s fist on his face.

“I wanted to see you, but nobody opened the door, so I was leaving,” he said, his voice laced with concern as he noticed a somber demeanor on you.

“Yes, Tara wanted to spend the day with my mom, so she left earlier and I was doing something,” you informed, stepping forward to open the door.

Joel followed you inside, his gaze lingering on your face with a mix of concern and curiosity. You could feel the weight of his gaze, his eyes searching yours for any sign of what was troubling you.

"Is everything alright?" he asked softly.

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal about your encounter with Dwight. But seeing the genuine concern in Joel's eyes, you knew you could trust him with the truth.

"Not really," you admitted, your voice tinged with frustration. "I went to Dwight's.”

Joel's expression darkened at the mention of Dwight's name, his jaw tightening with anger. "Did he hurt you?" he asked, his tone low and dangerous.

You shook your head, offering him a small smile to reassure him. "No, nothing like that.” You paused, “It was actually me who slapped him on the face.”

Joel's eyes widened slightly in surprise at your revelation. "You slapped him?" he echoed.

You nodded, feeling a surge of empowerment at the memory of standing up to Dwight. "Yeah," you confirmed, with a hint of pride in your voice. "He had it coming."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Joel's lips. "I wish I could have seen that," he said, a touch of amusement in his tone.

You laughed softly at his comment, “Well, we also talked, mostly me, and I think it's all okay.”

Joel's smile softened at your words, his eyes reflecting his relief. "I'm glad to hear that," he said sincerely, pulling you into a comforting embrace. "You're incredibly brave, you know that?"

You leaned into his embrace, feeling a warmth spread through you at his words. “I’m not”

“Yes, you’re. You stood by yourself, and that’s always brave,” he reminded you, pulling back slightly. He cupped your face in his hands and met your gaze with all the love dancing in his eyes.

You smiled at him, lifting your hand to caress his face, where his eye was still bruised as a violet. Your heart ached for him, for love, and for the memories he always brought with him.

"This reminds me of something,” you murmured softly, your voice filled with a tint of amusement at the memory.

He chuckled softly, a fond smile playing on his lips as he recalled the same thought in his mind. “And I always get the girl,” he said.

A soft chuckle escaped your lips as Joel's words echoed the sentiment you were about to share. "Yes, you do," you replied, your voice laced with affection. "But don't think you can use those puppy eyes to get out of trouble every time."

He stole a kiss from your lips and pressed his forehead against yours. "I still have the ring," he whispered.

Your heart skipped a beat at Joel's words, a rush of warmth flooding through you as you gazed into his eyes.

“Then, ask me,” you whispered back, your voice filled with love and certainty. You didn’t care about rushing things anymore; you knew that, for a marvelous reason, what had made you separate for thirteen years was the same reason that brought you back together, this time older and wiser, and you wanted to dive in, not hold back anymore.

Joel's eyes widened slightly in surprise at your words, his breath catching in his throat as he processed the depth of your request. But beneath the surprise, there was a glimmer of joy and a spark of hope that ignited in his eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he searched your eyes for any hint of hesitation.

You nodded, a smile playing on your lips as you met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I've never been surer of anything in my life," you replied, your voice filled with conviction.

“Well, I don’t have the ring with me right now,” he warned, embarrassed.

Your smile widened at Joel's words; his concern about the ring only added a touch of genuine joy to this. "That's okay," you reassured him, reaching out to gently squeeze his hand.

“I’m doing this anyway,” he said, getting on one knee and causing you to chuckle, hiding the emotion in your throat.

As Joel kneeled before you, your heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and joy. Despite the playful chuckle and tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, threatening to spill over, you allow him to continue.

"Will you marry me, Doe?"

a/n part 2: Before someone says the last part may be stupid, let's clarify this is fiction.

tags 💌: @joeldjarin @missladym1981 @yomiyasxx @aliengirl99 @lola8888673 @nottodaysattan @picketniffler @violinchick @sadgirlcheesecake @caitlynsixxx @luvwanda @sarahhxx03

148 notes · View notes

azulock · 2 months

Note

so I wanna requests the guys as dads, I remember at some point you said you wanted to do something like this and I really wanna see it

Time to rull up my sleeves, cause I did say I was gonna do one of those right? Back when I got annoyed that all I found was girl dad this girl dad that and I got tired of all the typical gendering going on in dad fics.

Ryusei Shidou

Girl dad in the most chaotic way possible. Tiaras coexist with bows and arrows as a princess fights off an invasion. Every doll and plushie has a tattoo made either with a sharpie or from a patch attached with hot glue. Every tea time is a mafia family meeting that always involves an assassination plot. And the barbies live very intense lives that inevitably delve into wrestling like storylines where each one has a gimmick, a long standing feud, and a clear thirst for blood.

Chaos may not be the best thing to keep an organized home, but it's good for mental development. And much like a kid, Shidou also thrives in creative chaos. He isn't the best at practical things, especially the ones involving routine and quiet time, but he has got his uses. Very good at wasting his daughter's energy until she drops straight into a deep sleep. His antics are also good at convincing her to eat pretty much anything. And of course, great at entertaining her so you can take a break.

Oliver Aiku

Boy dad but like he really doesn't care, he'd be giving the same extremely affectionate, and even a bit clingy, treatment to his kid no matter the gender - sugary sweet nicknames included. Probably heard people saying he coddles his son too much, treating him like a princess, but Oliver is good at playing deaf. Tho, that kid gonna have to fight for the right to have his feet touching the ground, cause dad wants to carry his offspring everywhere. Sure to raise a boy as clingy and openly affectionate as him.

Those reflexes honed for football are quite good at catching a kid before an ugly fall. And he's actually good at the general everyday stuff, surprisingly patient too. Takes a genuine interest in the things his son likes, so when the boy shows sudden interest in colorful nail polish, he'll show up to a match with badly painted soft purple nails. Likes sleeping on the floor with his boy, when asked why the floor and not the bed he brings up the old man excuse of "the floor is good for my back".

Reo Mikage

Girl dad and he was ready for a little princess, but what he got was more of a cave dwelling gremlin. He was expecting frilly dresses and tea time but he gets a little girl who likes bugs, playing in the mud and digging things from the ground. It hits him as a surprise but he adapts to that, and as much as he isn't very excited for the cleanup afterward, he is always eager to entertain his girl's odd interests. If buying dinosaur fossils weren't such a legal can of worms he'd buy one just to bury it for her to dig up.

If he wasn't convinced to go to therapy before, now is the moment to convince him. Just gotta say he should do it not to become like his dad and he's gonna be booking the appointment fast. Will be reading child pedagogy books and shit like that to make sure he can be a good and understanding dad. Really just trying to kill his family's trauma conga line at himself - wants his daughter to trust and count on him in the way he never could with his dad.

Michael Kaiser

Boy dad but to the gentlest, sweetest of souls, a little boy who seems to have absolutely nothing in common with his dad, aside from some physical traits. It at the same time shocks and scares him, because the world out there is not kind to sweet people. But while the boy is at home, Kaiser can keep him safe. It does frustrate him a little bit when he tries to get his son into football but the boy is more into art than sports, but he learns to move past that. Truth is, he wanted the boy to mirror his traits a bit more, so this is a humbling experience.

That poor rose tattoo of his does not see a day of peace after his son learned to color. Tho, Kaiser gets used to the shaky new roses drawn on his skin fair enough. And he actually considers getting a full tattoo of just lineart and not colors just to let the boy color in. He's not the most patient so he has a bit of a hard time getting used to the whole parenting thing, but he does try his best. Also, whenever he takes his son out somewhere he makes their clothes match in color scheme.

a word from out sponsors: @tinnaagine @loser-vxbez @kiurona @bentolover @bevernats @weirdbutpr3tty @ada7201 @vollereix @rinitosh @kum1ko-chan @romanticizemai @wishiknewwhatiwasdoingwithmylife @qichun @true-latverian-baklava @oliveraikusweatyshirt @fivenightsatwhoreville @geemyfirstluvstory @mariyumemi

#oliver aiku x reader #reo mikage x reader #michael kaiser x reader #shidou ryusei x reader #mikage reo x reader #ryusei shido x reader #bllk x reader #blue lock x reader

324 notes · View notes

andromeda-pleiades · 7 days

Text

Hi everyone. 🌏

I know I have been gone for some time now, but this absence was because something really bad has happened in my family to the point that my family will need therapy and the law involved.

So... I might be taking a long break until I feel in the right mind to write cod fics again. I am prioritizing my family's mental health right now.

But in the meantime, here are some blogs that have been making me feel better with their amazing cod posts and stories

@groguspicklejar

I honestly don't really know what to say about this blog it's one of my favorite blog on this website, and I really love their works, reblogs, and random posts. I kinda wanna gatekeep them, lol. I love this blog so much I want to eat it

@shotmrmiller

They are the reason I have been interacting in the cod Fandom (comments and reblogs) where i didn't really feel confident before. It's a really welcoming blog

@greatstormcat

I love seeing notifs that they have posted or rebloged because I know I'm going to be invested every time

@ohbo-ohno

I found them through ceilidho, and I had to follow immediately. I've been going through their blog and eating it right up.

@ceilidho

I'm so excited I found them on Tumblr because I've been a lurker on AO3 for a while. Every time I see that they updated one of their stories, I have to put my phone down and do a lap around the house. I love your mind

@the-californicationist

I found them on AO3, and they are the reason I started to read for fun again. I love their work. You can really tell they put a little love in it

@gogh-with-the-flow

They reblog some of the greatest cod posts, which really puts you in the cod Fandom where you can find other writers and just see some nice cod content

This isn't every blog I love, just some that have been shining light on this very dark time in my life.

#call of duty #call of duty mw2 #simon ghost riley #cod #cod mw2 #simon riley x reader #ghost #kyle gaz garrick #ghost x reader #john soap mactavish #john price x reader #captain john price #cod blogs #blog recommendations

112 notes · View notes

lovergirly · 9 months

Note

I read the lip fic with opposites reader can you write a oneshot on when they first met or when she first met his family?

Hiii!! another one shot of rich reader x Lip gallagher! hope you enjoy 😘

"Ian... I'm nervous I don't think they'll like me."

"will you relax. Of course they will!"

You and your best friend Ian were about to go meet the entirety of the Gallagher family. You were beyond nervous. the only reason you knew Ian was because you had a crush on him and you asked him out. He obviously said no which upset you at first until he explained he was gay. after that, you two were inseparable.

Pulling up to the Gallagher house, you felt nervous butterflies enter your stomach. what if they hated you? what if they were mean? what if-

"ready?" ian pulled you out of your thoughts as you got out of your BMW.

"you might want to lock the car." he chuckles.

As you walk closer to the door, you can hear more and more commotion coming from the inside of the house. Instead of knocking, he barges right in and allows you a few seconds to really take in the scene. Two kids, boy and girl, arguing over a computer, a baby crawling around, and a girl probably in her twenties scrambling around the kitchen. Finally, you see a boy probably your age smoking a blunt on the couch while watching "to catch a predator".

He was a sight. He was hot. you've seen him around school before, but you don't know his name. He's known for doing kids homework if you pay him well enough.

"well well well, look what ian brought here." he gives you a smirk and a once over before adding, "ian found himself some rich girl to smooch off of."

instead of letting ian talk, you immediately say, "sounds like someone's just jealous that you need to do loser's homework to get money."

he looks shocked for a second before adding, "big mouth too. You smoke?"

"no of course not. it's terrible for your lungs and I do cheer."

"oh she does cheer?! her little lungs can't handle it." he mocks a sad face before you add

"at least I'll be alive when my grandkids are born."

he chuckles before taking a drag and going back to his show. ian takes this as invitation to take your hand and lead you to the kitchen. Where it appears people multiplied as there is now another girl and a guy, you're inferring are a couple.

"hey guys, this is y/n. I invited her over for dinner I hope that's okay." he looks at fiona as the commotion stops for a second.

"Yeah that's fine. I'm fiona." she gives you a slight wave as she continues scurrying around.

the little girl is the first to run up to you.

"I'm debbie! you're like soooooo pretty!! are you and Ian dating?" she was so cute.

"umm no we're just friends"

"then who is your boyfriend?"

"alright shut up debbie! I'm carl, but you can call me yours."

"yeah i think you're just a little too young for me."

"give it time sweetthing, give it time."

You found yourself getting along really well with the Gallagher family, plus Kev and V you learned. During dinner, you and the Lip kid kept staring at each other. You thought he was giving you dirty looks. Maybe it wasn’t going well. You, Fiona, and V end up in a deep conversation about boys, when V mentions, "i saw how you were looking at Lip, it's around 9 right now so if you want to go outside he'll be there smoking a cigarette." Fiona slaps her arm while V defends, "what?! I know sexual tension when i see it!"

"thank you V, but i don't think it's anything like that." you say while standing up to go outside.

"then why is your ass getting closer to the door?" she laughs.

"you know those things will kill you, it's not just a myth."

"that's okay. I’m experimenting to see if i’m the expectation.”

“is that your car?” you point to a beat up car sitting in their yard.

“yeah and no. It doesn’t drive, but i do bring girls here everyone once in a while. wanna hop inside?”

“if you’re insinuating what i think you are-“

“i’m not trust me.”

“whatever Gallagher.”

you two made your way inside the crammed car and it did definitely smell like weed and sex. He wasn’t kidding…

“so… you and ian?” he seriously didn’t know yet?

“umm no just friends. i’ve truthfully never had a boyfriend.”

“a girl like you never having a boyfriend? let me guess… too rich for all the south side boys? or maybe just too hot for all the losers at our school.” that comment made you blush, you were just praying he didn’t catch on.

“you know i’m not some stuck up rich girl right?”

“oh really? Let’s see, your whole family could buy mine. are you sure you’re not that rich?”

“ok fine but i’m not stuck up.”

“you are a little…” he adds wirh a small laugh

“oh yeah? give me that cigarette” you demand. he hands it over and watches curiously as you put it to your lips and suck. immediately, you start coughing which causes him to laugh, “oh god you weren’t kidding that you’ve never had one.”

“you thought i was lying?”

“maybe. thought you might have some secret life behind all the cheer and money.”

“well I do. I’m not like my family i promise.”

“well if you’re not like your family, how about you stay the night and we can just hang out.”

“you better not be insinuating anything again or i swear i’ll-“

“i’m not, you can sleep in ian’s bed, or even mine and i’ll sleep on the couch.”

“thank you Lip. I’d love to.”

little did you know that was the beginning spark of a beautiful relationship

i hope you enjoyeddd!! what else should Lip and y/n get into?? maybe some drama?

#fanfic #fiona gallagher #ian gallagher #lip gallagher #shameless #lip gallagher x reader #shameless x reader #carl gallagher #debbie gallagher #veronica fisher #kevin ball

603 notes · View notes

milo-manheim-luver · 11 months

Text

Girls Weekend- Drew Starkey x Fem!reader

summary: in which reader has her high school best friends come and visit her new place in Charleston and they finally find about about her secret lover.

warnings: angst? lots of fluff, and a bit of implied sexual content/comments. ENJOY! 😽

A/N: i’m def basing the two besties off of my besties hehehe 🤭 also, i suck at writing so please be nice 😭 ps this is my first drew starkey fic so feedback is defs welcomed 🫶🏻

———————————————————————

it was a late tuesday night in the beach town of charleston, south carolina when Y/N phone had started to buzz lightly. she was curled up on the couch, lamp on, reading one of her boyfriends many books he had acquired throughout the years. she found a stopping point in her (drew’s) book and placed the marker in it, before picking her phone up. she had a few texts from the ‘hometown girlies’ groupchat, immediately smiling, at the thought of her lifelong best friends.

ophelia: hey luvs, so martha and i were thinking maybe we could fly out to see you and your new place sometime soon?

ophelia: like maybe make it a girls weekend?!

martha: we miss you so much! we haven’t seen you in almost a year!

martha: just let us know when would work best for you! <3 xoxo

Y/N: omg! hi my babes!

Y/N: miss you girlies so fucking much it hurts 😢

Y/N: let me look at my schedule real quick! i’ll get back to you in about 20!

“hey, babe, my girlfriends from back home wanna come out and visit sometime soon, like have a girls weekend. are you still going to your mom’s the first week of may?” Y/N asked her boyfriend, drew, who sat close beside her, book in one hand, and his other gently rubbing his thumb across her shin, as she had her legs laying across his lap.

“uh, i believe so, unless someone cancels. why? am i not allowed to be there for girls weekend? oh wait! is this like where girls spill their darkest secrets?” drew rambled on as he looked up from his book, now intrigued by Y/N question.

“well, it’s not that i don’t want you here. it’s just they don’t know about us and i wanted to keep it that way. only the cast knows, and not even all of them know” Y/N let a sigh escape her plump lips. she wanted her best friends to know, yes, but at the same time she really liked the secrecy. not even her family knew about her and drew and that’s how she wanted to keep it, at least for now that is.

“i know i know. i will let you know if it gets canceled. but seriously what do girls do and talk about during a girls weekend?” drew asked with a confused expression plastered onto his face.

“that’s for us girls to know and you men to never find out. also thank you for always being so understanding and caring like all the time. i love you hunny” she cooed to her boyfriend who sat close to her on their shared couch.

“i love you too, angel” the tall, muscular man spoke as he leant over and planted a soft and gentle kiss to his girlfriend’s plump lips.

it had been three long weeks, of pure excitement and no patience. Y/N had just picked her two high school best friends, ophelia and martha, up from the airport and was headed back to her and her lovers’ place.

“i can’t believe you live in south carolina. like don’t you miss good old nebraska?” martha asked her best friend she hadn’t seen in almost a year.

“uh no, not really. i feel like i’m thriving here. i have a good job, a nice place, some friends. but don’t worry they won’t replace you two babes” Y/N giggled as she smiled.

“i mean, yeah you’re totally thriving here. wait! did you ever learn how to surf like you’ve always wanted to? or golf?” ophelia, who had been sitting in the passenger seat the whole ride back, spoke with pure curiosity.

“uh, yeah? kinda. one of my friends, chase, actually taught me how to surf. the guy knows how to do pretty much anything. i mean he grew up along the coast so he’s been doing it for awhile now. and as for golf, i definitely have had some lessons by another friend but he’s not the best teacher out there. like he ge-“ Y/N was cut off by her phone buzzing, notifying her that she had received a text.

without even thinking twice she then asked “hey ophelia, can you tell me who just texted me? i don’t wanna look while i’m driving because this traffic is horrible” she softly spoke.

“yeah, well it only has the name, woah who’s ‘joseph WITH A SWOONING EMOJI?!”

“DID YOU GET A LOVER FINALLY?!” martha screamed from the back seat of Y/N car.

“okay, for starters chill out. like bring down the volume i’m trying to drive here. and also, no that’s just my friend who i work with. the emoji is an inside joke. he’s actually the one who’s been trying to teach me how to golf. like i said he sucks at teaching” Y/N spat out about her secret lover.

“wait what do you do again? how do i not remember this?” martha asked, embarrassed she couldn’t remember what her best friend did for a living.

“dude she’s a makeup artist for some netflix show, right?” ophelia asked Y/N for confirmation, who hummed in response.

the three girls had just pulled into Y/N and drew’s apartment complex, which was near the beach per Y/N request as she had always loved the beach and longed to live near one at some point in her life. she just got lucky to, living with her soulmate near the beach. it’s everything she could’ve asked for and more.

ophelia and martha grabbed their carryons as Y/N tried to help the two women she’d called her best friends for over five years with their luggage. but her best friends of course declined the offer for help. once ophelia and martha gathered their luggage Y/N locked her car, and lead the way up the stairs to her and her lovers’ humble abode.

“the apartment is on the third floor, so my apologies for how tired you two will be when we finally make it to my floor. but hey, at least the view is great!” Y/N exclaimed, beaming with pure joy at the thought of spending the weekend with two women she’d been friends with the longest.

“are we almost there yet” martha huffed out as she trudged her way up the last set of staircases. she was tired already and just wanted to take a seat in a chair or on a couch. it didn’t matter which one at this point.

“yes, marti, it’s right here” the young makeup artist beamed as she unlocked the apartment door, pushing the door open, letting her friends go in first. they made a bit of noise, rolling their luggage on the wood floor as they entered the place, notifying a certain someone, that his lover was finally home.

“babe, you’re back! i tried texting you, anyways i’m about to head out to go shoot some hoops with J.D. an- uh hi?” drew spoke from your guys’ bedroom, as he entered the living room and kitchen area, only to met with three sets of eyes instead of one. as soon as he entered he finished pulling his shirt on, a light blush filling his cheeks as he had not expected to see two extra pair of eyes on him.

“joseph andrew! what the hell are you still doing here? i thought you were visiting your mom this weekend?” Y/N huffed out shakily, not really prepared to be interrogated by her two hometown girlfriends. she looked down at her feet as she felt her lovers’ and best friends’ eyes on her, wanting answers.

“first off, not a ‘hello, my love’ and yeah i texted you, told you my mom had to cancel because she had to work. something about wrapping up for the school year. i’m not really sure. plus, she wanted you to come as well” drew smirked as he walked past his girls’ best friends, lifting her chin up to look into his bright blue eyes. he could tell she was nervous. “why are you so nervous?” he spoke softly, as her friends looked at her.

“um… what’s going on here? WAIT! is THIS the guy who texted you earlier?” martha exclaimed in excitement.

“OH MY GOSH THIS IS THE GUY WHO TRIED TEACHING YOU HOW TO PLAY GOLF!” ophelia belted out with the realization who the guy had texted Y/N earlier was.

“u-uh y-yeah. guys this is m-my boyfriend? drew i’d like you to meet my best friends from back home, ophelia and martha. martha, ophelia, meet my lover, drew” Y/N stuttered out, feeling drew squeeze her hand, in a comforting way to let her know it’d be okay. he knew she didn’t want to tell them yet, but here she was, spilling her biggest secret to her girls. “and yeah, this is the guy who can’t teach me golf to save his life” she chuckled out lightheartedly, trying to lighten the mood.

“it’s not my fault you wear a short skirt every single time” drew mumbled out louder than he’d thought, as Y/N swatted his chest and her two friend chuckled lightly.

“whatever you say. now go play basketball with J.D. because i don’t wanna be blamed for you being late. i’ll never hear the end of it on set” Y/N smiled sweetly up at her lover, who’d bent down and pecked her lips softly, briskly walking out the door. “love you!” drew shouted from behind her” “love you too dumbass!” Y/N hollered back. and with that, drew was gone for the next few hours, leaving Y/N with ophelia and martha.

“i’m utterly speechless!” ophelia exclaimed loudly, not being able to control herself anymore. she’s waited for the day her best friend would find her significant other. and in all honesty, she was worried she never would. mainly because Y/N had a hard time opening up to men and trusting them with everything.

“you know we’re gonna get the dirt about everything out of you later tonight, right?” martha quizzed Y/N as she just giggled in return shaking her head in disbelief.

as the three girls got done eating and slightly catching up with each others lives, the front door opened, revealing none other than a shirtless, sweaty drew. the door opening had brought all three women’s attention to who had just entered. “drew, put a shirt on, better yet go take a shower. you smell. i can smell you from here babe. ew. what did you and J.D. do, run suicides?” Y/N scrunched her nose up as her boyfriend came closer to her, wafting his sweaty-smelling self to her.

“actually we didn’t do that. we just played a one-on-one game of basketball. and J.D. was losing per usual and came up with the dumbest rules that aren’t even real! i mean come on, i would know if those rules were real or not. mans a sore loser for sure” drew rambled on, ignoring his girlfriend’s statement to put a shirt on or take a shower request.

“okay, drew, so do you like know every sport or?” martha questioned her best friends boyfriend, eyebrows crunching up with the questioning look she’d given him.

“well, martha, if you’d like to know. i don’t know every sport. i try to act like i do but i typically just stick to mainly basketball and golf because that’s what i’m familiar with. however, i do think i’m a basketball pro” drew grinned cockily, as he rested his hands on Y/N shoulders from behind as he’d been standing behind her dining room chair.

“don’t even” she sighed, letting a giggle escape her mouth, as she spoke to her two friends. it was more of a warning to them, as drew could go on for hours about basketball and all the rules. “babe, go shower please. you smell like a sweaty pig” Y/N bellowed out again to her boyfriend once more.

“fine” drew puffed out, kissing her cheek and walking into their shared bedroom, shutting the door.

“okay i think we need to play for the girls card game and hope we get all the dirt out of you about mr dreamy and you!” ophelia let out, walking to her suitcase and digging the card game out.

“i can make the cocktails while you set up, if you don’t mind showing me where everything is!” martha told Y/N sweetly with a big smile that happened to be very contagious.

“okay fine, the alcohol is in the top right cabinet as well as the glasses. let me clean up the table and we can get started i guess” Y/N smiled nervously as she knew they wouldn’t stop until they knew each detail.

as soon as the three girls sat at the table, the game began. of course Y/N got picked first, picking up the card which was a truth.

“have you ever sexted someone? if so, who?” Y/N read out before continuing “what’s considered sexting?” she blushed lightly as her two best friend started to lightly freak out.

“really? if you have to ask then you totally have. actually it’s you we’re talking about you’ve never talked about doing sexual things through text” ophelia giggled as martha nodded her head in agreement.

“so NOT true. the answer is yes, and as for who, that smelly man is taking a shower. now it’s your turn ms ophelia” Y/N stated matter of factly, leaving her two friends with gaping mouths.

“shut up! no way! wait real quick how old is he again?” martha asked bewildered.

“well i’m 22 and he’s 7 years older than me so that makes him 29” Y/N stated in a smartass tone, sassily.

“WAIT! he’s almost THIRTY?! the guy doesn’t look a day over 24!” ophelia spat out to her girlfriend.

“tell me about it. i thought he was in his mid twenties and was flabbergasted when i found out hes almost thirty” Y/N chuckled out as she ushered ophelia to draw a card.

“give this card to the most likely to have had the most hookups. whelp, looks like i’m keeping this card. i’ll admit it!” ophelia sheepishly shrugged her shoulders. next it was martha’s turn, who had picked up a dare.

“dare. text your partner and tell them you’re pregnant. oh fuck. chad is not gonna like this. hell i don’t even like this” martha huffed out as she texted her boyfriend back home that she was pregnant. now it was a waiting game. “okay your turn ms innocent” martha gestured to Y/N who sat next to her.

“i’m telling you right now, if i get another stupid fucking truth i’m gonna lose it” Y/N grumbled as drew opened their bedroom door, walking out, freshly cleaned and with a fresh set of clothes. he had on his coors lite tshirt that hugged his biceps just right and a pair of blue jeans. it’s almost like the guy couldn’t go anywhere without a pair on. even if he was just chillin in the comfort of his own home.

“language m’lady!” he chirped to Y/N as she got done complaining about what kind of card she’d pick up next. “did you save me any of your homemade cooking?” drew asked her sweetly as he came up from behind Y/N chair again, softly massaging her shoulders, her leaning her head on his right arm in return.

“mmm of course i did my love. it’s in the microwave. hey before you go will you make me another cocktail? maybe a hurricane?” Y/N tilted her head back to look up at her extremely tall boyfriend, with a buzz cut still on show. she really did like that buzzcut and she hated to admit it, but it did things to her. she gently put her left hand on his right which was still sat on her shoulder, running her fingers across the cold metal that adorned them. “hey, you put your rings back on” she mumbled to herself as she played with them some more, waiting for an answer from drew about her cocktail.

“of course i’ll make you a hurricane. anything for you, quite literally” he smirked, bending down and planting a chaste kiss to her jaw, picking up her empty glass.

“Y/N girl pick up the card already” ophelia urged Y/N to pick up the next card. Y/N was praying it wouldn’t be another stupid truth, but of course the gods didn’t listen to her pleads.

