finally charged

Bang Chan

Acts dramatic for the sake of it

"cant believe my own partner replaced me with an inanimate object :("

"are you ignoring me :("

"do you really prefer wolfchan :("

But he's doing all of that just to annoy you

He can't even say it with a straight face

In all honesty, he finds it cute

You're giving him cuteness aggression

Has thousands of photos of you cuddling your plushie to sleep

Finds it the sweetest thing ever

Lee Know

You were spending so long with your leebit

But now it suddenly disappeared

You've already searched your entire house

And still couldn't find it

I wonder what happened...

Anyways !

Now you've got no other option than to spend all your time with the real thing

Read: Lee Minho

And if you find leebit drowned in socks at his apartment later on?

No idea how that happened

But he's gonna disappear again lmao

Changbin

He's so dramatic about this

Sighing so loudly

Giving "my partner has left me" speeches

Will sit down on the other end of the sofa

Just looking and pouting

But the funniest part is that he refuses to admit he's being dramatic

That's a very reasonable reaction after all

You're the one who's underreacting the fact you prefer a plushie over your very strong very smart and very right there boyfriend

Hyunjin

You're ignoring him for the sake of a plushie ?

Oh that's fine

He's just gonna kidnap the skzoo

Hold it hostage and only release it after you do what he's demanding

(to cuddle him

for an hour

in the very least)

After the negotiations are done, he'll give you back the mini him

For now

Han

Also gets dramatic

Like, very

But he embraces it

Fake cries, threatens quokka and does everything in his power

At this point he even forgets that his sworn enemy (skzoo) is taking the love of his life (you) away from him

He's just tryna see how dramatic he can get

It's a challenge that no one dared him to do, but he still wants to win

Felix

One of the grief stages is bargain

So he'll bargain

He'll bake you brownies!

He'll let you win on mario kart!!

He'll give you a signed I.N photocard!!!

Just please pay attention to him 😭

If it doesn't work out

Well

Let's see if you can stay paying attention at bokkari if Felix throws himself over you next

Seungmin

You can't answer because you're too busy with puppym?

That's fine

He can't answer you either

Dwaekki is calling him

He unironically would buy another skzoo and spend his time with it

Just to piss you off 😭

The message he's trying to send is crystal clear

Eventually, you give up on the skzoo

And only then he'd throw his away

I.N

???

Why'd you even do that?😭

He'd understand it if he was on tour

And you missed him or something

That'd be really cute actually

But he's right there??

Why'd you prefer a plushie over your actual boyfriend??

He's not even annoyed or jealous or whatever

He's straight up judging you

Side eyeing you every time you get the skzoo lmao

Masterlist | you'll probably like: you crying because of a character/show

Daily click

Reminder this is just fiction!! I'm not trying to portray real life and you shouldn't believe that this is how the members actually are. This is just for the vibe and the delulu!

Taglist (open!): @yuyubeans @sleepyleeji @jinnie-ret @sheraayasherrecs @rockstarkkami @urlocalmultigroupfan @aeinzzzketchup @queenofdumbfuckery @sarita-sunday @lezleeferguson-120 @chimmyn0chu @sspersonally @enhacolor @xx-all-purpose-nerd-xx

“You just made that up, didn’t you?” you deadpanned.

“Did not,” He pursed his lips defiantly. He covered the pot with a lid and leaned his hip on the counter to fully face you. “Do you want to eat or not?” He crossed his arms comfortably over his chest. “It’s boiling water, it will die instantly.”

“Can’t you freeze it or something?” Your eyes drifted to the animal once again, the constant faint movements of its antennas making you uncomfortably aware of its sentience.

He followed your gaze, slightly puzzled by how you couldn’t keep your eyes on him during the whole conversation. “I’m afraid freezing it would be a waste of time. It will only stun it and it will still feel everything.”

Your narrowed eyes snapped to him. “So you admit it does feel pain?”

He let out a deep breath before suddenly clapping his hands together. “Tell you what,” he deviated. “How about we put down our dinner really quickly and really humanely?” He asked in a sunny voice in an attempt to defuse the situation before unsheathing the largest kitchen knife you have from the wooden block.

“That thing??” You stared astounded at his “humane” solution.

“I know how this looks,” he remarked, gently grabbing the lobster and turning it to his direction. “But it's just going to be a peaceful stab, nothing crazy.”

He positioned the sharp point of the knife right at the top of its head, moving slightly as if he were looking for a sweet spot, but all you could think about was the body of the creature abruptly going limp on the cutting board.

“Like this,” he said, gripping the handle and using his other hand to hold the animal in place.

“Wait,” you interjected. “I can’t eat it,” you confessed nervously, your eyes watering from embarrassment.

His gaze turned to you, and he immediately dropped the knife. “Hey— hey, it’s okay. You don't have to,” He reassured, his hands cupping your face. This was definitely not how he planned your date night to go. “We can order takeout, whatever you want, yeah?”

“But what about the lobster?” You sniffled.

“...What about it?”

“Can we keep it?”

He sucked in air through his teeth hesitantly. “I don’t know if that’s possible…” he started, and your face dropped even more like it was possible in the first place.

“Alright,” he gave in mindlessly. He’s gonna have a hard time explaining this to his family in their next visit.

“Really?”

“Yeah, anything you want.”

You jumped excitedly to kiss his face, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Congratulations! You now have a pet lobster. No need to worry about its complicated and expensive maintenance, for your boyfriend’s pockets are more than deep enough to cover it.

“We better not hit anyone. Violence gets us nowhere."

"The best thing we can do is for you to quit that job and come work as my assistant."

"You wouldn’t do anything," Jisung placed his hands over yours and brought them to his mouth.

“It’s not my fault that I love you so much.”

“They’d fire me the very next day.”

“I’d hire you back.”

“That’s not how it works, Ji,” you laughed.

You were so engrossed in the conversation and laughing that you didn’t notice when your boyfriend stopped paying attention and started staring at your hands, which were in his.

"I don't think Chan and Minho would want to see you not learning the choreography just because you're with me."

"And your ring?" he blurted out. His face showed confusion, and his eyes darted from one finger to the next.

"Huh?" you asked, confused, your eyes wide. "My ring? What ring?"

"The one I gave you," he raised an eyebrow and his voice rose slightly.

"Oh!" Your face lit up. You moved away from Jisung just enough and searched through your lunchbox. “I was eating and got sauce on my hand. I had to take it off to wash it, and since they called an urgent meeting, I didn’t have a chance to finish everything, so I put it in here.”

As you spoke, you took out the ring, walked to the sink, and after washing your hands, slipped it onto your finger. “All set”

"You scared me," Jisung said. "I thought that was your way of breaking up with me."

"Why would I break up with you?" Jisung shrugged, his round eyes fixed on you and his cheeks slightly puffed out. "Honey, you're staying with me."

"I like that idea," Jisung smiled. "Don’t ever take the ring off again, okay?" He took your hand and kissed it. "It hurt to see you without it."

"Even if it gets dirty?"

"Even if it gets dirty. Don’t take it off.”

“Okay.” You planted a kiss on his lips.

“Good. That way people won’t think you’re single.”

“Maybe that’s why Jinhyunk came up to me at work today?” You recalled.

"That jerk did what?"

"NOTHING! Nothing happened, I ignored him as soon as he started talking. Trust me." You kissed him once more. "How about we watch Transit Love while we cuddle?"

"Sounds like a good idea." Jisung grabbed his coffee. "Tell that jerk that if he comes near you again, he’ll have me to deal with."

Felix🐥

Everyone was laughing; they were celebrating another successful comeback by Stray Kids. The boys, their families, and their partners. Felix hadn’t noticed at first—it was Jeongin who pointed out that your engagement ring was missing.

