eva⁷~🍓🍫

Someone tried to ask for your number ~

~ (jw) ~ It was another coffeeshop date you and Jungwon sneaked out on. All was promising to go well, when a guy started to approach the two of you while you were in the queue. His confidence was almost admirable, but you knew exactly what would happen once he finally reached you.

“Hey, can I get your number?” He asked, with a grin, leaning on the counter right next to Jungwon. To your surprise, Jungwon didn't say anything yet. But his head turned at an agonisingly slow pace as his eyes looked the dude up and down. Jungwon confrimed something to himself, a grin spreading on his lips. Not a friendly one, but more devilish. For a second there you thought Jungwon will obliterate him with his death stare.

“No, you can’t.” His cold voice could've made a plant dry up, but the man in front of you clearly didn't catch the memo. You tried to mask your sudden laugh into a cough, earning a stare from both.

“Why not?” Jungwon sighed like he had to deal with the most obnoxious 3 year old.

“Not only you ignore,” He gestured towards himself with a rising annoyance. “Me, but you also look like you argue with baristas for an added price of whipped cream. So get lost while I am being generous.”

Then he turned back to you, continuing the conversation, as if the disturbance wasn’t even there to begin with.

~ (hs) ~ Heeseung took you to an outdoor basketball court where he usually spent time with his friends and you were a bit bored on the little bench next to the court, sipping your lemonade, when you spotted a tall man walking over to you in a fast stride.

“Hey, can I ask for your number? You were looking a bit bo-” He didn’t manage to finish his sentence when a ball flew to his shin, Heeseung materialising next to you immediately after.

“Right… Who do we have here.” He asked with a deceptively sweet smile, that the guy totally misread.

“Hey, dude, I was about to ask this beautiful lady for her number.” He shot you a wink, which made you laugh. Not because you were into the weird advances, but because you knew exactly what was coming from your boyfriend.

“Oh, yes, sure, dude. But first let me ask a few questions.” The guy didn’t even manage to react, when Heeseung started rapid-firing questions at him. “Do you have a stable income? Future plans? Respect for boundaries? A functioning brain?” The guy was getting increasingly more confused.

“What..?”

“Tsk, already failed the last one.” Heeseung gently tapped his shoulder, with a consoling smile. "Thanks for trying though. Practice makes perfect, yeah?” Grabbing the ball he threw earlier, he went back to his game, leaving the guy standing shellshocked.

~ (jy) ~ You were about to get in the car to go to a restaurant, when Jay realised he forgot something at home, so he went to grab it. In the meantime, you were waiting outside, mindlessly scrolling on your phone. Which was why you didn’t notice some guy stopping next to you.

“Hey beautiful, can I-” He almost finished his sentence when you heard your boyfriend’s voice.

“I suggest you refrain from finishing that sentence.” Jay finally came back out of the house, stepping next to you. His arm wrapped around your waist in a possessive manner. “Next time try asking someone who’s closer to your league. For your own sake.” Jay looked him over, disdain clear on his face, eyebrows rising in clear annoyance. He could come off really intimidating at times like these, but the pseudo-competition didn’t look like he was backing down either.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” The guy spit back with equal venom in his voice. This just eliceted an annoyed huff from your boyfriend, who was already late to an event and clearly not in a mood for such ecounters.

“No, you weren’t. But luckily she doesn't talk to people who introduce themselves like a cheap dating app ad anyway.” With a final tight-lipped smile he led you to the car, the man still staring daggers at your backs.

~ (jk) ~ The beach vacation was going well, you and Jake were lying under the sun umbrellas, the waves crashing on the shore, creating a deeply relaxing atmosphere. You were about to drift to sleep when you heard someone's voice from your left.

“Mind giving me your number?” Some random guy was standing next to your towel, a scowl on his lips. You were about to refuse when you heard Jake’s ringing laugh like he just heard the funniest joke. He was propped on his elbows, eyeing the guy up and down.

“Bro... you look like someone who sends 'Hi' ten times in a row when you don’t get a reply. I'm saving both of you from that embarrassment.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand and winked at the guy, then calmly went back to lying on his towel.

“Woah, It’s not like that.” He laughed, raising his hands in surrender. Granted he had some sense of humour.

“Oh? Prove it. Say something - anything - that doesn't sound like a copy-pasted DM from 2014.” This time Jake didn’t even open his eyes to grace him with his attention.

The guy stammered helplessly and eventually blanked. Jake sighed like a disappointed parent at his kid's report card.

“There goes another one. Baby, I fear you are stuck with me forever.” He now looked at you and smiled, making you giggle, as the guy left quietly.

~ (sh) ~ You were sitting on the benches overlooking the ice rink after skating for hours. You both were exhausted, warming your hands on the hot chocolate Sunghoon got you, when you heard steps getting closer.

“Can I get your number?” Sunghoon looked up slowly from his cup, like he was being disturbed from his peace.

“No.” Short and to the point like he always was. The guy however didn’t appreciate the intrusion to the conversation he thought he was gonna come out victorious.

“Why not?” He raised an eyebrow, eyeing Sunghoon up and down. Sunghoon tilted his head, with narrowed eyes, visibly intimidating the guy now.

“Because I said so. Do you need me to break it down for you? N. O.” The guy stepped back, raising his hands in defeat.

“Okay, okay, sorry I asked gee…” Quickly retreating back to where he came from.

Sunghoon went back to his drink like nothing happened, earning him a smack on the shoulder.

“Could’ve just let me speak, macho man.” You rolled your eyes at his happy giggle, going back to your drink.

~ (sn) ~ You and Sunoo finally found a moment of free time for a little park walk and you were quietly enjoying the weather, while Sunoo took pictures of the flowers for his social media, when a man approached you from your right.

“Can I have your number?” Starting strong - with the most unoriginal line ever heard - he looked at you expectantly. Sunoo gasped loudly like he'd just witnessed a crime.

“Oh my gosh. Are you... serious? Here? In broad daylight? In front of witnesses?” He even had his hand on his chest for more dramatic effect, making you laugh.

The people walking in the park look over; some confused and some intrigued. The guy gradually turned red at the turn of the events.

“What- I'm just asking!” He said, voice coming out louder than he anticipated, which deepened the red on his cheeks.

Sunoo fanned himself dramatically, now closer to you, the other hand on your waist.

“Sir, she has standards. You look like the rat we saw at the subway last week. Please step aside.” With a dismissive gesture, Sunoo guided you away from him to walk on the opposite side of the park, some of the witnessing people giggling to themselves at the embarrassed expression of the man.