“ugh! you’ve got to be kidding me! another truth. oh god. didn’t want to give this out” she huffed and puffed as she kept rereading her card. drew on the other hand wasn’t listening, minding his own business. he’d opened himself a beer, and began making Y/N her cocktail.

“read it!” martha started chanting to her now south carolina native best friend.

“are you a virgin? if not tell about your first time” Y/N mumbled out, getting drew’s attention, as he spat his beer out of his mouth all over the counter. he started to cough in the process, suppressing a laugh. he knew the whole story because he was the one who took it from her. and boy what a story that was.

“you gonna answer it? actually we both know the answer already” ophelia giggled because Y/N had always said she wouldn’t give it up til marriage.

“not true, also drew babe you good?” Y/N blurted out before she could even process her own words, leaving her two best friends utterly shocked.

“i’m peachy. just choked on my beer because i was definitely not expecting this to be that kind of game you girls play on a girls night weekend whatever it is. but yeah, not true” drew winked to his girlfriend’s two best friends.

“spill. answer the card. do it. right now” martha pressured Y/N to spill the details.

“ugh! okay fine. no i’m not a virgin anymore okay?” she blushed profusely, as drew walked over to the table with her freshly made cocktail in hand. he gently sat it down in front of her, going back to grab his dinner from the microwave as it went off.

“okay and? you gotta answer all the questions babes!” ophelia squealed out, taking a sip from her mimosa.

“like was it everything you dreamed of and more?” martha questioned seriously.

“ahh, don’t you even think about it!” drew warned his girlfriend from telling the somewhat embarrassing story of their first time as he sat down at the island near the table.

“hey mr party pooper it’s the rules of the game!” martha blurted out to drew from across the way. drew just laughed lightly, knowing she was right.

“this is awkward. i don’t like that drew’s staring at me! babe stop looking at me with those stupid fucking ocean blue eyes of yours!” Y/N screeched as she giggled, feeling tipsy already.

“babe, i’m just waiting for you to answer the question. that’s all” he chuckled with a smirk plastered on his face as he continued to eat his dinner.

“ugh so it was probably i don’t know 7 months ago. we had just wrapped up filming and we’re all partying. i kinda got a bit tipsy but don’t worry drew was too so don’t go hounding him on this. anyways we went back to his place he’d been sharing with austin, another costar and long story short we thought we were alone but turns out austin had come back early from partying and was actually trying to sleep in the next room over. also don’t worry drew kept asking me if i was sure and blah blah blah. very annoying by the way because i said i was sure and you kept on asking!” Y/N spoke out with hardly any breath left over, glancing at drew who cringed at the thought of his roommate hearing the both of them making love to one another.

“hey now, sorry for trying to make sure you wanted to” drew jokes back to Y/N who just smiled sweetly at him from across the way. “also, all i’m saying is if you weren’t so vocal he wouldn’t have known” drew smirked cockily at you, standing up, carrying his dirty dish to the sink.

“JOSEPH ANDREW STARKEY SHUT UP!” Y/N yelled playfully at him as she walked over to him, smacking his chest, making him let out the biggest laugh of the night.

“drew come draw one card!” martha urged her best friends boyfriend to play one round of their game.

“ugh, fine” he chuckled as he picked up a card, laughing when he read it in his head, before he began to read it out loud. “never have i ever had sex in public…”

“so? have you?” ophelia started to grill not only drew but her best friend, Y/N as well.

“i mean yeah? is that weird? have you guys not?” drew laughed nonchalantly, face plastered with a cocky smile, as if his answer wasn’t a big deal. martha and ophelia sat there, with their mouths wide open in shock.

“stop, wait really?! wait where?!” ophelia, the nosier friend of the two pried.

“the beach at like dusk and also at dawn oh and the communal bathrooms at the tennis court” drew blurted out, causing his girlfriend to scoff at him spilling the details. this just caused her two best friends to giggle.

“so, this, this is the guy that cracked the Y/F/N Y/L/N? some tall guy, who’s super cocky, and who’s by the way WAYYYY better looking than any other guy we went to school with?” ophelia spoke loudly, in shock that her best friend who had said for all these years she’d wait until marriage, cracked.

“yes, what can i say, he’s the sweetest, goofiest and between us three the nerdiest guy i think i’ve ever met in my life” Y/N chuckled happily as drew had his chest pressed against her back, thick arm wrapped around her body as he gazed down at his girl lovingly.

“hey, i’m not that nerdy!” drew attempted to defend himself but failed majorly. “babe you double majored and read very old books in your free time. you’re very nerdy” Y/N smiled up at him, gently scratching his scruff covered jaw.

“wait hold up hold up! he DOUBLE MAJORED?! i couldn’t even succeed with that and you know me. i’m like pretty smart. i’m intrigued. like i was not expecting this at all” martha spoke still flabbergasted by the whole situation.

“uh yeah i did double major. not that big of a deal. also hey babe before i go read my new book, tell me, did you ever finish east of eden?” drew looked down at Y/N quizzically.

“almost. i have like three chapters left. once i finish i promise i’ll talk to you about my thoughts on the book” Y/N smiled sweetly, pulling him down so she could give him a passionate kiss. “love you” Y/N mumbled against drew’s lips, as his hands cupped her waist, as she stood on her tippy toes. “i love you too. don’t stay up for too long. i need your cuddles to sleep” drew smiled shyly down to his girl, before he strolled his way to their bedroom.

“so tell me, was he big?” ophelia raised her eyebrows wanting to know all the deets on her besties new man.

“don’t you even fucking dare answer that baby” drew yelled, turning his head back, smirking, as he approached the bedroom door, opening it and entering. just in time for Y/N to whisper out a response.

“have you not seen how tall and muscular he is? hes a big boy, you do the math. hes definitely not small” Y/N winked at her two best friends who started to squeal out. drew, who had just sat down on the bed, back against the wall, just smirked to himself, shaking his head as he heard his girl gossip about him, not having a care in the world that she just spilled some personal information. he really enjoyed hearing her gossip and flaunt about him. he always had. and always will.

#drew starkey #drew starkey fluff #drew starkey x reader #rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #rafe outer banks #drew starkey fic #drew starkey x female reader #drew starkey x y/n #drew starkey x fem!reader

974 notes · View notes

contentloadinggg · 2 months

Note

Hiii! I had an idea for a Hozier fic :) I am an absolute sucker for friends to lovers and I wanna read a friends to lovers of Andrew. (No angst, I'm too sensitive for that, and then smut if you want) I just love the idea of him panicking to his friends about how much he likes you and how worried he is that you can tell. I also think it'd be funny if they were totally over it, telling him to grow up and what not. Just having him act like he isn't a fully grown man with how nervous you make him :) sorry for this being so long!!

Have a lovely day/night 🧡🧡

You’re so real for being too sensitive for angst, me to babe. That’s why I write smut instead. I might add more to this one. But here’s what I’ve got for now, I hope you like it and a lovely day/night to you too.

Little fic under the cut🩷

Andrew stared off at the spot you disappeared, as if he was waiting for the moment you would appear back out of the hall. Counting each second you were gone. His mind is just as much somewhere else.

“Andy! Hey, knobhead!”

The man in question jolted as he felt a beer bottle tapped on his knee. The call of his name rips him nearly painfully out of his daydreams.

“What?”

It meant to come out more harshly than that. But Andrew found himself breathless and weak. If Alex could’ve rolled his eyes any harder, he would’ve.

“Jesus Christ, Andy. We lose you every time they’re around and every time they’re not here. When are you gonna tell them?”

Alex said, sounding just about as fed up as all of Andrew’s friends, family, anyone he told or could see his very blatant affections were. Everyone except you. Andrew felt a blush come to his cheeks, warming them a pink color. Whether it was Alex’s words or the thought of you, he wasn’t sure.

“I— I don’t know, I’m not sure if they like me like that.”

He answered, the same excuse he’s used a thousand times over. Alex scoffs, rubbing his hands over his face. As much as he loves Andrew, his intense pinning can get a bit annoying at times.

“It’s obvious! You are a grown man, Andrew! Just go for it. Or are you that fearful of rejection?”

Andrew huffs, perhaps a bit embarrassed at his very school boy like attitude. Looking back once more into the hallway you disappeared into and shrugs.

“I don’t want to lose them. If I confess and they don’t feel the same, how can we be friends after that?”

He asks, gaze falling onto his feet. Luckily, Alex seems to take some pity on him.

“I’m telling you, they do. I promise. You know I’d never lie about that.”

“Never lie about what?”

Andrew’s head snaps up at the sound of your voice. His already present flush deepening at the vulnerable conversation being interrupted.

“Erm-“

He stutters for a moment, his tongue stuck to the roof of his dried out mouth and looks back at Alex. Who merely gestures at him to leave. Get it over with already.

Andrew nods and stands. He can hear his own heart beating in his ears, a tremble in his knees. But he manages to get his voice to work. It sounds distant, like he’s not saying it at all.

“Actually, can I talk to you?”

Your agreement and smile stave off his nervousness. He can’t help, but smile back.

-Thad💚

#andrew hozier byrne #fanfiction #hozier x reader #andrew hozier byrne x reader #hozier smut

92 notes · View notes

nimmie-nugget · 7 months

Text

~Reincarnated as a Knolastname~

Note: HAPPY SPOOKY MONTH!! 🎃👻 gonna be honest- I actually think Crimson might have cared atleast a bit for Moxxie when he was a child 😭 Anyway~ take some reincarnated Moxxie’s Sister Reader Headcanons!! 🥳 Do keep in mind that characters may be ooooooooc, and when there’s 8 O’s you know it’s extreme 🤯. Also I haven’t been doing Tokito Twin’s content for a while so I just wanna reassure that I have some HCs coming up for them 😫!! Enjoy!

P.s in the back flashes of EXES AND OOHS I think Moxxie was 4? Yeah so that makes you 7, your 3 years older 😋👌 tho age is not mentioned at all- and I will make fics of this 😤

Warnings: a lot of slang(not rlly a warning, just thought I’d mention), ooc, may have punctuation, spelling grammer/etc errors,

Info: idk man just wanted to add this 😐

Edit: HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS- A POST I BARELY PUT ANY EFFORT INTO GET MORE RECOGNITION THEN THIS POST, THE ONE I ACTUALLY PUT EFFORT INTO 👹👹 I appreciate the likes tho don’t take it in a bad way- 😭👌

Edit#2: I recommend u don’t read 💀👍

Helluva Boss Masterlist

______________________________________________________________________

~Reaction to being Reincarnated~

-long story short you don’t know how you ended up here but you found yourself being the daughter of some random old ass guy that’s gonna be the main reason for your character development arc.

-at least that mom with an unknown name will provide you sweets and shit-

-gonna put sum realz shizz on this family fr.

______________________________________________________________________

~Death~

-isn’t this Tumblr? Yeah long story short this turned into a Wattpad story for a second and the famous Truck-kun killed you 🗿 but you forgive Truck-kun since Truck-kun’s just being Truck-kun 😌.

______________________________________________________________________

~Inside a Mansion~

Yup this “Mansion” is someone’s womb, zamn how da heck do you still have memories of your past life? Also why does your very tiny unformed body kinda look like an imp? Just like one from your favourite show Helluva Boss? How can you even see??? It’s pitch black bro- meh it’s whatever 🤷‍♀️ it’s fun kicking at least-

______________________________________________________________________

~Borth~

…I’m not even gonna explain this 🫡 but just so you know Crimson was not there for your birth 😶

-at least you still have the same Borthdah as you did before you were reincarnated???

-Girly just 🖕 this bullshit why’d you have to be re-born in this family out of all the ones in Helluva Boss? I mean- you don’t mind being Moxxie’s gay emo sister but like- Crimson…CRIMSON. Tho make sure to start those teenager phases early so no one becomes suspicious of you when your going through the teenage thinga ma jig 😔

-but yay! You bet that Moxxie’s mom- well basically your mom now, WILL BE THE BEST 😩

-but girly you weren’t even fazed when reincarnated- just accepted it like a champ 😎

______________________________________________________________________

~Crimson’s First Thoughts On You~

-Absolutely nothing- 😃

-only thought of you as his heiress and DEFINITELY to lead his Mob in the future 😔

______________________________________________________________________

~[Unknown]’s First Thoughts On You~

-this is the Mom btw 😃

-gonna be honest I don’t know much since we’ve never really gotten a FULL view of her personality- all that I know is that she’s kind? 🤷‍♀️ Yuh so I won’t really directly say what she thought but I guess I can just- I don’t know man just read I guess 😃👌

-101% THOUGHT YOU WERE CUTE AF!! what happened to infinite%? 😢

-she felt a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, something she never felt ever since she married Crimson 😔.

______________________________________________________________________

~Moxxie’s First Thoughts On You~

-‘Guppa duppa poo daaah dooo’

-don’t tell me you actually expected a real thought from him- Broski was just born 😔

______________________________________________________________________

~Your First Thoughts On Moxxie~

-‘zamn bro’s crying on his borthduh I could never 🙄💅’

-girly he’s like a few minutes old what on Satan’s ass are you talkin ‘bout? 😀

______________________________________________________________________

~What Crimson Thinks Of You~

-your a nuisance, like- what do you mean when you say “put those dawgs away💀”

-yeah you definitely got in trouble so many times- this stupid MF can’t understand slang and just thinks your insulting everyone around you 😶

-forget about you being his heiress, might as well make Moxxie his heir instead 😠

-Now take a very ooc dialogue 😋 btw this is after the Mom’s death 😃

-“[Name], cut it out. That will happen if you don’t stop.” He says calmly, too calm for you to know he’s pissed. (he was implying that he will drown you just like he did to the Mom btw-)

______________________________________________________________________

~What [Unkown] Thinks Of You~

-Loved you from the moment she layed her eyes on you 😩 (cheesy much 😶)

-wrote more then a dictionary just to prove how much she loves you 😔

-yuh that’s all I got 😐

______________________________________________________________________

~What Moxxie Thinks Of You~

He’s 4 rn-

-HE LOVES YOU!!

-your his sister why wouldn’t he- ?

-your basically his partner in crime 😈 both of you steal treats from the kitchen when your not supposed to 😤👍

-if the Mom found you 2 being naughty then sorry to tell you but yer’ both getting a time out 😔

-…BUT IF CRIMSON FOUND YOU- yuh that’s somehow gonna become a family issue problemo 😶💦______________________________________________________________________

I sometimes forget writing is for fun- but I certainly had fun writing this 😎 now I’m gonna tag this in some tags that this doesn’t even relate to which will make everyone hate me but they will soon worship me after reading this masterpiece. Praise this shit rn *points gun at you*

#helluva boss x reader #crimson x reader #crimson knolastname #moxxie x reader #moxxie knolastname #helluva boss fanfiction #helluva boss headcanon #knolastname x reader #fizzaroli x reader #asmodeus x reader x fizzarolli #blitzo x reader #millie x reader #loona x reader #stolas x reader #stella x reader #x reader #striker x reader #helluva boss crimson x reader #helluva boss moxxie x reader

169 notes · View notes

jakes3resin · 7 days

Text

More Modern Reincarnation AU thoughts

"So what brought you to town?" Buck asks.

"Ah," Bucky stares down at his coffee. The ice has already started melting in the late summer heat. He fiddles with it, swirling it around. "It's a bit complicated."

"How so?" Buck leans in.

"A bit too complicated for a first meeting," Bucky says with a sad smile. "I don't wanna scare you off when I just met you now do I Buck?"

"Well, I don't scare so easy." Buck reaches out placing a hand on Bucky's own. "But I won't force you."

"Thanks," Bucky squeezes Buck's. "But, that doesn't mean we can't talk about you."

"Ha," Buck breathes out a laugh. He still hasn't pulled his hand away. "I see how it is. Dodge the question, so you can repeat it. You turned the tables on me real quick."

"Just curious," Bucky laughed. Buck stared at him wide-eyed. "Don't get a lot of boys telling me I look like an old friend from Wisconsin, and I'm curious about the one who did."

"Well," Buck draws out the word. He still hasn't taken his eyes off of Bucky, and it's hard work fighting a blush with those blue eyes taking in his every feature. "I'm a student at Georgetown. Trying for my PhD."

"Wow," Bucky pushes his glasses up. "In what?"

"Interplanetary physics." Buck says it with a smile. "Bit nerdy, right?"

"Not at all!" Bucky leans in affronted that someone would dare say that. "Who told you that? They're just jealous."

✨️

"I don't know why I'm telling you all this," Bucky laughs. Shakes his head and starts to pace because he really can't explain it, and it drives him up the wall. "There's just something different about you? I think."

Bucky pauses, shakes his head again as if that'll clear his head. Buck hasn't stopped staring at him.

"You're something else, Buck." Bucky stops pacing to just stare right back at Buck. He doesn't do that very often, stare back at Buck. When he does, a weight presses down, down, down on his chest until he can scarcely breathe. Buck never looks away, but Bucky always has to.

✨️

"Why do you go by the name Egan?" Buck asks him one day while they're slaving over textbooks and assignments in another coffee shop. Bucky found this one online a week ago. The lemon tarts are divine, but the coffee is so so. Though that may be because he chose a lavender oat milk latte instead of his usual caramel macchiato. Sue him, the sign next to the tarts had said they paired well together. Bucky shrugs, not lifting his eyes from his reading. Buck has to tap him on the nose to get a better answer.

"Easier, I guess." Bucky pushes up his glasses with one finger. Buck still stares at him as if every motion or movement is brand new, like he's one of the stars Buck adores so much. Bucky still can't stare back for too long. "No one expects someone with my family name to change it, so I can fly under the radar. Live my life without the burden of all those eyes."

I have SO MANY thoughts about this AU! Someone please take them out of my head, I need to focus on England Arc for my a/b/o fic series!

#mota #masters of the air #buck x bucky #john bucky egan #clegan #gale buck cleven #mota au #mota fic #mota reincaration au #bucky egan #buck cleven #bucky is a big bundle of secrets and trauma in this au and buck would listen to every secret with stars in his eyes still #also bucky is a history major because i think he' be cute with his classes carrying around old books and writing obscure essays #plus he'd be like the weird darling of the department because he is so obssessed with ww2 but not in the gross way most men are #i was a history major so i dealt with so many gross ww2 buffs meanwhile bucky would be the idealized history boy with his glasses and curls #i just think we as a fandom need to write more pining buck #buck who is head over heels for his sunshine boi bucky

62 notes · View notes

elikajinnie · 2 months

Text

You Know You Should Not Have Survived That, Right? | Ghostface!Heeseung x fem!reader PART 2

PART 2 OF 3 Pairing: Ghostface!LeeHeeseung X Fem!reader

Please read Part 1 before proceeding if you haven`t already!

Genre: Romance, Horror/Thriller

Wordcount: 35k

Warnings: Swearing (Offensive words), Stalking, Obsessive behaviour, possessive behaviour, Blood/Injury, Violence, Graphic depictions of injury, Attempted murder, Murder, Mental health struggles, Family struggles, Self confidence issues, Bullying, Kidnapping, Jealousy, Alcohol and Drug use, Heeseung kinda goes feral?? does that count as a warning? !!KINDA MATURE CONTENT!! Minors beware!!

a/n: It took awhile to finish this chapter, but i finally dug myself out of the writing block i had and completed. So this chapter is longer then the second, combined together the fic has an estimated wordcount of 48k. Some scenes have been inspired from the Scream movies and The Slumber Party Massacre. I do not take any credit from that, so be free to check them out. I also wanna personally thank my pookies for giving me motivation to finish it <3 ANyways! Enjoy this long ass chapter :3

REMEMBER!; This is purely fictional and just for fun. I do not wish any harm upon any characters.

Important note!

When in costume Heeseung will be described as Ghostface when they do not know his identity.

The dialouges are kinda cheesy at times and suck so dont mind it.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

You sat in the cold, sterile room of the police station, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. The air was heavy with tension, and the room echoed with the hushed conversations of officers and the distant ring of phones. The chair beneath you felt uncomfortable, but you held yourself with crossed arms, gaze fixed on the waiting area where grief-stricken families sought solace in their shared sorrow.

Your eyes, however, betrayed no tears. The well of grief within you had been drained, leaving only an unsettling emptiness. Yeji's family and your own were engulfed in a sea of tears, but you couldn't bring yourself to join their sorrow. The pain had numbed you, turning your emotions into a distant echo of what they once were. And, to make matters worse, the perpetrators of Yeji's death claimed innocence, painting it as an accident and an act of self-defense. A bitter scoff escaped your thoughts—self-defense, yeah right.

Heeseung, had confessed that he never intended to harm Yeji, planning to leave her alive. However, that plan unraveled in chaos when the police arrived, turning the night into what the media dubbed The Nightfall Homicide. The name seemed eerily fitting, a descriptor for the tragedy that had unfolded.

In the cramped room, you listened to the officer's questions, his words a distant hum in your ears. The memories of that night, now tainted with the knowledge of Heeseung's double life, clouded your responses. You found yourself withholding the truth, a newfound reluctance to reveal the dark secret that had unfolded in that secluded hut.

"I told you, we were partying," you recited mechanically, your voice betraying none of the turmoil within. "I went to the bathroom, came back, and the chaos had erupted. The police arrived, shot Yeji, and I blacked out from the shock. Woke up in the forest and walked back. I don't remember anything more." The officer nodded, accepting your words, though a subtle skepticism lingered in his gaze.

As you exited the room, your younger brother, Kyungmin, lunged at you, wrapping his arms around you in a desperate hug. His plea not to die clung to the air, and you reassured him with a murmur. The weight of the situation pressed on your shoulders as you shifted your gaze to the adjacent room, where Heeseung sat, a striking contrast to the stark police station backdrop. His presence alone seemed to make the air thicker, your breath hitching as your eyes locked onto his. He occupied the chair with an unsettling ease, facing directly towards you, his posture exuding a disconcerting nonchalance. Legs casually spread, he idly played with a coin between his fingers.

Your unease intensified as you noticed his intense gaze fixed solely on you. The officer conducting the interview seemed oblivious to the silent exchange, engrossed in paperwork or perhaps wilfully ignorant of the tension building in the room. Heeseung tilted his head, a smirk dancing on his lips, a chilling expression that sent shivers down your spine. A gulp caught in your throat as he toyed with you, his eyes narrowing in a way that suggested an unspoken challenge.

The momentary confrontation shattered as the officer redirected their attention back to Heeseung. His smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of innocence, as if he were hanging on every word the officer uttered. The speed at which he shifted his expressions, from smirking provocatively to feigning cooperation, sent a chill down your spine. It was unnerving, the way he effortlessly danced between personas.

The clarity dawned on you—the stark absence of his scent, the lingering touch of his hands, and the distant memory of his lips on yours allowed your mind to untangle itself from the web of emotions. As you watched him, questions echoed loudly in your mind, demanding answers that seemed elusive in the fog of uncertainty. Why was Heeseung a killer? What drove him to act this way, and why did he reserve a special kind of attention for you?

Your heart and brain waged war within you, locked in a relentless battle. The dissonance between the memories of his affection and the grim reality of his actions created a storm in your mind, leaving you standing at the center, grappling with the aftermath of a truth that shattered the illusion of who you thought he was.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The room was bathed in the soft glow of a lone lamp, casting shadows that danced along the walls. You sat at your desk, notebook open, pen in hand, attempting to immerse yourself in schoolwork. The day had been long, emotions running all over the place, and sleep felt elusive. Your family had retired to their beds, asleep, but you found yourself unable to succumb to the embrace of slumber.

Two distinct knocks on your window disrupted the quiet of your room. Your head snapped towards the source of the sound, confusion etched on your face. You cautiously approached the window, pulling aside the curtains to peer into the darkness outside. The moon's feeble light offered little clarity, and you hesitated before opening the window to investigate further.

A figure materialized before you, and with an involuntary yelp, you stumbled backward. "Heeseung! What are you doing here?" you hissed, the surprise evident in your voice. Heeseung attempted a graceful entrance through the window but ended up tripping, the thud of his landing echoing in the room. With a sheepish "oof," he got up, closing the window behind him.

"I wanted to see you," he confessed, drawing closer, his hand gently cupping your cheek. "But... I thought you were still at the police station or..." Your words trailed off, lost in the jumble of thoughts racing through your mind. Heeseung silenced you with a reassuring shush, pulling you into a warm embrace. At first, you stiffened, the memory of recent events resurfacing, but gradually, you found comfort in his arms.

"You didn't say anything to the cops," Heeseung mumbled as his gaze wandered around your room. "Yeah... I didn't," you admitted, unsure of the implications. "Good," he replied, settling on your bed and noticing the schoolwork spread across it. "Still working, hm?" A casual smile adorned his face. You shrugged in response, and he patted the space next to him, inviting you to sit.

A violent storm of inquiries raged within the confines of your mind, each question vying for attention, clamoring to be voiced. Yet, as you attempted to give voice to the cacophony of thoughts, an inexplicable restraint silenced you. "I can hear you thinking," Heeseung's voice cut through the quiet, drawing your attention. You looked up, eyes widening as you found his gaze fixed upon you, a contemplative darkness shrouding his eyes. His face remained an enigma, devoid of emotion.

"Sorry..." you uttered, a feeble apology, as Heeseung gently seized your hands in his. You couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the seemingly tender hold and the gruesome reality your mind incessantly reminded you of. Those same hands that now sought connection had wielded a weapon, held a knife, and bore the evidence of violence, your blood staining their once seemingly innocent surface.

A shiver ran down your spine as you pulled back, a reflex driven by the reminder of the dual nature residing within those hands. The conflict within you intensified – the desire for comfort at odds with the fear embedded in your memories. The room hung heavy with unspoken tension, a palpable silence punctuated only by the beating of your heart and the weight of your unuttered questions, imprisoned within the recesses of your mind.

"Look... why did you come here?" you finally managed to ask, your voice barely above a whisper. Heeseung sighed, "I just wanted to see you. Listen, I know you're mad and confused, but I won't hurt you. I promise." He tilted your head up, and in his eyes, you found a sincerity that tugged at your doubts.

"Okay... but can you leave?" you requested, your gaze drifting away. Heeseung, seemingly taken aback, huffed and stood up. "Sure," he replied before surprising you, grabbing your jaw and leaning down to whisper in your ear. "But remember, you are mine now." With those words hanging in the air, he climbed out of the window.

You hastily closed the window behind him, the room now echoing with the weight of his departure. As you collapsed onto your bed, a wave of tears escaped, tracing wet paths down your cheeks and onto the bedding. Exhausted, confused, and emotionally drained, you succumbed to the fatigue, seeking refuge in the solace of a restless sleep.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The school hallways stretched before you like a desolate maze, each step heavy with the weight of grief and the relentless whispers that followed you. Your bag, laden with textbooks and unspoken burdens, hung from your shoulder as you trudged toward your locker. The days leading up to the school's reopening had been a nightmarish blur – a cacophony of sleepless nights and missed meals, the relentless gossip clawing at your fragile composure. Heeseung's absence, a void in your life, left you feeling hollow, uncertain if it was the vacancy or the lingering shock that cast a pallor over your existence.

As you walked alone through the corridors, the usual chatter seemed distant, and the faces that turned toward you carried a mix of sympathy and morbid curiosity. You scanned the crowded hallways in vain for Heeseung, but he remained elusive, adding another layer of unease to your already heavy heart.

Gathering your books, you made your way to class, the weight of loneliness accentuated by the empty seat beside you where Yeji used to sit. The desk stood as a poignant reminder of the void left by her absence. The principal's voice crackled through the speakers, momentarily breaking the uneasy silence, as he addressed the student body with a somber acknowledgment of the lives lost to the Ghostface killer. The words offered little solace, and the notion of moving forward seemed an insurmountable task.

Sighing, you leaned over your desk, lost in the shadows of your own thoughts. The monotony was interrupted by a voice – Kim Taehyung, a high viewed person in the high school popularity. "Mind if I sit here?" he asked, and you shrugged, the emptiness of the seat beside you an invitation.

