💫

"Oh, this?" his free hand casually trailing down the side of his jaw. "Yeah. I haven't really had the time to shave with everything going on. And honestly, now that I finally have a few days off, all I want to do is just relax. I really don't want to pick up a razor yet if I don't have to."

You nodded, trying to take in this new image of your best friend. "Right, well it looks good. Really good."

"Thank you," he smiled, his tone soft.

Seunghyun set his coffee mug down on the counter and looked at you more closely, finally noticing the faint lines of exhaustion around your eyes. "You look beat. Come on, go sit down on the couch and get comfortable. Have you had anything to eat or drink yet?"

''Just some terrible airport coffee hours ago," you admitted

"Perfect timing, then. I was just about to make something," Seunghyun called out, following you to the edge of the living room. He leaned his tall frame against the doorframe "Do you want some tea to help you unwind first? I have that barley tea you like."

"That sounds amazing, actually. Thank you," you said, sinking heavily into the plush cushions of his sofa.

You watched him turn back into the kitchen, your eyes instantly locking onto the broad expanse of his back. ''Ugh''

You needed to get a grip. This was Seunghyun. Your best friend. The guy you routinely argued with over the TV remote and who had seen you at your absolute worst. But your brain completely refused to cooperate. Every time you closed your eyes all you could see was the dark rugged shadow mapping the sharp lines of his face.

A few minutes later, Seunghyun walked back into the living room carrying two steaming mugs. He handed one to you, his warm fingers brushing against yours for a brief second..

"So," He began completely unaware of the absolute chaos happening inside your head as he sat down on the opposite end of the couch "Tell me everything. How was the trip?''

The familiar question helped ground you. For the next hour, the brief tension melted back into the easy comfortable rhythm you two always shared. Seunghyun listened intently, chuckling softly at your misery.

It was so easy to just sit here with him, laughing until your chest ached, completely falling back into the friendship you cherished so much. But there were moments you sneaked a glance, your eyes inevitably drifting right back to his jawline for just a fraction of a second before returning to his eyes.

Eventually, a loud undeniable growl echoed from your stomach, cutting you off mid-sentence.

Seunghyun glanced at you with a raised eyebrow, "Was that you??''

"I told you, I haven't eaten since this morning," you groaned.

''Alright, alright, hold on," he said, pushing himself up from the couch with a lazy stretch. "I don't have much real groceries since I just got back myself, but I have a massive stash of instant ramen. Instant gourmet meal for the weary traveler. Sound good?"

"You read my mind. Make it spicy," you called out after him

From the living room, you listened to the comforting sounds of Seunghyun moving around the kitchen—the rustle of ramen packets, the clatter of ceramic bowls, and the whistle of the electric kettle. It felt so incredibly domestic, a scene you had shared a hundred times before.

A few minutes later, Seunghyun walked back in carrying two steaming bowls of spicy ramen, complete with perfectly soft-boiled eggs sliding around the top. He set them down on the coffee table and you both immediately dug in.

"You're a lifesaver," you sighed, blowing on a massive tangle of noodles and taking a bite. The rich, spicy broth was exactly what you needed.

Seunghyun watched you eat, a soft fond expression on his face as he took his own bite. For a while, the room was mostly quiet except for the sound of clinking chopsticks and the soft hum of the refrigerator in the background. Eating together felt safe. You finished half your bowl before your pace finally slowed down. The initial distraction of the food was starting to wear off, and the quiet atmosphere of the apartment allowed those dangerous hyper-focused thoughts to creep right back into your mind.

You looked over at him out of the corner of your eye. Seunghyun was currently tilting his bowl back, lifting it to his lips to drink the last of the spicy broth. Because his head was tilted back his throat was completely exposed, the sharp angle of his Adam's apple moving smoothly as he swallowed.

A unwelcomed vivid wave of heat crashed over you, far hotter than the spicy ramen you had just eaten.

What would that feel like?

You wondered what it would feel like if he leaned over right now. If that rough scratchy stubble was pressed firmly against the skin of your neck. If it fractioned against your collarbones, scraping lightly against your skin as he kissed his way down your body. The thought itself made you shiver.

Seunghyun lowered his empty bowl to the coffee table with a soft clack. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, turning his head to look at you—and caught you.

He blinked, looking at you with a raised eyebrow. "You're doing it again," he pointed out "What's going on in that head of yours?"

Your eyelashes fluttered as you snapped out of it. ''Hm? oh I'm okay, just... thinking."

Seunghyun’s smirk widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners "Thinking?" he echoed softly. "About what?"

About you kissing me, the thought flashed instantly through your mind, vivid and terrifyingly loud.

"My..Boss'' you blurted out loud, "Just thinking about an email she sent me before the flight. Work stuff. Total buzzkill."

He didn't buy it for a single second. "Your manager, huh? You were staring right here." He tapped a finger against his scruffy chin

''What? as if. You're imagining things'' You waved your hand dismissively at him

"Oh, you absolutely were," Seunghyun chuckled ''It's alright, I know I'm handsome''

"Oh, please," you scoffed followed by a classic eye roll. "Your ego is going to need its own first-class seat if you keep this up."

"Hey, I'm just stating facts," he said "But seriously, If you're trying to tell me my beard looks weird or something..tell me''

I'm trying to tell you look hot as fuck and I want to jump your bones.

''Fine, yes it looks off. There, happy?'' You lied.

"Hmm, alright," he replied, his trademark smirk returning. Clearly he didn't believe you, but still he dropped it.

You let out a quiet breath, looking back out the window as the clouds drifted by.

The truth was, crossing that line was a risk you absolutely refused to take. You had known Seunghyun since you were kids, back when he was just the goofy boy next door who shared his snacks and helped you climb trees. You had watched him grow up, stood by him through his awkward teenage years, and celebrated every single one of his milestones. He was a permanent fixture in your life, woven into your happiest memories.

Your friendship was too precious, too deeply rooted, to ever jeopardize. If you let yourself slip up, if you let him see the brief fleeting thoughts that occasionally popped into your head, everything would change.

You couldn't lose your best friend over a silly moment of distraction.

Steeling your resolve, you put the stray thoughts completely out of your mind & turned back to him.

Before the words could even leave your mouth, the ring of the doorbell echoed from across the room, cutting the conversation short.

Seunghyun blinked, looking toward the entryway before shifting his gaze back to you. "Ah, that must be her''

He pushing himself up from the couch, smoothed down his shirt and walked to the door.

Her, you scoffed.

You had completely forgotten he was talking to someone new. He had mentioned her in passing a couple of weeks ago—some girl he met through a mutual friend—but with work being so chaotic, the detail had completely slipped your mind. Now, seeming him all excited, a strange prickling sensation bloomed in your chest. For some reason, it bothered you. But why?

"Hey! You made it''

"Hi! Sorry if I'm a little early," a soft voice replied.

You strained your ears, listening to the rustle of jackets and the polite, quiet chatter as Seunghyun helped her step inside. A moment later, he walked back into the living room, leading the girl by the arm. She was undeniably pretty, dressed in an effortlessly chic outfit that made you suddenly feel hyper-aware of how casual you looked lounging on his couch.

"Hey, so this is Minji. Minji, this is a good friend of mine, Y/n'' Seunghyun smiled. An eager smile, almost as if he couldn't wait for this moment.

Minji offered a polite smile, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes as she noticed how comfortable you were in his apartment. "Oh, It's so nice to meet you. Seunghyun talks about you all the time."

"Nice to meet you too," you managed to say, forcing a tight smile.

You suddenly felt like an intruder in a space that usually felt like your second home.

The silence that followed was instant and heavy. Seunghyun stood between the two of you, looking entirely oblivious to the thick layer of awkwardness settling over the room.

"Right, uh," Seunghyun started, his voice cutting through the quiet "Minji was actually just dropping off some paperwork I forgot at the studio but I told her she should stay for a drink.''

"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Minji asked quickly, "I can leave if you guys were busy."

"No.. No, not at all," you blurted out, the response a little too fast-a little too loud. "I was actually just about to head out anyway. Work stuff, you know."

Seunghyun frowned, looking at you with genuine confusion. "Wait, really? I thought you were staying for dinner."

Right, like I want to stay here and watch you flirt all night. The bitter thought flashed instantly through your mind.

"Um, no. I—I should head home, you know?" you stammered quickly "I haven't been home in a week, so... yeah. I really need to get back."

"Oh—right. Um, okay," Seunghyun replied softly.

He was obviously upset. The easy, carefree expression he usually wore around you vanished instantly, replaced by a frown.

He walked you to the door, his long strides quiet against the hardwood floor. When you reached the entryway, you turned around to offer a brief apologetic goodbye. Seunghyun pulled you into a tight hug. It wasn't his usual playful squeeze, it was firm and heavy, as if he were trying to figure out the sudden wall you had just built.

"Text me when you get back," he mumbled near your ear.

"I will. Bye, Seunghyun''

You stepped out into the chilly hallway, the heavy click of his apartment door shutting behind you feeling incredibly final.

The walk to the parking garage was a total blur. You unlocked your car and climbed inside, the quiet of the vehicle instantly wrapping around you. As you pulled out onto the main road and began the drive home, the bright city lights blurred into long, distorted streaks of color.

You reached up with a frustrated swipe of your hand, wiping it away. But you didn't know why you were crying. Why were you so upset?

It made absolutely no sense. Seunghyun was your childhood best friend. You had seen him go on dates before, and you had always been supportive. But tonight, seeing another girl step into his space—seeing the way his attention immediately fractured to accommodate someone else—had struck a raw nerve you didn't even know existed. A new feeling emerged from the surface, jealousy.

What is wrong with me?  you thought desperately  What is actually happening right now?

A hard lump formed in your throat, making it difficult to swallow. You had no right to be upset. Absolutely none. Seunghyun was a grown man and completely single. He was allowed to meet people, to date, and to invite girls over to his apartment whenever he pleased. So why did the sight of Minji standing in his foyer make you feel like your entire world was tilting off its axis?

When you finally reached home, the silence of your own apartment felt heavy and unwelcoming. You unlocked the door, stepping into the dark entryway, and kicked off your shoes without bothering to turn on the overhead lights.

You walked further into the living room, the quiet rustle of your clothes sounding incredibly loud in the empty space. As you neared the console table, your eyes drifted to a small silver frame resting near the edge. Even in the dim light filtering through the window, you could see the picture of you and Seunghyun. It was taken a couple of summers ago at a crowded street festival—he had his arm thrown casually over your shoulder. You looked so safe, so completely intertwined in each other's lives.

You let out a a small sniffle as a fresh wave of dampness blurred your vision.

Maybe eating will help? you thought, maybe you were just hungry.

Standing by the door was your suitcase and there should be a left over bagel in there. You walk over and unzip the material, beneath the folded clothes and travel gear was a brown paper bag. Your bagel. Score.

With the probably stale bagel in hand you went straight to your bedroom, crawling onto the unmade bed. Sitting cross-legged in the dark, you chew absentmindedly waiting for this foreign feeling to go away, but it didn't.

The thoughts followed you all the way to the next day.

When morning came, there was no grand realization or sudden relief. The confusing ache in your stomach had simply settled in for the long haul. You sat at the edge of your bed, your wrapped fingers holding a lukewarm mug of coffee that you hadn't even tasted yet. Outside, a gloomy gray downpour had taken over the city.

You watched the massive oak tree sway outside your window, its heavy green branches bending under the current. The storm outside perfectly mirrored the restless, tangled mess inside your own mind.

Besides you, your phone buzzed for the third time that morning. It was Seunghyun. You already knew it was him without even looking at the screen, but you couldn't bring yourself to pick it up. You didn't know what to say to him. You didn't know how to explain your sudden silence and more than anything, you didn't know how to face him without your eyes giving away the secret you were currently drowning in.

Honestly, this feeling absolutely scared you. You had spent a lifetime relying on Seunghyun as your rock, your absolute safe haven in a chaotic world. Now, for the first time in your life, he was the source of a terrifyingly new feeling.

Before you could sink any deeper into your thoughts, your phone lit up a fourth time, a bright flash against the dark wood of your nightstand. You shifted your gaze, glancing over getting a brief view of the string of messages waiting for you on the lock screen.

''Hey, did you make it home okay last night? You never texted.'' “You still sleeping?” ''Seriously, jagi, you’re making me nervous. At least send an emoji so I know you’re alive'' “I’m coming over if you don’t answer in ten minutes.”

"Fuck," you whispered aloud to the empty room.

You just didn’t have the energy to see anyone right now—especially not him, not when your emotions were still sitting right at the surface.

Grabbing your phone, you typed out a response to avoid him visiting.

Y/n |9:00 Am|: ''Hey yeah I made it home''

You stared at the screen as the little typing bubbles appeared almost instantly.

Seunghyun |9:00 Am|: Ah, ok. Glad to here it

It was silent for a phew seconds before a second message followed.

Seunghyun |9:01 Am| Are you hungry? figured maybe we cab grab some breakfast.

The stale bagel from last night was still sitting half eaten on your night stand, you glanced at the left over meal but no sense of hunger hit you.

Y/n |9:03 Am| : I'm ok, I have a bacon and egg bagel calling my name

Lie. Another lie, it scared you how easily those fibs were pouring from your mouth. On the other end Seunghyun can feel your distance, your hesitation. It's a phew minutes before another messages pops up.

Seunghyun |9:07 Am|: Everything ok? kind of feels like you're avoiding me

Because I am.

Y/n |9: 07 Am|: Yeah, just a little under the weather.

You purposely avoided the question.

Seunghyun |9:08 Am|: Ok. Let me know if I can do anything to help.

The message was short and clipped. He was obviously upset.

You felt guilty, of course you did. The man had known you since you were thirteen years old. He knew every single one of your tells when you were hiding something and the precise shift in your behavior when you were shutting down. Of course he knew you were lying to him right now, but out of pure respect—or maybe because he was tired of pushing against your walls—he dropped it anyway.

With a deep sigh, you tossed your phone onto the mattress, letting it slide away across the sheets and set your lukewarm cup of coffee down on the nightstand.

"What is happening?"

That was the question you asked yourself for days on end, the words looping in a cruel endless cycle through your mind. As if he understood, Seunghyun gave you space. The silence from him was heavy and unnatural; you had not heard from him in a total of three days. No casual texts, no funny memes, no check-ins. You hadn't left the house in three days either, letting the walls of your apartment close in around you.

It wasn't until one Saturday morning that the reality of your self-imposed isolation finally caught up to you. Groaning softly, you slumped over to the kitchen and swung the fridge door open, only to be met with empty shelves. You realized you had no food left. Your stomach rumbled uncomfortably.

Maybe a nice walk to the market will clear your mind, you thought.

Before heading out, you caught a glimpse of yourself in the bathroom mirror and you looked awful. There were dark shadows bruising the skin under your eyes from nights of restless sleep, and your hair was a wild tangled mess. You looked like a ghost hiding out in your own life.

You desperately needed a shower. The hot water felt incredibly grounding washing away days of stagnant energy. Afterward, you pulled on a pair of comfortable jeans, a simple sweater, and grabbed your canvas tote bag.

Stepping outside, the crisp air hit your face, instantly waking up your senses. The rain from the previous day had finally cleared, leaving the streets smelling fresh and damp. You took a slow deep breath, the local grocery store was only a few blocks away, and as you walked down the familiar sidewalk, the simple routine of the outside world began to make the suffocating weight in your chest feel just a little bit lighter.

You walked through the automatic sliding doors of the store, the familiar hum of the fluorescent lights and the quiet chatter of shoppers wrapping around you. Grabbing a small basket, you wandered deeper into the produce section.

You spent a while picking up apples, carefully turning a crisp red one over in your palm to check for bruises. The cool skin of the fruit felt nice against your fingers.

Then, a familiar sound cut right through the ambient noise of the aisle.

It was a deep rumble of laughter—a sound you would recognize anywhere.

Slowly, your gaze drifted past the pyramid of citrus fruits toward the organic section across the aisle. There he was.

Seunghyun was standing by the leafy greens, looking effortlessly handsome in a dark trench coat, his hair perfectly styled despite the casual Saturday morning hours. But he wasn’t alone. Minji was standing right beside him, holding a small plastic bag open while Seunghyun carefully selected a bunch of spinach to drop inside. She said something in a quiet voice, and he leaned his head down closer to hers to hear her over the store music, a soft, genuine smile spreading across his face.

The apple in your hand suddenly felt incredibly heavy. Seeing them together here, navigating a mundane, domestic routine in your neighborhood grocery store, made you feel like a complete stranger.

The apple slipped from your fingers, hitting the floor with a dull thud before rolling straight toward him. It bumped right against the toe of Seunghyun’s boot.

He looked down at the stray piece of fruit, confused and then his eyes followed the path it had taken until they locked onto yours. He blinked in sheer surprise. He quickly muttered something to Minji, giving her a brief gesture to wait, before turning and heading directly toward you.

Panic seized you. You couldn't do this. Not here. Not in front of her.

You quickly turned on your heel, your heart hammering. In your rush to escape, you didn't even realize you were still clutching your basket until you stumbled past a nearby cash register. You dropped the rest of the apples onto the counter, ignoring the startled look from the cashier, and practically bolted through the automatic sliding doors.

By the time Seunghyun followed you outside, the pavement was empty. He scanned the bustling street, his dark eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and growing frustration. You were completely gone, swallowed up by the morning crowd. He ran a hand through his black hair "Fuck."

You ran all the way home, your legs burning and your lungs screaming for air as you dashed up the stairs of your building. You threw the door open, slammed it shut behind you and leaned your back against the wood.

But the safety of your apartment couldn't stop the storm inside you. You couldn't calm yourself down. Your chest heaved in ragged shallow gasps, your throat constricting so tightly that you couldn't steady your breathing. The adrenaline faded, leaving behind a raw hollow ache and the tears came down in a silent unstoppable deluge.

You slid down the door until your knees hit the floor, burying your face in your hands.

You don't know how long you sat there, trapped in your own breathless panic, before a sudden sound echoed through the quiet apartment.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The blunt thuds against the door vibrated right through your spine. You held your breath, praying he would go away.

"Y/n" Seunghyun’s deep voice cut through the wood, rough.

He paused, waiting for a sound before knocking again, harder this time. "I know you're in there, Y/n. Open the door. Please."

You pressed your lips tightly together, trying to stifle a pathetic, watery sniffle, but the silence between you was already too loud.

"Why are you avoiding me?" his voice dropped, carrying a painful note of rejection that made your heart shatter. "We haven't spoken in three days, and now you run away from me? Just tell me what I did wrong. Please, talk to me."

Nothing, you thought bitterly, It's me.

Still, he banged on the door, the heavy vibrations rattling through your entire body. "Y/n, let me in! I haven't seen you in days! Does that not bother you?!"

Of course it does, you screamed silently, the thought tearing through your mind.

Seunghyun continued to bang on the door, the sharp cracks echoing loudly down the apartment hallway. At this point you were worried worry your neighbors. You knew someone was going to call management if this kept up. Hurrying before he could strike the wood again, you let out a shaky huff and threw the door open.

Before he could even process the sudden movement, you reached out, grabbed the hem of his dark jacket and forcefully pulled him inside.

"Shh, be quiet! You're going to disrupt my neighbors," you hissed. Slamming the door behind you.

Seunghyun stumbled slightly from the force of your pull, but he instantly found his footing, turning to face you. He looked pissed, he was clearly upset, a rare spark of pure frustration burning in his usually calm eyes. Seunghyun calmed for a moment to searching your eyes, taking in the red rims, the damp lashes, and the tracks of wetness staining your cheeks.

"Wh—what? Are you crying? Why are you crying?"

You rubbed your nose with the sleeve of your sweater "I'm not''

Seunghyun scoffed, "See? There you go again, lying to me ..What the hell is going on with you?!"

"Nothing is going on!" you shouted back, the wall you had built over the last three days finally fracturing. You pushed past him, walking into the living room just to put some distance between your bodies, but he followed you closely.

"Don't give me that bullshit, Y/n'' He was matching your anger ,"You walked out of my apartment obviously upset, ignore my texts for days and then avoid me out in public. And YOU'RE the one crying?''

''I- I'm just going through something ok, I needed time. You don't need to know everything that's going on with me'' Your voice was quieter now, almost a whisper.

''We've known each other since we were thirteen years old!" Seunghyun roared, "Your life is my business! When you hurt, it’s my business! I have spent over a decade being the person you call when things go wrong, and now suddenly you're treating me like a complete stranger! Did I do something? Did I say something to offend you? Just fucking tell me!"

