𝑯𝒆𝒆𝒗𝒏𝒍𝒚

୨୧ ABOUT

Abe (she/her)

June 26

Fantasy enthusiast writing stories about fate, yearning, quiet love, and moonlit promises.

Heeseung biased

୨୧ ARCHIVES

☁️ Collected Tales

☁️ Requests: Open

☁️ Guidelines: A safe space for every reader • SFW content only • Please don't repost or translate without permission.

Tysm @hazelira for the tag<3🫶🏻

🐹 I'm quiet and shy at first, but I'm really soft, playful, and clingy once I'm comfortable.

🦊 I seem shy and innocent, but I'm more observant than people think and only show my real side to those I'm close to.

🐇 I avoid confrontation, and take a while to fully trust and open up to people.😭

Anyone can join!!

Pairing: Hybrid!Heeseung x Vet-Med!femReader

Genre:Enemies-to-lovers, domestic fluff, college AU

Synopsis: When the campus menace and notorious snack-thief Lee Heeseung gets caught in a downpour and sprains his ankle, his fierce hybrid survival instincts kick in. To your absolute shock, his arrogant facade completely melts, leaving you to deal with a deeply feverish, incredibly clingy hamster hybrid who refuses to let you leave his freshly built living room nest.

WC: 1,582

The hum of the library’s ancient AC unit was usually enough to drown out the existential dread of my third-year Veterinary Medicine coursework, but today, the universe had chosen a louder, more irritating soundtrack.

*Crunch.* I didn't even have to look up from my tablet screen, where a complex diagram of hybrid nervous systems was currently blurring together. The faint, sweet scent of honey-butter seasoning and the soft, distinct rustle of a plastic wrapper told me everything I needed to know.

"Are you actually serious right now, Heeseung?" I muttered, rubbing the bridge of my nose beneath my wire-rimmed glasses.

A shadow fell over my desk, and before I could react, a long, pale hand reached directly into my open tote bag. Soft, rounded, sandy-brown hamster ears poked out from a mass of messy black hair, twitching in absolute triumph as he snagged the family-sized bag of chips I’d bought to survive my midnight study session.

"You bought the good ones today, Four-Eyes," Heeseung drawled. He slid into the empty plastic chair next to me, stretching his ridiculous six-foot-one frame out under the cramped desk. He invaded my personal space with the practiced ease of someone who owned the place, a permanent, lazy smirk plastered across his face. "I'll consider this tax for letting you sit in my glorious presence."

"Your presence smells like cedar shavings and stolen property," I snapped, reaching across his chest to grab the bag.

Heeseung dodged instantly, hoisting the chips high above his head. Because he possessed the genetic irony of a tiny, hoarding rodent trapped inside the body of a varsity athlete, I had to lean completely across his lap just to swipe at the air. He looked down at me, his dark eyes sparkling with unadulterated mischief, his twitchy pink nose crinkling as he laughed.

"Want 'em? Come get 'em, Dr," he teased, his fluffy ears flattening playfully against his head.

"Give it back, you oversized rodent, or I swear to God I will swap your presentation slides for the seminar tomorrow with a forty-slide gallery of senior-citizen guinea pigs."

Heeseung paused, his ears drooping just a fraction. He knew I’d do it, too. Last week, after he hid my anatomy notebook in the vending machine, I had changed his phone’s alarm to a high-pitched frequency that only hybrids could hear. He hadn't slept properly for forty-eight hours.

"You're evil," he muttered. But instead of handing the bag over, he casually popped a chip into his own mouth, then reached down and stuffed one directly into mine to silence me.

Across the aisle, two guys from the agronomy department were already snickering into their textbooks, whispering something about us that I chose to actively ignore. This was our daily warfare, a predictable routine of bickering, stolen snacks, and mild property damage that kept us both awake through the grueling college semesters.

But the universe has a funny way of shifting the balance when you least expect it.

It happened on a miserable Tuesday afternoon. The sky had opened up into a torrential downpour, turning the campus walkways into a slick, muddy hazard zone. Heeseung, possessing the stubborn pride of a hybrid who refused to admit that his animal counterpart hated getting wet, had marched out of the science building without an umbrella because "hamsters don't do rain."

An hour later, as I wrapped up a grueling lab session and walked out into the damp, freezing drizzle, I spotted a slumped figure on the bench beneath a leaking awning.

It was Heeseung. The arrogant, smirking menace of the library was entirely gone. His clothes were soaked to the skin, his left ankle was visibly swelling through his sneaker, and his usually fluffy ears were completely plastered to his head, drooping miserably over his eyes. He was shivering violently. Because hybrids struggle significantly with thermoregulation when their fur or ears get wet, the cold was hitting him twice as hard.

"Heeseung?" I called out, rushing over.

He flinched, looking up with pale lips and glossy eyes. "Y/N," he croaked, looking utterly devastated that I was witnessing him like this. "I... I slipped on the moss. My ankle popped."

My cynical student brain wanted to throw a sarcastic comment his way, but the future veterinarian in me took over the second I saw him tremble. Without a word, I unzipped my duffel bag, pulled out my dry, oversized fleece hoodie, and draped it over his shivering shoulders.

"Can you walk?"

He looked down, his cheeks flushing a faint, embarrassed pink. "No."

"Okay. Lean on me."

For the first time since I’d known him, Heeseung didn't make a snide remark. He just quietly let me hoist his heavy arm over my shoulder, his large frame acting as deadweight against mine as we slowly, painstakingly navigated the slippery sidewalk back to my apartment, which was thankfully just a block off-campus.

By the time I got him inside, stripped him of his soaking wet jacket, and got some ice on his sprained ankle, his high fever had kicked his hybrid instincts into absolute overdrive. When a hamster hybrid is severely sick or injured, their higher-level human reasoning takes a backseat to their base survival programming. For Heeseung, that meant one urgent, desperate necessity: nesting.

"Y/N..." he whimpered from the living room floor.

I walked out of the kitchen holding a bowl of warm broth and some anti-inflammatories, only to stop dead in my tracks. Heeseung had dragged every single pillow off my bed, my winter duvet, three throw blankets, and a pile of my freshly laundered clothes into a massive, circular fortress in the center of the room. He was curled up right in the middle of it, burying his face in the fabrics.

"The nest isn't right," he mumbled, his voice thick and congested. His nose twitched rapidly as he sniffed the air, his ears twitching anxiously. "It doesn't smell like you enough. I need... I need the green sweater. The one you wore yesterday."

I stared at him, completely stunned. The campus bully who spent his mornings throwing paper balls at the back of my head was currently begging for my laundry to secure his sick-nest.

"Heeseung, you're burning up. Take the medicine first," I said softly, kneeling at the edge of the blanket pile.

He watched me with wide, vulnerable eyes. Slowly, a pale hand reached out from under the duvet, his fingers gently catching the hem of my shirt and pulling me weakly toward him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, a genuine tear pooling in the corner of his eye before slipping into the soft fur at his temple. "For stealing your chips. And hiding your books. I'm a terrible hybrid. You're trying to save lives and I'm just a menace."

The fever-induced guilt was making him look so incredibly small despite his size that my heart completely melted.

"Hey," I murmured, setting the bowl down and carefully crawling into the nest with him. "I bully you back, remember? I changed your laptop background to a hawk last month. We're even. But right now, you need to rest."

Heeseung let out a shaky sigh, the tension leaving his shoulders the second I sat beside him. Before I could move, his long arms wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me down into the center of the blankets. He buried his face directly into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply.

"Stay," he mumbled against my skin. "Your scent makes it safe."

I couldn't leave even if I wanted to. He had effectively locked me in place, curling his long legs around mine like a giant, clingy rodent hoarding his favorite prize. His hot breath tickled my collarbone, and every few seconds, his incredibly soft ears would twitch against my cheek. As I carefully ran my fingers through his dark hair, avoiding the sensitive base of his ears, a low, rhythmic vibration started in his chest. It was a soft, content chattering—the ultimate sign of a hybrid who felt entirely safe and protected.

The next morning, the storm had passed, and bright sunlight filtered through the living room windows.

I woke up to find Heeseung’s fever had finally broken. He was still holding me tightly, but he was awake, staring down at my face with an expression so remarkably tender it made my breath catch in my throat. Seeing my eyes open, his ears perked up instantly, standing tall and fluffy.

"Morning," he whispered, his voice deep and raspy from sleep.

"How's the ankle?" I asked, shifting slightly in the pile of blankets.

Instead of letting me go, Heeseung just tightened his grip, hiding his flushed face in my hair. "Still hurts. I think I need to stay in this nest for at least another three days. Minimum."

I let out a soft laugh, poking his side. "Oh, really? The great Lee Heeseung wants to cuddle with Four-Eyes for a long weekend?"

He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes, the familiar, playful glint returning to his gaze, though it was softened by something entirely real. His thumb reached up, gently brushing a stray strand of hair away from my glasses.

"I'll buy you a lifetime supply of honey-butter chips," he promised softly, his cheeks turning a bright pink. "And I'll let you study my hybrid reflexes all semester. Just... don't leave the nest yet."

I smiled, reaching up to gently scratch behind his sandy-brown ears, watching them twitch happily in response. "Deal, you oversized hamster."

Sorry, I know it's not what you guys asked for. 😞

Stfu nobody is dying except for hybe!

Your hamster hybrid fic of hee is out now. Hope you like it😃🌷.

Pairing: Hamster!Heeseung × Fem!Reader

Genre: Fluff, Domestic, Comfort, Romance, Hybrid AU, University AU, Slice of Life, Established Relationship, Soft Chaos

WC: 3.2k

The first sign that something was wrong was the silence.

Which, in Lee Heeseung’s case, was absolutely terrifying.

Usually, your shared apartment was filled with the constant, comforting soundtrack of his existence. The soft pitter-patter of his bare feet padding across the wooden floor. Random, out-of-tune humming drifting from the kitchen. Melodramatic complaints about how you bought oat milk instead of regular milk.

Or, most commonly:

"Baby?"

A soft, pitiful whine.

"Can you come here for one second?"

"...Actually, never mind! I figured it ou—"

CLATTER.

"OW!"

There it was.

Your shoulders, which had been tensed up to your ears, immediately relaxed with a heavy sigh. Closing your laptop and abandoning your half-finished university assignment, you rubbed your temples.

The apartment wasn’t large—just a cozy one-bedroom fifteen minutes away from campus. It was a space the two of you somehow managed to afford by juggling exhausting lectures and part-time jobs. It wasn’t fancy, but it was home. The worn-out couch had permanent dents from your weekend movie marathons. Your bookshelf had more instant ramen cups tucked behind textbooks than actual decorations.

And then there was the fridge. It was completely covered in colorful sticky notes:

Buy detergent.

Exam on Thursday!

Kiss your boyfriend. (Mandatory.)

Heeseung had written that last one. Three separate times.

Following the sound of the ruckus, you walked into the kitchen and found him exactly where you expected.

Standing precariously on the very edge of the kitchen counter.

"..."

"..."

"...Lee Heeseung."

He froze mid-stretch. Slowly, his head turned toward you, his round, fluffy hamster ears twitching guiltily against his messy dark hair.

"...Hi, sweetie?"

"What are you doing?"

"I can explain."

"You are standing on our kitchen counter."

"Exactly! Our kitchen. Which means I have a right to explore the terrain."

"It's not a mountain, Heeseung. And you're committing a domestic crime."

"It's not a crime!" He puffed out his cheeks, a natural habit that made his face look incredibly round and squishable. "I just couldn't reach the top cabinet."

"You could've asked me."

"You were studying, and I didn't want to disturb you."

"So instead, you decided to play mountain climber."

"I'm a hamster hybrid," he reasoned, wiggling his nose. "It's in my DNA to forage."

"You're twenty-four years old."

"I can be both a legal adult and a tiny adventurer."

"You absolutely cannot."

Seeing your stern expression, Heeseung deployed his ultimate weapon: the look. He widened his big, chocolate-brown eyes, letting his ears droop flat against his head while his fluffy tail gave a anxious little twitch.

You pinched the bridge of your nose, fighting a smile. "What were you even trying to get?"

"...The honey crackers," he mumbled, looking down at his feet.

"The ones we specifically hid because you kept hoarding them under your pillow and eating them at three in the morning?"

"They were calling my name, Y/N. I swear."

"They're inanimate crackers, Heeseung."

"They sounded very convincing!"

"Get down from there before you—"

Before you could finish your sentence, Heeseung shifted his weight. His foot slipped on the slick marble surface.