"I've heard a lot about you, Y/N," Taehyung stated, his eyes locked on yours with a mixture of fascination and curiosity. "Yeah, sure you have," you replied, fully aware of the rumors that painted you as a survivor of Ghostface's relentless pursuit.

His question echoed in the hollow spaces of the classroom, "Is there any reason why you have survived against him?" A peculiar intensity colored his gaze, unsettling you. "I don't know... I always ran and fought," you replied, a simple truth.

As you shifted your gaze from Taehyung to the front of the class, a sudden tension gripped the air, as Heeseung, entered the room. His eyes, drawn like magnets, found you immediately. Yet, as his gaze lingered, it snapped abruptly to Taehyung, who had leaned over to you with an question that sliced through the stifling quiet.

"Heeey, do you know who Ghostface is?" Taehyung's question hung in the air.

Shock painted your features, the abruptness of the question catching you off guard. "What?" you asked, incredulous. "Why would you ask this stuff?" The words tumbled out, a mix of disbelief and frustration.

Taehyung, sensing the rising tension, put his arms up in a placating gesture. "Hey, it's just a question!" he protested, his tone attempting to diffuse the sudden hostility.

"Yeah, well, you seem very stuck on Ghostface," you muttered under your breath, eyes narrowing in suspicion. The intensity of Heeseung's glare toward Taehyung was palpable, a silent warning that cut through the charged atmosphere. You could almost feel the weight of Heeseung's unspoken threats, and, somehow, you didn't doubt for a moment that he was capable of carrying them out.

Just as the situation reached a boiling point, the timely entrance of the teacher disrupted the building tension. Heeseung, now robbed of immediate action, had no choice but to take his seat, back where Jay had ushered him earlier.

The minutes dragged on in the classroom, each second feeling like an eternity as you struggled to concentrate on the lesson. Heeseung's piercing gaze bore into the back of your neck, a constant reminder of his presence. The weight of his stare created an almost tangible pressure, making it difficult for you to focus on anything other than the unnerving energy radiating from him.

As you tried to navigate the sea of swirling thoughts, it became apparent that Taehyung was also affected by the charged atmosphere. His usually relaxed demeanor had shifted to one of stiffness, as if he, too, could feel the invisible tension in the room.

The bell finally rang, breaking the spell that had held you captive. Quickly rising from your seat, you made your way toward the exit. However, your attempt to escape the suffocating atmosphere was short-lived, as Taehyung followed you out.

Annoyance etched across your face, you turned to face him, questioning his persistence. "What are you doing..." you asked, a tone of irritation lacing your words.

"Nothing! It's just—well, you didn't answer my question!" Taehyung exclaimed, his eagerness revealing a certain fixation on the topic that left you uneasy.

In your peripheral vision, Heeseung lingered, a silent figure observing the exchange. "No. I don't know who Ghostface is. His mask is always on. Now leave me alone." The words, firm and final, left no room for further discussion as you walked away, a flicker of relief washing over you as Taehyung, thankfully, chose not to follow.

The bustling sounds of the cafeteria gradually faded as you walked past it, as you did not feel any desire for food. As you turned a corner, the unexpected collision with someone jolted you back to the present. Looking up, your eyes met Heeseung's, who stood there, leaning against the wall with an air of anticipation.

"Heeseung?" you whispered, confusion etching your features. Before you could question his presence, he swiftly grabbed you and ushered you into the janitor's closet, deftly locking the door behind you.

"What did Taehyung-ssi want?" he asked, hands gently caressing your arms. "He asked about you—well, about Ghostface," you replied. Heeseung's eyes lingered on yours, then drifted to your lips. An almost-kiss hung between you, halted in anticipation.

"May I kiss you, my love?" he inquired, seeking your permission. You nodded, but Heeseung demanded more. "Words, love. I need words." A nod from you wasn't enough; he craved words. "Yes," you said, granting him permission. A satisfied smile graced Heeseung's lips as he bridged the gap, initiating a kiss. An electric spark ignited as your lips met, and you gasped when Heeseung tilted his head, deepening the kiss.

His hand found your waist, pulling you closer, and he pressed you against the wall. The other hand supported his weight, creating an intimate embrace. "Fuck, I missed you," Heeseung murmured between kisses, his lips trailing down your jaw and throat. Collateral to his ardor, he adjusted your collar, pulling it down as it hindered his path. A sudden bite against your neck made you jump, and as he pulled back, a mischievous grin played on his lips.

"Now Taehyung knows you are taken," he declared, pulling you in for another kiss. His hand found its way to your neck, thumb on your jaw, and index finger tracing your cheek as he hummed, savoring the moment, while you squeezed your eyes shut, caught in a whirlwind of sensations.

The fervent exchange of kisses consumed you, Heeseung's touch igniting your senses. Pinned against the wall, your mind buzzed with the intensity of the moment – his lips on yours, his distinct scent enveloping you, his hands exploring every inch of your being. Your fingers clung to his shirt and neck, desperate to hold onto the sensations he stirred. His groans and whispered praises fueled the passionate encounter.

As the intensity of the moment peaked, Heeseung left a trail of bite marks and love bites across your skin, each one a testament to the desire that consumed you both. With each mark he left, you felt a surge of pleasure ripple through you, your body responding eagerly to his touch.

As the distant bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, you gasped for air, attempting to break free from the all-encompassing kiss. Heeseung, however, pursued your lips, capturing them once more. "Heeseung," you managed to utter between breaths, but his fervor persisted. "The bell," you insisted, feeling the urgency of the passing time.

"Skip with me," he pleaded, his words laced with desperation. He tilted your jaw up, examining the marks and bites he had left on your collarbone, throat, and neck, a sense of accomplishment evident in his humming. Overwhelmed, you gulped, and before rational thought could intervene, you nodded. Heeseung grinned, seizing your hand and pulling you out of the janitor's closet. Together, you raced through the now deserted halls, escaping the beginning of the next class.

Outside, you both ran through the empty streets until Heeseung stopped by a serene lake. Turning to you with a smile, he guided you down to the water's edge. "Why are we here?" you asked, curious about his choice. "It's my favorite place," Heeseung confessed, his gaze fixed on the distance. "I haven't been able to come here for a while." The sincerity in his words caught you off guard. "Is this a special place for you?" you asked, seeking to understand the layers behind the man who, despite his dark actions, appeared lost. Heeseung nodded, meeting your eyes before returning his gaze to the water. Unable to find words, you embraced him, and after a brief hesitation, he reciprocated, his face nestled against your neck, his form trembling ever so slightly in your arms.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

In the quiet confines of your room, the soft glow of the moon painted a delicate tapestry across the ceiling. Lying in bed, you found yourself enveloped in the dim illumination. Fingers intertwined, you absentmindedly fiddled with your hands.

Confusion reigned as you grappled with emotions that had evolved from a simple crush on Heeseung into a complex, undeniable love. The journey from infatuation to this deep, forbidden affection was unexpected, and you struggled to reconcile the warmth that surged through you whenever Heeseung was near with the harsh reality of his dark secret.

With every stolen glance, your heart seemed to flutter, almost smiling in response to the mere presence of Heeseung. The touch of his lips on yours sent your stomach into a frenzy of butterflies, and the brush of his fingers against your skin set it tingling with an electric charge. His captivating gaze, those dark eyes that held a universe of mystery, had the power to turn your legs into jelly.

Yet, amidst the euphoria of love, an undeniable truth lingered—an uncomfortable awareness that Heeseung was a murderer. The police, having found Beomseok in the Ghostface costume, believed they had solved the case. However, recent news stories hinted at the contrary. Murders continued, marked by the enigmatic Ghostface masks left at the scenes, challenging the assumption that the killer had been unmasked.

In the silence of your room, the conflict within your heart manifested in the gentle rise and fall of your chest. You pondered the morality of your emotions, wrestling with the profound love you felt for a man who lived a double life—one of tender affection with you and another steeped in darkness.

The echo of the argument resonated in the corridors of your memory, a haunting playback of words that lingered in the silence of your thoughts. It was a scene etched vividly—the dimly lit kitchen in Heeseung's house, the weight of your question hanging in the air like a storm on the horizon.

Heeseung, leaning casually against the kitchen counter, confronted your question with an unsettling nonchalance. "What?" His voice held a detached quality. "Did you kill all those people that are on the news?" you pressed, the words carrying a heaviness that seemed to punctuate the air.

"Well..." Heeseung's response was a hesitant admission, a glimpse into a world stained by the consequences of his actions. "Not all of them, at least not the ones where the mask is left behind. Amateur move, honestly." he dismissed, scratching his neck as if contemplating the simplicity of the copycat killer. The chilling revelation, sent shivers down your spine. It was as if you were discussing a mundane topic, not probing the depths of a heinous crime.

The revelation brought forth a torrent of emotions, a mixture of fear, anger, and a profound sadness. "So someone is acting like they are you, doesn't that bother you?" The question hung in the air, a plea for acknowledgment that the reality of his actions should stir something within him.

However, Heeseung's response, delivered with an eerie calmness, further unraveled the threads of your emotions. "No? Why should I?" he retorted, indifferent to the gravity of the crimes that mirrored his own. "Because they're doing the same thing! Killing! Hurting. That's wrong!" you said.

In a hauntingly intimate gesture, Heeseung closed the distance, his hand seizing your jaw, commanding your attention. "As long as they don't touch you," he murmured, his words a possessive declaration that resonated down to your very core. His hand descended to your neck, fingers tracing a delicate path, as he swore, "I will kill them if they touch what's mine." The tension crackling in the air like electricity. Heeseung, undeterred, leaned in for a kiss, seizing the moment to entangle your senses in a web of conflicting emotions. His tongue invaded the space between your lips, a calculated move to distract and claim, his other hand enveloping your waist.

Your legs shook as he pulled you closer, his tongue slipping past your lips in an invasive dance. There was a desperate urge to succumb, to lose yourself in the intoxicating familiarity of his touch. Yet, with an iron resolve, you pushed him away, breaking the suffocating embrace. "I just... I can't do this now, Heeseung," you whispered, your voice a fragile echo in the room. In that moment, you turned away from him, the sanctuary of his home now tainted with the bitter taste of reality.

Without waiting for a response, you bolted, your footsteps echoing through the hallway as you fled from the confrontation you weren't ready to face. The door slammed shut behind you, a final punctuation mark to a conversation that left wounds too raw to bear.

The outside world greeted you with the cool embrace of the night, the stars a witness. As you ran through the quiet streets, the rhythmic cadence of your steps became a desperate heartbeat, each stride a futile attempt to outrun the truth.

Heeseung, left behind in his own dwelling, resisted the urge to chase after you. His silhouette stood tall in the doorway, bathed in the muted glow filtering through the windows. Leaning his head down, his eyes fixated on the space you once occupied, he wore a cold stare that betrayed no emotion.

The memory played like a vivid nightmare, each detail etched in your mind—the coldness of his stare as you escaped, the desperation that radiated from you, and the haunting realization that love had entangled you in a dangerous dance with a man who lived in shadows.

Heeseungs Pov:

Heeseung's days at school turned into a relentless quest, a desperate pursuit to find you, to have a moment alone, to bridge the widening gap that seemed to stretch with each passing day. Yet, you were always two steps ahead, a phantom in the hallways, eluding his attempts to catch even a glimpse of you. The avoidance seemed like a deliberate dance, and he, despite his persistent efforts, was left yearning for a moment to talk, to connect.

His texts, now read with the status delivered. Calls, once filled with the warmth of your voice, turned into one-sided conversations as he was greeted by the coldness of voicemail. The frustration mounted, and Heeseung, a master of control, felt his grasp slipping.

One evening, driven to the brink of desperation, he climbed up to your window, a silent plea etched on his face. The curtains, drawn tightly shut, denied him even a glimpse of the space where you laid. Knocking on the window in the darkness, he called your name, but the room remained shrouded in silence.

The realization hit him like a cold gust of wind—his efforts, no matter how persistent, couldn't breach the walls you had built. The decision weighed heavy on him, but with a heavy heart, he conceded to give you space. The anger and frustration that pulsed within him found an outlet, a return to the only thing that brought him a twisted sense of satisfaction: murder.

As the other Ghostface, seemingly inspired by his legacy, terrorized the town, Heeseung decided to expand his reach to other towns. The chase, the thrill of the hunt, became a distraction from the echoing emptiness left by your absence. Yet, none of it compared to the rush he felt with you.

The chase, the fear in his victims' eyes, and the life draining from them were all familiar sensations, but none matched the electrifying thrill he had experienced with you. The adrenaline rush was too quick, leaving him even more frustrated.

Breaking into houses, shattering windows, and forcefully entering doors became his routine. The victims, now more vigilant and security-conscious, provided a challenge, but it only added to Heeseung's irritation. The once-satisfying acts now felt like mere inconveniences.

Yet, amidst the chaos he orchestrated, it was your avoidance that annoyed him the most. His thoughts often circled back to you, wondering why you resisted him. But Heeseung was patient, confident that you would come back to him when you were ready. In the twisted game he played, he reveled in the idea that you were the ultimate prize, and he would wait for you, no matter how long it took.

Your POV:

The living room was cloaked in the soft glow of the television, casting a warm ambience across the room. Your little brother was off with his friends, and your mother was at work, leaving you alone with the flickering images on the screen. The news report unfolded the grim tale of the ongoing murders in the town, and the recent revelation that there were now two Ghostfaces haunting the community.

You sat on the couch, your gaze fixed on the television, absorbing every detail. The news broadcast showcased a video feed capturing both Ghostfaces in action. One of them stood in the clear, the camera capturing the entirety of his menacing presence. Dressed in a black cloak, a twisted white mask concealed his identity, and a blood-stained knife gleamed menacingly in his hand as he brazenly entered a house with a chilling lack of remorse.

The other Ghostface remained elusive, shrouded in darkness. Only the stark white of his mask and the glint of his knife were discernible. As the camera focused on him, a sinister head tilt added an eerie touch to his enigmatic presence. The screen abruptly went dark, as if the Ghostface had severed the connection with a swift, calculated move.

"The police has stated that the evidence is pointing that the right one is the original Ghostface because of his tendencies, proving that Kim Beomseok was indeed innocent and just a pawn in his game," the newswoman declared, her voice delivering the weighty verdict. A sigh escaped your lips, acknowledging the familiarity of Heeseung's distinctive traits.

"The real Ghostface is still out there, and he has an accomplice. We advise people to set a curfew and lock your doors and windows tight," the news woman continued, her words an ominous warning that echoed through the room.

As the news segued into weather updates, you took a moment to exhale the tension that had gripped you.

As the disconcerting reality settled, your phone pierced the silence with an unknown caller. A frown creased your forehead as you scrunched your nose in distaste, swiftly ending the call. You rose, moving toward the television, the haunting images of the Ghostfaces still fresh in your mind. With a click, you turned off the TV, leaving the room in profound darkness.

Navigating through the obscurity, you made your way to the kitchen. Refusing to turn on the lights, you reached for a kitchen knife, a cold metal reassurance in your hand. Seated on a barstool, you waited in the inky silence.

A persistent ring pierced the quietude, emanating from your phone, held tightly in your grasp. As the call persisted, you let it ring, the vibration against your palm a rhythmic reminder of impending danger. Finally, with a stoic resolve, you answered, the chill in your voice unmistakable.

"Hello," you uttered, devoid of emotion, bracing for the encounter with the dark voice on the other end. The subtle distortion revealed the use of a voice changer, heightening the malevolence of the conversation.

"Hello, Y/N," the voice responded, a sinister greeting that sent a shiver down your spine. "Hello, Ghostface, or should I say fake Ghostface?" you retorted, a flicker of defiance in your tone.

"Clever, aren't you? I can see why you beat the master," the voice acknowledged, "Master?" you uttered.

"Yes, master. I admire him so much, you know? When he first started killing, I was appalled. But now? I see why he likes this career," the voice confessed, unveiling a twisted admiration for the chaos that had gripped the town.

"That's disgusting," you spat out, a visceral reaction to the perverse admiration for a killer. "Hm, I suppose so. But I don't really care what you think. Now that I have proven myself worthy as a killer, I wanted to see what the deal with you was," the voice continued, unapologetic in its admission.

As the unsettling conversation unfolded, the voice delved into a sinister curiosity about your resilience against Ghostface's attacks. "Why couldn't he kill you, what's so special about you?" the voice probed, drawing out a chilling anticipation.

"Why don't you come and see for yourself, asshole?" you retorted. The voice responded with a laugh. "You know, I think I will accept that proposition happily. Here I come, bitch," the voice declared before abruptly ending the call. The air thickened with impending danger, and in the shadows, you braced yourself for the approaching storm, armed with nothing but a kitchen knife and a heart hardened.

A crash shattered the stillness, drawing your attention to the source of the disturbance. The garden chair outside had been hurled into the room, breaking the window. With a blink, the ominous silhouette of Ghostface materialized in the hallway, a figure you instinctively knew wasn't Heeseung. Dread coiled in your stomach, a chilling realization that terrorized you.

This Ghostface was different, shorter and less imposing than Heeseung. The masked intruder charged toward you, a gleaming knife in hand, and quick thinking became your ally.

With a swift motion, you leaped onto the kitchen counter, rolled to the other side, and seized the faucet. A torrent of water erupted, drenching Ghostface. Choking and gurgling sounds punctuated the air as he struggled against the unexpected assault. You turned off the water, before you darted into the living room.

Jumping over the couch, you retrieved the gun stowed beneath it, a precautionary measure your mother had taken. You aimed the gun, and fired. The bullet found its mark, and Ghostface howled in pain, an unfamiliar vulnerability beneath the mask.

As you stood, rounding the couch, you stared down at the wounded assailant. "Is that your best? Come on," you taunted, kicking away the knife that had posed a lethal threat.

Ghostface's gaze bore into yours before he lunged, toppling you to the ground. Pain reverberated through your head as it collided with the floor. The masked intruder mounted you, hands closing around your throat. Panic surged, but you fought back, grappling with his wrists, desperately trying to pry him off.

"You bitch!" Ghostface spat, the voice changer momentarily silent, revealing a clear, angered voice. A punch landed on your face, pain blossoming as the assault continued. In the struggle, you glimpsed the kitchen knife near your leg. An opportunity for self-defense emerged, and you seized it without hesitation, driving the blade into Ghostface's back.

His scream echoed through the room as he released his grip. You kicked him away, scrambling to a safe distance. Blood stained the floor, a testament to the violence that had unfolded. Ghostface, weakened and desperate, retreated through the back door, leaving a crimson trail in his wake.

Gasping for breath, you clutched your phone, dialing the police. In the aftermath of the struggle, you summoned the courage to make an unexpected call. Heeseung's voice, warm and familiar, filled your ears. "Hello? Angel?" he greeted.

"Heeseung... he came. Ghostface came," you uttered, your voice strained and hoarse. "Shit. I'm coming, just hang on," Heeseung's determined response resonated through the line. The door slammed shut, signaling his departure.

"I beat him. He called me and broke in. And I fought against him," you whispered. "Good, good. I'm so proud of you, baby," Heeseung reassured, his words a soothing balm in the aftermath of the storm.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The street outside your house was a tableau of flashing lights and uniformed officers, a reminder of the recent chaos. Sitting on the doorstep, you stared into the scene. However, a ray of relief pierced through the gloom as Heeseung came sprinting toward you.

His presence, a beacon of comfort, ignited a rush of happiness within you. Without a second thought, you leaped into his arms, seeking solace in his embrace. Tears flowed freely as Heeseung held you close, his arms a haven that shielded you. He rubbed your back soothingly, whispering words of reassurance.

As your cries subsided, Heeseung gently pulled back, his gaze scanning your face. Anguish flickered in his eyes as he beheld the bruises and the haunting marks around your throat. "He did this?" Heeseung questioned, a simmering anger beneath his words. You could only nod in response.

Suddenly, Heeseung scooped you up in a bridal embrace, determination etched across his features. "Heeseung! What are you doing?" you protested, clinging to his neck. "Taking you with me. No way I'm leaving you alone with him running around," he declared, his voice laced with protective fervor. Concern for your safety outweighed all other considerations.

"What about my mom and brother?" you inquired. "They have the police. I only care about your safety," Heeseung asserted. "Heeseung!" you pleaded, a mix of desperation and loyalty.

"What? It's the truth," he responded. "They are my family!" you insisted. After a moment, he relented, "Alright, just let me have you now." With a resigned sigh, you agreed.

Upon reaching Heeseung's house, weariness clung to you like a heavy shroud, as he guided you to his bedroom, gently laying you down. You looked up at him, the exhaustion apparent in your eyes. Heeseung settled beside you, drawing you into an intimate embrace. "I'm here now, angel," he whispered, his words a tender promise of protection.

As he held you close, the weight of the night's events settled on Heeseung's shoulders. The realization that the other Ghostface had dared to touch you, to harm you, ignited a storm of rage within him. The room seemed to pulse with the intensity of his emotions. His eyes, once gentle, now burned with a fierce hatred and anger.

A possessive fervor took hold of Heeseung as he held you close, not leaving even the slightest room for air to pass between you. His arms wrapped around you like an impenetrable shield, a silent declaration that he would do whatever it took to keep you safe. The rage within him was a primal force, fueled by the audacity of someone else daring to harm what belonged to him.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow in Heeseung's bedroom. As you stirred from your slumber, the remnants of sleep clinging to your consciousness, you found the bed beside you empty. A quick scan of the room revealed no sign of Heeseung. The only evidence of his presence was the lingering scent of his cologne on the sheets.

With a yawn, you shuffled out of the bedroom, following the enticing aroma of breakfast wafting through the air. Descending the stairs, you found Heeseung in the kitchen, effortlessly moving between stove and counterto.

"Good morning, baby," he greeted you with a warm smile, his attention momentarily diverted from the sizzling pan.

"Morning," you mumbled, still half in a dream, and made your way to the table. The aroma of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee filled the air, enticing you to partake in the morning feast.

After a satisfying breakfast, Heeseung trailed besides you as you made your way to school. His hoodie enveloped you in its warmth, and the oversized sweatpants added a touch of casual comfort.

Entering the school grounds, the attention directed at you was palpable. Whispers and glances followed your every step, the events of the previous night etched into the collective consciousness of your peers. Heeseung's proximity only intensified the scrutiny, and you couldn't escape the awareness of being the center of attention.

Reaching your locker, Heeseung leaned casually against the row of lockers, his arm sliding around you. You retrieved your books, the cool metal of the locker a stark contrast to the warmth of his touch. The hallway buzzed with the muted sounds of conversation, but in that moment, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of you.

As the first class commenced, you found yourself alone, the comforting presence of Heeseung absent from your side. However, the second class brought a familiar face. Taehyung joined you, though something seemed off. His usually vibrant demeanor was replaced by a subtle shadow of unease.

"Are you okay?" you asked, concern lacing your voice. Taehyung glanced at you, attempting to muster a reassuring smile. "Me? I'm fine, totally fine," he replied, but the words seemed to lack conviction. Opting not to press further, you turned your attention to the board, though a lingering worry for your friend remained in the back of your mind.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The school halls were mostly deserted, the echo of chatter and laughter fading as you walked towards the bustling cafeteria. Your steps were purposeful, the anticipation of meeting Heeseung pulling you forward. The usual hustle and bustle of students had already subsided, the majority having rushed ahead to the cafeteria while you were held back by a teacher, discussing assignments and grades.

The silence enveloped you as you neared the cafeteria, the muted sounds of your own footsteps echoing through the corridor.

However, before you could reach the bustling cafeteria, you were abruptly halted. The sudden impact against the cold wall sent a jolt through you, and you found yourself face to face with a group of popular girls from the school. Led by Yeowang, their accusatory stares bore into you.

"You think you are so mighty, don't you? Taking Heeseung for yourself?!" Yeowang accused, her tone dripping with venom. Confusion furrowed your brow as you attempted to make sense of the unwarranted confrontation. "What are you talking about?" you questioned.

"You know exactly what she's talking about!" Jiwoo chimed in, her expression equally accusatory. Yeowang, the self-proclaimed leader, sneered at you. "What's even so special about you, huh? You survived two killers, oh, big deal. I can do that with a hand tied around my back!"

Annoyance welled up within you, and you retorted, "Then why don't you try it, huh? Try not being murdered!" With a defiant push, you attempted to distance yourself from the confrontation.

In response, Yeowang's rage peaked, and she raised her hand, ready to strike you. However, before the blow could land, a strong grip clasped around her wrist, halting the impending assault. Heeseung stood there, a storm brewing in his eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?" Heeseung's voice was deceptively calm, a dangerous edge underscoring his words. "Heeseung! I—I... it's not what you think! Uh, Y/n pushed me, and I simply wanted to go against her in self-defense!" Yeowang stuttered in her attempt to justify her actions, but Heeseung's glare pierced through her excuses. "Really? I thought you were better than that," he remarked, releasing her wrist.

"Now, I'm going to be nice and ignore the fact that you were hurting Y/N. Now go before I change my mind," he commanded, and the girls scattered, leaving you standing there in shock.

As the commotion subsided, Heeseung turned to you, his gaze softening. He came in front of you, looking you over with concern. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle yet filled with an underlying intensity.

"Yes, I'm fine," you responded, still processing the unexpected turn of events, grateful for Heeseung's timely intervention.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The midday sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting a warm glow on the bustling scene within. Animated conversations echoed off the walls, punctuated by the occasional rustle of papers and the soft hum of the air conditioner. The air was alive with the energy of students engrossed in various discussions and activities.

Seated at your desk, you attempted to immerse yourself in the lesson, the teacher's voice a constant presence in the background. However, a fatigue gradually crept over you, shrouding your senses in a hazy fog. Desperate to shake off the encroaching drowsiness, you blinked repeatedly, but each blink seemed to weigh heavier on your eyelids.

As you struggled to maintain focus, the ambient noise surrounding you took on an underwater quality. Conversations became muffled, as if distorted by an unseen force. Your vision blurred, and the edges of your consciousness began to dissolve into an indistinct haze. Fingers twitched involuntarily, a subtle tremor that hinted at the overwhelming weariness settling into your bones. Someone in the distance called your name, the words reaching you like a distant echo, detached and surreal.

The world around you seemed to fade, and a sense of weightlessness accompanied the descent into the beckoning darkness.

And then, like the closing of heavy curtains, everything collapsed, and you surrendered to the comforting embrace of unconsciousness.

In that silent realm of blackness, time seemed to hold its breath. There were no whispers of conversation, no distant echoes. Only the profound stillness of an unconscious mind.

As your eyes fluttered open, the sterile environment of the nurse's office came into focus. The soft hum of fluorescent lights overhead and the antiseptic scent in the air signaled your departure from the realm of unconsciousness. Confusion clouded your thoughts momentarily, and you glanced around, realizing you were lying on the medical bed.

The nurse, a calming presence in the room, sat on a nearby chair and noticed you had woken up. "Hello, dear. You caused quite a commotion," she said with a gentle smile. "I did?" Her response was a nod, and a blush of embarrassment crept up your cheeks. "Oh..." you mumbled in response.

Offering reassurance, the nurse continued, "It's alright. Your boyfriend brought you here." She handed you a cup of juice, and you sipped it slowly. "My boyfriend?" you echoed in surprise. "Yes, he's sitting right outside," she replied, gesturing toward the waiting area. "Now, you've got to be more careful with your health. I would rather not panic seeing you lifeless in a boy's arms," she added with a chuckle before returning to her duties at the computer.

With a nod of acknowledgment, you finished the juice, tossed the empty cup into the trash, and made your way out of the nurse's office. Heeseung was sitting in the waiting area, and you couldn't help but wonder why he had taken the time to be there for you. "What are you doing here?" you questioned, genuinely curious.

Heeseung stood up, his eyes meeting yours as he came to your side immediately. "Waiting for you," he responded, slipping a warm hand around your waist. A genuine smile played on his lips as he guided you back, and you felt a rush of butterflies in your stomach. "You didn't need to do that," you insisted softly.