"You didn't do anything!" you sobbed, "That's the point, Seunghyun! You did absolutely nothing wrong! So just drop it! Please, just go back to your apartment, go back to Minji, and leave me be for awhile''

The room went still.

"Minji?" he repeated. He stared at you, his eyes scanning your frantic tear-stained face "Is... is this about Minji?"

"No..no of course not'' you lied instantly.

You couldn't tell him. You couldn't admit that you were drowning in jealousy, that your childhood friendship was a lie you could no longer maintain, and that the thought of him being with someone else was physically destroying you. "It's not about her, I-i...I'm just dealing with something''

"Stop lying to me..." Seunghyun stepped closer.

He reached down and gently but firmly lifted your wet chin with his index finger, forcing you to look at him. "Look at me. Don't hide from me. Tell me what's happening to us."

You looked straight into his dark eyes but the words completely died in your throat. You couldn't say it. To you, the mere fact that you had developed romantic feelings for him felt... bizarre. It felt surreal, terrifying, and completely out of place in the neat, safe world you had built together over the last decade. You weren't about to ruin years of an irreplaceable childhood friendship just because you couldn't control your own heart.

Seunghyun searched your eyes for a long, agonizing moment, waiting for a confession, an explanation, or anything that would bridge the sudden chasm between you. But as the seconds ticked by in heavy silence, his expression hardened.

He let out a harsh scoff and took a step back.

"You're not going to tell me... are you?"

You said nothing.

Seunghyun shook his head, a bitter humorless smile touching his lips

"Fine," he barked, "You want space? I'll give you fucking space."

He spun around on his heel and stormed across the living room, headed straight toward the entryway. The finality in his movements was terrifying. It felt like if he walked out that door right now, the invisible thread that had held you together since you were thirteen would snap forever.

"Wait!" you cried out "Wait..."

"Please... I—I can't stand to have you mad at me" you whispered

The raw desperation in your tone stopped him instantly. Seunghyun let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders dropping as the anger seemed to drain completely out of him. He let go of the door handle and walked back over to you. When he reached you, he didn't shout..instead, he reached up and held your face in his hands.

"Then tell me," he whispered, "What's going on with you?"

You looked up into his dark eyes, the suffocating feelings that had sparked a few days ago coming back stronger than ever, completely overwhelming your defenses. His stubble was still there, shadowing his sharp jawline, and for the first time in all the years you had known him, you wondered what his lips felt like. You wondered if he was a good kisser. The sheer gravity of the thought made you incredibly nervous—terrified, even. This was a massive risk, a point of no return, but you couldn't help it. Your gaze dropped, your eyes staying completely locked on his lips.

Seunghyun noticed the shift. He looked down at you, a familiar raised eyebrow returning as his eyes softened with confusion. "Y/n?" he prompted softly.

That's when you did it.

Before your brain could talk you out of it, you leaned up and pressed your lips against his. The contact sent butterflies straight through your stomach . His scruffy stubble grazed your skin, giving a welcoming tickle.

But it was fast.

Before the kiss could deepen, Seunghyun pulled away, his hands dropping from your face as he took a startled step back. He touched his fingers to his lips.

"Woah..." Seunghyun breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "Y/n..."

"Oh my god, I’m so sorry''. You backed away, your hands coming up to cover your mouth. "Seunghyun, I am so, so sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I don't know what's wrong with me, I just—please just forget I did that—"

But he just watched you. His dark eyes never left your face, tracing the wild expression on your features as you continued to ramble. His fingers were still gently touching his own lips, the skin there tingling from the kiss.

The truth was, he had felt it too.

In that split second, those wild butterflies had erupted in his stomach and a undeniable spark had shot straight through his heart the moment your lips met his.

Seunghyun took a step closer to you, cutting off the distance you had just made. "Shut up for a second''

You blinked, completely taken aback by his tone. "Excuse me? You can't just tell me to—"

Before you could finish your sentence, Seunghyun reached out, his large hand cupping the back of your neck to pull you back in, and he kissed you.

This time, there was no hesitation. The moment his lips met yours, the last remaining walls of your childhood boundary crumbled into nothingness. It was a deep, passionate kiss.

His large hand anchored firmly against the back of your neck, his fingers tangling into your hair to hold you securely against him while his other hand came around to grip your waist, pulling your body flush against him

You let out a soft sigh against his mouth, your hands automatically reaching up to clutch at the fabric of his dark trench coat.

Seunghyun deepened the kiss, his lips moving against yours with ease as if this was something the you two of you have done many times before. It was possessive, tender, and made your knees go weak. The rough tickle of his stubble grazed your skin with every shift of his jaw, a welcoming, intoxicating sensation that only added to the overwhelming rush of adrenaline.

It wasn't just a kiss to quiet your rambling, it was an answering confession, a silent vow that he was feeling every single butterfly, every single spark that was currently roaring to life in your chest.

When he finally pulled away, your lips tingled.

"Wow," you whispered

Seunghyun’s eyes softened, he kept his large hands resting gently on your waist. "Is this okay?...are you ok with this?''

You breathed out. ''Yes.''

A smile broke across Seunghyun’s face and he didn't waste another moment. He leaned down, capturing your mouth once again in a kiss that was even sweeter and more certain than the last.

Without breaking the kiss, he began to guide you backward into the living room. His large frame shielding you from the rest of the world as he led you toward the couch. Your sneakers slid across the floor until the back of your knees hit the soft cushions.

Seunghyun followed you down as you sank into the sofa. He hovered over you, supporting his weight on one forearm while his other hand reached up to cup your cheek, his thumb gently smoothing over the lingering track of a tear.

His hands slid down to the hem of your sweater, his fingers brushed against your bare skin sending a jolt of pure electricity straight up your spine. He didn't pull away, instead his lips left yours to trail a path of burning kisses down the line of your jaw then to your neck.

You tilted your head back against the cushions, your eyes fluttering open to stare at the ceiling. You could hardly believe this was actually happening and it felt as good as you imagined.

Seunghyun’ thumbs lightly tucking under the fabric as he began to lift it up. But right before pulling it over your head, he stopped.

"Can I?" he whispered, "Is this okay?"

You looked up at him and nodded.

A quiet appreciative breath left his lips. He guided your shirt over your head and tossed it aside. Seunghyun paused for a fraction of a seconds his eyes took you in

''Wow..you're beautiful''

You didn't hide from him, it didn't feel weird, it felt completely natural. It was almost like a sudden revelation, a quiet thought blooming in your chest: Why haven't we done this this entire time?

Seunghyun shifted his weight, hovering over you with a tender intensity as his lips left yours again and pressed kisses down the side of your neck.

"Mmm, Seunghyun," you breathed his name.

Hearing his name made him let out a low rumble against your skin. You reached up, your fingers finding their way into his soft black hair gently running your hand through the thick strands. You loved the feel of it between your fingertips, a familiar detail you had observed from afar for years, now entirely yours to touch.

He moved back up to capture your mouth, the kiss turning profoundly heavy with emotion. With your hand still tangled in his hair, you reached down your fingers catching the fabric of his dark shirt and gave it an eager tug. You wanted to see him.

Seunghyun chuckled, a beautiful teasing smirk played at the corners of his lips. "Needy, are we?"

He didn't make you wait, though. Sitting up just enough to pull the fabric over his head, he tossed it onto the floor to join your own. When he leaned back down over you, you reached out, your palms pressing gently against his chest. You touched his soft skin, feeling the smooth heat radiating off him and the frantic, heavy thudding of his heart right beneath your fingertips. It was the same wild rhythm as your own, a silent reassurance that he was just as undone by you as you were by him.

You leaned up and pressed your lips gently against the soft skin of his chest, right over his racing pulse. The small gesture made him let out a shaky breath, his hands tightening against your waist.

He didn't let you stay away for long. Dipping back down, Seunghyun captured your mouth once more, pulling you into a kiss. You can feel the g bulge growing in his pants. It felt large, intimidating and you wanting nothing more than to feel it inside you.

You sat up slightly, breaking the kiss. You wanted those pants off. Your hands franticly went to the buttons of his trousers undoing them swiftly.

''Goddamn, y/n I didn't take you to be so assertive'' He watched you, bitting down on his own lip.

His pants button pops open and you shimmy the material down half by his waist exposing his boxers and v line. ''Oh yeah?''

You shifted your weight and switched places with him, straddling his lap on the cushions.

He let out a breathy huff of surprise, his hands instantly flying to your hips . "Well, alright then''

With you sitting over his lap, the proximity felt incredibly intimate, completely erasing any lingering doubts. You rested your hands flat against his bare shoulders, feeling the firm muscle beneath his soft skin. Looking down at him from this position, you realized you had never seen him look so completely undone—his black hair messy from your fingers, his lips flushed from your kisses, and his gaze entirely locked onto you as if nothing else in the world existed.

''Take it off'' you breathed, motioning to his pants.

Seunghyun didn't hesitate for a second. As he shook off the remaining of pants so did you. Almost at the same time the both of you throw the material to the floor leaving you both bare to each other.

His dark eyes traced every line and curve of your body as you did the same with his. The most you have seen of each other was at the pool, in bathing suits. But nothing like this. You can feel his hardened member resting and throbbing next to your thigh.

His large hand reaches up and plays with your soft hair, his eyes practickly drinking you up. ''God, you're so..''

''Yeah,'' you smiled. ''You too''

This was it. The last line to be crossed. This moment is what's going to change the friendship forever.

Seunghyun asks you once more, ''You want this?''

You couldn't help to smile, ''Do you?''

''More then anything''

''Me too''

He reached up and took your lips once more, bitting and tugging at the already raw dry skin. You responded in an instant, moving your hips till you hovered over his cock and let the limb slip inside you.

''Oh f-fuck '' Seunghyun groaned into the kiss.

You yelped you couldn't help it. He was large, very large. You tore away from the kiss and laid your sweaty forehead against his ''God you're so-''

You couldn't say it out loud, you were too embarrassed. But he knew what you mean.

With a satisfied smirk, he pressed a gentle kiss on your soft cheek. ''It's ok, take a second. Take as long as you need''

With a deep breath you feel like you can move now, eager for the pleasure you knew he can cause you. Your hands fly to his chest, laying your palms flat on his chest as your hips began to rock against his dick.

Seunghyun's fingers gripped to your hips as you moved, letting his head fly backwards onto the arm of the couch, ''God you feel so good''

You closed your own eyes, simmering into the feeling.This was an intense pleasure no other man has made you feel. His cock slipped in and out of you with ease and he seemed to know the exact moments to buck up into you making you moan loudly.

''mm Seunghyun''

He reached down, while his other hand stayed gripping your thigh. His fingers slipped past his dick and rubbed your clit, sending a warm wave of heat through your body.

You threw your head back, picking up your pace. ''Oh..s-shit''

Seunghyun watched you, your face contorting and your brows furrowed as you chased your high. You were beautiful and he never wanted this to end. Sweat beaded down your breasts as they bounced, the sound of your way bodies slamming together mixed with your head breaths was all that was heard in the room.

His paced quickened moving his fingers faster, he can tell, even though this was his first time with you he can tell you were about to come. And you did, your hips grinned against him chasing your orgasm as it crashed down on you.

''Ohhhh Hyung!''

Seunghyun watched your body wither above him before he gripped your hips on either side and bucked into you. You leaned forward cradling your face into his shoulder, not being to hold yourself up anymore.

Your soft hair fell over his face and he breathed it in as his pace became relentless. You reached your orgasm yes, but still the pleasure of him moving in side you threatened another one. You bit at his shoulder attempting to muffle your moans.

''Shi----shit!'' With one last thrust he came inside you. The warm liquid spilling out.

The heavy rhythm of your breathing was the only sound left in the room, fast and uneven as you both tried to catch your breath. Your chest heaved against his, the physical exertion leaving you completely spent, but the sheer adrenaline coursing through your veins kept your heart hammering wildly

You were still straddling him, the warmth of his skin radiating beneath your touch, but the heat of the moment was rapidly being replaced by a stark, sobering reality.

You looked down at him, and he stared right back up at you. Both of you were in disbelief that this line was crossed. It wasn't just a boundary anymore; it was an entire reality shattered into a million unfixable pieces. The finality of it hung in the space between your faces.

Slowly, almost tentatively, Seunghyun lifted his hand and gently began to play with your hair. He wound a loose strand around his finger, his touch incredibly softly ''Wow, I uh was not expecting that''

You let lout a small laugh, matching his energy. ''Well theres no going back now''

You both stared into each others eyes, feeling things you felt was to soon to say, thinking things that you both felt it was best to keep to yourselves. But you both knew it. You loved each other.

Of course you both always loved each other, but this was different.

Seunghyun smiled up at you, softly touching your cheek. ''We're going to be ok?''

''Yeah'' You whispered , ''We'll be ok''

Mimi raced around a sharp bend in the path, entirely blind to anything but the fleeing pigeon. Coming from the opposite direction was a towering figure.

The man was dressed like a high-fashion shadow. He wore an impeccably tailored charcoal trench coat that billowed slightly as he walked, paired with dark trousers and heavy leather shoes. A black bucket hat was pulled low over his forehead, and a dark face mask obscured the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of intensely expressive eyes visible. He was looking down at his own phone, completely unaware.

Mimi didn't stop. In her blind panic, she zipped directly between the man's long legs. The dragging leash caught around his ankle, and within a fraction of a second, Mimi’s chaotic path had wrapped the lead tightly around the stranger’s boots twice over.

"Whoa—!"

A shockingly deep, velvety baritone voice vibrated through the air as the man stumbled. His phone nearly slipped from his grip, but his reflexes were dangerously quick. He caught his balance, twisting his large frame to avoid stepping on the tiny creature now trapped against his shins. Mimi, realizing she was caught, immediately dropped to her belly, letting out a dramatic, pathetic whine.

You rounded the corner at a frantic jog, completely out of breath, your cheeks flushed bright red from the cold air and the unexpected cardio.

"Oh my gosh! I am so, so sorry!" you panted, stopping a few feet away, your hands on your knees as you tried to catch your breath. "She doesn't listen to a single thing I say, I swear she's usually—"

Your voice trailed off as you actually looked at the man.

Even with a hat and a mask blocking most of his features, his presence was completely arresting. He was tall—easily closer to six feet—with broad shoulders that filled out the structured trench coat perfectly. But it was his eyes that made you freeze. They were large, dark, and incredibly intense, framed by thick, expressive eyebrows. There was an undeniable air of sophistication about him, the kind of aura that made the entire park feel like a background set for a movie.

You had absolutely no idea that the man currently tangled in your dog's leash was Choi Seunghyun. To the rest of the world, he was a global icon, a legendary rapper, and a fiercely private artist. But to you, right now, he was just a very fashionable, very trapped stranger.

Instead of getting annoyed or snapping at you for ruining his walk, the man slowly looked down at the pup staring up at him with big, guilty eyes.

A low, rumbling chuckle vibrated from behind his black mask.

"Well, aren't you a little troublemaker?" Seunghyun murmured.

He didn't wait for you to untangle him. Instead, he slowly crouched down on the pavement, his long coat pooling around him. The movement was surprisingly graceful for someone his size. He slipped his face mask down to his chin, revealing a sculpted jawline, a prominent nose, and a soft, boyish smile that completely contrasted his intimidating height.

He reached out a large hand, carefully letting Mimi sniff his knuckles first. Within two seconds, Mimi’s tail began to wag so hard her entire back half shook. She completely forgot about the pigeon, rolling over onto her back and exposing her belly in a move of pure, unashamed submission.

"Traitor," you muttered under your breath, watching your dog completely sell you out for a handsome stranger.

Seunghyun chuckled again, a genuine, amused sound as he began to spoil the runaway pup with enthusiastic belly rubs. His long fingers worked magic, scratching just behind Mimi’s ears making her hind leg twitch in pure bliss.

"She has terrible listening skills, but excellent taste in people," Seunghyun said, his dark eyes flicking up to lock onto yours. Up close, his voice was even deeper, a rich baritone that made your stomach do a sudden, nervous flip.

He carefully unwrapped the leash from around his boots, keeping one hand on Mimi so she wouldn't bolt again. Standing up to his full, towering height, he held out the material toward you. A playful glint danced in his dark eyes, and just as you reached out to take the leash, he gave you a devastating, slow wink.

He was completely unaware that your dog’s terrible behavior had just officially written the very first page of your love story.

You blushed, your face and ears turning a deep crimson that had absolutely nothing to do with the chilly autumn air. You bowed slightly, stepping forward to carefully take the plastic leash handle from his grasp. That slow, effortless wink had caught you completely off guard, but you certainly weren't complaining—this man was incredibly cute.

"Oh, thank you—" You stopped mid-sentence, trailing off with a hopeful expression as you waited for him to introduce himself.

"Seunghyun," he said, the corner of his lips tugging upward into a warm, easy smile. "Choi Seunghyun."

You smiled in return, the initial panic of the chase finally melting away. "Ah, L/N Y/N."

"That's a beautiful name," he murmured smoothly.

Your blush deepened, and you instantly looked down at your feet, nervously shuffling your sneakers back and forth against the fallen leaves.

"Well, it was nice meeting you," Seunghyun continued, his dark eyes shifting back down to the cream-colored pup still lounging at his feet. "And you too, Mimi. But I best get going. Good luck with her training."

You smiled, your throat suddenly feeling a bit tight as you found yourself unable to say much else. You bowed slightly to him. "Thank you."

Seunghyun turned smoothly on his heels, his long charcoal trench coat billowing slightly around his legs. But just as he was about to take his first step down the path, he stopped. He turned back around, a look of sudden realization crossing his handsome features.

"Oh, almost forgot," he said.

He reached into the deep pocket of his coat, pulled out a small, neatly folded piece of paper, and extended it toward you. "Here is my number. Maybe call me sometime? We can grab a coffee."

Before you could even process the shock, Seunghyun crouched back down on the pavement to give Mimi one last parting scratch behind the ears. "And definitely bring her along," he added with a low, rumbling laugh.

Your heart did a frantic, happy flutter against your ribs. "Ah, okay... I-I'd like that."

Seunghyun stood back up to his full, towering height. He gave you one final, devastating wink, pulled his black face mask back up over his jaw, and turned around to walk off down the sun-dappled path, leaving you standing there completely breathless.

You stood completely frozen on the path, watching his tall figure grow smaller as he walked away. Once he turned the corner near the park entrance, you finally let out the breath you hadn't realized you were holding. Your knees felt a little weak from the sheer shock of the encounter. Slipping the neatly folded piece of paper safely into your coat pocket, you sank down onto a nearby wooden bench.

"Come here, Mimi," you murmured, patting your thigh.

Mimi trotted over, completely pleased with herself, and hopped onto the bench beside you. You wrapped your arms around her soft fur, burying your face in her neck as you let out a breathless laugh. "I cannot believe that just happened. You absolute menace, do you have any idea what you just did?"

Mimi just panted, her pink tongue lolling out of her mouth as if she were proud of her terrible listening skills.

As you sat there petting her, your eyes wandered back toward the park exit. Through the thinning autumn trees, you saw Seunghyun approach the curb. A sleek, midnight-black sedan with heavily tinted windows was idling by the entrance. The moment Seunghyun stepped up, the back door was opened for him from the inside. He slid into the luxurious interior, and the car smoothly pulled away into the Seoul traffic.

Your eyebrows raised in curiosity. Wow, you thought to yourself. He must be someone really important... or incredibly rich. Ordinary guys usually didn't have private, high-end cars waiting for them at the edge of a public park.

You smiled down at your dog, scratching her right under her chin. "Well... I might as well say thank you to him, right? It would be rude not to." [1]

Mimi let out a sharp, happy bark, almost as if she perfectly understood you and was giving her full approval.

Truth be told, you hadn't dated in what felt like an eternity. For the past few years, your focus had been entirely consumed by work, climbing the corporate ladder, and just trying to survive the daily grind. Romance had been shoved so far down your priority list that it was practically nonexistent. But looking down at the pocket where his number was hidden, a small, unfamiliar spark of excitement flared in your chest.

Gently pulling Mimi off the bench, you checked your watch and realized your lunch break was officially over. "Alright, matchmaker, let's get home before my boss notices I'm offline."

The walk back to your apartment was a blur. The moment you unlocked the front door, the familiar scent of lavender candles greeted you. You kicked off your sneakers and untied Mimi’s leash, watching her immediately bolt toward her food bowl.