“Hey,” the maknae called out to Felix. “Is everything okay between you two?” He gestured with his head between you and him.

“Everything’s fine. Why?”

“It’s just that Y/N isn’t wearing her ring.”

From that moment on, Felix couldn’t take his eyes off your hand.

You were laughing with his mom and Changbin’s girlfriend; your lively expressions made the two women laugh and chime in with their own comments to keep the conversation going.

However, his eyes kept drifting to your hands.

Eventually, you went to the bar where they had snacks and drinks. No one was there, and the music from the new album played in the distance.

Felix followed you.

“Jagi, are you okay?” He planted a kiss on your forehead.

“Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry.” You turned around and kissed his chin. “Do you want something to eat? Or would you prefer a drink?"

"Either one, sweetheart." His Australian accent became more pronounced; every time Felix spoke, you couldn’t help but blush. "Shall we go shopping tomorrow?"

"What are we going to buy?" You furrowed your brow slightly

"Whatever you want," he said, his hand sliding down to your waist. "If you want, we can buy a new ring?"

"Honey, I don't need rings," you laughed. "I don't need any of that."

“Are you sure?”

“Of course,” you looked at him. “What’s wrong?” you asked, your hands on his arms, caressing him. “What’s the matter?”

“Do you like the engagement ring I picked out?”

“Honey, I love it” Your answer was immediate, but your reaction to his question was one of confusion. “Why do you think I don't?”

"You're not wearing it right now."

You looked at your left hand and laughed. "You're so sweet, you know that?"

Now Felix was confused.

"We won a free dinner from Minji, thanks to you."

"What do you mean, we won a dinner?"

"Minji said you wouldn't notice whether or not I was wearing the ring. I said you would notice. Whoever lost had to buy the other one dinner."

Felix started laughing. "And the ring?"

You looked under the collar of your shirt for a necklace; the ring was hanging there.

"I never actually stopped wearing it."

"I was scared, thinking you didn’t like it."

"I loved it, Lixie," you said, slipping the ring back onto your finger. "Come on, let’s tell Minji she owes us a dinner."

Seungmin🐶

"Thank you so much for seeing us. We know things are a little busy right now," Seungmin said with a small smile.

"You're welcome. We'd love to help you decorate for your special day," the woman smiled. "Could you tell us roughly what you have in mind?

"We want some light-colored bouquets; we don’t have a specific color in mind yet."

"Sure!" the woman smiled. "Come on, follow me." Meanwhile, you were enchanted by all the flowers; you grabbed Seungmin’s arm and let out a little squeal. You were excited.

"Very few grooms are this interested in the details; usually, they let the woman choose. Your fiancée is very lucky." They both smiled. "The good thing, sir, is that you also have the opinion of your friend here." Seungmin and you froze.

"Oh, no. She’s the bride.”

“Oh! I’m so sorry.” The older lady bowed. “I’m so sorry. I just didn’t see a ring on you; I thought you were just a friend.”

You looked at your bare hand.

"Well, before I came over, I was cleaning the house. I took off my ring so it wouldn't get damaged."

"I see. I'm sorry again... Let me help you."

_ _ _ _

“Come on, Seungmin, it’s not like I left the ring at home on purpose.”

“I get that. But the flower lady didn’t; she said I was your friend. That’s why you need to wear your ring.” Seungmin squeezed your thigh a little; his other hand was on the steering wheel. “That way, anyone could think the same thing, and the guys will want to make their move.”

“I won’t let anyone make a move on me, Min.”

"You’ll have to write ‘Kim Seungmin’ on your forehead," you laughed.

"We still have other places to go, honey. I don't think they'll take us seriously if they see your name on my forehead."

"Come on, I think I have a marker around here."

"Seungmin," You laughed, taking his hand. "How about you buy me one of those ring-shaped candies instead? That one looks way bigger."

"I still think my name is the better choice, but that works too."

"Stubborn"

"Next time, don't leave your ring at home." he takes your hand and kisses it. "If you do, I'll have to write 'Kim Seungmin' on your finger."

Jeongin🦊

"Jagi, are you ready?" You heard your boyfriend, Jeongin's, voice. He was waiting for you to go out on a date.

"Yena, have you seen my ring?" you asked, peeking your head out the bedroom door.

"What ring?"

"The one you gave me when we started dating?"

There was a moment of silence.

"Did you lose it?"

"NO!" you exclaimed. "I just don't know where it is."

"In other words, you lost it."

"NO, I DIDN'T!"

"When was the last time you were wearing it?"

"This morning!"

"Why did you take it off?"

"I took it off because I was going to... THE KITCHEN!" You left the room and went to the kitchen, Jeongin following you

"It was here... Then I came over here... I looked here"

"What are you doing?" You raised your index finger, silently asking him to wait a second

You opened the fridge and right in front of you was the ring. "AHA!" you laughed, putting it on.

"I found it," you showed your hand.

"Why did you have the ring in the fridge?"

"I was cooking and took it off, but then I felt like drinking some water. I had a lot of things in my hands and left the ring inside. Then I forgot to take it out."

"Jagi—"

"Come on, we'll be late for the movie," you said, planting a kiss on his lips. You turned around, grabbed your bag, and left the apartment.

"Next time, I'll get you a necklace."

🏷️Stray Kids Taglist - @belladonna58375 @karlee10261990

If you'd like to check my other SKZ works, click here☺️ If you'd like to check my works in general, click here☺️ Feedback is highly appreciated, please leave a comment, reblog or like If you'd like to be added to any of my taglists, you can send me an ask which taglist you'd like to be a part of or reply to this post

᥇ꪖꪀᧁ ᥴꫝꪖꪀ

Tuesday, 10:54 PM

heyaaa STAYY This is your mother speaking hehe I stole his phone WOW this bubble thing is fun eh? Where is Channie? 🫠🫠🫠 he's taking a shower SEND A PIC OF HIM????? :))))))))))))))))))))))) NOPE I don't think that's allowed hehe ooooopsie manager nim is calling his phone 🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢🫢 gotta go now I guess I WILL BE BACK

Friday, 7:40 AM

YOUR MOTHER IS HERE TO BLESS YOU WITH DERPY CHANNIE gnab? this is not gnab tho???? is it? ahahahahahaha he's gonna flip me out for posting this he kinda hated this pic when i took it but he looks soooooooooo cuteeeeee it would be illegal to gatekeep asahdaffufoegg CAN'T BELIEVE SHE SENT YOU THAT PIC HAHAHAHAHA I LOOK STOOPID i love her tho she's funny i guess LATERZ gotta kiss the wifey haha

Monday, 9:35 AM

STAYYYYY CHANNIE IS BANNED FROM EVER SENDING YOU SHIRTLESS PHOTOS I'm gatekeeping them from now on anyways, wanna see him at the gym??? we're here I'M A GIRL'S GIRL GUYS IMMA SEND VIDEOS WITH THE SOUND ON THIS TIME AROUND hehehehehe he's on the stairmaster cause i'm on it and he wants to be close he's clingy af but we love him 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 where are the videos? what videos? RAGEBAIT QUEEN? awe you're actually saying we're a good match haha are you calling the two of us liars???? hehehehe

Tuesday, 3:45 AM

guys guys look at Channie YES YOUR GIRLY IS BACK BUT WE'RE NOT HERE FOR THAT LOOK AT CHANNIE

Can you please watch over him while I do adult things? Thank youuuu!!!!!