~ (rk) ~ You were at the dance studio lobby, waiting for Riki to finish his practice and join you for a restaurant date, but while you were scrolling on your phone someone came up to you.

“Hey, can I get your number?” You were about to answer, when the door to the changing rooms swung open, your boyfriend not even looking at the man next to you while he passed by. He plopped right next to you on the couch with an air of nonchalance that almost made you laugh. He was clearly bothered seeing this random man talking to you.

“Whatever it is that you asked, the answer is no.” You laughed at the clear displeasure in Riki’s voice, not being used to his jealousy.

“Why not? I'm not even ugly.” The guy replied with a cocky grin sprawled on his face. You almost got up to leave, dragging your boyfriend up with you, but Riki finally looked at the guy with the most unimpressed expression you’ve seen on his face.

“Sure, maybe you're not ugly. But you’re also irrelevant.” He put on his blackout sunglasses and grabbed your hand, intertwining your fingers. Riki pulled you up and off the couch, getting ready to exit the studio.

“What does that even mean?” To the man's question Riki just shrugged.

“Open the dictionary and find out.” The last replique left his mouth open, looking at your backs.

What started as a prison, but ended a fairytale

ceo!heeseung x fem!reader • wc: 1.7k • arranged marriage

Things like this never happened in real life. Or at least that was what you thought before the phone call you received from your father.

It was an ordinary Tuesday, you just got out of your classes, heading home, when your phone buzzed. Without looking on the screen you picked up the call and heard your father’s voice – quiet and slightly shaky.

You were to meet your future husband that same evening and needed to be in top shape.

At first, you thought it was a joke. A laugh broke out, albeit a nervous one, but it was left unreciprocated. The reality dawned when your father hung up on you without any goodbyes. Without his usual warmth for his one and only daughter.

The rest of the day passed in a daze. Memories of fanfiction you read with this same storyline until the sun rose floating in your mind, still convinced this was a big prank your family agreed on.

And yet, when the time came, you dressed up, put on make-up and got into the Uber on the way to sign away your life to a man you’ve never even seen in person. Nervous energy was buzzing in your veins, almost overwhelming your senses, and when you eventually got to the house you were met with a polite but a short nod from your husband-to-be. He sat at the table of your family home in his rich black coat still on his shoulders like he only came in for five minutes.

The dinner was tense. Just like you expected. Both your parents tried to break the ice, but it was hardly possible, when all Heeseung did was answer in short sentences, avoiding eye contact with you any way possible.

Heeseung married you for convenience and that was set from that moment on.

He needed to find a wife in order to inherit his father's company. You, on the other hand, didn't really have a choice. You signed away your freedom to save a business you didn’t have anything to do with. But this was family. You were the sacrifice to save something bigger. Your parents told you it was for the best. Stability, security and a good future. After all, you were being married off to a handsome young man. You were basically lucky.

The wedding was grand. Too grand.

Flowers everywhere. Cameras flashing. Guests whispering about how perfect you looked together, when this was the first time they landed their eyes on you. Heeseung stood beside you, calm and composed, his hand steady on your waist. Acting when necessary, faking the perfect smile and the loving stares, as if he practiced in the mirror. The cameras caught those moments so perfectly in anticipation of that hit headline. Rounding it all up with his heartfelt vows that felt like glass shards lodged in your heart and one of your own that felt like a monologue from a cheesy movie scene.

Anyone looking at you would think it was a love story with a second beginning, when in reality it was an Oscar-worthy performance that went on for half a day.

That performance then whittled down to a routine.

You were two strangers living under the same roof.

The first weeks were awkward. Polite. Distant. You slept in separate rooms, spoke only when necessary, apologised when bumping into each other at the doors and treated each other like roommates. There were no arguments, no cold words – just comfortable silence.

Yet even in that silence, Heeseung was kind.

You noticed these things slowly, but they seemed to always be there. Over the weeks of living together you fell into a routine. He remembered how you took your coffee, left meals for you when he knew you'd be home late and made sure you always felt safe. He never stepped into your comfort zone. Never made you feel like you had obligations. When you forgot your coat, it would be waiting for you by the door. When you had a bad day, he didn't pry – he simply sat nearby, offering quiet company. Sometimes, he'd text you about the weather, so you grab an umbrella or ask an occasional “do you have a cold?” when he heard a cough.

Small things. Gentle things.

And that was when you realised it was a dangerous game.

You started noticing him in ways you shouldn't have. How he loosened his tie when he got home. How his voice softened when he said your name. How he always knew how to cheer you up without you saying you were upset. How he always made sure to walk on the side closer to the road when you went out together, even if it was just for show.

You told yourself it was nothing, but one night, as you lay awake staring at the ceiling, the truth hit you hard.

You were falling for your husband. And that terrified you.

This wasn't supposed to happen. This marriage wasn't built on love. It was not part of the contract. Your heart wasn’t meant to be taken by someone you married out of obligation. You were supposed to live your life, make your own mistakes, fall in love on your own terms – not slowly unravel beside someone who never wanted to be yours to begin with.

So you did something reckless.

One night, you finally reached out to your college friends in the group chat about a club outing. One club evening won’t hurt anyone… Right?

You dressed up, slipped out quietly and went to a party to meet your friends. Music was loud, lights blinding, people laughing like nothing in the world could hurt them.

And yet your thoughts were occupied by something else. Someone else. All you could think about was Heeseung.

Whether he'd eaten, because he sometimes forgets when he gets home late. Whether he was humming to songs while making tea. Whether he noticed you were gone. Whether he cared.

The guilt creeped up unnoticed and settled heavy in your chest.

When you finally got home, unsteady from alcohol and emotions you didn't know how to control, the lights were still on. You blinked a couple times, taken aback, while trying to kick off the heels.

Heeseung was in the living room and immediately stood up the moment he saw you, worry set deep in his features.

“Where were you?” You avoided his eyes, slipping off your shoes.

“Out.” The clipped answer made him frown.

“Out where? With who?” He asked gently, but the unfamiliar tone in his voice surprised you.

“Does it matter? I’m an adult.” You muttered, the alcohol loosening your tongue, your heart aching too much to stay quiet anymore. An exasperated sigh escaped your lips. “This... whatever this is… It's wrong.” he flinched, visibly uncomfortable now.

“What are you saying?” You laughed softly, the bitterness of the alcohol suddenly strong on your tongue.