"Y/N? Is that you?" a voice called out from the living room.

Your roommate, Hwa-young, poked her head out from the kitchen, holding a half-eaten green apple. She was wrapped in a cozy oversized cardigan, her hair tied up in a messy bun as she took a break from her own freelance graphic design work.

"You look like you just saw a ghost," Hwa-young joked, leaning against the doorframe. "Or did Mimi finally drag you into the Han River?"

"Worse. Or... better. I don't even know," you gasped, tossing your keys onto the entryway table and walking into the living room. You collapsed onto the sofa, burying your face in a throw pillow. "Hwa-young, you are never going to believe what happened on our walk."

Hwa-young’s eyes lit up with immediate curiosity. She tossed her apple onto the counter and rushed over, bouncing onto the opposite end of the couch. "Spill! Did Mimi bite someone important?"

"No, she literally tackled a guy," you laughed, pulling the throw pillow to your chest. "But Hwa-young... he was the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my entire life. Like, model-tall, dressed in this gorgeous trench coat, and his voice was so deep it literally vibrated through my ribs."

Hwa-young gasped, clapping her hands together. "No way! A park meet-cute? Did you get his name? Did you get a corporate card?"

"His name is Seunghyun. Choi Seunghyun," you said, your cheeks turning pink all over again just thinking about him. "And he didn't give me a card. He gave me his number. He wants to grab coffee... and he told me to bring Mimi."

Hwa-young stared at you, her jaw dropping slightly. "Wait... Choi Seunghyun? Tall? Deep voice?" She paused, a look of intense realization washing over her face as she reached for her phone on the coffee table. "Y/N... describe his eyes. Was he wearing a hat? Did he look like... wait, let me look something up."

Hwa-young’s thumbs flew across her phone screen, her eyes wide as she rapidly typed the name into a search engine. "Tall, deep voice, gorgeous charcoal trench coat, and a face mask..." she muttered, chewing on her lower lip. "Y/N, look at this. Is this him?"

You leaned over the back of the sofa, watching over her shoulder as the search results loaded. The very first thing that popped up was a massive, high-definition image from a recent fashion magazine spread.

Your jaw instantly dropped. Your breath caught in your throat.

Staring back at you from the screen was the exact same man from the park. Even though the photo showed him under dramatic studio lighting with his silver-streaked hair styled perfectly, those large, intensely dark, and expressive eyes were unmistakable. The structured jawline, the towering, powerful frame—it was him.

"Oh my god," Hwa-young shrieked, dropping her phone right onto the couch cushions. She grabbed you by the shoulders, shaking you wildly. "Y/N! That wasn't just some rich guy! That is Choi Seunghyun! He’s a global icon! He's literally one of the biggest stars on the planet! People would literally jump into traffic just to breathe the same air as him, and your chaotic dog tackled him?!" [1]

You couldn't move. You couldn't even speak. You just stared blankly at the glowing screen, your brain completely short-circuiting as you realized the sweet, deep-voiced stranger who had given your dog belly rubs was a massive celebrity.

Slowly, your hand drifted down to your coat pocket. Your fingers brushed against the small, neatly folded piece of paper he had handed you.

"He... he gave me his number," you whispered, your voice trembling in pure disbelief. "He told me to call him for coffee."

Hwa-young stared at you, her eyes the size of saucers, before she looked down at Mimi, who was currently snoring softly on the rug. "Mimi," Hwa-young said with absolute reverence. "I will never call you a bad dog ever again. You just hooked your mom up with a legend."

"Message him! Message him right now! What are you waiting for?!" Hwa-young practically screamed, grabbing your arm and shaking it so hard your phone nearly slipped right out of your hand. "Y/N, a literal god of the music industry gave you his personal digits. You do not let that sit! Type 'Hey, it's the girl with the runaway dog,' and press send before I do it for you!"

You laughed, throwing your head back against the couch cushions as you desperately pulled your phone away from her clutching fingers. "No way! Are you crazy? I can’t message him right now. It’s way too soon! The car hasn't even driven him back to his fancy penthouse yet. I'll look completely desperate. I have to wait at least until tomorrow. Or maybe Friday!"

"Friday?!" Hwa-young looked at you like you had just suggested eating raw onions for breakfast. "By Friday he could be in Paris for a fashion show, or in New York buying a multi-million dollar painting! Rich and famous people move at warp speed, Y/N. Strike while the iron is hot!"

"I am not striking anything at four in the afternoon on a Wednesday," you countered, a massive grin stretching across your face as you carefully tucked the precious scrap of paper beneath your phone case for safekeeping. "Let me breathe first. My heart is still doing ninety miles an hour."

Hwa-young let out a dramatic sigh, slumping back against the sofa, but the mischievous glint in her eyes didn't fade for a second. She reached down, retrieved her phone from where she had dropped it, and hopped right back to her feet. "Okay, fine. If you won't text him, we are officially doing the next best thing. Deep-dive internet investigation. Move over."

She wedged herself right back onto the cushion beside you, shoulder-to-shoulder, and pulled up YouTube. For the next three hours, your remote work terminal was completely forgotten. Spreadsheet deadlines faded into the background as the two of you embarked on a massive, chronological journey through the history of Big Bang.

"Okay, so you need to understand the cultural impact of the man who just scratched Mimi's stomach," Hwa-young instructed solemnly, clicking on a music video from the late 2000s.

You leaned in close, your eyes glued to the screen. When you had first moved to Seoul, you knew of Big Bang, of course—you would have had to live under a literal rock in a cave not to know their songs—but seeing him in his element was an entirely different story. The music video for Haru Haru started playing, and the second a younger, intensely fierce Seunghyun appeared on screen, rapping with that signature, commanding growl, you felt a literal shiver run down your spine.

"Oh my god," you whispered, clutching the throw pillow tighter. "That's... that's him. But his hair is totally different."

"Oh, just wait. His hair changes colors more times than a mood ring," Hwa-young giggled, clicking through the eras.

The two of you watched in absolute awe, laughing and gasping as you scrolled through the legendary Fantastic Baby era—where he sported blinding, neon-blue hair and looked like a futuristic prince—and then into the iconic Bang Bang Bang video, where his intense, piercing gaze into the camera made your breath hitch. It was completely mind-blowing to reconcile the global superstar commanding stages of fifty thousand screaming fans with the quiet, polite man who had gracefully crouched on the concrete path just to make your pup feel safe.

"Look at the way he moves, Y/n. He just has this crazy, magnetic aura," Hwa-young pointed out, clicking on a compilation of his famous stage performances.

"He really does," you murmured softly, a dazed smile on your lips. You thought back to the park—the way his voice had rumbled through the crisp afternoon air, the way his dark eyes had crinkled at the corners when he laughed at Mimi’s antics, and, most of all, that slow, devastating wink. Your face and ears burned hot all over again.

As the sun began to dip below the Seoul skyline, painting your living room walls in shades of deep orange and purple, the two of you transitioned from music videos to old variety show clips. You found yourselves in absolute stitches, laughing until your stomachs hurt as you watched him do hilarious, eccentric dances, mimic old movie actors, and show off a bizarre, totally endearing sense of humor that you never would have expected from his serious, high-fashion exterior.

"See? He's a total goofball under all that mystery," Hwa-young laughed, wiping a tear from her eye as a clip ended. She turned to look at you, her expression softening into a warm, encouraging smile. "He’s a mega-star, yeah. But he seems really genuine, Y/n. He didn't have to stop for Mimi, and he definitely didn't have to give a regular girl his number. He wanted to."

You smiled down at your hands, your thumb unconsciously tracing the edge of your phone case where his number was hidden. The initial, paralyzing panic of discovering his identity was slowly giving way to a sweet, bubbling sense of anticipation. He wasn't just a face on a billboard anymore; he was a real person who liked coffee, appreciated a chaotic dog, and wanted to see you again.

You blushed just thinking about how incredibly handsome he was, the memory of his sharp jawline and warm eyes sending a fresh wave of butterflies straight to your stomach.

"Okay, okay," you finally said, holding up your hands to stop Hwa-young from pulling up another world tour compilation. "I have to get back to work. My boss is going to kill me if these budget sheets aren't uploaded. But first thing in the morning, I promise you, I will message him."

Hwa-young let out a high-pitched squeal "Yes! Tomorrow morning. I am holding you to that, Y/n!"

With your heart still fluttering, you forced yourself to log back into your remote terminal. The next hour and a half was a blur of hyper-focused typing, copying financial formulas, and hitting submit deadlines. By the time you wrapped up your tasks and logged off for the evening, the sun had fully set. You took Mimi out for a much shorter, much more controlled evening walk around the block—keeping a fiercely tight grip on her leash this time, though your eyes subconsciously scanned the passing cars, half-hoping to spot another sleek black sedan.

As the day fully wound down, the comforting aroma of sizzling sesame oil and warm rice filled the kitchen. You and Hwa-young worked together to whip up two massive bowls of homemade Bibimbap, topping the colorful piles of seasoned bean sprouts, spinach, carrots, and spicy gochujang with perfectly fried eggs.

With your bowls in hand, you both curled up on the living room sofa, wrapped in a giant fleece blanket to watch the latest episode of your favorite K-drama. Mimi curled up right at your feet, exhausted from her afternoon sprint into high society.

"Honestly, the male lead in this show used to be my standard," Hwa-young murmured around a mouthful of rice, pointing her chopsticks at the television screen. "But now? Now that my roommate has been chatted up by Choi Seunghyun? This fictional character doesn't stand a chance."

You laughed, nudging her shoulder with your own. "Oh, stop it. I still haven't even texted him yet. He might just think of me as the chaotic dog girl."

"Oh please," Hwa-young countered "He gave you his personal number. Men like that don't just hand out their digits unless they want to hear from you."

''Tomorrow'' You plead once more with your friend'

She finally gave up, shooting you a pouting face before turning her attention back to the television.

The quiet hum of the television filled the room as the night slowly drifted toward midnight. Eventually, the K-drama credits rolled, and the apartment grew quiet. You both cleared the dishes, washed up, and said your goodnights.

You walked into your bedroom, the cool night air pressing against the windowpane. After changing into your favorite soft pajamas, you climbed under the heavy covers and grabbed your phone off the nightstand. You pulled out the little scrap of paper from behind your case, unfolding it carefully to look at the neat, bold numbers written in his handwriting. Your chest tightened with a sweet, nervous anticipation. Tomorrow morning, everything would change.

You tucked the paper under your pillow, locked your phone, and finally closed your eyes, a soft smile resting on your lips as sleep slowly pulled you under.

The morning sun broke through the city haze, painting the bedroom walls in a warm, dusty amber. You blinked against the sharp light, letting out a long yawn that stretched all the way to your fingertips. Untangling yourself from the heavy embrace of your duvet, you rubbed the sleep from your eyes, your vision blurring slightly before the rumpled linen sheets settled into focus.

The apartment was entirely still, bathed in that quiet, cinematic glow unique to early mornings.

Without even moving from the mattress, your hand automatically slid beneath your pillow. Your fingers brushed against the crisp, clean edge of the scrap of paper, and a spark of adrenaline cleared the last of your morning fog. You pulled it out, looking at his handwriting in the soft morning light.

You wanted nothing more than to hear his voice again, look into his eyes again. Just the thought made your heart flutter.

So, reaching for your phone on the nightstand, you unlocked the screen and opened a blank message thread, carefully typing in the numbers. Your thumb hovered over the keyboard, ready to type the first word, but suddenly you froze.

The clock at the top of your screen read 9:14 AM.

A soft frown formed as you stared at the blinking cursor. Is nine too early? you thought, a sudden wave of nerves fluttering in your chest. What if he’s a night owl? What if a text this early makes me look incredibly desperate, or worse, the chime wakes him up from a deep sleep?

You sank back down into your pillows, clutching the phone against your chest as you stared up at the sunbeams dancing on the ceiling, completely torn between wanting to hear from him and wanting to play it cool.

Taking a deep centering breath, you let the air out slowly and squeezed your eyes shut for a moment. Ok, get a grip you told yourself, channeling a burst of internal mental strength. You are a cool, collected adult. You do not text handsome strangers at nine in the morning . Let the man sleep.

With a decisive nod, you slipped the paper back under your pillow and set your phone facedown on the nightstand. Your plan was to stick to your routine, starting the morning exactly as usual, and only then would you allow yourself to hit send.

And that is exactly what you did.

Stepping out of bed, you padded into the kitchen and put on a pot of jasmine tea, watching the dried leaves slowly unfurl in the steaming water. While it steeped, you stepped into the bathroom for a long, hot shower. The citrus-scented steam washed away the last lingering bits of sleep, leaving you feeling entirely refreshed.

It was all these little things you prayed to distract you, and for a moment they did. But by the time you returned from Mimi's daily walk there was nothing left for you to do.

After unclasping your dog's leash, you pulled your phone out to check the screen. Only an hour had passed.

You let out a low groan, running a hand over your face in frustration. How had all of that only taken sixty minutes? But then, a new thought sparked in your mind. What if he was a morning bird? Maybe he would ask you out for a spontaneous breakfast. Besides, you didn't want him thinking you weren't interested by waiting too long to reach out.

With your mind completely made up, you retrieved the scrap of paper and your phone from your jacket pocket. You had spent that entire walk fighting an internal battle, obsessing over every syllable of what you were going to message him.

But instead you typed out a simple: Good morning.

Before you could even set your phone down, panic flared in your chest. You realized he probably would have no idea who this was. Your eyes fluttered in mock despair as you quickly typed and sent a second message: This is y/n my dog nearly took your life yesterday, haha.

As soon as the text bubble popped up on the screen, you realized how terrible that sounds. Oh god  you thought, sighing in utter defeat. But the messages were already sent; there was absolutely no taking them back now. Refusing to let yourself stare at the screen waiting for a reply, you decided to distract yourself once more by calling Hwa-young.

The line rang two or three times before a sleepy voice can be heard from the other side.

''This better be a damn emergency'' Hwa-young groaned into the receiver.

"I did it," you blurted out, pacing a small circle in the entryway. "I texted him."

There was a sudden rustle of blankets on the other end of the line, followed by the sound of Hwa-young scrambling to sit up. All traces of sleep evaporated from her voice in an instant. "Wait, really? Already? What did you say? Give me the exact words''

You closed your eyes, leaning your forehead against the cool hallway wall. "Well, I started with a simple 'Good morning.' But then I panicked because I realized he wouldn't know my number, so I sent a follow-up." The sheer embarrassment of it washing over you all over again. "I might have referenced my dog almost killing him''

''Yah, I love you but how stupid are you?'' your friend retorted. A faint sound of a chuckle can be heard from her side.

"Ok rude.'' You took a deep breath,'' I don't know, am I like totally insane?''

"Totally insane? Yes and no," Hwa-young sighed, her voice softening into that comforting, familiar tone she only used when she was being entirely honest with you. "Babe, you have to remember you have been out of the dating field for a while. You're a little rusty, and that is totally okay. Plus, if he doesn't like your craziness, then he’s just not the one for you, babe."

A small, genuine smile tugged at your lips. You nodded silently against the cool wallpaper, the knot of anxiety in your chest loosening just a fraction at her words. She always knew exactly how to ground you.

Before you could even utter a word of thanks, Hwa-young’s tone instantly shifted back to pure, unadulterated curiosity. "So? Did he message you back yet?"

You blinked, a sudden wave of blankness washing over your morning-fogged brain. In the sheer panic of confessing your embarrassing texts to your best friend, you had totally forgotten you were actually waiting for a response from him.

"Wait, hold on," you muttered, pulling the phone away from your ear.

Your thumb tapped the screen to unlock it, your eyes darting straight to the messaging app. Your breath caught right in your throat. There, sitting right below your own double-text disaster, were two incoming speech bubbles from that unsaved, unknown number. Because you had been too nervous to actually add his name to your contact list yet, the neat digits looked stark against the screen, but the words beside them made your heart do a spectacular, violent flip.

The first message was a simple: Good morning.

The second message, sent just a minute later, read: How did you sleep?

You felt a sudden uncontrollable heat rush up your neck and flood your cheeks, starring at the glowing screen your eyes traced over the words again and again. How did you sleep? It was such a small, ordinary question, but coming from him, it felt incredibly intimate. He didn't seem fazed by your chaotic energy from the other day at all; he didn't even mention the dog assassination joke. Instead, he jumped straight into checking on you. He already sounded so incredibly caring, his digital tone warm and completely welcoming.

"Y/n? Hello? Are you still alive over there?" Hwa-young’s voice squeaked loudly from the phone speaker, snapping you out of your trance.

You quickly pressed the phone back to your ear "Ok... Hwa-young? He messaged me."

"Oh! What does it say?''

"He just said 'Good morning' and asked how I slept," you murmured, a goofy, helpless smile plastering itself across your face.

"Awww," Your friend cooed "See? What did I tell you? He sounds so sweet! Alright babe, go message him back right now. Do not keep the handsome man waiting!"

"Okay, okay, I'm hanging up'' you laughed, your fingers tingling with a sudden rush of nervous excitement. "I'll talk to you later''

"Good luck!" she yelled just before you clicked the red end-call button.

The line went silent, and the sudden quiet of the apartment rushed back over you. You slid down the hallway wall until you were sitting flat on the smooth, cool hardwood floor, your knees pulled up to your chest. You took one deep, stabilizing breath, staring at the blinking cursor on your screen. Now that the initial panic had morphed into pure excitement, you wanted to write something genuinely cute, something that showed your personality without being quite as unhinged as your last text.

You tapped the text box, your fingers hovering over the digital keyboard as you carefully composed your reply, deleting and rewriting sentences until it felt exactly right.

Y/n: I slept wonderfully, thnx for asking. And you?

You read over the text one final time and before you could overthink a single syllable again, you firmly pressed the send arrow. The text vanished into the digital ether with a soft whoosh.

You instantly buried your burning face in your hands. It was out there. The ball was officially in his court. A quiet ding was heard seconds later.

“I slept very well, thank you,”  his text read. ''Though I must admit, my morning defiantly has not been as eventful as yesterday''

He's talking about...me, you mumbled to yourself.

You bit your lower lip, a soft chuckle escaping you. Standing up from the hallway floor, you padded back into the living room clutching the phone to your chest as you curled up on the edge of the sofa, tucking your bare feet beneath your thighs so you sat cross-legged. You quickly began to type back, completely lost in the rhythm of the conversation.

Y/n: Yeah? I'm not sure abut that. You're an artist, a very popular one at that. I doubt yesterday was the highlight of your week Unknown Number: You would be surprised. Plus it's not every day I meet a beautiful woman. So, yes. Meeting you was for sure the highlight of my week. Y/n: I appreciate the polite lie, Seunghyun! Very gentlemanly of you. Unknown Number: No lies here, Y/n. I assure you, my memory of yesterday is perfectly clear, and 'charming' is exactly the word I would use. Though I am curious... if Mimi is grounded because of yesterday.. does that mean you are free to leave without a chaperone?" Y/n: I would say so, why? Unknown number: "Well, would you let me take you out to dinner tonight?"

Your heart did a violent, happy somersault against your ribs. You stared down at the glowing screen, your eyes scanning the words over and over again before typing back.

Y/n: Its a date

Once a location was dropped, you were already planning your outfit. Hwa-young was right; you hadn't dated in a while. As you stood in front of your wardrobe, pushing hangers aside with an increasing sense of dread, you realized your clothes fell into very specific, unhelpful categories. Nothing in your closet screamed first date at a sophisticated downtown bistro. Instead, it screamed cute outfit for a day in the park, or simply corporate work attire. There were, of course, a few outfits tossed in the corner from when Hwa-young would drag you clubbing—her absolute favorite thing to do on a Friday night—but those tight, glittering pieces were definitely not for a first date.

With a frustrated sigh, you began pulling things out, tossing clothes onto your mattress in a chaotic flurry of denim, cardigans, and blazers. Once half your closet was out on your bed, forming a colorful mountain of indecision, your eyes finally spotted an outfit hidden away in the very back, practically buried under a heavy winter coat.

You pulled it out, holding it up into the golden light. It was a simple, elegant chocolate brown skirt and a matching long-sleeve knit top. The fabric was incredibly soft, hugging your silhouette without trying too hard, and the deep earthy tone made your skin look warm and radiant. Eager to see if it lived up to your memory, you stepped out of your lounge clothes and slipped it on. Standing in front of your full-length mirror, you smoothed down the fabric, spinning around slowly. It was perfect. It was understated but effortlessly beautiful—exactly the kind of look that said you were put together without looking like you had spent the last three hours panicking.