ꪶꫀꫀ ᛕꪀꪮ᭙

Monday, 4:12 PM

what is this??????? EXACTLY, IT'S A BUBBLE TAKEOVER!!!!!!! heya this is lee know's loml speaking HAN JISUNG???? I'M NOT HAN JISUNG ASK ME ANYTHING did we actually go eat with the money from the street interview???? of course we had samgyeopsal nothing fancy!!!!! minho grills the best meat tho HOW'S HIS MEAT???????? what does that even mean?????? jeez you guys are A LOT owe he's back byeeeeeee it was nice talking to youuuuu

Sunday, 2:11 PM

so I found out about my girlfriend sending this picture from the internet I saw it online people were sending it on FANS and I had no idea where it came from please don't encourage this kind of behavior you want to see the cats? i'm pretty sure she has better pictures of them than me

Saturday, 8:07 PM

STAYYYYY I'm here at the concert I have freebies come find meeee!!!!! not telling you which section I am in tho oooooh I see someone in front of me reading these messages hahaha turn around the freebies are signed as well stop looking around, watch the showw!!!!!!

Monday, 4:18 PM

this is the guy you all stan btw

his brain works differently i swear he's handsome but troubled

ᦓꫀꪮ ᥴꫝꪖꪀᧁ᥇꠸ꪀ

Friday, 1:12 AM

don't be fooled, he looks like a pro but he SUCKS at pool there's money on the table as well who is this???? it's his girlfriend yaaaassss, he looks good hehe oi, I think he's mad he's pouty :((((((( i'll go cheer him up byeeeeeeeeee

Friday, 4:48PM

so we've seen that you've been wondering online about what music do I listen to, considering you would trust me with the aux and the big boy himself let me take over bubble again to send you song recs so i will send you three songs listen to them if you would like to honest - baby keem mayonaka no door - miki matsubara and drumroll ULTRA - Changbin thank you for coming to my ted talk 🫡

Thursday, 7:22 PM

he's a soft boy GREENEST FLAG ON EARTH INDEED can I tell you something girl to girl i think wearing glasses without lenses is an ick but because it's him I'm okay with it

Tuesday, 8:55 PM

guys does anyone want my boyfriend? i can't with him anymore he wrecks me so hard at the gym makes all my muscles hurt :(((((( i can barely walk up the stairs NOT LIKE THAT YOU FREAKS HE WORKS ME OUT REAL HARD STOP THAT OMG THE PR DEPARTMENT IS CALLING???????

ꫝ᭙ꪖꪀᧁ ꫝꪗꪊꪀ꠹꠸ꪀ

Wednesday, 4:02 PM

Hello Today is Hyunjinnie appreciation day Please give me a lot of compliments!!!! I sound different? Hehehe It's because it's not me This is y/n Hyunjinnie's muse But you should still give him lots of compliments today and all the days Show him a lot of love I heard he's going on FANS soon Shower him with your nicest thoughts I'll be back soon!!!

Thursday, 9:00 AM

This is y/n Because you've been so nice to my little dumpling I come bearing gifts Here A pic I took at one of the concerts I attended

Hehe you were sitting next to me? Did I look good? STAAAAAPH I don't deserve such compliments I'll come by later Byeeeee

Saturday, 3:56 PM

I feel like I have to tell you guys this I believe Kkami is the single creature on this planet not affected by Hyunjinnie's beauty He a savage He truly hates him Always frowning and growling at him This is actually really funny When we sleep over at his parents' house Kkami only sleeps on my side of the bed And looks at Hyune like he murdered his entire family Pic or it didn't happen? I'll try to send one later Now the babies are sleeping They must not be disturbed

Tuesday, 10:30 PM

New Hyunjinnie pic just dropped!!!!! Everyone say Thank you y/n Wow you're really doing it lol You are very welcome I will be here forever to feed you guys with the content you deserve YESSSS HYUNJINNIE LOOKS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING WITH CURLY HAIR WE BEEN KNEW but isn't he adorable? with that big smile? he sure is!!! Love my Hyune

ꫝꪖꪀ ꠹꠸ᦓꪊꪀᧁ

Monday, 11:59 AM

HELLO BABY QUOKKAS THIS IS YOUR MOTHER QUOKKA SPEAKING Han Jisung's biggest fan I got on here to tell you that Hammie gives the best cuddles and that he's the best rapper ever and the cutest little babygirl you'll ever meet Why the praise wave? Because he deserves it Today little quokka was a bit down he's overworked and overwhelmed so we must say a million good things about him

Wednesday, 10:30 PM

GUYSGUYSGUYS I MET A QUOKKA IRL LOOK

he's 3 apples tall does he look mad? i swear he's not he's just trying hard to convince me to get his radioactive drink it's green apple soda lol was this a topic of conversation online? well don't worry, I'm here to debunk all the confusion

Sunday, 3:21 AM

I'm looking for volunteers to meet in Seongnae-dong near JYPE headquarters in 15 minutes we break in i have Hammie's entry code and we upload all the hanpop on Spotify who's in??????? I HAN JISUNG WAS TOLD TO DISCLOSE THAT MY GIRLFRIEND IS JOKING HERE, SHE DOES NOT KNOW MY ENTRY CODE TO THE COMPANY BUILDING AND NO ONE IS BREAKING INTO THE OFFICE!!!!!! i do, in fact know the code BABE DON'T SAY THAT I'LL GET SCOLDED fine, jypapi, I don't know the code there also, I'm holding Hammie hostage until he's allowed to show off his tattoos!!!!! BABE YOU CAN'T SAY THAT EITHER you're no fun, Jisungie :((((((( NOOOO DON'T POUT I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE QUOKKA YOU'RE MUCH FUN I SWEAR (: (: (: I am, in fact, much fun

Friday, 9:05 PM

close the gyms AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THE JARMS ARE dkjqwphgqrogiuhepihg I'll be passing away as of right now 11:35 PM that was my girlfriend i think she's in love with me 🥰 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 she was at the concert she did survive, barely hehe yes, her chrashout is absolutely valid

ꪶꫀꫀ ᠻꫀꪶ꠸᥊

Wednesday, 2:32 AM

Heeeello STAY I'm finally reunited with Lixie and he's playing league who's this??? oh yeah, forgot to tell you It's Sunny! Lixie is very good at league He's playing with Seungmin They're very loud hehe I'll take a video But they will have to agree to send it Hope your day was lovely!!!! Sleep well hehe

Tuesday, 12:43 PM

i brought him chocolate from Australia how does he look so pretty even while eating? oh yeah, it's Sunny again!!! I should have censored the chest??? You are so right!!!! I guess I'll keep feeding you more Lixie chest content buh byeeeee

Thursday, 11:00 PM

I want to thank the girlie who gave me water at the concert today!!!!! You were sooo sweet I will try to find you on twitter so I can send you some stuff as a thank you!!!! Lixie said you could have some items from his partnerships he's grateful that you helped me too!!!!! STAY is so kind

Friday, 9:50 PM

I took this behind-the-scenes shot at one of his LV photoshoots thought STAY would like it a lot he's smiling so brightly it makes me happy to see him like this hope it makes you happy too!!!! you're his source of happiness, I hope you know that!!!!! and I hope he can be yours too

ᛕ꠸ꪑ ᦓꫀꪊꪀᧁꪑ꠸ꪀ

Monday, 7:35 AM

I like being Manhandled by my Changbin Hyung lol THAT WAS MY GIRLFRIEND SHE STOLE MY PHONE I DO NOT LIKE BEING MANHANDLED BY CHANGBIN HYUNG what do you mean "boy, I know what you are"???????

