I Want U Around - Black Reader! x idol Kim Yugyeom
Main Characters: Y/N, Yugyeom, Jinyoung, BamBam (others may be featured as the story develops)
Reader Type: Black! Reader x Yugyeom
Synopsis: You moved to Korea so you could see the world, but Korea isn’t what you expected. It may be time to leave. That is until you meet Kim Yugyeom. A tall, sweet, and funny kpop idol. You are not a kpop fan, just an ex-pat living in Seoul.
A/N: I apologize in advance for any grammar mistakes. I wrote most of this three weeks ago and then life got really crazy. I’m sorry that it took so long for me to get this out.
Anything in italics means it's a thought in Y/N’s head. *-asterisk denotes the meaning of a word or phrase. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to Chapter 2.
You were staring out the storefront window into the busy streets of Seoul, waiting for the clock to finally say 5:00 pm. It was only 2:17 pm. Your stomach rumbled, reminding you of just how hungry you were. In a rush this morning, you left your lunch at home. A shame too because you finally got your neighbor to share her sundubu jjigae recipe with you and made enough to last for the next three days.
You were very strict with your budget, something your parents instilled in you since you got your first job at 16 years old. So walking across the street to grab tteokbokki from the food cart was not in the budget, even if it’s only ₩6,500. You can almost taste the jjigae that’s waiting for you at home. Your stomach growled again, “I can wait it out. I don’t have that much time left of my shift.” You glanced at your phone thinking it must be at least 3 pm now. It wasn't. It’s only 2:20 pm now.
You quietly sigh as your boss, Mrs. Jeong, is definitely lurking around somewhere in the store. Thankfully this is only your part-time job. Working at *Tyche, a luxury clothing store was to supplement your income while teaching. Korea was not what you thought it would be. You could hear the words your best friend uttered to you a year ago, “Y/N, if you really want to travel and see the world, you could teach English abroad.” It was a great idea and you were surprised you didn’t even consider that yourself.
*Tyche is the Greek deity for fortune and prosperity of a city.
It had been really hard trying to find a job out of college. Even your internship working on political campaigns had not helped you get your foot in the door. It’s a competitive and cutthroat environment and if you were being honest with yourself, it burnt you out. So what did you do? You got a TEFL certificate so you could teach English in another country while you figured out exactly what you wanted to do.
Seoul is beautiful. It’s bustling with college students, ex-pats, tourists, doctors, lawyers, and there is a cafe on every corner. Occasionally you see crowds of people flock to a famous actor or idol. It’s hard being away from home. Being in a country where the beauty standard is the opposite of what you look like has its challenges. You’re not thin, you don’t have perfect pale skin, or silky straight hair. Your skin glows with melanin, you have some curves, and your hair is coily. Most of the time you braid your own hair or wear wigs. It wasn’t uncommon for people to stare at you in public places, ask to take a picture with you, touch your hair, and ask you to teach them how to dance. Microaggressions with no ill-intent behind them, but if you think about it too much, it can be exhausting.
“Maybe it’s time to leave Seoul,” you thought. “I could try China. Last time I checked, Beijing or Guangzhou are looking for English teachers,” your thoughts continued. But you were abruptly interrupted by the sound of the front glass doors opening and people talking. You looked up and saw three men. One was very tall, had dyed brown hair, broad shoulders, and a big bright smile. The other guy had a silver blue mullet, color contacts to match, and earrings decorated his lobes. The third guy was very clean cut, dark hair perfectly in place, and he looked athletic. The third guy was laughing at something his friends said. He was dressed very well. They were all dressed very well. After all, this store is on Apgujeong Rodeo Street and most customers look very put together. All three of these men had jawlines that could cut glass.
Your Korean has improved so much and you studied hard before coming here. It was one of the reasons you were hired and you are the only non-Korean employee. You smiled and spoke, “Hello! Welcome to the Galleria. Do you have an appointment with one of our stylists today?” All three men turned to stare at you and you felt like a deer in headlights. These men were really gorgeous.
The one with the dark hair spoke,
“Hello. Yes, I have an appointment with… I think her name is Yi-seo?”
“Oh yes, Yi-seo is one of our most talented stylists,” You walked over to the counter to check Yi-Seo’s schedule on the tablet. The dark haired man followed you to the counter while the guy with the mullet looked around the store. The tall one with the light brown hair was fixated on you. Your face felt flush when you realized he was staring at you. You looked into his eyes and smiled. He smiled back.
“The appointment is for 2:30 pm, I’m a little early,” the dark haired one said, pulling you from your gaze.