But there were still hours until your date.

You looked at the clock, realizing with a groan that it wasn't even noon yet. With an outfit finally picked out and neatly hung on your closet door, you found yourself drawn right back to your phone. To your absolute delight, Seunghyun didn't let the conversation fade after sending the restaurant details.

Throughout the afternoon, you and Seunghyun spoke surprisingly all day, texting back and forth about simple things and slowly peeling back the layers of each other's lives. You learned that he took his coffee black, preferred rainy afternoons to sunny beaches, and possessed a surprisingly witty sense of humor that kept you laughing aloud in your empty apartment. In return, you found yourself telling him about your childhood, your absolute chaotic history with Mimi, and your dream of opening your own boutique bakery one day.

It was an effortless back-and-forth. You both knew you would see each other in person in just a couple of hours, yet neither of you wanted to stop typing. There was a magnetic pull between you, an invisible thread that felt entirely too strong for two people who had only met the day before. You felt something tug you deeply towards him, an undeniable sense of safety and curiosity, and miles away in his own space, he felt the exact same way. Every text he sent felt deliberate, warm, and entirely focused on you, making the vast distance of the city feel incredibly small.

As the hours drifted by, the bright, golden afternoon slowly began to fracture. The intense sunlight softened, bleeding into deep, bruised shades of amber, lavender, and dusty rose across the city skyline.

Sitting on your bed amidst the discarded clothes, you watched the shadows stretch long and lean across your bedroom floor. The day had officially turned into night, the sky outside your window fading into a deep, velvety indigo dotted with the first glittering lights of the city. Your phone buzzed one final time against the mattress, the screen illuminating your darkened room: “I’m heading out now. I can’t wait to see you, Y/n” The countdown was officially over.

Standing in front of the mirror, you took a step back and looked at your reflection. You looked stunning. You had hardly put on any makeup at all, deciding to keep things completely effortless. Aside from a swipe of glossy, hydrating lipgloss that made your lips look plump and inviting, and a tiny pat of liquid blush on the apples of your cheeks, your face was completely bare. You didn't need heavy foundations or intricate shadows. Your natural eyelashes were naturally long, thick, and beautiful, framing your eyes perfectly with every blink. Thanks to the nervous excitement humming through your veins, a natural red tint already warmed your cheeks, giving you a radiant, healthy glow that no cosmetic product could ever truly replicate.

You picked up your hairbrush, smoothing out the soft waves of your hair one last time. Letting it fall naturally over your shoulders and down your back, you took a deep, grounding breath. You grabbed your car keys from the vanity, slipped your phone into a small, elegant shoulder bag, and finally headed out the door.

The drive across the city was pure cinematic magic. Night had fully claimed the sky, turning the horizon into a canvas of deep, velvety indigo. As your car glided onto the main boulevard, the city lights blurred into a beautiful, streaking watercolor of amber, neon pink, and brilliant white. The cool autumn air rushed through the slightly cracked window, carrying the scent of rain-soaked asphalt and distant exhaust. You had a mellow playlist playing softly through the speakers, the bass vibrating gently under your seat.

As you navigated the winding city streets, your mind naturally drifted to the man waiting for you at the end of the road. Your thoughts replayed every single text message you had exchanged throughout the day. It felt so surreal. Just yesterday, you were a chaotic dog owner chasing a runaway pet through a crowd, and tonight, you were on your way to meet the very man who had saved the day. You thought about the effortless way he spoke to you, the genuine warmth in his messages, and that undeniable magnetic tug you had felt all afternoon. A soft, helpless smile rested on your lips as you shifted gears, your heart doing a little flutter with every mile closer you got. You wondered what he would look like tonight, what he would say when he saw you, and if the chemistry you felt over the screen would be just as electric in person.

Before you knew it, you were pulling up to the curb outside the downtown bistro.

Stepping out of the car, you handed your keys to the valet and smoothed down the front of your chocolate brown skirt. Pushing open the heavy glass doors of the restaurant, you were instantly met with a wall of sound and ambient warmth. The bistro was completely packed. Every single candlelit table was occupied by well-dressed couples and laughing groups of friends. The low murmur of chatter, the clinking of wine glasses, and the rich, savory aroma of gourmet cooking filled the air. You scanned the crowded bar area and the main dining room, but amidst the sea of faces, you couldn't spot a single trace of broad shoulders or neat, dark hair.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by the crowd, you pulled your phone out of your bag and quickly sent a message to Seunghyun: “Just walked in! It’s super busy tonight. Where are you hiding?”

Before you could even lock your screen, a polite voice spoke up beside you.

"Excuse me, Miss Y/n?"

You turned to see a waiter dressed in a crisp, black suit. He gave you a warm, respectful bow. "Mr. Choi is expecting you. If you would please follow me."

You blinked in surprise but nodded, stepping into stride behind him. Instead of leading you toward the crowded, noisy main dining room, the waiter guided you down a quiet, dimly lit hallway toward the very back of the restaurant. The ambient noise of the crowd began to fade away, replaced by the soft, acoustic jazz playing through the hidden ceiling speakers. The waiter stopped in front of a pair of heavy, dark wood doors at the end of the hall. He pushed them open for you, stepping aside with a polite gesture.

You stepped over the threshold, and your breath instantly caught in your throat.

It was a completely private dining room, secluded away from the rest of the world. The space was beautifully intimate, illuminated only by the soft, flickering glow of a crackling fireplace in the corner and a few strategically placed candles. A large circular table sat in the center of the room, set elegantly for two.

And there sitting with a glass of red wine in his hand, was Choi Seunghyun. The moment the door opened, he turned around, his eyes locking onto yours.

The waiter gave another bow, stepping backward out of the room and closing the heavy wooden doors behind him, leaving the two of you entirely alone. The sudden absence of the restaurant’s background noise made the room feel incredibly intimate, the only sound being the soft, rhythmic crackle of the fireplace.

Seunghyun set his wine glass down on the table, his eyes never breaking contact with yours. A soft smile spread across his face as he walked across the room toward you. In the warm flickering candlelight he looked impossibly handsome, wearing a tailored black blazer over a dark charcoal sweater that made his broad shoulders look even more striking.

"You look absolutely stunning, Y/n''

Your breath caught, and you felt that familiar helpless heat flood your cheeks. "Thank you," you managed to say ''You don't look too bad yourself''

He let out a soft chuckle, the sound completely melting away the last lingering bits of your first-date nerves. "I always try to make a good impression''

Seunghyun guided you toward the beautifully set table in the center of the room. With effortless grace, he stepped behind one of the cushioned chairs, pulling it out for you with a gentle, chivalrous motion. You smoothed down your chocolate brown skirt and sat down, the fabric soft against your skin, while he leaned in slightly to guide the chair forward until you were perfectly comfortable. As he did, a faint wave of his cologne drifted over you—a intoxicating blend of cedar-wood and rich vanilla that perfectly matched the cozy aesthetic of the room.

He walked around to his side of the table and sat down, immediately leaning forward to rest his forearms on the dark wood, closing the physical distance between you as much as possible. ''Have you ever eaten here before?''

You laughed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear, your glossy lips curving into a bright grin. "Oh, no. This place is a little...'' you paused taking a look around the room. ''Out of my budget''

''Hmm, understood.'' He smiled, ''Well I hope you like the food, it never fails to be mouth watering''

You opened your own menu, your eyes skimming the beautifully written, intricate dishes. The names of the items sounded like a luxury, high-end dream. There was braised Kalbi short rib infused with black truffle, a sophisticated Uni Bibimbap layered with a rich nori puree, and a modern twist on crispy pork jowl rice cakes.

"If you want my personal recommendation," Seunghyun murmured, leaning forward a bit more so his voice carried softly over the quiet crackle of the fireplace, "the slow-braised Galbi-jjim is spectacular. It’s made with a black bean truffle sauce that completely changes the game''

You nodded, looking up from the page to meet his eyes. "The truffle Galbi-jjim sounds amazing, actually. I'll trust your judgment."

When the waiter returned, Seunghyun placed the order also choosing a premium bottle red wine, which was poured into two glasses. As the first sips of the crisp, smooth drink warmed your chest, the conversation took off with an easy, natural rhythm.

A beautifully curated spread of modern banchan arrived soon after—small, delicate plates of purple pickled radishes, seasoned mountain herbs, and a savory scallion pancake that looked like a literal work of art. The main dishes followed, bubbling gently in high-end, carved stone dolsot pots to keep the food piping hot. Just as Seunghyun promised, the food was absolutely mouth-watering, the rich umami of the tender beef melting perfectly into the rice.

Yet, as delicious as the dinner was, the meal quickly became background noise to the connection growing between you. You found yourself talking about everything and nothing all at once. He admitted to a secret, terrible habit of eating convenience store ramyun late at night when he was stressed with work, and confessed that he usually preferred a quiet night in with a good book and wine over any public event.

"I don't think I've laughed this much in a really long time, Y/n" Seunghyun said softly as the dinner plates were finally cleared away.

The playful, witty spark in his eyes shifted into something much deeper, something heavy with that magnetic tug you had been feeling all day. He leaned his elbows on the table, lightly swirling the remaining drink in his glass.

"When I gave you my number yesterday, I knew I wanted to see you again," he whispered, his long, elegant fingers sliding an inch closer across the polished wood, stopping just short of your hand. "But I didn't expect to feel this comfortable with someone so quickly. It feels like I've known you much longer than just a day."

You looked down at his hand, then back up to his eyes, the soft amber glow of the room wrapping around the two of you in a perfect, private bubble.

You looked down at his long, elegant fingers resting on the dark wood, then looked back up into his eyes. The sincerity radiating from his gaze made your chest ache with a undeniable warmth.

"I feel the same way," you whispered softly, your voice small but clear in the quiet room. "I spent the entire day trying to distract myself so I wouldn't count down the minutes until tonight. It’s a little terrifying how easy it is to talk to you."

Seunghyun’s eyes softened, a incredibly tender smile gracing his lips. He closed the remaining distance between your hands, his warm palm sliding over yours. His fingers gently wrapped around your hand, his thumb tracing a slow, soothing circle over your knuckles. His touch was firm yet gentle, instantly sending a pleasant shiver straight up your arm. "Then let's agree to be terrified together,"

He squeezed your hand gently before slowly letting go as the waiter returned one last time to clear the table. Seunghyun glanced toward the dark window pane, where the faint reflection of the fireplace danced against the backdrop of the city lights.

"The rain stopped a little while ago," he said, turning his head back to look at you "The night air should be perfect right now. How does a walk sound ? There is a beautiful path just behind the bistro."

Your smile widened, your glossy lips curving up easily. "I would love that. I'm not quite ready for the night to end yet anyway."

"Good," he said softly, standing up from his chair. "Neither am I."

After settling the bill, Seunghyun guided you out through a private side exit of the restaurant, completely bypassing the crowded main dining room. The moment you stepped outside, the cool, early-autumn air hit your face, instantly refreshing after the ambient warmth of the indoor fireplace. The city felt entirely different at this hour; the frantic energy of the evening rush had dissolved into a peaceful, cinematic stillness.

The stone path of the boardwalk was damp, reflecting the amber glow of the vintage streetlamps like a polished mirror. Above you, the clouds had parted, leaving a vast, ink-black sky dotted with a few faint stars.

As you started walking, you shivered slightly against the breeze, you under estimated the weather and your light coat was no help. Seunghyun noticed instantly. Without a word, he stopped walking and slipped his heavy, tailored black blazer off his broad shoulders. He stepped closer, wrapping the warm fabric around your shoulders. It completely swallowed your frame, smelling intensely of him.

"Better?" he asked, looking down at you as he adjusted the collar around your neck, his fingers brushing against your collarbone for a fleeting, electric second.

"Much better, thank you," you breathed, burying your chin into the warm fabric of his jacket.

He smiled, dropping his hands into his trouser pockets as you resumed your slow stroll side-by-side. "You know, Y/n" he started, his voice mixing beautifully with the gentle lapping of the river water against the stone bank. "Yesterday, when Mim ran into me... I was already having a completely miserable day. I was exhausted.''

You looked up at him, tilting your head. "And then?"

Seunghyun stopped walking, turning his body to face you entirely beneath the golden glow of a streetlamp. He reached out, his hand coming up to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering softly against your jawline.

"And then a chaotic girl and her wild dog crashed into my life," he whispered, his eyes searching your face with absolute devotion. "And suddenly, it became the best day of my year. I really mean it, Y/n."

Your heart did a spectacular, breathless leap against your ribs. Standing there on the damp boardwalk the rest of the city completely faded away.

You smiled up at him, a sudden wave of sweet shyness washing over you under the adoring weight of his gaze. Your tongue felt completely tied, and for the first time all day, the words left you entirely.

"I... I don't know what to say," you whispered softly

Seunghyun let out a sound that was half-sigh, half-chuckle—a low, incredibly tender rumbled. "Then don't say anything''

You looked up just in time to see his eyes darken with a deep, absolute certainty. "Here," he said softly, a breathtaking smile playing on his lips. "Let me show you what I mean."

He stepped closer, completely closing the distance between your bodies until you could feel the radiating warmth of his chest against yours. His large hands came up, his long fingers sliding effortlessly through your hair to cradle the back of your head, while his other hand gently cupped your jawline. His thumb brushed over your cheekbone with a feather-light touch that sent a pleasant, electric shiver straight down your spine.

You leaned into his touch instinctively, your eyes fluttering shut just as he tilted his head and leaned down.

The moment his lips met yours, your heart did a spectacular, breathless somersault. The kiss was gentle, tentative at first, like he was asking for permission, but as your hands naturally found their way to his waist, clutching the soft fabric of his charcoal sweater, the kiss deepened into something incredibly sweet and warm. His lips were incredibly soft, tasting faintly of the rich red wine from dinner, and they moved against yours with a slow, deliberate tenderness that made your knees feel completely weak.

The entire world around you seemed to instantly dissolve. The distant hum of the city, the cool autumn breeze, the lapping river water—all of it vanished, leaving nothing but the intoxicating scent of his cedarwood and vanilla cologne wrapping around you. It was a perfect, cinematic kiss, filled with all the hidden anticipation and magnetic tug you had been fighting against all day.

When he finally, slowly pulled back, his lips lingered against yours for one last, sweet fraction of a second before pulling away completely.

You blinked up at him, your eyes slowly opening as he pulled away "Wow."

Seunghyun chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I guess that’s a yes for a second date''

You nodded, a goofy, helpless smile spreading across your face as you looked up at him, still feeling completely dizzy from the kiss.

"Come on," he said softly, his hand sliding down to catch your fingers, intertwining them smoothly with his own. "Let me walk you to your car. It’s getting chilly out here."

You fell into step beside him, pulling his oversized black blazer tighter around your shoulders, your hand completely swallowed by the warmth of his. The walk back to the restaurant valet was quiet, filled only with the soft click of your shoes on the damp pavement and the comfortable, charged silence of two people who had just realized everything had changed.

When you reached your car, he opened the door for you, leaning in for one last, lingering kiss on your cheek that made your skin tingle all over again. You reluctantly handed him back his jacket, slipped into the driver's seat, and watched him wave from the curb through your rearview mirror as you pulled away into the glittering city night.

Driving home through the streaking neon lights, your heart felt lighter than it ever had before. Neither of you had any idea that this chilly autumn night was just the very beginning of your love story. You didn't know that the man who had just rescued your dog would become the center of your entire universe.

You had no idea that this was the man you would one day walk down an aisle toward, watching him smile through tears as you swore your forever to him. You didn't know he was the man who would hold your hand in a quiet hospital room, looking down in absolute awe at the children you would create together. And you certainly couldn't fathom, as you turned onto your street, that this was the very man you would grow old with—sitting on a porch decades from now, gray-haired and wrinkled, laughing about the day a wild little dog named Mimi brought you together.

Seunghyun is sitting behind his massive desk, typing furiously on his laptop. He doesn't look up. He doesn’t even blink. The silence in the room is suffocating.

Behind his stone-cold exterior, Seunghyun’s mind is racing a mile a minute. A major crisis with their biggest client in Tokyo broke at five in the morning, and the board is already breathing down his neck. He feels a pang of guilt over how dismissive he’s being after last night—the memory of his hand tracing up your thigh is still burning fresh in his mind. But right now, the agency’s future is on the line. Work has to take top priority. 

You walk over and gently place the folder on the edge of his desk. You linger for a second, your eyes tracing the sharp line of his jaw, waiting for any sign of acknowledgement—a glance, a smirk, a reference to yesterday. Instead, keeping his eyes glued to his screen because looking at you would ruin his focus, he simply lifts a hand and dismisses you with a cold wave of his fingers, signaling for you to get out.

Your stomach drops. You swallow down a lump of sudden humiliation, nodding quietly before slipping out of his office. Back at your desk, confusion swirls in your chest. 

Was yesterday just a game to him? Shaking your head, you force yourself to bury your emotions in your tasks, typing aggressively to drown out your own thoughts.

By midday, your brain is fried. You aren't even hungry, but the suffocating atmosphere of the office forces you downstairs to the building's cafe. You grab an iced coffee and sit at a small corner table, staring blankly at the condensation dripping down the plastic cup.

"Hey, workaholic. Mind if I sit?"

You look up from your coffee to see Min-jun smiling down at you with a sandwich tray in his hand. He’s an analyst in accounting who started a couple month before you did, easily recognizable by his messy dark hair, sharp jawline, and loud welcoming laugh.

Min-jun is undeniably handsome, the kind of effortlessly charming half the girls on the lower floors secretly have a crush on, constantly whispering about how funny and good-looking he is during coffee breaks.

"Please, save me from my own thoughts," you laugh, gesturing to the empty chair across from you.

Min-jun slides in, dropping his tray with an exaggerated sigh and unwrapping a plastic-wrapped turkey sandwich. "Rough morning upstairs? I heard the top floor has been a total war zone since 7 AM. Something about a client pulling a contract."

"You have no idea," you murmur, taking a sip of your coffee to hide the sudden, sharp twist in your stomach. "I just handed off the Q3 reports. Pretty sure Mr. Choi didn't even notice I was standing there."

"Oh, don't take it personally," Min-jun says, leaning his elbows on the table and tilting his head as he looks at you. "Choi’s legendary for going into robot mode when a deal goes sideways. Honestly? I don't know how you survive working right outside his office. If he looked at me for more than three seconds, I'd probably start apologizing or taking an extra 5 minutes during my lunch break."

He reaches across the small table to grab a napkin, his fingers deliberately brushing against yours as he takes it. You don't think twice about the contact, brushing it off as a total accident.

"I caught you re-checking page forty-two of those reports three times before you took them up, by the way," Min-jun teases, a mischievous spark in his eyes as he lightly kicks your shoe under the table. "You’re such a perfectionist. I think if you ever got a typo on a pitch deck, you'd actually go into cardiac arrest "

"Hey! That is entirely untrue!" you gasp out loud, completely oblivious to his playful nudge.

In a moment of easy, comfortable banter, you lean across the table and playfully swat his shoulder, your hand lingering on his arm as you hit him again in mock outrage. "I am a professional! I don't get typos!"

"Are you sure about that?" Min-jun laughs, his arm flexing under your touch as he reaches over and playfully tugs the corner of your napkin right out of your hand, his fingers sliding against yours again. "Because I’m pretty sure I saw you sweating over a font size yesterday, too."

"Shut up, Min-jun!" you laugh freely, reaching out to shove his arm again as he chuckles, his handsome face lighting up with that dimpled grin the whole floor always talks about. You unknowingly lean closer into his space, grabbing his forearm to pull your napkin back.

"Right, right, miss flawless," he chuckles, shaking his head as he lets you win the tiny tug-of-war.

As you laugh together, your eyes naturally wander past Min-jun's shoulder and your smile instantly freezes.

Seunghyun had stepped down to the café solely to grab a quick espresso before his next conference call, fully bracing himself for another mind-numbing hour of legal threats and board politics. He placed his order at the counter and stepped off to the side to wait, expecting nothing more than a two-minute lull before diving back into corporate damage control.

Instead, the moment he turned toward the seating area, his eyes immediately caught you.

He stood completely frozen near the pickup counter as he watched you laugh freely with the analyst from accounting. It was a bright, unbothered sound a genuine, effortless laugh he hadn't heard from anyone in his tax bracket in years. His gaze dropped to the table, tracking the casual way you leaned into the space, your hand swatting playfully at the guy's shoulder before resting lightly against his forearm.