“Dad will hate me…” You blurted out, swaying slightly and looking at the floor in front of Heeseung’s feet. “Let's end this.” The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp, like a guillotine. Heeseung finally stepped closer, steading you with his hands on your shoulders.

“You don't mean that.” His voice was low, almost pleading.

“I do.” Looking up, finally looking into his eyes. Hoping this would convince him. “I'm falling for you, and I shouldn't be. This isn't how my life was supposed to be.”

You tried to shrug off his hands and back away. Leave. Set as much distance between you and the bleeding heart he stole as you could, but your plans were ruined. He held you in stronger, firm but careful, like he was afraid you'd shatter if he let go. And you were not entirely sure you wouldn’t.

“You can't leave me,” He said quietly. “I'm your husband after all.” The man in front of you now was such a different person to the one you saw in your parent’s house that you almost wanted to laugh. The heaviness of the confession and the alcohol sloshing in your stomach were the only things stopping the laugh from bubbling up in your throat.

“If this is about the papers, I’ll handle them. I just… Please just sign them. I can’t torture myself any longer.” Your breath hitched, words getting caught in your throat.

Then his tone softened, all the walls he'd kept up finally cracking.

“And have you asked what I want?” Your head snapped up, eyes blurry, but still catching his gaze.

“I tried to keep my distance because that’s what I thought you’d want,” he continued. “But somewhere along the way, you became more than just an arrangement to me. I wait for you. I worry about you. I remember your favourite snacks and buy those on purpose, hoping you won’t notice that they never seem to end. I know you scrunch your nose when you watch a sad moment in a movie, to stop your tears. I want to bring you your favourite lilies, but every time I pass by the flower shop I leave without them. I think about you when you’re not here and I want to be able to say that out loud.” Your knees felt weak at the absurdity of the situation. All this time you didn’t even notice the snacks or the small gestures he did, brushing it off as kindness. He just wanted you to feel as comfortable as you could be. Or at least that was what you kept telling yourself. Yet to him it was hidden feelings that finally were ready to be shown. Unbeknownst to him you fell for him through those gestures and unbeknownst to you he slipped his way to your heart with his persistence.

“I love you,” Heeseung admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “Not because I have to, but because I grew to know you.” The fight drained out of you all at once, alcohol knocking the last remainders of your willpower.

Your head fell against his chest, exhaustion finally catching up. His arms wrapped around you instinctively, holding you like he’d been waiting to do so for a long time. Heeseung gently lifted you, taking to the couch and lowering on his lap as carefully as he could.

“You don’t have to run anymore,” he murmured, brushing your hair back, your eyes barely open now, lulled to the comfort of sleep by the pleasant woody smell of Heeseung’s perfume. “I’ll take care of you. If you’ll let me.”

You tried to answer – but sleep claimed you first, the alcohol and the weight of everything pulling you under.

Heeseung stayed there, holding you as you drifted off, a soft smile on his face.

For the first time since the wedding, the house didn’t feel empty.

It felt like home.

They came home drunk

~ (hs) ~ Your boyfriend had a night out with his friends after a long while, which was much more rare than you'd expect. Even though they worked together, they rarely managed to go to a pub and have a good reset day, so you opted to not text him and entertain yourself until Heeseung was back.

However, hours were flying by and you were reading on the couch, slightly sleepy now. When you threw a glance at the clock, you saw the 3AM looking back at you and finally decided to look at your phone. There weren’t any messages, which kind of worried you now, as Heeseung always checked in at least once at some point or mentioned when he would be back. This time however there was radio silence and the time he mentioned was long gone.

You quickly swatted away the panic and went to the kitchen to get the kettle going when you heard some fumbling at the door. After a couple seconds of struggle on the other side, you decided to open the door and spare Heeseung, because he clearly couldn’t get the key in the keyhole.

When the door opened he swayed forward, right into your embrace.

“Oh you smell so nice.” He dragged the last vowel in a drunken manner, inhaling the scent of the shower gel sill lingering on your skin. “Did you shower? Is that the gel I got you?” He got another dramatic whiff, making you giggle. “I do have a great taste. Both in fragrance and women.” He finally looked up, placing a kiss on your lips and missing by an inch. This disarmed you completely and you laughed, trying to support Heeseung’s weight.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go to bed now cuz you’re going to be regretting the alcohol you drank today when you wake up tomorrow.” Heeseung grumbled something, but quietly walked after you to your bedroom.

~ (jy) ~ Jay was off to some get together with his friends, so you were chilling at home, scrolling on your phone and enjoying the quiet around. An hour ago your boyfriend texted you some updates of the ramyeon they got at the restaurant and the sake they were drinking. You put a thumbs-up reaction on the picture along with a comment about how bougie it looked. He sent back a laughing emoji, so you were sure he was fine.

Time was flying by and you were getting bored, so you decided to jump in the shower and wash up to kill some more time.

You came out of the shower in your robe, trying to dry your hair, when the door flew open dramatically, making you jump.

Jay’s face immediately lit up with the widest smile you have ever seen, the red ears and cheeks giving away his tipsy state.

“I thought you’re gonna stay until later?” You asked, now more calm, but still worried he got home in this state by himself. He quickly stopped smiling looking at you suspiciously.

“Why? Are you hiding someone in there?” He pointed at the bathroom making you laugh. Drunk Jay wasn’t a common sight, so this reaction was unexpected.

“No, I just wanted you to have fun with your friends for a bit longer.” He smiled again, walking towards you and immediately relaxing into your hug.

“I couldn’t have fun without you there, so I decided to leave and come have fun here.” Jay’s words started slurring slightly at the end, while his hand was tugging at the belt of your robe. You intercepted it, laughing.

“Sure, but first you need to get your beauty sleep.” You kissed him on his cheek, leading to your bedroom as quickly as you could, before he protested.

~ (jk) ~ It was your vacation day, same with your boyfriend’s, but he had a birthday event to go to, so you were home alone. Jake offered you to be his plus one, but you opted to stay home in the quiet of your own company. To make the time pass you decided to do some cleaning and chores you were procrastinating recently.

You had some loud music on while cleaning, dusting the shelves with the books and having a good time flipping through some of them in the meantime. Because the music was so loud you didn’t notice the door opening and closing, so when someone tapped on your shoulder you immediately jumped, knocking the pile of books next to you.