"I wanted to," he replied, the sincerity evident in his gaze. His smile, directed solely at you, held a rare genuineness that made you feel special.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The days rolled on, and a fragile sense of normalcy returned. Heeseung, reassured by the absence of the other Ghostface's threat, let his guard down. The watchful eyes of the police gave a semblance of security to the neighborhood, and you gradually began to resume a routine.

However, the peace you found at home sharply contrasted with the ongoing trials at school. The popular girls, harboring resentment, made your life difficult. Yeowang, reached new lows, and took pleasure in subtle but malicious acts when Heeseung or any of his friends weren't around. She denied her involvement even when confronted, weaving intricate lies with a practiced ease.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

You entered your bedroom after a long day when you noticed an unexpected arrangement on your bed. A bouquet of red, white, and blue roses intertwined with each other, creating a harmonious blend of colors, alongside a box of chocolates, awaited your attention. A simple blue wrapping adorned with a pristine white bow encased a mysterious gift.

The floral fragrance filled the air as you lifted the bouquet, appreciating the delicate beauty of each bloom. Satisfied, you set the flowers aside and turned your attention to the box of chocolates. To your delight, it contained your favorite type.

Your curiosity piqued further as you unwrapped the main gift, revealing a sleek black butterfly knife adorned with golden designs. The handles, featured elegant white angel wings. Eager to explore its intricacies, you attempted a playful flick, only to fumble and drop it onto your bed. "Ow!" you exclaimed, shaking off the momentary sting.

Recovering swiftly, you spotted a note at the bottom of the gift. Retrieving it, you read the words inscribed: "For my angel, love Heeseung." A smile played on your lips at the gesture.

Grateful for the unexpected present, you promptly reached for your phone to express your appreciation. "Thank you for the gifts; I loved them. And i will not ask how you got them in," you messaged Heeseung.

Almost instantaneously, his reply arrived, "You're welcome, princess. And don't worry. I will teach you how to use it." His words sparked a conversation that extended into the night. As you exchanged messages, the hour grew late, prompting you to bid Heeseung a good night. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Heeseung," you typed. His response, "Good night, angel. Make sure to lock your windows," came promptly. Following his advice, you secured the windows before settling into bed.

A new message from Heeseung flashed on your screen, simply stating, "Good girl." You gulped, the message sent a subtle thrill down your spine. A peculiar warmth, a delightful tickle, settled in your stomach as you read those two simple words.

You glanced toward the window, half-expecting to find something beyond the glass. The room was dimly lit, shadows playing on the walls, and the soft glow of the moonlight casting a gentle ambiance.

With a hint of curiosity, you studied the windows, half-expecting it to reveal a mysterious figure with a playful presence. The night air outside was still, and the surroundings seemed undisturbed. Yet, the lingering echo of "Good girl" resonated in your mind, creating an air of suspense that you found oddly thrilling.

Taking a deep breath, you shook off the imaginary tension, and changed into comfortable pajamas, sliding under the covers with the butterfly knife on your nightstand. Examining it closely, you noticed the intricately carved initials of your name and Heeseung's on the handles. A quiet gasp escaped your lips. The unexpected yet incredibly thoughtful touch sent a rush of warmth through you, a gentle smile played on your lips as you marveled at the personalized detail. With a satisfied sigh, you carefully placed it back on the nightstand.

The room dimmed as you turned off the lights, and you layed in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

In the unsettling ebb and flow of high school dynamics, the once vibrant halls of the school now seemed shadowed by the undercurrents of hostility. Every step felt like a careful dance to avoid the traps set by the popular girls. Despite Heeseung's protective presence, their relentless efforts to undermine you continued.

On top of that Taehyung's behavior grew increasingly intrusive, his advances becoming more pronounced in class and the halls. His proximity became uncomfortable, and the boundary between friendliness and invasion blurred.

His persistence in getting close to you prompted a growing sense of unease. The lingering feeling of being watched whenever he was nearby compelled you to take measures to avoid him altogether. The hallways became a maze where you strategically maneuvered to sidestep encounters with Taehyung, who seemed determined to bridge a gap that you were intent on widening.

Despite your efforts to dodge him, Taehyung's persistence continued. Another time, in the empty school hallway, he cornered you near the lockers. "You know, you're pretty when you're mad," he commented.

Feeling trapped, you shot him a glare. "Enough, Taehyung. I'm not interested, and your comments are not welcome. Back off."

His giggles echoed as you walked away, determined to distance yourself from hiseerie behavior.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As the days unfolded, you couldn't shake the lingering sense that, despite the calm on the surface, there were storm clouds gathering on the horizon, threatening to disrupt the fragile peace you desperately sought.

The news continued to broadcast the chilling saga of the two Ghostfaces haunting the town. The police, growing more frustrated by the escalating body count, struggled to apprehend the elusive killers. Each new report fueled the anxiety that had settled over the community.

You found yourself caught in the relentless grip of fear once again, the shadow of Ghostfaces looming larger than ever. The unpredictable nature of his attacks had everyone on edge, and you couldn't shake the feeling that the danger was closing in.

Heeseung, on the other hand, was adapting to the heightened scrutiny and frustration of the police. When he wore the Ghostface costume, he became more cautious, stalking his victims for extended periods before making his move. The cat-and-mouse game between him and the authorities intensified, a dangerous dance in the moonlit shadows.

The other Ghostface seemed to be taking a page from Heeseung's book, growing more careful and methodical in his approach. However, unlike Heeseung's relatively clean crime scenes, this Ghostface left behind a gruesome trail of blood. The brutality escalated, leaving a mark that horrified even the most seasoned investigators.

One night, a particularly disturbing message written in blood on a crime scene wall sent shivers down your spine: "For you, Ghostface." The implication was clear, and it left you feeling creeped out. Heeseung, upon seeing this gruesome display, was impressed by the audacity.

But had the other Ghostface not gone after you, Heeseung might have entertained the idea of an unholy alliance, a partnership in chaos. But now, with the line crossed, Heeseung's desire for revenge burned bright. This town, in his eyes, had room for only one killer, and the other Ghostface had just signed his own death warrant.

Friday Night:

In the opulent confines of Yeowang's mansion, a sleepover took place, an event initiated by the absence of Yeowang's parents for the weekend, her closest friends—Hyo-jin, Yoo-mi, Hayeong, and Jiwoo was present. The night started late, as the girls gathered in the spacious living room adorned with lavish furnishings. The girls huddled on the plush sofa, draped in cozy blankets, their laughter echoing against the opulent walls. A large flat-screen TV, mounted like a work of art, illuminated the room, showcasing the latest news broadcast featuring the ongoing Ghostface killings and investigations.

As they bantered and gossiped, Jiwoo, known for her audacious comments, couldn't help but interject with her own peculiar observation. "Ghostface is hot, actually," she declared, earning incredulous looks from the others. Hayeong, ever the voice of reason, promptly dismissed the notion. "Okay first of all, that's a killer. Second, you have a boyfriend, and besides, he's masked! You don't even know how he looks!"

"So? I can see it," Jiwoo retorted, undeterred. Hyo-jin, more observant than the rest, interjected, " There are two Ghostfaces. Which one is hotter?"

The room fell momentarily silent as the girls processed this, their eyes fixated on the TV where two distinct images of the masked killers were displayed. Jiwoo, with her usual nonchalant demeanor, broke the silence. "Oh…both, I guess? I mean, look at them!" she exclaimed, pointing animatedly at the screen.

"You are crazy," Hyo-jin remarked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Unbeknownst to the others, Yeowang found herself oddly conflicted, silently acknowledging Jiwoo's point but reluctant to admit that she, too, felt an inexplicable allure to the enigmatic figures behind the masks.

The mood took a sharp turn when Hayeong, attempting to shift the conversation, brought up your name that immediately ignited Yeowang's fury. "I can't believe that Y/N is the only one who survived both of them," she stated, a heavy silence enveloping the room. Yeowang's reaction was visceral—her anger palpable, manifested by the shattering of a vase against the wall.

"That whore does not deserve it!" Yeowang's scream reverberated through the expansive mansion. "She survived two killers and suddenly got famous! She got Heeseung! It's unfair! What does she have that I don't?!" Yeowang's accusatory glare swept across the room, her friends taken aback by the sudden outburst.

"You are in my house! You will not mention her name!" Yeowang's command echoed, punctuating the room with a tense energy. The other girls, startled and intimidated, nodded in compliance. "Got it, we will not say her name," they meekly replied, an air of discomfort settling over the once lively sleepover.

The night pressed on, and Hayeong, feeling a stifling warmth in the crowded room, decided to excuse herself. She climbed the stairs to the bathroom, her steps a subtle echo against the hushed whispers of her friends below. Her nimble fingers worked silently to ease open the window, allowing fresh air in.

As she called her boyfriend, the cool breeze that wafted in cooled her down, "Kwan, why don't you come over? I'm too bored here, and I miss you," she whispered into the phone, her voice a delicate secret. "I'll be right there, baby," Kwan's voice assured her from the other end before he hung u.

Hayeong emerged from the bathroom and, like a phantom, slipped to the dimly-lit garage. There, waiting in the shadows, was her boyfriend's car.

Closing the garage door behind her, she got into the passenger seat, and the car became a heated session as they made out. "What do you think about ditching and coming over to mine?" Kwan proposed. "Sure, let me just tell the others," Hayeong replied, sealing her fate as she returned to the oblivious gathering in the living room.

She informed her friends of her departure, and Yeowang's dismissive response lingered in the air like an unspoken omen.

Hayeong retrieved her belongings and, with a roll of her eyes, made her way back to the secluded garage.

As she settled into the car, the illusion of safety shattered, she turned to face her boyfriend, only for her face to twist into sheer horror at the sight of his lifeless form. Panic set in, and before she could scream, a gloved hand clamped over her mouth, stifling any sound.

The rearview mirror reflected the ghostly visage of a white mask, and the glint of a knife spelled impending doom. A searing pain erupted in her stomach. The garbled scream of her pain was stifled as the hand tightened its grip, and though she fought against the assailant's grip, her strength waned.

Disoriented and weakened, Hayeong clawed her way out of the car, her hands leaving smears of blood on the cold concrete floor. Ghostface emerged from the backseat, his movements deliberate and silent, carefully closing the car door behind him. The shadows draped him in an impenetrable cloak as he advanced, following the crimson trail left by Hayeong.

With calculated precision, Ghostface struck again, the knife finding its mark in Hayeong's back. Her weak cries echoed in the garage, a desperate plea for mercy. She twisted her body on the ground, lying on her back, staring up at Ghostface, she saw only the impassive mask that hid the face of her killer.

Each breath she took seemed to expel the last vestiges of life, accompanied by the gasping for breath as blood bubbled from her mouth.

Lying on the garage floor, Hayeong's gaze fixed on the unforgiving concrete ceiling. Blood continued to spill, and the last vestiges of life slipped away. Ghostface, unaffected by her suffering, simply stared down at his victim before pocketing the blood-stained knife. Then he dragged Hayeong's lifeless form with him, leaving behind the scene of horror in the quiet garage.

The encompassing darkness welcomed him as he stuffed the corpses in the trunk of the car before leaving the garage to guard its grisly secret, the echoes of Hayeong and her boyfriend's final moments lingering in the air.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The sleepover had transformed into a scene of collective ennui, the girls sprawled across the living room, eyes glued to the blaring horror movie on the screen. The volume was cranked up to its maximum, attempting to infuse some excitement into the lackluster atmosphere. Jiwoo, the embodiment of impatience, couldn't contain her discontent. "I'm bored!" she declared, punctuating her statement with an animated kick of her feet, reminiscent of a spoiled child. Yoo-mi, joining the chorus of dissatisfaction, drawled, "Me toooo," her words elongated in a languid manner. Hyo-jin, the silent participant, simply nodded in agreement.

In the midst of this collective restlessness, Yeowang, always quick with a plan, had an idea to salvage the night. "Why don't I invite Kwangsun and Joonwoo?" she suggested, eyeing an opportunity to inject some life into the gathering. Jiwoo, seizing the chance to involve her boyfriend, Minho, eagerly chimed in, "Oh! Can I invite Minho then?" Yoo-mi, with a hint of skepticism, interjected, "You're just gonna fuck him!" Jiwoo, undeterred, stuck her tongue out at Yoo-mi, and Yeowang, with a roll of her eyes, relented, "Yeah, sure, invite him too."

Overjoyed, Jiwoo leaped to her feet, celebrating the approved invitation. "You mean it??" she questioned, to which Yeowang simply nodded in affirmation. "Yes!" Jiwoo exclaimed, immediately reaching for her phone to call Minho. Concurrently, Yeowang composed messages to Kwangsun and Joonwoo, both of whom promptly confirmed their attendance.

As the clock edged towards 1 AM, signaling the arrival of the anticipated guests, a resonant doorbell rang through the apartment. Hyo-jin, assigned the role of the door opener, took a moment to peek through the peephole, ensuring that it was indeed the boys behind the door.

The door swung open, revealing Kwangsun, Joonwoo, and Minho, boisterous and full of energy. They entered the room with a flourish, bearing beer and loud shouts, injecting a burst of life into the previously lethargic atmosphere. Jiwoo, unable to contain her excitement, screeched Minho's name and leaped into his waiting arms.

The group settled on the couch, drinks in hand, and laughter filling the air. Amidst the lively atmosphere, Hyo-jin rose from her seat with the announcement, "I'm going out for a smoke." She strolled toward the front door, and closing it behind her, leaving the vibrant scene inside.

In the solitary darkness outside, she retrieved a cigarette, her fingers fumbling to find the elusive lighter. "Where is it… I knew I brought it," she mumbled, the soft glow of her phone's torch revealing her determined search. The night air wrapped around her like a shroud as she continued her quest.

A sudden sound shattered the quiet, causing Hyo-jin to startle. Swiftly, she raised her phone, its light piercing the darkness as she scanned her surroundings. "Who's there?" she called out, her voice echoing into the silent night. The beam of her torch revealed a rogue cat, its eyes glinting in the light. "Oh, it's just you," she muttered, attempting to coax the feline closer. However, the cat, seemingly spooked, scurried away from her. "Alright, fuck you then," Hyo-jin grumbled, standing up in mild annoyance.

Unbeknownst to her, Ghostface materialized in the shadows behind her, his ominous figure concealed by the night, as he approached silently. In one fluid motion, he drew a knife, it`s blade gleaming ominously. Without a sound, he effortlessly slit Hyo-jin's throat, a crimson river staining the quiet night.

Hyo-jin's eyes widened in an involuntary response to the sudden, searing pain. The cigarette that once dangled between her lips fell with a gentle thud to the cold ground.

Her body, suspended in that surreal moment between life and death, crumpled forward.

Ghostface stood over his lifeless victim, a silent spectator to the masterpiece he had orchestrated. The night seemed to hold its breath as he lingered momentarily, the mask concealing any hint of emotion. The cool breeze whispered through the darkness, indifferent to the gruesome scene playing out beneath its veil.

With an eerie calmness, Ghostface began his next calculated move. He crouched beside Hyo-jin's motionless body, drawing her into the shadows with a predatory grace. The crimson trail she left behind became a haunting testament to the brutality that had transpired in that quiet space.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The living room buzzed with the flickering glow of the TV as the horror movie unfolded its spine-chilling narrative. The remaining group sat together, the pale glow casting shadows across their faces.

As the credits rolled, someone in the group suggested putting on another horror movie. The group agreed, and the atmosphere in the room became tense once again. Just then, Jiwoo suddenly stood up, pulling Minho with her, and declared, "We are so tired, so we'll go to bed." With that, they vanished upstairs, the closing door shutting out any response from the rest of the group.

Yeowang, an observer of the unfolding events, watched Jiwoo and Minho saunter upstairs with an air of disapproval. Rolling her eyes, she leaned toward Yoo-mi, lips curling into a disdainful whisper. "What a slut," Yeowang hissed, and Yoo-mi, ever the loyal companion, nodded in agreement, their suppressed laughter mingling in the dimly lit room. The two continued their hushed commentary, exchanging snickers as they reveled in the judgment they cast.

Unbeknownst to the gossiping duo, a silent figure lingered outside the window, casting a dark shadow against the night. The clandestine observer vanished into the depths of the night as Jiwoo and Minho disappeared behind the bedroom door, leaving no trace of their presence.

In the intimate confines of the bedroom, Jiwoo and Minho layed in post bliss. Jiwoo giggled playfully, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Minho, who stretched and reluctantly got out of bed, pulling on a pair of pants. "Stayyy," Jiwoo pouted, her words laced with a playful plea. "Sorry, babe, gotta pop in the bathroom. I'll be right back," Minho assured her as he strolled out of the room.

Little did he know, the window, left ajar by Hayeong, served as an ominous entry point for the lurking Ghostface. As Minho locked the bathroom door, he remained oblivious to the impending danger. It was only when he glimpsed Ghostface's reflection in the mirror that realization struck, and a gasp escaped his lips, as he turned around to face his assailant.

Reacting swiftly, Ghostface threw a throwing knife with precision, embedding it in Minho's shoulder. His attempts to scream stifled by a punch to the face from the masked assailant. "Shit!" Minho exclaimed as he pushed Ghostface away, slamming the murderer against the wall.

Undeterred, Ghostface deftly retrieved the lodged knife from Minho's shoulder, brandishing it menacingly. In a swift, brutal motion, he thrust the blade into Minho's stomach, eliciting a guttural groan of pain. Minho staggered backward, only to trip over a bathroom stool.

He fell backward into the bathtub, the impact echoing through the small room. His head struck the surface, and the room filled with the sickening sound of the collision. Minho's eyes remained open, glossy and lifeless, as his blood pooled in the tub.

Ghostface, having completed his gruesome work in the bathroom, meticulously exited the confined space. Adjusting his cloak and straightening his posture, he entered the bedroom where Jiwoo lay peacefully unaware. A sinister silhouette against the dimly lit room, he stood over her, his chilling presence casting a shadow.

Lifting his arms, Ghostface brandished his knife, a glint of malice in his eyes. With a swift, deliberate motion, he plunged the blade into Jiwoo's stomach. A startled cry escaped her lips as she awoke to the nightmare before her. Desperation filled her as she attempted to retaliate, futile punches met by Ghostface's vice-like grip. The relentless onslaught continued, the repeated stabbings painting the once serene room in the stark hues of violence.

Leaving Jiwoo to bleed out on the bed, Ghostface, retraced his steps through the bathroom window, vanishing into the nocturnal abyss.

Meanwhile downsatirs, Yoo-mi, feeling a growing unease, ventured outside through the front door to check on Hyo-jin. Upon her return, she delivered the unsettling news, "Hey, Hyo-jin isn't outside anymore." Yeowang, quick to assume the worst, spat, "The bitch probably left us, again." Yoo-mi, concerned, muttered, "I don't know, she wouldn't leave like this."

Yeowang's sharp response echoed, "Did you just talk back to me?" Yoo-mi, intimidated but determined, defended herself, "No! No! It's just... I'm worried, you know?" Reluctantly, Yeowang conceded, "Ugh, fine," and turned her attention to the boys, "Why don't you two go out and find her?" Kwangsun, defensive, questioned, "Why us?" Yeowang, dismissive, replied, "Because you two are available, and it's cold. Now, go." With a wave of her hand, she refocused on the horror movie.

Joonwo and Kwangsun reluctantly complied, with Joonwo suggesting a strategy "You go through the backdoor, I'll go through the front door, and we'll meet in the middle." As Joonwo exited the front door, Kwangsun took the backdoor route.

In the living room, Yoo-mi sought reassurance, "You think they'll be okay?" Yeowang, unfazed, assured her, "Yeah, they'll be fine."

Meanwhile, Kwangsun navigated the darkness alone, squinting to discern any signs of Hyo-jin or Joonwo. The quietude was only interrupted by the gentle whooshing of the wind past his ear. As he scanned the sky, the moon was obscured by clouds, plunging him into deeper obscurity. Unbeknownst to him, a figure trailed silently behind him. Suddenly, a searing pain tore through Kwangsun's back, and he crumpled to the ground, the merciless kick from Ghostface intensifying his agony.

As Kwangsun prepared to scream, the moon emerged from behind the clouds, revealing the lifeless form of Joonwo sprawled in front of him. Before he could react, his hair was violently yanked back, and Ghostface swiftly slit his throat, extinguishing his life.

Ghostface, rose from his crouched position, before he reached into the folds of his cloak and retrieved a phone.

As the flash erupted, momentarily piercing the darkness, Ghostface captured the haunting image of death.

However, as swiftly as the moon had revealed the morbid scene, it withdrew behind the obscuring clouds once more. The sudden darkness provided Ghostface with the perfect cover, concealing his presence as he dragged the lifeless bodies. The muted sounds of his sinister task blended with the night, and Ghostface seamlessly disappeared into the shadows.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The night hung heavy with an unsettling stillness as Yoo-mi gazed into the darkness. Her voice cut through the silence, nervous with an escalating worry, "Okay, they haven't returned. Is this the time to panic?" Yeowang, seemingly unresponsive, rose from her seat and ascended the stairs with an air of determination. "Wait!" Yoo-mi pleaded, chasing after her.

In the dimly lit corridor, Yeowang halted outside the bedroom where Jiwoo and Minho had sought refuge. She knocked on the door only to be met with an silence from within. When no response came, Yeowang's hand hesitated for a moment before pushing the door ajar. What lay beyond would etch terror into their memories.

A gut-wrenching scream erupted from Yoo-mi as the door swung open, revealing the grotesque scene within. Jiwoo's lifeless body lay sprawled across the bed, a canvas of horror painted in blood and mangled flesh. Yoo-mi staggered backward causing her to open the bathroom door, her horrified gaze shifted to the now open bathroom. There, in the unforgiving cold of the bathtub, Minho's lifeless form met her gaze. Another scream tore through the air as the grim reality of their situation became undeniable.

Distraught and overwhelmed, Yoo-mi fled down the stairs, tripping on the steps, she stumbled into the chilling embrace of the living room, her anguished cries reverberating through the desolate space.

Meanwhile, Yeowang stood frozen in the upstairs corridor, the haunting images seared into her mind. A desperate determination seized her as she rushed to her room. There, amidst the remnants of her past, she found solace in a forgotten relic—a baton adorned with hues of pink and purple, a nostalgic reminder of her gymnastics days.

Haunted by the scene she witnessed, Yeowang clutched the baton tightly, her knuckles turning white.

As she descended the staircase, a sickening scene unfolded before her eyes. Joonwo's lifeless form lay sprawled on the couch, his vacant eyes reflecting the cruel finality that had befallen him. Yoo-mi, a pitiful body on the ground, cried out in agony as blood pooled beneath her. Ghostface, loomed over her with a foot pressing her down. His attention, however, pivoted towards Yeowang, his gaze fixated on her as he swiped the blood of his knife with unnerving efficiency, his chilling laughter permeating the air.

"Welcome to the party," his voice, distorted by the chilling voice changer, sent shivers down Yeowang's spine. Desperation seized her as she clutched the baton, like an inadequate shield.

"I saved you for last," Ghostface declared with a voice distorted, before he picked up Yoo-mi only to throw her against the wall, rendering her unconscious, before turning his relentless advance towards Yeowang.

Terror gripped her as she sprinted upstairs, reaching her bedroom, she fumbled to lock the door, her trembling hands betraying the fear that gripped her. In her bedroom, she fumbled for her salvation—her phone. Panic surged through her when she realized it lay downstairs on the living room table.

A sudden shock reverberated through the door as Ghostface relentlessly sought entry. "Open the door, Yeowang," his command sliced through the air, each word dripping with sadistic pleasure.

"No!" she screamed defiantly, her trembling hands fumbling with the window latch. With a surge of courage, she swung it open, revealing a daunting drop to the pool below, a shimmering oasis in the moonlit night.

The door continued to quiver under Ghostface's relentless assault, his ominous presence closing in.

The relentless assault on the door suddenly ceased, leaving Yeowang suspended in silence. Suspicion flickered in her eyes as she cast a wary glance toward the once-quaking barrier.

Suddenly, an axe splintered through the door, hacking it down with brutal force. Yeowang's scream echoed through the room as glimpses of the menacing white mask emerged. Ghostface stared intently, his gloved hand reaching to unlock the door. Just as Yeowang prepared to leap to safety, Ghostface unleashed a primal shout, hurling a dagger that found its mark in her shoulder. The searing pain sent her crashing down, the baton slipping from her grasp.

Ghostface, a looming specter, closed in. His knife poised for the final strike, but in a desperate bid, Yeowang seized her baton, swinging it towards his masked visage. With lightning reflexes, Ghostface raised his arm, blocking the blow. The precious seconds gained allowed Yeowang to scramble to her feet, sprinting towards the window. In a daring escape, she leaped into the pool below, the cold water offering a brief respite from the nightmare.

Emerging from the water, shivering and wounded, Yeowang glanced back at the window. Ghostface was momentarily absent. Swiftly, she extracted the knife embedded in her shoulder, a cry of pain escaping her lips. With determined urgency, she clambered out of the pool, crimson tendrils diffusing into the water around her.

Fearing the masked assailant might still be lurking, Yeowang cast a desperate gaze through the window into the living room. Joonwoo's lifeless form lay undisturbed, but Yoo-mi, injured and resilient, struggled to move. Yeowang recoiled, her attention caught by the absence of the phones on the table. Panic clawed at her as she began to navigate the house, a mixture of dread and sorrow swirling within.

As she approached the front, a hidden horror awaited her. Tripping over an unseen obstacle, Yeowang tumbled to the ground. A gut-wrenching sight unfolded as she discovered the lifeless bodies of Hyo-jin and Kwangsun concealed in the bushes. Tears blurred her vision as she sprinted away, abandoning the knife in her haste.

But the escape was short-lived. Charging down the porch, Yeowang's foot snagged on something, and she plummeted forward, her head colliding with the unforgiving ground, as darkness enveloped her consciousness.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

Yeowang's eyes flickered open, and a wave of disorientation washed over her as she attempted to move, only to discover the cruel reality of her situation – she was bound, trapped in the confines of her own bedroom. The haunting scene unfolded before her eyes, her friends' lifeless bodies strewn about, including Yoo-mi, who now lay still and unresponsive.

"Help! Someone! Please!" she pleaded, her desperate cries echoing in the silence. A chair creaked, drawing her attention to the shadowy figure sitting in the corner, and as her eyes adjusted, she spotted Ghostface seated in a shadowy corner. "No one is coming to save you," he declared with a cold certainty.

Desperation clawed at Yeowang's throat, and she screamed for help, her pleas echoing through the chilling silence.

"Stop screaming," Ghostface intoned, his figure slowly rising from the chair. The voice changer distorted his response, rendering it menacing and cold.

Tethered and vulnerable, she tried to appeal to the masked figure, a last-ditch effort to elicit mercy.

"Aw, that's cute. You're begging for your life," Ghostface remarked, rising from the chair with deliberate slowness. He approached Yeowang, advancing toward her with predatory intent, and crouched down, his white mask mere inches from her terror-stricken face. He scrutinized her with a sinister curiosity, reveling in the vulnerability of his captive.

"Why did you even come? I'm innocent!" Yeowang protested, her voice carrying a hint of defiance. However, Ghostface erupted in a sudden burst of anger, his distorted voice reflecting the glitched fury within him. "Innocent!?" he bellowed, standing back up and brandishing a gleaming knife. The blade pointed menacingly at Yeowang, his accusation hung heavily in the air. "You are, in fact, not innocent. You hurt what was precious to me. Your friends paid for it, and now it's your turn."

"What was precious?... Oh, you mean Y/N?!" she exclaimed, connecting the dots. Ghostface remained stoic, only intensifying the aura of menace. In a tense exchange, "Listen! It was just for fun! Just a game you kow?" Yeowang attempted to justify her actions, only to be met with Ghostface's stoic silence.

