AkemiNy

“If anyone’s disappearing, it’s you. I’ll be lucky if I see you again before midnight.”

Her lips curved immediately, that familiar, unapologetic smile spreading across her face as she bumped her shoulder into yours.

“Rude,” she murmured, dragging the word out just to annoy you. “I would never.”

You raised a brow at that, unimpressed. “You say that every time.”

“And every time you’re still here, aren’t you?” she shot back, already pushing the door open, laughter slipping into her voice.

You rolled your eyes, but there was a small smile tugging at your lips as you followed her inside anyway.

The second the door swung open, the noise swallowed you whole.

Voices overlapping, music pounding, the smell of alcohol and something sweet lingering in the air.

People filled every corner, bodies moving, laughing, shouting over each other.

“Finally.”

His voice cut through it all like it always did.

Familiar. Annoyingly so.

You didn’t even have to look. You already knew.

Still, your eyes shifted anyway, almost against your will.

Mingyu was standing only a few steps in, like he’d been waiting right there, like he always somehow knew the exact moment she’d walk through the door.

His attention snapped to her instantly, his expression softening in a way that was automatic as his hand came up, reaching for her before she even fully closed the distance.

She didn’t hesitate. She never did.

His arm slid around her waist without a second thought, pulling her in close, fitting her against him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It should’ve been a normal moment. It would’ve been—if his eyes hadn’t flicked up to you.

Right over her shoulder.

You felt it instantly, that same pull that always seemed to settle somewhere under your skin, impossible to ignore. It wasn’t new. It never was.

But it still caught you off guard every time. Like your body recognised it before your mind could catch up.

And then, because he was him, the corner of his mouth tilted.

“Wow,” he said casually, still holding her, still holding her close, still not taking his eyes off you.

“You actually showed up.” You rolled your eyes before the words had fully left his mouth.

“Don’t sound so shocked,” you shot back, letting your voice carry just enough bite as you stepped past them, weaving through the crowd.

“Some of us have lives outside your parties, Mingyu.”

You didn’t miss the way his gaze followed you as you moved further into the room.

The way it lingered just a little too long, like he was following you not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

You didn’t miss it.

Not even close.

And yet, as always, you refused to acknowledge it.

You never did.

~

It had always been like this.

From the very beginning.

You were her best friend. He was her boyfriend. That should’ve been enough. A line drawn in bold that neither of you were meant to cross.

Except it never stayed that simple.

Because somewhere between group dinners where the conversation always veered toward something dumb and late-night hangouts that were meant to be casual, something had changed.

Not in a way anyone could point to, not in a way that would make sense if you tried to explain it. It wasn’t obvious.

It wasn’t something you could name without sounding dramatic.

It was in the way he always seemed to notice you the second you stepped into a room.

Not a casual glance, no, it was like a lock, like his gaze found you before you even knew you’d been seen. Like he was measuring you without trying to, sizing up a reaction he didn’t yet know he wanted.

And it was in the way you felt it—the feeling under your skin that made your chest tighten for no reason, that made your thoughts snap sharper, quicker, when he was around.

Every conversation with him was a tightrope, balanced between playful and something else.

Something you couldn’t—and wouldn’t—name.

Because he was hers.

And if you were honest with yourself, the truth was simpler and crueler than any of that tension: he annoyed the fuck out of you.

The way he smirked at things that weren’t funny. The way he leaned casually against a wall, knowing you noticed.

The way his presence demanded attention, just by existing in the same space.

The way he had this infuriating habit of teasing, of baiting you, of knowing exactly which words would roll your eyes and which would make your stomach tighten.

All while having your best friend in his arms.

It was maddening.

It was unfair. And irritating. And exhausting.

And somehow, you couldn’t stop noticing.

Wouldn’t stop noticing.

~

“Here.”

A drink appeared in your line of sight, pulling you out of your thoughts.

You looked up, already knowing who it was.

Mingyu. Of course. You didn’t take it.

“Did I ask?” you said flatly.

He let out a quiet, amused huff, sliding the glass closer anyway, like your answer didn’t matter.

“No,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching with that infuriating half-smile that always seemed to know exactly which buttons to press, “but you looked like you needed one.”

You arched a brow, lips curling into a sarcastic smile. “I look like I need a lot of things,” you said, voice sharp. “Doesn’t mean I want you providing them.”

That only widened his grin. Of course it did. God, he was infurtiating.

“You always this hostile,” he tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing in that way like you were a puzzle, “or is it just for me?”

You rolled your eyes, taking the drink mostly to give your hands something to do, and let your voice drip with faux patience.

“Wow, what gave it away? The fact that I can’t stand the sight of you? You’re very observant for someone who’s clearly full of himself.”

He chuckled, leaning closer, casually sliding against the wall beside you, a little too close. “Mm,” he hummed, voice low and deliberate. “I’m flattered.”

You lifted the glass to your lips, taking a slow sip, your eyes daring him to keep up.