Everything happened in an embarrassingly fast blur. A tiny, high-pitched yelp. A loud, heavy thud. A literal rain of cardboard cereal boxes. And then—silence.

"...Ow."

"..."

"...Baby? A little help?"

You were by his side in a fraction of a second, dropping to your knees amidst the scattered boxes of granola. "Heeseung! Oh my god, are you okay?"

"I think..." He sat on the linoleum floor, clutching his ankle and looking up at you with the saddest, most heartbreaking puppy-dog eyes imaginable. "...I made a tactical error."

"You think?!"

"It hurts," he whimpered, a soft, involuntary chittering sound vibrating in his chest—a clear sign he was distressed. "It really hurts, Y/N."

"I told you not to climb up there!"

"I know..."

"I literally told you five minutes ago!"

"I know, I know..."

"So why did you do it?"

He pouted, his lower lip quivering. "...Honey crackers."

You stared at him, completely exasperated but overflowing with affection. "...You are utterly impossible."

Thankfully, nothing was broken.

The campus clinic confirmed it was just a badly twisted ankle. They wrapped it neatly in a supportive bandage, handing you a prescription for mild painkillers and a strict list of instructions.

No unnecessary walking. Keep the foot elevated.

You repeated those words to him approximately fourteen times on the taxi ride back. Heeseung proceeded to ignore them approximately fifteen times the moment you crossed the threshold of your apartment.

"Baby."

"No."

"I didn't even ask for anything yet!"

"I know exactly what you're going to ask, Heeseung."

"I just need a glass of water."

"I'll get it for you. Sit down."

"I can get it—"

"No."

"But—"

"No."

"I'm literally fine! It barely hurts anymore."

"You almost cried in the clinic because the nurse sprayed the cold disinfectant on your scrape."

"I did not cry!" He protested, his cheeks flushing a dusty pink. "I just sniffled."

"Your eyes were watering."

"My eyes were sweating," he corrected solemnly.

You deadpanned, placing the glass of water on the coffee table. "Your eyes."

"Yes."

"Were sweating."

"Yes. They're very emotional organs, Y/N."

Dating a hamster hybrid meant learning a lot of quirky traits that no manual could ever prepare you for.

For one, his nesting and hoarding instincts were incredibly strong, especially when he was stressed or unwell. Over the past year of living together, you had learned to double-check random spots around the apartment.

You once found four chocolate bars tucked inside the pocket of his oversized winter hoodie. Two packets of almonds hidden under the sofa cushions. And, most memorably, a single chocolate chip cookie carefully wrapped in plastic, buried inside the soil of your potted monstera plant.

When confronted, he had simply hugged his knees and whispered, "Emergency rations."

"For what emergency, Heeseung?"

"...What if the grocery store runs out of sweets?"

His adorable, instinctual habits were on full display now. Because he was restricted to the couch, he had spent the last hour transforming the sofa into a massive, elaborate nest of pillows, fleece blankets, and your worn-out college hoodies.

"I'm bored," he groaned, shifting around in his nest.

"You've said that six times now."

"It's been hours since you talked to me."

"Heeseung, it has been exactly seven minutes."

"It felt like a lifetime."

You chuckled, continuing to highlight your lecture notes at the dining table. Across the room, Heeseung had burrowed deep into his blanket pile, wrapping himself up burrito-style. Only his dark eyes and the very tips of his round ears peeked out.

His fluffy tail flicked irritably when you didn't look up again.

"...Baby."

"Mhm?"

"I miss you."

You blinked, pausing your highlighter. "I'm literally sitting five feet away from you."

"I know. But you're not here." His ears drooped. "I still miss you."

You stared at the pathetic, adorable bundle of blankets on the couch. Sighing, you capped your highlighter and stood up. "Fine. You win."

His ears instantly perked up, standing tall and proud. "Yes!"

"You are a manipulative little hamster, do you know that?" you scolded gently, walking over and carefully sliding into the nest of blankets beside him.

The moment you were within arm's reach, Heeseung let out a soft, contented sigh. He immediately shifted over, resting his head heavily against your shoulder. He nuzzled his nose into the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply to breathe in your scent—a hybrid's favorite way of comfort-seeking.

"You smell so nice," he murmured, his voice softening.

"I smell like cheap lavender detergent and library dust."

"Mhm. And coffee."

"And stress."

"No," Heeseung whispered, wrapping a blanket-clad arm around your waist to pull you closer. "You smell like home."

Your heart did a violent flip in your chest. He always did this—saying the most incredibly romantic, devastatingly sweet things so casually, entirely unaware of how much he flustered you.

By evening, the painkillers had finally kicked in, making him incredibly drowsy.

He was laying down now, his head resting comfortably in your lap while a random movie played softly on the TV. You absentmindedly ran your fingers through his soft, dark hair, gently massaging his scalp.

Every time your fingers brushed near the base of his hybrid ears, they would twitch, sending a wave of cozy warmth through him.

"...Don't," he mumbled sleepily, though he didn't move an inch.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No... I love it too much."

"Then why did you say don't?"

"Because if you keep doing that, I'll fall asleep."

"Isn't that the point? You need to rest."

"But then I can't look at you." He squinted up at you, his eyes heavy with sleep. "And you won't be able to admire my handsome face."

"I can admire your face just fine while you're asleep."

"My sleeping face isn't as attractive. I drool."

"It absolutely is attractive. And you only drool a little bit."

"Liar," he pouted.

You giggled and gently scratched the sensitive spot right behind his left ear.

Heeseung gasped, and a tiny, incredibly high-pitched squeak escaped his throat.

The room went dead silent.

"..."

"..."

"...Did you just squeak?" you whispered, trying to hold back a massive grin.

"I did not," he denied immediately, his face flushing bright red. He pulled the blanket over his nose. "That was the TV."

"Heeseung, the TV is on mute."

"Then it was a ghost."

"You literally squeaked like a tiny baby hamster."

"I refuse to acknowledge this slander."

"It was the most adorable thing I've ever heard in my life."

"It was deeply humiliating for my reputation as a cool boyfriend," he grumbled, his ears flattening flush against his hair in embarrassment.

"Oh, sweetheart," you laughed, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his warm cheek. "You lost your 'cool boyfriend' status the second you climbed a kitchen cabinet for honey crackers."

"I was foraging!"

"And you fell."

"The gravity in this apartment is unstable."

"And then you cried."

"I told you! My eyes were just sweating!"

The next morning, you woke up to the cold, empty space beside you.

Instantly panicking, you threw off the covers and rushed out of the bedroom, expecting to find Heeseung flat on his back in pain.

Instead, you stopped dead in your tracks at the entrance of the kitchen.

"..."

Heeseung was currently hopping on one foot, holding onto the edge of the kitchen island for dear life as he reached toward the upper pantry.

"...Lee Heeseung."

He froze mid-stretch, his leg hovering in the air.

"..."

"..."

"...Good morning, beautiful?" he offered, flashing a weak, guilty smile.

"What are you doing?" you asked, crossing your arms.

"I was just... hungry."

"You woke up before me. With a sprained ankle."

"...Yes."

"And instead of waking me up to help you—"

"I wanted you to sleep!" He interrupted quickly, his ears twitching back in earnest concern. The irritation you felt melted away a little at his tone. "You've been working so late this week, Y/N. And you have that huge exam coming up. You're always the one taking care of me... I just wanted to do something nice and get breakfast ready so you wouldn't have to worry."

You looked past him at the kitchen counter.

It looked like a culinary war zone. There was a puddle of spilled milk, an open box of cereal with flakes scattered everywhere, one clean spoon, two bananas, and an upside-down coffee mug.

Heeseung smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "...I was almost done. I had a vision."

"You were making cereal, Heeseung."

"It got surprisingly complicated."

"You can't even stand on two feet right now."

"But I poured the milk with love. That counts for extra points, right?"

You let out a dramatic, long-suffering sigh, walking over to him. "Come here."

"Are you mad?"

"I said come here, you stubborn boy."

He obediently limped a step closer, letting you wrap your arms around his waist to steady him. You gently cupped his soft cheeks in your hands, forcing him to look down at you. His ears lowered instinctively, waiting for a lecture.

"What did the doctor say yesterday?" you asked softly.

"...No walking."

"And?"

"...Rest."

"And what is the most important rule?"

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "...Listen to my girlfriend."

"Exactly. You scared me yesterday, Heeseung. I don't want you hurting yourself more."

"I'm sorry," he murmured, leaning his forehead against yours. His nose twitched against your cheek. "I really didn't mean to make you worry. I just wanted to be a good boyfriend."

"You're already the best boyfriend," you whispered, your heart softening completely.

Leaning up on your tiptoes, you pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. Then, a quick kiss to the tip of his nose, and finally, a lingering one to the corner of his lips.

"There."

Heeseung blinked, a goofy, love-struck smile spreading across his face. "Am I forgiven?"

"Not yet."

"Those three very sweet kisses say otherwise."

"I can easily take them back."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

He gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "You've changed. You've become cruel to your poor, injured seungiee."

"I'm just trying to keep you alive."

"A minor detail."

By the following week, a cozy routine had established itself.

You went to your university lectures, worked your evening shifts at the library, and came straight home to take care of him.

Dinner preparation became a team effort. Well, a modified team effort—you did all the actual cooking while Heeseung sat safely on a kitchen chair, providing what he called "essential emotional support."

"You're stirring that soup very aggressively," he observed, chin resting in his hands.

"I'm still thinking about how you almost broke your ankle."

"It was a minor sprain! The doctor said it was a clean twist."

"Heeseung."

"Okay, okay. I'm quiet."

Five minutes of silence passed.

"...Baby."

"No."

"I didn't even ask!"

"You were going to ask to taste-test the sauce."

He pouted, his ears twitching. "...Maybe."

"You've already stolen three bites of garlic bread."

"Those were quality control inspections. I had to make sure it wasn't poisonous for you."

"They were theft."

"They were acts of pure devotion."

By Friday, the doctor finally gave Heeseung the green light to walk without his brace, provided he didn't do any strenuous activity.

To celebrate, you ordered a mountain of fried chicken and set up a cozy movie nest on the living room floor. Halfway through the movie, you felt a warm gaze on the side of your face. Turning your head, you found Heeseung staring at you with a soft, intensely fond expression.

"What?" you asked, a light blush coating your cheeks. "Is there sauce on my face?"

"No." He smiled, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear. "I just have an incredibly beautiful girlfriend."

"You're going to miss the movie."

"I've seen this movie three times, Y/N."

"Still."

"I'd rather look at you."

You rolled your eyes, but the butterfly flutter in your chest was undeniable. "You are incredibly cheesy."

"But you love it."

"I tolerate it."

"Liar," he teased, nudging his shoulder against yours.

You chuckled, leaning into his side and resting your head against his chest. "Fine. I love it. But..." You looked up at him, narrowing your eyes playfully. "If you ever climb another counter, I am hiding every single box of honey crackers in this apartment."

Heeseung's eyes widened in genuine, hamster horror. "You wouldn't."

"I know all your hiding spots, Heeseung. I'm a detective now."

"No way."

"I found the chocolate in your hoodie pocket."

"A lucky guess."

"The almonds under the sofa."

"Coincidence."

"The cookie in the monstera plant."

Heeseung gasped, looking betrayed. "You found the botanical reserve?!"

"Yes, I did. So don't underestimate me."

He stared at you for a long moment before letting out a soft, defeated whine. "...I'm dating a criminal mastermind."

"No," you laughed, leaning up to steal a quick, sweet kiss from his lips. "You're just dating someone who is hopelessly in love with a very reckless, very cute hamster hybrid."

Heeseung's eyes softened, the playful banter melting away into pure warmth. He wrapped his arms securely around your waist, pulling you into his lap and resting his forehead against yours.

"I'll be more careful," he promised softly, his hybrid ears gently brushing against your temple. "I promise."

"You better."

"..."

"...Baby?"

"Mhm?"

"Can I have some honey crackers now? As a reward for being a good patient?"

You stared at him, completely dumbfounded, before bursting into a fit of laughter that made your stomach hurt. "You literally learned absolutely nothing from this entire week!"

"I learned one very important thing," Heeseung protested, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"Next time..." He leaned in close, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispered, "...I'll just ask my very smart, very beautiful girlfriend to reach them for me."

You shook your head, unable to hide your grin. "...That is a much better plan."

"So... does that mean yes?"

"Hm. Let me think about it."

He immediately began to whine, nuzzling his face into your neck. "Babyyy, please? Just one?"

"No."

"I'll do the dishes tonight! I can stand on both feet now, I promise."

