alright, my thoughts. even though i genuinely donât think mine is that important.
the facts are:
1. mark wore a shirt with a confederate flag on it
2. a photo was posted online which is how we found out about it
3. people brought this up to upperroom
4. upperroom posted an apology statement that stated they do not tolerate the meaning behind the symbol
those are simply the facts without everyoneâs assumptions and added narratives.
now with that being said, i think:
first and most importantly, heâs ignorant as hell for this.
do i think he wore it with malice? judging from his statement. no. i donât think so. i think it was just a shirt they found thrifting, hence the word âvintageâ being thrown around.
does that make it okay? NO. NOT AT ALL.
mark lee is a public figure who is responsible for making sure he knows what heâs representing. and wearing a symbol you donât know the meaning of is just plain stupid. he can no longer take away the fact that his name and face is now linked to the confederate flag â even though he rejects that he supports it â that is the consequence of his own ignorance.
iâve seen people saying that mark is hiding behind upper room and/or separating the two, saying that itâs the labels fault. which i just personally think is ridiculous. how do you hide behind a label under your name? how do you blame a label when he is the label?
there is no one to blame but him. and that will be the case for everything in the future as well. heâs the literal CEO now. everything has to be approved by him. every decision, everything he wears, says, writes, doesâŠ.it all falls on him.
which is why he needs to be careful and take the time to educate himself. now â iâve seen a lot of people say he shouldâve already known considering he spent time in america. but iâve also seen so many people find out about the flag TODAY. so i do think itâs a bit unreasonable that everyone expects him OR anyone to know american history. if you do then good for you. but some people simply just do not know. it really depends on who youâre educators are and we do not know what he was taught.
BUT even with that being said â do i still think heâs dumb as hell? YEAH, I FUCKING DO! especially in our world now where information is at the tip of our fingertips. IT TAKES ONE SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. he obviously did not do that.
i do think he deserves all the criticism. but at what point does criticism just turn into blatant lies and hateful narratives? thereâs been so many takes/jokes made that are so clearly obvious that people donât really care.
end of the story is - upper room and mark (you cannot separate the two; he is upper room) have taken accountability for what happened, have specifically acknowledged the symbol and apologized.
itâs up to you whether or not you accept that apology. if you do then ok. if you donât then ok.
now for me, itâs really all up to time â if his apology is real and sincere, i expect things like this wonât happen again. but if itâs not, and he really turns out to be a racist, hateful individual then trust im the first one out the door. iâm not here to sway anyone to make a choice. nor am i here to defend him. i acknowledge that heâs a fucking idiot and iâm hoping he learns from this and make better decisions moving forward.
you guys can come to your own decisions. youâre all adults and you can all choose for yourselves.
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and its not like he doesnât know what it means, HE IS NOT STUPID HE IS AN ADULT WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH
he left his successful group to make christian music and itâs so obvious who heâs catering to
when he left, i wanted to support him but i refuse to support someone who aligns themselves with beliefs that caused a detrimental impact and effect on poc in america
includes :: [ 0.7k ] boyfriend!lee jeno x reader ( typically gender neutral ). fluff fest at its finest. just cute boyfriend jeno things i needed fluff in this day nd age. this is just me raving abt how cute and adorable of a boyfriend jeno would be. my entire personality is lee jeno btw so. jeno the cutiest patootie. jeno samoyed . . . jeno i love you jeno. clueless fluffy adorable squishy cutieful jeno. mild profanity. jeno ur allergic to cats btw just in case u forgot. all mistakes are unintentional !!
authors note, hiiiiii ( jeno red hair comeback when. )
bf!jeno whoâs quiet, intimidating structure never really got to you. you understood why people were apprehensive about him. muscles, tall, and his neutral face wasnât necessarily the opposite of resting bitch face.
bf!jeno who immediately breaks into a flustered whine of complaint when you show any type of affection to him. maybe thatâs why heâs intimidating â people donât get to see this side of him. the side that has red painting his cheeks, where heâs shrinking into your touch because he hates ( wrong ) being coddled, but loves to be basked in your affection.
bf!jeno who isnât loud about his affection. itâs quiet. shown through picking you up late into the early morning when you couldnât fall asleep, setting a mug of warm tea on your desk on late nights, soft brushes of his hand against your cheek as he leans in to leave a lingering kiss against your lips.
bf!jeno whoâs physical affection doesnât come from grabbing your face and kissing you ( only sometimes ) but from sitting down too close to you on the couch, and messing with your fingers idly when he doesnât feel like talking.Â
bf!jeno whoâs fine when heâs showering you in love, but the moment you reciprocate heâs back to being flustered. that cute blush fading over his cheeks, how he squirms under your gaze, embarrassed in the most endearing way.
bf!jeno who gets the most flustered when you admire his muscles. whenever he changes his shirt and he glances at you only to notice the way your gaze drags over his torso, or when youâll reach out randomly to squeeze his bicep. red immediately crawls over his neck and he starts fidgeting.
bf!jeno who loves it when you stay overnight. itâs domestic, he wonât deny how he loves falling asleep, arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer until youâre tucked into his chest. his face buried in your hair, relishing in your closeness. he canât get enough of you.
bf!jeno who takes a few hours of tossing and turning to fall asleep but the moment youâre with him, heâll fall asleep in a snap. heâs just a constantly tired puppy.
bf!jeno whoâs typically the one to wake up first, and heâll usually make something small for you both before you wake up.Â
bf!jeno who wonât let you leave without eating something. no matter if youâll be late, heâll shove you out the door with even just a piece of toast in your hands. if youâre not up to eating something heâll grudgingly give in but subtly get you to eat more during dinner and lunch. he canât have you starving.Â
bf!jeno who texts you to get ready unprompted, showing up and dragging you to come hang out with him. heâll often drive to the river or take you on a brisk walk. any way he could have you around him. your simple being made his life feel lighter, your smile urged him to find good in the world again.
bf!jeno who hates being called nicknames. especially cheesy ones, like babe or prince. he doesnât understand them. but he knows you love them. granted, the most heâll call you is baby â he sticks to variations of your name.
bf!jeno who gets easily worked up when you call him by those nicknames just to piss him off. heâll send you a small look when you call him a nickname in public if itâs not nono, or jen. he takes it upon himself to not be that annoying couple.
bf!jeno whoâs pda only comes when heâs jealous. if the waiter had been flirting with you, or the random guy at the bar. heâll scoot closer without a word, plant a kiss on your cheek ( waiting far too long to pull away ) and wrap his arm around your torso.
bf!jeno who brings a cat home one day unannounced ( despite the fact that heâs allergic ) and you canât argue, not with the way you walked in to him with it on his chest, infatuated with petting it.
bf!jeno whoâll drive you anywhere you want him to. you could text him in the middle of the night and heâd show up in five minutes, messy hair, sleepy eyes, but there. mostly because he knows youâll offer a kiss as thank you and he couldnât say no to that.
bf!jeno who canât bother to ask for anything, so you have to learn to read his expressions â the glances heâll give you when he thinks youâre not looking. especially when asking for affection. albeit that oneâs easy; just watch for the pleading puppy eyes.