Wednesday, 1:27 PM

patience guys, he's about to form a thought xddddddd Yes, this is Chan naur, far out :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) that was a good Chan impression huh? It's actually y/n I'm testing his patience he's not the only one loving being manhandled in this relationship ONCE AGAIN I DON'T LIKE BEING MANHANDLED

Sunday, 10:02 PM

Guys I don't think listening to Seungmin's high note in Cover Me is enough anymore I need that shit inserted in my veins LOL BUBBLE ALLOWED ME TO SAY SHIT HELLO?????? Apparently, Seungmin installed a jailbreak on his phone in order to be able to curse on Bubble what a loser and he never cursed in text before he cheats even on bubble absolute cinema

Tuesday, 6:15 AM

I'm putting this Seungpic back on the timeline we don't talk about him in this pic enough I want this used as a wallpaper in my casket so I can rest peacefully yes, I'm just as down bad as you guys he ain't a puppy here, bro, he a dawg i'll bark for him, no joke mong mong MY GIRLFRIEND IS CLINICALLY INSANE what do you mean "down boy, you like it like that"?????????

ꪗꪖꪀᧁ ꠹ꫀꪮꪀᧁ꠸ꪀ

Sunday, 7:21 PM

Baguette hayyyy It's not bread hayyyy, because this is not Jeonginnie It's y/n!!!! I thought it would be funny to take over his bubble today he said he doesn't mind he's showeling down his sushi right now hehe it's all you can eat so he will be doing some damage he's the cutest I swear oooo mango maki, it's my time to shine i'll come again baguette byeeeeeee

Thursday, 5:23 PM

Baguette haaaaay Jeonginnie is a little shy So he asked me to send you a picture he looks very pretty, but his top is quite revealing please shower him in compliments, okay? he worked his body out really hard so you would like it i'll come again baguette byeeeeeee

Wednesday, 7:30 AM

Baguette haaaaay since you asked for it nicely today's outfit is black miniskirt a plaid flannel a black blazer and knee high boots the jewelry is the same, always the daisy pieces from Damiani okie, I gotta go baguette byeeeee

Saturday, 11:23 PM

baguette haaaaay dropping in to send you a silly Jeoinginnie he took me out on a date because it's our anniversary he is dorky, but such a gentleman give him lots of love hehe

Bang Chan ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Lee Know ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Changbin ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Hyunjin ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Han ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Felix ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Seungmin ⋆⭒˚.⋆

I.N. ⋆⭒˚.⋆

a/n: i made this for a silly fun time please don’t take it seriously but i do hope you enjoyed it <3

CHAN

"Hey love... I- I am so- so fucking sorry. I just– I should never have accused you of cheating on me, I– [voice breaks, lets out a sigh]. It's just– everyday I see how much you go through to be with me. The late night schedules, me going on tours, not being to go out in public like normal people– I'm never there for you. I feel you give and give and I don't offer anything back and it's just a matter of time before you realise that and just give up on me. I wouldn't blame you. But my own insecurities aren't a reason for me to doubt you and I'm so sorry for that. Just- just let me know your okay yeah? Just one text? I know i don't deserve it but please. I love you baby."

LEE KNOW

"Jagi? Uhm I made dinner even though it's way past dinner time. I just– I don't know why i did that. Maybe– ugh i don't know. I hate knowing you're out there upset and hurt and I hate knowing i'm reason. Even the cats are mad at me, they went and curled up in the corner of the closet, next to your clothes. They miss you even though it's only been a few hours. I– I miss you. I guess what I'm trying to say is, i'm sorry. I was a jealous prick and I just took it out on you and I– [you hear the sound of him sitting down] I never should have done that. Please jagi, come home? Yell at me, hit me whatever, just please come home? I'm so fucking sorry."

CHANGBIN

"Hey bunny. I know i'm probably the last person you want to hear from right now but I just wanted to say i'm sorry. I was so out of line and I just– I want you to know, I never meant any of it. Not one word. I don't think you would ever cheat on me and i'm so sorry for making it seem like that i didn't trust you. I trust you more than anyone bun, more than myself. What i said was so out of pocket and I regret every word. I hate thinking that I hurt you, i never want to do that. Please just text me once? I just– Let me apologise in person once? I'll give you all the space you need but i just, I need you to know that I love you so so much and I am nothing without you. Please don't let my stupid temper be the reason I lose you?"

HYUNJIN

My love, where are you? Please pick up my calls? I'm really worried, just send me a text knowing you're somewhere safe? I get if you don't want to be near me tonight, i'll go to the dorms and you can sleep here yeah? I just don't want you to be out in the cold all alone. We're going to work through this okay? I know i'm an idiot for even thinking about you cheating. You, the person who's always there for me and– (his voice breaks) I just- I'm sorry my darling. Please just come home, let me apologise properly? please?

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Still, his eyes were beautiful. Your hope flickered like a small stubborn flame in your chest that you wanted to guard against the blizzard. The marriage was simple. You showed up to the courthouse in a knee-length white dress, constantly adjusting at the pearls around your neck anxiously while he signed the papers. Once he was done, he’d simply slid it over to you, evidently avoiding your eyes. 

“Are you sure?” you’d asked meekly, as if speaking any louder than a whisper would shatter your heart. You weren’t sure if you were asking him or yourself. Not that it mattered, much.

He spared you a soft smile. Pity, maybe, with how his eyes remained empty, but you took it anyway. 

A starved man does not beg for more. The flame remained.

The only reason he married you was because MC had gotten married to another childhood friend of theirs. When he mentioned it, you thought nothing of it at first. But when the only photo he’d put up throughout your entire house was one of him and her as children, while your awkwardly situated courthouse picture sat beside it, you knew. He didn’t stop to stare at your photo, ever. Not any of the photos. Only hers.

The final blow to the puny flame remaining in your heart was when you’d finally initiated physical contact. To perform the marital duty, he’d hovered above you in just his pants while you stared up at him in your thin pajamas that did little to hide what was beneath it. There was no setting the mood. The air was cold, the room dull because only your half had any semblance of effort that had gone into decorating it. When he kissed you, it felt more like his lips were simply touching yours gently. Almost tapping it. 

It felt like nothing.

This was not romantic at all.

“Are you okay? Is this okay?” he asked, pulling back with a furrow in his brows—probably because you were lying lifelessly while holding your breath. You wondered how he could ask something so softly when his eyes remained so muted. Maybe not softly. Maybe just quiet.

“It’s okay.” You wanted to curl up and go to sleep, but he was the only semblance of warmth in the freezing room.

But when his hand slid up your shirt, resting atop of your stomach, you stopped breathing again. He stopped as well. Your gazes met silently, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. A dull, slow stop. And then suddenly, he was off you, clambering to pull his shirt back on as you sat up in confusion, eyes wide.

“I can’t,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.”

The flame went out.

Were you really so distasteful? So disgusting that he didn’t want to lay his hands on his own wife? Or was it that you were just too different from her? Should you be offended? Are you even offended? Relieved? Hurt? 

Does it even matter?

Once you were sure he’s gone, you cried yourself to sleep.

The next few years are a blur that you wish had somehow gone even faster. The days are a bore. He’s away for weeks—maybe even months—at a time. In those periods of time, the house feels like a maze not meant for only one person. At the same time, maybe it’s better he’s away.

Caleb Xia is not a mean person. On paper, he’s a decent husband. He cleans, cooks, and never complains if you ask him to do something. He smiles, nods, and goes on his way. Yet, it feels more like a vaguely close roommate than a husband. The two of you eat in silence, watch TV in silence, and even go to bed in different rooms. You suppose you can’t complain—it’s not like you put in much effort to get to know him well anyway.

The only thing he does that even comes close to romance is bringing you flowers. You’d told him once that you wished the house had space for a garden to plant them, and he’d brought you a bouquet later that week. Since then, he brings them every few weeks routinely. They appear in the vase beside the couch as if they’ve just magically appeared. 

They’re pretty, you think.

Resentment builds, slowly but surely, probably on both ends as in most marriages. This kind of life is killing you inside. This lonely, aimless life in a house that makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world, in a bed that feels too large. 

“I want to work,” you say one day, picking at your food blankly. “I have an interview tomorrow, so I won’t be here for most of the day from now on if I get it.”