“Ooops.” Was all Jake got out, with a sheepish smile, slightly swaying on his feet. You sighed and got up, happy you weren’t about to get robbed, but still with a frown on your face. He sensed you were angry and put his arms up in surrender. “In my defence I was actually trying to get the lock for a couple minutes and was being loud. You just were…” He paused, looking at the ceiling clearly trying to remember the right word. “Louder.” Jake snapped his fingers at the right word and giggled like a little girl.

You couldn’t hold it in anymore, so you laughed at the idiot of a boyfriend you got and swatted on his shoulder, resulting in him immediately falling onto you with a hug.

“I believe you, but we need to get you to bed now or you will regret drinking this much tomorrow.” He giggled again, smooching your neck and walking after you with no complaint.

~ (sh) ~ It was a hectic day at work, so you were already quite tired when you came home, just to be greeted with a sticky note on the kitchen island informing that your boyfriend will be out late tonight. This wasn’t anything unusual as Sunghoon had a quite busy schedule almost always, but the fact that he didn’t even message was the unusual part. It didn’t bother you for long however, as you went on to get yourself a late night dinner.

While you were plating everything, you heard a weak knock on the door. Trying to listen in, you decided it wasn’t your door, but the knock soon repeated. The plate was abandoned and you walked to the door, turning on the camera to see who it was. Your boyfriend was leaning on the door with his face, waiting for it to magically open. You giggled to yourself realising he’s probably drunk. Immediately as you opened it, he slumped on your shoulder, his strong arms wrapping around you in an iron clasp.

“Hello to you too.” You said, slowly retreating to the house and shutting the door. “Sunghoon… Let’s get you to bed, come on.” You tried to lift off his weight but he didn’t budge, just shaking his head on your shoulder, slightly scratching with his stubble.

“No, not now I missed you. Let’s cuddle.” You laughed at his drunken antics, but still quietly moved towards the bedroom. He noticed the movement and smirked. “I like your idea. Cuddling. Without clothes. Mhm.” He mumbled again, now dozing off completely. You couldn’t help but find him adorable even when drunk.

~ (sn) ~ You were at your parents’ place the last couple days, but decided to surprise your boyfriend by coming over earlier than planned. You were now sitting in your shared apartment’s living room, watching a random movie on Netflix and eating the snacks he had stashed in the pantry. You didn’t want to text him and ruin the surprise, so you were quietly waiting, but as the time passed you were getting more antsy. It was already past midnight with no news from Sunoo, including messages.

While you were getting some water, the front door opened, so you went over to greet your boyfriend, only to find his drunken flushed face. Sunoo was quite a strong drinker, so it was a rare sight to see him like this. He smiled a Cheshire cat smile, his whisker dimples automatically making you smile too.

“I missed you so much.” He kind of mumbled it, slurring all words together and drooping his arms on your waist. “I won’t let you leave to your parents ever again. I was so bored, I even agreed to go drinking. But it’s not fun without you.” Sunoo was going on a full word waterfall tangent about anything and everything, which was both cute and funny.

“Sure, honey, but let’s go to bed first.” You finally gave up putting him upright and started dragging him towards the bedroom.

“Mhm, I miss cuddling you, you’re so comfortable. I love it.” He was a giggly mess now, but walking by himself, dragging you instead, so you went without complaining.

~ (jw) ~ You were on your phone, scrolling through tiktok, slightly bored, since your boyfriend was out with his friends. You were peacefully enjoying your alone time when you started getting notifications from Jungwon sending single letter messages and then attempting to send words and sentences, but they were all drunk typo words so you started laughing to yourself trying to decipher them.

It was all in the spirit of ‘I love you’s and ‘I miss you’s with a bunch of adjectives and you were reading the last text when he finally called. You picked up being greeted with a bunch of static sound like a jacket was rubbing against the phone microphone.

“Babyyyy, open the door please, the keyhole is running away from me.” You laughed at his drunken voice and went to open the door and let your prince in.

The second the door opened, he was standing straight, ears and cheeks flushed, smile as big as ever.

“I missed you so much.” He hugged you, lifting up. “One of my friends saw your picture on my phone and said you’re pretty so I decided it’s time I leave and come to my pretty lady.” Jungwon giggled again, trying to kiss your lips, but landing on your cheek. A giggle escaped you.

“Don’t tell me you got jealous. I wasn’t even there.” He scrunched his nose, shaking his head.

“You’re too pretty, but I am the only one who should know that.” You kissed him back, finding his jealousy adorable.

“You are the only one.” He giggled and hugged you again. “Now to the bed we go.”

~ (rk) ~ You were bored at your place as your boyfriend was out with his friends. You were killing time, cleaning the place and doing random chores here and there and finally decided to throw out the trash. You threw on your jacket, grabbed the filled up bag, along with the keys and went out.

Right after you were about to go down the stairs you ran into someone, making them sway back and grab the railing.

“Riki!” When you looked up you saw your boyfriend's familiar boxy smile and reddened face, both from the cold and from the alcohol that you smelled on him. “Be careful jeez.” He giggled in his low, almost purring voice, grabbing the trashbag off your hand.

“Let’s go throw this together. It’s a date.” You burst out laughing to which he pouted. “What? You don’t want to go on a date?” It was so funny seeing him like this for the first time that you didn’t know how to react.

“No, no… We can throw this together, but then we are going straight to bed.” He enthusiastically nodded and giggled again, trying to balance himself on the stairs.

“I missed you so much, you should’ve come with me.” Riki grabbed your hand leading you down the stairs. When you got closer he left a peck on your lips and smiled, now leading you out of the building to the trashcans, while bubbling on and on about unintelligible things, making you giggle at this new side of him you never expected.

A reminder to never let the shadows consume your thoughts

idolbf!riki x fem!reader • wc: 1.4k • slight angst

The car ride today made you slightly dizzy and overwhelmed. Not because of the usual motion sickness, but something else had been weighing you down. The city always looked different from the inside of a car with the night-blurred lights, passing shadows, a hum that settles into your bones. But today it had a different effect. Riki's hand was warm in yours, thumb drawing slow circles against your skin like he always did when he was tired but pretending he wasn't. He hated driving yet he always insisted on driving you, even though you always offer to catch a taxi. The radio is low, bass-heavy, the kind of song that sounds like secrets whispered in the wind. You watched the reflections on the window instead of his face, because looking at him too long still felt unreal, even after all these years.