“You know,” you said, tilting your head, “you have this exhausting talent for being everywhere at once. It’s really impressive how consistently irritating you are.”

He let his gaze travel over your face like he was committing every line, every expression, to memory.

“You’re quiet tonight,” he murmured, lowering his voice so only you could hear it.

You blinked at him, disbelief in your expression. “Quiet? Yeah, okay, Mingyu,” you said, scoffing. “I’m quiet?”

Across the room, your best friend laughed, lost in conversation with someone else, completely at ease and oblivious to the what was unfolding just a few feet away.

Good. Better that way.

“I’m serious,” he said, shrugging like it was the simplest observation in the world. “You usually say so much more than this.”

You scoffed, one corner of your mouth tugging up in a small, sarcastic smile. “Maybe I’m enjoying the peace,” you replied, voice smooth, playful.

“You should try it sometime. It’s very underrated. Highly therapeutic, actually.”

“Funny,” he said, still staring, letting his gaze drag slowly over your features as if he were studying you under a microscope, “you don’t look peaceful.”

Your grip on the glass tightened, nails pressing into the rim. You let the words roll off your tongue like a whip.

“And you, Mingyu, don’t look like you know when to shut up,” you shot back.

That should’ve ended it. It didn’t. Of course it didn’t.

Because the closer you got to shutting him out, the closer he leaned in, the more deliberate his presence became, as if the subtle tension between you were some private joke only he was in on.

And it was infuriating. And it was addictive.

And it was exactly the kind of thing that made you wish the room would just swallow you whole.

~

Later, you slipped out onto the balcony without really thinking about it.

It was quieter there. Cooler. The night air brushing against your skin, calming something that had been buzzing under the surface all evening.

You leaned your forearms against the railing, looking out at nothing in particular, and let out a slow breath you hadn’t realised you were holding.

For a moment, it was peaceful.

“You always end up out here.”

You closed your eyes briefly, your head dipping forward just slightly. Of course.

“You always follow me,” you replied without turning around.

A pause. Then the soft sound of the door sliding shut.

“Someone has to make sure you’re not out here talking about me,” he said, easy, like it was a joke he’d made a hundred times before.

You huffed out a quiet laugh, finally glancing over your shoulder.

He was closer than you expected.

Again. Like he never really understood the concept of space when it came to you.

“Please,” you said, straightening slightly, one brow lifting. “If I’m talking about you, I promise you’ll hear it directly. I don’t waste time doing it behind your back.”

“I know,” he said, almost immediately, like he believed that without question. “That’s what makes it fun.”

Your brows pulled together, a small frown forming despite yourself. “Fun?”

“Yeah.” His gaze held yours, steady, unflinching. “You don’t pretend. Most people do.”

Something about the way he said it made your chest feel tight.

You looked away first, fingers tapping lightly against the railing. “You should try it sometime,” you muttered. “Might make you a bit more tolerable.”

“I do,” he said. You didn’t respond.

Didn’t trust yourself to.

“You really think I don’t notice?” he added after a second.

That made you turn back. “Notice what?”

His expression didn’t change, but his voice dropped just enough to make your stomach twist.

“The way you look at me.”

For a second, everything in you stalled.

Your brows pulled together, and then you let out a short, disbelieving laugh, pushing yourself off the railing as you straightened.

“Are you that full of yourself, Mingyu?” you shot back, incredulous. “Seriously?”

But it didn’t land the way you wanted it to.

Your voice wasn’t as steady as it should’ve been. And he caught that.

“That’s—” you shook your head, a breath of laughter following, like you were trying to brush it off. “You’re actually unbelievable, you know that?”

“Relax,” he said, softer now, like he was trying to smooth over something you hadn’t even agreed to admit. “I’m not saying anything you don’t already know.”

Your jaw tightened slightly.

You held his gaze for a second too long, searching his face like you were trying to figure out how serious he was—like you were hoping he’d give you something to push back against.

He didn’t. So you broke first.

You shook your head again, taking a step back, putting space between you like distance might undo whatever had just settled there.

“This,” you said, quieter now but no less pointed, “is exactly why you annoy me.”

His lips twitched, like he didn’t buy it for a second.

“Only reason?”

You didn’t answer.

Because if that were true—if it was just annoyance—this would’ve been easy. You would’ve walked away a long time ago.

It would’ve been simple to ignore him. To brush it off. To mean every sharp word you threw at him.

But it wasn’t. And that was the problem.

You turned before he could say anything else, reaching for the door handle.

“Go back to your girlfriend,” you said, glancing at him briefly. “She’s probably wondering where you disappeared to.”

For once, he didn’t reply straight away.

You pushed the door open and stepped back inside, letting the noise swallow you again.

And when you glanced back, just once, he was still there.

teaser-trailer

chapter one

chapter two

chapter three

choose your own ending 🤭

last updated: 3/13

hi y’all! expect the teaser, first chapter, and some more info through this weekend. check back soon!! i’m so nervous so thank you very much for your patience ❤️