A fork clatters from across the table. “What? Why?”

You don’t necessarily have to work given Caleb’s plentiful paycheck, but you want to anyway because you can’t stand being in that gigantic house all by yourself. But of course, how could you tell this to the man in front of you? The man you don’t even know the favorite color of?

“It’s a regular office job.”

“I didn’t ask what it was,” he blurts, eyes narrowing in concern. “I’m asking why? Do I not give you enough money? You know you have access to everything on the card, right?”

You shrug. “It’s not about the money…I just think I need something to do throughout the day.”

“What about picking up another hobby?”

“I’ve exhausted most of them.”

“Then traveling?”

“By myself?” you frown. “It’s not like you’re ever here.”

You’re not sure why the words slip through your teeth, but they do, and the disdain is apparent. He seems surprised at first, blinking, before his shoulder slump again and the corners of his lips twitch downward. For some reason, it makes you feel—good? Alive, more so. So you keep talking. “You’re always working. You even missed my friend’s wedding after I told her we’d be there.”

He shoots back immediately, brows tight. “That was a special case—it was an emergency.”

“That’s fine,” you chew slowly on your food. “But I don’t want to wait around all day for you to get back.”

“You shouldn’t work if you don’t have to. I make more than enough.”

“Again, not the point.”

His lips tighten, pursing. “What will your family think if they hear that I’m making you work after I told them that I’d take care of you?”

You snort. “Is this what you call ‘taking care of’?”

Immediately, you can tell that you’ve struck a nerve. And for some reason, it feels good again. Like you’re alive, again. Maybe you just like pissing him off. His expression shifts momentarily to something you can’t recognize before it settles disapprovingly and silence befalls the both of you. You like when he doesn’t have that stupid smile he always has. The fake, lifeless smile he’d given you when you first met. You’d rather he just be upset, just like this. He looks like he wants to say something, but then shuts his mouth, swallowing the lump in his throat. 

His phone rings, slicing the tension in the air like a knife. Caleb glances at the caller ID for a split second before he’s already on his feet, pacing to the sink to put his plates away in a hurry. “I’m sorry, I need to take this. Let me know how the interview goes..”

You stare at your plate, listening to his feet pad around in a hurry. “Is it MC?”

He whips his head around. “What?”

You stand from your seat to dump your food into the sink, ignoring the slight clench in your chest. He’s always been this way. Jumping at any opportunity to be useful to her, while he leaves everyone else in the dust. “Nevermind. Go.”

Once you hear the front door shut, you slump into the couch face first, hoping it swallows you whole before he comes back. This has to be some sort of humiliation ritual. Perhaps you committed a grave sin in your past life, because you’re not sure what you could’ve possibly done to warrant such a feeling. The sunset seeps through the window planes and hits half of your face, bathing you in a warmth that had been missing from the rest of the house. The heat makes you sleepy, and you soon find your eyelids drooping shut, gazing lazily at a photo of the two of you on the coffee table. You don’t remember when it was taken, but in it, you genuinely look like you’re almost enjoying yourself. You can’t tell with him, though. You can never really tell.

“Stupid Xia,” you mutter as you fall deep into slumber.

When you awake again, the sun has fully set. There’s a blanket draped over you and when you blink away the blots in your vision, you’re met face to face with a fresh vase of flowers on the coffee table. They smell nice.

Damn it. 

Sometimes, you wish he was just an asshole.

You learn about him through the photo albums he has stashed away in the attic. It’s not like you were looking for them. You’d only been cleaning when they managed to topple right into your hands, and since he always says whatever’s his is yours, you figure you might as well satisfy your curiosity. There’s less than you expected, unfortunately. Most photos are taken by him, but there’s a few in between where he’s the subject. Him at his birthday party, his graduation ceremony, him packing for college, and the day he left for the DAA. 

It’s odd. You forget he was a normal teenager at one point, and not a high ranking colonel.

The pictures are through his eyes. Before you can stop, you find yourself becoming engrossed in lacing the photos together into some semblance of a story in your head. You see his childhood home and the model planes he enjoys building. His outings with MC and his grandmother. His last minute halloween costumes. Him and his friends carrying out a prank on someone. His studies. His likes. His dislikes. 

Caleb Xia is a charming person. If you hadn’t met the way you did, you think you might’ve liked him a little more.

When you ask him a question regarding one of the photos at dinner, he nearly chokes on his food. You quirk a brow in response. “Was I not supposed to see them?”

“No, it’s fine if you look…” he mumbles, taking a sip of water to gather himself. You squint—are his ears pink? You didn’t know he was capable of doing something kinda adorable. “It’s just a little embarrassing.”

“Like the picture of your airplane swim trunks from when you were a kid–”

He coughs again, and you snicker.

You think he’s tolerable—just a bit.

Weeks pass. Life gets a little easier with your job and more to do—it might even be a bit fun. With your new friends at your workplace and a new sense of accomplishment, the less you stress about your loveless marriage and the more you appreciate what you have. Your interactions with Caleb become less forced. Not because you’ve somehow managed to miraculously understand how his brain functions, but because you put less weight on what you say. It’s hard to see someone as intimidating when you’ve seen a photo of them in a stupid halloween costume. He seems to notice the change too. 

[Caleb Xia]: I got us fried chicken for dinner. Don’t be too late so it doesn’t get cold :)

Your mouth waters. It’s nice, almost. Emphasis on the almost.

Outside, the evening chill hits your cheeks, sharp enough to wake you up and wrap your jacket tighter around yourself. The street is busy but not crowded, as the sun has just set. A couple laughs too loudly across the road. Somewhere, a bus exhales.

You start down your usual route.

At first, it’s nothing. Just footsteps. Not out of place. People exist. People walk. People go home.

But something’s off. Your gut insists on it, and it’s hard to ignore.

You slow slightly, just enough to be subtle. The footsteps slow too.

Your fingers tighten around your bag.

Coincidence, surely.

You don’t turn around, yet. Turning means you have to see something and acknowledge that it’s real. Instead, you adjust your pace again. Faster this time.

The footsteps quicken, dropping your heart to your stomach. 

Your eyes dart around you anxiously. It’s dark. Streetlamps are guiding your path home, and though the neighborhood is nice, it’s empty. Well, except for you and the footsteps that seemingly sound like they’re getting ever so closer every few seconds. You throat feels dry. 

Phone. You need to tell someone. Even if you’re wrong—even if it’s just a hunch.

[You]: Still there?

[Caleb Xia]: Yea. why?

[You]: I think there’s someone following me

Your message sends, and for a moment air doesn’t enter your lungs.

The typing bubble appears. Disappears. Appears again.

[Caleb Xia]: I’m coming.

You don’t know how he’s going to find you, but you don’t bother questioning it at the moment. You swallow, and your throat is dry enough that it hurts. The streetlamps cast long shadows across the pavement, and it’s hard to discern whether something is just a shadow or something else in the dark.

You don’t turn around.

Your legs carry you as fast as you can go without breaking into a sprint, and your grip tightens around your phone until your fingers ache. Hurry, you think. Hurry up, Caleb.

A car passes.

He’s closer now, whoever it is.

Your breath catches. Your shoulders tense, every instinct screaming at you to run, but your legs feel like they’ve forgotten how.

Suddenly, a car turns the corner too fast, tires kissing the curb before readjusting and you nearly jump out of your own skin. The tint on the car makes it too difficult to see inside, not that you’d be able to see much regardless due to the dark. It slows to a stop as it sees you, and you think if this isn’t who you’re expecting, it might actually be the end for you. 

The passenger door swings open.

“Get in.”

Relief floods your body when you hear his voice and you stumble to clamber in.

Relief?