To the world, Nishimura Riki was untouchable. An idol with undeniable charm, dance prodigy and performance genius. On stage, under the bright lights, he was adored by millions who chanted his name like a prayer. To you, he was the boy who always checked the weather before you left the house, who texted you reminders to eat, who pressed his forehead to yours when words got too heavy. Gentle. Soft. Always worried about you even when he himself was breaking down.

And that's exactly why it hurt.

You've loved him quietly, fiercely, for years. Because how could you not? While to the world he was a strong and unshakable character, to you he was the most attentive boyfriend that remembered every small thing about you, always brought the snacks you loved and fought his manager to get a day off to come and take care of you when you caught a cold.

But, alas, love couldn't stop the doubt from crawling into your chest when the flash of the cameras was forever blinding. A ping in your chest when you came across a video of a talented woman dancing to one of his songs. A random comment about how he deserves the most beautiful and talented woman. And he does. He deserves the best. Sometimes, lying awake beside him while he sleeps, you wondered if you’re that “best” he deserves. Or if you could ever reach there. Hours pass, wondering how someone so luminous could choose someone so ordinary. You didn't sing on stages or trend on social media. You’re the last person who can call herself anyone exceptional. You’re just… you. You didn't belong to a world that devours and worships at the same time. The world where Riki thrives.

Tonight, the weight finally crushed your chest at the worst moment.

“I think you deserve someone better.” The sentence broke loose from your lips before you could stop. Riki's thumb stilled.

“What?” He turned to you, brows knit together, confusion and concern swimming in his eyes. He pulled the car over without hesitation, hazard lights blinking like a warning. “Where did that come from?”

A hard swallow hurt your throat. The words felt scratchy, like a cactus stuck in your throat, but once they're out, they won't stop. The dam broke and stopping it was meaningless.

“You’re so extraordinary… And I’m just… me. Everyone loves you. Everyone wants you. And I…” You laughed weakly, suddenly sounding childish even to yourself. “I feel like I'm standing in the way of something bigger. Of someone who could actually match you.”

Silence stretched between you, thick and uncomfortable. The cars whooshed by providing a distracting noise. You braced yourself for anger, or worse – agreement. Instead, Riki exhaled slowly, leaning back in his seat, fingers drumming on the wheel.

“Is that what you really think?” The slow words seeped out of his lips, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. You nodded, eyes burning with tears.

“Sometimes I feel like I'm hiding in the shadows while you're up on a stage. Like I don't belong in your light.” The truth hurt your chest, but letting it out felt like a taste of freedom you long forgot. He turned fully toward you then, the muscle in his jaw ticking, eyes darker than you’re used to.

“You know what the shadows are for?” The question came out so quiet, you could almost miss it. “They're there to hide when the lights get too bright.” You looked at him, startled. “I spend my life performing,” he continued, voice almost breaking. “Smiling, being perfect, being what people want me to be and answering rehearsed interview questions. And yet every second of this performance all I want is to come back to you, because that is the only place that I don't have to be any of that. You won’t be disappointed in the real me, no matter what you see. Even if it is the holes in my socks after I take my shoes off.” You laughed at the memory of the first time you invited him over and he actually did have a hole in his sock. He smiled, not a happy smile as much as a content one. A confident smile. “You're not hiding in my shadow. You're the only reason I don’t get lost in the brightness of the lights.”

Tears spilled before you could stop them. Hearing these words made you realise just how different your perspective was on the importance of this relationship. You were spiraling in anxiety, thinking you were dragging him down all the while you were his safety buoy. The only reason he hasn’t drowned.

“But what about the fans? The people who think they know you? What if they hate me?” Riki's jaw tightened at the reminder, oncoming car’s headlights illuminating his serious expression.

“Let them think whatever they want. They will never know me anyway, but I'm tired of hiding you like something shameful.” He reached for your face, wiping your tears with careful thumbs. “I love you. And I don't want to pretend anymore.”

You don't realize what he means until days later.

The announcement dropped like thunder.

A simple handwritten post. A confirmation. No secrets, no denial. Just the truth: Ni-ki is dating someone he loves. 

You sst on the couch, heart pounding, phone shaking in your hands as you heard the shower start running in the bathroom. Riki just came home from a meeting at work. It all clicked in place in a matter of seconds and now you were looking at the reactions. You didn’t want to at first, but your eyes betrayed you. You expected cruelty. You expected rejection. But instead, you saw words you never imagined reading.

“She’s the luckiest girl ever!”

“He looked happier recently! I knew it!”

“Ah, I’m so jealous she must be really cool!!”

You reread them until the letters blur and didn't even notice the shower stopping. It felt like the world has tilted, revealing something kinder. Something so shocking, you couldn’t stomach just yet.

Riki found you there, staring at your phone in disbelief.

“Hey,” he murmured, sitting beside you, toweling off his hair. “You okay?”

You laughed through the tears, shoving the phone toward him. “They don’t hate me. Well, some want to be me, which is more creepy than not, but I can live with that.”

He smiled softly. “I told you.” You turned to him fully, the weight you’ve carried for so long finally lifting.

“I spent so much time thinking you were too good for me. And I still think you are,” He was about to disagree but you stopped him with a finger on his lips. “But that is precisely why I will try to get better so I deserve to have the best boyfriend ever.” He laughed, shoulders shaking and pulled you into his arms, holding you like you’re the most precious thing he had ever had.

“You never had to earn your place with me,” he whispered into your hair. “There was always a you-shaped space in my heart and you easily slotted in.”

Later, the city hummed outside again, but this time you didn't hide from it. You stood with him on the balcony, lights flickering below like stars in the distance. The night felt dark, intimate, wrapped around the two of you like a secret – but not a lonely one. Not heavy like it used to be.

You leaned into Riki’s side, fingers laced together, no fear this time. Just certainty.

In the quiet between heartbeats, you finally understood: love isn’t about deserving. It’s about choosing. And every time, without hesitation, you chose each other.

You caught a cold

~ (hs) ~ Yesterday’s weather was a catastrophe. A snowstorm with a big wind caught you by surprise. The weather app betrayed you last minute before you got out of the house, thinking you should be fine, and it didn’t go as planned. So here you were, in your bed, sniffling, already called off work and trying to take a nap. Suddenly your phone started ringing, the loud sound reverberating through your skull, making you wince.

“Hello?” Your voice creaked, a sign you’ll lose it by the end of the day. You scrunched your nose realising whoever was on the other end of the line was going to worry for no reason.