The truth, a bitter pill, surfaced—Ghostface's obsession with Y/n, was a possessive love that bordered on madness.

"Why do you even care? Didn't you try and kill her at first?" Yeowang spat, her defiance resurfacing. A hesitancy lingered in the room as she dared to pose a crucial question. "You are the first Ghostface, aren't you?" Ghostface nodded affirmatively, acknowledging his origin. "I am the first... and I care because she's mine. I own Y/N, and she owns my heart and soul. I would do anything to keep her happy," he declared, a rare glimpse into the twisted motivation that fueled his actions.

With an ominous deliberateness, Ghostface removed the clasps securing his mask, revealing the face beneath. A shockwave of horror coursed through Yeowang as recognition set in. "Heeseung?!" she screeched, attempting to recoil from the revelation. "It's been you this entire time!? But why?" she demanded, her voice a desperate plea for answers.

"You've watched enough horror movies, Yeowang, to know there's always motives. Mine is just personal," Heeseung uttered, his voice devoid of remorse.

With an almost mechanical precision, Heeseung adorned the Ghostface mask once again. The chilling transformation marked the end of any semblance of humanity, like a switch flipped between the person behind the mask and the ruthless harbinger of terror. The room became a theater of agony as Ghostface thrust the knife into Yeowang's chest, cruelly twisting it for maximum torment before extracting it with a grisly finality. Yeowang's agonized screams pierced the air, echoing in the chamber of death. Desperation gripped her as she struggled to draw breath, yet the encroaching numbness signaled the approach of death.

"Party's over," Ghostface declared. The last flicker of Yeowang's life bore witness to the white mask, as she accepted death.

In the aftermath, Ghostface lingered, a silent witness to the massacre of death he had orchestrated. With a swift, practiced motion, he swiped his knife, cleansing the blood before he departed the room with a purposeful stride, descending into the shadows.

Leaving the house behind, Ghostface embarked on a solitary journey into the night.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As you sat on the couch, playing with your brother by your side, the tranquility of the day was shattered by the intrusive news spreading like wildfire throughout the city. The television broadcasted the shocking report, detailing the gruesome massacre that had occurred during the sleepover.

The once-grand mansion was now a crime scene, adorned with police tape that crisscrossed the entire property, and law enforcement vehicles surrounded the premises. Your eyes were fixed on the television screen, shock etched across your face as the news reporter stood in front of the crime scene.

"We have received reports that the victims have been identified as Kang Hyo-jin, Shin Jiwoo, Kang Minho, Bong Kwangsun, Kim Junwoo, Choi Hayeong, Park Yoo-mi, Jung Kwan, and Jeon Yeowang," the reporter solemnly announced, the weight of each name resonating in the air. The police inspector, Do-shik, stood by her side, his weary expression a testament to the magnitude of the tragedy.

"We have reason to believe that this is the work of our first Ghostface, by the pattern he executed in this mindless slaughter," Do-shik disclosed, his words sending a chill down your spine. The news reporter pressed for answers about the actions being taken for the grieving families, and Do-shik, burdened by the responsibility, assured justice and respect for the victims.

As the conversation continued, the realization that Heeseung, had committed these heinous acts sank in. The numbness enveloped you, making it difficult to comprehend the gravity of the situation. You couldn't fathom how he managed to execute such a massacre in a single night without being apprehended.

"Y/N?" Your brother's voice broke through your reverie, and you felt the physical sensation of being shaken. "Wha-?" you mumbled, your mind struggling to process the information. "Are you okay? You didn't answer me," he inquired, concern etched on his face. "Yeah, yeah. I'm okay," you responded.

"I need to get some air," you declared, rising from the couch and leaving the house without uttering another word. The weight of the revelations pressed down on you as you stepped into the open air.

The streets stretched before you as you navigated through the town, each step resonating with the echo of your conflicted emotions. Eventually the sunlight began to wane, casting long shadows across the pavement, and the familiar sights of the town started to transform under the softening hues of dusk.

As you meandered through the streets, you found yourself drawn to a nearby park. The familiar landscape offered a temporary refuge, and you made a spontaneous decision to linger. You gravitated towards a swing set, the rhythmic creaking accompanying the subtle sounds of nature.

Time seemed to blur as you swung back and forth, the gentle breeze carrying whispers of the day.

As the day transitioned into evening, you checked your phone to find it was already 8PM. A notification from your mom appeared, a reminder that cut through the quiet of the moment. She requested you to stop by the grocery store if you had time. The responsibility tugged at your thoughts, and you agreed to her request, assuring her that you would take care of the groceries.

Leaving the swing set behind, you walked away from the park, your surroundings bathed in the amber glow of streetlights beginning to flicker to life. The town retained a semblance of activity; a few people strolled on the sidewalks, and cars passed by intermittently.

Deep in contemplation, you traversed the familiar routes until, almost unconsciously, your steps led you to Heeseung's house in the outskirts of town. Heeseung, an adult living alone, bore the scars of a fractured family, his mother absent, and his father, a figure you suspected was better off beneath the earth.

His residence, an isolated abode, stood silent against the backdrop of the night. You knocked, and the hush persisted for a moment, fostering the fleeting notion that perhaps he wasn't home. Just as the doubt crept in, the shuffling of feet reached your ears, and the door swung open to reveal Heeseung. The dampness in his hair suggested a recent shower, and the grin on his face faded into a look of surprise when he noticed your serious expression.

"Angel," he greeted, the warmth in his voice attempting to breach the solemn atmosphere. "Can we talk?" you asked, your tone cutting through the casual air. Heeseung's surprise deepened, and he nodded, inviting you in. The door closed behind you, shutting out the outside world, and you were met with the soft patter of paws reaching your ears, and you saw Dongsik, Heeseung's cat, racing towards you. You knelt down, lifting the feline into your arms.

Settling in the living room, you cradled Dongsik in your lap, stroking his fur. The weight of the conversation hung in the air as you mustered the courage to address the chilling reality. "Heeseung… I saw the news," you began, your voice steady.

"You did not need to kill them," you asserted, hoping for a flicker of remorse in Heeseung's gaze. However, his eyes bore no trace of regret. "They deserved it. They hurt you, and I hurt them back," he stated, his nonchalant demeanor sending a chill down your spine.

Rising from his seated position, Heeseung advanced towards you, his movements fluid yet purposeful. As he closed the distance, his hand gently cradled your chin, tilting your head upward. The touch was possessive, his fingers warm against your skin, yet there was an underlying intensity that betrayed the dark determination within him.

In that moment, his eyes, once familiar and comforting, now held a darker, inscrutable depth.

"I made them regret every breathing the same air as you," he murmured, the words laden with a sinister satisfaction. His voice, usually a source of reassurance, now carried an unsettling edge. His gaze traced a path across your face, studying each contour as if searching for a reaction.

Caught in the intensity of his gaze, you couldn't help but gulp, the sound echoing in the charged silence. His eyes, fixated on your lips, followed the subtle movement as your tongue moistened them.

But you couldn't let the gravity of his actions escape scrutiny. Stepping back, you placed Dongsik on the ground and distanced yourself. "I do not want you to proceed with this," you implored, your voice tinged with urgency. "What if you get caught? Have you ever thought about that?" you questioned, your concern etched on your face. Heeseung, however, dismissed your fears with unwavering confidence. "I won't get caught. Trust me. I'm careful."

The proximity of his hands, once stained with the blood of others, triggered a sense of unease. "No, Heeseung, I can't do this now," you declared, your voice faltering. "I can't continue doing this."

"What?" Heeseung asked, his surprise mirroring the gravity of your words. "This, whatever we have? This? It's over!" you cried out, your emotions spilling over. Heeseung's gaze narrowed, the intensity of his feelings clashing with the sudden turn of events. "Angel, you can't—" he began, but you cut him off.

"You won't let me break up, but I can't bear you killing people!" you exclaimed, your words echoing in the room. The reality of grieving families planning funerals weighed heavily on your conscience. "You have let out a curse on this town, and for what? What is your motive, Heeseung? Why do you murder?" you demanded, your frustration boiling over.

"It's none of your business!" Heeseung retorted, his defensive stance highlighting the growing tension. "So you don't trust me? Is that it?" you questioned, the hurt evident in your eyes. "No, that's not it, baby, please," Heeseung pleaded, attempting to reach for you. However, you recoiled, creating a physical and emotional distance. "No, that's exactly what it is, isn't it? How can I trust you when you don't even trust me?" you articulated.

"A murderer kills because they are crazy, right? How do I know that you won`t kill me eventually?" you posed the unnerving question, the gravity of the situation casting a shadow over the room. "Yeah, this is all a game for you, isn't it? Trick me, then hurt me, and finish me off, right?" A bitter laugh escaped your lips as you clutched your hair in frustration.

"God, I wish you had just killed me!" you shouted, the anguish and frustration consuming you. With those words hanging in the air, you ran out the door, tears streaming down your face. "Y/N!" Heeseung shouted, attempting to chase after you. The rush of adrenaline urged you forward as you sprinted towards the more populated downtown, seeking solace in the anonymity of the bustling streets.

The relentless torrent of tears blurred your vision as you ran, the world a distorted mosaic of shadows and hazy streetlights. The weight on your chest felt unbearable, forcing you to gasp for breath as you sought refuge. The grocery store loomed ahead, a dimly lit sanctuary promising a momentary escape from the turmoil.

Leaning against the cool exterior wall of the store, you heaved deep breaths, each inhalation a struggle against the emotional storm that raged within. You swiped away your tears before you walked into the store. The door swung open with a hushed chime as you entered

The interior of the store appeared almost deserted, bathed in the artificial glow of overhead lights. A half-sleeping cashier lethargically manned the register, and an employee, lost in their cleaning duties, contributed to the quiet. Only two other customers wandered the aisles, their presence barely registering in the dim atmosphere.

With the basket in hand, you moved with a mechanical precision, guided by the monotony of your music. The list from your mother directed your movements as you navigated the aisles, the rhythmic beat in your ears providing a temporary respite from the emotional whirlwind.

Little did you anticipate the impending descent into chaos. The automatic doors whispered open, and a tall figure draped in a cloak stepped inside, an aura of malevolence accompanying their entrance.

The scene unfolded with chilling swiftness. Ghostface, concealed in the ominous cloak, advanced towards the unsuspecting cashier. A gloved hand silenced desperate cries before a blade flashed, cutting through the silence and life alike. The shotgun followed suit, the explosive sound resonating through the hushed aisles as it claimed another victim.

The sudden violence ruptured the fragile tranquility, and you instinctively tore out your earbuds, alert to the nightmare unfolding around you. Panicking, you instinctively sought cover behind a freezer, heart pounding as the screams reverberated through the aisles.

Silence settled, broken only by the haunting voice that emerged. "I know you are here, Y/N. Why don't you come out and make this much easier for us both and give yourself up now?" it intoned, a cruel invitation to surrender. Determined, you pulled up your pant leg, revealing the butterfly knife Heeseung had insisted you learn to use. The blade swished open, and you crouched in the shadows.

Ghostface continued his monologue, preaching a distorted sense of purpose. You, however, were focused on survival. Moving stealthily between the aisles, you checked your phone's camera at every turn, ensuring your unseen adversary was still out of sight.

Crawling on the ground, disregarding its grime, you moved with a mix of fear and determination.

Ghostface's taunts echoed, filled with promises of a twisted sense of justice. Moving with a catlike grace, you listened intently for any sign of Ghostface. Their voice droned on, but you paid it little attention, your focus locked on survival.

The aisles of the grocery store bore witness to a gruesome scene of tragedy as you stumbled upon the lifeless bodies of the employee and another customer. Their corpses layed, eyes frozen wide in terror, faces eternally contorted in the agony of their final moments. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, and you couldn't help but draw a shaky breath as you crawled towards the fallen employee.

Carefully, you approached the employee's still form, with a delicate touch, you reached for the keys hanging from their belt. The metallic jingle seemed deafening in the heavy silence that enveloped the gruesome scene.

As you retreated to a safer spot and peered around the corner, your eyes widened. Ghostface, stood amidst the aisles, holding the shotgun with an unsettling ease. His dark cloak billowed as he surveyed the surroundings, the mask betraying no emotions.

"Y/n!" he bellowed, the deep voice echoing through the desolate store. You remained still, concealed in the shadows, refusing to yield to his demands. "This isn't funny anymore. Come out... face me, you-you bitch!" he shouted, his frustration palpable.

His tone softened suddenly, an unexpected vulnerability seeping into his words. "I need you, Y/n. I need you here," he mumbled to himself, pacing away. A perplexed expression crossed your face as you watched him retreat, his erratic behavior leaving you both bewildered and cautious.

Seizing the opportune moment, you silently made your move. Crawling towards the backdoor, you clutched the stolen keys tightly, ensuring they made no sound. Ghostface's sporadic mutterings echoed through the store as he grew more agitated.

Reaching the backdoor, you fumbled through the keys, testing each one until the lock clicked open. The metallic sound felt deafening in the oppressive quiet. As the door unlocked, you grabbed the handle, ready to make a swift exit.

"There you are!"

Your heart pounded as you turned, eyes meeting the menacing figure standing just beyond the threshold. His shotgun aimed at you, you scrambled inside, slamming the door shut. The resounding gunshot echoed in your ears, a chilling reminder of how narrowly you had evaded death.

You wasted no time locking the door, the thump on the other side signaling Ghostface's frustration. The adrenaline surged through your veins as you retreated, navigating the labyrinthine storage room with urgency. The persistent echo of Ghostface's threats spurred you forward, each step a calculated move toward survival in this ghastly game of cat and mouse.

As you sprinted through the labyrinthine storage room of the store, the dim emergency exit sign beckoned you towards safety. Fingers trembling, you pushed the door open and burst into the cool night air. Panic set in as you dialed the police, the desperate plea in your voice cutting through the darkness.

"Miss, what can i help you with," the calm voice on the other end asked. " He's chasing after me! Ghostface is here! " you retorted, the terror resonating in your words. "All units are tracking your positions!" the voice replied.

A gunshot cracked through the air, and you glanced back to witness Ghostface, relentless and determined, hot on your heels. His ominous presence fueled your fear, propelling you forward in a desperate bid for survival.

In a moment of terror, Ghostface lunged at you, the force of his leap toppling you to the unforgiving ground. Your phone and knife clattered away, but with a surge of adrenaline, you rolled out of his grasp, swift and agile. Retrieving your knife, you abandoned your phone, the urgency of escape outweighing the need for communication.

The pursuit continued through the dimly lit streets, your breaths ragged and the cityscape blurring as you pushed your body to its limits. I will get you! You little bitch! You can't run from me, Y/n!"

The burn in your lungs and the relentless pounding of your heart fueled your determination to get away from the masked killer.

Vaulting over a fence, you cast a desperate glance over your shoulder. Ghostface closed in, his knife glinting ominously. With a swift maneuver, you veered to the left, finding refuge behind a hedge. The element of surprise played in your favor as you lunged at Ghostface, the blade of your knife finding its mark.

He howled in pain, an unexpected turn of events that left him wounded and disoriented. However, before you could savor your fleeting victory, Ghostface retaliated. Gripping you around the waist, he flung you to the ground, the impact stealing the air from your lungs.

Yet, salvation was imminent. By now, the lights in the surrounding houses flickered to life, and the distant wail of police sirens grew louder. Ghostface, now wounded and vulnerable, weighed his options. "Shit!" he exclaimed, his gaze darting between you and the encroaching law enforcement.

In a desperate bid to escape the imminent capture, Ghostface vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a wake of horrified onlookers. The chilling cries of "It's Ghostface!" and "It's the killer!" echoed through the neighborhood as the police closed in.

As you stood amidst the chaos, gasping for breath, it was in this disoriented state that you realized your knife, the very tool Heeseung had gifted you, was nowhere to be found. Panic and frustration intertwined as your eyes darted around the vicinity, searching for the glint of metal against the darkened pavement. But it was futile – the blade had vanished.

Then, the revelation hit you like a sudden gust of cold wind. A twisted sense of irony settled in as you connected the dots. Your knife, now lay embedded in the very source of the terror that had haunted your dreams.

A wry, bitter chuckle escaped your lips as you contemplated the absurdity of the situation. There goes Heeseung's gift, now an unwitting participant in the dark legacy of Ghostface that he had created. How ironic, you thought.

As the police surrounded you, you could only ponder the inexplicable twists of fate that had led you to this moment. "Why is it always me?" echoed in your thoughts. You were then ushered home, where your disheveled mother and worried brother awaited.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

After a week's absence, you returned to school, hoping for a semblance of normalcy. However, the moment you stepped onto the crowded campus, it felt like a tidal wave of students engulfed you. The sea of faces, voices clamoring over one another, and the proximity of people made panic grip your heart. The air felt thick, and you struggled to breathe as your vision blurred, overwhelmed by the chaotic environment.

With each step, the suffocating feeling intensified. It seemed like there was no escape, and you closed your eyes, attempting to shut out the sensory overload. The world was too loud, too close, and you pressed your hands to your ears in a desperate attempt to block it all out.

And then, a sudden quiet descended.

Opening your eyes, you found yourself facing someone's back. A familiar voice cut through the silence, "Back it up! Back it up! Give her some space! Ever heard of personal space?" It was Jungwon and Ni-ki, chasing away the dispersing crowd. Sunghoon stood by your side, his concern evident. The other boys formed a protective shield around you, except for Heeseung.

"Are you okay, Y/N?" Sunghoon asked, worry etched on his face. "Yeah… yeah, I'm okay," you replied, glancing at the boys with gratitude.

"Thank you, guys," you whispered.

"You're welcome, Y/N. People really have no respect," Jay remarked.

"Come on," Jake suggested, extending his hand toward you. You took it, feeling a sense of security as they flanked you, walking together towards your class. You noticed how others instinctively kept their distance.

Curiosity crept in, and you couldn't help but ask, "Why is everyone like this?" Their hesitation was palpable.

"What?" you pressed. "Well… how do I say this, Y/N... The video footage of the store was kinda leaked, so everyone saw how you survived," Sunoo explained reluctantly.

Shocked, you hadn't been on social media during your absence. Your mother had been vigilant, keeping you and your brother under close watch, and your lost phone remained unretrieved from the chaotic events. "Can I see?" you inquired.

They exchanged glances before Ni-ki stepped forward, tapping on his phone and showing you the video. Watching the footage from entering the store to seeking refuge in the storage room, you handed Ni-ki his phone back, muttering a soft "Wow."

As they asked about your well-being, you couldn't muster a definitive answer. "I don't know… I think I want to be alone now," you admitted, walking the rest of the way to class in solitude, grappling with the sudden spotlight on your survival.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The school day unfolded as a mix of emotions and overwhelming attention. Everywhere you went, students sought your company, asking questions, expressing concern, or simply wanting to be associated with the survivor of the store incident. While the incessant attention was draining, you couldn't deny the relief of not constantly glancing over your shoulder, anticipating Yeowang's presence or the sting of hurtful comments from her followers. Heeseung's drastic actions had severed those ties, but the weight of the consequences lingered in the air.

Lunchtime offered a temporary escape, and amid the bustling cafeteria, you found a moment to inquire about Heeseung's absence. Turning to Jay, who was seated beside you, you popped the question that had been lingering in your mind. "Where's Heeseung?" you asked, genuinely curious. Jay, pausing from his meal, looked at you with a quizzical expression. "Heeseung? He's sick," he answered matter-of-factly. Your eyes widened in surprise. "You didn't know?" Jay questioned again. "Oh, no, I didn't," you replied, processing the unexpected information. "Well, maybe he forgot to tell you. He asked us to watch over you when you returned," Jay added before returning his attention to his food.

The revelation about Heeseung's sickness left you with a mix of emotions. You hadn't anticipated this news, and a sense of unease settled over you. The boys, it seemed, were keeping a close eye on you at Heeseung's behest.

Upon arriving home, your mother greeted you, "There you are! Here, honey," she exclaimed, holding out a familiar object in her hands. Your eyes widened with delight as she handed you your long-lost phone. "You found it!" you exclaimed, the joy evident in your voice as you accepted the device.

"Yes, I did. Sorry, it took so long," your mom apologized, her tone tinged with relief. "It's okay, Mom," you reassured her, appreciating her effort to recover your belongings. With a grateful smile, you declared your intention to retreat to your room. "I'm going to my room," you announced, "Okay, honey," your mom responded, her attention already shifting to the kitchen.

Retreating to your room, you plugged the phone into the charger, watching as the screen came to life. The device was flooded with notifications, but among them, Heeseung's attempts to reach you stood out. Eighty-eight missed calls and 113 unread messages painted a vivid picture of his persistence. However, you decided against delving into the messages. The idea of conversing with him felt overwhelming, and you needed time to process everything.

The remainder of the day became a sanctuary of solitude, spent either in your room or with your brother. As night fell, you found yourself alone in your bed, the familiar struggle to sleep resurfaced. Glancing at the watch, the harsh glow of the screen revealed the lateness of the hour — nearing 2:30 AM. With a heavy sigh, you turned your gaze back to the ceiling, the weight of memories threatened to pull you into a realm you desperately wished to forget. The scene replayed in your mind, a vivid flashback to a moment etched in pain and humiliation.

Flashback:

The air was thick with tension as you found yourself behind the school, isolated and vulnerable, devoid of Heeseung's protective presence. The silence that enveloped the secluded spot was soon shattered by the cruel laughter of those who reveled in your vulnerability.

In the grim backstage of the school building, Yeowang and her lackeys emerged like shadows, their intentions clear. The boyfriend of one of the girls seized you, his grip unyielding, rendering any attempts at escape futile.

One of the girls held your bag hostage, a sinister grin etched on her face as she poured a smoothie into its depths, saturating your belongings. The cold liquid seeped through your bag, a metaphor for the cold disdain they harbored.

Yeowang, the puppeteer orchestrating the torment, reveled in her power, her words laced with venom. "You really are a pathetic bitch, you know that?" Yeowang's voice dripped with disdain, a venomous taunt that sought to corrode your spirit. "Can't even go a day without your bodyguards.

Silence was your armor, a refusal to grant them the satisfaction of seeing you crumble. "I run this school! You hear me? Everyone wants me! Everyone answers to me!" Yeowang declared, her voice rising to a crescendo of arrogance.

Hateful glares were exchanged, and then, the resounding slap — a manifestation of her simmering rage.

A bitter glare was your only retort. "Well, you're doing a shit job at having everyone wanting you," you shot back, the words slicing through the tension like a knife. The impending storm erupted as Yeowang, seething with rage, prepared for another strike.

Refusing to succumb, you summoned strength from a reservoir of resilience. A swift punch to the guy's shin, a headbutt to his nose, and you were free. "Fuck! The bitch hit me in the motherfucking nose!" the boyfriend cried out, releasing his grip in pain. Seizing the opportunity, you launched yourself at Yeowang, a tempest of fists raining down on her.

The tables turned as you unleashed a torrent of punches on Yeowang, the once-confident bully now a target of your retribution.

Blood painted the scene as your fists found their mark, the visceral satisfaction of justice propelling each blow. The other girls, attempting to intervene, were met with your unrelenting force. Yeowang's hair became a makeshift handle as you screamed into her face, asserting your defiance. "Who`s the pathethic fucking bitch now?!" you declared, punctuating the statement with a final blow. As she staggered to her feet, blood-stained and defeated, her parting words echoed in the night air — "This isn't over!"

Breathing heavily, you watched them retreat into the darkness, a sense of triumph lingering in the air. With deep breaths, you salvaged what remained of your belongings.

A whimper from the fallen boy drew your attention. Standing over him, you asserted your demand for restitution. "Ey, asshole. You owe me a new bag and supplies," you declared, unyielding in the face of his feeble protests.

End of Flashback.

As the memory faded, you found yourself staring up at the ceiling, the weight of the past pressing against your chest, as another memory resurfaced

2nd Flashback:

The bathroom, a sanctuary of sorts, offered a brief respite from the chaos that often trailed in your wake. Alone, you stood by the sink, the cool water flowing over your hands. The door creaked open, revealing the unwelcome entrance of Yeowang.

"What now," you muttered, a weariness etched in your voice.

"You're dead," Yeowang declared, her words a venomous promise as she advanced with an air of calculated malice. Resigned, you met her gaze, your eyes betraying neither fear nor defiance. "Well, too bad I'm still alive," you retorted, the fatigue in your voice veiled behind a thin layer of indifference.

Yeowang, infuriated by your lack of submission, launched an attack. Her attempt at physical intimidation manifested in a swing of her hand, aimed at striking you into submission. Yet, in that moment, the reflexes of a survivor kicked in. You caught her wrist with a practiced ease, the strength beneath your seemingly fragile exterior taking her by surprise.

"Is that all you have?" you questioned, your voice laced with an exhaustion that transcended the physical. A gentle push sent her stumbling backward, her gasp of shock echoing in the tiled confines of the restroom.

"You worthless bitch! What does Heeseung even see in you?" Yeowang spat. Unmoved, you stood your ground, the echo of her insults bouncing off the bathroom walls. "I'm much better than you," she added, a final attempt to wound before she turned and left, the door closing with a hollow thud.

End of flashback.

As the memory dissipated, you sighed, the weight of Yeowang's animosity slowly lifting. Closing your eyes, you sought solace in the darkness, finally ridding yourself of the specter that haunted your past. Yet, amid the tranquility, Yeowang's last words lingered in the recesses of your mind — "What does Heeseung even see in you?"

The question, a lingering doubt, seized your thoughts, an elusive enigma that would accompany you into the realm of dreams. Exhaustion, both physical and emotional, finally claimed you, pulling you into a restless slumber, where the shadows of the past continued to dance at the periphery of your subconscious.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The soothing hum of the library enveloped you as you sat with the boys, engrossed in your study materials. Ni-ki, positioned beside you, couldn't resist stealing glances at your work. Aware of his glances, you decided to address the matter. "Ni-ki, I can see you looking. I can just help you," you offered, your voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"No, no, I'm fine, really!" Ni-ki hastily responded, attempting to assure you. Your eyes rolled in response, a subtle expression of your disbelief. Despite his protests, you returned your attention to your work, a faint smile lingering on your lips.

The rhythmic quietude was disrupted by the sudden entrance of Jake, his figure a whirlwind of excitement as he sprinted towards your table, arms waving emphatically. Jungwon voiced the collective curiosity, asking, "What's up with him?" Jake, breathless, stopped by the occupied table, a piece of paper clutched in his hands.

"Guys!" he exclaimed, momentarily drowned out by a nearby shush from an irritated student. Apologetically, Jake mumbled an apology to the disgruntled individual before focusing on the group again. His announcement resonated with enthusiasm, "Guys, there's a Halloween party coming up this Friday at Hyunjin's house!"

Intrigued by the unexpected announcement, Sunoo, voiced the question on everyone's minds. "Halloween party?" he inquired. Jake's affirmative nod unleashed a ripple of reactions, from raised eyebrows to exchanged glances.

However, Jay, interjected with a touch of seriousness. "So let me see if I understood this... there's a party this Halloween, despite the fact that we live in an unsafe town?" His inquiry injected a note of caution, prompting a brief pause in the group's excitement as they considered the potential risks associated with attending a festive gathering in the current environment.

Just as uncertainty lingered, a new voice chimed in, and all heads turned to see Hyunjin, who sauntered up and casually slung an arm around Jake's neck. "It`ll be fun guys!" Hyunjin pointed out, "Besides! I hired security to stand guard! And the place will be packed. Only those with private invitations get in! So everyone will be held accountable!"

Hyunjin's explanation seemed to alleviate some concerns. As a gesture of encouragement, he set down five private invitations. Jake, already holding one, received an extra burst of excitement. "See you all this Friday!" Hyunjin declared, leaving the library with an air of confidence.

The group momentarily sobered, caught between the allure of a party and the reality of their surroundings.