Jealous? No, Seunghyun lied to himself, his jaw clenching tightly. Of course not. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling and a man in his position didn't get territorial over an employee.

What he felt, he convinced himself, was just a bitter, quiet envy of the sheer simplicity of your world. Look at the two of you. Just laughing over lunch, flirting over napkins, completely unburdened by multimillion-dollar contracts, board meetings, or pitch decks that could tank a company's stock by morning. It looked so easy. So light. A world he hadn't been allowed to inhabit in over a decade.

Yet, as he watched your fingers brush against the other man's sleeve again, a sharp, uninvited heat coiled tight in his stomach, completely contradicting his rationalization.

Keeping his expression a stone-cold, his eyes slowly trailed down from your laughing face, lingering heavily on your hand where it was still resting on Min-jun's arm. His gaze dragged lower, taking in the way your blouse draped over your frame and how your skirt hugged your hips beneath the table, before snapping directly back to lock onto your eyes the second your smile faded.

The sheer, possessive intensity of his glare felt heavy enough to leave a bruise.

"Double espresso for Seunghyun!" the barista called out over the hum of the café.

The sound of his name snapped him back to reality. Seunghyun broke eye contact instantly, stepping over to the counter to grab his cup. Without another glance in your direction, he turned on his heel and strode out of the café, mentally preparing to drown in emails and phone calls once he was back in his office.

Across the table, Min-jun chuckled, completely oblivious to the silent storm that had just passed. "Speak of the devil," he said jokingly, gesturing toward the door with his sandwich. "Looked like he was in full robot mode again."

When you didn't reply, Min-jun paused, his smile fading slightly as he realized you were staring blankly at the empty doorway.

"Y/N? Earth to Y/N?" Min-jun waves a hand in front of your face.

"Oh! Sorry," you blink rapidly, forcing a tight smile. "My brain completely shut off for a second. What were you saying?"

Min-jun keeps right on rambling, entirely unbothered by your momentary lapse in attention. "Anyway, I’ve been waist-deep in these audits all week, and honestly, my screen time is getting pathetic," he says, taking another bite of his turkey club and leaning back in his chair.

"I was actually thinking about getting a dog. Like a rescue or something. That way, at least something forces me to leave my apartment on the weekends instead of staring at spreadsheets in my sweatpants."

You nod along vaguely, dropping a quiet "That's nice, Min-jun" at the appropriate pauses, but your brain isn't processing a single word about dogs or accounting.

Your mind is completely stuck on Seunghyun.

How infuriatingly handsome he looked standing near the counter just moments ago. Even in the middle of a high-stakes corporate crisis, he looked so unbothered. You couldn't help but think of how the top two buttons of his shirt had been undone, his tie just loose enough to give him a dangerous, rugged look. Even with the crushing pressure of the agency on his shoulders and the stress hidden behind his eyes, his posture hadn't faltered for a second. He carried it all with a sheer, magnetic confidence that made everyone else in the room fade into white noise.

And as much as you wanted to be angry at him for ignoring you this morning, the lingering memory of his dark eyes finding yours across the café made your heart race. 

Shaking your head to clear the distracting image of your boss, you force your focus back onto your coworker sitting across from you.

"If you actually end up getting a dog, you know you have to invite me over to meet them, right?" you tease, offering Min-jun a bright, warm smile. "It’s practically a requirement at this point."

Min-jun’s eyes light up, a handsome, dimpled grin spreading across his face as he leans slightly closer over the table. "Deal. But only if you promise to help me name them, because my first thought was 'Audit,' and I feel like that's a cry for help."

"That's actually the funniest thing I've heard all day" you laugh freely, leaning in as well and giving his forearm another light, playful nudge. "Definitely let me handle the name."

The banter flows easily for another few minutes, filled with lighthearted jokes and soft, lingering glances that Min-jun clearly enjoys. For a short moment, the lingering anxiety from earlier in the morning melts away into the comfortable, relaxed rhythm of your lunch break.

BZZZZ.

The sudden, sharp vibration of your phone against the laminate table shatters the light atmosphere. You pull your phone over, your heart dropping slightly as a high-priority work ping flashes across the lock screen.

[INTERNAL MSG - URGENT]: Need the updated pitch deck assets formatted for the 2:00 PM review. ASAP.

"Duty calls," you sigh with a sympathetic, apologetic wince, already gathering up your iced coffee. "Looks like my peaceful lunch break is officially over."

"Can't catch a break, can you." Min-jun chuckles, standing up with you and tossing his trash into the bin. He gives you a soft, encouraging smile as you both walk out toward the elevators together. "Good luck up there with the corporate overlords. Let me know if you need me to rescue you."

"Ok knight in shining armor" you teased, stepping into the elevator with your mind already switching into work mode, the impending afternoon tasks taking over your thoughts.

The rest of the afternoon is tense. When you walk back up to your floor, you pass Seunghyun’s office. The heavy wooden door is shut tight, and the blinds are drawn completely closed, blocking any view inside. As you pause outside, you can hear the faint, muffled sound of his voice, harsh, heated, and clearly angry arguing with someone on a phone call. 

As you pause outside the heavy wooden door, the thick mahogany does little to muffle the raw frustration in his deep voice.

"I said I have it under control!" Seunghyun’s voice cuts through the door, sharp and volume rising with dangerously restrained anger. You hear the heavy, muffled thud of his fist coming down onto his desk. "I don't care what the board is panicking about! Do not tell me how to run my own agency. We are not pulling the campaign, and we are certainly not caving to their demands!"

There’s a brief, agonizing pause, whoever is on the other end of the line clearly pushing back and you can hear him let out a harsh, bitter exhale.

"I don't give a damn about their timeline!" he snaps, his tone dripping with sheer exhaustion. "If they want to walk, let them walk. But if you call me one more time today questioning my judgment on this pitch, you’ll be looking for a new firm by tomorrow morning. Am I making myself clear?"

Silence stretches for two agonizing seconds before the loud, sharp clack of his phone slamming back onto the desk.

Your breath hitches in your throat. Realizing just how close you're standing to a ticking time bomb, you quickly scurry back to the safety of your desk.

When the clock finally strikes 6:00 PM, you feel a desperate need to escape. You pack up, walk to the elevator and step into an empty car. You press the lobby button and lean back against the wall, letting out a long breath.

Just as the doors begin to slide shut, a large hand suddenly thrusts between them, forcing them back open.

Your heart leaps into your throat. Seunghyun steps in.

Here you two are again. The universe seems to have a sick sense of humor.

Trying to break the suffocating, thick tension in the small space, you offer a small, nervous smile. "Hopefully we don’t get stuck this time" you say jokingly.

Silence.

He doesn't answer. He doesn't even look at the floor numbers. He just stands there, letting your shoulders brush against each other and you can practically feel the heat of his gaze into the side of your face. The silence is entirely different from yesterday, it's charged with an agitated, possessive energy. You squirm under the pressure, your fingers nervously tugging at the hem of your blouse, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he is standing.

Ding.

The elevator reaches the lobby and the doors slide open. Seunghyun takes a step out into the bustling ground floor, but just before he disappears into the crowd, he stops.

He turns his head slowly, looking at you over his shoulder. A faint, slow smirk plays on his lips.

"See you tomorrow," he says softly, his deep voice echoing through the elevator car.

Before you can even open your mouth to reply, he turns and walks out, leaving you frozen in the middle of the elevator, your mind entirely spinning with confusion at the whiplash of his coldness and that parting look.

Still trembling slightly from the encounter, you practically rush out of the building to meet up with your closest friend at a quiet diner a few blocks away. The moment you slide into the booth across from her, she takes one look at your face and her eyebrows shoot up.

"Okay, something is definitely up," Vi says, leaning on her elbows and narrowing her eyes. "Tell me everything. Right now."

You take a nervous sip of water, frantically darting your eyes around the dim diner to make sure no one from the agency is around.

"I have had the absolute craziest 48 hours," you whisper, leaning over the table. "My boss and I got stuck in the elevator last night... and things got kinda intense."

You feel a sudden wave of heat rush to your cheeks as you recount the moment. "He was staring straight into my soul, Vi. He literally was about to kiss me, but then the elevator suddenly jolted back on and the doors opened. And he just... walked out like nothing happened!"

Vi’s hand freezes mid-air, a stray fry tumbling out of her hand and landing back onto her plate. "Shut up!"

"It gets worse," you rush on. "Today he completely acted like I didn't exist until he caught me laughing with a coworker at lunch. He looked like he was about to throw him out a window. And then, when I took the elevator down tonight? He was there, staring into my soul again and gave me this smirk like he was testing me" 

"Oh, stop it right now!" she practically shrieks, slapping both palms on the table hard enough to make the salt shakers rattle. She lunges forward into your personal space, her eyes sparkling with pure, chaotic delight. "The CEO?! The ridiculously gorgeous billionaire half the office is secretly drooling over?!"

"Keep your voice down!" you squeak, feeling the heat spread all the way to your ears as you check the booths around you again.

"Y/N, he’s playing a total mind game with you! He’s teasing you and enjoying seeing you squirm because he knows he gets under your skin," Vi says with a small chuckle.

"If I were you, I'd push back a bit. Show him that even though he's some big CEO, you are the one with the power here." Her eyebrow raises playfully as she leans in. "There is obviously something there, why else would he care if you were grabbing lunch with some random coworker?"

"Vi, you're actually insane," you laugh, shaking your head. "I can't just strut into the building and start playing mind games with my boss."

"Why not?" Vi leans back, folding her arms with a smug expression. "What’s the worst that can happen if you flirt back? A little secret relationship?"

For a split second, the idea flashes through your mind. The thought of walking into the office tomorrow and giving him a taste of his own medicine sparks excitement in your chest.

But then, reality slams back down on you.

The image of your tiny apartment, your cat waiting to be fed, and the stack of upcoming bills on your counter flash in your mind. This wasn't a movie. You were completely replaceable, and he was the billionaire CEO who literally held your entire career in his hands. Pushing his limits on purpose was a luxury you couldn't afford.

"The worst that happens is I get fired, blacklisted from the entire industry, and end up living under a bridge!" you whisper-yell, checking over your shoulder before shaking your head to clear the temptation away. "I can't. He's my boss. I have bills to pay, and I need this job."

Vi groans dramatically, rolling her eyes toward the diner ceiling before flashing you a fond, mischievous smirk. "Ugh, fine, miss sensible killjoy. But if he corners you in that elevator again, you better at least get a promotion out of it."

"Wouldn’t that be nice," you manage a breathless smile, sliding out of the booth. "I'll text you when I get home."

Leaving the cozy warmth of the diner, you wrap your coat tight against the evening chill and head down into the subway station, replaying that arrogant smirk on Seunghyun’s face and wondering what could possibly be running through his head.

Was she right? Was he really just enjoying watching you squirm over every little glance? Or was there something more?

The subway ride home passes in a blur of fluorescent lights and screeching steel. By the time you climb the narrow stairs to your apartment building, the quiet stillness of the evening finally gives you room to breathe.

Unlocking your door, you are greeted immediately by the familiar, high-pitched meow of your cat weaving through your ankles.

"I know, I know, dinner is coming," you murmur, tossing your keys onto the small entryway table and kicking off your work shoes with a heavy sigh.

After filling his bowl, you collapse onto the couch trying to lose yourself in a tv show, but your eyes keep drifting back to your phone resting on the coffee table. Every time the screen lights up with a random app notification, your heart jumps straight into your throat before settling back into a dull, disappointed ache.

What are you expecting, a late-night text from the CEO?

Seunghyun is sitting behind his massive desk, typing furiously on his laptop. He doesn't look up. He doesn’t even blink. The silence in the room is suffocating.

Behind his stone-cold exterior, Seunghyun’s mind is racing a mile a minute. A major crisis with their biggest client in Tokyo broke at five in the morning, and the board is already breathing down his neck. He feels a pang of guilt over how dismissive he’s being after last night—the memory of his hand tracing up your thigh is still burning fresh in his mind. But right now, the agency’s future is on the line. Work has to take top priority. 

You walk over and gently place the folder on the edge of his desk. You linger for a second, your eyes tracing the sharp line of his jaw, waiting for any sign of acknowledgement—a glance, a smirk, a reference to yesterday. Instead, keeping his eyes glued to his screen because looking at you would ruin his focus, he simply lifts a hand and dismisses you with a cold wave of his fingers, signaling for you to get out.

Your stomach drops. You swallow down a lump of sudden humiliation, nodding quietly before slipping out of his office. Back at your desk, confusion swirls in your chest. 

Was yesterday just a game to him? Shaking your head, you force yourself to bury your emotions in your tasks, typing aggressively to drown out your own thoughts.

By midday, your brain is fried. You aren't even hungry, but the suffocating atmosphere of the office forces you downstairs to the building's cafe. You grab an iced coffee and sit at a small corner table, staring blankly at the condensation dripping down the plastic cup.

"Hey, workaholic. Mind if I sit?"

You look up from your coffee to see Min-jun smiling down at you with a sandwich tray in his hand. He’s an analyst in accounting who started a couple month before you did, easily recognizable by his messy dark hair, sharp jawline, and loud welcoming laugh.

Min-jun is undeniably handsome, the kind of effortlessly charming half the girls on the lower floors secretly have a crush on, constantly whispering about how funny and good-looking he is during coffee breaks.

"Please, save me from my own thoughts," you laugh, gesturing to the empty chair across from you.

Min-jun slides in, dropping his tray with an exaggerated sigh and unwrapping a plastic-wrapped turkey sandwich. "Rough morning upstairs? I heard the top floor has been a total war zone since 7 AM. Something about a client pulling a contract."

"You have no idea," you murmur, taking a sip of your coffee to hide the sudden, sharp twist in your stomach. "I just handed off the Q3 reports. Pretty sure Mr. Choi didn't even notice I was standing there."

"Oh, don't take it personally," Min-jun says, leaning his elbows on the table and tilting his head as he looks at you. "Choi’s legendary for going into robot mode when a deal goes sideways. Honestly? I don't know how you survive working right outside his office. If he looked at me for more than three seconds, I'd probably start apologizing or taking an extra 5 minutes during my lunch break."

He reaches across the small table to grab a napkin, his fingers deliberately brushing against yours as he takes it. You don't think twice about the contact, brushing it off as a total accident.

"I caught you re-checking page forty-two of those reports three times before you took them up, by the way," Min-jun teases, a mischievous spark in his eyes as he lightly kicks your shoe under the table. "You’re such a perfectionist. I think if you ever got a typo on a pitch deck, you'd actually go into cardiac arrest "

"Hey! That is entirely untrue!" you gasp out loud, completely oblivious to his playful nudge.

In a moment of easy, comfortable banter, you lean across the table and playfully swat his shoulder, your hand lingering on his arm as you hit him again in mock outrage. "I am a professional! I don't get typos!"

"Are you sure about that?" Min-jun laughs, his arm flexing under your touch as he reaches over and playfully tugs the corner of your napkin right out of your hand, his fingers sliding against yours again. "Because I’m pretty sure I saw you sweating over a font size yesterday, too."

"Shut up, Min-jun!" you laugh freely, reaching out to shove his arm again as he chuckles, his handsome face lighting up with that dimpled grin the whole floor always talks about. You unknowingly lean closer into his space, grabbing his forearm to pull your napkin back.

"Right, right, miss flawless," he chuckles, shaking his head as he lets you win the tiny tug-of-war.

As you laugh together, your eyes naturally wander past Min-jun's shoulder and your smile instantly freezes.

Seunghyun had stepped down to the café solely to grab a quick espresso before his next conference call, fully bracing himself for another mind-numbing hour of legal threats and board politics. He placed his order at the counter and stepped off to the side to wait, expecting nothing more than a two-minute lull before diving back into corporate damage control.

Instead, the moment he turned toward the seating area, his eyes immediately caught you.

He stood completely frozen near the pickup counter as he watched you laugh freely with the analyst from accounting. It was a bright, unbothered sound a genuine, effortless laugh he hadn't heard from anyone in his tax bracket in years. His gaze dropped to the table, tracking the casual way you leaned into the space, your hand swatting playfully at the guy's shoulder before resting lightly against his forearm.

Jealous? No, Seunghyun lied to himself, his jaw clenching tightly. Of course not. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling and a man in his position didn't get territorial over an employee.

What he felt, he convinced himself, was just a bitter, quiet envy of the sheer simplicity of your world. Look at the two of you. Just laughing over lunch, flirting over napkins, completely unburdened by multimillion-dollar contracts, board meetings, or pitch decks that could tank a company's stock by morning. It looked so easy. So light. A world he hadn't been allowed to inhabit in over a decade.

Yet, as he watched your fingers brush against the other man's sleeve again, a sharp, uninvited heat coiled tight in his stomach, completely contradicting his rationalization.

Keeping his expression a stone-cold, his eyes slowly trailed down from your laughing face, lingering heavily on your hand where it was still resting on Min-jun's arm. His gaze dragged lower, taking in the way your blouse draped over your frame and how your skirt hugged your hips beneath the table, before snapping directly back to lock onto your eyes the second your smile faded.

The sheer, possessive intensity of his glare felt heavy enough to leave a bruise.

"Double espresso for Seunghyun!" the barista called out over the hum of the café.

The sound of his name snapped him back to reality. Seunghyun broke eye contact instantly, stepping over to the counter to grab his cup. Without another glance in your direction, he turned on his heel and strode out of the café, mentally preparing to drown in emails and phone calls once he was back in his office.

Across the table, Min-jun chuckled, completely oblivious to the silent storm that had just passed. "Speak of the devil," he said jokingly, gesturing toward the door with his sandwich. "Looked like he was in full robot mode again."

When you didn't reply, Min-jun paused, his smile fading slightly as he realized you were staring blankly at the empty doorway.

"Y/N? Earth to Y/N?" Min-jun waves a hand in front of your face.

"Oh! Sorry," you blink rapidly, forcing a tight smile. "My brain completely shut off for a second. What were you saying?"

Min-jun keeps right on rambling, entirely unbothered by your momentary lapse in attention. "Anyway, I’ve been waist-deep in these audits all week, and honestly, my screen time is getting pathetic," he says, taking another bite of his turkey club and leaning back in his chair.

"I was actually thinking about getting a dog. Like a rescue or something. That way, at least something forces me to leave my apartment on the weekends instead of staring at spreadsheets in my sweatpants."

You nod along vaguely, dropping a quiet "That's nice, Min-jun" at the appropriate pauses, but your brain isn't processing a single word about dogs or accounting.

Your mind is completely stuck on Seunghyun.

How infuriatingly handsome he looked standing near the counter just moments ago. Even in the middle of a high-stakes corporate crisis, he looked so unbothered. You couldn't help but think of how the top two buttons of his shirt had been undone, his tie just loose enough to give him a dangerous, rugged look. Even with the crushing pressure of the agency on his shoulders and the stress hidden behind his eyes, his posture hadn't faltered for a second. He carried it all with a sheer, magnetic confidence that made everyone else in the room fade into white noise.

And as much as you wanted to be angry at him for ignoring you this morning, the lingering memory of his dark eyes finding yours across the café made your heart race. 

Shaking your head to clear the distracting image of your boss, you force your focus back onto your coworker sitting across from you.

"If you actually end up getting a dog, you know you have to invite me over to meet them, right?" you tease, offering Min-jun a bright, warm smile. "It’s practically a requirement at this point."

Min-jun’s eyes light up, a handsome, dimpled grin spreading across his face as he leans slightly closer over the table. "Deal. But only if you promise to help me name them, because my first thought was 'Audit,' and I feel like that's a cry for help."

"That's actually the funniest thing I've heard all day" you laugh freely, leaning in as well and giving his forearm another light, playful nudge. "Definitely let me handle the name."

The banter flows easily for another few minutes, filled with lighthearted jokes and soft, lingering glances that Min-jun clearly enjoys. For a short moment, the lingering anxiety from earlier in the morning melts away into the comfortable, relaxed rhythm of your lunch break.

BZZZZ.

The sudden, sharp vibration of your phone against the laminate table shatters the light atmosphere. You pull your phone over, your heart dropping slightly as a high-priority work ping flashes across the lock screen.

[INTERNAL MSG - URGENT]: Need the updated pitch deck assets formatted for the 2:00 PM review. ASAP.

"Duty calls," you sigh with a sympathetic, apologetic wince, already gathering up your iced coffee. "Looks like my peaceful lunch break is officially over."