"You already do the dishes."

"I'll fold the laundry."

"You hate folding laundry. You just nest in the warm clothes."

"I'll let you wear my favorite oversized gray hoodie for a whole week."

"Heeseung, I stole that hoodie three months ago. It lives in my closet now."

He let out a dramatic groan, burying his face in your shoulder. "You drive a very hard bargain, Y/N."

"I know."

"...Can I please just have one?"

Smiling, you reached over to the coffee table, where you had secretly placed the box of honey crackers earlier. You opened it, took out a single golden cracker, and placed it gently in his open palm.

He looked at the single cracker, then up at you with an outraged pout. "...Only one?"

"You only earned one for now. The rest are for when you can do a full squat without groaning."

He let out a long, dramatic sigh, but eagerly popped the cracker into his mouth anyway. "...Cruel. Absolutely heartless."

"And yet, you love me."

"I unfortunately do," he mumbled around the cracker, his cheeks puffing out adorable as he chewed. "I'm being bullied by the cutest girl in the world."

"I keep you safe and fed."

"A minor technicality."

You laughed again, the sound echoing through the quiet, cozy apartment. He joined in, his chest vibrating against yours as he pulled you closer, wrapping the thick fleece blanket around both of your shoulders.

The apartment was messy, lived-in, and full of character. There were sticky notes on the fridge, abandoned college notebooks on the coffee table, and a sink full of dishes waiting for tomorrow. It was a chaotic, beautiful life—two university students just trying to survive assignments, part-time jobs, and the daunting reality of adulthood.

...And one incredibly dramatic hamster hybrid who insisted he could take care of himself, even though everyone knew he’d be whining for cuddles five minutes later.

Every single evening ended the exact same way. With him tucked safely against your side, his warm breathing steady against your neck, and your fingers gently stroking the soft, twitching ears hidden in his dark hair.

As he drifted off to sleep, his voice mumbled sleepily into the quiet room.

"...Good thing you found me."

You smiled, kissing the crown of his head. "I always will, Heeseung."

His hand found yours under the blanket, his fingers entangling with yours as he squeezed gently in his sleep.

"...I know."

Iloveyoulots

HELLO! TYSM for liking my fics gorgeous😭. Everything's going alright, (my test are starting soon😞).

LOVE YOU MOREEEEEE!! <3 💋🌷🫶🏻🥹😭🎀

ive been a fan of your stories, its like they are part of my daily routine. i love reading them whenever i feel down or sad about whatever is happening in my life. you have no idea how much you make me feel happy with your stories.. please don't stop using your talent in writing. you are one talented soul. thank you so much, i love you ! 🫶

STOPP I'M GONNA CRY NOW.😭

​Pairing: Husband!Heeseung x Wife!Reader

​Genre: Fluff, Domestic Romance, Slice of Life, Comfort

​WC: 736 words.

Under the glow of streetlamps and heavy monsoon rain, a sudden detour turns into a midnight dance. Just a sweet, messy reminder of why you fall in love with him all over again.

The headlights of the car cut through the heavy, silver sheets of the monsoon rain, blurring the city lights into a soft, glowing smear. Inside, the quiet hum of the heater and the steady click-clack of the windshield wipers created a perfect, cozy bubble. You and Heeseung were on your way back from a quiet dinner date, the warmth of the evening still lingering between you.

Suddenly, you pressed your face against the cool glass, watching the fat raindrops splash against the window. An impulsive, electric spark hit you.

"Heeseung, stop the car," you said, a wide smile already growing on your face.

Heeseung glanced at you, his brow furrowing in mild confusion as he slowed the vehicle down near a quiet, tree-lined street. "Here? Wh—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, you unbuckled your seatbelt, popped the door open, and stepped right out into the pouring rain. The cool water instantly drenched your hair and clothes, but the sheer freedom of it made you laugh out loud.

Through the windshield, Heeseung’s eyes widened in pure shock, a helpless, amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips. You leaned down, knocking on his window and gesturing wildly for him to come out.

"Are you crazy?" he laughed, opening his door but staying under the slight shelter of the roof. "Y/N, you’re going to catch a cold!"

"Come out! Just for a minute!" you yelled over the sound of the downpour, holding your hands out to him.

With a dramatic sigh that fooled absolutely no one, Heeseung stepped completely out of the car. Within seconds, his dark hair was soaked, clinging to his forehead, and his damp shirt outlined the frame of his shoulders. He walked over to you, shaking his head, but his eyes were incredibly soft-filled with that familiar, deep warmth that always made your heart skip a beat, even after years of marriage.

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you flush against him. You looped your arms around his neck, tilting your face up to meet his gaze. Right there on the empty, rain-slicked pavement, under the dim glow of a streetlamp, he began to sway slowly, turning the chaotic monsoon into your own private ballroom.

As he spun you around, the melody of an old favorite song came to mind, matching the rhythm of the rain and the look in his eyes.

Heeseung leaned down, his forehead resting gently against yours, his breath warm against your rain-cooled skin. "What are you thinking about?" he whispered, his hands resting securely on your hips.

"Just thinking about how I manage to fall in love with you all over again, every single day," you admitted, your voice soft but clear over the rain.

He let out a low, breathless chuckle, his grip tightening around you as he pressed a tender, lingering kiss to your temple. "That's my line, y/n"

By the time you both got back home, you were completely drenched, leaving a trail of water droplets on the tiled entryway. Shivering slightly but still giggling, you both rushed upstairs to the bathroom to wash off the chill of the rain.

The hot shower was a blissful contrast to the cool night air. Under the steaming water, Heeseung helped you rinse the rainwater from your hair, his fingers gently massaging your scalp while you leaned back against his chest. There was no rush, just the comfortable, domestic intimacy of a couple who knew each other completely. He teased you about your impulsive streak, playfully flicking water at your face, earning a splash in return until the bathroom was filled with steam and laughter.

After drying off and changing into oversized, matching sweatpants and soft hoodies, you both padded down to the kitchen, still warm from the shower.

While Heeseung set a pot of water on the stove to boil for some instant ramen, you busy yourself preparing two mugs of thick, rich hot chocolate. The kitchen smelled of cocoa and savory spices, a perfect midnight comfort.

As the ramen noodles simmered, Heeseung walked up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and chin resting on your shoulder, watching you stir the chocolate.

"Happy anniversary, or just happy random rainy Tuesday?" he murmured into your ear, his voice laced with playful affection.

"Both," you smiled, turning your head slightly to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Definitively both."

Pairing: non-idol!hamster hybrid!lee heeseung × veterinarian!reader

Genre: hybrid au • established relationship • slice of life • domestic fluff • romance • comfort • cohabitation • healing • soft intimacy • low stakes • everyday life

Summary: After years of hiding the parts of himself that made him different, hamster hybrid Lee Heeseung never expected to fall in love with the one person who understood him best—his veterinarian. Between shared breakfasts, hidden snacks, soft blankets, and quiet evenings together, love slowly settles into the little things, until home becomes a person rather than a place.

WC: 1,382

Sunday mornings always began the same way.

Not because either of you planned them that way.

Because Heeseung's instincts did.

The apartment was still quiet, sunlight barely filtering through the curtains when Y/N woke to something warm pressed against her back.

She smiled without opening her eyes.

"...Morning."

No answer.

Only the feeling of a nose nudging gently into the back of her shoulder.

She laughed softly.

"You know I'm awake."

"...I know."

His voice was still sleepy.

She rolled over carefully.

Heeseung was buried almost completely beneath the duvet, only his messy black hair, sleepy eyes, and the pair of small, round hamster ears poking through his hair visible.

One ear twitched.

"You were awake before me?"

"Mhm."

"What time?"

"...Six."

"It's eight."

"I know."

"And you've just been lying here?"

"I like listening to you breathe."

Her heart melted a little every single time.

"You could've woken me."

"You looked comfortable."

"So you stayed?"

He nodded.

"I didn't want to disturb your nest."

She laughed.

"Our bed isn't a nest."

"It is."

"Heeseung."

"It has blankets."

"...It has blankets."

"It has pillows."

"...Yes."

"You."

"...Yes?"

"So..."

He yawned.

"...Nest."

She reached over, scratching gently behind one fuzzy ear.

His eyes closed immediately.

"There it is," she whispered.

"What?"

"The ear."

"...What ear?"

"The one that twitches whenever I scratch here."

"It doesn't."

"It absolutely does."

"No proof."

"It literally just twitched."

"You imagined it."

"You are an awful liar."

"I'm a fantastic liar."

Another scratch.

Another involuntary twitch.

"...Traitor," he muttered to his own ear.

Being a hamster hybrid meant Heeseung rarely slept deeply.

His hearing remained sensitive even while resting, enough that the refrigerator humming in the kitchen sometimes woke him before dawn.

As a veterinarian, Y/N had suggested soundproof curtains months ago.

A white noise machine.

A weighted blanket.

He'd resisted every suggestion until she'd quietly brought them home anyway.

Now he couldn't imagine sleeping without them.

"You were right," he admitted one night.

"I know."

"...Don't sound so smug."

"I deserve to."

"I'll never admit it again."

"You already did."

"...Forget I said anything."

She never did.

—

Breakfast was another ritual.

Or, as Y/N liked to call it—

"Operation: Stop My Boyfriend From Secretly Hoarding Food."

"I'm not hoarding."

"Heeseung."

"I'm organizing."

"You hid almonds inside the tea cabinet."

"I forgot."

"You put dried strawberries inside my work bag."

"I was helping Future You."

"I found crackers in my hoodie pocket."

"...Emergency crackers."

She opened another cabinet.

"...Why is there half a loaf of bread behind the rice cooker?"

He looked genuinely surprised.

"...There is?"

She stared.

"You didn't know?"

"...Apparently Past Me was worried."

"Worried about what?"

"...Bread shortage."

She couldn't even stay annoyed.

Research described food caching as an instinct left over from generations of small prey animals preparing for uncertain environments.

What the textbooks didn't mention was how adorable it became when your boyfriend absentmindedly apologized to slices of bread after forgetting where he'd hidden them.

"I'm trying," he said quietly.

"I know."

"I don't even realize I'm doing it half the time."

"I know."

"You aren't annoyed?"

She walked over, placing both hands on his face.

"Heeseung."

"Hm?"

"You've spent your whole life adapting to human habits."

"..."

"So why would I be annoyed by the little parts that make you who you are?"

His ears slowly lifted.

"You really don't mind?"

"I became a hybrid veterinarian because I love learning how different species live."

She kissed the tip of his nose.

"I'd be a pretty terrible girlfriend if I expected you to stop being yourself."

For a moment he simply looked at her.

Then he disappeared into the kitchen.

She frowned.

"...Where are you going?"

He came back carrying a small glass jar.

Inside were roasted pumpkin seeds.

"What are these for?"

"...You."

"Heeseung."

"You said girlfriends get flowers."

"I did."

"I still don't understand flowers."

He held the jar out.

"But I know these are your favorite."

Her chest tightened.

"They're roasted with cinnamon."

"I know."

"I mentioned that once."

"I remember."

"You remember everything I like."

"...Of course I do."

His answer was so immediate that it made her smile.

As prey hybrids, strong pair bonds often showed themselves through observation.

Remembering routines.

Learning preferences.

Watching carefully.

Heeseung knew how much honey she liked in her tea.

Which side of the bed she preferred.

How she unconsciously rubbed her wrist after difficult surgeries.

Which blanket she reached for first during winter.

She never had to ask.

He simply noticed.

—

The clinic occasionally stayed open late for emergencies.

On those nights Heeseung never texted asking when she'd be home.

Instead—

Her phone buzzed.

Heeseung: Slow cooker is on.

Five minutes later.

Heeseung: Rice is almost done.

Another ten.

Heeseung: Don't rush.

Then—

Heeseung: I miss you.

Every single time.

She smiled while washing her hands after surgery.

Y/N: I'll be home in thirty.

The typing bubble appeared instantly.

Heeseung: Okay.

Pause.

Heeseung: Drive safely.

Pause again.

Heeseung: Love you.

When she unlocked the apartment door, she was greeted by warmth.

Soup simmering.

Fresh rice.

The smell of toasted sesame oil.

And—

"...You're home."

Heeseung appeared around the corner, immediately wrapping his arms around her before she'd even taken off her shoes.

He buried his face into her neck.

"...Long day?"

"Mhm."

"You smell like antiseptic."

"I know."

"You also smell tired."

"I didn't know tired had a smell."

"It does."

He kissed her shoulder.

"Dinner first."

"You cooked again?"

"I wanted to."

