d ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ #LN4

the sun was beginning its descent behind the sleek modern architecture of the Starfield Library in Seoul, casting long golden rays through the massive glass windows. Inside, rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched like endless towers of knowledge, the quiet hum of soft footsteps echoing in the air. It was a typical late afternoon, but for mark and y/n, this moment felt anything but ordinary.

mark was lounging in one of the cozy chairs near the top floor’s balcony. His legs were crossed, a book propped up in one hand, but his attention was on y/n. his eyes were drawn to y/n, who was skimming through a shelf of romance books on the shelf in front of him

she didn’t know he was watching her. she rarely did, and that was just one of the many things he loved about her. y/n had this quiet, unassuming way of being like she was always in her own world, focused, intent on whatever she was doing, but completely present in the moment.

y/n had this gentle grace when she moved, and as she reached up to pull a thick book off the shelf, mark couldn’t help but smile and chuckle softly to himself. y/n's hair was tied up in a messy bun, with a few strands escaping to frame her face. she looked effortlessly beautiful, she always did.

it's been three years since they'd met, since they'd walked into this very library for the first time, two nervous 21-year-olds both obsessed with books, one obsessed with manga or anything spider-man related and the other with romance. it was there, amid the stacks of poetry, that they'd found each other.

he first noticed her when she bumped into him in the crime section, her book flying out of her hands and landing right at his feet. she apologised over and over, a deep pink blush colouring her cheeks. they laughed it off, and after a while, their shared love of books drew them back to the library every week. they studied together, talked about dreams, books, and everything in between. eventually, that awkward friendship blossomed into something more.

y/n glanced up from her book and caught his gaze. her face lit up instantly, that warm smile spreading across her lips, making his heart stutter in his chest.

she made her way over to him, the sound of her soft footsteps making him feel like he was living in a dream.

“are you going to keep reading that book, or should we go grab a drink?” she asked, her voice as soft and soothing.

mark slowly set the book down with a soft grin. “i’d rather have you in my arms.” he said and gently pulled her closer to him.

y/n rolled her eyes playfully, but mark could see the blush creeping up her neck. she always did that, pretending to be embarrassed by his cheesy lines, but he knew better than anyone that she liked it. he had a way of making her heart flutter, just like she did to him.

“i should have known you'd say something like that,” she teased, sitting down next to him on the plush chair. her scent, a mixture of rose and strawberry, wrapped around him like a warm hug. he promised to breathe her in forever.

mark leans closer to her and places his hand on her thigh, his thumb gently stroking the fabric of her jeans. he smiles up at her and places a soft kiss on her neck.

they sat there for a moment, simply enjoying the quiet and each other’s presence. it wasn’t often they had moments like this just the two of them, surrounded by books, a world of possibilities and quiet joy.

“so, what’s next for us?” mark asked softly, his voice almost a whisper as he glanced at the horizon through the window, his hand never leaving her thigh. the sky was streaked with pink and orange as the sun set, and for a moment, the entire world felt still.

y/n's smile softened, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “what do you mean, markie?”

he turned to look at her, his hand instinctively brushing her hair back. “i mean… we’re 25 now. we’re no longer in school anymore. what do we do now? what’s our next chapter?”

y/n smiled, her eyes closing as she savoured the quiet moment. “i think we’re already writing it. this is our next chapter.”

her words brought a contented sigh from him. of course, they were already living it. their life, right here, right now, together, was perfect. they didn’t need to have all the answers right now. all that mattered was that they had each other.

“do you ever think about the future?” he asked, his voice quieter now, as if he was revealing a hidden vulnerability.

“most of the time,” y/n said, her voice steady and reassuring. “but i think... i think the future will always be uncertain. the important part is that we’re in it together. i’m happy with you, mark. wherever we go, whatever we do... as long as you’re by my side.”

he reached over to take her hand in his, his fingers threading through hers. there was a sense of peace in that touch, a promise that no matter where life took them, they would always be together.

“i’m happy with you too, baby” he whispered. “More than I’ve ever been with anything or anyone else in my life.”

y/n smiled softly, her eyes shining with the kind of love that made mark feel like the luckiest man alive.

the library around them continued to hum with soft conversations and the rustling of pages, but to them, the world seemed to stop. there was no rush, no pressing need to be anywhere else. they were in this moment, wrapped up in the quiet, safe in their love.

“so, baby,” mark said after a moment, letting her hand go and squeezing her thigh lightly. “how about that drink, hmm?”