This is Caleb Xia you’re talking about. Now that you think about it, you’re unsure why he was the first you contacted instead of the police. Your fingers had tapped on his profile faster than you could think. Was it just because he was at the top of your contacts? Was it because he was near? It must be, right? It had been instinctual. Your body had reacted—and it had somehow worked out. 

Regardless, you can’t possibly deny how relieved you feel right now.

You wonder if this is how MC always feels. It must be nice to know that someone so reliable is always at her beck and call, right? To come running at just a few words—maybe she wouldn’t have had to walk home in the first place. Maybe he would’ve driven her. You feel sick. This isn’t what you should be thinking about right now. Right now, you need to report it to the police and take a much needed nap. 

A part of you is envious of her.

“You should’ve called me earlier.”

The chicken doesn’t look as appetizing anymore even despite it sitting before you in all its crispy fried glory. The growling in your stomach from earlier is replaced by a slight pain, and it’s difficult to tell if you’ve only lost your appetite or if it’s a different kind of anxiousness. He watches you from across the table with a perplexed frown while you pick at the chicken aimlessly, nodding blankly.

“I’ll report it first thing in the morning,” Caleb sighs. “I should pick you up from work from now own. Or I’ll call you a taxi if I can’t.”

You nod again.

“Are you okay?”

Ah, he’s asking that again. You hate when he does.

You tilt your head. “I’m just sort of in shock, I think.”

“I know, but you should eat at least a bit. Here.” He holds a piece of chicken on a fork to your face and you scrunch your nose. He smirks. “Here comes the airplane?”

“I might vomit all over you.” A half lie.

He replies instantly. “Then I’ll clean it. Eat.”

For a reason that you just attribute to exhaustion, you don’t bother arguing. Instead, you pop it into your mouth, cheeks dusting pink at the intimacy of the act. He hums in approval and you try your best not to choke. Why was he feeding you—a grown woman? And why were you letting him? 

How bizarre. This whole day is bizarre.

At least you’re home—thanks to him.

“Thank you,” you mumble softly. “For getting there so fast.”

He looks almost offended, shaking his head. “Don’t thank me, it was a given. I’m just happy you thought to call me. I was worried you wouldn’t.”

Why did you call him? Well, you suppose he is your husband at the end of the day. One who has eyes for another, but your husband nonetheless. “Why wouldn’t I?”

He stops for a moment, as if in thought, and then smiles sheepishly. Not the annoying fake smile he puts on for show, but one that’s riddled with guilt. Shame. You want to know why. “Just assumed you wouldn’t.”

Strangely, the words make your chest tight.

Your eyes meet his usual striking violets, shoulders slumping as you look away once the eye contact feels too intense. “I’m glad I did.”

You barely catch the tips of his ears turning pink.

Caleb keeps his word for the months following the event. You never have reason to pass by that street again on foot, and although you continue to insist it’s not necessary, having him as your private driver of sorts does feel kind of nice. You think eventually, you’ve come to call him more than a stranger. He’s easier to talk to. Funnier than you thought, actually, when he’s not being annoying to tease you.

You’d never tell him that though, of course.

You blink warily, rubbing at your eyes with the back of your hand when a ray of sunlight escapes through the shades of your bedroom and hit your face. However, it’s not what awakes you. Rather, it’s the insistent buzzing of your phone on your bedside table, which you barely manage to snatch without falling off the edge of the bed. 

[Caleb (husband)]: morning sleepinghead, you awake?

[Caleb (husband)]: Come eat breakfast :> made apple juice too

[Caleb (husband)]: I better hear you shuffling around in your room in the next few minutes or i’ll have to come drag you out.. :)

Caleb Xia, you find, nags a lot.

“Sleep well?” he chuckles when you finally emerge, still half-awake despite being fully dressed. You scratch the back of your neck, yawning as you perch yourself on one of the chairs at the counter where he’s standing with an apron tied neatly behind him. If you were just a tad bit more awake, you’d have a field day making a snide comment about it.

“Mm.”

He laughs again, gently. Did he always sound so soft?

“You can always quit your job, y’know,” he shrugs, placing a plate of breakfast foods in front of you. It smells immaculate, as usual. “Offer’s always on the table.”

You shove a forkful of eggs into your mouth, squinting at him. “Why do you wanth me shoo be unemployed sho bad? My parentsh don’t care.”

“It’s not about your family…It just doesn’t seem necessary.”

“I like working. Just not waking up so early.”

“I only want you to avoid overextending yourself if you don’t have to,” he pops a tomato into his own mouth. “I make enough for you to get whatever you want, don’t I?”

“But I want my own money, too.”

“My money is your money. This is the least I can do.”

“Careful,” you snort. “You sound dangerously close to being romantic.”

He tilts his head. “Why wouldn’t I be romantic? I’m your husband.”

This time, you really choke on your food, coughing as he quickly hands you the apple juice. He’s been doing that lately—dropping lines like that out of nowhere, like they’re nothing. Somehow always when you’re least prepared for it, and always with a lopsided grin that tells you he’s either completely oblivious or knows exactly what he’s doing.

You’re willing to bet on the latter.

Caleb Xia, as you figure out in the time you spend with him in his car on the way to work, has terrible taste in films.

“That movie is awful. There’s no way that’s your favorite.”

He gasps dramatically and you don’t bother suppressing the urge to roll your eyes. “Hey, don’t judge before you try it.”

“I’d like it if I never had to try it, actually.”

The smile adorning your lips falls in an instant the car slows to a stop. You find yourself growing disappointed when you arrive at your workplace, because it means you’ll have to leave him. You want to scold yourself for thinking such preposterous thoughts. What are you? A teenager who’s hanging out with a boy for the first time?

You’re married, for god’s sake.

Then again, so what if his company isn’t so bad? What if you think he’s a bit more to you than tolerable? Isn’t that allowed? He’s your husband, after all. If it doesn’t feel so bad, maybe you could let yourself reprise and enjoy it while it lasts.

“Ah, right, I should tell you—I’ll be leaving this weekend for work.”

Ah, nevermind. Reality has a way of slapping you across the face when you least expect it.

“How long?”

“A few weeks at best,” he pauses, voice quieter. “Months, if I’m unlucky.”

You really despise the subtle aching in your chest.

You hate how easily it slips in. How, for a second, it makes the flame that’s gone out years ago flicker, as if these moments could mean more than they do. They don’t. You know they don’t. They aren’t yours to keep. None of it is.

The warmth, the ease, the way he looks at you like this—like you’re something he actually cares about—it’s all fake. Stolen. You’re just standing in the space where someone else is supposed to be.

You press your lips together, forcing the feeling down before it can spread any further. Get a grip.

His palm pats the top of your head, making your cheeks heat against your will. With a grin, he nods. But it’s stiff. The slight crinkle between his brows. Upset. Upset? “I’ll see you tonight.”

It’s like he knows what you’re thinking before you know yourself.

“Who said I want to?”

“You wound me.”

As soon as you enter the building, you feel your phone buzz in your pocket.

[Caleb (husband)]: I know you’re at work, but…

[Caleb (husband)]: Movie night tn ?? i can make us popcorn :D

[Caleb (husband)]: And yes we’re watching my fav so you can stop calling it bad :>

[Caleb (husband)]: Last hurrah before i leave

This is dangerous, you think. Really, really dangerous. 

You seriously hope you don’t fall for him, if it isn’t too late already.

A few hours later, the living room is dimly lit with soft lights, the low hum of something playing in the background as Caleb sets everything up. The bowl of popcorn ends up a little too full, a few pieces spilling onto the counter as he carries it over, muttering something under his breath as he munches on the ones that are about to spill over. You sink into the couch, watching him move around the room—adjusting the volume and flipping through options he’s already decided on. 

It’s strange, how easy it feels. How normal.

You don’t realize you’re staring until he glances over.