"You spoil me."

He looked genuinely confused.

"I'm feeding my mate."

She blinked.

"...Your what?"

His face immediately turned bright red.

"I..."

His ears flattened.

"...Hybrid terminology."

"You called me your mate."

"I meant partner."

"You definitely said mate."

"I know."

He covered his face.

"I can't take it back."

She burst into laughter.

He groaned dramatically.

"I'm moving out."

"No, you're not."

"I'm too embarrassed."

She pulled his hands away from his face before kissing him.

"I kind of liked it."

"...Really?"

"Mhm."

His ears slowly stood back up.

"...Can I still call you that?"

"When we're alone."

His smile was so bright it almost rivaled the kitchen lights.

"Okay."

—

That evening, they ended up exactly where they always did.

Curled together on the sofa beneath far too many blankets.

A nature documentary played quietly in the background.

Neither of them was actually watching it.

Y/N rested against his chest while he absentmindedly played with her fingers.

After several peaceful minutes she felt him shift.

"...What?"

"Nothing."

"You made the thinking face."

"I was just..."

He hesitated.

"...Happy."

She looked up.

"That's all?"

"Mhm."

"Why?"

He smiled down at her.

"When I was younger, I thought I'd always have to hide the hybrid parts of me."

His fingers brushed against one of his small rounded ears.

"I kept hats on."

"I know."

"I tried to ignore my instincts."

"I know."

"But now..."

He looked around their apartment.

The blanket piled across the sofa.

The basket filled with plush pillows.

The jars of healthy snacks she'd organized just for him.

The little wooden hide she'd bought after learning enclosed spaces helped prey hybrids decompress after stressful days.

Photos of the two of you covered the bookshelf.

Your lab coat hung beside his jacket by the front door.

"My home looks like me."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"And you never asked me to change."

Y/N reached up, stroking behind one soft ear until it twitched.

"I fell in love with all of you."

Another tiny twitch.

"Human."

Scratch.

"Hybrid."

Another twitch.

"And especially this dramatic little ear."

He laughed so hard he nearly knocked both of you off the sofa.

"You bully me."

"I adore you."

"I know."

"I'll keep teasing you anyway."

"I know."

She smiled against his shoulder.

For someone whose instincts had always told him to seek warmth, safety, and somewhere to belong, Heeseung eventually realized he hadn't found those things in blankets or quiet corners.

He'd found them in the person absentmindedly playing with his ears while reminding him to drink water, eat enough vegetables, and stop hiding sunflower seeds in the linen closet.

And somehow, to a hamster hybrid who had spent years believing he was too strange to be fully understood, that felt exactly like home.

Please please pleawseee!!!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥺🥺🥺🥺

So cutee<3🎀

Mwah💋

Last Part

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Lee Heeseung × Fem!Reader

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Ni-ki, Eunchae, Jake, Jay, Sunghoon, Heedo, Lee family & Park family.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 : Childhood Neighbors AU, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, First Love, Tutor AU, College AU, Long Distance, Reunion, Fluff, Angst, Slice of Life, Mutual Pining, Domestic Romance, Happy Ending.

𝐖𝐂 : 1,612

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 : The boy next door taught her math, fed stray cats every night, and accidentally became her first love. Years later, they meet again only to realize that some feelings never really leave—they simply wait for the right time to come home.

Pt1, Pt2

And so they did. The next morning…

Y/N woke up and stared at the ceiling. Then she sat up. Then– Her eyes widened.

"Oh no."

Meanwhile, at the Lee house—

Heeseung sat up in bed. And immediately remembered everything. He covered his face with both hands.

"Oh no."

Later that day, they accidentally met outside. Silence. Very awkward silence.

Then—

"Hi."

"Hi."

Another silence. Then both spoke at the same time.

"About last night—"

They stopped. And somehow laughed.

"I remember everything," he admitted.

"Me too."

Silence again. Then he sighed.

"I don't regret it."

She blinked. He looked nervous.

"I mean… I know the timing was bad and I just got out of a relationship and—"

"I don't regret it either."

He stopped talking. They looked at each other. Neither said anything. Then he smiled softly. And she smiled back. A few days later, they went out for coffee. Then another walk. Then dinner. Then another walk. And slowly… Very naturally…

Their feelings became impossible to ignore. One evening, they sat on the same park bench as before. He looked at her.

"I think I've liked you for a very long time."

She blinked.

"What?"

He laughed softly.

"Maybe I was just too stupid to realize it."

She smiled.

"I liked you when I was sixteen."

He looked shocked.

"You what?"

She laughed.

"You were my first crush."

He covered his face.

"You're telling me this now?"

"I thought you'd never know."

He laughed.

Then he looked at her again.

"So…"

"So?"

"Can I take you on a real date this time?"

She smiled.

"I'd like that."

And that was how it began. Not with fireworks. Not with dramatic confessions. But with friendship. Timing. And feelings that had quietly waited for years.

───

Three years later.

"Y/N."

"Yes?"

"Marry me."

She stared at him.

They were sitting under the same streetlight where they had reunited.

He held a small ring.

And looked incredibly nervous.

She laughed through her tears.

"Of course I will."

He smiled so brightly that she almost cried again.

───

One year later. The entire neighborhood celebrated their wedding. Jake cried. Jay cried. Sunghoon secretly cried. Ni-ki cried the most. Eunchae couldn't stop taking pictures.

Mrs. Lee cried and called Y/N her daughter for the hundredth time. Mr. and Mrs. Park looked happier than ever. Even little Heedo's daughter became the flower girl. And as Y/N walked down the aisle…

She saw him. The boy who fed stray cats. The tutor who taught her math. Her first crush. Her best friend. And now her forever.

─── Epilogue

The first thing Y/N saw every morning was her husband stealing her blanket. Again. She slowly opened one eye. Lee Heeseung was sleeping peacefully, wrapped like a burrito in the blanket that had originally been hers. She stared at him. Then at herself. Then back at him.

"Unbelievable."

No response. She poked his cheek. Nothing. She poked him again. Still nothing. Finally, she leaned closer.

"Lee Heeseung."

A sleepy hum.

"You stole my blanket."

Another hum.

"Give it back."

"No."

She blinked.

He wasn't even awake, and he was refusing.

"You're asleep!"

"Warm..."

She couldn't help laughing. Married life was not what she'd expected. She thought it would be romantic all the time. Instead, it involved blanket theft, losing socks, and arguing over what to eat for dinner. But she loved every bit of it. She carefully pulled the blanket. He immediately tightened his grip.

"Hey!"

"You said no."

"That's my blanket."

"Our blanket."

She laughed. Then, before she could argue more, he opened his eyes and smiled sleepily.

"Good morning, wife."

Her heart still did a tiny flip whenever he called her that.

"Good morning."

He reached out and pulled her back into bed.

"Heeseung."

"Hm?"

"We need to get up."

"No."

"It's almost nine."

"Still no."

She laughed.

"We're adults."

"I don't want to be an adult today."

"Too bad."

He buried his face in her shoulder.

"Five more minutes."

"You said that twenty minutes ago."

"Then another five."

She smiled and gently ran her fingers through his hair. He immediately melted.

"You really like this, don't you?"

"Very much."

She laughed softly.

Sometimes, he acted more like a giant puppy than a grown man. Eventually, they got up. After many complaints from him. Their mornings usually looked like this. Y/N made breakfast. Heeseung made coffee. Then they ate together while talking about their day.

"You have work today?" she asked.

"Unfortunately."

"Poor thing."

He dramatically sighed.

"I know."

She laughed.

"What about you?"

"I have a meeting later."

He nodded. Then suddenly—

"You have flour on your nose."

"What?"

He smiled.

"Here."

Before she could react, he gently wiped it away.

Then he smiled. "You look cute."

She rolled her eyes.

"You flirt too much."

"I flirt with my wife."

"Still."

He grinned.

"You love it."

She did. But she wasn't going to admit that. Some evenings were spent cooking together. Which was usually a terrible idea. Because Y/N still couldn't cook very well.

"Heeseung."

"Hm?"

"Is the chicken supposed to look like this?"

He looked. Then looked at her. Then looked at the chicken again.

"No."

She sighed.

"I tried."

"You did."

"Can we order food?"

"We can."

She smiled immediately.

"Great."

He laughed.

"You've learned nothing."

"I've learned that you're the better cook."

"That's true."

She pointed at him.

"See? Even you admit it."

He laughed again.

Some nights were quiet. Their favorite kind.

They would sit on the couch together after a long day. A movie playing in the background. Neither of them paying attention. Because somehow, talking to each other was more interesting.

Y/N usually ended up curled against him. And he usually ended up playing with her hair.

"Long day?" he asked softly one evening.

She nodded.

"Tiring."

He opened his arms. Without hesitation, she moved closer. She rested her head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around her. Neither spoke. They didn't need to. Sometimes comfort was simply this. Being together. Listening to each other's heartbeat. Knowing someone was there. After a few minutes, she looked up.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For always being here."

His expression softened.

"Always."

He kissed her forehead.

She smiled. Even after years together, little things like that still made her happy.

Of course, there was also teasing. A lot of teasing. One evening, Heeseung found her in the bedroom. She was sitting on the floor. Surrounded by plushies. He blinked.

"You still do this?"

She looked up.

"What?"

"You still have meetings with your plushies."

She gasped.

"We're not having a meeting."

"Oh?"

"We're watching a movie."

He laughed so hard he had to sit down.

"Stop laughing!"

"You never changed."

She crossed her arms.

"And I never will."

He smiled.

"Good."

She blinked.

"What?"

"I like this version of you."

Her cheeks warmed.

"You say things so casually."

"Because it's true."

She smiled shyly. He still had that effect on her. Even after all these years. Every weekend, they visited their parents. Heeseung's mom still called Y/N her daughter. Y/N's mother still spoiled Heeseung with food. And little by little, family dinners became everyone's favorite tradition. Heedo's daughter especially loved visiting.

"Auntie!"

A tiny girl ran toward Y/N. She immediately picked her up.

"Hello, princess."

The little girl grinned.

"Uncle Heeseung said you can't cook."

Silence. Then—

"LEE HEESEUNG!"

He nearly dropped his drink. Everyone burst into laughter.

"You exposed me to a child?"

He laughed.

"I only told the truth."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You are sleeping on the couch."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"Nope."

Mrs. Lee laughed so hard she nearly cried.

Late at night, after everyone had gone home, they often took walks together. Just like old times. And just like old times— Heeseung still fed the neighborhood cats.

"You never stopped."

"Nope."

She smiled. One cat rubbed against her leg. She picked it up.

"I think they like me more now."

He looked offended.

"Impossible."

She laughed.

"They do."

"No."

"They absolutely do."

He shook his head.

"Betrayal."

She laughed harder. Then she looked at him. The streetlights illuminated his face. He looked exactly like the boy she had watched from her bedroom window years ago. Just older. A little more mature. And still ridiculously handsome.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"You're staring."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

She smiled.

"I was just thinking."

"About?"

"How lucky I am."

His expression softened. He gently took her hand.

"No."

She looked at him.

"I'm the lucky one."

She smiled.

"You're cheesy."

"And you're smiling."

"I always smile."

"No, you don't."

She laughed. They had been saying that for years. Some things really never changed. He stopped walking. She looked at him curiously.

"What?"

Instead of answering, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Then he kissed her forehead. Then her cheek. And finally, a soft kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, she smiled.

"What was that for?"

He smiled back.

"No reason."

She laughed.

"Liar."

"Maybe."

Then he took her hand again.

"Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

Home. The word felt warm. Because home wasn't just a place anymore. It wasn't a house. Or a neighborhood. Or a city. Home was this. Late-night walks. Street cats. Shared blankets. Morning coffee. Laughter. And the boy who became her best friend, her first love, and eventually her husband. As they walked home together, Y/N smiled. Because if sixteen-year-old her could see this moment—

She'd probably scream. And honestly?

Twenty-nine-year-old Y/N still wanted to scream a little too. Because after all these years. She still looked at Lee Heeseung and thought the same thing. He was breathtaking.

Pairing: Enhypen!Lee Heeseung x The Girl On The Bridge x Enhypen.

Genre: Psychological Drama / Music / Coming-of-Age Fiction

Synopsis: Forced out of his group during a ruthless corporate rebranding, a burned-out idol adopts the moniker EVAN to rebuild his life from the ashes, channeling his grief into a raw solo debut that ultimately leads him to self-forgiveness and a profound new beginning

WC: 1.2k or 1,258

Pt1

The text messages on his screen didn’t save him from the storm. They were just the final, quiet moments before the sky completely fell.