“hmm,” y/n hummed, looking up at him with a mischievous gleam in her eye. “only if you promise not to say any more cheesy things for the rest of the day.”

he laughed softly. “i can’t make that promise, but i can promise to make you laugh.”

her eyes twinkled as she leaned in and kissed him gently making him smile against her lips. “deal.”

together, they stood, hands still intertwined, and made their way toward the elevator, leaving the serenity of the library behind them for a while. but as they stepped into the bustling streets of Seoul, surrounded by the noise and energy of the city, they both knew they had everything they needed.

they had each other, and that was more than enough.

the warmth of the coffee shop was a welcoming relief from the cold winter outside. mark and y/n settled into a corner booth, their mugs of coffee steaming between them. y/n curled her hands around her cup, her fingers gently tracing the edge as she gazed at mark, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“do you ever think about the past?” she asked, her voice contemplative.

mark raises an eyebrow. “the past?”

“yeah,” she says, her eyes softening. “like… when we first met. back in the library.”

mark leans back in his chair, taking a long sip from his mug. the memory felt like it belonged to another lifetime. “i think about it all the time. how nervous i was to even talk to you. how much i wanted to ask you out but didn’t have the courage to do so.”

y/n laughs softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “i was so nervous too. i thought you were way out of my league.”

“out of your league? me?” mark babbles surprised. “i was a mess. you have this way of making everything seem so effortless.”

they both fell into a quiet moment, reminiscing about the small, awkward beginnings of their relationship. from that first, fumbled encounter in the library to the late-night study sessions, their connection had grown with each passing day. what had started as friendship had blossomed into something deeper, something unspoken but undeniably strong.

“i think we’ve come a long way since then” y/n says softly, her voice full of affection for the man in front of her.

“yeah,” mark hums, his eyes locking with hers. “and i can’t wait for what’s to come.”

mark reaches across the table, placing his hand in hers. “we’ll write it together. just like we’ve been doing all along. the story of y/n and mark”

and in that moment, as they sat together in the coffee shop, mark knew that no matter where their lives led them, they would always have each other. their love, like the books in the library, would continue to fill the pages of their story, one chapter at a time.

you loved spending time at the small coffee shop on the corner of your street. it was always cozy, filled with fairy lights and gentle music, it was your favourite place to relax with a book and warm drink.

one rainy afternoon, while you were enjoying your hot caramel macchiato. the door opened, the small door bell dinging and in he walked, the boy you had liked since high school. he shook the rain off his hair and looked around until his eyes found you. with a friendly smile, he walked over.

"is it okay if i sit here?”

“oh, sure” you reply, your heart beginning to race. you couldn’t believe he was talking to you.

as you both talked, you shared funny stories and memories from highschool. you laughed more than you had in a long time. the rain fell softly outside, and jaemin leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling as he spoke.

“remember the dance we had to do in high school?” he asks you with a soft grin.

you nodded, recalling how you wished he would ask you to dance.

jaemin smiled wider as he saw your face light up. “i wanted to ask you to the dance, but i was too nervous and chickened out last second. you had always caught my eye, you're so perfect”

“and you were the basketball captain!” you said with a surprised laugh.

you both fell silent for a moment, the air around you filled with certain feelings. suddenly, the rain started pouring harder, creating a soothing sound.

“hey,” jaemin catches your attention and leans forward on the table, “want to go dance?” a sparkle in his eyes.

“dance? here?” you raised an eyebrow at his question.

“yeah, why not?” he says, holding out his hand to you. “let’s make our own moment. now, together.”

feeling excited, you took his hand, as he led you outside, where you both began to dance in the rain. it felt like you were the only two people in the world.

“see? just like i imagined,” jaemin said, laughing as you moved together under the awning.

as you both danced, you felt free, and all your worries started melting away. you looked up at jaemin, who was already looking at you with a soft smile on his lips.

“y/n,” he speaks quietly, “i’ve liked you for a long time.”

your heart started racing at his words. “i’ve always liked you too jaem” you whispered as you stared up at him.

jaemin stepped a little bit closer, your faces just mere inches apart. he leaned in and kissed you softly. it was sweet and made you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

when jaemin pulled away, you smiled widely. “i’d love to dance in the rain with you again,” you said softly.

“anytime you want y/n” jaemin replied with a sweet smile, you stood together, hand in hand, ready to see what would happen next as the future swept you both away.

chenle stands and stares at your apartment door, his head racing with thoughts of you, how he treated you and why you would want him here of all people.

his fist hovers over the door as he weighs in his options he could stay here for you and make you hate him a little less or he could leave and make you hate him even more than he thinks you already do.

she needs you, not me

taking a deep breath, he knocks on your door. jaemin almost immediately opens the door like he had been waiting at the door for him while he looks at chenle with furrowed eyebrows.