"Can't catch a break, can you." Min-jun chuckles, standing up with you and tossing his trash into the bin. He gives you a soft, encouraging smile as you both walk out toward the elevators together. "Good luck up there with the corporate overlords. Let me know if you need me to rescue you."

"Ok knight in shining armor" you teased, stepping into the elevator with your mind already switching into work mode, the impending afternoon tasks taking over your thoughts.

The rest of the afternoon is tense. When you walk back up to your floor, you pass Seunghyun’s office. The heavy wooden door is shut tight, and the blinds are drawn completely closed, blocking any view inside. As you pause outside, you can hear the faint, muffled sound of his voice, harsh, heated, and clearly angry arguing with someone on a phone call. 

As you pause outside the heavy wooden door, the thick mahogany does little to muffle the raw frustration in his deep voice.

"I said I have it under control!" Seunghyun’s voice cuts through the door, sharp and volume rising with dangerously restrained anger. You hear the heavy, muffled thud of his fist coming down onto his desk. "I don't care what the board is panicking about! Do not tell me how to run my own agency. We are not pulling the campaign, and we are certainly not caving to their demands!"

There’s a brief, agonizing pause, whoever is on the other end of the line clearly pushing back and you can hear him let out a harsh, bitter exhale.

"I don't give a damn about their timeline!" he snaps, his tone dripping with sheer exhaustion. "If they want to walk, let them walk. But if you call me one more time today questioning my judgment on this pitch, you’ll be looking for a new firm by tomorrow morning. Am I making myself clear?"

Silence stretches for two agonizing seconds before the loud, sharp clack of his phone slamming back onto the desk.

Your breath hitches in your throat. Realizing just how close you're standing to a ticking time bomb, you quickly scurry back to the safety of your desk.

When the clock finally strikes 6:00 PM, you feel a desperate need to escape. You pack up, walk to the elevator and step into an empty car. You press the lobby button and lean back against the wall, letting out a long breath.

Just as the doors begin to slide shut, a large hand suddenly thrusts between them, forcing them back open.

Your heart leaps into your throat. Seunghyun steps in.

Here you two are again. The universe seems to have a sick sense of humor.

Trying to break the suffocating, thick tension in the small space, you offer a small, nervous smile. "Hopefully we don’t get stuck this time" you say jokingly.

Silence.

He doesn't answer. He doesn't even look at the floor numbers. He just stands there, letting your shoulders brush against each other and you can practically feel the heat of his gaze into the side of your face. The silence is entirely different from yesterday, it's charged with an agitated, possessive energy. You squirm under the pressure, your fingers nervously tugging at the hem of your blouse, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he is standing.

Ding.

The elevator reaches the lobby and the doors slide open. Seunghyun takes a step out into the bustling ground floor, but just before he disappears into the crowd, he stops.

He turns his head slowly, looking at you over his shoulder. A faint, slow smirk plays on his lips.

"See you tomorrow," he says softly, his deep voice echoing through the elevator car.

Before you can even open your mouth to reply, he turns and walks out, leaving you frozen in the middle of the elevator, your mind entirely spinning with confusion at the whiplash of his coldness and that parting look.

Still trembling slightly from the encounter, you practically rush out of the building to meet up with your closest friend at a quiet diner a few blocks away. The moment you slide into the booth across from her, she takes one look at your face and her eyebrows shoot up.

"Okay, something is definitely up," Vi says, leaning on her elbows and narrowing her eyes. "Tell me everything. Right now."

You take a nervous sip of water, frantically darting your eyes around the dim diner to make sure no one from the agency is around.

"I have had the absolute craziest 48 hours," you whisper, leaning over the table. "My boss and I got stuck in the elevator last night... and things got kinda intense."

You feel a sudden wave of heat rush to your cheeks as you recount the moment. "He was staring straight into my soul, Vi. He literally was about to kiss me, but then the elevator suddenly jolted back on and the doors opened. And he just... walked out like nothing happened!"

Vi’s hand freezes mid-air, a stray fry tumbling out of her hand and landing back onto her plate. "Shut up!"

"It gets worse," you rush on. "Today he completely acted like I didn't exist until he caught me laughing with a coworker at lunch. He looked like he was about to throw him out a window. And then, when I took the elevator down tonight? He was there, staring into my soul again and gave me this smirk like he was testing me" 

"Oh, stop it right now!" she practically shrieks, slapping both palms on the table hard enough to make the salt shakers rattle. She lunges forward into your personal space, her eyes sparkling with pure, chaotic delight. "The CEO?! The ridiculously gorgeous billionaire half the office is secretly drooling over?!"

"Keep your voice down!" you squeak, feeling the heat spread all the way to your ears as you check the booths around you again.

"Y/N, he’s playing a total mind game with you! He’s teasing you and enjoying seeing you squirm because he knows he gets under your skin," Vi says with a small chuckle.

"If I were you, I'd push back a bit. Show him that even though he's some big CEO, you are the one with the power here." Her eyebrow raises playfully as she leans in. "There is obviously something there, why else would he care if you were grabbing lunch with some random coworker?"

"Vi, you're actually insane," you laugh, shaking your head. "I can't just strut into the building and start playing mind games with my boss."

"Why not?" Vi leans back, folding her arms with a smug expression. "What’s the worst that can happen if you flirt back? A little secret relationship?"

For a split second, the idea flashes through your mind. The thought of walking into the office tomorrow and giving him a taste of his own medicine sparks excitement in your chest.

But then, reality slams back down on you.

The image of your tiny apartment, your cat waiting to be fed, and the stack of upcoming bills on your counter flash in your mind. This wasn't a movie. You were completely replaceable, and he was the billionaire CEO who literally held your entire career in his hands. Pushing his limits on purpose was a luxury you couldn't afford.

"The worst that happens is I get fired, blacklisted from the entire industry, and end up living under a bridge!" you whisper-yell, checking over your shoulder before shaking your head to clear the temptation away. "I can't. He's my boss. I have bills to pay, and I need this job."

Vi groans dramatically, rolling her eyes toward the diner ceiling before flashing you a fond, mischievous smirk. "Ugh, fine, miss sensible killjoy. But if he corners you in that elevator again, you better at least get a promotion out of it."

"Wouldn’t that be nice," you manage a breathless smile, sliding out of the booth. "I'll text you when I get home."

Leaving the cozy warmth of the diner, you wrap your coat tight against the evening chill and head down into the subway station, replaying that arrogant smirk on Seunghyun’s face and wondering what could possibly be running through his head.

Was she right? Was he really just enjoying watching you squirm over every little glance? Or was there something more?

The subway ride home passes in a blur of fluorescent lights and screeching steel. By the time you climb the narrow stairs to your apartment building, the quiet stillness of the evening finally gives you room to breathe.

Unlocking your door, you are greeted immediately by the familiar, high-pitched meow of your cat weaving through your ankles.

"I know, I know, dinner is coming," you murmur, tossing your keys onto the small entryway table and kicking off your work shoes with a heavy sigh.

After filling his bowl, you collapse onto the couch trying to lose yourself in a tv show, but your eyes keep drifting back to your phone resting on the coffee table. Every time the screen lights up with a random app notification, your heart jumps straight into your throat before settling back into a dull, disappointed ache.

What are you expecting, a late-night text from the CEO?

KWON JIYONG

G-Dragon

If You Were Anyone Else @slut4kwon

idolverse; brother’s best friend; smut, angst, fluff

Follow at Your Own Risk @slut4kwon

idolverse; age gap; smut, fluff, angst

DONG YOUNGBAE

Taeyang

…

KANG DAESUNG

Daesung

…

CHOI SEUNGHYUN

TOP

Every Version of You @slut4kwon

fluff, angst

It was early in the morning, and the office had been completely empty. Clutching a stack of notes tightly to your chest, you stepped into the elevator, exhausted and ready to start the workday. Just before the doors slid shut, a tall, imposing figure stepped in alongside you, bringing with him the faint, distinct scent of expensive cologne. Your heart had immediately leaped into your throat. It was him. 

The display above the door blinks from 3 to 4, and then, clunk, the elevator grinds to a dead halt. The lights flicker once before dying completely, plunging the car into pitch blackness.

A second later, the dim, amber emergency lights kick on, a warm, shadowy glow fills the small space.

Your heart sinks into your stomach. You glance at the control panel. Nothing but dead buttons and then you slowly turn your head to look at the man standing next to you.

Choi Seunghyun.

He isn't just a global icon; he’s the CEO of the agency where you've spent the last three months working yourself to the bone. You usually only see him from across a boardroom table or passing by in the hallway, surrounded by a small army of assistants.

But right now? It’s just the two of you.

Seunghyun doesn’t panic. Of course he doesn't. He lowers his phone, his sharp jawline catching the dim amber light. Slowly, he turns his head to look down at you, a faint, unreadable smirk playing on his lips.

"Well," his voice vibrates through the small space, a rich, deep baritone that sends a shiver straight down your spine. "That was dramatic. Are you alright?"

"I.. yes, Mr. Choi. Just a bit startled," you squeak out, clutching your clipboard to your chest like a shield.

"No need for 'Mr. Choi'" he says softly. He reaches over and hits the emergency call button. After a brief conversation with a crackly, distant voice from security, he hangs up and sighs. "They said it’ll be at least forty minutes. Power grid failure."

He shifts, the heavy fabric of his coat rustling and slides down the wall until he’s sitting flat on the floor with his long legs stretched out. He looks up at you, tilting his head.

"You're going to get tired standing in those heels," he gestures to the floor next to him. "Sit."

It's a command, but delivered with an intimate softness that makes your knees weak. You nod, sliding down the wall and smoothing your skirt as you sit beside him. You try to keep a respectable distance, but the elevator is small and your shoulders inevitably brush.

"You look terrified," Seunghyun notes, turning his head to face you. In the dim amber light, his dark eyes are incredibly intense. "Is it claustrophobia, or are you just afraid of your boss?"

"A little bit of both," you admit, your voice barely a whisper.

He lets out a low, rumbling chuckle "I don't bite."

You smile, the tension in your shoulders easing just a bit. For the next twenty minutes, the corporate barrier begins to melt. He asks you about your ideas for the new marketing campaign, listening to your nervous answers with genuine interest. He praises your work ethic, telling you he's noticed how hard you've been working and how you arrive early and stay late. 

But then, the atmosphere shifts. The air in the elevator feels thicker, warmer.

Seunghyun shifts closer to you, shifting his weight onto his elbow so he's leaning toward you. His gaze drops from your eyes to your lips, then down to your legs. Because of how you're sitting, your skirt has ridden up slightly above your knee.

"You work too hard" he murmurs, his voice dropping an octave, becoming dangerously smooth.

Before you can process his words, you feel the heat of his hand. He places his fingertips just above your knee. Your breath catches in your throat.

Slowly, his long fingers begin to trace a path upward, tracing a slow line up your thigh, then back down to your knee. The touch is light, agonizingly slow, and completely tests the limits of your professionalism. It's a blatant line crossed. Your heart is pounding so loud, you're sure he can hear it. You can't bring yourself to move.

"S-Seunghyun..." you breathe out, your voice trembling.

"You're tense," he whispers, his hand pausing, his thumb rubbing a slow, intoxicating circle against your skin.

He leans in closer. The scent of his expensive cologne wraps around you, dizzying your senses. He uses his other hand to gently cup your chin, tilting your face up.

He leans in so close that your breath hitches. His eyes are fixed on your lips and you instinctively close your eyes, tilting your head up, completely helpless underneath his touch. His lips are millimeters from yours. You can feel the warmth of his breath.

JOLT.

The elevator gives a violent shudder, and the harsh, bright fluorescent overhead lights snap back on. The mechanical whir of the motor starts up instantly and the car smoothly begins to glide upward.

Seunghyun pulls back smoothly, his hand leaving your leg so fast it leaves a cold ache where his touch had just been. By the time the elevator doors slide open to the bright, main lobby, he is already standing, perfectly composed.

A couple of security guards and his main assistant are standing there, looking panicked. "Mr. Choi! Are you alright?"

"Perfectly fine," Seunghyun says, his voice reverting instantly back to his cool, authoritative CEO tone. He steps out of the elevator, looking back at you as you scramble to your feet, trying to smooth down your skirt with shaking hands.

He catches your eye. There’s a dangerous, playful glint in his gaze that lets you know exactly what just happened wasn't a dream.

"Y/N," he says. "Bring the Q3 reports to my office tomorrow morning. First thing. We have a lot left to discuss."

He turns and walks away, leaving you standing in the elevator lobby with your heart in your throat, completely breathless.

The rest of the workday passes in a total blur. You walk through the lobby, your legs feeling like jelly and somehow manage to navigate your way back to your desk.

For the next couple of hours, you are utterly useless.

Every time you try to focus on the spreadsheets on your monitor, the glowing grid lines fade away, replaced by the memory of the dim amber light of the elevator. Your skin still feels hot right where his fingertips had traced up your thigh. You find yourself staring down at your own knee, your breath catching in your throat as your mind replays the heavy, rumbling vibration of his voice whispering your name.

“You’re tense.”

"Get it together, Y/N," you mutter under your breath, aggressively clicking a random cell on your spreadsheet. You take a sharp, deep breath, shaking your head vigorously to clear the fog. He is your boss. It was just a weird, high-stress situation, you tell yourself. He was probably just testing you, or maybe he was bored. You have to remain professional if you want to keep this job.

By the time the evening finally rolls around, you pack your bag with trembling hands, stuffing your laptop in without a care and practically running out of the office to avoid any chance of bumping into him in the lobby again.

The moment you unlock the door to your apartment, the suffocating tension of the corporate world finally lifts.

Soft meows greet you as your cat trots over, rubbing their face against your ankles. You let out a long, exhausted sigh, dropping your bag on the floor and immediately scooping up your orange tabby, burying your face in its soft fur.

"You have no idea what kind of day I've had," you murmur, walking over to fill the food bowl.

You trade your office skirt and heels for worn-out sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt. You make a simple dinner, but you barely taste it with your thoughts racing. Even the familiar comfort of your apartment can’t completely erase the feeling of his large, warm hand cupping your chin, tilting your face up to his.

By midnight, you are curled up under your duvet, the moonlight filtering through the blinds. Your cat is curled into a tight ball at the foot of the bed, purring softly.

It’s the quietest part of the night, the time when your brain is supposed to shut down but instead, your imagination takes the wheel.

You roll onto your side, staring at the empty space on the pillow next to you. 

You close your eyes and let yourself remember it all, without fighting it this time. You remember the exact scent of his cologne. You remember how he felt leaning over you in that tiny space.

Your mind loops those final seconds before the elevator jolted back to life. You imagine what would have happened if the power had stayed off for just five seconds longer. Would his lips have been as soft as they looked? Would his hand have slid further up your thigh? The mere thought of it sends a shiver through your entire body.

“We have a lot left to discuss.”

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Seunghyun purchases the painting on your behalf and gets you on the first flight back to Seoul, with him. Since the argument with Jae you’ve been left feeling numb and in limbo. Your whole life is upside down and you really aren’t sure what direction you’re going anymore. You just want to stay afloat.

Seunghyun’s presence has been grounding. He’s always been one that can sit in silence and just be present in the space with you. For now, that’s enough. When the car pulls up outside of your building he helps you gather your suitcase.

He speaks for the first time since the plane landed. “I need some time.” He says in a reassuring tone. “I have something I need to do…for you…us.”

You look up at him dazed. After everything, you’re not in a headspace to make any sort of commitments or life altering decisions so you just nod and whisper, “Okay.”

“Jiyong has everything ready for you when you get packed. Just text him and we will have a moving company take your things to storage. Your room is already set up at his place.”

You simply nod again. Realizing the last 4 years of your life is about to be evicted from the building before you.

“We are going to get you through this.” He says, kissing your forehead.

A faint smile crosses your lips as you grab the handle of your suitcase and turn to head inside.

When you cross the apartment threshold you realize the home you once considered a sanctuary now feels sterile. You place your suitcase at the door, no reason to unpack if I’m just getting ready to leave again…for good, and begin walking through the rooms, taking mental inventory or what you need to pack and what will stay behind. When you finish, you're exhausted and realize the person that moved in was just playing house. You never truly let your guard down with Jae. You tried, god did you try, but you just couldn’t do it. Your heart always belonged to someone else, Seunghyun.

As you work throughout the week, you realize nothing in the apartment is a reflection of your true self. Those things are still packed away under the bed or in the back of your massive shared closet. You gather those things first, as they are the most important to you. Your days are the same, pack and organize all day, followed by a long hot dissociating shower, then ending with a night of fitful sleep.

As expected, Jae cuts off all contact with you leaving communication solely between you and his manager. One morning, you wake to a formal email ending your relationship officially.

Miss Y/N,

The relationship and affiliation you once held with Kim Jae-Joon has been terminated, effective immediately. From this point on, he requests no contact.

Mr. Kim prefers to not call attention to the situation that occurred in hopes the two of you can move forward with your lives quietly and separately. No formal statement of your breakup will be made and he requests that you do the same.

Mr. Kim also requests that you vacate the penthouse by August 1st. Anything remaining in the home after his return that is deemed unacceptable will be trashed or donated. He will not speak ill of you in the media under the condition you agree to the above terms.

Thank you for your time.

The office of Kim Jae-Joon

The last few years of your life are reduced to those lifeless paragraphs and a handful of boxes picked up to be stored at a facility arranged by Jiyong and Seunghyun. After a few weeks of organizing and packing you find yourself once again living out of a suitcase in Jiyong’s guest room.

Zoa and Iye are curled up beside you as you lie in bed on your back, staring at the ceiling. My life is a dumpster fire…

Jiyong knocks, peeking his head around the doorframe. “You hanging in there?”

You don’t move and continue to stare. “My life has spiraled back to square one, I’m just great.” You say sarcastically.

Jiyong crawls into the bed beside you, propping himself up on his elbows. “You and I both know you’re not starting from the bottom. You’re just…picking up where you left off 6 years ago.”

You cover your face with your hands. “I shouldve been more upfront with him. His reaction…”

“I think his response made it clear he couldn’t handle the truth.” Jiyong adds supportively. “When you told him it wasn't going to matter, his response would be the same. The fact that it involved Seunghyun made him too insecure. You can’t erase the history you have with someone.”

You turn towards him. “Ji, what if this happened after we got married? Or we actually had a baby together? Things would’ve been so bad…I really fucked this up.” You groan into his chest.

Jiyong pulls you close to him, squeezing you tight. “You and I both know you’re right where you’re supposed to be. Seunghyun is going to make things right.”

You chuckle, cautiously. “See you say that, but Seunghyun hasn’t so much as breathed near me since I got back. He’s probably spiraling about how he’s yet again ruined my life. I’m going to die alone.” You whine. “Honestly? I deserve it.”

“I can assure you that’s not the case. He’s…working on something and you’ll find out soon enough.” Ji says cryptically.

“Whatever you say Mr. Dragon.”

——————————————

A week later, you're on Jiyong’s balcony, chain smoking and indulging in a bottle of vintage red. Jiyong was in America for his Übermensch tour, leaving you on cat duty. As you're polishing off the bottle, you're completely oblivious to what is going on inside the penthouse.

—————————-

Seunghyun entered quietly, using the spare key Jiyong had given him years ago. Initially, his plan was to just surprise you, but when he noticed you seemed preoccupied outside, he took it upon himself to up his game.

Utilizing the spare candles in the cabinet, he decided to set the mood. Zoa and Iye watch with skepticism from one of the chairs.

“You’ll be happy to know, I’m finally making things right.” Seunghyun says to them. “So you can wipe that look of judgement off your face Zoa.” Zoa meows and turns away from him as she catches your movement on the balcony.

——————————

After finishing your last cigarette, and last glass of wine, you head inside to find the living room covered in candles. Zoa and Iye watching cautiously from the armchair in the corner.

You approach one of the candles just to make sure they’re real. Oh good, I’m drunk, but not to the point I am imagining things…You walk over to the kitchen, place your glass in the sink, then turn to find Seunghyun standing in the middle of the room.

“Surprise.” He says in his deep voice.

The sight of him causes you to become overcome with emotion. You don’t ask questions, you simply walk over to him quickly and melt into his arms.

He kisses the top of your head as you get lost in his cologne. “I want to say something before I get too emotional.” He smiles into your hair. “Can we sit?”

You look up at him, eyes glassy from tears and wine. “Whatever you want Tempo, I’m yours.”

He leads you over to the couch, brushing a stray hair out of your face. “You’re a little drunk…”

”Only a little.” You smile.