A week after that night on the bridge, the agency made their decision. The public pressure, the relentless rumors, and the division among the fans had reached a breaking point. The corporate suits wanted to protect the brand. ENHYPEN was going through a massive brand renewal—a fresh start, a clean slate.

And Heeseung wasn’t in it.

He was kicked out of the group.

The day he packed his things from the dorm, the silence was suffocating. The other six members stood in the living room, a heavy, helpless grief pinning them to the floor. They hadn't wanted this. They had argued, pleaded, and fought with management, but the industry was a machine that chewed up hearts to keep the gears turning.

"Hyung," Jungwon had whispered, his voice cracking. "We tried."

"I know," Heeseung said, pulling his former leader into a tight embrace. He looked at Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki. "Keep going. Take care of the group."

Walking out of that building meant leaving behind his youth, his brothers, and the name Lee Heeseung that the world had fought over. He was completely on his own. The internet erupted into chaos—some celebrating his departure, others mourning it. But for Heeseung, the noise finally faded into absolute silence.

He didn't check social media. He didn't look at the charts. For months, he disappeared into a tiny underground studio, trading stadium lights for a single, flickering fluorescent bulb.

He wasn't an idol anymore. He was just a guy with a broken heart and a keyboard.

Slowly, the grief turned into something sharp. Something aggressive. If the world wanted to define him by his ending, he would have to build a new beginning from scratch. He chose a new name: EVAN. A clean break from the past. He wasn't going to play by the rules of perfection anymore.

He started composing a song that didn't sound like anything he had done before. It wasn't polished, clean K-pop; it was dark, heavy, and drenched in a rock-infused, atmospheric R&B vibe. It was a declaration.

He stayed up for days, guitars distorted and bass heavy, pouring the betrayal, the freedom, and the sheer grit of survival into the track. It was a song born from the ashes of his old life.

He named his official solo debut single: "Ride or Die."

The lyrics weren't a plea for forgiveness. They were an invitation to the ones who were willing to go down in flames with him.

“Even if the road burns, step on the gas.

We ride or die, we don't look back.”

When the song was finally released under the name EVAN, it shocked the industry. The music video didn't feature clean choreography; it was raw, cinematic, showing him driving through the dark city streets, leaving a trail of smoke behind him. It was the sound of someone who had lost everything and realized they finally had nothing left to fear.

The world had forced Lee Heeseung to leave. But EVAN had just arrived.

"Ride or Die" became an unexpected phenomenon. It didn't just chart; it resonated with everyone who had ever been pushed to their absolute limits. But while the title track was full of fire and defiance, the B-side on the single album was where Heeseung hid his soul.

The track was called "Overflow."

It was a complete contrast to the aggression of Ride or Die. It was an indie-pop, atmospheric masterpiece that sounded like the hazy blue hours just before the sun rises. It was the musical embodiment of that night on the bridge.

One evening, after his first successful solo broadcast, Heeseung—now officially recognized as EVAN—sat alone in his new studio. He clicked on the audio file for "Overflow" and let his own voice fill the room.

The song was a diary of his departure. It was about the moment the water finally spills over the dam.

“I'm not okay, there's a deep scar left on me...

Locked in a room filled with words I never said.”

In the second verse, the lyrics shifted, painting a picture of an empty passenger seat, a gray hoodie, and a promise made on a rooftop a lifetime ago. It was a song dedicated to the fans—now calling themselves EVER—who had crossed the burning bridge with him, refusing to let him disappear into the dark.

A soft knock on the door broke his concentration.

Heeseung turned around. Standing in the doorway, wearing casual clothes and matching caps to hide their faces, were Jungwon and Jake.

Heeseung blinked, a rush of warmth hitting his chest. "What are you guys doing here? Aren't you in the middle of promotions for the renewal album?"

"We sneaked out," Jake said, a mischievous grin breaking across his face as he walked in and dropped a bag of takeout on the desk. "We had to congratulate our solo superstar."

Jungwon smiled gently, leaning against the keyboard. "We heard the album, hyung. Ride or Die is incredible. But... Overflow made me cry."

Heeseung laughed softly, pulling up two extra chairs. "Yeah? It was hard to write. It felt like if I didn't get those words out, I was going to drown."

"You didn't drown," Jungwon said, his eyes reflecting the studio lights. "You just learned how to swim out of the storm."

They sat together for hours, eating, talking, and laughing just like they used to. The corporate names had changed, the groups had split, and the brand renewal had drawn a line between their careers—but their hearts hadn't moved an inch. They were still the boys who had survived the pressure cooker of youth together.

By the time Jungwon and Jake had to leave to beat the morning traffic, Heeseung walked them out to the back exit.

"We're always rooting for you, EVAN," Jake joked, throwing an arm around him before stepping into the crisp morning air.

"Take care of yourself, Heeseung-hyung," Jungwon added, his voice full of a quiet sincerity that grounded Heeseung completely. "Don't drive too late at night anymore."

"I won't," Heeseung smiled.

He watched them disappear down the alleyway, their figures blurring into the early morning fog.

Walking back into his studio, he stood by the window. The sky outside was turning a magnificent, brilliant shade of gold and lavender. The sun was rising.

His phone buzzed on the desk. He walked over and picked it up. He didn't see hateful comments or corporate notices anymore. He saw thousands of messages from fans sharing lines from his song.

“Thank you for staying until the end, EVAN.”

“Overflow is our story.”

Heeseung looked down at the lyric sheet resting on his piano. The final line of "Overflow" stared back at him in his own handwriting:

“Even if the night returns, I’ll remember the sunrise.”

He smiled, a single tear slipping down his cheek—not out of sadness, but from a profound sense of peace.

He wasn't invisible anymore. He didn't need to be the flawless idol the world demanded, nor did he have to carry the weight of a broken past. He was EVAN. He was Lee Heeseung. He was a survivor.

The passenger seat of his car might be empty, but his heart was overflowing. And as the morning light completely flooded the room, washing away the last remnants of the dark, he knew he had finally made it to the end of the night.

And he was ready to stay.

Two

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Lee Heeseung × Fem!Reader

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Ni-ki, Eunchae, Jake, Jay, Sunghoon, Heedo, Lee family & Park family.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 : Childhood Neighbors AU, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, First Love, Tutor AU, College AU, Long Distance, Reunion, Fluff, Angst, Slice of Life, Mutual Pining, Domestic Romance, Happy Ending.

𝐖𝐂 : 2,708

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 : The boy next door taught her math, fed stray cats every night, and accidentally became her first love. Years later, they meet again only to realize that some feelings never really leave—they simply wait for the right time to come home.

Pt1 , Pt3

The next morning—

"YOU DID WHAT?!"

Ni-ki nearly shouted.

Y/N laughed.

"We talked."

"For six hours?!"

"Maybe seven."

Eunchae stared at her.

"You and Heeseung spent six hours together?"

"When you say it like that, it sounds weird."

"Because it is weird!"

She laughed again.

The three of them were sitting in a café.

Ni-ki narrowed his eyes.

"I don't trust this."

"Trust what?"

"This."

"What is 'this'?"

"The fact that your first night back home was spent with your childhood crush."

She nearly choked.

"He wasn't my childhood crush."

Both of them looked at her.

She sighed.

"Fine. He was."

"Exactly."

"But that was years ago."

"Are you sure?"

"...Yes."

Eunchae smiled knowingly.

"You sure about that?"

"Completely."

Unfortunately. She wasn't completely sure.

Meanwhile, at the Lee house—

Mrs. Lee looked at her son.

"You seem happy."

"I am happy."

"No."

She smiled.

"You seem very happy."

He blinked.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You smiled while making coffee."

"I always smile."

"No, you don't."

He frowned.

"I do."

She laughed.

"No, you don't."

Then she casually added—

"You met Y/N last night, didn't you?"

He nearly dropped his cup.

"How do you know?"

"You came home smiling."

He sighed.

"Mom..."

She simply grinned.

"I always thought you two looked cute together."

He almost choked.

"Mom!"

"What?"

"We're just neighbors."

"Of course."

He recognized that tone. She absolutely did not mean of course. Over the next few days, they began seeing each other often. Morning walks. Coffee runs. Late-night conversations. Trips to convenience stores. They talked about everything they had missed. And somehow... Being around each other became easy again. Dangerously easy. Neither of them noticed how much they were looking forward to seeing each other every day. But other people noticed. Especially Jake.

"You've been smiling at your phone."

"I have not."

"You have."

Jay nodded.

"You definitely have."

Sunghoon looked up.

"Is it Y/N?"

Silence.

Then all three of them grinned.

"Oh my God," Jake said.

"It is Y/N."

"It isn't."

"It definitely is."

Heeseung sighed. His friends were impossible.

Unfortunately. A tiny part of him wondered why hearing her name made him smile. And that tiny part scared him. Because he had a girlfriend.

And because Y/N. Was just his neighbor.

Right?

The next few days passed peacefully. Too peacefully. Almost every morning, Y/N would find herself standing outside her gate just as Heeseung stepped out of his house.

"Coincidence?" he asked one morning.

She blinked innocently.

"What is?"

"You being outside every single time I come out."

She crossed her arms.

"Maybe I enjoy fresh air."

"At exactly eight-thirty every morning?"

"Maybe."

He laughed.

"You've become suspicious."

She gasped.

"You wound me, Lee Heeseung."

He chuckled.

"And you've become dramatic."

"That's because life is a drama."

"Spoken like a true main character."

She grinned.

"Exactly."

They ended up walking to the nearby café together. Again. It was slowly becoming a habit. Neither of them questioned it. At least not yet.

───

One afternoon, Y/N was helping her mother in the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" she called.

She opened the door. A beautiful woman stood there. She had long dark hair and wore an expensive-looking dress.

"Oh, hello," the woman said politely.

"Hi?"

"I'm looking for the Lee family."

"Oh, next door."

"Thank you."

She smiled and walked away. Y/N stared at her for a moment. Pretty. Very pretty. Then she remembered. Oh.

That must be his girlfriend. For some reason. She suddenly didn't feel like smiling anymore. Later that evening, she was sitting in her room when her phone buzzed.

Heeseung: Want to get ice cream?

She stared at the message.

A few seconds later—

Y/N: Aren't you with your girlfriend?

A minute passed.

Then—

Heeseung: How do you know about her?

Y/N: I saw her earlier.

Three dots appeared.

Heeseung: Oh.

Another message came.

Heeseung: Are you busy?

She looked at the screen for a long moment.

Then—

Y/N: No.

Five minutes later, she stepped outside.

Heeseung was already waiting.

He smiled.

"You came."

"You asked."

They started walking.

For the first time in days, it felt a little awkward.

"So..." she said.

"So..." he repeated.

Silence.

Then she laughed.

"Why is this suddenly weird?"

He laughed too.

"I have no idea."

They reached the convenience store and bought ice cream. Then they sat on a small bench. Y/N took a bite of hers.

"Your girlfriend is really pretty."

He blinked.

"Oh."

She looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You're acting strange."

"I am not."

"You are."

He sighed.

"She's... nice."

That wasn't exactly an answer. But she didn't ask further. Instead she smiled.

"How long have you been together?"

"A little over a year."

"Oh."

He looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You keep saying 'nothing.'"

She laughed.

"Maybe I have a lot of nothings."

He smiled. Somehow, the conversation returned to normal after that. But something still felt... different. A few days later, Jake, Jay and Sunghoon came over. Again. The four of them were sitting in Heeseung's room.

"How's life?" Jake asked.

"Fine."

"How's work?"

"Fine."

"How's your relationship?"

Silence. Jake blinked.

"...Why are you quiet?"

Jay looked up from his phone. Sunghoon also looked curious. Heeseung sighed.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

He rubbed his face.

"Things feel different lately."

"Different how?"

"I don't know."

The three exchanged glances. Jake spoke carefully.

"Are you happy?"

Silence. A long silence.

Then—

"I think so."

Jake raised an eyebrow.

"'I think so' isn't a good answer."

He knew that.

The truth was...

Lately, he wasn't sure. Something had been off for months. The relationship had started feeling... distant. Conversations felt forced. The excitement wasn't there anymore. And honestly. He didn't know when it had changed.

"Maybe you're just tired," Jay said.

"Maybe."

But even he didn't sound convinced.

───

Meanwhile, Y/N was hanging out with Ni-ki and Eunchae. They were eating dinner together.

"So..." Ni-ki said.

"How's your favorite neighbor?"

She nearly rolled her eyes.

"He's fine."

"That's not what I asked."