THE FULL LIST OF CHILDREN OF THE LEE HEIR IS....A....
haneul lee | male
name meaning: sky/heaven
order: the eldest of three siblings and one puppy
favorite parent: baby haneul is an exact replica of his daddy! mark itâs actually unfair! no one, especially daddy mark, can ever say no to his big brown boba eyes that looks exactly like his. baby haneulâs real life superhero is his daddy <3
fun fact: a very very very spoiled baby! by everyone around him!!! but especially his grandparents (both sides). your father has never been a good father to you, but he was the best grandfather to your little boy, which kinda makes up for all those years.
an only child for a while that thereâs a room in the house filled with just baby haneulâs toys! his personal favorite are the spiderman ones!!!âŠtruly just daddy markâs mini me. he is a huge troublemaker and loves to run around the house, his bubbly energy and loud, intoxicating laughter filling every corner of the mansion. although he gets in trouble a lot, he gets out of trouble way too easily!! no one can really stay mad at him for too long. the nannies are always tired after a session with himâŠthough they donât really watch over the kids that often. you and mark are very hands on parents! :)
eun-woo lee | male
name meaning: graceful rain
order: 4 years after previous baby
favorite parent: baby eunwoo loves his mommy! so much!!!! always clinging to mommy every second of every day and loves to eat whatever mommy makes! he still looks exactly like daddy! mark though >.<
fun fact: if you thought your last pregnancy was bad with labor/delivery lasting almost 24 hoursâŠthis one was way worse. so bad to the point that mark thought he was about to lose you and raise two sons on his own. it was the scariest moment of his life. thankfully, the doctors were fast on their feet and you were okay.
but even though the delivery was tough and scary, baby eunwoo! made up for it by being the sweetest, gentlest, calmest baby in the world! you can find baby eunwoo wherever the music is! his love for the piano stems from listening to mommy and mom play and eventually he started learning himself. baby eunwoo! definitely got his parentâs intellect â heâs somewhat of a musical prodigy.
aera lee | female
name meaning: love
order: 4 years after previous baby
favorite parent: a baby that finally looks like you! except sheâs a daddyâs girl! through and through :3
fun fact: after your last pregnancy, mark was absolutely terrified for this one. but you knew he wanted a daughter so badly and you love your husband so much, you were willing to put your body through that againâŠone last time. he insisted looking into surrogacy but you knew you wanted to carry your baby on your own. the universe was kind enough to grant your wish and this pregnancy was actually the easiest out of all three!
daddy mark! knew he wasnât supposed to have a favorite child. and he would never ever admit to having one. but heâs a lot gentler, softer and sweeter with baby aera! his little fairy has him wrapped around her tiny finger.
all of the lee children are very whimsical with their head filled with dreams. but baby aera! has the most whimsy with her love for fairies and flower picking in the garden. because of this, daddy! mark started planting every flower known to mankind for his little fairy <33
buzz lee | female
order: 7 years after previous baby
fun fact: baby! aera asked for a puppy so she gets a puppy!
THE FULL LIST OF CHILDREN OF THE ZHONG HEIR ISâŠ.AâŠ.
name: lilac zhong
order: the eldest of six siblings and one puppy
favorite parent: bĂ ba! aka a certified daddyâs girl aka chenle would give her the world and would also give up everything for her (except his wife)
fun fact: baby lilac is very very smart. at just the age of 11 months - she learned that she could get everything she wanted with just a few tears. as she continued to age, itâs safe to say sheâs used that superpower to her advantage, with bĂ ba lele being her #1 victim. our little crybaby, of course, got all the crybaby figurines.
name: stella zhong
other: 2 years apart from previous baby
favorite parent: bĂ ba! â stella loves her older sister, therefore she likes everything lilac likes, including the favoritism for bĂ ba lele. chenle is a girl dad through and through. compared to baby lilac though, this baby is full of giggles!
fun fact: chenle wanted to name her stephanie, after â you know it!âŠhis favorite basketball player. his wife did not allow it. so they compromised. stella is pretty close, right? baby stella is the first baby to enroll in basketball lessons. and she loves it!
name: jin-chen zhong
other: 2 years apart from previous baby
favorite parent: despite being chenleâs exact mini me, baby jin-chen is a mommyâs boy from the moment he was in the womb! the easiest pregnancy ever and the easiest baby ever. he even got rid of his mommyâs allergies to kiwi when he was in her tummy.
fun fact: just like every traditional asian family, the first male heir is absolutely spoiled by his grandmother, mama li. she suggested his name, which means abundance of gold in the cosmos. however, despite being the boss baby, jin-chen is a very caring, sensitive boy who is always there to protect his mommy and sisters.
name: xin zhong
other: 2 years apart from previous baby
favorite parent: the first of the sisters to be a mommyâs girl! she loves watching her mommy get ready. the clingiest baby in the world.
fun fact: baby xin is a very quiet baby. she likes to keep to herself most of the time or play with daegal! her comfort person is her older brother, jin-chen, who is very protective over her. she loves reading picture books which eventually switched to her love for photos. her first camera ever is her mommyâs camera!
name: daegal zhong
you already know this cutie.
name: stefan zhong
other: 5 years apart from previous baby
favorite parent: the opposite of jin-chen. looks exactly like his mommy but is a complete bĂ baâs boy. he loves his bĂ ba lele so much!!! bĂ ba lele is the only one that could get him to stop crying.
fun fact: baby stefan was the best accidentâŠoops? mommy was already on birth control and chenle was not allowed to get her pregnant again butâŠhe still swam his way to the top. chenleâs trial #2 to have a kid named stephenâŠstefanâs a little closer??? teehee. baby stefan is the ultimate basketball fan! and the most competitive out of the zhong siblings.
name: mei zhong
other: 1 year apart from previous baby
favorite parent: a mommyâs girl through and through! she admires her mommy the same way mommy admires mama li.
fun fact: to follow the zhong coupleâs logic, each baby had to have a partnerâŠso they got to work real quick for baby mei. all of the zhong children are beautiful but meiâs beauty is on a different level. she was named #1 most beautiful baby in china. and grew up even more beautiful. sheâs also the kindest of the zhong siblings, very close with the workers!
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pairing: researcher! mark lee x corporate heiress! reader | genre: angst, fluff, smut | words: 9k+ (36k+ total)
parts: 1. 2.
synopsis: what do you do when the ghost of your twenty-one year old self walks back into your life five years later with a proposal so absurd it sounds like a joke? that's the question mark lee finds himself asking when you appear. it should've been easy to refuse, to walk away, to pretend it never happened. too bad first loves are stubborn, billionaires are terrifying and letting go has always been the problem.
warnings: still a bit angsty! but i promise this part will give you a tight hug <333, please keep previous warnings in pt 1 in mind!!! probably inaccurate descriptions of pregnancy and childbirth and a water breaking (iâve never given birth oops) +18 a toxic father! doesn't get too descriptive, a split lip, unprotected sex!!!!!, teasing/grinding, riding, oral (ofc, mark canât help himself), nipple-play, missionary, mentions of: condoms, a cigarette. hope i didnât miss any!
an: here is pt 2!!! as promised â i didnt want to make you wait for too long. this takes place right after pt. 1. have fun reading! donât forget to let me know what youâre thinking!! - with love, c.