“Hey, baby, you don’t sound so good. Are you okay?” Heeseung’s call in the morning was a habit he got since you started dating which you thought was very sweet. Not right now though because worrying your busy boyfriend was the last thing you wanted. His voice already sounded alarmed from the one word you muttered.

“Nothing too bad. Just got a cold I guess.” A cough ripped out of your chest and you took the phone further from your face to not sound too loud. When you put the phone back to your ear you heard a suspicious commotion and loud noise on the other side of the line. “Heeseung? You good?” You heard another loud male voice before you heard your boyfriend again.

“Yes, yes, I just asked to get off work early. The recording will wait. I am running home with soup and chocolate.” Without waiting for your response he hung up, making you feel so grateful that he knows you so well.

~ (jy) ~ It was the second day of powering through your flu, so you were feeling your worst. Your boyfriend was in Japan on tour, so it was you against the virus. You were in the kitchen, making ginger honey tea, coughing loudly, when you heard your phone ring with the custom ringtone indicating it is Jay calling. You hesitated for a second, throwing a glance at your reflection in the oven glass nearby. You looked a mess, but not picking up would make him worry more, so you swiped your finger over the green button. You sniffled, getting ready for the waterfall of questions from Jay. His smiling face immediately showed up on your screen, with your messy form somewhere in the small corner.

“Hey, my lady.” Jay started in a singsongy voice, drawing out the last vowel, but it quickly died down, his brows knit in concern. “Your eyes look watery, are you okay?” The concern in his voice broke your heart. Your first instinct was to reassure him that it’s just the camera showing your face weird, but you needed the support desperately and couldn’t lie.

“Ah, nothing too bad, don't worry, just a small cold.” You sniffled again, followed by a cough, making his expression even more concerned.

“‘A small cold’? You’re coughing too much, hold on I will send you some medicine and nice porridge. I know you love the one with the strawberries.” He quickly typed something on his phone and looked back at you, his smile back on his lips. “The courier will be at your door in a bit. Please take care of yourself until I’m back. I’ll take over once I am there.” He winked at you through the screen making you giggle. He always knew how to brighten your mood even in these short video calls he stole in between practice sessions and interviews.

~ (jk) ~ You were in the kitchen, making tea and waiting for Jake to come home from work. Netflix was on with the new Stranger Things episode ready so you could watch it together. You were wrapped up in a blanket with your fluffy socks, hoping it would somehow mask the flu you had going on. Your boyfriend just came back from abroad and you wanted to spend every second possible with him as he was busy, so getting sick didn’t fall into your plans. Shivering, you grabbed the tea off the counter and waddled to the living room couch, when you heard the keys turning. Your eyes snapped to the clock on the wall realising Jake was earlier than expected and you looked way messier than you’d like, but there was no time anymore.

He walked in, with his signature smile sprawled across his face, already talking straight from the entrance about the taxi driver that almost realised he’s a celebrity. He was so lost in the entertaining story it took him a second to even pay attention to your form standing still in the middle of the living room.

“I told him he is mistaking-” When he finally hung up his coat and looked at you, his smile immediately dropped. His eyes travelled from your red and irritated eyes and nose to the big blanket on your shoulders, quickly putting two and two together.

“Baby, why didn’t you tell me you have a cold?! Oh my god, go to bed right now, I’ll go to the pharmacy and get you medication. Does anything hurt?” He started rapid firing questions and looking you over, but you could only laugh at his worried expression. It’s at the moments like these that he most reminded you of a cute puppy.

“I’m okay. Some quality time with my favourite person will fix this faster than any medication would.” You tried to wriggle out of answering with a cheesy line and it worked. Slightly. He still made sure to get some porridge delivered, but stayed with you to watch the show, while you laid in his lap, feeling the most at ease the whole day.

~ (sh) ~ You and Sungoon finally had a free day to go on a date, which was rare, so you obviously chose his favourite place to go to. That was how you ended up on an ice rink with two layers of pants, your thickest hoodie and a hell of a lot of willpower.

All of this was because you didn’t mention that you had a slight cold going, but jeopardising your date wasn’t worth the trouble, so you got ready and left the house to the ice rink. There you spent a good two hours trying not to fall face first, because no matter how many times Sunghoon explained the techniques, you couldn't seem to learn. After another half an hour of that hell, you finally realised the coughs are getting harder to hold in. You grabbed the barriers to steady yourself and tried to cough it out until Sunghoon caught up, but you miscalculated. The scratch of his speedy skates halted to a stop next to you kicking up small pieces of ice.

“That was a bad cough. Come here.” His worried face was right next to you seconds later and you jumped at the sudden cold contact of his hands. He lowered the scarf covering half of your face just to encounter a face mask covering you as well. Sunghoon rolled his eyes, disappointment mixed with the earlier worry evident on his face. When his hand touched your forehead he frowned. “You have a fever and you didn’t tell me?” The scolding tone made you slightly embarrassed, forcing you to lift the scarf back on your face, despite the mask already covering it.

“I didn’t have a fever when I left the house. Plus, I just didn’t want to miss out on this date… Sorry.” Your voice cracked from dryness and you coughed again, not making the situation any better. Sunghoon let out a resigned sigh, but you noticed the small smile on his lips.

“We are going home, getting you warmed up and some miso soup. Miso soup fixes everything.” He nodded twice like he was confirming it to himself, already typing the delivery on his phone and simultaneously dragging you to the exit.

While the rest of the evening was spent in bed, watching youtube videos, eating miso soup and cuddling.

~ (sn) ~ You had your phone on silent, while taking a nap, so when you heard loud banging on your door it woke you up almost immediately. Still a bit dizzy from the sleep and the cold, you located your phone and looked at the time. It was around dinner time, so your one hour nap turned into a 4 hour one instead and you saw the giant pile of notifications from your boyfriend, probably worried sick about you not picking up. Another loud bang echoed through the apartment and you shot out of bed, waddling to the door as fast as you could without losing balance.

When you finally opened the door you saw Sunoo looking winded and worriedly tapping his foot. It almost looked like he ran all the way to your apartment instead of getting a taxi. He turned to you with large eyes, looking surprised you finally opened the door.

“I’ve been knocking for-” He was about to start complaining when he saw your pale complexion and red, puffy eyes, immediately switching his tone to a much softer one. “You’ve been sick and haven’t told me?!” He walked in, immediately walking to the kitchen after throwing his shoes off.

“I didn’t want to worry you with all the comeback preparations…” You stammered, voice weak and barely audible. He huffed in response like it was the dumbest justification he had ever heard.