Eunchae smiled.

"You're seeing him a lot lately."

"We're friends."

"Friends who spend every day together?"

"We're catching up."

Ni-ki narrowed his eyes.

"You still like him."

She sighed.

"No, I don't."

"You hesitated."

"I didn't."

"You definitely did."

She stabbed her food dramatically.

"I hate both of you."

"No, you don't."

She sighed again.

The problem was. She didn't know. Seeing him again after all these years had brought back memories. Feelings she thought had disappeared. And that was dangerous. Because he had a girlfriend. So she had decided something. No matter what happened. She would never cross that line. Never.

The following week, both families decided to have dinner together. The Parks and the Lees had remained close all these years. So it wasn't unusual.

Y/N arrived at the Lee house carrying dessert. Mrs. Lee immediately hugged her.

"My second daughter is here."

Y/N laughed.

"I missed you too."

She greeted everyone.

Then—

"Hello."

She turned. Mina stood there. The two women smiled politely.

"Hi."

"I'm Mina."

"I'm Y/N."

"It's nice to meet you."

"You too."

Everything seemed normal. But for some reason. The atmosphere felt slightly awkward. Dinner began. Everyone chatted happily. Mrs. Lee kept putting food on Y/N's plate.

"Eat more."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You're too skinny."

"Mooom," Heeseung laughed.

"What? She is."

Y/N giggled.

The entire table seemed comfortable. Except Mina. She looked around quietly. Almost like she couldn't fit into the conversation. Because every story somehow involved Y/N.

"Remember when Y/N got third place in school?" Mrs. Lee said proudly.

"Oh yes," Mr. Lee agreed.

"She ran over to show Heeseung her report card."

Everyone laughed. Even Y/N. Mina smiled politely. But something in her expression changed. She noticed it. So did Jake. And Sunghoon. Later that evening, while helping wash dishes, Y/N found Mina beside her.

"You've known Heeseung for a long time."

She smiled.

"Since I was sixteen."

"That's nice."

A few seconds of silence passed.

"You two seem very close."

Y/N looked at her.

"We're neighbors."

"Right."

Again. Something felt strange. But she couldn't explain it. A few days later, Heeseung and Mina went out for dinner. Everything seemed fine.

Until—

"I think your family likes Y/N more than me."

He looked up.

"What?"

She sighed.

"They adore her."

"Well... they've known her for years."

"I know."

She smiled, but it looked forced.

"I'm just saying."

Silence. Then she added—

"You seem happier around her too."

He blinked.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what do you mean?"

She looked away.

"Forget it."

But he couldn't.

Because for some reason...

Her words stayed in his mind.

───

That night, he couldn't sleep. So he went outside. As usual, he brought cat food. As usual, the cats gathered around him. And as usual—

"Can't sleep?"

He looked up.

Y/N stood there holding a cup of tea. He smiled.

"Apparently not."

She sat beside him.

They watched the cats for a while. Then she handed him the extra cup.

"You made tea?"

"I made two by accident."

He looked at her suspiciously.

"You're a terrible liar."

She grinned.

"Maybe I knew I'd find you here."

He laughed.

The sound echoed softly in the quiet street.

"You know," she said.

"Hm?"

"I missed this."

"What?"

"Talking to you."

He looked at her.

She smiled softly.

"I didn't realize how much I missed my friend." Friend. The word should've felt normal.

Instead...

It made something in his chest ache. He didn't understand why. And honestly. That scared him a little. Because every day, he found himself looking forward to these late-night conversations. Every day, he found himself smiling more. Every day, he found himself wondering—

What exactly had changed? And why did it only happen after Park Y/N came back home? The next few weeks passed strangely. On the outside, everything looked normal. Heeseung still spent time with Mina. He still met his friends. He still went on late-night walks. But inside, something felt wrong. Very wrong. And everyone around him could see it. Everyone except him.

───

One evening, Jake, Jay and Sunghoon were at his house again. The four of them sat in the living room. Jake looked at him for a long moment. Then he sighed.

"We need to talk."

Heeseung frowned.

"That sounds serious."

"It is."

Jay nodded.

"Very serious."

Sunghoon put down his drink.

"We don't think you're happy."

Silence.

Heeseung blinked.

"What?"

"You heard us."

He looked confused.

"Where is this coming from?"

Jake sighed.

"You haven't smiled around Mina in months."

"I smile."

"No, you don't."

"Everyone says that."

"Because it's true."

Silence.

Then Jake spoke softly.

"We've known you since we were kids."

"And?"

"And you've never looked this tired before."

That made him pause.

Jay sighed.

"We're not saying she's a bad person."

"But something feels wrong."

"Very wrong," Sunghoon agreed.

Heeseung looked away.

Because…

A part of him knew they were right. A few days later, things became worse. He accidentally saw a message on Mina's phone. A message from another man. At first, he thought nothing of it. Then another message appeared. And another. And another. His heart slowly sank. Later that night, he confronted her.

"Mina."

She looked up.

"Yeah?"

"Who is he?"

Silence. The color drained from her face. He held up her phone.

"Who is he?"

A long silence followed.

Then…

"I'm sorry."

Three words. Three words were enough. Everything suddenly made sense. The distance. The coldness. The strange feeling. Everything.

"How long?" he asked quietly.

She looked down.

"A few months."

He laughed bitterly.

"A few months?"

"I'm sorry."

"Did you ever plan on telling me?"

Tears gathered in her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

He closed his eyes.

At that moment, he realized something. He wasn't heartbroken. He wasn't even angry. He was just… tired. Very tired. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"I think we should end this."

She nodded sadly. Because deep down… They both knew the relationship had ended long ago. That night, he left the house. He didn't tell anyone where he was going. He just walked.And walked. And walked. Until he found himself in a bar. For the first time in a long while, he wanted to stop thinking. So he ordered a drink. Then another. And another.

───

Meanwhile, Y/N was out with Ni-ki and Eunchae.

"Cheers!" Ni-ki said.

The three clinked their glasses together. They laughed and talked for hours.

Eventually—

"I'm going to the restroom," Eunchae said.

"I'll come too," Ni-ki said.

Y/N nodded.

"I'll wait here."

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. She sighed.

"Where did they disappear?"

She stood up and looked around. And then. She froze. At the corner of the bar sat someone familiar. Lee Heeseung. A lot of empty glasses were on the table. She frowned. He wasn't the type to drink this much. She slowly approached.

"Heeseung?"

He looked up. His eyes were slightly unfocused.

"Y/N?"

"What are you doing here?"

He smiled weakly.

"Drinking."

"I can see that."

She sat beside him.

"Are you okay?"

Silence.

Then he laughed softly.

"No."

Her expression immediately softened.

"What happened?"

He looked down.

"We broke up."

She blinked.

"Oh."

"She was cheating."

Silence.

"Oh…"

He smiled bitterly.

"Yeah."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then she gently asked,

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He looked at her. And for some reason. He did. So he told her everything. And she listened. As always. No judgment. No interruption. Just listening. By the end of it, he looked exhausted.

"You know…" he said quietly.

"Hm?"

"I think I stayed in that relationship because it was comfortable."

She looked at him.

"But comfort isn't always love."

Silence.

Then he looked at her again.

"When did you become so wise?"

She laughed softly.

"When I became old."

"You are not old."

"Twenty-seven feels old."

He smiled.

"You still look sixteen sometimes."

She laughed. The sound made him smile too.They sat there quietly. Then—

"You should go home," she said gently.

"I don't want to."

"Why?"

He looked at her.

"Because everything feels messy."

For some reason, her heart hurt. She hated seeing him like this. Then she smiled softly.

"Then let's stay here for a little while."

So they did. They talked. And talked. And talked.

Somewhere between conversations and laughter. They both ended up drinking more than they intended. Eventually, they left the bar. The night air was cold. They walked slowly. Neither of them was completely sober.

"I missed you," he suddenly said.

She looked at him.

"What?"

"I really missed you."

She smiled softly.

"I missed you too."

He stopped walking.

"So much changed."

"It did."

"But somehow… talking to you still feels the same."

Her heart skipped. She looked at him quietly.

"You've always been important to me, Y/N."

The way he said her name made her chest tighten.

"You're important to me too."

Silence.The street was empty. The city lights glowed softly around them. Then he took a small step closer. She didn't move. Neither did he. They simply looked at each other. Years of friendship. Years of memories. Years of unspoken feelings. Everything suddenly felt very close. Very real.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said softly.

She smiled.

"You've had too much to drink."

"I'm serious."

Her cheeks warmed.

"You look handsome too."

He laughed softly.

"Thanks."

Another silence.

Then—

"I think I've always liked your smile."

She blinked.

"What?"

"I don't know why I suddenly said that."

She laughed.

"You really are drunk."

"So are you."

"Fair."

He smiled. And suddenly. She remembered sixteen-year-old herself. The girl who sat by her window watching him feed cats. The girl who developed a tiny crush on her tutor. The girl who cried when he moved away. And somehow. Those feelings had never completely disappeared. She looked at him. He looked at her. And then.

Without thinking—

They kissed.

Soft. Gentle. Brief. When they pulled away, both looked stunned. Very stunned.

"Oh."

"Oh."

Silence. Then—

"Oh."

She covered her face.

"Oh my God."

He blinked several times.

"I…"

"You…"

"I think we kissed."

"I think so too."

Neither of them knew what to say. Eventually, they burst into nervous laughter.

"Maybe we should go home," she said.

"Probably."

To be continued...

One

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Lee Heeseung × Fem!Reader

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Ni-ki, Eunchae, Jake, Jay, Sunghoon, Heedo, Lee family & Park family.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 : Childhood Neighbors AU, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, First Love, Tutor AU, College AU, Long Distance, Reunion, Fluff, Angst, Slice of Life, Mutual Pining, Domestic Romance, Happy Ending.

𝐖𝐂 : 4,857

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 : The boy next door taught her math, fed stray cats every night, and accidentally became her first love. Years later, they meet again only to realize that some feelings never really leave—they simply wait for the right time to come home.

Pt2 , Pt3

The moving truck stopped in front of the two-story house just as the evening sun began to set.

"Careful with that box!" Mrs. Park called out as two workers carried another carton inside.

Y/N stood on the sidewalk, holding her small plush bunny against her chest. Her long hair was tied into a messy ponytail, and she looked around the unfamiliar neighborhood with curious eyes. New house. New area. New school. Everything felt strange.

"Y/N, don't just stand there. Bring your backpack inside," her father said with a smile.

"Coming, Dad." She picked up her bag and slowly walked toward the house. A few houses away, someone was watching.A tall boy wearing a gray hoodie stood near a flower pot, his hands inside his pockets.

Lee Heeseung. Nineteen years old. First-year university student. Basketball player. And currently very curious about his new neighbors. He watched the girl carefully. She looked young. Maybe a high-school student. She looked shy too, constantly hugging the plush bunny in her arms. Then she accidentally dropped her keychain. "Oh!" She quickly bent down to pick it up. Heeseung smiled slightly. Cute. Before he could think further, a voice called from inside. "Heeseung-ah!" He turned around. His mother was standing at the door. "Come help me." "Coming."

He took one last glance at the new girl before entering his house. Inside the Lee residence, delicious smells filled the kitchen. Mrs. Lee had cooked enough food for an entire army. Heeseung looked at the dishes. "Mom... are we opening a restaurant?" She laughed. "Our new neighbors just moved in. They must be tired and hungry." "You made all of this for them?" "Of course." Heeseung smiled. His mother had always been like this. Kind to everyone. A few moments later, she packed the food into containers. "I'm going to deliver these." "Should I come?" "No need."

Meanwhile, inside the Park house, boxes were everywhere. Mrs. Park sighed. "I think we'll be unpacking until midnight." Y/N giggled. "At least my room is nice." The doorbell suddenly rang. "Ding dong." "I'll get it!" Y/N said. She opened the door and found a smiling woman standing there.

"Hello. I'm your neighbor." Mrs. Lee lifted the containers. "I brought some food."

Y/N blinked. "Oh..."

Before she could say anything, her mother appeared. "Oh my goodness, you didn't have to!"

"It's nothing," Mrs. Lee said warmly. "I know moving can be exhausting." Mrs. Park looked touched. "Thank you so much. Please come in."

A few minutes later, the two mothers were sitting in the living room, chatting like old friends. Y/N sat quietly beside her mother. "So, your family just moved from another district?" Mrs. Lee asked. Mrs. Park nodded.

"Yes. My husband got transferred."

"And this is your daughter?"

Mrs. Park smiled proudly.