đ DO YOU LOVE ME? đ
âyou may enter the office now,â winterâs voice snaps mark out of his train of thought.
this is ridiculous. was he expected to play the part, too? was he supposed to slide into that room, adjust his tie and pretend that nothing happened? pretend he hadnât just watched the woman he loves walk away with a split lip and eyes that looked like they had seen the end of the world?
mr. zhong and karina began to move toward the office but markâs feet canât seem to follow. instead he turns, scurrying in the direction you disappeared to. the staff looks up then, confusion flickering across their faces at the sudden break in protocol.Â
mr. zhong takes one look at mark, letting out a sigh. he was too smart not to realize there was a hidden narrative unfolding. he let mark go without a word, signaling for karina to follow him in instead.Â
mark ran. he sprinted past several doors and velvet curtains, the mansion feeling like a maze. he was nearly breathless, his mind a whirlwind of guilt and fury â until he saw you.Â
you were standing on one of the open balconies, a light breeze in your hair and a single cigarette perched between your lips, the thin trail of smoke curling upward into the sky.Â
âyou know smoking is bad for you?â he says, his voice rough.Â
he didnât actually care about the nicotine. after knowing what he knows now, he understood why you had turned to the slow-killing machine to numb the pain of a fast-killing life. but he was drowning in emotion and that was the only sentence his brain could form.Â
you turn to him, the shock on your face evident, as you put out the cigarette, tossing it over the balcony.Â
âwhat are you doing here?â
he steps closer, closing the gap until only an armâs length separates you, the scent of your vanilla scented perfume mixed with the smell of tobacco, âwhere else should i be?â
you huff a tiny, breathless scoff, a playful smirk tugging on your battered lip, âyou should be in there,â you murmured, reaching out to fix the collar of his shirt, which had gone askew during his moment of ruin, â-impressing him.â
as your fingers brushed the fabric of his shirt, mark reached out and gripped your wrist, stopping your ministrations. the reaction was instantaneous â you flinched slightly. it shattered his heart into a thousand pieces. the realization that you had been conditioned to fear a touch, even his touch, was a horror he couldnât articulate.Â
âdo you love me?â mark asked, a soft whisper yet loud and clear.Â
you blinked, your hand freezing against his chest, âwhat?â
âdo. you. love me?â
you smiled softly, your eyes softening, âyouâre a brilliant man, director,â you whispered, âyou should already know the answer to that.â
âwhy did you leave me then?â he pleads, almost begging for the answer.Â
you closed your eyes for a moment. you still remember that day like it was yesterday. the day that haunted your every existence.Â
 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: FIVE YEARS AGO Â
âïž THE END. âïž
it was the day after christmas when your world turned completely upside down.Â
the two of you had planned to stay until new yearâs. his mother had already declared you werenât allowed to leave. his brother had threatened to chain mark to the house if he tried returning to university early. his father had already bought the meat for the barbecue on new yearâs eve. and mark â mark had promised to take you to the christmas fair.Â
then your phone buzzed.Â
johnny (security): ms. y/n. go outside.Â
the text sent shivers down your spine. you slowly sat up as mark stirred slightly beside you.Â
âbaby?â he mumbled sleepily, his eyes still closed, âwhere you goin?â he whispered, voice hoarse with sleep.Â
âbathroom,â you lied softly, earning a hum from him, his mind still stuck somewhere between his dreams.Â
âmmkay,â he reached for your thigh, squeezing lightly, âlove you,â he mumbled.
âi love you too,â you whisper, trying to hide the fear in your voice as he drifted back to sleep. completely unaware. completely trusting. you stared at him, memorizing everything, and suddenly, you wanted to wake him up and tell him everything.Â
but you knew better.Â
you pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and quietly, you climbed out of bed and slipped out of the house, the lee household still fast asleep.Â
and there, across the street â stood johnny, standing beside a black sedan and inside that sedan is the shadow of a man you recognized immediately.Â
the sight alone made your posture straightened. you nod at johnny before he opens the door, leaving you face to face with your father. just like that, you stepped back into your real life.Â
your father doesnât greet you. doesnât ask how christmas was. he simply dropped a thick stack of papers onto your lap filled with pictures of you and mark from that very first convenience store date to the numerous ones that followed after that, to the park, to the street outside of markâs apartment even to the ice skating rink.Â
every precious memory you thought was reserved only between the two of you was reduced to evidence. like it was a criminal investigation.Â
âfatherââ
âheâs the reason your grades are slipping.
âno,â you sputtered out, shaking your head, âno, thatâs not true. i can fix it, itâs not that hardââ
âif itâs not hard, then why did they fall in the first place?â he looks at you then, that stern, stoic expression on his face like it wasnât the holidays. it wasnât a question, not really. he had no room for your explanations.
âweâre leaving and going back home.â
âwhat!? i canât leave iâ,â your voice cracked halfway, giving up.Â
there was never any reasoning with your father. and you knew that from the very start â this would always be your ending. so instead, you surrendered.
âat least let me say goodbye.â
âno.â
âpleaseââ
âif you step foot into that house again. i will personally make sure mark lee and his family never have a successful future.â
your blood ran cold. the name of the man you love slipping from his lips was absolutely terrifying, a single statement enough to take your air away.Â
because you may be able to survive anything â his anger. his control. his disappointment. his hatred.Â
but mark had dreams. he had ambitions and parents who loved him. he had a future.Â
and you would never â never â take that from himÂ
you looked down at your left hand, at the black marker ring still wrapped around your finger and quietly, you curled your hand into a fist.Â
âyes, father.â
mark woke up that day to an empty bed. he smiled, thinking you were just in the bathroom, then the kitchen, then maybe in the living room. but the time passed and you were nowhere to be seen. his mother thought youâd gone for a walk. his brother joked youâd left him for someone better. his father told him to relax. but something felt terribly wrong.
where would you even go?
by noon, he was calling your phone â it was no use. you had left it in in his room.
by evening â your social media has disappeared, your number had been disconnected.Â
by the next day, your existence is completely gone. almost as though heâd hallucinated ten months of his life. as though you had never been real at all.Â
there was no longer any trace of you in his world.Â
SHANGHAI, CHINA: PRESENT TIME
đ DO YOU LOVE ME? (CONT.) đ
âi had to,â you admitted softly, your voice exhausted, âmy father is a very powerful man, mark. and he wasnât happy,â you laughed bitterly.Â
âwhy didnât you tell me?â he asks, eyes searching yours desperately, trying to understand it all, trying to get answers to questions heâs been repeatedly asking the sky, âi wouldâve understoodâi wouldâve helped you, i wouldâveââ
âbecause i wanted to feel it,â you whispered tiredly, your face losing all of its composure. you just looked heartbreakingly beautiful, âjust once,â your voice trembled, âi wanted to feel it.â
he knows exactly what youâre referring to â that conversation in the library ringing back in his ears loud and clear. he knew now that you were afraid he wouldnât have loved you if he knew who you were back then.Â
and maybe that was true. maybe he wouldâve reacted differently. maybe knowing who you were wouldâve changed everything. maybe he would've been intimidated. maybe life wouldnt bring you together like this.
but standing here now, with the woman he loves standing in front of him â he didnât care about the maybeâs.
he didnât care about the past anymore. not when you were right here.Â
âand did you?...feel it?â he asked softly.Â
you smiled. and nodded. letting the tears finally fall.
mark steps closer, completely removes the space between you, his chest nearly brushing yours, never letting go of your wrist. he needed the physical connection to believe this was real.Â
âi need to hear you say it,â his voice broke, eyes red now too, ââŠplease. i need to hear you say you love me.â
the desperation in his voice was the key, unlocking the gates you had kept shut for half a decade. you melted, your strength vanishing as you clutched the fabric of his polo.Â
âof course, i love you,â you sobbed, the words spilling out in a rush of grief and longing, âmarkâŠi have never loved anyone but you. iââ
âmarry me.â
your breath hitches at his interruption, searching his eyes for any trace of a lie, anything that says this was a momentary lapse in judgment. but all you saw was the same boy in that tiny twin size bed.