“Honey, I always have time for you even if all Hell breaks loose. Promise me to always say when you’re sick, deal?” He looked over at your stunned form from the kitchen door and smiled, putting the kettle on. “Now come here I’ll make you that awful tea my mom made me drink when I was sick.”

~ (jw) ~ You got out of the kitchen with the biggest mug of hot tea, blanket draped over your shoulders and medication in your hands, about to plop on the couch when you heard the keys being twisted in the lock. Your boyfriend was not supposed to be back for another couple hours from his practice, so you immediately perked up, adrenaline flooding your veins.

But fortunately, all you saw was Jungwon throwing his shoes off with two large bags in his hands. He went to the kitchen without greeting you or looking your way, making you question if you hallucinated his presence in your fever-induced dream. However, upon closer look you realised he was just angry about something.

After a couple minutes in the kitchen he finally entered the living room, with his arms crossed on his chest, trying to mask his worry with as much strictness as he could.

“Why am I finding out you’re sick from your friend?” He asked, eyebrow raised in question. You shrugged, too weak to even get up. He looked so serious, it made you feel like you were being scolded by the team leader instead of talking to your boyfriend.

“Uhm, just didn’t want to worry you? You’re busy as is…” Your voice cracked, softening Jungwon’s expression immediately. His arms dropped to his sides with a tired sigh. He walked to the couch, sitting next to you and half hugging you, pressing to his side.

“You are so stupid sometimes… There is nothing more important to me than you. I should be here. Especially when you need me the most.” You looked at his worried expression, earning a flick on your nose. “I brought you some miso soup cuz Sunghoon insisted it’s the best, so… you better be like new tomorrow or he’s getting beaten up for giving shitty advice.” You laughed smacking his arm, but still this felt immeasurably better than fighting this alone.

~ (rk) ~ While waiting for your boyfriend at the dance studio, you were standing near the wall, sniffling and sneezing, trying not to cough too loud. The cold was starting to pick up pace, as it seems like you caught it from your cousin who was visiting yesterday. You cursed at your carelessness internally, but cancelling plans with Riki was not in the books. You two barely saw each other because of the crazy schedule that he has, so any chance to meet up had to be used.

He finally got out of the door to the changing rooms, hair still damp and his favourite grey hoodie thrown on haphazardly. The second his eyes landed on you he walked faster, reaching you in a couple big strides. Your face was now in his hands, his eyes carefully inspecting you. The red nose hidden under the medical mask and the puffy eyes, paired with the messy hair from the wind definitely weren’t the best look you had, but it had to do.

“Did you ‘accidentally’ forget to tell me about having the flu again?” He reminded you of the last time you caught a cold and didn’t tell him to avoid bothering him from work. You winced at the memory of the poor lie you conjured up at the time, but it was too late this time.

“I just didn’t want to miss out on a fun date… That’s all.” You looked down at your shoes, feeling childish about your decisions, but he lifted your face back up.

“Anything is fun if you’re involved. Even staying home and watching trash TV while eating spicy ramyeon. Which is exactly what we’re doing.” Riki grabbed your hand, intertwining your fingers and putting both your hands in his pocket for extra warmth. “But before that we are going to the pharmacy.” You laughed at your overcautious boyfriend, but didn’t disagree, happy just to be in his company after a long time.

You got caught in the headlines ~

~ (jw) ~ Your name has been sprawled all over the headlines, just because a reporter saw you talking to a cashier at the supermarket and now you had to deal with people flashing cameras in your face and calling you names. This was making your work much harder with the PR team was getting more and more crazy with their meetings only making your days more tiring.

One of those days you came home from work, dropped your bag by the door, and kicked off your shoes, exhausted from dealing with all sorts of questions. When you looked up, Jungwon was sitting on the couch like he didn’t pack his bags only half a week ago to go on his tour. You froze, not understanding if you are seeing things or he’s actually there.

“...Why are you here?” You asked cautiously, like you’re talking to a ghost.

“Is that the way to greet your boyfriend from a long flight?” He asked back, voice steady, but his crossed arms and raised eyebrow betray his real emotions.

“You're supposed to be on tour. I may be hallucinating.” You said more to yourself than anyone else, slightly shaking your head, hoping to get rid of the mirage.

He stood up then, slowly, convincing you of his realness.

“I heard you've been doing just fine without me.” His low voice reverberated through you, making you shiver. He closed the distance between you, now standing in front of you. You scoffed.

“You flew home for that?” A small shrug of his shoulders made you smile slightly. His eyes looked back at you, softer now after hearing the displeasure in your voice.

“Maybe I just wanted to make sure you still look at me the same.” Jungwon’s voice dropped, making you laugh a little at his jealous antics.

“I missed you too, silly.” You kissed him leading to the kitchen for a warm cup of tea after his tiring flight.

~ (hs) ~ Being in a spotlight is hard sometimes, because rumours would spread like a wildfire. This time wasn’t an exception. One innocent dinner with some of your coworkers got you a headline for a couple days. It didn’t bother you much, because you knew the journalists would say whatever for a paycheck, but it called for a lot of damage control with the PR team. Hence countless tiring meetings.

You were having your normal evening routine and stepped out of the bathroom, towel on your hair and nearly screamed when you saw your boyfriend leaning against the counter. This was mainly due to the fact that he was supposed to be on the other side of the planet Earth, performing for his fans.

“What are you doing here?!” You asked, hastily trying to fix the towel on your head.

“Wow. No ‘I missed you’? No hugs? I am disappointed.” Heeseung answered with a self-satisfied grin seeing the reaction he got out of you.

“You scared the shit out of me!” He tilted his head like he didn't understand your objection, the move giving him an almost puppy-like look.

“I heard you forgot about me.” Heeseung was almost pouting now, which looked ridiculous. Or rather redicilously cute. You rolled your eyes at his jealousy, a slight smile playing on your lips.

“And you believed that?” You asked with a raised eyebrow, immediately understanding what he is referring to.

“Not really,” He hugged you by your waist, diminishing the distance. “But I needed a reason to convince my manager to postpone the tour, just so I could tell you that I am still your problem for the foreseeable future.”

~ (jy) ~ You had a hectic couple weeks working with the company’s PR team, because some journalists took pictures that were very out of context, resulting in major headlines and headaches for you. You were sort of used to this new lifestyle ever since you started dating a famous person, but it was irritating nonetheless.