So you look away quickly, fixing your gaze on the screen. But a few seconds pass, and you can feel his attention still lingering.

You pretend not to notice.

What are you doing? What are either of you doing?

You don’t say anything, swallowing the question down into the pit in your stomach.

The movie stars a side character with a passionate devotion to his family, who reminds you of Caleb. Oddly enough, the resemblance is almost uncanny. You kind of want to root for him but also want him to lose terribly. You huff quietly. “He’s so intense.”

Caleb glances over, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “What? You wouldn’t want someone like that?”

You tilt your head, pretending to think. “I mean… he’s a bit much.”

A pause.

“…but it comes from a good place. I like him.”

He stills.

You pick at a piece of popcorn, rolling it between your fingers. “He reminds me of you a little.”

“Yeah?”

You shrug, still not quite looking at him. “Yeah.” A small breath escapes you before you can stop it. “MC is really lucky to have you.”

He goes quiet. When you glance over, he’s already looking at you.

“…Lucky,” he repeats, almost to himself.

You hesitate, then ruin it by saying more. "I mean, you're always there for her, you know? If she calls, you come running. Everyone wants someone like that."

It was supposed to come off lightheartedly, but it only digs the hole deeper.

Something in his expression shifts. His smile fades, his face losing its usual ease as it drops to something you’ve never seen on him before. It contorts in phases. Surprise, and then confusion, and finally into one you prefer the least.

Panic. Something is wrong.

You wish you’d just shut up. The long pause makes you wish you were just a fly on the wall right now.

“Is this why?” he blinks, and his eyes glisten with something you haven’t seen from him. Void of the usual emptiness but replaced with something fuller. Heavier. “Is this why you hate me so much? Because of MC?”

Huh?

“Fuck,” one hand pulls at the roots of his hair, his top teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he attempts to hide his face from you. “I’m a moron. I should’ve known.”

What? Despite your hands growing clammy, you feel cold. Like the blood is draining from your face.

“You must hate me so much.”

When did you ever hate him? You’ve loathed him, certainly, when he’d disappear for weeks on end leaving you all alone in this cold, lifeless house. You’ve wanted to punch your balled up fists into his chest, knowing that it wouldn’t phase him in the slightest simply to alleviate some of your own anger. You’ve wanted to run away a multitude of times. But hate? Have you ever hated Caleb? Can you hate Caleb?

“Caleb.”

“This is my fault. I should’ve been more aware. It’s so obvious now, I feel like an idiot.”

“Caleb.”

“I thought you just hated me because this isn’t a marriage you wanted,” his voice cracks, and he’s burying his face into his palms. “I thought staying away from you was what you wanted. Shit, I’m so stupid.”

“Caleb,” you say, more firmly this time, and he finally looks at you. There’s a watery film over his usually lifeless eyes, glistening against the light of the TV screen, and it makes the pit in your stomach grow deeper. You don’t like seeing him like this. You thought you would, but you don’t.

His voice is a mere whisper now. He looks like he wants to vomit out a million words at once, but there’s three specific ones that linger on his tongue. Is this what they call a woman's intuition? You’re not sure how, but in the moment, it feels like you’re in his head. For the first time in the 4 years you’ve been wed to Caleb Xia, you feel like you can understand him. 

A victory that doesn’t feel like one at all.

“Listen to me,” he grabs your hands in his, holding them in front of his chest. “I don’t love her—not as a woman. I haven’t in a long time. She and Zayne are like my family, and I’d be a terrible person not to be happy for them. I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear to you. I’m so sorry.”

Your heart doesn’t seem to be beating anymore.

The air is too thick. Like liquid entering your lungs.

Caleb opens his mouth and then shuts it again, his words stuck in the back of his throat. You’re not sure if you want to hear what he wants to say. The words hold too much value, too many years of hurt, and you don’t know how you’ll react. You don’t want to acknowledge any of this as real, because if it is, what was all of this for? What were the years you spent holed up in your room meant to achieve? Were you just being a fool? And in that case, would you even want to know?

No. You don’t.

So instead, you kiss him.

A wordless, messy kiss. Though he’s taken aback at first, he’s quick to slot his mouth against yours eagerly, hands flying to your waist to pull you closer as if a man starved. It’s desperate. Different from the kiss you shared with him at the courthouse, or for transactional purposes. His mouth feels hot against yours, and when his tongue swipes against your lip, you let him in. 

You climb onto his lap, straddling him as he presses you flush against him. The movie is long forgotten. His hair weeds through the crevices between your fingers and he deepens the kiss as if he’s trying to physically become one with you. His heart hammers against your own like a timer, warning you of what this could mean, but you don’t care.

“Put your arms around my neck,” he mumbles against you, and then you’re suddenly being lifted up to your room with his hands supporting your thighs around his waist. But even those few seconds aren’t worth staying apart for, because he’s kissing your neck, mouthing at spots that have you pursing your lips to avoid making any embarrassing sounds. He lets you down gently onto the middle of your bed and follows suit, pushing you onto your back.

You’re here again.

He’s looming over you, face flushed in a deep red this time. He’ll ask if you’re okay. If this is okay. And then he’ll take off his shirt and his hand will slide up yours. It’ll be better this time, because it’s not out of some twisted sense of duty. Desire pulses at your core, but you can’t help but shake off this curdling feeling in your chest, as if you want to hurl. You wait for what you expect, eyes never leaving his.

Instead, he breathes sharply. “I love you.”

The world stops. 

“You don’t have to say anything back that I don’t deserve. I just want you to know,” he whispers.

Can anyone love someone like you—much less, your husband? You start breathing again because you have to, staring up at him as if he’s gone insane. In fact, you think you’ve gone insane. Kissing him, lying beneath him, enjoying his presence, looking forward to his breakfasts, letting him drop you off at work, feeling disappointed that he’s leaving—you’ve most definitely died and come back as another person, because this is not you.

This is Caleb Xia. He is an unloving person. He cannot love. But what happens if he does? With tears stinging at his eyes, watching you with a mix of pure adoration and sorrow, he’s telling you he loves you. Love is a strong word, isn’t it? But he means it. He loves you. Caleb loves you. You want to call him a liar, but he’s not.

You want to cry into his chest and run away at the same time.

The flame flickers, and you panic. Not because you despise him, or because his confession is one you don’t want to accept, but because this flame is not one you welcome with open arms anymore. It’s too easy to hurt. Too easy to shrink, yet somehow impossible to destroy.

“I can’t,” you croak. “Not right now.”

Even Caleb can’t mask the hurt that deepens his frown, as if you’ve torn his heart straight from his chest. For a man with so much power, he’s never looked more powerless than he does now.

It feels too vulnerable. Open. As if you’re naked and he’s fully clothed, when it’s infact the exact opposite. You don’t want to open up to him again. You don’t want him to snuff out that small flame you have that never seems to go out no matter how much you douse it in water. Or maybe you do?

He forces a crooked smile, strained against his very will and nods before leaving the room. As the door slips shut, he doesn’t turn to look at you. “Sleep tight.”

You don’t get much sleep that night at all.

Morning comes anyway.

And then another.

And another.

His absence returns, but this time because you’re the one avoiding him. You leave earlier than usual, linger longer at work, find excuses in the smallest things—emails, errands, anything that keeps you just a little out of sync with him. When you do cross paths, it’s brief. Polite. A short good morning or a quick goodnight. It’s easier that way.

You tell yourself this is what you wanted—to put distance back where it belongs. Whatever that night was, whatever flame flickered between you, it will fade. It must fade.

He isn’t yours. Even if he says he is, there’s too much pain--too many years of resentment built up that you don’t know what to do with.