âthat,â his voice cracked as he laughed helplessly, âthatâs all i wanted to hearâŠthat you love me,â he admits, leaning his forehead against yours, his eyes closing in relief and pain and love, all mixing together.Â
âitâs the only requirement i was searching for. everything else doesnât matter. just love me, and iâll burn this whole house down to get you out of here.â
you looked up at him, your vision blurred by the tears that continued to trail down your cheeks. for the first time in years, the weight in your chest felt lighter. a small, fragile smile tugged at the corners of your lips, a flicker of the girl he knows emerging from the wreckage.Â
âget me out of here then,â you whisper, your voice a broken, hopeful thread.Â
mark let out another breathless disbelieving laugh. he reached up, his hands cupping your face gently, thumbs moving with tenderness, wiping away your tears. his eyes darken when they landed on the tiny, swollen cut on your lip. he didnât want to hurt you. he wanted to heal you.Â
when he finally leaned in, the kiss was slow, careful and devastatingly sweet. it wasnât the desperate, hungry collision of two people who had been starved of each other â it was a promise. a quiet reclamation.Â
for five years, your clock had stopped the moment you were forced to let him go. but as mark pulled you closer, molding your body against his, you felt the ice finally crack, the world rushing back in.Â
time started moving again.Â
đ WELCOME HOME. đ
markâs penthouse was astonishing, high ceilings, floor-to-floor windows that framed the glittering tapestry of city lights that twinkled like fallen stars, picture frames of his family scattered around the place and a gigantic plush couch that looked infinitely more welcoming and comfortable than your own bed.Â
you canât stop looking around in awe, your eyes tracing the clean lines and the sophisticated yet homey decor. he had built this. all of this â the success, the luxury, the peace â he had achieved it on his own.Â
âitâs not as big as your mansion, butâŠâ he said, his voice sheepish, a trace of the humble boy from the university still lingering in his tone, âitâs home.â
âare you kidding?â you turned to him, a radiant smile breaking across your face, âiâve always hated that place.â
you stepped towards him, the distance between you vanishing in a heartbeat as your arms slid around his neck, pulling him close, while his hands instinctively settles on your waist, his grip firm and possessive, as if he was making sure you could never drift away again. Â
âiâm happy as long as youâre here.â
he didnât need to hear another word. mark pulled you in, his mouth crashing against yours in a kiss that was soft and slow, yet humming with desperation. his tongue swiped across your bottom lip as he began to guide you backwards toward the couch, your lips never breaking contact, the kiss deepening into something hungrier, starving.Â
as you moved, you reached up and pushed his blazer off his shoulders. he let it fall somewhere on the hardwood floor. the heat between you spiked, the urgency of your touches increasing as the back of your legs hit the arm of the couch. you sat on the edge of the armrest, tugging him toward you by his tie, pulling his face inches from yours.Â
mark settled himself firmly between your parted legs, his large hands sliding to the small of your back to support you. you didnât waste a second, your fingers working frantically to tug the tie from his collar, flinging it aside and focusing on unbuttoning his polo. when the shirt hit the floor, you let your hands wander, wanting to feel the heat of him â your palms slid over the hard planes of his chest, tracing down to his waist and the sculpted ridges of his abs.Â
you pulled slightly away from the kiss, breathless and flushed, âwhen did you get abs?â
he let out a laugh, light and airy â an intoxicating drug.
âonce i stopped eating all those packets of ramen,â he joked, his eyes sparkling.Â
you laughed with him, the sound bubbling up from a place of pure joy, âgod, i miss the buldak carbonara,â you groaned, looking up at him, âyou know, i sometimes pretend i have meetings out of the city just so i could eat that in peace.â
he shook his head fondly, his gaze softening with an adoration that made your heart ache, âi would say iâd buy you all the buldak in the worldâŠbut itâs really not good for you, baby.â
the sound of the old nickname sent a swarm of butterflies erupting in your stomach and you canât help but reach for him again, connecting your lips once more.
mark guides you to stand then, his hands sliding up your back until he found the zipper of your dress. in one smooth motion, he pulled it down, letting it slide off your skin, pooling around your ankles and leaving you standing before him in nothing but a matching pair of white lace underwear.Â
âfuckâŠyouâre so beautiful,â he groaned, his voice dropping an octave, thick with raw desire. he took in the sight of you â the curve of your hips, the softness of your breasts, the vulnerability in your eyes â looking at you with absolute worship.Â
you love the way he looks at you.
a playful smile tugged at your lips as you reached down, hooking your finger through the belt loops of his trousers and pulling him flush against you. your fingers worked quickly, unbuttoning his pants and sliding the zipper down, letting the fabric join your dress in a heap on the floor.Â
with a sudden, playful shove, you pushed him onto the couch. mark landed on his back, his legs sprawling, as he looked up at you with a teasing, hooded gaze.Â
you crawled over him, your knees pinning his thighs, feeling the hard muscle of his legs beneath you. he didnât wait for you to make the first move, his fingers combing into your hair to pull you down into a kiss that was wetter and more desperate than the last. it was all tongue, a frantic exchange of longing.Â
while your lips remained locked, your hand wandered down, tugging his boxers off as he raised his hips up to help you. you gripped his cock, rubbing the length of him up and down. he was already half hard â the heat of him pulsing against your palm as you stroke him to fullness. mark let out a low, guttural groan into the kiss, his hips instinctively bucking upward, seeking more of your touch.Â
you paused for a second, pulling away to quickly remove your underwear, the fabric already damp and stained with your juices. you tossed them aside without a glance, the cool air of the penthouse hitting your skin for only a second before you shifted, pushing his cock up to stand between your pussy lips so you could grind against it, trapping him against your heat and coating him with your wetness â the friction against your clit feeling so good.Â
mark slid his hands behind his head and leaned back into the cushions, looking completely content, a tiny, wicked smirk on his lips as he watched you get lost in your own pleasure.Â
âdo you want to use a condom?â you asked, smiling at him, your voice already a bit breathless, your need for him all consuming.Â
he quirked a brow, his eyes locked on yours. âyouâre literally going to be my wife,â he says, sitting up suddenly, his arms bracing behind him to lift his torso so he could reach your lips again, âfuck the condoms.â
you smiled against the kiss, âonce againâŠa very brilliant man, director,â you whispered, your voice sultry and hot. which makes markâs cock twitch in your hand. you raise a brow, a triumphant look in your eyes to let him know that you noticed that. he canât help but let out a low chuckle, a faint, boyish blush creeping up his cheeks despite his newfound confidence.Â
that was a conversation for another day, right now â you were craving to feel him, your body screaming to be filled. you donât waste another second, lining him up and sinking down on him in one motion.Â
you were so wet, so needy, that your walls took him in greedily, stretching to accommodate his size. a loud, broken moan escaped you as you rolled your head back, spine arching as you felt him bottom out deep inside you. mark let out a sharp grunt, his eyes snapping shut as he felt the crushing, velvet heat of your walls clamping down on him. the feeling of skin on skin, almost overwhelming.Â
âfuckâ,â you whispered breathily, the senstaion almost too much to bear. you pushed him back down into the couch, your palms flat against his chest and began riding him in earnest.Â
as you rocked against him, markâs mind flashed back to that tiny twin-sized bed and the clumsy, tentative moments of two virgins trying to figure it out. back then, it had been a discovery, now â it was a reclamation.
he watched you, mesmerized by the way you moved, the confidence in your hips, the way you knew exactly how to tilt your body to maximize the friction.Â
for a brief second, he wondered how you had become so skilled â but he couldnât judge. heâs had his own share of one night stands. of nights spent with bodies trying to find what he only ever felt with you.Â
âf-feels so good, markââ you moaned loudly, the sound echoing in the room.Â
heâs completely entranced, his gaze fixed on the sight of you riding him, your expression one of pure pleasure, the sounds coming from your lips adding to his desire.