"Yes. She's our only child."

Mrs. Lee looked at Y/N.

"What a pretty girl."

Y/N immediately became shy. "Thank you..." Mrs. Lee chuckled. "You're adorable." Then she introduced her own family.

"My husband works in an office. My eldest son is Heedo. He's already working. And my younger son, Heeseung, is in university."

"University?" Mrs. Park asked.

"Yes." The adults continued talking while Y/N listened quietly. Little did she know that the name 'Heeseung' would become one of the most important names in her life.

───

Over the next few days, the Parks finally settled into their new house. Y/N spent most of her time arranging her room. She placed her books neatly on the shelf and lined up her plushies on the bed. At night, she sat beside the window. The neighborhood looked peaceful. Then she noticed someone outside. A tall boy. He was crouching near the street, petting three cats. The cats surrounded him happily. He laughed softly. Y/N watched curiously. Then one of the cats climbed onto his lap. She couldn't help smiling. The boy looked up. For one terrifying second, their eyes met. Y/N immediately hid behind the curtains. Her heart raced. Why was she hiding? She didn't know. Outside, Heeseung chuckled. So the new girl liked watching people from her window. Cute. Very cute.

A week later, Y/N's first day at her new school arrived. She stood nervously in front of the gate. "Deep breaths," she whispered. She entered the classroom and introduced herself. The entire day felt awkward. Until lunch. "Can I sit here?" Y/N looked up. A cheerful boy smiled at her. He had bright eyes and looked friendly. "I'm Ni-ki." Another girl sat beside him. "And I'm Eunchae." Y/N smiled. "I'm Y/N." "You're new, right?" Eunchae asked. She nodded. "Don't worry," Ni-ki said. "We'll adopt you." Y/N blinked. "Adopt me?" He grinned. "Yep." Eunchae laughed. And just like that, Y/N made her first friends.

One evening, Mrs. Park was talking with Mrs. Lee outside. "Actually, I'm looking for a tutor for Y/N," Mrs. Park said. "She's struggling with math."

Mrs. Lee thought for a moment. Then she smiled. "What about Heeseung?" "Your son?" "He tutors sometimes." Mrs. Park looked surprised.

"Really?" "He's patient and good at explaining." "That would be wonderful." And that was how Lee Heeseung accidentally became Park Y/N's tutor. The first lesson was awkward. Very awkward. Y/N sat straight like a statue. Heeseung almost laughed. "Relax. I'm not scary." "I'm relaxed." "No, you're not."

She looked away. He smiled. "So, what's your worst subject?" "Math." "Your favorite?" "Everything except math." He laughed.

"You hate math that much?" "Very much."

"Why?"

"Because numbers hate me."

He laughed even harder. For the first time, Y/N looked at him properly. He had pretty eyes. And a really nice smile. "Don't worry," he said.

"We'll make peace with numbers."

She looked doubtful.

"I don't think that's possible."

"Challenge accepted."

And that was the beginning. The beginning of late-night tutoring sessions. The beginning of friendship. And the beginning of feelings neither of them understood yet.

───

A month had passed since Y/N moved into the neighborhood. Things were slowly becoming familiar. The streets no longer looked strange, and she had finally memorized which cabinet held the plates in their kitchen. Most importantly, she had made friends.

"Y/N! Hurry up!"

Ni-ki waved from the school gate while Eunchae stood beside him holding two strawberry milks.

"I'm coming!" Y/N said, running toward them.

"You almost made us late," Eunchae complained dramatically.

"I was feeding a cat."

"You and cats are becoming inseparable," Ni-ki laughed.

Y/N grinned. Maybe she had learned that habit from someone.

For some reason, every evening she found herself looking out of her bedroom window. And every evening, she would spot Lee Heeseung feeding the neighborhood cats. Sometimes he sat on the curb. Sometimes he talked to them. Sometimes he simply smiled while petting them. She didn't know why, but those little moments always made her smile too.

"Earth to Y/N."

Ni-ki snapped his fingers in front of her face.

She blinked.

"Huh?"

"You've been smiling at nothing."

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

Eunchae narrowed her eyes.

"Do you have a crush?"

Y/N nearly choked on her juice.

"W-What?!"

The two laughed.

"Relax, we're joking."

She sighed in relief. A crush? No. Definitely not. She had only known Heeseung for a month. That evening, there was a knock on the Park family's door. Y/N already knew who it was. She opened it. Heeseung stood there with his backpack hanging from one shoulder.

"Good evening."

"Hi."

For some reason, she still became shy around him.

"Ready for math torture?"

She frowned.

"Can we study literally anything else?"

"Nope."

"You enjoy my suffering."

"I do."

She gasped dramatically.

"You admit it?"

He chuckled.

"You should become an actress."

The tutoring sessions had become a routine.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening, Heeseung came to their house. At first, Y/N had been nervous. Now, things felt easier. She still respected him and listened carefully, but she wasn't nearly as shy. Sometimes she even argued with him.

"Why does x always disappear?" she complained.

"It doesn't disappear."

"It does. One minute it's there and then suddenly it's on the other side of the equation."

He laughed.

"That's called solving."

"It's called black magic."

He nearly dropped his pencil from laughing.

"Math isn't black magic."

"It absolutely is."

"Y/N."

"Yes?"

"Study."

She sighed dramatically.

"You hate seeing me happy."

"I promise you'll thank me after your exams."

"I won't."

"You will."

"I won't."

He smiled.

"You will."

A few minutes later, she groaned.

"My brain hurts."

"We've only studied for thirty minutes."

"Exactly."

He laughed again. Honestly, teaching her was fun. She understood concepts quickly once they were explained properly. She just hated numbers. And she made the funniest comments.

"You know," he said, "you're actually pretty smart."

She looked up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Her face brightened. That tiny smile made something strange happen inside his chest. He quickly ignored it. She was just his student. A cute and funny student. Nothing more.

A few days later, Heeseung was sitting with his friends in the university cafeteria.

"So…" Jake said.

"How's your little student?"

Heeseung looked up.

"Why do you care?"

Jake grinned.

"You talk about her a lot."

"I do not."

"You do," Jay agreed.

Sunghoon nodded.

"Yesterday you spent ten minutes telling us how she thinks math is black magic."

"Because it was funny."

Jake smirked.

"Sure."

"Stop smiling like that."

"What?"

"That smile."

"What smile?"

"The annoying one."

The three burst into laughter.

"You're attached to your student," Jay said.

"I am not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Heeseung sighed.

His friends were impossible.

───

Meanwhile, Y/N's life at school was getting better too. She and Eunchae often ate lunch together while Ni-ki entertained them with random stories. One afternoon, the three sat under a tree.

"So…" Eunchae said.

"How's your tutor?"

Y/N smiled.

"He's nice."

"Handsome?" Ni-ki asked.

She blinked.

"I mean… I guess."

Eunchae gasped.

"You think your tutor is handsome?"

"I didn't say that!"

"You literally did."

"No, I didn't!"

"You did."

Y/N covered her face with her hands. Her friends laughed. She had no idea why she was blushing. Weeks passed. Summer arrived. The tutoring sessions continued. And little by little, Y/N changed around Heeseung. She became comfortable. Very comfortable.

"You're late," she said one evening.

"I'm two minutes early."

"That's basically late."

He laughed.

"You've become bold."

"I learned from the best."

"Me?"

"Unfortunately."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"You wound me."

She giggled. And just like that, they started teasing each other.

"Do this problem."

"No."

"Y/N."

"No."

"You need practice."

"I need peace."

"You need math."

"I would rather eat my textbook."

He laughed.

"You're unbelievable."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I'll take it anyway."

Their tutoring sessions slowly became one of their favorite parts of the week. They studied. They laughed. They talked. Sometimes they ended up discussing movies, music and random things instead of equations. He learned that she loved reading. She learned that he loved basketball. He learned she talked to her plushies. She learned he couldn't sleep without listening to music. One evening she accidentally confessed something.

"I still talk to my stuffed animals."

He looked up.

"You what?"

She froze.

"I… didn't say anything."

"You talk to your plushies?"

"No."

"You absolutely do."

She covered her face.

"This is embarrassing."

He laughed so hard he almost fell from the chair.

"Stop laughing!"

"Sorry."

"No, you're not."

He grinned.

"No, I'm not."

───

A month later, the results of her exams were announced.

"Y/N!"

Eunchae came running.

"You got third place!"

"What?!"

Ni-ki grabbed her shoulders.

"Third place! You genius!"

She stared at the list in shock. Math. She had scored ninety-two.Ninety-two. She immediately smiled. That evening, she practically ran home. The first thing she did was knock on the Lee family's door. Mrs. Lee opened it.

"Y/N?"

"Is Heeseung home?"

"He is."

A moment later, Heeseung appeared.

"Everything okay?"

She held up her report card.

"I got third place!"

His eyes widened.

"Really?"

"And I got ninety-two in math!"

A huge smile spread across his face.

"I'm proud of you."

For some reason, those four words made her happier than getting third place itself.

"Really?"

"Really."

She smiled so brightly that he couldn't help smiling too. Mrs. Lee watched the two and chuckled quietly. They looked adorable. Neither of them realized it.

───

Unfortunately, life was never peaceful for long.

A week later, Heeseung was playing basketball with his friends.

"Pass!" Jake shouted.

Heeseung jumped to catch the ball. Unfortunately, he landed badly. The next thing he knew—

THUD.

"HYUNG!"

Pain shot through his leg.

"Oh no."

"Don't tell me—"

"I think it's broken."

A few hours later, he returned home with a cast on his leg. Mrs. Lee looked worried.

"You should rest."

"I will."

"You definitely can't teach this week."

"I can."

"No."

"Mom."

"No."

But Heeseung was stubborn. The next day he asked Mrs. Park if Y/N could simply come to his room instead.

"Really?" Mrs. Park asked.

"You should rest."

"I'm fine."

"Health is important."

"I promise I'm okay."

Eventually she agreed. That evening, Y/N knocked on the Lee family's door. Mrs. Lee smiled.

"He's upstairs."

She nodded.

"Thank you."

She entered his room nervously. It was the first time she had ever been there. The room was neat. Books everywhere. A basketball near the desk. A guitar in one corner. And a sleeping cat plushie on his bed. Cute. She smiled.

From the bathroom, his voice came.

"Open your books and wait."

"Okay."

She sat on the chair.

Then—

BANG.

The door suddenly opened. Three boys entered.

"HEESEUNG, WE BROUGHT—"

They froze. A girl was sitting there. Y/N nearly jumped. The boys blinked. She blinked. Silence.

Then—

"WHO ARE YOU?" Jake shouted.

Y/N nearly dropped her pencil. At that exact moment, Heeseung walked out of the bathroom.

"What are you doing here?"

The three pointed dramatically at Y/N.

"WHO IS SHE?"

Heeseung sighed.

"My student."

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Oh."

The room became silent again.

Then Jake grinned.

"Your student is pretty."

"Jake."

"What?"

"Sit down."

Jay laughed.

Sunghoon smiled politely.

"Hello."

"H-Hi."

A few minutes later, Heeseung started teaching. His friends, however, refused to behave. Jake watched videos at full volume. Jay somehow tripped over absolutely nothing. And Sunghoon accidentally threw a basketball at Heeseung's head.

"Sorry," he said.

"It slipped."

"You weren't even holding it properly!" Heeseung exclaimed.

Y/N tried not to laugh.

Then Jake leaned toward her.

"What are you learning?"

"Math."

"Oh."

He made a dramatic face.

"My condolences."

Y/N burst out laughing.

Heeseung looked betrayed.

"Please don't encourage them."

Unfortunately, it was already too late. She was laughing with his friends. And for some reason, seeing her laugh made him smile too. Even if his friends were complete disasters. The tutoring session that day ended much later than usual. Mostly because studying had turned into chaos. Jake somehow convinced Y/N that taking a "five-minute break" was necessary. Those five minutes became thirty. Jay had discovered the snacks Mrs. Lee left on the table and ended up eating almost all of them. Sunghoon was bouncing a basketball with one hand while reading a comic book. And Heeseung...

Heeseung had completely given up trying to control his friends.

"Why are they like this?" Y/N whispered.

He looked at her with tired eyes.

"I ask myself that every day."

She giggled.

"You should get new friends."

"Too late."

Jake dramatically placed a hand on his chest.

"After everything we've been through, you're replacing us?"

"Yes."

Jay gasped.

"I thought we were brothers."

"We're not."

Sunghoon nodded seriously.

"I support your decision."

"You're all terrible," Heeseung said.