“That’s okay. I just need to check you in. May I have your name please?”
“Park Jinyoung,” he replied.
“Thank you Mr. Park,” you said as you tapped on the tablet confirming Mr. Park’s arrival. The confirmation immediately sent a notification to Yi-Seo to let her know that her client is here. You noticed that next to Jinyoung’s name there was a gold check mark. The gold check mark is reserved for very important clients, which means they get access to the private lounge for the duration of the appointment. These guys must be actors, idols, or even chaebols.
“You and your acquaintances can follow me to the private lounge,” The three men followed you and you could feel the tall one’s eyes on you.
“I am sorry. I haven't introduced myself to you. My name is Y/N and I will be your concierge for today. I will be assisting your stylist Yi-Seo as well.”
“Hi, I’m Yugyeom,” the tall one said with his big smile, “and this is BamBam,” he said as he pointed to the man with the silver blue mullet. BamBam quickly waved at you before turning his attention to the rest of the lounge. It’s a posh room, with red velvet furniture, gold chandeliers, and spotless glass tables. Byung-ho, the Tyche security guard is standing in the room as well. You bow to Byung-ho and then turn your attention back to your clients.
One of the glass tables has 2 bottles of champagne sitting in an ice bucket and several glass flutes. “Can I offer you gentlemen a glass of champagne while you wait for Yi-Seo to arrive?” All three of them nodded their heads and BamBam enthusiastically said, “Yes, please!” and continued surveying the lounge.
You went to grab the bottle of champagne to pop it open, but Yugyeom quickly walked over to you and said,
“Let me get that for you.”
“Oh it’s no problem Mr…?”
“Kim. and I don’t mind at all. These corks go flying in any and all directions. I’m good at aiming at them so they don’t hit anyone. And you can just call me Yuygeom.”
You’re very capable of opening a champagne bottle, after all it’s part of your job. But Yugyeom is right, they are unpredictable and the champagne flows out quickly.
“Whew!” a startled BamBam said. You quickly grab the champagne flutes and take the bottle from Yugyeom. When you went to grab the bottle, your hands briefly touched and you felt a flutter in your stomach, and it wasn’t because you went without lunch. You looked up to Yugyeom and his cheeks were a little pink. Did he feel that flutter too?
You filled the champagne flutes and gave the first one to Jinyoung, the second to BamBam, and the last one to Yugyeom.
“Thank you, Y/N,” they all said, overlapping each other.
“You’re not going to have a glass?” Yugyeom asked
“Oh no, I can't, I'm working. Also, it’s just for our special guests,” you replied
“Oh right. So we’re special guests?” Yugyeom asked cheekily.
“Well they have to be special guests if they get to wait in the lounge and drink champagne,” you thought to yourself.
“Of course,” you replied. Yugyeom knows damn well that he, Jinyoung, and BamBam are special guests. “Maybe he’s just humble," you thought to yourself.
“Well since you can’t have—,” Yugyeom was interrupted by Yi-seo entering the room.
Yi-seo introduced herself. She is the epitome of the Korean beauty standard. Thin, glass skin, plump pink lips, and she’s taller than the average Korean woman. She has shiny, long dark hair with curtain bangs that frame her face. Her parents gifted her double eye-lid surgery for passing her CSAT. She looked like she could be an idol trainee.
Even though Yi-Seo was at a higher ranking than me at the store, we became friends right away. Plus we both don’t like our boss, Mrs. Jeong. She was the first coworker to ask me out for drinks and from there our friendship blossomed.
Yi-seo insisted that Yugyeom and BamBam sit on the large red velvet couches while she tended to Jinyoung. Yi-seo pulled out a clothing rack for Jinyoung to begin trying on clothes. Just one of those shirts could cover 6 months rent, but luckily the teaching organization pays for the accommodations. While Jinyoung was trying on garments behind a curtain, Yi-seo signaled for you to entertain Yugyeom and BamBam.
You weren’t sure what to do. Normally you’re alongside Yi-Seo but it looks like we have to improvise, as we weren’t expecting two additional guests.
You began to walk over to the couches were Yugyeom and BamBam were sitting. Yugyeom was on the left larger couch and BamBam was across from him in the smaller couch. You noticed that Yuygeom was talking to BamBam, but looking at you. As you approached, their voices quieted and Yugyeom glanced away and cleared his throat.
Was he nervous? Were they talking about you? No, they have way better things to talk about. But that was weird, right?
“Hello, Mr. Kim and— sorry I didn’t get your last name,” you said, facing BamBam.