However, Jake's plea for company quickly shifted the focus. "Come on, guys, pleaseee! I don't wanna go alone," he implored, pulling an empty chair to the table and joining Ni-ki, and you couldn't help but notice Jake's puppy-dog eyes fixed on you. Eyes turned towards you, the only girl in the group, as you reached for one of the invitations. The golden letters on the Halloween-themed background spoke of festivities and fun, inviting participants to wear costumes, with additional details about security and the address.

Despite knowing your mother might not permit you to attend, the earnestness in Jake's eyes prompted a smile and a nod from you. The boys, each securing an invitation, burst into lively discussion about the upcoming event. Sunoo's excitement over costumes and Sunghoon's reminiscence of past parties echoed through the library, and you found solace in the distraction from your own thoughts.

Amidst the lively chatter, your attention briefly strayed to your phone, thoughts of Heeseung, absent for days due to sickness, tugged at your heart. Days had passed since you last saw or heard from him, as he had been notably absent from the recent killing spree.

You did feel a mix of pride for his restraint and worry for his sudden disappearance.

While the boys immersed themselves in costume ideas displayed on Jake's computer screen, the realization struck— you missed Heeseung. The void left by his absence flooded your mind. The real smiles, the scent of his cologne, the sound of his voice, his tender kisses, and the protective embrace that made you feel cherished—all of it tugged at your heart.

Despite your attempt to ignore the emotions welling up inside you, you remained oblivious to the devious plans the boys were quietly hatching, a surprise destined to unfold on the night of the Halloween party.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The soft glow of fairy lights adorned Sunoo's bedroom, casting a warm and inviting ambiance. Yet, the atmosphere clashed with the rising tension within you. "Are you joking with me?" you asked, standing in the middle of the room, a sense of skepticism etched across your face. Sunoo, with an excited glint in his eyes, had taken it upon himself to select your Halloween costume. Trusting him with this responsibility now felt like a leap of faith you were questioning.

On Sunoo's bed lay the ensemble he had chosen for you – an angel costume. The short, ethereal white dress poofed out at the bottom, giving it an otherworldly charm. White gloves, elegantly reaching to your elbows, accompanied the outfit. A delicate headband connected to a halo rested on the bed, awaiting it`s place atop your head. White tights, adorned with diamonds intricately stitched into the fabric, a pair of pristine white heels and soft, pelt-like angel wings completed the ensemble.

You cautiously touched the wings, surprised by their softness, "It's a pretty costume, Y/n! Come on, give it a try!" Sunoo pleaded with an infectious enthusiasm. "Fine…but only because I don't have anything else, and the party is in one hour."

As Sunoo gave you an encouraging thumbs up, he exited the room, leaving you to change. Closing the door behind him, you took a deep breath, eyeing the costume. The room echoed with your murmured mantra, "This is crazy, this is crazy," as you began the process of changing into the attire.

After finishing changing into the angel costume Sunoo had chosen for you, you stepped in front of the mirror to assess the result. As you looked at your reflection, a sense of relief washed over you—you looked okay. With a twirl, you tested the movement of the skirt, pleased to see it held its shape beautifully. Amidst the ensemble, a pearly waistbead adorned your waist, its lustrous pearls gleaming softly in the dim light. A black heart, connected the pearls, adding a subtle yet captivating contrast to the purity of your costume. Additionally, a layered pearly necklace graced your neck, at the center, a heart pendant adorned with intricate wings hung delicately, perfectly complementing the angelic theme of your attire.

"Y/n?" Sunoo's voice came from behind the door, accompanied by a light knock. "Are you finished?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm finished," you replied, confirming your readiness.

Sunoo eagerly opened the door and entered the room, his eyes lighting up as he caught sight of you. With an enthusiastic grin, he clapped his hands and bounced lightly on his feet. "You look so beautiful, Y/n!" he exclaimed, his genuine compliment warming your heart.

"Really?" you responded, still a bit uncertain.

"Of course! I would never lie to you!" Sunoo reassured you before grabbing his own costume—a simple pirate outfit—and preparing to get ready.

As you applied the finishing touches to your hair and makeup, you soon felt satisfied with your appearance. Descending the stairs in your costume, you found Sunoo already heading out the front door towards the car. And Jay, dressed as The Joker, was assisting Jungwon with his car racer costume.

"What are you supposed to be?" you asked Jungwon.

"I'm supposed to be a car racer who died in a car crash and—" Jungwon paused mid-sentence as he turned to face you, his expression mirroring Sunoo's excitement. "Wow, Y/n! You look amazing!" he exclaimed, rushing over to you and taking your hands in his.

"Thank you, Jungwon!" you replied, returning his smile.

Jay, who had also turned to see you, was momentarily speechless. "Wow…" he whispered, clearly impressed. "You will definitely win the prettiest costume," he declared.

"There are awards?" you asked, surprised.

"Yeah! Hyunjin put it together last minute as a treat," Jungwon explained as he guided you out to the waiting car, with Jay following suit.

Taking your place in the passenger seat as Jay drove, you glanced out at the streets, observing the groups of trick-or-treaters and families celebrating Halloween together. "The others will meet us at the party," Jungwon informed, looking up from his phone.

"Oh, fun!" Sunoo exclaimed, anticipation evident in his voice.

As Jay parked the car a bit away from Hyunjin's house, you all stepped out into the night. The air was filled with the distant sound of music and laughter, and the glow of colorful lights illuminated the sky above Hyunjin's mansion. The driveway was packed with cars, and groups of people in various costumes were milling around, chatting and laughing.

Jungwon led the way, striding confidently towards the imposing front doors of the mansion. A security guard stood watch, checking invitations as guests arrived. You, Jay, and Sunoo followed closely behind Jungwon, anticipation building with every step.

"Invites?" the guard asked as you approached. You reached into your purse and retrieved the slip of paper, handing it to the guard. He glanced at it briefly before nodding and allowing you to pass.

Stepping inside, you were immediately struck by the grandeur of Hyunjin's family mansion. The interior was vast and dimly lit, with the only sources of light being the moonlight streaming through the windows and the pulsating lights from the dance floor.

A sweeping staircase led up to the second floor, where silhouettes of partygoers could be seen mingling and dancing. The sound of music filled the air, accompanied by the occasional cheer or burst of laughter.

You squinted against the flashing lights and spotted the DJ, Changbin, stationed at his booth, dressed as a zombie.

"Come on!" Sunoo's enthusiastic call broke through the noise. He eagerly pulled you and the rest of the group towards a living room area where some guests were taking a break on the couches. As you approached, you noticed Ni-ki sitting on one of the couches, dressed as Luigi, looking somewhat irritated as he sipped on a drink. Next to him sat Jake, dressed as Mario, laughing uproariously at something.

Ni-ki spotted you and waved, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "Finally!" he exclaimed, quickly bouncing off the couch to greet you. "Wow, you guys look amazing!" he complimented, his annoyance momentarily forgotten. You and the rest of the group thanked him, exchanging smiles.

The conversation took an unexpected turn as Jake, clearly a bit tipsy, giggled and made a comment about Heeseung's hypothetical reaction to seeing you. Confusion flashed across your face as you turned to the others, noticing their guilty expressions. "Heeseung is here?" you inquired, surprised by the revelation.

Before anyone could respond, you heard your name being called from behind. You turned around, as you laid eyes on Sunghoon approaching you. Dressed as a vampire, he exuded an air of elegance, his cloak billowing behind him as he walked. "You look amazing!" Sunghoon complimented sincerely, his warm smile momentarily easing your discomfort. "Thank you, you too."

However, it was the figure standing awkwardly behind Sunghoon that made your stomach churn. Heeseung stood there, dressed as a demon, his appearance sending a wave of mixed emotions coursing through you. Simple yet undeniably captivating in his black attire, Heeseung's unbuttoned shirt revealed his collarbones, and a silver chain hung around his neck. Black horns protruded from his slicked-back hair, and a pair of black wings adorned his back, completing the demonic ensemble.

As you took in his appearance, you couldn't help but feel a mix of anger, confusion, and longing wash over you.

With a sharp glare, you directed your gaze towards the boys, who attempted to appear innocent under your scrutiny. However, their guilty expressions betrayed them, and they instinctively backed away from your piercing stare. Clearly, they were responsible for orchestrating this couple costume setup, and you vowed silently to exact revenge on them soon.

"You look good," Heeseung's voice interrupted your silent standoff, drawing your attention back to him. Studying him closely now, you noticed the recent events had taken a toll on him. His eyes were tired, rimmed with dark circles, and he seemed notably thinner. "Thanks... you too," you replied, masking your concern with a polite response. Heeseung shrugged. "Thanks but, it wasn't my idea, Jake got me the costume," he admitted, his gaze dropping to his attire.

Forcing a smile, you turned your attention back to the boys, who now seemed to be squirming under your murderous stare. They were the culprits behind this whole ordeal, and they knew it. You relaxed your expression slightly as you turned back to Heeseung. "It wasn't mine either, Sunoo got me this," you explained, playing with the hem of your dress nervously.

"Well, it's pretty," Heeseung admitted, his nervousness evident as he bit his bottom lip. Surprised by his sincerity, you simply nodded in acknowledgment. Jungwon intervened, suggesting a drink, and you allowed him to lead you away from Heeseung.

Navigating through the crowded party, you and Jungwon eventually reached the spacious kitchen. Bottles of alcohol and snacks lined the long island, and Jungwon wasted no time in fixing himself a drink. You grabbed a drink for yourself and downed it in one gulp before turning to Jungwon with a pointed question.

"Did you know about it?" you asked, your tone laced with accusation. Jungwon stiffened at your tone, attempting to defend himself. "I didn't want to actually participate—" he began, but you cut him off, unimpressed by his excuses. "But you did know about it, and you didn't tell me?" you interjected sharply.

Jungwon pleaded innocence, claiming it was all Jake's idea. Despite his apology, you grumbled in frustration, punching him lightly in the arm. "Ow!" Jungwon protested, rubbing the spot where you had hit him, but you merely shrugged, determined to exact revenge on the boys for their deception.

"Hey Y/n! you're here?" A cheerful voice called out, pulling your attention away from the crowd. It was Yuna, one of your classmates, dressed as Carrie from the horror novel. Beside her stood Giselle, adorned in a witch costume. "Hello," you greeted them warmly, a smile playing on your lips.

"I'm going out," Giselle announced, grabbing a bottle of soju from the fridge before making her exit. Yuna flashed you a friendly smile and poured herself a drink. "I like your costume!" she complimented you. "Thanks, I like yours too," you replied, returning the compliment.

"Hey, a few of us were going out, do you want to join?" she asked, her tone inviting, Yuna's invitation caught you off guard but piqued your interest. You had grown close with Yuna over class, and her offer seemed appealing. With a nod, you accepted, feeling comfortable in her presence. "Yeah, I'll be right there," you confirmed.

"Cool!" Yuna exclaimed, excitement evident in her voice, before heading off to join her friends. Turning to face Jungwon, who looked slightly puzzled, "you're going with her?" he inquired, his expression curious. "Yes, I can't stick with you guys the whole night," you explained. Jungwon nodded understandingly, a smile gracing his lips. "Have fun and be safe then. We'll be around here if you need us," he reassured you before taking his leave.

Taking another sip of your drink, you felt a surge of confidence coursing through you as you navigated your way through the pulsating dance floor. The crowd seemed to part effortlessly as you passed, their gazes drawn to your costume. Some offered compliments as you made your way through the throng, and you graciously thanked them, a smile playing on your lips.

As you reached the back of the house, you stepped outside into the cool night air, scanning the area for Yuna. Spotting her amidst a group of people, she waved enthusiastically, her excitement palpable. Making your way over, you were greeted by the welcoming smiles of Yuna's friends.

"You actually came!" Yuna exclaimed, her happiness evident in her tone. "Guys, you know Y/n," she introduced you to the group, who greeted you warmly in return. Though you recognized them, you hadn't interacted with them much before.

Giselle stood besides Yuna, accompanied by Yuqi, whose fairy costume added a whimsical touch to the gathering. Kazuha, dressed as the hauntingly beautiful Corpse Bride, stood beside them. Momo, adorned in mummy wrappings, mingled with the group. Felix, portraying the spirited Luffy from the anime, engaged in a conversation with Mingi, who was decked out as the iconic Michael Myers. Minghao, was dressed as the beloved superhero Spiderman, and Keeho stood tall, embodying the iconic Batman, while Taehyung, was dressed as the enigmatic Phantom of the Opera.

Meanwhile, as Jungwon joined the rest of the guys, they noticed your absence from their midst. "Where's Y/n?" Ni-ki asked, glancing around the room. "She's with some of her friends, I think," Jungwon replied, taking a seat beside Jay and Sunghoon. But then another realization struck Jungwon. "Where's Heeseung?" he asked, scanning the room. The boys looked around, but Heeseung was nowhere to be found. "Huh? He was just here!?" Ni-ki exclaimed in confusion. "He's probably around here," Sunghoon suggested.

"Was it wrong of us to drag them to this party?" Sunoo pondered aloud, expressing concern. "No, they need to realize that they love each other," Jake asserted confidently, his voice rising a bit too loudly and drawing unwanted attention from those nearby. "Shhh!" Jay quickly shushed him, casting a wary glance around the room. "We don't want everyone here to know!" he admonished Jake. "We can only hope they realize it," he added, the concern evident in his tone.

Meanwhile, you happily engaged in conversation with Yuna and her friends, though you kept your interactions with Taehyung to a minimum, he seemed content simply gazing at you, making you feel a tad uncomfortable, especially with the chill in the air. As Felix proposed hitting the dance floor, you glanced at your phone and saw a message from your brother indicating that he had successfully covered for you and your mother was asleep. Grateful for his assistance, you slipped your phone back into your purse as Yuna pulled you onto the dance floor with her friends.

Lost in the pulsating rhythm and laughter, you suddenly felt a burning stare and glanced around, eventually locking eyes with Heeseung, who stood a distance away, his gaze fixed solely on you. Feeling uneasy, you looked away, only to be swept into the dance by Kazuha and mingling with Mingi, who smiled down at you.

Amidst the joyous atmosphere, you eventually excused yourself to the kitchen for a drink. The quiet solitude enveloped you as you leaned against the counter, the faint scent of nicotine lingering in the air. Lost in thought, you retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge and took a sip. Just then, Heeseung entered the room, breaking the silence. "Hi," you greeted softly, meeting his gaze. "Hello," he replied, his voice equally soft.

A moment of silence passed between you before Heeseung spoke again. "You looked like you had fun on the dance floor," he remarked, attempting to break the tension. "Yeah, I did," you replied, though the unease lingered in your voice. "How are you doing?" you asked, hoping for a glimpse into his state of mind. He seemed surprised by your question. "I'm good. How are you doing?" he asked in return. "Good," you answered, though the strength in your voice wavered.

As you and Heeseung stood there awkwardly in the kitchen, a group of drunk people stumbled in, breaking the tense silence. Quickly, you averted your gaze, feeling the need to escape. You attempted to slip out of the kitchen, but a glance behind you revealed that Heeseung was following closely behind, his expression determined as he prowled after you. Gasping, you navigated through the crowd, each time you turned, he was right on your trail, his presence looming closer.

What was he doing? You couldn't help but wonder as you climbed up to the second floor, weaving past people until you finally stopped and turned around. To your relief, you didn't see Heeseung, feeling victorious as you leaned over the balcony railing, observing the festivities below. A smile graced your lips as you spotted Jake, Jay, and Ni-ki on the dance floor, enjoying themselves.

However, your moment of triumph was short-lived as you sensed someone approaching from behind. Instinctively, you knew it was Heeseung, his cologne lingering in the air as his arms enveloped you against the railing. He had pulled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing his toned and veiny arms as he gripped the railing, his head resting on your shoulder as he whispered in your ear, "You thought you could escape from me?" Feeling a surge of panic at his sudden presence, you attempted to pull away from his grip, but Heeseung's hold only tightened around you. His fingers wrapped around your wrist, preventing your escape, as he effortlessly pulled you back into his chest. You could feel the warmth of his body pressing against your back, his arms enveloping you in a tight embrace, leaving you with no choice but to surrender to his hold.

Heeseung leaned over the railing, bringing you along with him. You had no choice but to lean over as well, your weight supported by the sturdy wooden barrier. From the corner of your eye, you could see him gazing at you, his intense gaze locking with yours as he whispered, his warm breath grazing your ear, "Running from me like that?" His voice was soft yet laced with a hint of accusation. Your mouth opened in response, but no words came out. You missed this intimacy, feeling safe and secure in his embrace, as if he could alleviate all your stress.

Eventually, you turned around to face him, meeting his gaze as he leaned in closer. Placing a hand on his chest, you tilted your head slightly, whispering, "I thought I could try." Neither of you spoke after that, simply gazing at each other, both feeling touch-starved after days apart.

"Please, angel," Heeseung whispered, his touch sending a warm sensation through your stomach. Before you could respond, however, you heard your name being called. Startled, both you and Heeseung pulled back to see Giselle standing there. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?" she asked innocently. "No, no," you quickly assured her. "Um, what is it?" you asked.

"Mingi is looking for you," Giselle informed you, oblivious to the tension between you and Heeseung. You noticed the subtle clenching of Heeseung's jaw at the news. "Oh, thank you for telling me," you said to Giselle, offering a polite smile as she walked away, leaving you and Heeseung.

Clearing your throat to catch Heeseung's attention, you saw his gaze instantly snap to you. "I'm gonna..." you started talking as you began to walk back down, but with a glance behind you, you noticed Heeseung was still following after you. Shaking your head, you navigated around the thick crowd until you made it to the dance floor. You spotted Yuna and her friends still dancing, but no sign of Mingi. Scanning the area, you tried to find him, but it seemed like he found you first. "There you are!" Mingi said happily, and you turned, smiling at him as he led you to the outskirts of the ground floor where a bar stood. "There's a bar?" you asked, surprised by its presence. "Yes!" Mingi exclaimed. You both settled on the barstools as you ordered a strong drink, feeling like you needed it.

As you and Mingi began chatting like old friends, the bartender prepared your drinks. You both cheered your shots, downing them quickly. Mingi ordered another round of drinks as you looked out at the dance floor, feeling a sense of something pulling you. You made eye contact with Heeseung, who stood by the door, surrounded by other people but with his full attention fixed on you. You quickly turned back to Mingi, who was rambling on about something, and you listened attentively.

As time passed and the shots flowed, you began to feel the buzz of alcohol. Giggling with Mingi, who was clearly drunk as he clung to you, he slurred, "Hey Y/n! You are very beautiful!" "Thank you, Mingi," you giggled in response. "Hey, hey! Are you single?" he slurred further. "Well..." you started to reply, but before you could finish, a scream interrupted. You looked and saw Yuna running towards you. "Y/n! Come on! Come on!" she screamed, grabbing you and Mingi. "This is my song!" she declared as a Rihanna song blared through the speakers.

Wide-eyed, you recognized the song as "Only Girl (In the World)" and Yuna pulled you and Mingi into the middle of the dance floor. Without hesitation, you smiled and danced and sang along with Yuna, Giselle, Yuqi, Momo, and Kazuha. Together, you all screamed the lyrics without a care in the world.

Spinning around, you saw Jake and Ni-ki dancing nearby. When they noticed you, they jumped closer, joining in the fun. Lost in the music and the energy of the moment, you danced with abandon.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As the night progressed, you found yourself fully immersed in the energy of the party. The music throbbed in your ears, the flashing lights painted the room in vibrant hues, and the laughter of your friends echoed in the air. Amidst the chaos of the dance floor, you let yourself go, moving to the rhythm with abandon, your worries melting away with every beat.

But amidst the crowd, amidst the laughter and the music, your attention kept being drawn to him. Heeseung, his presence a constant, his gaze an ever-present force that seemed to follow you wherever you went. You felt his eyes on you, hungry, intense, and filled with longing. Every time you glanced in his direction, you found him there, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine.

And, if you were being honest with yourself, you couldn't deny the flutter of excitement that his attention brought. It felt good to be wanted, to be pursued with such fervor. Despite the chaos of the party, despite the throng of people surrounding you, it was his gaze that you found yourself drawn to, his presence that you couldn't shake.

Outside by the grand pool, you found a moment's respite from the pulsating energy of the party. Nestled on a plush couch with friends on either side, the night air carried the distant echoes of laughter and music, a backdrop to the tranquil scene. Yuna occupied the space to your left, a comforting presence amidst the lively ambiance, while Mingi sat on your right, his flushed cheeks betraying the effects of the festivities.

As you sat there, the weariness of the night settling upon you, you nursed a drink that had long lost its chill. Setting it down on a nearby table, your gaze wandered to the pool, its iridescent waters shimmering under the moonlight, casting a mesmerizing glow.

Mingi's arm draped around you, pulling you closer, you chuckled softly at his playful demeanor, but as his gaze met yours, a sense of disquiet washed over you. Something felt off, a nagging feeling that this wasn't where you belonged. It wasn't Mingi's touch that you craved, but another's, someone whose absence had left a void within you.

Before you could dwell further on your thoughts, a sudden presence loomed behind you. Turning around, you found Heeseung standing there, his demeanor intense and unwavering. His piercing gaze bore into Mingi, a silent warning that didn't escape your notice.

"Y/n, may I have a word?" Heeseung's voice cut through the air, his tone clipped and authoritative. "Hey, we're kinda busy here," Mingi's voice carried a hint of protest, but Heeseung's response was swift. "Not anymore you are," he snapped back, his tone laced with an edge that brooked no argument. The intensity of his gaze bore down on Mingi, leaving him no choice but to relent. "Okay, okay. Fine, take her," Mingi's words held a tinge of resignation.

With an apologetic smile aimed at Mingi, you rose from the couch, the weight of Heeseung's stare compelling you to follow him.

As you came to him, he wordlessly pulled you along to a vacant room, his grip firm around your waist. The silence between you was heavy with unspoken tension as you searched his eyes for answers, but he remained resolute, his gaze unwavering.

"What did you want to talk about?" you ventured, but Heeseung's response was swift and startling. With a sudden movement, he slammed his hand against the wall beside your head, causing you to emit a small noise of surprise. His eyes bore into yours, filled with a mixture of anger and despair as he unleashed a torrent of emotion.

"Does it humor you?" His voice trembled with pent-up frustration, each word dripping with the bitter taste of betrayal.

"What?" The single word escaped your lips, echoing in the tense silence that enveloped you both. Heeseung's frustration boiled over, his words pouring forth like a rainstorm.

"Does it humor you to break up, leave me to rot, knowing that bastard went after you and not send me a message that you were okay?" His voice cracked with raw emotion, his despair pouring out in waves.

You stood there, paralyzed by the weight of his words, unable to offer any solace or explanation. He continued, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and despair, each syllable a dagger to your heart.

"…and then show up looking so beautiful?" His voice wavered. The realization of your absence, of the void left in his life, weighed heavily on his shoulders, threatening to crush him beneath its unbearable weight. "And then see other guys look at you? Knowing I can't do anything because you aren't mine anymore?" His words tumbled out in a torrent of despair.

His hand rose to your cheek, a silent plea for understanding, for forgiveness. You felt the warmth of his touch against your skin, a bittersweet reminder of the love that still lingered between you, despite the pain that had torn you apart.

"They don't deserve to look at you." The words slipped from his lips like a whispered prayer, a plea for redemption amidst the chaos of his shattered heart.

As the weight of his words settled upon you, you found yourself speechless.

"Heeseung… I'm… so sorry, but I didn't…" You struggled to articulate your thoughts, but they remained elusive, lost amidst the maelstrom of emotions swirling within you. "I don't know what to say," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

"Then don't say anything," Heeseung's words were a command, a plea wrapped in desperation. Before you could respond, his lips crashed against yours. A gasp escaped your lips as he drew you closer, his hand instinctively finding its place around your neck. The world around you faded as you went slack in his hold.

You basked in the intensity of the moment, feeling the undeniable rightness of being in Heeseung's arms after days of longing. His touch, his kiss, it all felt like a familiar embrace, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of your emotions. As his hand trailed down to your thigh, hitching it up, you felt a surge of desire coursing through you, igniting every nerve ending in your body.

Heeseung's touch became more fervent, his hands gripping the meat of your thighs through the fabric, sending shivers down your spine. With a sense of urgency, his hand slipped upward, tracing the curve of your thigh, eliciting a soft gasp from your lips. In a bold move, you wrapped your leg around his hip, drawing him closer.

He pulled back from the kiss, his lips leaving a trail of fiery kisses along your neck, marking you as his own with each fervent touch. "Heeseung—" You attempted to speak, to voice the thoughts swirling within your mind, but his lips silenced you once more, his desperation evident in the small, desperate sounds escaping his lips. You felt his hands slide to your hips, pulling you close, while your hands instinctively found their place on his chest.

But before you could surrender completely to the moment, the door burst open, shattering the fragile bubble of intimacy between you and Heeseung. With a start, you pushed him away, both of you turning to see a couple of drunken partygoers stumbling into the room. Heeseung's expression turned murderous, his gaze fixed on the intruders with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine.

In that moment of chaos and intrusion, you made a split-second decision, pulling away from Heeseung and running out of the room, ignoring his shouts behind you. Tears welled up in your eyes as you fled, overwhelmed by the realization that once again, you had fallen back into the tangled web of emotions surrounding Heeseung.

You felt trapped, ensnared by a love that seemed to have a grip on your very soul, leaving you with no clear path forward. Despite your efforts to break free, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were destined to be entangled with Heeseung, no matter how hard you tried to resist.

The cacophony of the party faded into the background as you burst out of the door, onto the deserted streets, the sound of your heels resonating with each hurried step. It was late, the moon casting an eerie glow on the silent pavement, devoid of any signs of life. Houses stood like looming shadows, their windows darkened, their inhabitants lost in the embrace of sleep. All you could focus on was the desperate need to escape, to find solace in the familiarity of home.

Lost in your thoughts, you failed to notice the ominous presence trailing behind you, the faint hum of an engine echoing in the empty street. The realization struck too late, a sharp pang of pain reverberating through your body as something solid collided with you. The world seemed to spin, your senses overwhelmed by a wave of agony as you crumpled to the cold asphalt, the harsh impact stealing the air from your lungs.

Through tear-blurred vision, you glimpsed a shadowy figure approaching through the haze, a menacing silhouette against the dimly lit backdrop of the night. Your consciousness wavered, as you surrendered to the engulfing void, your body succumbing to the numbing embrace of unconsciousness.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As consciousness slowly seeped back into your awareness, you were immediately engulfed in a whirlwind of agony. Pain coursed through every fiber of your being, a relentless torment that threatened to consume you whole. With a cry of anguish, you attempted to move, only to find your limbs unresponsive, bound by unseen restraints.

Opening your eyes proved to be a daunting task, the world swimming in a haze of disorientation. Through bleary vision, you were greeted by the sight of a gray cement wall. Furrowing your brows in confusion, you attempted to turn your head, only to be met with a wave of dizziness that left you reeling.

As you struggled to make sense of your surroundings, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of your stomach. With a growing sense of dread, you cast your gaze downward, your heart sinking as you beheld the sight before you. You were bound to a chair, your arms and legs immobilized by tight restraints. Panic clawed at the edges of your mind as you writhed against the bindings, each movement met with searing pain.

Your eyes fell upon your left arm, where an IV drip stood, pushing an unknown substance through your veins, dulling your senses and leaving you feeling lethargic and heavy-limbed. Panic surged within you as you realized the extent of your predicament.

Still clad in your Halloween costume, the remnants of the festivities felt like a cruel mockery in the face of your current ordeal. Bruised and bloodied, you were a stark contrast to the playful facade you had worn just hours earlier. Your heels lay discarded nearby, a reminder of the freedom that had been cruelly stripped away from you.