The room burst into laughter. For the first time since moving here, Y/N felt like she belonged somewhere. She liked this. The laughter. The teasing. The comfortable atmosphere. And maybe... Just maybe... She liked the person sitting beside her a little too much.

A few days later, Y/N was lying on her bed.

Her math notebook was open in front of her. But she wasn't studying. She was staring at the ceiling. Why was she thinking about Heeseung again? It had become a habit lately. She remembered the way he smiled whenever she got an answer right. The way he patiently explained things. The way he listened to her random stories. And the way he laughed at her dramatic complaints. She sighed. Her plush bunny sat beside her.

"Do I... like him?"

Silence. Then she looked at the plushie.

"You can't answer me."

Another sigh. Her bedroom door opened.

"Who are you talking to?" her mother asked.

Y/N nearly jumped.

"No one!"

Mrs. Park laughed.

"You've been talking to your plushies again, haven't you?"

"No."

"Y/N."

"...Maybe."

Her mother smiled and closed the door.

Y/N covered her face with a pillow.

This was embarrassing.

──

The next day at school, Eunchae and Ni-ki were eating lunch with her.

"You look distracted," Eunchae said.

"I'm not."

"You are."

Ni-ki leaned closer.

"Confess."

"I have nothing to confess."

"You definitely do."

She sighed.

"I think... I might have a crush."

Both of them gasped.

"WHO?" Ni-ki almost shouted.

"Lower your voice!"

"Who is it?" Eunchae whispered excitedly.

Y/N hesitated.

Then she whispered back.

"...My tutor."

The table became silent.

Then—

"LEE HEESEUNG?!" both of them exclaimed.

She nearly dropped her juice.

"Shhh!"

"Oh my gosh!" Eunchae squealed.

"That's so cute!"

"No, it's not."

"It is."

"It isn't."

Ni-ki grinned.

"I knew it."

"You did not."

"I did."

"You absolutely didn't."

He shrugged.

"Still."

Y/N sighed and rested her head on the table.

"This is a disaster."

"Why?"

"He's older than me."

"Three years isn't that much."

"He's in university."

"So?"

"He probably sees me as a child."

Neither of her friends said anything.

Because honestly...

They didn't know.

───

As months passed, life continued peacefully. Y/N focused on school. Heeseung focused on university. The tutoring sessions continued. And her little crush quietly grew. She never planned to tell him. Never. Because she was sure it would disappear someday. At least, that's what she thought.

───

Winter arrived. One evening, Heeseung knocked on the Park family's door. He looked nervous. Mrs. Park noticed immediately.

"Is everything alright?"

He smiled softly.

"I got accepted."

"What?"

"I'll be transferring to a university in another city next semester."

Silence.

"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Park said.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Y/N stood frozen. Another city? He was leaving? For some reason, her heart sank.

"Oh..." she said quietly.

He looked at her.

"I'll be leaving in two weeks."

She forced a smile.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

He noticed how quiet she became. But before he could ask anything, her father started asking about the university. The conversation continued. Meanwhile, Y/N remained silent. She didn't understand why she suddenly felt sad. That night she sat by her window. The streetlights glowed softly. She could see Heeseung's bedroom light. He was probably packing. The thought made her chest hurt. Her phone suddenly buzzed. It was Eunchae.

Eunchae: How are you?

Y/N: Not good.

Eunchae: Because he's leaving?

She stared at the message.

Then slowly typed.

Y/N: I think I really like him.

───

The next two weeks passed too quickly. Before she knew it, moving day arrived. Boxes filled the Lee family's living room. Mrs. Lee was already crying.

"You'll visit often, right?"

"Of course."

"Call me every day."

"Mom."

"Every day."

He laughed.

"I will."

Outside, Y/N stood awkwardly. She had come to say goodbye. But now that she was here... She didn't know what to say. He walked toward her.

"You look sad."

"I'm not."

"You are."

She sighed.

"Maybe a little."

He smiled.

"I'll still visit."

"I know."

"And you can call if you need help with math."

She looked up.

"You'll help me even from another city?"

"Of course."

A small smile appeared on her face.

Then he gently patted her head.

"I'm proud of you, you know."

She blinked.

"What?"

"You've changed a lot."

She looked confused.

"When you first moved here, you barely spoke."

She laughed softly.

"That's true."

"But now..."

He smiled.

"You laugh a lot."

She felt her cheeks warm.

"That's because of you."

He didn't realize how much those words meant.

A car horn sounded. It was time. He picked up his bag.

"I should go."

"Okay."

"I'll see you soon."

She nodded.

"Take care, Heeseung."

"You too, Y/N."

Then he got into the car.

She stood there until the car disappeared. For some reason. She wanted to cry.

───

The following years passed faster than anyone expected. Y/N graduated from high school. She got accepted into college. And to her surprise— Ni-ki got into the same college. Meanwhile, Eunchae entered another university. Despite the distance, the three remained close friends. They met often. Called each other constantly. And nothing really changed.

As for Heeseung. He graduated with excellent grades. He built a life in another city. Then another opportunity came. A job abroad. And he took it. At first, he called home every week. Then life became busier. The calls became shorter. Less frequent. But he never forgot his family.Or his old neighborhood. Or the girl next door. Even if he didn't realize it.

───

Years passed. Y/N completed her degree. Then she left the country for higher studies. Living abroad wasn't easy. The first few months were lonely. She missed home. She missed her parents. She missed speaking her own language every day. But she worked hard. She studied. She made friends. She grew. She became more confident. More independent. And slowly... She built a successful career. Along the way, she met someone.

Sam.

They dated for almost two years. He was kind. Funny. Reliable. She genuinely liked him.

But...

Something was missing. Eventually they realized they wanted different things in life. They broke up peacefully. No drama. No hatred.

Just two people choosing different paths.

Meanwhile, Heeseung's life abroad was also busy. He worked hard. Built his career. Made new friends. Became successful. His parents couldn't have been prouder. And somewhere along the way... He started dating someone. A beautiful woman named Mina. Everyone thought they looked good together. Everyone...

Except his family.

Mrs. Lee didn't dislike her. But something felt off.

The same went for Jake, Jay and Sunghoon. None of them could explain it. They just had a strange feeling.

───

Ten years passed.

The shy girl next door was now twenty-seven years old. One morning, Y/N stood in the airport.

She smiled. Home. After years abroad. She was finally coming home. She didn't tell anyone. It was a surprise. When she opened the front door.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Park looked up.

A plate almost slipped from her hands.

"Y/N?!"

"MOM!"

They hugged tightly. Moments later, her father joined the hug. The entire house was filled with laughter and happy tears. She was finally home. And the neighborhood looked exactly the same.

Except. Everything felt smaller. Later that evening, she visited her friends. Ni-ki almost screamed when he saw her. Eunchae cried.

Then all three ended up laughing together.

"So..." Eunchae said.

"You look amazing."

"You do too."

Ni-ki nodded.

"You've changed."

"Good change or bad change?"

"Good."

They spent hours talking.

About careers.

Life abroad.

Old memories.

Everything.

It felt as though no time had passed at all.

───

A few days later, another person returned home.

Lee Heeseung. He stepped out of the car and stretched. Finally. A vacation.

He entered the house.

Mrs. Lee hugged her son immediately.

"My baby is home."

"Mom, I'm twenty-nine."

"Still my baby."

He laughed. Everything seemed perfect.

Until that evening. He went outside to feed the street cats. Some things never changed. A familiar voice suddenly spoke.

"Still bribing cats for friendship?"

He froze. That voice...

He slowly turned around. And nearly forgot how to breathe. A woman stood under the streetlight. She was beautiful. Long hair. Warm smile. Confident eyes. It took him a few seconds.

Then—

"Y... Y/N?"

She grinned.

"Missed me?"

He stared at her.

"You..."

"What?"

"You changed."

She laughed.

"I hope that's a compliment."

"It definitely is."

She smiled.

And for some reason. His heart beat a little faster. For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. The only sound was the soft meowing of the cats gathered around Heeseung's feet.

One of the cats rubbed against Y/N's leg.

She immediately bent down and picked it up.

"Oh, hello there."

The cat purred happily. Heeseung smiled.

"You still like cats."

"And you still feed every cat in the neighborhood."

"Some things never change."

She looked up at him. Some things definitely had changed. The boy she remembered had become a man. He was taller somehow. His features looked sharper. His hair was longer than before. And somehow... He was ridiculously handsome. Dangerously handsome.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asked.

Y/N blinked.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I was not."

He chuckled.

"You still deny everything."

"And you still enjoy teasing me."

They both laughed. The comfortable feeling surprised them. It had been years. Years. Yet talking to each other felt easy. Natural. As if no time had passed.

"When did you come back?" he asked.

"A few days ago."

"A few days ago? And you didn't tell me?"

She crossed her arms.

"You didn't tell me you were coming home either."

"...Fair."

She grinned.

"Exactly."

He looked at her again.

"You really changed."

She smiled.

"I think living alone in another country forces you to grow up."

He nodded.

"I understand that."

For a moment, they simply stood there. Then she looked at the cats.

"They're still here."

"Not all of them."

His voice softened.

"Some disappeared over the years."

She looked at him.

"Oh."

"I miss them sometimes."

She smiled gently.

"You really are a cat person."

"Completely."

"You know, I used to think you were secretly a Disney princess."

He blinked.

"What?"

"The cats followed you everywhere."

He laughed.

"That's ridiculous."

"It's true."

She grinned.

"You looked magical."

"Magical?"

"Yes."

He laughed harder. She found herself smiling at the sound. She had forgotten how nice his laugh was.

"So," he asked, "how have you been?"

That one question somehow led to another. And another. And another. Soon they were walking down the quiet street together. The cats had long disappeared. Neither of them noticed how much time had passed. They talked about everything. College. Work. Friends. Living abroad. Funny stories. Embarrassing memories.

"I nearly burned my apartment down once," she confessed.

He stopped walking.

"You what?"

"It wasn't my fault."

"It absolutely was."

"The recipe said medium heat."

"What did you make?"

"Pasta."

"You almost burned your apartment making pasta?"

She sighed.

"I wasn't blessed with cooking skills."

He laughed so hard he had to hold his stomach.

"Stop laughing!"

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"No, I'm not."

She rolled her eyes.

Some things truly never changed.

"And you?" she asked.

"Any disasters abroad?"

He looked thoughtful.

"I accidentally got locked out of my apartment."

"How?"

"I forgot my keys."

She burst out laughing.

"That's so stupid."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They continued walking. The night felt peaceful. The air was cool. Streetlights illuminated the empty roads. At one point, they ended up sitting on a small bench in a nearby park.

Y/N leaned back.

"I missed this."

"This neighborhood?"

"Home."

He looked at her quietly.

"I missed it too."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then she suddenly spoke.

"I used to wonder how you were doing."

He blinked.

"You did?"

She nodded.

"I'd see your mom sometimes whenever I visited home."

"Oh."

"I heard about your promotions."

He looked surprised.

"You kept up with my life?"

She laughed softly.

"Not in a creepy way."

He laughed.

"Good."

"What about you?"

He looked at her.

"What about me?"

"Did you ever wonder about me?"

He smiled.

"Sometimes."

Her heart did something strange.

"I wondered if you still hated math."

She gasped.

"Unbelievable."

"It's an important question."

"I still hate it."

He laughed.

"I knew it."

"You haven't changed at all."

He looked at her.

"Neither have you."

For some reason, his voice sounded softer. She looked away. The silence returned. It wasn't awkward. It felt nice. Familiar.

Then—

Her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen. 3:07 a.m. Her eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

He nearly jumped.

"What happened?"

"It's three in the morning!"

He looked at his phone.

"...Oh."

"We've been talking for hours!"

He blinked.

"Oh."

She laughed.

"You didn't notice either!"

"I really didn't."

They stared at each other. Then both started laughing.

"Your parents are going to think you've been kidnapped," he said.

"Your mom probably thinks the same thing."

"Probably."

They stood up.

"I should take you home."

"It's literally two houses away."

"Still."

She smiled.

"Okay."

They walked back slowly. When they reached her gate, neither of them immediately went inside.

"Goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight."

Neither moved.

She laughed.

"Why are we still standing here?"

"I don't know."

They laughed again.

Finally she opened the gate.

"See you tomorrow?"

He looked surprised.

"Tomorrow?"

"You're on vacation, right?"

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"Then let's hang out."

A smile appeared on his face.

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Y/N."

"Goodnight, Heeseung."

She went inside. And for some reason. Both of them smiled the entire night.

TO BE CONTINUED...