his hands wandered up your sides, fingers expertly finding the clasp of your bra and with a practiced flick, he unhooked it. you let the straps slide off your shoulders, tossing the garment to the floor. mark surge upward, still letting you control the pace, but he wanted more. more of your noises. more of your body. more of you.Â
he leaned in, his lips wrapping around your nipple, sucking it into his mouth with a hunger that made you cry out. he teased the sensitive bud with his tongue, swirling around it, almost as if he was making out with your breast â it was messy and wet, his saliva leaving glistening trails across your skin as he moved from one to the other, marking every part of you as his.
you gripped his back, nails digging into his skin, pulling him closer as your walls squeezed him even tighter with every touch, your hips instinctively rocking faster.Â
âyouâre so pretty, baby,â he groaned, looking up at you with hooded eyes and flushed lips, trailing kisses up to your collarbone and then your neck, his mouth latching onto the sensitive skin there. he sucked hard, creating deep, dark marks that would serve as a reminder of this evening.Â
âkeep riding meâŠjust like that,â he whispered the praise into your ear, his hot breath sending shivers down your spine.Â
markâs hands slid down from your back to your hips, his fingers digging into your ass to take control, as he started guiding your movements â bouncing you harder, deeper, the sound of your bodies slapping against each other filling the quiet room.Â
âiâm closeâiâm so closeâ,â you moaned into his ear, your voice breaking. you felt him everywhere â the stretch of him inside you, the heat of his chest against yours, the scent of his skin filling your lungs.Â
with a sudden surge of strength, mark flipped the positions â no stumbling this time, no hesitation. in one fluid motion, he had you on your back, hoisting your legs up and bending your knees to your shoulders, the angle steep and punishing, opening you up completely and allowing him to bottom out with a force that made you gasp. you swore you could feel the head of his cock pushing deep into your stomach.Â
âoh, god!,â you yelled, the sound a mixture of a scream and a shattered moan.Â
ânot godâŠjust me baby,â he grunts by your ear, his voice dark and teasing.
before you could even process the comment, he starts thrusting rapidly, driving into you with a raw, primal urgency. then â one of his hand pushed down on your lower stomach, increasing the friction to an unbearable level.Â
it pushed you over the edge â your eyes rolling back into your head, toes curling tightly as a wave of heat spread from your core to your fingertips. without warning, your orgasm crashed over you, hard and fast, your pussy clamping down on him in a series of intense spasms, as you sobbed his name.Â
mark didnât stop. he kept driving into you, letting you ride the peak of your high, prolonging the ecstasy. then finally, with a guttural grunt and a deep final thrust that seemed to fuse your bodies together, he spilled deep inside you, groaning loudly into your ear as his entire body shuddered, collapsing on top of you, the weight of him a comforting pressure.Â
for a while, the only sound in the penthouse was the ragged sound of your shared breathing. the air thick with the scent of sex and sweat.Â
a small, breathless laugh eventually bubbled out of your lips, âholy shitâ,â you whispered, your voice raspy, âthatâŠwas amazing. where the hell did you learn how to do that?â
mark let out a low chuckle, lifting his head just enough to look at you, a smug, playful grin on his lips, âwhere did you?â he countered, his voice still deep from the high.Â
you bit your lip, hiding a guilty smile as you looked away, âi donât know what you mean.â
he rolled his eyes playfully, earning a real laugh from you, your eyes crinkling â the sound was music to his ears â a sound of genuine happiness that had been missing for far too long.Â
âi love you.â
your heart felt whole again as you reached up, cupping his cheek, your thumb brushing over his skin, âi love you too, markie.â
đ ITâS YOURS. đ
as you lay half on top of him, your leg curled around his thigh, you felt a profound sense of peace. markâs fingers were drawing slow, lazy circles on the small of your back, his touch light and grounding. you felt completely content, the world outside fading into insignificance.Â
you swore you could stay on this couch forever, tangled together and naked, skin to skin, listening to his heartbeat â a sound that belonged entirely to you.Â
but then, a sudden realization flickered in your mind, breaking the comfortable silence, âoh shit.â
âwhat?â he asks, his fingers pausing their movement.
âuhmâyou left chenle to do the presentation,â you pointed out, lifting your head to look at him.Â
mark froze. he took a deep, slow breath and you could practically see the gears turning as reality slapped him in the face.
âawe, fuck,â he groaned, closing his eyes, âheâs so gonna fire me.â
a tiny giggle escaped you, âdonât they give out warnings? i mean, they all keep saying youâre the best on the team, iâm sure he can let it slide.â
âyeah,â he replied, a sheepish, lopsided smile tugging at his lips, âexcept, iâm kind of already on his last straw.â
you quip a brow, waiting for the story there.
he scrunched his nose, looking embarrassed, âi almost killed his wife last year,â he admits.Â
âwhat?!â
âit was an accident!â he defended, though he looked slightly pained, âi didnât know she was severely allergic to kiwis and i used a concentrated kiwi extract in one of the new vitamin product prototypes we were testingâŠshe had a reaction.â
âohhhh, so thatâs what happened,â you say in awe, the pieces of a puzzle clicking into place, âi remember that weekâŠthe azur team sent over so many flowers and get-well cards wishing her a speedy recovery.â
mark sighed, the sound heavy with regret. you looked at him, your heart aching with a sudden urge of protectiveness as your hand trailed slowly along his jawline, fingers grazing his lips.
as if magnetically drawn to you, his lips followed your touch, pressing a soft, lingering kiss into the center of your palm, making you smile.
âwellâŠâ you started, voice soft, âif you still want to work for them, you canâiâll make a phone call to smooth things over. but markâŠonce we're married, you know you donât have to anymore, right?â
he blinked, looking up at you.Â
âyou could start your own company,â you continued, âbe your own boss.â
the thought hadnât even crossed his mind. up until this moment, his entire world had been centered on the simple, desperate need to have you back in his life, to hold you and keep you safe. the idea of power, status and leadership all felt so distant.Â
âyou know iâm not marrying you for the money or the business, right?â he said softly, his gaze searching yours, making sure you understood that his love was untainted by ambition.Â
you nodded, a tender smile playing on your lips, âi know,â you whispered.
âbut all of it comes with marrying meâŠthis worldâthe resources, the influenceâitâs yours now, too.â
he took a deep inhale, the scent of you filling his lungs. for a moment, he thought about the weight of that world â the pressure, the expectations. but as he looked at you, he realized it didnât scare him. this life he was about to step into didnât feel like a burden because he wouldnât be facing it alone.Â
there was only one thing mark was absolutely sure of â he never wanted to be at the top if you werenât there beside him.