A cloth gag silenced any attempts at outcry, muffling your cries of desperation as you surveyed your surroundings. The room resembled a dark, foreboding cellar, devoid of windows. A single reinforced steel door loomed ominously before you, another chair, positioned a short distance away, served as the only other furniture in the chamber.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you took in the bleak reality of your situation. Bound and helpless, trapped in a nightmare from which there seemed to be no escape. With a heavy heart, you resigned yourself to the chilling silence, the echoes of your thoughts the only company in the darkness.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The news of your disappearance spread like wildfire, igniting a frenzy of panic and despair among those who know and love you. On television screens and newspaper headlines, your face was plastered alongside the words "MISSING."

In the midst of the chaos, your mother's anguished cries pierced the air, echoing through the once-familiar confines of your home. Tears streamed down her face, her sobs a testament to the depths of her despair.

Your brother, haunted by guilt, paced the floorboards with a heavy heart, knowing that his actions had contributed to your disappearance.

Outside, the authorities scrambled to gather information, their efforts focused on piecing together the fragments of your last known movements. Police officers canvassed the streets, questioning witnesses and appealing to the public for any shred of information that might lead to your whereabouts.

Meanwhile, your friends, consumed by worry and fear, clung to each other for support. They replayed the events of the night over and over in their minds, grappling with feelings of guilt and helplessness.

But perhaps none felt the weight of your absence more than Heeseung. As he awoke to the news of your disappearance, his world shattered into a million pieces. With trembling hands, he reached for his phone, desperate to hear the sound of your voice, only to be met with the cold, indifferent voice of an automated message. In a fit of anguish, he hurled his phone across the room.

Dongsik, sensing his owner's distress, approached tentatively. But Heeseung was beyond comfort, his fears consuming him whole as he crumbled beneath the weight of his despair.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As time dragged on in the dim confines of the basement, you felt the oppressive weight of darkness pressing down on you, enveloping you in a suffocating shroud of uncertainty. With no sunlight to gauge the passage of time and no watch to mark the hours, you were left to languish in the void, trapped in a timeless limbo of despair.

Suddenly, the heavy silence was shattered by the creak of the door swinging open, and you blinked against the sudden intrusion of light, your vision swimming in disorientation. As your eyes adjusted, you were met with the chilling sight of Ghostface, your captor, looming ominously in the doorway. A surge of fear shot through you, your heart pounding in your chest as you braced yourself for whatever horror he had in store.

"Mhmh," you attempted to speak, but your words were stifled by the gag, leaving only muffled sounds to escape your lips. Ghostface's voice echoed in the darkness, his tone dripping with sinister amusement as he addressed you.

"Ah, you are awake! Wonderful," he intoned, his voice sending shivers down your spine. The chair creaked ominously beneath you as you struggled against your restraints, the ropes digging into your skin as you rocked back and forth in a desperate attempt to free yourself.

"Ah-ah," he tutted. "Don't do that, my dear. I don't want you bleeding out and dying so early! That would just ruin the fun," he remarked, his words laced with a sickening sense of amusement.

With a grimace of pain, you stilled your movements, the throbbing ache in your body a relentless reminder of your vulnerability. Ghostface's presence loomed over you, his masked visage shrouded in shadows as he studied you with a predatory curiosity. You met his gaze with a steely resolve, refusing to cower before his intimidation tactics, causing his patience to wear thin as he tore the gag from your mouth.

"Now, I finally have you right where I want you," he declared, his voice a low, menacing whisper. "What is so special about you, hmm?" he inquired, his tone dripping with disdain as he awaited your response.

Your defiance burned brightly in your eyes as you locked gazes with Ghostface, refusing to yield. "Oh, don't give me that look!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with exasperation. "You broke his reigning killing streak, and for what?" he demanded, but still, you refused to give him the satisfaction of a response, your lips pressed together in a line.

"Ah, the silent treatment, hm?" Ghostface chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down your spine. "But your silence won't save you now, my dear." Yet you offered no response.

"Oh, how you infuriate me," Ghostface sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "But mark my words, my dear, I will uncover the truth, one way or another."

"Fuck you, you bastard," you spat defiantly, which was met with a growl of frustration from your captor. "Why do you have to make this so difficult, sweetheart?" he taunted, his voice dripping with malice as he bathed the basement in harsh light before retreating. You winced at the sudden assault on your senses, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill from your eyes.

Alone in the oppressive silence, you screamed until your voice grew hoarse, your cries echoing fruitlessly against the unforgiving walls. With each passing moment, the weight of your captivity bore down on you with crushing force, leaving you battered and broken, your thoughts consumed by the memory of Heeseung and the cruel twists of fate that had led you to this nightmarish ordeal.

"Heeseung," you whispered, the name a desperate plea for solace in the darkness as tears streamed silently down your cheeks, your heart aching with longing for the one person who might offer you a glimmer of hope in the abyss of your despair.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The sound of the door creaking open echoed through the dimly lit basement, but you didn't lift your head or open your eyes. Exhaustion weighed heavily upon you, your body drained of strength and your spirit battered by the relentless torment you endured.

"I know you are awake, Y/n," Ghostface's voice cut through the silence as he moved about the room. You grumbled out a response, your voice hoarse and barely audible. Your throat felt raw from screaming, your stomach gnawing with hunger, and your mind clouded with fatigue.

"Don't worry, it will all be over soon," Ghostface's words offered little comfort as you finally raised your head to observe his movements. He had set up a phone to record you, his actions sending a chill down your spine as you realized the gravity of the situation. "How long have I been here?" you managed to croak out, wincing at the harshness of your own tone.

"You've only been here for two days, Y/n," Ghostface replied, his tone laced with mockery. "Don't tell me you're already breaking?" he taunted, his laughter echoing in the confined space. You remained silent, unable to summon the strength to respond as he continued his preparations.

"It won't matter, if this works you won't stay here for long!" Ghostface's words washed over you, your mind numb to the significance of his threats. His voice droned on, the ringing in your ears grew louder, drowning out his voice as you weakly blinked at the camera, your gaze unfocused.

Suddenly, a sharp pain seared through your scalp as Ghostface seized your hair in a vice-like grip, yanking your head back forcefully. Your eyes snapped open in response to the agony, your gaze meeting his behind the chilling facade of his mask. He wielded a knife, its glinting blade poised menacingly against your throat, applying just enough pressure to draw blood.

You grimaced, the metallic tang of blood filling your senses as a single drop trickled down from where the knife bit into your skin.

"Come to the beginning and you'll find your precious little thing," Ghostface's words cut through, his grip relenting as he released you and turned to the phone, ending the recording.

"That's all I need from you. Now you stay here and don't move," Ghostface commanded, dismantling the setup with disregard. "Not like you can go anywhere with how you look!" he mocked, his laughter fading as he exited the room, leaving you alone in the frigid darkness once more.

Tears welled in your eyes as your body trembled with exhaustion and fear, you cried out, your voice lost in the void as despair threatened to consume you whole.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

Heeseung sat on the couch, his surroundings a chaotic reflection of his inner turmoil. The living room was in disarray, scattered with empty instant ramen containers and discarded pieces of paper strewn across the coffee table. His hair was disheveled, a wild mess mirroring the chaos of his mind, and dark circles underscored his eyes, evidence of his sleepless nights.

Just as he was consumed by his overwhelming sense of helplessness, his phone buzzed with a message notification. His heart leaped into his throat as he snatched up the device, his hands trembling. The screen was illuminated with message from Jay:

Turn on the news

The message read, short and to the point. Without a moment's hesitation, Heeseung leaped over the coffee table, his movements fueled by a surge of urgency. He reached for the remote control, his fingers fumbling slightly in his haste, and aimed it at the television.

With a press of a button, the screen flickered to life, bathing the dimly lit room in the soft glow of the news broadcast. Heeseung's heart pounded in his chest as he awaited the unfolding of events, his eyes fixed on the screen.

The news anchor's somber expression mirrored Heeseung's growing dread as she began to speak about the recent disappearance of you, her voice weighted with sorrow.

"We have received a video from an anonymous sender regarding the recent disappearance of Y/N Y/L/N, which has been concluded as a kidnapping," the news anchor announced, her tone heavy with gravity. "What you are about to witness is nothing short of horror."

Heeseung's breath caught in his throat as the video feed started, revealing you, broken and hurt, your eyes vacant as they stared past the camera. His heart clenched at the sight of you, your appearance confirming his worst fears. Matted hair, dried blood staining your face, bruises marring your skin – it was a gut-wrenching sight that threatened to shatter him.

As the figure of Ghostface stepped into frame, clad in the familiar mask that once represented Heeseung`s persona, his rage boiled over. "You fucker!" he shouted, his voice laced with venomous fury. Though he listened to Ghostface's speech, his attention remained fixated on you, his heart aching with the desire to protect you from the horrors you were enduring.

You didn't deserve to suffer, locked away in a basement by a deranged psychopath. He was nothing compared to the true Ghostface, the persona that Heeseung had embodied with a sense of helplessness and thrill. And Heeseung vowed, with every fiber of his being, that he would find you and ensure your safety, no matter the cost.

As Ghostface's sinister actions unfolded on the screen, Heeseung felt a surge of rage course through him like a raging inferno. The sight of you, vulnerable and in pain, ignited a primal instinct within him, urging him to take action, to protect you at any cost. His grip on the TV tightened, his knuckles turning white with the intensity of his emotions, as he fought to contain the tempest of fury that threatened to consume him.

When Ghostface, that despicable figure who dared to lay a hand on you, Heeseung's anger boiled over, reaching its breaking point. The knife pressed against your throat, the blood seeping from the wound, it was all too much for him to bear. With a guttural roar of fury, Heeseung nearly hurled the TV across the room, his muscles coiled like a tightly wound spring ready to unleash its pent-up fury.

"Come to the beginning and you'll find your precious little thing," Ghostface's words echoed in his mind, a cruel taunt that fueled Heeseung's determination to bring justice to those who dared to harm you. As the video abruptly cut off and the news anchor's voice filled the room, Heeseung's gaze hardened into icy determination.

"We can only pray for Y/n to return safely and hope that Ghostface will be taken care of," the news anchor's words were a mere backdrop to Heeseung's seething rage. With a menacing edge to his voice, Heeseung spoke, his tone laced with dark intent.

"Oh, I will make sure he will be taken care of," he muttered, his laughter carrying a sinister edge as he stalked towards his room, the crackling of his knuckles punctuating his ominous declaration. With a sense of grim purpose, Heeseung knew what he had to do. The message had been received, and Ghostface would soon learn the full extent of Heeseung's wrath.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As you struggled against the restraints, your body protesting every movement, you felt a surge of desperation overwhelming you. Ignoring the pain shooting through your limbs, you wriggled back and forth in a futile attempt to free yourself from the confines of the chair. Each movement was met with a chorus of protests from your protesting muscles, but you pressed on, driven by a primal instinct to escape.

Just as you tried to shift away from the IV stand, the sound of the door opening halted your movements. Your heart raced as you watched Ghostface enter the room once more, his presence casting a chilling shadow over the already dimly lit basement. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto yours as he approached, a syringe in his hand.

"Changed position, eh?" Ghostface remarked casually, his voice dripping with malice as he closed the distance between you. "Hey! Hey! No, keep that away from me!" you shouted, your voice trembling with desperation. Your screams of protest fell on deaf ears as he ignored your pleas, swiftly injecting the foreign substance into your arm with a zero disregard for your well-being. "There, was that so hard?"

The effects washed over you. A woozy sensation washed over you, your vision blurring as spots danced before your eyes. Your body felt weightless, disconnected from reality as the world spun around you. You tried to resist, but it was a losing battle. Before you knew it, consciousness slipped away, leaving you adrift in a sea of black.

Ghostface stood over your limp body, a cruel smile twisting his lips as he surveyed his handiwork. With a rough tug on your hair, he ensured that you were thoroughly incapacitated before cutting you loose from the chair. Hoisting your unconscious form over his shoulder, he carried you upstairs to a dimly lit living room, where he deposited you into another chair.

Methodically, he bound your wrists together behind the chair with thick ropes, ensuring that you were securely restrained. Your legs followed suit, bound tightly with more rope until any hope of escape was extinguished. With a strip of duct tape pressed firmly over your mouth, he silenced any potential cries for help, leaving you gagged and helpless.

Finally, he placed a bag over your head, shrouding you in darkness as he left you alone in the silent room.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

You stirred groggily, your senses slowly coming back to you as you regained consciousness. Pain radiated through your body, a constant reminder of the ordeal you had endured. You tried to blink away the darkness that surrounded you, but your vision remained obscured by the bag over your head. Panic welled up inside you as you realized you couldn't see, couldn't speak, couldn't move freely.

Your limbs felt heavy and restrained, bound tightly by the ropes that held you captive. With a muffled groan, you attempted to shift your position, but the bindings held firm, rendering your efforts futile. You could hear the faint murmur of a television in the background, the sound of a horror movie echoing through the room.

Suddenly, his voice cut through the silence, sending a shiver down your spine. "Ah, you're awake!" he taunted, though you couldn't see him. You made an attempt to respond, but the tape over your mouth silenced any words that tried to escape, all you could do was make sounds of frustration and discomfort, hoping to convey your distress. "Be quiet," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. You huffed in frustration but complied, knowing that any resistance would only lead to further punishment.

As the minutes stretched into hours, hunger gnawed at your stomach, a reminder of your long captivity. "You hungry?" he asked, his tone dripping with mockery. You nodded, a futile gesture. "Aww, that's too bad. I haven't gone shopping at all," he taunted, his words a cruel reminder that he held all the power.

Time seemed to blur together as you sat in that uncomfortable position. The absence of sound and movement only served to amplify your sense of helplessness, leaving you feeling isolated and vulnerable. Anger simmered beneath the surface as you struggled against your restraints, the frustration of your situation boiling over with each passing moment.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The oppressive silence was shattered by the sudden flick of a switch, followed by a deafening crash that reverberated through the room. Startled, you strained against your restraints, your heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. "Show yourself!" a deep voice bellowed, the authority in its tone sending a shiver down your spine. Without a doubt, you knew it was Heeseung. He had come for you.

As you listened intently, another voice joined the fray, equally deep but tinged with a sinister edge. "Ahh, such an honor to finally meet you, Ghostface," the other Ghostface purred, his words laced with malice. "I have waited long for this opportunity for us to meet. I just wished it was under different circumstances."

"Where is she?" Heeseung's voice demanded, "She's around here," Ghostface replied cryptically, sending a chill down your spine. "But I won't let you get to her, at least not yet."

"I don't give a fuck. I don't follow your rules," Heeseung retorted, his voice dripping with defiance. "I don't want you to follow me! I want to follow you!" Ghostface exclaimed, his desperation palpable. "Please! For months, I have followed your career, seen the massacre you have left behind! And you suddenly leave all that behind for what?! For a woman that isn't worth your time?!"

You couldn't help but feel a surge of disbelief at Ghostface 2's fanaticism. "She is worth everything to me," Heeseung stated firmly, his unwavering devotion evident in his voice. Suddenly, a cry rang out, followed by the sounds of chaos—a cacophony of things falling and breaking. "I killed for you! Is this how you treat your number one fan?!" Ghostface`s voice cracked with desperation.

But Heeseung's resolve remained unyielding. "I don't care! I never asked you to do this! You simply acted out and now you hurt my girl? Yeah, I don't think so!" His voice thundered with righteous fury, punctuated by the sounds of struggle and a shout of pain.

As the chaos unfolded, you could only listen helplessly, caught in the midst of a battle between two forces—one driven by love, the other by madness.

You strained against your restraints, the muffled sounds of struggle echoing around you. Suddenly, a loud thump reverberated through the space, followed by the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the floor. Your heart raced, and you tried to scream through the gag, unable to discern whose body had fallen.

In a swift motion, the bag covering your head was ripped away, and you squinted against the sudden onslaught of light, blinking rapidly to adjust. As your vision cleared, you found yourself face to face with the Ghostface mask, but a surge of relief washed over you when you realized it was Heeseung behind it.

"Are you okay, angel? I mean… of course, you're not okay! But like, I mean… oh, forget it," Heeseung's words tumbled out in a rush, a mix of concern and relief evident in his voice. Tears welled up in your eyes, as you spoke through the gag.

"It's okay, I'm here, angel. I'm here," Heeseung reassured you, his voice a soothing balm to your frayed nerves. With gentle hands, he removed the tape from your mouth, allowing you to draw in a shaky breath. As you gasped for air, Heeseung retrieved a knife and began cutting through the ropes binding your wrists.

However, your relief was short-lived as you noticed Ghostface stirring. Panic surged through you, and you tried to warn Heeseung, but your voice came out as a hushed whisper. Sensing your fear, Heeseung swiftly rose to his feet, positioning himself protectively in front of you. With a swift movement, he placed the knife in your hand.

The room reverberated with Ghostface's chilling laughter as he rose to his feet, his deranged chuckles echoing off the walls. His laughter turned more sinister as he threw his head back, his gaze fixing on you and Heeseung. "That was a good move! Really, Ghostface! You have such raw talent… don't you agree?" he taunted, but Heeseung remained silent.

Taking advantage of the distraction, you focused on cutting yourself free from the ropes binding your wrists, the knife Heeseung had given you proving to be your lifeline. With each precise cut, you felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through your veins, driving you to free yourself as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Heeseung brandished a switchblade, as he prepared to defend both himself and you.

As Ghostface lunged towards Heeseung, the two engaged in a fierce struggle, their bodies colliding with force. Heeseung skillfully parried each blow, his movements fluid and calculated, but his priority remained protecting you from harm. With a sense of urgency, you worked feverishly to cut through the ropes binding your legs, your heart pounding in your chest as you pushed through the pain.

Suddenly, Ghostface managed to tackle Heeseung to the ground, raining down punches upon him as he writhed beneath the onslaught. In a desperate bid to intervene, you finally succeeded in freeing yourself from the ropes and staggered to your feet, your body protesting every movement.

Your eyes widened in horror as you witnessed Ghostface raising a knife, poised to strike Heeseung. Without a second thought, you screamed out in defiance and lunged forward, driving the knife into Ghostface's back with all your strength. The assailant let out a guttural scream of agony as you twisted the blade, causing him to stumble backward in shock and pain.

Heeseung wasted no time in seizing the opportunity, swiftly rising to his feet and catching you in his arms, pulling you close to him as you leaned against his chest. "I refuse this betrayal!" Ghostface roared in fury, wrenching the knife from his back with a cry of rage. Shifting his gaze between Heeseung and you, his twisted words dripping with hatred. "This whore is nothing compared to me!" he spat, his voice dripping with venom.

"She is not for you to compare, asshole!" Heeseung retorted, his voice ringing with defiance as he stood protectively in front of you.

Ghostface clutched the knife you had used to stab him, his eyes burned with fury as he lunged at Heeseung once again. But Heeseung was prepared this time. With lightning reflexes, he tackled Ghostface, the two adversaries crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs and rage. They grappled fiercely, exchanging punches and kicks as they fought for dominance, the sound of their struggle echoing through the house.

Meanwhile, you stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do amidst the chaos unfolding before you. But Heeseung's urgent command snapped you out of your daze. "Y/N! Go!" he shouted. Responding instinctively, you scrambled to comply, your heart pounding with adrenaline-fueled urgency.

"Oh no you don`t!" Ghostface said, refusing to relent, lashed out with a vicious punch, striking Heeseung before seizing your ankle in a desperate attempt to impede your escape. You stumbled, falling to the ground under the force of his grip, but you refused to submit.

With a surge of determination, you kicked out fiercely, connecting with Ghostface's face with a resounding impact. He cried out in pain, his grip loosening as you scrambled away, seizing the opportunity to break free from his grasp.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you scoured the nearby rooms, the sounds of the struggle in the living room serving as a sign that you were in the clear. You moved quickly, until you found yourself in the kitchen. When suddenly, the sharp report of a gunshot rang out, causing you to startle and whirl around in alarm.

Before you could react, Ghostface appeared before you, brandishing a gun. "Come on!" Relief flooded through you as you realized it was Heeseung under the mask.

Ghostface's enraged shouts reverberated through the living room, with thundering steps echoing behind you, you and Heeseung hastily retreated, seeking any means of escape from the relentless pursuit.

Turning to face the approaching threat, you and Heeseung found yourselves confronted by Ghostface, his figure bearing witness to the injury inflicted upon him by Heeseung's well-aimed shot. Despite his wounded state, Ghostface pressed on, driven by a fanatical determination to capture his prey.

"Go!" Heeseung's urgent command sliced through the chaos, accompanied by the unmistakable click of a gun being aimed. You darted forward, seeking refuge as Heeseung lifted the weapon, his steely gaze fixed on Ghostface's retreating form. But the masked assailant found cover behind the kitchen island, evading the imminent threat of gunfire.

Scanning your surroundings frantically, you dashed through the family room, your heart pounding with adrenaline-fueled desperation. Your hopes were dashed as you attempted to open the balcony door, only to find it locked tight, sealing off any chance of escape. Frustration bubbled within you as you cursed under your breath, your mind racing for an alternative route to safety.

With no time to waste, you bolted into a nearby bedroom, seeking refuge within its confines. Turning to Heeseung for reassurance, you watched as he faced Ghostface, his ammunition depleted and his stance poised for combat. In a split-second exchange, Ghostface lunged forward with a vicious stab, aiming for Heeseung's form.

"No!" Your anguished cry echoed through the room as you witnessed the violent clash between the two adversaries. Heeseung's swift reflexes saved him from a direct blow, but the knife still found its mark, leaving a deep gash across his arm. With a pained grunt, Heeseung retaliated, delivering a forceful kick that sent Ghostface sprawling to the ground.

As the intense struggle continued, Ghostface seized Heeseung's leg, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground. With swift precision, Ghostface climbed on top of Heeseung, raining down a barrage of punches upon him. Heeseung grunted in pain, his muscles straining as he attempted to defend himself against the relentless assault. In a desperate bid for control, Heeseung managed to reverse their positions, landing a series of powerful punches of his own before Ghostface retaliated, once again gaining the upper hand.

Meanwhile, you scanned the room for any potential weapon to aid in your escape. Your eyes landed on a wooden cutting board nearby, and without hesitation, you seized it, preparing for action. With determination fueling your movements, you swung the cutting board with all your strength, striking Ghostface squarely in the head. A sharp cry of pain echoed through the room as Ghostface staggered, momentarily stunned by the unexpected blow. Seizing the opportunity, Heeseung swiftly extricated himself from beneath Ghostface's grasp, urging you to flee with him.

Racing toward the front door, hope flickered within you as the possibility of escape loomed tantalizingly close. However, your relief was short-lived as a sudden jolt of agony pierced through your body, sending you crashing to the ground. As you struggled to comprehend the source of the pain, Heeseung turned back to you in alarm, only to be met with the chilling realization of your plight.

"I did it!" Ghostface's triumphant declaration pierced the air, his sinister presence looming behind you. You were violently pulled upright, as a surge of pain shot through you. With horrifying clarity, you realized that Ghostface had thrown a dagger at you, the searing pain in your back confirming the deadly accuracy of his aim. Tears welled in your eyes as you cried out in anguish, the agony of the wound searing through your senses.

"You motherfucker!" Heeseung's enraged voice reverberated through the room. Yet, the threat of the dagger pressed against your throat silenced any further action from Heeseung. Frozen in place, Heeseung stood helplessly.

Heeseung's trembling hands betrayed the fierce restraint he exercised, his entire being a coiled spring of tension as he struggled to contain his mounting fury. "Take off the mask," Ghostface's sudden command sliced through the air, demanding compliance with chilling authority. "What?" Heeseung's voice wavered with disbelief his gaze locked with Ghostface's behind the menacing mask.

"You heard me. I wanna see you. I wanna see my idol," Ghostface persisted, his grip tightening on your arm as he began to pull you along. With each step, the ache of your injuries throbbed relentlessly, but you forced yourself to endure, your resolve unyielding even as pain threatened to overwhelm you. As Ghostface ascended the stairs, dragging you along in his wake, Heeseung followed closely behind, his every movement fraught with tension.

"I went through all this effort! I mean, the bitch stabbed me, I had to quit soccer, kill my parents when they started to suspect! And the dot over the i was I had to hit your little angel here with my car! I mean, that car costed more than herself!"

His words hung heavy in the air, a chilling testament to the lengths he had gone to fulfill his twisted desires. But it was his admission of hitting you with his car that sent a shockwave of horror coursing through your veins. The memories flooded back in a torrent of images and sensations, the screeching tires, the sickening impact, the overwhelming darkness that followed.

Heeseung's reaction was visceral, his incredulous rage boiling over as he struggled to comprehend the depths of Ghostface's depravity. "You what!?!?" his voice rang out.

In a fit of unbridled fury, Heeseung lunged forward, his muscles coiled with tension as he prepared to unleash his pent-up wrath upon Ghostface. But just as his outstretched hands reached for Ghostface's throat, the masked assailant yelped in genuine fear, his reflexes kicking in as he swiftly pulled you with him, narrowly evading Heeseung's vicious assault.

The sheer velocity of his movements sent a shiver down your spine as you watched the scene unfold before you, the knife held perilously close to your throat. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Heeseung's gaze snapped to the spot where Ghostface now stood with you, after barely managing to dodge his attack, his fists clenched.

With a sharp intake of breath, Heeseung reeled back. Though the urge to lash out still simmered beneath the surface, he knew that his priority now was ensuring your safety, no matter the cost. And with a heavy sigh, Heeseung reluctantly acquiesced, raising his arms in resignation as he shed his hood and removed the mask, revealing his bruised and bloodied face beneath. Relief flooded through you at the sight of his familiar features, a stark contrast to the chilling facade of the Ghostface mask he wore.

But any semblance of comfort was shattered by Ghostface's chilling words, his laughter a haunting echo in the empty corridors. "Well.. well... well. If it isn't Lee Heeseung..." His voice dripped with malice, each word laced with contempt. "You know! Now that I think about it! You are really the perfect Ghostface! I can't believe I didn't see it before!"

Heeseung's response was a silent glare, his features twisted in a mask of restrained fury. But as Ghostface's attention remained fixed on Heeseung, you seized the opportunity for action. With a surge of adrenaline, you launched a swift kick at Ghostface's shin, causing him to yelp in pain and drop the knife he had been brandishing menacingly.

As the knife clattered to the ground, a familiar glint caught your eye—a flash of recognition amidst the chaos. It was the butterfly knife that Heeseung had gifted you, now tarnished with blood. Without hesitation, you snatched it up in your hand, gripping it.

Heeseung wasted no time with you free from Ghostface`s grip, he seized your hand. propelling you forward as he led the charge down the hallway. Behind you, Ghostface's enraged cries echoed through the corridors, a cacophony of curses and threats that fueled your desperate flight to safety.

Your feet stumbled over the uneven floor as you raced to escape the looming threat of Ghostface. The hallway stretched endlessly before you, the walls seeming to close in with each passing second, amplifying the urgency of your flight.

Finally, Heeseung burst through the door of an open room, dragging you inside before swiftly slamming it shut behind you.

As the room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the sound of your pounding heart, Heeseung swiftly moved to lock the door, his hands trembling with urgency. The metal handle rattled violently as Ghostface exerted force from the other side, his relentless assault threatening to breach the flimsy barrier between safety and chaos. Heeseung's shock was palpable as he stared at the quivering door, his eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and determination.

While Heeseung grappled with the imminent threat at the door, your gaze swept across the room in search of any means of escape. The bedroom offered little in terms of refuge, its modest furnishings offering no sanctuary from the looming danger. You glanced out the window, but the sight of the daunting drop to the ground below dissuaded any thoughts of escape via that route.

Suddenly, the thundering assault on the door ceased, replaced by an eerie quiet that sent a shiver down your spine. Heeseung's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly retreated, pulling you close as a deafening gunshot echoed through the room. The door handle shattered under the force of the bullet, sending wooden splinters flying as the door swung open, the lock rendered useless by Ghostface's firepower.