“she’s not good chenle, i don’t know how to help her.” jaemin’s voice comes out stressed as he runs his hands over his face.

“she keeps mentioning you. and as much as you may have hurt her, you’re the one she needs right now, not me.”

chenle frowns at jaemin, you needed him?

“where is she?” chenle’s voice was quiet as he stepped in your apartment, side-stepping away from jaemin in the process.

“in her study.” jaemin says and points in the general direction of where your study is.

“i’ve got to go, you’ll be okay, yeah?”

chenle turns his head towards jaemin and nods. jaemin gives chenle a small smile before picking up his jacket and car keys and almost running out of your front door.

chenle quickly locks your front door and begins walking towards where he assumed your study was.

he stops in front of a door about to knock when he hears you crying, softly gasping for air every few seconds.

“y/n?” his voice quiet as he opens the door and sees you sitting down on a small grey sofa in front of the window in the room. your lower half covered in a dark grey blanket while you coddled a pink stuffed bunny.

“chenle?” your words slur as you see him before you. your heart squeezing even more in chest as you see his worried expression.

chenle wastes no time and crosses the room, dropping his helmet to the ground without a second thought and sits down next to you, pulling you into his arms.

the cry that leaves your swollen lips breaks his heart more than he thought was possible.

“i’m sorry y/n. im so so sorry.” he whispers into your hair as he pulls you into him more. “i’m so sorry”

your left hand grips his riding jacket tightly as you cry into him.

“can i ask you something?” your voice was hoarse as you now sat on your bed staring into space with chenle sitting next to you.

“anything, angel.” chenle’s voice whispered softly as he caressed your hair gently.

“why? why did you say all that?” your lips quiver as you speak, a lump in your throat as you turn to slowly look at chenle.

chenle felt his heart sink as he looked at you. swallowing hard his mouth continuously opens and closes as he tries to find the right words to say.

“i-i had to.” his voice quiet as he looks away from you.

turning to chenle with your eyebrows furrowed you watch as he slowly looks back towards you, pain in his eyes.

“you had to?” you scoff loudly. what kind of pathetic excuse was that? he just had to hurt you?

“yes, i had to y/n. and believe me when i say it hurt me more than anything to say all those things i said to you. you never deserve anyone talking to you like that. but i had to in order for you to not get hurt by him.”

“him? who’s him?” your voice quiet as you now stare at chenle with a serious expression. chenle sighs quietly and grabs your hands in his gently.

“san, he said if i didn’t stay away from you he would do everything in his power to hurt you both mentally and physically and i couldn’t continue seeing you not knowing what he could do to you.” he paused as he looks up at the ceiling.

“and he made me choose between you and my career. and inevitably i chose my career over you. and i'm just so sorry y/n.” his eyebrows furrow as he looks down at you.

"and you didn't care to tell me?" your voice came out almost as if you were about to scream but you couldn't, you just couldn't raise your voice at him.

"what was i supposed to tell you? your ex-boyfriend threatened both you and me?" chenle slightly raises his voice as he springs up from his spot on your bed.

"yes, you were supposed to tell me! he's my ex. you shouldn't have to worry about someone you have nothing to do with." you throw the teddy bear that was sitting on your bed, straight at chenle.

"nothing to do with me? you're a part of my life! he’s a part of my life just as much as he is yours.” chenle raises his voice even more as he paces back and forth beside your bed.

“if he has nothing to do with me, why did you want me here in the first place y/n?” chenle speaks softly as he stands still, looking down at you with an unreadable expression, his hair covering his eyes slightly.

“because he threatened you.” you say quietly and pull a pillow into your grasp.

chenle’s eyebrows furrow. “why didn’t you just let him?”

how could you? he meant so much to you no matter how much you denied it to yourself and your friends.

“how could i just let him ruin your life chenle?” you ask, tears in your eyes as you look up at him.

“you’re supposed to hate me y/n. you’re not supposed to care if he does something to me or not.” he sits down on the edge of your bed.

“i could never bring myself to hate you chenle. no matter how much i tried to, especially after all you said to me that night. i just can’t hate you.” tears fell, was this how it was supposed to go?

“and why can’t you hate me. y/n? cause i’ve unwillingly given you multiple reasons to do so.” chenle turns your head towards him. “tell me.”