He clears his throat. “I should’ve done this years ago but I was too afraid. Too concerned about what YG would think, or impacting the career I thought I wanted but that time is over now and it's time for me to do what I want. What’s best for me…for us.”

”Us?” You breathe.

“There has always been an us Y/N. I am done running from it. Done watching you walk out of my life. Done pushing you away. I want you forever. Through the worst, the best, everything in between. You are my life.”

His words sober you instantly. “Seunghyun…are you…”

He slides off the couch onto one knee in front of you. “Will you…”

”YES!” You practically cry out, falling forward into his arms, pushing him backwards onto the rug. ”A million times yes, Seunghyun.”

He lets out a graveled laugh as he looks up at you. “You didn’t even let me finish.”

“We have been together too long for formalities. I will absolutely marry you.” You say kissing him for the first time in months.

”I was actually going to ask you to move in with me, but marriage works too.” He grins.

Your cheeks flush with embarrassment as you push yourself off of him, standing. “But…you got on one knee…”

”Shhhh.” He smiles wide back at you, pulling you into a hug. “I’m kidding. I was proposing to you.” He pulls a small ring box out of his pocket. Inside is an intricate white gold and diamond band with an interlacing design. “It’s more of a wedding band…I thought we could just skip the engagement…”

”I love it.”

“But I do want you to move in with me…in fact, all your things are already there. I…had your boxes dropped off at my place and just…”

”Put them back where they once were?” You say, tearfully.

He nods with a small smile. “Yeah…it's all back where it used to be…home.” He says leaning in to kiss you.

“I love you, Tempo.” You say, jumping up, wrapping your legs around him. “Take me to the bedroom?” You smile at him, breathlessly.

“Hmm, need some privacy…away from the kids.” He laughs in reference to the cats, as he heads down the hallway.

The two of you shed your clothing and climb under the covers.

He pulls you to him, propping himself up with one arm while caressing your face with the other.

“Things will never be like they were after my enlistment.”

You reach up, taking his hand. “Seunghyun, I forgave you long ago…”

“No.” He stops you, kissing your knuckles. “I need you to know that how I treated you was not okay. I hurt you. Emotionally…physically. I promise to keep you safe moving forward. Love you the way you deserve.”

“I know you will.” You whisper as he positions himself on top of you as you open yourself to him.

He sinks into you slowly, his mouth capturing your moan.

His pace is cautious, as if you might break or disappear from beneath him at any moment.

You lace your hand with his, lifting your hips to meet him, taking in every inch of him.

Tonight is a reset of your entire relationship, a clean slate. For the first time, you both decided on each other, in unison. No more backing out, no more running. From this point forward it’s you and him, hand in hand, headed towards a future you forge together.

______________________________

Returning to Seunghyun’s apartment was as if you’d never left. He returned everything to its rightful place. You’d learned later on that when you moved out all those years ago he had left everything as it was. The drawers, cabinets, and closet you once occupied just had empty space as if waiting for your return.

The two of you wasted no time and eloped as soon as possible at the local district office as soon as the paperwork was filed. You both choose to wear your wedding bands on your middle fingers to keep the mystery. Korean media had yet to get wind of your break up with Jae-Joon and due to his sudden retirement, they had lost interest him. For the first time in a long time you were back to how life was long ago and it was everything you and Seunghyun could ever imagine.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

The deep notes and Seunghyun’s dulcet tone of Desperado pull you out of the memory. Where is Seunghyun? The album is over half way through and you’ve yet to track him down. Finally, you see him standing, cornered by two people you can’t quite place. You decide to head over when an arm links with yours.

“Real bold of you getting married and having the audacity to not invite me.” A familiar voice teases.

“Chae-Rin! Oh my god!” You all but shout, embracing her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Oppa knew better than to not include me. It’s so good to have him back.” She smiles.

“You have no idea.”

“But seriously, congratulations. A secret elopement that even the media hasn’t caught on to…that’s so…”

“Us.” You grin. “We just wanted it to be quiet, intimate.”

“Yeah, yeah. He’s all about the quiet life these days. He deserves it...alongside you.” She smiles. “But with an album this fire, I doubt he will be able to keep a low profile for very long. He’s about to be a very busy man.”

“Like everything he does, it’s a work of art.” You say proudly. “Catch up soon? I have yet to see my husband tonight…”

“And you two are still making up for lost time.” She winks. “I’ll call you soon.” Chae-Rin smiles. “Go get your man.”

After what feels like a lifetime, you finally approach Seunghyun. “There you are.” You breathe, linking your arm with his. ”I was beginning to feel like you weren’t actually in attendance tonight.”

”I am the man of the evening, remember? I’m meant to mingle.” He grins before leaning in to kiss you. “You okay?”

You nod. “Being here, seeing old photos…it’s brought back a lot of memories all at once.”

He frowns. “There’s been a plethora of good times and bad. Especially here…”

“Hey…” you reach up, touching his face. “We are going to replace that memory with a new one. A happier one. Celebrating your first full length solo album…”

“With my wife.” He says, pulling your waist closer to him.

“Mmhmm, I love it when you call me that. My husband…” you whisper as you press your body into his.

“You know, I originally wrote this song about you.” He says, referencing Desperado playing in the background. “It’s had some updates…but I still remember the thrill of trying to impress you.” He says, his hand sliding down your thigh.

You blush. “Lucky for you I’m right here…always and forever, no more chasing.”

“Sometimes I miss the thrill of the hunt.” He says, nibbling your ear, grabbing your ass.

“We can play pretend a little later.” You wink, palming him discreetly over his pants. “You have guests to mingle with…remember?”

The upbeat melody of FOR FANS snaps you both out of your daze as Jackpot approaches with Sora. You carefully position yourself in front of your husband as he adjusts himself.

Sora’s face is telling. “Wait. Are you two…”

Seunghyun clears his throat. “Together? Um, yeah.”

She looks between the two of you surprised. “Well shit. It’s 2006 all over again.”

“And all those years in between.” You add.

“I’m shocked, really. Not long ago, the tabloids were going crazy with you and…”

“We ended things last May.” You say confidently. “Quietly…but It’s over.”

She nods, getting the message loud and clear.

“Right. Well, I’m happy for you both. In all honesty, everyone knew deep down the two of you were end game…we just weren’t sure if either of you realized it yet.” She smiles warmly.

“It took a lot of work, but we finally got there.” Seunghyun smiles, his hand finding your waist. “Come with me, I want to be sure you hear the next two songs.”

The two of you excuse yourselves and make your way up to the front area of the studio.

Stendhal Syndrome begins and you can’t help but smile wide at the intro.

Born again it’s the new Tempo…

You look up at Seunghyun who is blushing just enough that you can see it at the tops of his ears.

As you listen, you realize the song is about you…mostly.

Ya Good morning lady

You woke up with my killer Taste

Coffee, yeah, it’s deep

Truffle over Egg benedict Gonna make money for Us

You lean into him. “Is this song about me or Jiyong?” You tease.

He wraps his arms around you from behind and leans in close. “Let’s just say, it’s about the two most important people in my life.”

“Regardless, it’s perfect.” You smile.

When the song ends, Seunghyun grabs a fresh glass of wine and approaches the front of the studio, gathering everyone’s attention.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who came tonight to celebrate my first album. It has been a long time coming and there’s no one else I’d rather share this moment with than all of you.”

Attendees shout out words of endearment and raise their glasses in celebration as you watch carefully.

“There’s one last song on the album. One I began writing years ago and was only recently able to finish. I want to dedicate this song to the person who has been with me since 2006 when I first debuted. Someone who has seen me at my worst and, thankfully, now at my best. We have been many things over the years. In 2019 our relationship almost evolved into something completely different, which was the original inspiration for this song, Be Solid. I wanted to be solid for the chapter that was to come. Unfortunately, we weren’t given that opportunity…” He trails off, making eye contact with you.

Be Solid is the song he was writing for…our baby…

“Now the song symbolizes what I want to be for her…for us…moving forward. Y/N, I dedicate this song to you and promise to be a more solid friend, partner, and husband to you as we build our future together.”

The crowd turns to look towards you, tears already pricking your eyes as you smile back at the love of your life.

“Thank you for coming, enjoy.” Seunghyun takes a bow before heading straight over, taking you in his arms, dipping you backwards in a passionate kiss…On display for everyone to see. You hear Chae-Rin shout, “It’s about damn time!” as onlookers applaud.

The two of you stand hand in hand as you let the lyrics wash over you.

Tryna be someone better for you

Wanna be someone you come home to

Write these poems all for you

Tears fall down like rain

Tryna be someone better for you

I wanna be more solid, solid, solid

Boda Pogeun-pogeun solid, solid, solid wanna be more solid

wanna be more solid

A faith I can’t explain- screaming into the air, writing out a brand new scene

Me and you — we matching

No more pain, just moonlight, moonlight

On steady path, you my Vaccine Vaccine Vaccine

Anywhere you go

NANA NANANA NANA NA

I am on it, “BE SOLID”

While the road was long and difficult to get to this point, it led you both back to each other, where you belong. You look up at your husband as you listen to his promise.

You know in your heart the best is yet to come.

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

A few Months later…

Seunghyun slipped into your studio lobby unnoticed. His beanie on, hoodie up with his jacket zipped tight. The cold December air was bone chilling in Seoul. He had just returned from his Fan Meet in Taiwan. Originally, you had planned to attend with him but decided against it last minute. You just weren’t feeling up to it. These days, you have been saving most of your energy for your classes. He’d only been gone a week but it felt like an eternity away from you. As soon as he landed, he dropped his bags off at home and came straight to your studio.

Seunghyun approaches the glass window where the other parents have gathered to watch as their sons and daughters follow along with your instructions. He can’t help but smile watching you. Your hair in a messy bun, wearing leggings and one of his oversized hoodies, your face full of animation as you attempt to command a room of five year olds. Seeing you in your element makes his heart swell with pride.

“Which one is yours?” The woman next to him asks, gesturing to the children gathered around you.

“The instructor.” Seunghyun laughs. “She’s my wife.”

“My daughter, Seo-ah, absolutely adores her. She has such a gift for dancing and working with children. We are really going to miss her during her leave. The other instructors are great, but your wife is outstanding…Congratulations by the way.” She smiles up at him.

“Thank you.” He says with a small bow. “Dancing is her passion. I am sure she won’t stay gone for long.”

Seunghyun watches as you arrange the children in their respective rows, then start the music. You dramatically count down then prompt them to begin, stepping back against the mirrored wall to take them all in. One hand rests on your growing bump as the other helps guide students back in line as they get out of step with their peers.

The past few months have been a whirlwind for the two of you. Marriage, an album release, a fan meet tour, the unexpected pregnancy test…

Seunghyun remembers the morning vividly.

✨✨✨✨✨✨

The day started as it always did with coffee and breakfast typically followed by small talk and plans for the day. That morning was…different. Recently, you held yourself differently, a softness creeping in that he couldn’t quite place.

He watched as you came into the kitchen, his Pink Floyd shirt hanging loosely from your shoulder, a look of weariness on your face.

“You okay?” He asks, placing his hand on your forehead before handing you your coffee.

“I’m fine.” You insist. Placing the mug down instead of taking a sip.

Seunghyun looks back at you quizzically over his mug. “Something is bothering you…”

You play with the corner of the napkin under your coffee cup, leaning on the island. “There’s a possibility…” You begin, avoiding eye contact. “I…we…” Like all those years ago, you can’t bring yourself to finish the sentence.

He puts his mug down and closes the space between you, pulling you into his chest. “We don’t keep secrets between us.” He says, resting his chin on the top of your head. “Whatever is bothering you, we can talk about it. I’ve noticed you’ve been…off.”

You look up at him. “You have?”

He nods, brushing a loose strand of hair away from your face and tucking it behind your ear. “Did you get some news at work or did Jae find out about our…”

”I think I’m pregnant.” You cut him off quickly before losing your nerve.

His body tenses, but not in the way it did before. He looks at you intently before finally speaking. “You think or you know?”

“Think…I took a test but…it’s in the bathroom. I can’t bring myself to look at it.” Your voice is small, shaky. “I don’t want to get your…our hopes up.”

You both wanted this so badly, but you knew being older, it may no longer be in the cards for the two of you. This was the first time since getting back together you had missed your period. It could be nothing or it could be everything…

“We will look together.” Seunghyun says, hiding his nerves. “Whatever the result, it changes nothing between us.” He then takes your hand and leads you to the master bathroom where the plastic stick holding your fates is waiting.

At the count of three, you both peer over the counter to find two bright pink lines staring back at you.

“I’m…we…” You stumble back in disbelief.

Seunghyun takes you into his arms, his cheeks already wet with tears. “We’re having a baby, Princess.”

The road to the present was a long one. The fear of losing what you both wanted so badly took over the first trimester. Every scan and appointment was a reminder of the trauma you endured all those years ago. In the new territory of the second trimester, you both settled into the reality of becoming parents with a little more confidence. Painting and decorating the nursery, making lists and registries. Seeing your baby and hearing the heartbeat at appointments gave you both peace of mind in a way you never imagined. Now in the third trimester, excitement has taken over. Buying necessary items, involving friends and family, and preparing to bring your baby home.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Seunghyun comes back to reality when the door opens into the lobby and a mass of children enter.

”All right, friends! Remember, two more weeks until our recital. Practice, practice, practice!” You announce in a sing-song voice.

”Yes Miss Choi!” They all say in unison. Some choosing to give you hugs, others high five as they depart to find their parents.

”Bye bye baby! Be good to your Eomma.” Your last student says, patting your stomach before leaving with his mother.

You can’t help but smile as you lock the door behind them, finding your husband’s reflection in the glass, admiring you from across the way. You turn to face him, “What are you doing here Tempo? I was planning on meeting you at home.”

”I couldn’t wait to see you, Princess.” He says, kissing you.

You wrap your arms around him, tight. “Hmm, it’s good to have you back. We missed you.”

“How’s our boy?” He asks, his hand caressing your stomach.

“Active. He’s been giving off a lot of main dancer energy this week…like his dad.” You wink. “And…we’re hungry.” You smile up at him. “How about I grab my stuff and we enjoy some takeout on the couch?”

“That sounds like a picture perfect night to me.” He replies as you grab your dance bag and close up the studio. He helps you put on your coat, then wraps his arm around you as you head into the chilly city of Seoul towards home where you’re life together is just getting started.🩵

————————————-

MASTERLIST

CH 7

More people have arrived, including Chae Kyoung-Sun, the art director from Squid Game and Seunghyun’s Studio54 music video. The last time you saw her was in LA when things were…less than ideal.

“Y/N!” She calls out to you. “I didn’t think I’d see you here. Is Jae-Joon with you?”

“Um, no. Not tonight.” You say quietly.

“His announced retirement from acting was a shock. What are you two going to get up to with all his free time? The tabloids mentioned a baby on the way…” She winks, before her eyes drift to your midsection. You raise your wine glass, taking a long sip, shutting down her theory.

”Oh, well. You know how the media loves rumors.” Her attention is drawn to the intricate diamond band on your middle finger. “Your ring is stunning. Jae really out did himself. It’s clear that he is dedicated to curating the most beautiful life for the two of you. I look forward to seeing it unfold.”

You smile back at her. “He is very dedicated to making his dreams come true.” You say convincingly, when you hear Seunghyun’s graveled laughter across the room, grabbing you attention. “If you’ll excuse me.”

The chimes of Seoul Chaos followed by Seunghyun’s harmonizing vocals send a chill down your spine as you recall last year.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Your trip to LA was going to be a fresh start. You would wipe yourself clean of Seunghyun for good and move towards your new life with Jae. No more wavering.

The lust you once had for Seunghyun had been replaced with anger, which fueled your desire to make Jae’s dreams a reality, propelling the narrative forward. Jae was vocal in interviews about settling down with you and starting a family and you no longer denied it. Instead, you committed to the bit, showing affection publicly and speaking candidly about your future together when on the red carpet. The media loved you as a couple and the tabloids loved making predictions about your lives together, giving you motivation to keep going. What you didn’t know is that every wedding prediction and baby watch post was ripping Seunghyun’s heart out.

You and Jae ring in the New Year of 2025 in LA where he is filming what is said to be the biggest film of his career.

It will also be his last. After much deliberation, he’s decided to retire from acting and follow his dream of pursuing a simplistic life.

In a strange chain of events, that you could only chalk up to fate, you run into Seunghyun while at lunch with Jae. He’s telling you about the property he is purchasing when he notices someone familiar enter the restaurant. You prepare yourself for an introduction.

“Hey babe, this is IRKO. He’s been working on the sound mixing for the film soundtrack.”

“A pleasure.” You smile, extending your hand.

“So you’re the infamous Y/N.” He smiles. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Jae.” He then turns his attention behind him. “This is TOP.”

You open your mouth to speak but nothing comes out.

”Hey, Seunghyun!” Jae stands, hugging him. “Good to see you again. Your work on Squid Game was amazing. You here for promotion?”

“No, working on music actually.”

His solo album.

”You two know each other? Small world!” IRKO exclaims. “Have you met Jae’s lovely lady?”

“We’ve met.” Seunghyun says, avoiding eye contact.

“It’s good to see you too.” You mumble as he turns to walk towards their table.

IRKO follows after a friendly wave, oblivious to the awkwardness of the situation.

“He’s an interesting one…standoffish. No wonder things didn’t work out when you met for that art acquisition I asked about.” Jae chuckles, reflecting on the interaction. “He’s become such a recluse. It’s hard to believe he once shared a stage with G Dragon. Now that’s an idol...”

“Speaking of GD. He’s invited us to the opening Übermensh show in Korea next month…I thought it would be a good break from work.” You smile wide.

“No way! That’s awesome, babe.” He says, genuinely excited. “It’s still so wild to me that you have that kind of relationship with him.”

“I told you we were close. You just can’t seem to wrap your head around it.” You grin. You’ve been trying to allude to the impact BIGBANG has had on your life in hopes of coming clean with Jae about your past. Each time you bring it up he seems to brush it off, not wanting to fully hear what you’re saying.

Jae then jumps into a long spiel about the land he’s closing on in Jeju Island. The secluded, off the grid style location is beautiful, just not really your vibe…but it will be, you tell yourself. Your mind wanders as you look around the cafe just in time to lock eyes with Seunghyun. You remain emotionless and you can tell by his expression it hurts. Good.

As you and Jae stand to leave you pull him into a kiss. He grabs your ass in response and you let out a playful giggle in hopes of drawing attention. You look back to see Seunghyun’s jaw clench before leaving the cafe hand in hand.

————————-

A month later, you and Jae have the time of your lives at Jiyong’s concert. The after party is filled with you making introductions for Jae who is astounded by the amount of people you know in the music industry.

“My girl is a celebrity!” He says kissing you deeply. “This has been the best night. I’m so glad you pulled me away from filming. LA was really dragging me down.”

“You deserve it.” You say kissing him back. “Besides…gotta get out while we can right?” You wink, feeding into his ‘let’s start a family’ plan.

Jae is whispering something about finding a coat closet to hook up in when you look up to see Jiyong spot you from across the room. He heads directly towards you.

“Shit, that’s G Dragon.” Jae says enthusiastically. “Do you think he’s coming this way to talk with us?”

“I’m sure he is.” You say apprehensively, knowing Jiyong is coming for you.

When he reaches your table, Jiyong puts on a show. “Infamous actor Kim Jae-Joon, good to finally meet you in person.”

Starstruck, Jae grips his hand tightly. “The fact that you have heard of me floors me. It’s truly an honor. Your show was outstanding.” He looks to you, nervously. “I-I guess you know my girlfriend already?”

“I could never forget her.” Jiyong says, emotionless. “I actually need to borrow her for a moment. Hope you don’t mind Jae.” He says, flashing his million dollar smile.

“Oh, no, of course…by all means.” Jae smiles awkwardly.

“It’ll only take a minute.” Jiyong links his arm with yours and leads you towards a back hallway.

“Ji…slow down…” You prompt as he all but pushes you into the hall.

Once secluded, he lays into you. “What the fuck are you doing Y/N?”

“Good to see you too Ji…”

He stares back at you. “Are you having fun in your delusional world, playing house with your Korean actor Ken doll?”

You cross your arms, angrily. “I am living my life like he told me to Ji. If you have questions, maybe you should take it up with Seunghyun.” You see Jae searching you out in the crowd.

“Oh trust me, we’ve talked. Plenty.”

“Then you would know that HE made this choice. He’s done with me.”