You came home late, exhausted from all the briefings. Weirdly, the hallway and kitchen lights were still on, even though you remembered turning it off before going out. You stopped in your tracks, heart rate immediately accelerating.

“Why are the lights-” You didn’t manage to finish the sentence when Jay stepped out of the kitchen, making you jump back.

“You weren’t answering your phone.” He looked at his wristwatch, making a dramatic show of it.

“I was in meetings. Why did you fly home? Is everything okay? Are you hurt?” Questions tumbled out one after the other, anxiety taking over. Jay wasn’t meant to be home for another two weeks after all.

“I heard something I didn't like.” His voice was steady and and calm, yet his eyes were travelling from the walls to the floor and back to the walls again. “And I didn't want to overthink it.”

You sighed, realising the reason he flew back. You reached out, taking his face in your hands, forcing him to finally look at you.

“You could've just asked me.” He nodded and dropped his head on your shoulder, arms snaking around your waist. The warm smell of his cologne immediately enveloped you, making glad of the development.

“I know. But I needed to see you first. Make sure you're okay too.”

~ (jk) ~ After you started dating Jake, your life has been turned upside down. Being constantly under some sort of spotlight was not something you were used to, so now when you had to clear out a situation that happened because of your carelessness you were constantly exhausted. Finally, you were about to be home after another PR team meeting. You unlocked the door and walked in only to see Jake sitting on the floor petting your dog.

“...Why are you here?” Your eyes widened involuntarily. He looked up, offended.

“Wow. That's how you greet someone who crossed oceans for you?” He crossed his arms, trying his best not to show how happy he was to see you. However, the tension in his shoulders caught your eyes.

“You're supposed to be abroad for another,” You looked at the date on your phone. “Five days! What else am I supposed to say?”

Jake sighed dramatically, finally getting up from the floor and pulling his phone out of the back pocket.

”I heard you replaced me.” Showing the screen with the big headline and multiple pictures of you with your distant cousin, who came to visit, thus causing the confusion the press used. An involuntry laugh broke out of your lips, making Jake frown in response.

Seeing his reaction you raised your hand to stop him from asking any questions, instead quickly explaining the situation.

“You're ridiculous, Jake… How did you even believe any of that stuff?” He laughed at the remark and opened his arms inviting you for a warm hug.

“You have a point. But honestly I just wanted to see you smile again because I know PR was probably running you to the ground.”

~ (sh) ~ You had a late working day today, due to the endless meetings with PR and marketing teams, so when you finally came home, kicked off your shoes and went to the bathroom to wipe off your makeup, it felt like bliss. You came out of the bathroom, immediately bumping into something solid. Panic took over and you jumped back, grabbing the first thing you saw, which was a half-empty bottle of washing detergent. But thankfully there was no need for self-defence.

“...What are you doing here?” You asked your boyfriend, after coming down from the adrenaline spike. Sunghoon looked at the bottle in your hand, but barely reacted. The tired circled under his eyes a clear show of the red-eye flight he had just got off of.

“You're home late.” Was the only thing he said, which didn't answer your question all.

“That's not an answer.” You state the obvious getting a bit irritated at his lack of cooperation. He only crossed his arms in response without a hint of an answer coming.

“I heard you've been busy. Thought I'd check if I was still relevant.” Now you realise what his deal was, making you burst out laughing. In all the time you've been dating this was the first time you saw the spark of jealousy in Sunghoon's eyes.

“Really? That’s why you flew 11 hours in the middle of your tour? You could’ve texted, Hoon.” He looked at you quietly, his childish jealousy dawning on him. All he did was scrunch his nose and look around one last time, making sure he didn't miss anything in the appartment, before answering you.

“No, I couldn’t. Besides, I didn't like not being here.” He finally let himself slump on your shoulder, exhausted, making you giggle at his cute antics.

~ (sn) ~ You finally got a free window from all the meetings about the recent headline that featured you not in the best light, so you used your opportunity to clean the house a bit. The PR team had you booked and busy for days and this was the first opportunity to decompress with a mindless task and music in the background.

You walked into your room with the cleaning rugs in your hands and found Sunoo lying on your bed like he owns it. A gasp escaped your lips.

“Why are you in my house?” Your voice startled him as much as his presence startled you. He immediately flipped over to face you and sat up, his unruly hair flipping to the side giving him a ridiculous fringe.

"And why are you so shocked to see me?” A pout appeared on his lips almost on command, risking a smile to appear on your lips. “That hurts.” You already had a hunch on why he's acting like this, but decided to hear it from him.

“You were in America only yesterday! Why are you blaming me for being shocked?” He crossed his arms, looking at you like you’re supposed to read his thoughts.

“I heard you stopped missing me.” Sunoo's jealousy was a first for you, so you couldn't do anything but giggle, resulting in even more of a big pout from your boyfriend. You quickly explained the situation, which visibly eased his mind. Sunoo came up to you hugging so tight you thought you’re gonna choke.

“You're impossible.” You swatted at his shoulder, earning a big smile from your boyfriend.

“Maybe. But only with you.”

~ (rk) ~ It was finally your day off from work and the PR team allowed you to not come in for the endless briefings about image and the journalists, so you spent the day on your hobbies and by the end of it you went to take a shower. You walked out of the bathroom, hair still damp and stopped when you saw Riki playing on his phone on the couch. Usually, this wouldn’t have surprised you, but your boyfriend was meant to be miles away, on tour with his group.

“Why are you here?” You asked, still a bit shellshocked and unsure if you didn’t hallucinate him.

“You tell me.” He retorts, voice scratchy and low, without looking up from his phone. His disheveled hair and baggy clothes, with the luggage sitting at your door made you realise he came to your place straight after his flight.

“What does that mean?” Your confusion finally causes him to look up. Riki shrugs no less confused than you.

“People talk.” You laughed, placing the reason for his weird behaviour almost immediately. A couple days ago you got caught by some journalists talking to a friend, which they obviously exaggerated and made into a headline. Hence the PR meetings.

“And you believed them?” He shrugs again, now fidgeting with his phone. You weren't used to this Riki, so you were lost on what to do except have a foolish smile on your lips.

“No. But I wanted to see if you'd panic when you saw me.” You crossed your arms with the smile on your lips getting wider.

“And? Is your jealous gremlin satisfied?” He returned the smile, getting up from the couch, crossing the distance in a couple big strides. His long limbs immediately wound around you, his warmth seeping into your skin.

“You didn't. So I'm good.”