âitâs gonna be weird being on the same level as mr. zhong,â he joked, a playful glint returning to his eyes, âbut i think iâll surviveâŠas long as youâre here.â
you giggled, the sound bright and melodic and leaned in to capture his lips again, soft and playful and filled with the promise of a future where neither of you ever had to say goodbye again.Â
đ FAMILY. đ
the days leading up to the wedding were a whirlwind of absolute chaos. you had finally played your hand with your father, telling him with a cold, unwavering certainty that you would push through the wedding he had meticulously planned â just not with the groom he had chosen.Â
surprisingly, he hadnât fought you. there were no shouting matches, no dramatic ultimatum. instead, he had retreated into an oppressive silence but the air between you remained thick with a quiet simmering tension â you could feel his disapproval like a physical weight, that familiar cold draft that followed you through the halls of the mansion.Â
mark lee wasnât a billionaire heir nor did he possess the kind of ancestral wealth your father craved for in a son-in-law. however, mark had a sterling, respected reputation. the industry adores him. he was the standard of talent and integrity. and your father was just going to have to be okay with that.
but to ensure your father couldnât manipulate the narrative or find a way to sabotage the union, you took the ultimate gamble. you reached out to the media and announced your engagement to the world. the publicâs reaction was a symphony of opinions â some were supportive, calling it a triumph of love over tradition. others whispered that mark was the luckiest man alive, while a cynical few wondered if he had somehow manipulated a wealthy heiress into choosing him. some even framed it as a modern-day cinderella story.Â
none of it mattered though. the noise of the world was nothing compared to the silence of the penthouse, where you ended every single night wrapped in his arms, the only place where you truly felt safe.Â
mark had facetimed his family in a frantic, nervous burst of energy, explaining the suddenness of it all and letting them know he was marrying you in a week. the initial shock had been palpableâthe wide eyes, the stunned silencesâbut it had quickly melted into a wave of understanding and warmth. they didn't care about the scandal or the social standing. they only cared that the light had returned to their sonâs eyes.Â
they had all flown in last night, filling the penthouse with a sudden warm energy. his parents claimed one bedroom, his brother in another and you and mark remained in the master suite.Â
the rich, savory scent of breakfast drifted through the air, gently coaxing you from your slumber. you opened your yes to find mark still deep in sleep beside you, his steady, warm breathing brushed against your ear, his arm draped lightly across your waist. you watched the peaceful expression on his face, before pressing a soft kiss to his jaw.Â
slipping out of bed carefully, you padded downstairs until you reached the kitchen.Â
âit smells incredible, mrs. lee,â you commented softly, leaning against the island counter and watching her move with effortless grace around the stove.Â
âoh, dear!,â she turns towards you, her face lighting up. you didnât get a chance to catch up last night, everyone too tired from their flights.Â
mrs. lee looked at you with that same sparkle in her eyes â the same unconditional warmth she had shown you five years ago. it was as if she had completely erased the memory of the heartbreak youâd caused, as if she hadnât witnessed mark slowly wither and lose himself during the years you were gone. she didnât see a girl who had broken her son. she only saw the woman who had finally brought him back to life.Â
âyou need to stop calling me mrs. lee,â she said, her voice sweet and firm, âweâre family now. you should call me mom.â
the word brought a sudden, overwhelming rush of emotions you tried to hold back but it was too late â the tears spilled over, hot and fast, trailing down your cheeks. a shaky, broken smile touching your lips.
for so long, family had been a word associated with fear, control and coldness. to have it offered so freely, so tenderly, felt like a miracle.Â
âohâŠnone of that, sweetheart,â she murmured even though her own eyes were starting to water.Â
she stepped towards you, carefully wiping your tears away with a maternal tenderness that made your heart ache, âyouâve done enough crying in your life, okay?â
she leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to your temple, âcome on, iâll teach you how to make my secret fried chicken recipeâŠitâs markâs favorite, you know?â she gave you a playful wink, gesturing for you to join her deeper in the kitchen.Â
you followed her, your steps light, the heavy armor you had worn for years finally falling away. as you stood beside her, learning and listening to her stories about a young, clumsy mark, you felt the jagged edges of your soul beginning to smooth over.
your heart was healing, one small, loving step at a time.Â
đ THE PROMISE. đ
âyour mom taught me how to make kimchi fried rice today,â you murmured in the quiet of your shared bedroom. this has become your sacred ritual since moving into the penthouse â just the two of you, facing each other, sharing your day.Â
âhow was that?â mark asks, a small, knowing smile on his lips. this was his favorite part of the day. the noise of the wedding planning, the lingering tension with your father and the chaos of the public eye all vanished when you were here.Â
his hand rested firmly on your waist, while yours lay lightly over his chest.Â
âhmmâŠ,â you pout slightly, looking at him, âconsidering i somehow managed to burn the riceâŠit might take a while,â you sigh, earning a chuckle from him, âiâm pretty sure your mom wanted to yell at me.â
mark huffs a breath, âplease, sheâs obsessed with you,â he teased, his eyes softening, âyou could mess up a hundred more meals and sheâll still think youâre the most perfect person in the world.â
you beamed at that, the warmth spreading through your chest.Â
âwhat did you do today?â you asked, shifting your focus to him.
âwell,â he began, his voice tinged with a bittersweet edge, âi handed in my resignation letter.â
the room went still for a moment. he had been with the company nearly eight years. he had poured his youth, his intellect and his passion into that career. leaving was a heavier transition than he had anticipated.Â
âwhat did the zhongâs say?â
âwell, mrs. zhong told me to tell you that she canât believe you would take her favorite researcher away,â he teases, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
you rolled your eyes, letting out a giggle, âgod, sheâs going to hold that over my head for years.â
but as the laughter faded, you looked up at him, your expression turning tender.Â
you began drawing slow, absent-minded heart shapes on his shirt, âhow do you feel about it, though?â
âhonestly? a little sad,â he admitted, his voice dropping an octave, âiâve been there a long time. some of those people are practically family. it feels like closing a chapter of my life. butâŠâ he paused, pulling you a fraction closer, his gaze intensifying, â-iâm ready for a changeâŠfor a life where i donât have to answer to anyone but you,â he teases softly.Â
you leaned up, pressing a quick kiss to his lips, âyouâll be amazing at whatever you do next. i know you will.â
âthanks, baby,â he whispered against your lips.Â
âdid you do anything else?â
âmhm,â he hums, his hand sliding from your waist to your cheek, âi went to suit fittings with dad and hyung for the wedding. oh! and thenââ
in one smooth motion, he tucked a stray lock of hair behind your ear, his fingers gliding down the line of your jaw and as he pulled back slightly, he revealed something he had been hiding in his palmâ
a ring.Â
the most beautiful ring youâve ever seen â the massive, marquise-cut diamond that captured every stray beam of light in the room, sparkling like the snowflakes from that christmas day.Â
your breath hitched, your heart pounding as you locked eyes with him, â-whatâ
âi told you iâd put a real ring on this finger someday, baby,â he whispered, reaching out and gently taking your left hand in his. with a steady hand and a look of absolute devotion, he slid the band onto your wedding finger. it clicked into place â a perfect fit.
âyou still remember that?â you whispered, your voice cracking with emotion.Â
he took your hand, the one now adorned with the diamond, and pressed it firmly against his chest, right over his beating heart.Â
ây/n, i donât think you realizeâŠi havenât forgotten a single thing when it comes to you.â
a wet laugh escaped you as tears of pure joy spilled over, âyou canât keep charming me like this, markie,â you whined, though you were leaning into him.Â
he quirked a brow, a playful smirk dancing on his lips, âand why not?â
âbecause,â you pouted, your voice dropping an octave as you looked at his mouth, âit just makes me want to jump your bones every time.â
markâs laugh was loud and genuine, a sound of pure happiness that echoed in the quiet room. his hand slid from your waist to the small of your back, puling you even closer, âi am definitely not opposed to that.â
he crashed his lips onto yours, starting with a kiss that was soft and slow, a tender acknowledgment of the promise he had just placed on your finger.