Heeseung's gasp of alarm prompted swift action as he dove, dragging you with him, to take cover behind the bed. The bed provided little protection from the onslaught, and you screamed as each shot rang out, the sound reverberating in your ears.

As the gun clicked empty, Ghostface cursed under his breath, the frustration evident in his voice as he fumbled for more ammunition. In that fleeting moment of respite, you blinked, and with a sudden burst of movement, Heeseung launched himself over the bed, his form a blur as he collided with Ghostface in a whirlwind of violence.

The two figures grappled on the floor again. Punches were thrown with reckless abandon. Rolling and tumbling across the floor, they fought tooth and nail, locked in a deadly dance of survival.

In a desperate bid for freedom, you seized the fleeting opportunity and bolted out of the room, your heart pounding in your chest as adrenaline surged through your veins. But as you raced down the hallway, the sudden eruption of gunshots and Heeseung's unmistakable yell pierced through the chaos, freezing you in your tracks. You whirled around in shock, only to find Ghostface charging towards you with menacing determination, his voice echoing with malice as he closed in.

"There's no escape, sweetheart!" His taunting words echoed through the air, sending shivers down your spine as you continued to flee. But despite your efforts, Ghostface swiftly caught up to you, his iron grip seizing hold of you and slamming you forcefully onto the unforgiving ground. Panic surged through you as his hands closed around your neck, squeezing the life out of you with merciless force. "You've been a thorn in my side for too long! This ends now!" he growled.

Desperation fueled your fight as you kicked and thrashed against him, your cries muffled by the crushing pressure of his hands. Tears blurred your vision as you gasped for precious air, the suffocating grip of Ghostface tightening with each passing moment. "Get off!" you choked out, your voice raw with anguish as the world spun around you. "I can't wait to see the life draining from your eyes," he hissed.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a sudden roar echoed through the air, and the weight of Ghostface was abruptly lifted from you. Gasping for breath, you watched through tear-streaked eyes as Heeseung launched himself at Ghostface, the two figures crashing through the railing of the stairs down to the first floor, the sound of their bodies hitting the floor echoing in your ears.

"Heeseung!" you rasped, your voice barely a whisper as you staggered down the stairs, your limbs trembling. At the bottom, you found them both lying motionless amidst the wreckage of shattered wood, their bodies battered and broken from the fall.

With trembling hands and a racing heart, you made it down beside Heeseung, the urgency of the moment driving you forward. You checked his pulse, relief washing over you as you felt the reassuring thump under your fingertips. He was alive. Alive and here, with you. "Please, Heeseung, stay with me! Stay with me, baby!" you pleaded, your voice quivering with fear and desperation as you caressed his cheek, willing him to awaken.

Your attention shifted to the bleeding wounds from the gunshot, adrenaline surging as you swiftly removed the Ghostface costume from his body. Beneath the facade of terror, Heeseung was clad in simple jeans and a bloodied sweater, his peaceful face a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding you. Thinking quickly, you applied pressure to his wounds, your mind racing with fear and determination.

Just then, groans pierced the air, and you looked up to see Ghostface slowly rising. Panic surged through you, your heart pounding as you clung to Heeseung, shielding him with your body. As Ghostface turned toward you, his chilling words sent a shiver down your spine. "Well… I have to give it to you, Y/n… you not only survived Heeseung, but you also made him risk his life for you… good job," he remarked, as he stepped away from you.

Your shock quickly turned to terror as Ghostface returned quickly with a kitchen knife in hand, his intent clear. "I'll make this quick while Heeseung is still down," he declared, lunging forward in an attempt to grab you. With a surge of adrenaline, you evaded his grasp, your instincts driving you to flee. "Don't make this harder, Y/n!" he shouted after you as you dashed away, his menacing presence lingering in the air like a chilling specter of doom.

As you bolted down the dimly lit hallway, your heart thundered in your chest, each beat urging you forward in a frantic bid for escape. Behind you, the echoing footsteps of Ghostface followed ominously, driving you to push your trembling legs to their limits.

With every turn, you found yourself met with locked doors and barred windows, each obstacle serving as a grim reminder of your dire circumstances. Panic clawed at the edges of your mind as you desperately searched for any means of escape.

In a blur of motion, you careened into a deserted living room, the musty air heavy with the oppressive weight of fear. The dim glow of moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls like specters of the night.

As you scanned the room for a way out, your eyes fell upon a set of double doors leading to a balcony. With a surge of hope, you rushed towards them, your fingers grasping at the cold metal handle in a desperate attempt to break free from the suffocating confines of the house.

But your hopes were dashed as you found the doors locked tight, the cruel reality of your situation crashing down upon you like a tidal wave. Frantically, you rattled the handle, the sound of your pounding heart drowning out the desperate pleas for salvation that echoed in your mind.

Behind you, Ghostface drew closer, looming like a specter in the darkness. With each passing moment, the gap between you narrowed, his chilling laughter ringing in your ears like a death knell.

Forced to abandon the balcony as a means of escape, you turned and bolted down another hallway, your footsteps echoing in the empty corridors as you fled from the encroaching darkness that pursued you relentlessly.

As you ran, you could feel the tendrils of exhaustion creeping in, your breaths coming in ragged gasps as your muscles screamed in protest. Yet, driven by sheer instinct and the primal urge to survive, you pressed on.

With every passing second, the house seemed to close in around you, its labyrinthine halls twisting and turning like a maze designed to ensnare the unwary. Yet, through sheer grit and determination, you fought against the suffocating grip of despair, refusing to succumb to the darkness that threatened to consume you whole.

In a desperate bid for survival, you ducked into a cluttered study, the musty scent of old books filling the air as you scanned the room for a means of escape. But before you could react, Ghostface burst through the doorway.

With lightning reflexes, you dodged his initial lunge, the sharp edge of the blade grazing your shoulder as you stumbled backward. Ignoring the searing pain, you seized upon the nearest object—a heavy desk lamp—and swung it with all your might, the metal base connecting with Ghostface's arm with a sickening thud.

With a cry of pain, he recoiled, momentarily stunned by the force of the blow. Seizing the opportunity, you darted past him, racing down the hallway, the echoes of his enraged shouts echoing in your wake.

But Ghostface was relentless, his footsteps thundering behind you as you rounded a corner, you stumbled upon a small alcove, its shelves lined with an assortment of knick-knacks and trinkets. Without hesitation, you seized upon a porcelain vase, its delicate form offering little resistance as you hurled it at Ghostface with all your might.

The vase shattered upon impact, sending a spray of ceramic shards cascading through the air as Ghostface recoiled, you darted past him once more, heart pounding in your chest as you raced towards the nearest exit.

As you ran towards the front where you had left Heeseung, your heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation, you heard a sickening crunch from behind you. With a jolt, you turned around, your eyes widening in shock as you witnessed Heeseung swinging the wooden cutting board with all his might, striking Ghostface squarely in the face. The force of the blow caused Ghostface to stumble backward, dropping the knife in the process.

Frozen in place, you watched in disbelief as Heeseung grabbed a machete from seemingly nowhere, his expression resolute as he raised it high, ready to deliver a fatal blow. Before you could react, you shouted out, "No!"

But it was too late. With a swift motion, Heeseung brought the machete down, aiming directly at Ghostface. However, instead of slashing, the blade pierced through the cloak of Ghostface, slicing through the fabric and embedding itself into the wooden floor below.

Your eyes widened in shock as Heeseung collapsed, the exertion of the fight taking its toll on him. Without hesitation, you rushed to his side, holding him close as you called out his name desperately. Heeseung's breathing was slow and labored, his gaze still fixed on Ghostface with a fierce intensity.

Turning your attention to Ghostface, you watched as Heeseung stretched out his trembling hand and tore off the mask, revealing the face beneath. In that moment, everything seemed to freeze as the weight of the truth settled upon you.

It was Taehyung....

How could you have been so blind? How could you have missed the signs, the subtle clues that now seemed glaringly obvious?

With a mix of relief and horror, you held onto Heeseung, gently cradling his head, your heart aching at the sight of him wounded and exhausted.

As you slowly helped Heeseung up, his weight leaning heavily on you, you both made your way to the front door, as you reached out to try the door handle, the cruel reality of your situation slammed into you. Locked.

"Fuck," you muttered under your breath, frustration and desperation clawing at your throat. Casting a quick glance around the house, your eyes settled on a room, a potential source of salvation. "I'll be right back," you promised Heeseung, guiding him to a corner where he could rest against the wall.

Limping toward the room, every step a painful reminder of the ordeal you had endured, you scanned the space for something—anything—that could break down the door. Just as you were about to return with your makeshift weapon, the air was pierced by the sound of yelling and shouting, a cacophony of rage and desperation.

Heart pounding, you hurried back to the scene, but what you found was beyond your worst nightmares. Both Taehyung and Heeseung were gone, leaving behind only pools of blood and the gleaming machete on the floor. "Heeseung?!" you cried out, the word tearing from your throat like a desperate plea.

Instead, the sound of glass shattering drew your attention to the back of the house. Racing through the living room to the family room, you skidded to a halt at the shattered backdoor, where Taehyung and Heeseung were locked in a vicious struggle amidst a sea of broken glass.

Taehyung's face was a mask of fury and pain, his features twisted with anger and resentment, while Heeseung's own visage bore the marks of battle, blood trickling from a wound on his head. They traded blows, each punch a symphony of violence and determination, as they fought tooth and nail for their lives.

"You are not worthy of bearing the mask!" Taehyung's voice echoed through the chaos, his words dripping with venom. Heeseung's response was swift and furious, his own voice ringing out with defiance. "It's not about being worthy! It's about coverage, you son of a bitch!"

As you tried to make your way through the chaotic opening, your eyes widened in shock as you witnessed Heeseung's desperate move. Gripping a jagged chunk of broken glass, he drove it mercilessly through Taehyung's stomach, the latter's cry of surprise piercing the air. Taehyung staggered back, clutching the shard tightly in disbelief, his eyes darting between the blood-soaked glass and Heeseung's face, a mixture of shock and fury contorting his features.

Frozen in place, you watched in horror as the scene unfolded before you, the violence and brutality of it all threatening to overwhelm your senses. But in the midst of the chaos, you failed to realize the danger looming perilously close to you.

Taehyung, his gaze ablaze with a twisted resolve, caught sight of you out of the corner of his eye. "I may never be worthy of your praise… but I'm at least not going down alone," he spat, his voice dripping with venomous intent.

With a sudden whirl of motion, Taehyung pulled out the glass shard, his movements fueled by a primal desperation, and lunged toward you with a bloodcurdling scream. The other end of the shard found its mark, plunging into your stomach with a searing pain that radiated through every fiber of your being. "No!" Heeseung's anguished cry echoed in your ears as he rushed to your side, catching you before you could collapse to the ground.

"Y/n! Baby! Stay with me, please!" Heeseung's voice was raw with emotion as he cradled your head in his trembling hands. Through the haze of agony, you struggled to focus, your vision blurred as tears stung your eyes. All around you, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the cold, indifferent gaze of the night sky above.

As Heeseung desperately pleaded for you to stay awake, his words echoed faintly in the recesses of your mind. "Please, baby! Angel, don't close your eyes!" His voice trembled with anguish, each syllable a desperate plea to keep you tethered to consciousness. But the world around you seemed to blur into an indistinct haze, and you struggled to focus through the fog of pain and exhaustion.

The chill of the night air seeped into your skin, a biting reminder of the harsh reality surrounding you. With a delirious gaze, you tried to meet Heeseung's eyes, but the blurriness that clouded your vision thwarted your attempts. All you could manage were shallow breaths, each inhalation laced with a searing ache that radiated from the wound in your stomach.

In a feeble attempt to alleviate your suffering, you weakly pushed against Heeseung's hands as he sought to tend to your wound. "No, please!" His voice cracked with emotion as he persisted, hastily wrapping the wound with his sweater, the fabric stained with a grim mosaic of dirt and blood. The pristine white of your angelic dress had long been tainted, obscured by the grim realities of the night's ordeal.

The last semblance of awareness flickered within you as you registered a primal snarl echoing through the darkness, followed by the sensation of Heeseung's warm hands slipping away from your skin. And then, like a veil descending over your senses, darkness enveloped you, swallowing you whole in its unfathomable depths.

In that silent void, devoid of sensation or perception, you floated in a state of limbo. Time ceased to hold any meaning, and you drifted aimlessly, suspended between the realms of life and death. Was this the end, the culmination of your journey? In the quiet expanse of the void, you pondered the elusive nature of mortality, wondering if this was indeed the final chapter of your existence.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

As consciousness gradually seeped back into your being, you felt the weight of your entire body, as if every limb was burdened by a heavy weariness. Slowly, tentatively, you blinked your eyes open, greeted by the sterile whiteness of a ceiling. Confusion clouded your thoughts momentarily, casting a veil over your senses as you struggled to comprehend your surroundings.

Your gaze drifted downward, and to your astonishment, you found yourself confined to a hospital bed, ensnared by a web of tubes and IV lines tethering you to the medical apparatus. An oxygen mask obscured part of your face, its presence a reminder of the fragility of your existence. Squinting against the harsh glare of the hospital lights, you turned your head slightly, your eyes alighting upon the heart monitor stationed beside you.

But amidst the bewildering array of medical equipment, your gaze was drawn to a familiar sight—an unmistakable tuft of hair that stirred a surge of recognition within you. Heeseung. The name reverberated through your mind, a whisper of clarity amidst the fog of uncertainty. He lay beside you, clad in hospital attire, his form relaxed in slumber as he clasped your hand in his, a silent vigil of unwavering devotion.

A swell of emotion welled within you as you beheld his peaceful countenance, a silent guardian standing sentinel by your bedside. Despite the chaos that had besieged you both, he remained steadfast in his resolve, a beacon of strength and solace in the midst of turmoil. The sight of him stirred a profound sense of gratitude and affection within you, flooding your heart with a warmth that transcended the sterile confines of the hospital room.

As you attempted to move, the realization dawned upon you that you were restrained, bound by invisible chains that restricted your movements. A soft groan escaped your lips, a testament to your frustration and discomfort. However, that small sound was enough to rouse Heeseung from his slumber. Blinking his eyes open, he stirred and sat up, his gaze immediately fixating on you.

Fading bruises adorned his face, serving as a reminder of the extended time you had spent in this hospital bed. It became evident that you had been confined here for a considerable period.

Heeseung's eyes filled with tears of relief as his gaze locked onto yours. His whole face seemed to light up at the sight of you awake, his emotions overflowing as he reached for your hand. "Y/n!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion as he pressed gentle kisses to your hand. It was as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, his relief palpable as he visibly relaxed in your presence.

Struggling to find your voice, you attempted to utter his name, but your throat felt dry and parched. Heeseung seemed to understand your silent plea, and with gentle care, he rose from the bed, his movements fueled by a sense of urgency. Finding a bottle of water, he quickly opened it, offering you a reprieve from your thirst.

With tender precision, he adjusted your oxygen mask, allowing you to drink. The cool liquid washed over your parched throat, a refreshing sensation that brought tears to your eyes. It had been days, perhaps weeks, since you last had a drink, and the simple act of quenching your thirst felt like a luxury.

As you drank, Heeseung watched you with a mixture of love and concern, his gaze softening as he witnessed your relief. Once you had finished, he carefully replaced your oxygen mask, settling back beside you with a smile. His eyes were filled with an overwhelming sense of adoration as he regarded you.

"My strong angel," he murmured, his voice filled with reverence as he praised your resilience. You returned his smile, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that existed between you. However, as the memories of your time spent unconscious flooded back, a question lingered on your lips.

"How long have I been here?" you inquired, your voice tinged with uncertainty. Heeseung's expression darkened slightly, a grimace crossing his features as he scratched his neck in discomfort. "Three weeks," he muttered, his tone heavy with regret.

"And Taehyung?" you asked, the name leaving a bitter taste in your mouth as you uttered it. Heeseung's expression mirrored your unease, his features tensing slightly in response to the mention of Taehyung's name. "He's… gone," he replied somberly, confirming your suspicions. "He… is?" you questioned further, seeking confirmation from Heeseung. With a solemn nod, he affirmed Taehyung's fate.

"Did you kill him?" you inquired, surprised by your own nonchalant tone. Heeseung seemed taken aback by your question, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he nodded silently in response. A sense of calm washed over you, a strange relief settling in your heart. Under normal circumstances, you would never condone taking another's life, but in this instance, Taehyung had brought you nothing but suffering and pain. The thought of his demise brought you no remorse.

Heeseung had been your salvation, your protector amidst the chaos. His actions, though violent, were driven by a sense of duty and love for you. In contrast, Taehyung had succumbed to darkness, consumed by his relentless pursuit of approval from Heeseung. His descent into madness had left him irredeemable, a shadow of the person he once was.

In that moment, as you locked eyes with Heeseung, you knew that you had found your sanctuary, a haven from the storms that had ravaged your life. And as he returned your gaze with a love-struck expression, you felt a warmth spread through your being.

"What about Ghostface?" you inquired, seeking closure on the ordeal that had plagued your life.

Heeseung's response was swift and confident, his voice laced with assurance. "It's all taken care of, angel. They have no evidence," he assured you, his words bringing a sense of relief to your troubled mind.

As you nodded in gratitude, Heeseung's gaze softened, his thoughts drifting to a conversation you had shared earlier. "I was thinking about what you said… at my house," he began, prompting your curiosity.

Instantly, the memory flooded back to you, and you understood the weight of his words. "I do trust you, Angel… it's just, I didn't have much control over my life when my mother was around," he confessed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "And my father wasn't much help… I was at my limit, I couldn't take it anymore. Everything was too much, but I found my solace by hiding behind a mask… like a coward," he admitted, his tone heavy with remorse.

He let out a sigh, his gaze falling momentarily before meeting yours once again. "And I thought… why should I be the only one to suffer? And my road took me down a dark path which I regret… and I thought there was no saving me. Until you came," he confessed, his voice softer now, filled with vulnerability.

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion, prompting Heeseung to continue. "You became my new solace, Angel… and suddenly life was worth living," he admitted, his words carrying the weight of his emotions. "Without you, I'm helpless, lost, misguided. I need you in my life. You are my oxygen, without you I'll go crazy," he confessed, his lips pressing gently against the back of your hand as he spoke.

As Heeseung gazed into your eyes with an intensity that made your heart flutter, he uttered those words that you had been longing to hear. "Y/n… be my girlfriend, please? Officially? Let me be your boyfriend, my love," he pleaded, his voice soft yet filled with sincerity.

Your heart ached with a mixture of joy and relief as you nodded in response. "I will be your girlfriend," you confirmed, your voice barely a whisper as emotions surged within you.

Heeseung leaned over you, his movements gentle and deliberate as he lowered your oxygen mask, allowing you both to share a kiss that was filled with all the love and devotion that had blossomed between you. It began slowly, a tender exploration of each other's lips, but soon ignited into a passionate exchange as the depth of your feelings poured into the intimate gesture.

As you pulled back, breathless and overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, Heeseung's eyes held a silent question, one that you answered with a nod of consent. "May I?" he asked, gesturing towards the bed beside you.

With a nod, you granted him permission, and Heeseung carefully climbed beside you, settling himself close as he wrapped his arms around you protectively. He adjusted your oxygen mask with gentle hands, his touch comforting and reassuring as he leaned his head against your chest, finding solace in the rhythm of your heartbeat.

You began to play with his hair, relishing in the softness of his locks beneath your fingertips. You noticed the stitches on his head, with a pang of guilt for the pain he had endured on your behalf, you traced the lines of his stitches with tender care.

As the rhythmic sound of his breathing filled the room, you felt yourself drifting into a peaceful slumber, cradled in the warmth of his love. And as you surrendered to the embrace of sleep.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

After weeks of healing in the hospital, your miraculous recovery became the talk of the town. News of your awakening spread like wildfire, making headlines in newspapers and capturing the attention of the entire community. The tale of your survival, coupled with the bravery of your boyfriend, Heeseung, captivated the hearts of many.

Within the span of a single day, the story of your ordeal unfolded across social media platforms and news outlets. The community rallied behind you, celebrating your resilience. The truth about Ghostface's demise emerged, revealing that you and Heeseung had acted in self-defense, bringing an end to the reign of terror that had plagued your lives.

As the days passed, the mystery surrounding the original Ghostface's disappearance and apparent retirement only added to the intrigue of the tale. Speculations and theories abounded, but one thing remained certain—Ghostface had become a mere legacy, a chapter in history buried beneath the weight of your survival and newfound strength.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

Under the somber light of the setting sun, Heeseung stood in the forest. In his hands, he held a small wooden box containing his Ghostface costume. With a solemn expression, he carefully dug a hole in the earth, the shovel scraping against the soil.

With a heavy heart, Heeseung placed the box into the ground, covering it with soil as if burying the ghosts of the past. He stood there for a moment, silent and contemplative, bidding farewell to the shadows that had haunted him for so long.

Meanwhile, you stood a little distance away, giving him the space he needed to say his farewells.

After a moment, Heeseung walked back to where you stood, his expression softened by the warmth of your presence. As you held out your hand to him, he took it without hesitation.

"Ready?" you asked softly, your voice a gentle reassurance. Heeseung nodded, his gaze meeting yours with unwavering resolve. "Ready," he affirmed, his hand tightening around yours as you walked away from the gravesite.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

You laid comfortably on the couch, munching on popcorn as the horror movie played on the TV screen. When a jump scare startled you, you instinctively hid your face in your boyfriend's shoulder, seeking comfort from the sudden fright. Heeseung, lying beside you, wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer to him.

"Are you okay, angel?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. You looked up at him, pouting slightly, as he smirked back at you. "I'm fine, thank you very much," you replied, turning your attention back to the movie. But Heeseung gently lifted your chin, making you meet his gaze. "You sure?" he pressed, refusing to let you off easily.

You nodded, trying to reassure him, but he held your jaw firmly. "Words, princess," he insisted. With a sigh, you repeated, "I'm fine." He hummed in response, leaning in as if to kiss you. Anticipating the kiss, you leaned forward too, but he merely snagged some popcorn kernels from your bowl, earning a playful protest from you.

"Hey, my popcorn!" you exclaimed, trying to snatch it back. He dodged your attempts, prompting you to climb onto his lap in pursuit. "Woah!" he exclaimed in surprise as you succeeded in reclaiming your snack, eating it with a smug expression.

But your victory was short-lived as you felt Heeseung's hands on your hips, causing you to look down and realize your position on his lap. His gaze was appreciative as he leaned back, admiring you with a lazy expression. "You look so good like that, angel," he murmured, his hands tracing patterns on your waist and hips.

"Don't get used to it," you warned, attempting to climb off his lap. However, Heeseung had other plans, easily pulling you back down with a playful smirk.

You looked down at Heeseung, confusion evident in your expression as you wondered what was going on in his mind. "What is this?" you asked, unsure of his intentions.

Heeseung's gaze softened as he looked up at you, a fond smile playing on his lips. "Nothing, just thinking about how lucky I am to have you as my girlfriend," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

Feeling your cheeks flush with warmth, you looked away shyly, unable to contain the flutter of emotions in your chest. But before you could gather your thoughts, Heeseung suddenly pulled you close to him, wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace.

Giggles bubbled from your lips as you both rolled on the couch, caught up in the playful moment. Heeseung showered you with kisses, peppering your face with affectionate gestures that elicited more laughter from you. "Stoooop!" you protested between giggles, squirming in his grasp as you tried to escape his playful onslaught.

But Heeseung showed no signs of relenting, his laughter blending with yours as he continued to shower you with affection. "Never!" he declared playfully, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he held you close.

You managed to wriggle out of Heeseung's tight grip and quickly scrambled to the other side of the couch, putting some distance between the two of you. But when you glanced back, you saw Heeseung following after you with a mischievous glint in his eyes, his lips curved into a playful smirk. "Trying to run from me, angel?" he teased, his voice laced with amusement.

With a laugh, you climbed over the armrest of the couch and dashed through the house, the sound of your laughter echoing in the air.

Boxes from your recent move lay scattered around, adding an obstacle course-like challenge to your playful chase. "Just try and catch me, babe!" you called out teasingly as Heeseung chased after you, the thrill of the chase filling the air with excitement.

The house was soon filled with the cheerful melody of your laughter as Heeseung finally managed to catch up to you. With a mischievous grin, he began tickling you, eliciting joyful protests and giggles from you. "Heeseung!" you laughed, squirming under his touch. "Stop, please! I yield!"

Heeseung relented, pulling back with a satisfied grin, but then he lifted you up and settled back onto the couch, holding you close in his arms. "I caught you, I deserve a prize, don't I?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he tapped his cheek playfully, silently requesting a kiss.

"I think you do," you replied with a grin, leaning in to kiss his cheek. But he turned at the last moment, catching your lips in a sweet, unexpected kiss. You smiled at his playful behavior, returning the kiss with equal affection as you melted into his embrace.

As Heeseung maneuvered you effortlessly, you found yourself lying on your back on the couch, with him hovering over you, his lips never leaving yours. Your hands slipped up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as the intensity of the kiss deepened. With one hand supporting his weight above you, Heeseung's other hand began to explore, trailing a path from your chest down to your waist, then to your hip and thigh, mapping out every curve of your body with a gentle touch that sent shivers down your spine. As his hand returned to grip your waist, you couldn't help but gasp, granting him permission to deepen the kiss further.

Heeseung's lips moved against yours with a hunger that mirrored your own, his kiss a tantalizing blend of passion and desire that left you breathless. Eventually, he pulled back, allowing both of you to catch your breath. You took in deep lungfuls of air as you gazed up at him, your eyes filled with a mixture of desire and affection.

"Stop looking at me like that," you told him, your voice breathy and soft. "Like what?" Heeseung asked innocently, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Like I'm food," you explained, a hint of playful annoyance in your tone.

A smirk played on Heeseung's lips as he bit down on his bottom lip, his gaze dropping to your lips before returning to meet your eyes. "Well, maybe I'm hungry," he replied, his voice low and husky with desire.

As Heeseung's lips melded with yours in a fervent embrace, the world around you seemed to fade into oblivion. His kisses grew increasingly desperate, a reflection of the burning need that coursed through his veins, igniting every fiber of your being with an intensity that left you breathless.

With each tender caress of his lips, Heeseung worshipped every inch of your body, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake. His hands roamed with a purposeful urgency, tracing the curves of your form with an almost reverent touch as he whispered words of adoration and praise against your skin.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion as he pressed kisses along the curve of your neck, his breath hot against your skin. "I can't get enough of you." His words sent shivers down your spine, igniting a primal desire within you that threatened to consume you whole.

In the heat of the moment, all inhibitions melted away as you surrendered yourself completely to the intoxicating allure of his touch.

"You're my one and only," Heeseung confessed, his words a solemn vow that resonated deep within your soul.

As you and Heeseung shared passionate kisses on the couch, little did you know that nestled within his sock drawer lay a small velvet box, its contents a secret that he held close to his heart. Inside rested a symbol of his deepest commitment, a ring that he planned to reveal to you at the perfect moment, a moment that would signify his unwavering love and devotion to you.

For now, the box remained hidden, a precious treasure waiting to be unveiled when the time was right. As you melted into each other's embrace, lost in the bliss of the present moment, Heeseung's thoughts drifted to the future, to the day when he would kneel before you and ask for your hand in marriage, sealing your love for eternity.

But until then, he cherished these stolen moments with you, savoring every kiss and every touch as a testament to the deep bond that they shared.

The End

(or is it?)

#enhypen fic #heeseung fanfic #heeseung x you #heeseung x reader #heeseung #heesung enhypen #lee heeseung #ao3 writer #fanfiction #enhypen #enhypen imagines #enhypen x reader #enhypen fanfiction #enha #enha x reader #heeseung enhypen #lee heeseung x reader #lee heeseung x you #lee heeseung x y/n

93 notes · View notes