You catch yourself thinking about it at mundane times—standing in line, walking home, staring at your coworkers chatting amongst themselves. The apartment feels different already, like it’s preparing to be emptier. As cold as it was a few months ago, when he was still Caleb Xia, and not just Caleb.

You take the time away from him to reset. To think, but not too much. You find yourself flipping through his photo albums again, smiling when you flip to a particularly embarrassing one. You hear him shuffling outside your room, probably packing for his business trip. You’re aware of what he risks everytime he disappears for weeks at a time—not only his life, but the lives of his men—and you don’t know how he bears to leave home everytime he does. 

But he always comes back. He has to. 

You suppose it’s for the best for now. And when he returns, things will return to normal. The house won’t be as awkward as it is. The two of you will slip into your usual routine of a loveless marriage, and you’ll find other avenues in life to derive joy from. So will he.

The front door shuts faster than you anticipated. 

He’s gone.

This is fine.

This is what you wanted.

The house is empty again. You pace to the living room, and surprisingly, a fresh bouquet of flowers is propped inside their usual vase. You lift the vase into your hands, letting the scent of the flowers waft into your nose. They smell good. New. Sort of like the detergent he uses when doing the laundry.

You set the vase back down, nails pressing faint crescents into your skin.

His face when you last saw him keeps flickering in your mind. So much hurt. Raw with fear.

“I love you.”

You want to tell him he doesn’t. You want to remind yourself that this is your husband. Your heartless, cunning husband who kills people for a living—who doesn’t care about anyone but his family. 

But you’re his family, aren’t you?

You can still smell his cologne in the air.

You must’ve missed it from the glint of the sunlight in the glass coffee table—there’s a small shimmer of something sitting beside the vase. With a quirked brow, you pick it up. He usually never leaves trash lying around.

You nearly drop it.

His wedding band.

Your breath stutters, sharp and uneven, like your lungs have forgotten how to work. Your heart pounds as you realize that you're shaking, eyes wide as saucers as you stare at the object in your hands.

No.

He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t just leave it.

The ring sits in your palm like a brick that weighs your entire body down. This isn’t something you can pretend will reset when he comes back.

This means no more quiet dinners. No more stupid arguments over movies he insists are good. No more messages waiting for you when you’re at work. No more him, standing at the counter every morning with a pan in his hand. No more him.

And worst of all, no more chance to fix it. To tell him your side of the story.

Your body moves before your mind catches up.

You wrench the front door open, not bothering to lock it behind you as your feet hit the pavement with just your socks. The air burns your throat as you run, lungs screaming, heart still pounding like it’s trying to break through your ribcage.

He can’t leave.

The stinging beneath your feet go unregistered as you clutch the ring so tightly that it feels like it might dig into your flesh. 

Just forward, you hiss to yourself. Faster. You turn corner after corner, your body begging you to stop overexerting yourself, but you can’t bother to care. You don’t even register where you’re going, but you need to go somewhere. It feels like ages and seconds at the same time, as you beg nobody in particular for one more chance.

A chance for what, you're not sure.

Reconciliation? Love? Understanding?

Is any of that possible? And if not, why are you running like your very life depends on it?

The ring digs further into your skin, and you realize it doesn't matter as long as you find who it belongs to. Him. Caleb. The reason and bane of your existence, and apparently what has you running across the entire town in hopes of bringing him back.

Finally, you slam into something solid.

The impact knocks the breath out of you, your grip loosening as the ring nearly slips from your fingers. A hand catches your arms before you can stumble back too far, steadying you with a familiar scent that somehow lets you breathe again.

“Hey—watch it—oh.”

You freeze in place, breath hitching as you look up. Standing right in front of you, he appears slightly disheveled, one hand still gripping your arm while the other awkwardly balances a paper bag of groceries. Caleb blinks, his eyes immediately scanning over your frame before landing on your feet. “Why are you here? Are you okay? And where are your shoes, it’s dangerou—”

“Don’t go, Caleb,” you sniffle, tears already stinging at your eyes as your body finally has a chance to rest, though it doesn’t feel much better. “Please don’t go.”

He stares at you as if you've grown a third eye, nearly dropping his bag of groceries at your pleas. Even the tips of his ears turn red, flustered. "What are you--"

“Why did you leave the ring? Did you lie?” About loving me?

His expression falls, attention honing in on the ring gripped in your fist. Something seems to click in his head, and immediately, he shakes his head. “No, of course not, I was going to leave a note. I just went out to get groceries before I left—”

“So you were going to leave the ring?”

“Well, yes, but can we–”

“Do you not like me anymore?” you blurt, finger bunching at the fabric of his sleeve. “Is it because I ignored you for a week?”

He almost looks offended. “Of course I still like you.”

“Then why?”

His voice softens, as if speaking too loud will scare you away. Hesitantly, he sheepishly releases your arms. Instead, he slowly takes your hand in his, lips pursing as he sighs. His palm feels rough with calluses from the work he does, but light as feathers against your skin. His touch is gentle, as if you’re the most precious thing in the world. “I figured there was no reason for me to tie you to me anymore. I won’t force you to be with someone you can’t even stand to be around. Someone you hate. It’d be selfish.”

Your words tumble out before you can process them. “I don’t hate you.”

Finally, with your hand in his, the world feels okay again. This feeling tells you you’re screwed, but you don’t care.

“I’ve been mad at you, and I don’t know what to do with your feelings because they make no sense, but I don’t hate you,” you mutter. “You’re just too confusing.”

“...Confusing?”

“I just—I don’t know what to do, Caleb,” you wipe vigorously at your eyes with your free hand, head falling to avoid looking him at him. “I don’t know what to think about you. How to feel about you.”

His eyes ease, and you feel him squeeze your fingers. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No.”

“Do you love me?”

“I don’t know.”

Caleb has always been better at reading you than yourself. A flash of hurt ripples across his face, but his eyes maintain its soft glimmer—because he knows. Even if you say you don’t know, he knows. He also knows that you’re afraid of those words, and he doesn’t blame you for it.

So instead, he asks something else. “What am I to you?”

You want to call him a million things. The man who left you by yourself, the man who refused to touch you for so many years, the man who’d chosen to sleep in the guest bedroom just to avoid taking up space in yours. He’s felt awful, inconsiderate, and cold. But he’s also the man who’s gotten you flowers, the man who’d break four speeding laws to make you feel safe, the man who makes sure you’re never hungry, the man who folds your laundry neatly and organizes it color-coded in your closet. The man who you wish you could slap across the face and hold close to you at the same time. The man who’s made you feel alone yet so cared for all at once.

You like him, you think. In some strange way that’s never been covered in the romantic films you used to clutch onto like a life line, you like him. The ‘L’ word teeters on the tip of your tongue like a marble rolling around to decide what these emotions settling in your heart really are, but it doesn’t really matter. All you know is that you need him. You want him. You want him to hold your face and kiss you tenderly, like he did that night. You want him to do it again and again until you can’t breathe, and all you can feel is him. You want to eat dinner with him every night and wake up in the morning to his stupid apron. You want to go grocery shopping with him. You want to fall asleep watching a movie in his arms.

“What am I to you?”

Tears fall down your cheeks in fat globs and you try your hardest not to let your voice crack. “My husband.”

His eyes widen for a moment, and then his lips split into a wide grin that resembles the lovesick expression of a teenage boy who’s holding hands for the first time. Caleb drops his grocery bag to his feet and reaches either hands to the sides of your face, cradling you gingerly as he guides you closer. Before you’re even registering it, he brushes a strand of hair out of your forehead and presses a soft but firm kiss to your temple, where you can feel him smile against your skin.

“Who am I to say no my wife?”

Your marriage is a messy, complicated jumble of emotions. The confusion. The fear. The warmth. It’s not perfect. It never will be. And despite it all, you don’t want it any other way, because Caleb Xia is a loving person.