but the tenderness quickly ignited into something more primal. in one motion, he shifted his weight, turning you onto your back and hovering over you.Â
he reached down, gripping the hem of the oversized t-shirt you were wearing â his shirt. you preferred wearing it over the expensive silk pajamas. he pulled it over your head and didnât waste a second as his lips began a slow, torturous descent, trailing kisses down the sensitive curve of your neck to the hollow of your collarbone.Â
you let out a shaky breath, your eyes fluttering shut as he moved lower, his lips sucking firmly on each nipple, tongue swirling around the peaks until you were arching your back, a sweet, needy moan escaping you, your eyes closed, basking in the growing pleasure.Â
he continued placing kisses down your body, across your stomach, his breath hot against your skin until he reached your thighs. he didnât strip you yet, instead, licking you through your underwear, his face against the thin fabric of your panties, already damp with your arousal.Â
âfuckâi missed this,â he groaned, the sound muffled against your heat.
he hooked his fingers into the waistband of your underwear and slid them down your legs frantically. the moment you were bare, he buried his face in your pussy, his tongue finding your clit. he ate you out like a man who had been starved for a lifetime, his tongue flicking and swirling, drinking you in.Â
you whined, your hand immediately going down to clutch his hair, your hips bucking instinctively, pussy aching for more. you opened your eyes, breathless, watching the sight below you â so holy and unholy all at once â this sight of this respected, disciplined man reduced to a craving animal between your legs, while the diamond ring on your finger sparkled under the light.Â
âmarkâmarkâ,â you moaned, your voice breaking. you tugged lightly on his head, needing him to stop the torture, âi need youâŠplease. i need you inside me now.â
he surged back up to kiss you, letting you taste yourself on him as he undressed himself quickly. he paused for a moment, his hand wrapping around his pulsing cock, pumping it a few times as he looked deep into your eyes, his gaze dark with possessiveness â and god, you swore he belonged in an art gallery only for your viewing.Â
without warning, he guided himself to your entrance and slid in in one deep, powerful thrust. the air left your lungs in a sharp gaps against his lips as he filled you completely.Â
but this wasnât like the night on the couch. this was sweet, slow and deepâa rhythm that both of your bodies needed tonight. the room was filled with the harmony of your shared moans and whines. mark moved with a deliberate pace, each thrust rubbing that sensitive spot inside, his eyes never leaving yours.Â
as the tension built, you reached out with your left hand, finding his right, and slotting your fingers through his, locking your palms together. markâs gaze drops to where your fingers entwined, staring at the ring â the shimmering symbol that you were truly his, and that he was yours, forever.Â
the sight of it seemed to trigger something in him. he lifts one of your legs up higher before his rhythm shifted â more urgent, more demanding â driving into with you a raw intensity, his breath coming in ragged gasps.Â
âyouâre mine,â he whispered, âmy wife. my everything.â
his words were your undoing. the pressure in your core exploded as you moaned his name, body tightening around him, pulling him deeper, pushing mark over his own edge. he lets out a primal grunt, his muscles locking as he filled you with his warmth, pouring everything he had into you.Â
đ FREE. đ
you never had a dream wedding. you didnât care for the date or the bouquet or the theme that planners had spent months perfecting. you didnât even care about your wedding dress.Â
the only detail that mattered, the only thing that kept your heart beating â is the man at the end of the aisle.
he was the only dream youâve ever had. a dream you thought would never come true.Â
the first chords of the piano drifted through the air, a beautiful melody that signaled your entrance. the sound pulled you out of your thoughts and into the present.Â
âfather,â you said, your voice steady as you gave a respectful bow.Â
it was only natural that he would walk you down the aisle â he had an image to maintain, a legacy of the perfect family to project to the influential vultures gathered in the room. but as you looked up, you froze.Â
for the first time in twenty-six years, the ice in his gaze had thawed. he looked at you with a softness that felt alien, an expression of tenderness you didnât think he was capable of feeling.Â
âyou look like your mother,â he whispers, his voice sill carrying that stern, authoritative edge, but it was accompanied by something fragile, â-beautiful,â he added.Â
you gave him a small, tentative smile. that single sentence couldnât erase the pain, the silence or the years of emotional damage, but in that moment, the acknowledgement felt like a bridge. it affected you more than it should have, a tiny spark of healing in a wasteland of trauma.Â
âthank you.â
he extended his hand then, and as you looped your arm through his, the towering double doors finally swung open. the venue was a sea of opulence. hundreds of strangers, flashing cameras of reporters, the zhong family, tha naâs, the parkâs â the people of the social hierarchy you had spent your life navigating. they were all there, a blur of expensive perfume and calculated smiles.Â
mark lee felt as if he was witnessing a miracle. after the years of silence, the agony of your disappearance, and the desperate uncertainty of your reunion, he had almost conceived himself this was all just one big hallucination.Â
but there you were â ethereal, radiant, and walking toward him with a gaze that promised he would never have to lose you again.Â
he tried to maintain his composure, to be the poised man the world knew, but as you drew closer â a single tear escaped, rolling down his cheek. he didnât even bother wiping it away. he let it fall, a silent testament to the depth of his love.Â
the ceremony was a blur of tradition and formality but it felt beautiful for one reason only â you were marrying the man you love.Â
while the officiant spoke of love and commitment, your hands were locked together, fingers squeezing tight. you had insisted that the vows be private, refusing to perform your most intimate truths for an audience of people who only knew the masks you wore. you wanted your promises to be a secret shared between two souls, a sacred pact that belonged to no one else.Â
when the moment finally arrived, the air seemed to vibrate.Â
âi do,â you whispered, the words feeling like a liberation.Â
âi do,â mark replied, his voice thick with emotion, as if he were claiming his entire world in two words.Â
as the officiant pronounced you husband and wife, mark didnât hesitate â he pulled you in, his shaking hand cupping your jaw softly and crashed his lips onto yours.
a kiss of desperation, of victory, and a promise of unconditional love.Â
the crowd erupted in cheers, the applause thundering through the venue, but the sound was distant. all you could feel was him and the crushing happiness in your chest â a feeling so intense it almost hurt. for the frist time in your life, you werenât an heiress, a daughter or a corporate assets.Â
you were simply home.Â
and you were finally free.Â
đ A NEW CHAPTER. đ
âwhat are you thinking about?âÂ
markâs voice was soft against the darkness, his fingers tracing lazy circles against your hip as he noticed your eyes were somewhere far away.Â
four years into marriage and your late night talks were still standing strong. still in the penthouse. people often wondered why the two of you never moved into a mansion. with your wealth, you could have owned entire neighborhoods if you wanted to. but neither of you ever found a reason to leave yet. the penthouse was more than enough for only the two of you.Â
âi think iâm ready,â you finally say, meeting his gaze.
markâs hand pauses, his eyes, always observant, immediately sparkling, âlove.â
the nickname is more mature now. somewhere along the way, baby started sounding too baby-ish.Â
âready for what?â he asks softly even though he already knows. nobody knew you better than him. he just wanted to hear it.