“That’s not true.” Jiyong shakes his head in disagreement. “Every article released about you two, every tabloid hinting at a wedding or baby is killing him. ”

You look back at him in confusion. “He told me to choose Jae. I was fully prepared to leave but Seunghyun told me not to. He said he was bad for me. That he would just hurt me again and that I had to let him go for good. He ended things, Ji, not me.”

Jiyong stares back at you.

“I know it’s easy for you to blame me and think that I am the reason for all this after everything we have been through but this time I was all in and ready to throw this life away. Seunghyun didn’t give me the option.” You say sternly. “He doesn’t want me, Ji.”

Jiyong’s face falls. “He didn’t mean what he said…he wants to be with you. He’s just too scared to admit it.”

“He’s had a lot of time to step up and be brave.” Jae locks eyes with you across the way and waves. You put on a smile and wave back to the man that is now your future. You then pause, letting your guard down. “I never stopped loving him.” You say, breaking your gaze, returning it to Jiyong. “I love him more than he will ever understand….”

“I know…” he says quietly. “I know he’s still in love with you too… he always will be.” He pauses, then adds, “What if he told you to leave and be with him? That would change things…right?”

You shake your head. “In a perfect world…but we both know he won’t do that. I can’t keep playing this game. Jae is going to be my future now. I am going to marry him and start our life together sooner rather than later. Seunghyun has to live with that. Unfortunately, you are going to have to just pick up the pieces.”

Jiyong looks at you, sorrowfully, and nods, knowing in his heart, it’s done.

“Thank you for a great night G Dragon.” You say before turning away, back to Jae.

———————————-

When May comes all eyes are on Jae. The day of TUDUM is hectic. At the event, Jae is presenting the teaser trailer for his new film and planning to announce his retirement after its release. As a celebration, you scheduled the pick up of the David Hockney piece Seunghyun helped you acquire for that night.

The plan was to hit the red carpet, do pictures and press, enjoy the event, and then head out to pick up the piece around 8pm. Jae was elated when you told him.

“What a coincidence…I have quite the surprise arranged for you tonight as well.” He says into the crook of your neck, his hand sliding up your thigh.

“Control yourself.” You blush. “We are next on the press carpet.”

He doesn’t stop. His hands are all over you for every paparazzi photo. When you get to the press line, every question is the same. Marriage, family, future acting roles…and then Rolling Stone Korea steps in.

“Jae-Joon, you’re at your peak popularity. Your fans look forward to what you have to share with them tonight. But I think they are all wondering if the rumors are true? Is there a little action star on the way for you two?”

Jae, loving the attention, feeds into it, placing his hand just right on your waistline. “It’s all we’ve ever wanted, so only time will tell.” He winks before pulling you away.

“They are going to have a field day with that babe.” You say through laughter as you head towards the other photo-ops.

“Let them talk. We will manifest it together.” He grins.

Seunghyun lingers back in the pressline. You hadn’t noticed he was behind you and had heard the whole exchange. He saw the way Jae held onto you protectively, kissed you, touched you. And now you were…he didn’t want to think about it. He made the choice to let you go. It shouldn’t be surprising to see you moving on. He had no one to be angry with but himself. So he takes a deep breath, and does what he does best. Pretend.

——————————-

Jae leaves you to find the green room space you’ve been assigned backstage. He had his manager track down some boxes of old photos from your apartment back in Seoul so he could find the picture of himself as a kid with the painting. He wanted to bring it for good luck later tonight when the two of you picked up the painting together. You laugh at the thought of his manager lugging boxes of photos into a Netflix event.

“I apologize in advance, there was a mix up and we had to create a shared space for you and Mr. Kim with another actor.” One of the backstage managers tells you as she escorts you down a long hall.

“It’s no problem. Really.” You assure her, reaching the door. “I appreciate all your hard work. Jae and I are easy going, we are happy to share the space.”

“Please let me know if you need anything.” She replies, relieved. “Their segment is one of the first to go on so you’ll have some alone time while they’re on stage. Mr. Kim will be called for when his time arrives.”

You nod graciously and enter the room to find your bags containing your change of clothes for tonight already waiting along with…Seunghyun.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” You say out loud.

“I was just as surprised as you are when they told me.” He says coldly, not looking up from his phone.

He’s wearing sunglasses and a black on black Alexander McQueen suit with star embellishments. He looks…sexy.

You grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take a long drink to distract yourself. “You didn't think to tell them it was a bad idea?”

“They didn’t give me much choice.” He says standing. “You know I prefer not to ruffle feathers if I can help it so I just let it be. I wasn’t aware being in the same room with me would be so triggering for you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.” You say approaching him. “A certain Dragon told me not too long ago that you’re the one who can’t handle it.” You say raising your voice.

“I’m not trying to upset you…” He says, his demeanor changing. “I go onstage soon so I’ll be out of your hair.”

You look at him, frustrated, and begin pacing. “Fine. Whatever.”

“Hey…Take a deep breath, sit.” He says gesturing to the couch. “Stress can’t be good for you and the b…” He doesn’t finish the sentence but his gaze settles on your figure.

You instinctively cross your arms over your midsection. “I’m not pregnant, if that’s what you’re insinuating. You of all people shouldn’t believe everything you see or read in the news.”

You note a flood of relief that crosses his face as there is a knock at the door.

“Mr. Choi? You’re on stage in five.” The stage manager calls through the door.

“See? I’m already gone.” He says, hands up, turning towards the door.

“Break a leg.” You tell him, as he turns to leave.

———————————-

When Jae enters a few moments later, he’s carrying a duffle bag and his demeanor has changed drastically from when you left him.

“Aw babe, you couldn’t find the photo?” You ask, disappointed for him.

He tosses the bag into the couch and looks at you. “Oh, no…I found it…along with some other memories I wasn’t aware of. Care to take a look?” He questions, gesturing to the bag.

You walk over, peering inside. What you find is your own box of photos. The one once hidden under your side of the bed. His manager must’ve misunderstood and grabbed both…You didn’t do the best at hiding it honestly. You knew this day would come, you just weren’t expecting the conversation to begin here in LA at TUDUM of all places.

“This is my photo box from when I was with YG.” You say, opening the lid.

“Sure.” He says, firmly. “But I’d say there’s more than just old dance memories in that box. Looks like you and Seunghyun were a lot closer than you initially led on.”

He went through all of them? You think to yourself as you pick up a Polaroid capturing you in Seunghyun’s lap, kissing him passionately, his hand on your hip and your hand buried in his bleached white hair.

“There’s a lot like that. Some are even more provocative. I’d say your relationship was more than a fling. ” He says, his voice laced with anger.

“I never said it was.” You attempt to keep your voice calm. “Those were your words, not mine. I just never really had the chance to…”

“Tell me you were madly in love with him?”

“Jae…some of these were taken over 15 years ago…”

“But this wasn’t.” He says holding the ultrasound photo up at you.

You open your mouth, but you can’t quite find the words to respond.

“Do you have a secret love child out there that I don’t know about? God, Y/N this is…a big thing to keep from me for so long…” He says, frustrated. “You hid a pregnancy from me…”

“I…I found out I was pregnant in 2019.”

Jae looks at the photo and back at you. “By whom? A one night stand? Tell me it was a stupid mistake.”

You look back at him, silent.

“If that baby was his Y/N…it changes everything. Tell me the baby wasn’t his Y/N…Tell me!!!”

Seunghyun returns from his Squid Game segment just as Jae’s voice intensifies.

“Oh great! This is perfect timing.” Jae’s laugh is unsettling as he turns to Seunghyun. “Maybe you can shed some light on this situation. Does this look familiar?” Jae asks, holding up the ultrasound photo. “Did you knock her up? Was this yours?” He prods.

Seunghyun winces at his words but does his best to maintain his cool. “Jae, you need to calm down. We are all adults here, we can talk about this calmly.”

“Fuck! Your expression tells me all I need to know.” Jae groans in frustration as he shifts his focus between you and Seunghyun. “So what happened to the baby?” He asks, sticking his finger in Seunghyun’s chest. “Did you make her get an abortion because the infamous TOP from BIGBANG couldn’t handle fatherhood? Didn’t want a baby throwing off your idol success?”

Seunghyun keeps his composure and says nothing, but his eyes are locked on you.

Silent tears stream down your cheeks as you gather the nerve to say your piece. “It was unexpected…but…I…”

“But what? Couldn’t fathom the idea of being a mother?”

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Seunghyun says sternly, coming to your defense, putting a comforting hand on your shoulder.

“You ran from responsibility and gave it up? Or…”

“We lost the baby.” Seunghyun finishes the sentence so you don’t have to. “Is that the answer you wanted to hear? She would’ve been an amazing mother but was robbed of the opportunity. If you would shut up for five minutes then maybe she could explain things to you.”

Jae looks at you, recalling the story shared before. “That story you told me…about your friend…”

“I wasn’t truthful…it happened to me.” You say quietly.

The color drains from his face. “Is this why you recoiled every time I brought up starting a family? Because of the baby you almost had with…him?” He points angrily at Seunghyun.

“Jae…” You sob. “I didn’t know how to tell you…I tried but…”

“You chose to lie instead. God I am so stupid!” He paces. “You’ve always acted strange around him but I just thought it was his idol status influencing you…You still have feelings for him, don’t you?”

You’re silent as Jae continues to berate you.

“You don’t want a family with me…you want one with him!”

“ENOUGH.” Seunghyun erupts. “At the end of the day, she chose you. Are you that insecure of yourself that you can’t move past this? Yes, she withheld this from you but it doesn’t change the fact that she’s WITH you. She chose YOU.”

“The two of you had a whole life together! She’d throw it all away in a heartbeat if you would take her back!” Jae shouts.

Seunghyun looks to you, eyes full of sadness.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” Jae exclaims. “Tell me I’m overreacting and paranoid. That you want a family with me. Tell me he’ll never cross your mind ever again and I’ll let all of this go. Make your choice, him or me.”

You sink to the floor where the box of photos has tumbled to the ground. The memories of a life that left you feeling fulfilled with the man you truly love are spread out before you.

“I would choose him.” You say looking up through your tears. “I would choose him a hundred times over.”

Seunghyun stands still, absorbing your words as Jae clears his throat and straightens his suit.

“I thought you might say that…”

“I tried Jae…”

“You did a great job pretending…wasting 4 years of my life.” He exhales, gathering his things. “You know…I was going to propose to you tonight. Everything was falling into place. The marriage you told me you wanted, our kids, the house in Jeju…all the stories you told me to keep hanging on. I was going to make it a reality.”

“I’m sorry…I can’t keep pretending anymore…”

“No, not that he’s here now.” He says, patting Seunghyun on the back as he approaches the door. “So thanks for setting up this acquisition for her Seunghyun, in hindsight, I guess that painting saved me from living a life of lies.”

Seunghyun crouches beside you and begins picking up the photos.

“I am going on stage soon. I’m sticking to my plan. I will announce my retirement. My life will stay on course, yours no longer concerns me. I need you gone, Y/N. Go back to Seoul and pack your things. We are done.” His voice lacking any emotion.

“But your painting…it belongs to you now.”

“They can keep it. I don’t want to remember this night.” He exhales as he stops at the door before turning to face you. “You’ve ruined that memory for me along with so many others. I’d prefer to forget you completely. This conversation is over.” He then leaves, slamming the door behind him.

———————————————————————————-

Master List

It had first started when you had attended a BigBang concert in your early twenties — you had been a huge fan of the band and your parents had got you tickets that year as a Christmas present. The concert had been perfect, everything you could have wished for and more but what you didn't expect was what had happened afterwards. You had been taking a quick smoke break outside the arena before you caught your train back to your area of the city when a familiar face had leaned against the wall next to you. Seunghyun, with his handsome face and incredibly aloof demeanor had said nothing at first but the second you spoke to him, the two of you hit it off. One thing led to another and before you knew it you were back in his hotel room, tangled in his sheets.

That's how it had started and that's how it continued each time he visited Japan. It had never been anything serious; two people hooking up whenever they had a chance to see each other, nothing more. But, then it all stopped. Seunghyun's 'scandal' broke and he had hid himself away. The texts from him stopped, all communication had ended. It had hurt more than you thought it would but not because you were in love with him, no. Maybe, over the years you had developed some kind of feelings for him but you were mostly concerned about him. Despite the relationship you two had mostly being about sex, you confided in each other, spilled your deepest, darkest secrets. That was how you had learned how much of an anxious, emotional person he was. You just hoped that he had someone with him through those difficult times.

It had been ten years since he had last stepped foot in Japan. Ten years since you had a text off him but that all changed.

Seunghyun Hey, this is Seunghyun. Hope this is still the right number but… you still in Japan? You Oh, long time, no see. But, yeah, it's still me. Still in Japan. Seunghyun Heading there for a fan meet next week. Want to meet up?

The nerves were running through you like wildfire. It had been ten long years since you had seen him. For all you knew, your connection could've changed. The fire that had always been there before might have died out. Ten years was a long time, feelings and thoughts changed — people changed and you definitely weren't the same person you had been a decade ago. Neither was he. It was a reunion you never thought would happen again. You had resigned yourself to never seeing him again but now you were five minutes away from being face to face with the guy who had consumed your thoughts all those years ago.

Seunghyun had invited you to the Gucci event he was attending. He hadn't told you much just to dress nice so you had picked out your nicest outfit, making sure you could look your best. You never attended events like these. You were one of those people who would much prefer to stay inside away from the crowds and people. But, he had asked you and how could you refuse.

The air felt like it had been punched from your lungs the second you laid your eyes on him. He looked incredible. His hair styled perfectly, dressed in all black and that damn leather jacket. No words had been spoken between you two yet and he was already driving you insane. Time had been good to him. If anything, you thought he looked the most handsome he ever had.

"Hi," he laughed awkwardly, giving you a small wave as he approached. "You look… great."

"Oh, thank you," you couldn't help the blush on your cheeks from appearing. "So, do you. I can't believe its been so long."

"I'm sorry," he frowned. "I swear I wanted to reach out sooner but… I wasn't in a good place and I couldn't drag you down with me."

You shook your head, reaching your hand out to rest on his forearm. "Hey, it's okay. You're here now and that's what matters. You're doing good now, yeah?"

"Yeah, really good."

"I'm glad."

"So, want to come look at some really expensive jewelry with me so I don't go bored out of my mind?" He held his arm out for you which you gladly took.

"Lead the way."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── 

The electricity between you was still there. Each time you felt his hand on your lower back guiding you or when he leaned in to whisper in your ear in that deep, gentle voice of his, you felt the sparks. It was making you dizzy. In the past decade you had been with a few other guys but none of them made you feel the way Seunghyun did when he touched you. It was purely innocent too so you could only imagine how it would feel if he ever touched you again like he used to.

At one point, at the end of the event when Seunghyun had said goodbye to people, he had noticed you tense up when he placed his hand on your back. He tilted his head to the side, concern lacing his voice. "Everything okay?"

You hummed, nodding your head. "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine."

"You sure, you seem really tense…" He eyed you suspiciously, the high tone of your voice piquing his interest.

"Just… cold in here."

"Cold, huh?"

"Yep."

"And that's why your cheeks are flushed?" He teased, leaning in a little closer to whisper in your ear.

You didn't speak, you couldn't. The feeling of his hot breath against your ear sent shivers down your spine. He knew, of course he did. That smirk on his face gave it all away. And, to top it all off, he decided to tease you even more by snaking his arm around your waist, his hand resting firmly against you. With no words, he guided you through the halls of the venue until he found the empty bathrooms. There was no hesitation in his movements when he pulled you into one of the stalls. He crowded into you, pressing you up against the stall wall.

"Now," he started, voice low. "Are you going to tell me the truth? What's wrong?"

"You already know. Don't make me say it."

"I want to it hear it."

"You're driving me crazy!" You blurted out. "Showing up looking like… that. I didn't know what to expect after all this time but, my God, Seunghyun, you're driving me insane."

"Good answer," he gave you no time to answer, his lips crashing against yours. His hand came up to tangle in your hair, tugging your head back so he could deepen the kiss. His tongue tangled with yours, lips moving furiously as he tasted you again after all this time. He pulled away for a second, lips ghosting over yours, speaking breathlessly. "For the record, the feeling is very mutual."

His hand guided one of yours to the prominent bulge straining against his pants. When you rubbed your palm against him, he groaned, his lips finding yours once again. It was like you couldn't get enough of each other. The tension, the desire of the last decade finally coming to a head. You pulled your head back from him, sinking down to your knees. Quickly, you unbuckled his belt, tugging his pants down his legs. He let out a hiss as the cold air hit him, his cock hard and aching. You wasted no time wrapping your hand around his length, your thumb swiping over the head of his cock gathering the precum using it to glide your hand around him smoother.

"Fuck," Seunghyun huffed, his head falling back against the stall. "Forgot how good it feels to have you touchin' me like that."

"It's about to get even better," you smirked. Seunghyun watched with hooded eyes as you leaned forward, your tongue licking a long stripe on the underside of his cock from bottom to top. Your tongue swirled around the tip, moaning as you tasted him. The second your lips wrapped around him, Seunghyun felt like he was in heaven. He watched your every move as you took him in your mouth. What you couldn't fit in, you pumped with your hand, setting a steady rhythm. Seunghyun couldn't help but roll his hips against your face. You felt his fingers tangling in your hair, twitching with the urge to pull you even deeper. He watched the way your cheeks hollowed out with every slide, his hips beginning to thrust to match your rhythm.

"Holy fuck," he rasped, his voice a deep, guttural groan. His control was failing, he was struggling to hold back. "Don't stop."

He finally lost it when you took him deep into the back of your throat, choking around him. He grit his teeth, holding your head in place as he took control. His hips snapped against your face driving himself deep into your mouth with each lunge. He couldn't tear his eyes away from you. The way you were drooling, the tears at the corners of your eyes as he hit the back of your throat. It was all too much.

With all the strength he could muster, he pulled himself from your mouth with a pop, gasping heaving breaths. No words were spoken as he hauled you up, spinning you around so you were facing the wall. He kicked your feet apart, spreading your legs for him. It took him all of five seconds to pull your dress up, pull your panties to the side and position himself. He dragged his cock through your wet folds, moaning at the sensation. "So wet for me."

"Always," you gasped, trying to push back against him but he held your hips firmly still. "Please, Seunghyun. Just fuck me."

"Since you asked so nicely."

In one smooth thrust, he pushed himself inside you to the hilt, his hips flush against your ass. He let out a long, deep groan, stilling for a moment. You moaned at the feeling of him inside you after so long. He was so big, so deep. You had almost forgotten what it felt like to feel so full. He pulled his hips back almost all the way out before thrust back in heavily. Your hands rested against the wall, head hanging as he fucked you slow and hard.

"Missed this, missed you," he mumbled, his voice strained. He picked up the pace, his thrusts becoming quicker — short, sharp bursts that had your body jolting with each thrust. "Gonna fuck you until I'm the only damn thing you can think about."

One of his hands slid up your back, moving to wrap around your throat, hosting you up so your back was flush against his chest. His lips found your neck, kissing a trail of kisses along your and down your shoulder. "Look at you, takin' me so good. Such a good girl, aren't you? Always were."

"Don't stop, please," you begged. "I'm so close."

Those words were his final undoing. His hand that had been around your neck slid down between your legs, his thumb finding your clit, pressing down in rough circles. "Come on, baby. Cum for me, let me feel you."

The whispered words in your ear, the way his cock was driving into you was sending you crazy. Your nails dug into his forearm, your body tensing as your orgasm hit you. You cried out his name, your walls tightening around him. He didn't relent, his cock still pounding into you hard and fast. Three more thrusts and he stilled inside you, a muffled groan of your name against your shoulder as he spilled himself inside you.

Your body went limp against him, the only sounds filling the empty bathroom were your heavy breaths as you both came back down to Earth. He pulled out of you, helping you straighten out your clothes, pulling his own pants back up. He leaned against the wall, hand raking through his hair as he looked over at you, smiling crookedly. "Wasn't exactly planning on fucking you in a bathroom the first time we saw each other again. Wanted to make it special."

"…so romantic," you teased, smiling back at him.

"Yeah, yeah," he blushed. "Was planning on asking you out to dinner and everything."

"Well, you still can."

"Yeah?"

"Ask me," you said softly, stepping forward to smooth out the leather jacket that had been driving you crazy all time.

"Want to go for dinner?" He asked, tucking your hair behind your ear, looking at you nervously as if your answer would be no.

"I'd love to."