Yugyeom interjected, “Oh, you can call us both by our first names.”
Are they trying to get me fired?
“Is there anything else I can get for you? We have an in-house cafe that can prepare light fares.” You reached down to the coffee table that is situated between the two men, grabbed two menus, and handed them each one.
“I can give you both a few moments to look over the menu.”
“Thank you,” they said in unison.
You took this opportunity to go to the bathroom, retouch your make-up, and check your hair. It’s not that you’re a vain person, but the job requires all of us to look well put together. Clean, crisp, clothes. Spotless faces and hair tucked away. You gave yourself a once over after reapplying lip tint and decided that you look good, then headed back to the lounge.
Yi-Seo was helping Jinyoung remove a jacket and placing it back on the rack. Yuygyeom was standing tall, pouring more champagne into BamBam’s flute, and then more for himself. From behind, you couldn’t help but to stare at his shoulders. They were perfectly symmetrical and for the first time ever, you realized just how attractive shoulders can be.
You grabbed the store tablet, opened up the app to order from the cafe, and walked over to the two men. Yugyeom turned around when he sensed your presence.
He smiled and said “Hey, you’re back.” His eyes were dark, yet happy and alluring. He looked like a labrador retriever.
“Yes, have you had time to look at the menu? Is there anything I can order for you?” you asked.
“Yes, could we have three coffees, one plain croissant, and two chocolate croissants?” Yuygeom asked.
“Absolutely,” you replied as you entered their order on the tablet, “Anything else?”
“No thank you, we’re good,” replied BamBam.
You hit send, saw the order number 747, placed the tablet down, and headed to the cafe to pick up their order.
Entering the cafe, you could hear a few of the women who work in the cafe excitedly gossiping. You walked up to the food pick up area and saw Do-yun.
“Hey Do-yun, I’m here for order number 747,” you affirmed,
“Y/N, is it true there are kpop idols in the VIP lounge?” Do-yun asked.
Kpop idols? So that’s who those guys are. You know, the one Jinyoung did kind of look familiar.
You have to be discrete about work clients and Do-yun knows this. You could both get in a lot of trouble for not following the privacy policy.
“Do-yun, you KNOW I cannot talk to you about VIP clients,” you reply sternly.
“Awwhh,” Do-yun replied in a disappointed, whiny tone.
“But,” you said, and Do-yun perks up at the conjunction.
“They’re very attractive. There’s no way they are *jikjang-in,” you completed your sentence with a smirk and see Do-yun light up. You quickly shoot her a ‘be-quiet’ look and grabbed the tray with the coffee and croissants Yugyeon, Jinyoung, and BamBam ordered, then walk-off.
There’s no way men that beautiful are sitting behind a desk crunching numbers all day.
*A jikjang-in is the equivalent of an American or Japanese salaryman.
You walked back into the VIP lounge and saw only BamBam sitting on the couch. Yugyeom was in a corner speaking quietly on his phone and Byung-ho stands statue-like at his post. You gently placed the coffee and croissants on the table, along with napkins. You glance up and see Yi-Seo is finishing up with Jinyoung. She places his items in a large bag with the Tyche logo, bows, and leaves the lounge. Jinyoung returns the bow and then walks over to BamBam to join him on the couch. Yuygyeom notices and quickly ends his phone call before heading back to the couch as well.
Since Yi-seo is all done with Jinyoung, that is your cue to leave.
“It has been a pleasure to assist the three of you today. Is there anything else I can do for you?” you asked as you scan their faces. My God, they really are gorgeous. BamBam and Jinyoung smiled and glanced at Yugyeom, who looked nervous as he opened his mouth. No words came out and he began stammering.
“What he means is thank you, Y/N. You made us feel very welcome,” BamBam interjected.
You bowed, turned on your heels, and began walking towards the VIP lounge door. It was time to get back to the retail floor. With your hand on the door knob, you heard, “Y/N, do you have a minute?” You turned around to see Yugyeom jumping out of his seat and rushing over to you.
Oh no, what is going on? Did I mess up their order? It was two chocolate croissants and one plain croissant with three coffees. Or what is one chocolate croissant and two plain?
Yugyeom was towering over you like a statue of a Greek God. He had taken his jacket off and he was wearing a sleeveless V-neck shirt. His muscles were showing and you could see that he had a few tattoos up and down his arms.
Yugyeom ran his hands through his fluffy hair and opened his mouth. He was silent for a moment and then his eyes met yours. “Since you couldn’t enjoy the champagne with me, I was wondering… would you like to go out for a drink with me tonight?”