“because i love you, chenle!” you almost scream. your eyes instantly widen, you quickly turn your back to chenle and lay down with your face buried into the pillow you were holding.

chenle sat frozen for a couple of seconds, his heart pounding in his ears. he snaps out of his daze and reaches towards you.

chenle flips you onto your back and takes purchase above you. his forearms on either side of your head as his right hand tangled itself into your hair.

“say it again.” he whispers, his body sliding in between your legs as his eyes bore into yours. “say it again, please.”

you shake your head, eyes closed. “look at me.” chenle urges, the feeling of him running his thumb against your bottom lip makes you open your eyes.

“say it again, y/n” his voice lowers, his eyes moving all over your face before holding your gaze again.

“chenle, i” you gasp as he runs his hand down your face, down the column of your neck, wrapping it around the dainty necklace you wore, the one san had gotten you. you didn’t keep it because you still felt anything for him but rather because it was a really pretty necklace and you had stopped instantly dot pointing the necklace to him.

chenle knew who gave you that necklace, and he hated the fact that you still kept it let alone wore it. he needed it gone, he could buy you a new one, hell he’d buy you as many necklaces as you wanted.

his eyes flicker back towards yours. “i love you.” you whisper.

“that’s my good girl, hm?” he says right before he rips the necklace from your neck.

“ow! what the fuck chenle?” you hiss and rub your neck, surprised when you pull back and don’t see any blood.

chenle buries his head in the side of your neck and kisses it softly. “i love you, y/n.” he whispers into your neck.

your heart jumps at the words. he loved you too?

chenle drops his body weight onto you and clings to you in a hug. his left hand rubbing your side. "i love you so much y/n" his voice cracks slightly as he holds you tighter.

"y/n" chenle whispers your name as he plays with your hair. it had been nearly a month since you had jaemin call chenle over.

you were both cuddling on his bed while reading the book you were currently obsessed with. chenle pouted as he failed to gain your attention for the seventh time.

"y/n" chenle whines as he leans on his elbow, grips your face in his hand and turns you towards him. he squeezes your cheeks and places a quick kiss on your pouted lips.

"chenle," you say as he still holds your face in his hands. chenle giggles, his head falling into the crook of your neck as he laughs to himself.

"you're so cute, baby." he laughs softly and pulls away to look at you. "i have a question."

"ask away." you smile softly at him and push his hair out of his eyes. chenle's eyes shine with adoration as he sees your soft smile.

chenle giggles and hides in the crook of your neck, mumbling into the skin causing you to laugh at how it tickled.

“will you be my girlfriend? like for real?” chenle looks at you, his eyes shining.

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AUTHORS NOTE ! — well hello, does y/n say yes? i guess you'll just have to wait until next chapter hehet

sitting on your boyfriend's lap, a soft-cover copy of die for you in hand. you can feel jeno's hands sliding up and down your thigh gently.

he’s in an important meeting and you were asked to keep him company through an online meeting as he listens to men drone on and on about the fact that the CEO of the company does "nothing" for them.

you hear complaint after complaint but pay no attention to what's actually being said. every few minutes you hear jeno scoff as he rolls his neck to crack it with a grunt.

you lean your forehead against the side of his neck as you turn the page only to come across a smut scene.

shifting in jeno's lap with an awkward cough thinking jeno wouldn’t be reading along with you, which he indeed was doing but he won't ever admit to that, you feel his arm snake around your waist and pull you closer to him if it was even possible.

now you're trying your hardest to focus on the words, all you could think and feel was the fact that your boyfriend had his hands on your thighs, gripping them softly.

feeling him place a kiss on your temple, you feel his hot breath on the side of my neck before he finally speaks, lowly.

“baby, calm down, i can feel you throbbing on my thigh.” he says before turning his attention back to the conversation.

jeno's hands knead your thighs softly, slowly dragging them higher up your inner thigh. your eyebrows furrow as you try harder to concentrate on the book in your hands and not jeno's hands.

his hands leave your thighs quick enough to turn his camera off. "jeno? where did you go?" a female's voice whines leading you to snap your eyes up to jeno's laptop to see a blonde girl pouting her red-stained lips.

jeno chuckles at you. "i'm still here, i just have to do something and i don't need you all seeing what i do in my personal time." is all he states before muting himself.

jeno’s hands return to your thighs, gripping the flesh harder as they travel dangerously closer to your core.

“jeno?” you whisper out. jeno smirks and takes the book from your hands, putting it down with the page you were reading still open.

“baby.” jeno hums, his lips tracing the side of your neck, his tongue peeking through his lips as he reaches your jaw.

he takes a deep breath, inhaling the scent of your lime basil & mandarin perfume. "you always smell so good." he mumbles into your skin.