a smile appeared on your lips as you leaned in, âletâs have a baby, director.â
the past four years have been a period of adjustment.Â
after the wedding, your father gradually stepped away from azur, leaving the empire to the two of you. and together, you made it greater than ever. people often joked that putting two terrifying geniuses in charge of one company shouldâve been illegal, your combined intellect was a force of nature that left competitors scrambling in your wake.Â
and while helping you lead azur â mark, with his continued love for his work, also started his own company, pursuing a passion that spoke to the very core of his integrity. he had dedicated his company to making scientifically proven, high-grade vitamins and supplements accessible to every family, regardless of income.Â
the critics had been vicious at first, mocking him behind closed doors and saying things like, âheâs married into one of the richest families in asia and heâs spending his time on affordable healthcare? what a waste of a mind.â
mark had always responded with that same, effortless shroud, a confident glint in his eyes. âi spent eight years making products rich people donât need,â he would tell them, his voice calm and unwavering, âiâd rather spend the next forty making products all families do.âÂ
the laughter had died out quickly, replaced by profound respect. the world stopped mocking him and started listening. they began to call him âthe peopleâs scientist,â a title that made your heart swell with so much pride.Â
every time you saw him on a magazine cover or heard him speak at a conference, you fell for him all over again â not for the prestige, but for the man who refused to let this world harden his heart.Â
these last four years had belonged entirely to the two of you â it has been a season of loving, of learning the messy parts of each otherâs personalities, and the sweetness of quiet mornings. there has been the first real fights, too. mark was always the first to give in, not because he was weak, but because he couldnât stand seeing you so upset.Â
and due to the sheer momentum of your careers and the time spent with each other â children had never been a priority. you had ignored the relentless prying of the media, the pointed questions from your father and even mom leeâs playful threats to simply adopt grandchildren herself. it was more a âif it happens, it happens,â kind of thing.Â
and strangely enough, the universe seemed content to let you bask in each otherâs undivided attention. there had only been one pregnancy scare last year which turned out to be a stomach bug. but you still remembered the look in your husbandâs eyes â pure joy. you knew then that mark had been ready, he was simply waiting for you.Â
ây-youâre serious?!â
the smile breaking across his face was so radiant, it felt like the sun had risen inside the bedroom. he looked younger when he smiled like that. like the boy who bought you ramen. the boy who promised you a ring. the boy who taught you what home felt like.Â
you nodded, âone hundred percent.â
he looked downright giddy, his cheeks flushing as his smile widened. before you could say another word, he was hovering over you, peppering your face with kisses, your shared laughter ringing in the room.
for a fleeting second, the years collapsed â youâre twenty-one again, tucked away in his childhood bedroom, looking at a marker drawn ring on your finger and listening to him promise you forever.Â
except now â youâve lived the forever. and it has been beautiful. Â
mark pulled back just an inch, his eyes dark with a mixture of love and sudden, sharp desire. he smiled softly, his voice dropping an octaveâ
âcan we start trying now?â
you giggled against his lips, your hands sliding down to grip his waist, pulling him flush against you.Â
âi was hoping youâd say that,â you teased, before pulling him down to seal the promise with a kiss that tasted like a new chapter.Â
đ THE CHRISTMAS GIFT. đ
it wasnât long after that conversation when you got pregnant.
mark, ever the scientist, approached the prospect of fatherhood with the same meticulous devotion he gave to his research â researching everything â the best positions for conception, the nutritional supplements to support your health, even tracking your ovulation cycle that somehow felt like the most intimate form of foreplay. he made it a game, a secret shared between your bodies, making sure the process never felt like a chore.Â
honestly, the whole process had been almost too easy. it felt as though the universe had finally stopped testing you, finally treating you with a kindness that felt like a warm embrace.Â
itâs christmas eve now and the air in the kitchen of your new mansion was thick with the scnet of chocolate, melted butter and vanilla. you were leaning against the marble countertop, your breath coming a little shorter than usual, very much pregnant and glowing in the soft light. you were baking cookies with your favorite person in the world â markâs mom (sorry mark).
the transition from the penthouse to the new mansion had been a mutual decision the moment the pregnancy test turned positive. as much as you loved your glass sanctuary in the sky, neither of you wanted to navigate elevators and lobbies with a stroller and a new infant. you needed space â gardens for the baby to run in, a nursery filled with sunlight.Â
christmas had become your sacred tradition ever since the wedding. you smiled, remembering the first year â the chaotic energy of you and mark struggling with a a tangled mess of lights, laughing until you cried as you accidentally draped the ornaments over each other instead of the tree. it had been a disaster then. but now, the two of you were experts, though mark had taken over the heavy lifting this year, considering you were in your ninth month, barely able to see your own toes and moving with a slow, careful waddle.
the baby was due any day now. you and mark had made a pact to keep the gender a secret â the suspense was a gift you wanted to open in the delivery room. whether it was a daughter with your eyes or a son with markâs smile, it didn't matter.
from the living room, the muffled sounds of the lee men drifted in as they watched a rerun of a basketball game. their cheers and occasional boisterous booing echoed through the halls, a soundtrack of energy that made you giggle softly to yourself.
your father had stopped by earlier too. the man who had once been the architect of your misery had evolved, slowly. he had arrived with a lavishly wrapped gift for his soon-to-be grandchild, his expression softened by a rare, fragile kind of hope. you knew, deep down, that a part of his affection was tied to the idea of a legacy â the desire for a grandson to carry the name and the empire. but for the first time in your life, you didn't let that thought get to you.
you were the one in control now. you were the one holding the future inside you.
but the future decided it was tired of waiting.Â
a sharp, sudden inhale hitched in your throat as a contraction ripped through your abdomen, far more intense than the dull aches that had been simmering all day. for hours, they had been mere whispers â gentle reminders that the baby was getting ready. but this was different. this was a roar.
âohâgod,â you moaned, your knuckles turning white as you gripped the edge of the marble counter. the world seemed to tilt for a second, and then came the unmistakable, warm rush of fluid â your water had broken, trickling down your leg and pooling on the kitchen floor.
markâs mother, who had been humming a holiday tune while sliding the cookie trays into the oven, spun around. her eyes dropped to the floor and then snapped back to your face. despite the suddenness, she remained the anchor in the storm, rushing to your side to wrap a supportive arm around your shoulders.
âoh, dear,â she whispered, her voice a mixture of maternal calm and bubbling excitement.
panic seized you. you had read the books, watched the videos, and listened to the doctors, but nothing could have prepared you for the raw, visceral reality of the moment.Â
âmark!â his motherâs voice rang out, cutting through the sounds of the basketball game in the other room, âitâs happening!â the shout was loud enough to stop the living room in its tracks.Â
she looked back at you, her eyes shimmering with a joy that was contagious, âitâs happening, sweetheart. your little one is coming.â
a small, breathless laugh escaped you, a strange mixture of terror and exhilaration, even as another wave of pain rolled over you, forcing a groan from your lips.
then came the whirlwind â mark practically ran into the kitchen, his socks sliding on the hardwood. his eyes were wide, mirroring your own panic, his expression a chaotic blend of i'm ready and i'm absolutely terrified.
âitâs happening!? now!?" he exclaimed, jogging toward you.
as you let out a sharp yelp of pain, his protective instincts kicked in instantly. he stepped into your space, his presence a familiar, grounding warmth.
âokay, okay, itâs happening! everyone stay calm. deep breaths, love,â he commanded, though his voice trembled slightly, and he was breathing almost as fast as you were.
he took your hand, his fingers interlocking with yours. with a focused intensity, he guided you slowly toward the door, shouting for johnny to get the car ready. the bags â meticulously packed and checked three times by mark â were already in the trunk.
the ride to the hospital was a blur of markâs soft voice reminding you to breathe and the rhythmic thumping of your heart.
your hospital suite was the pinnacle of luxury â soft linens, dimmable lights, and a silence that felt sacred. outside the heavy doors, the lee family and your father waited, a rare gathering united by a single, breathless anticipation.
the hours that followed were the hardest of your life, it seemed like your baby didnât want to leave yet.
as the clock ticked closer to the end of christmas day, the pain reached a crescendo that felt insurmountable. you held markâs hand with a strength that likely left bruises, tears streaming down your face, your voice raw from the effort.
through it all, mark was your strength. he stayed with you, whispering soft, desperate praises into your ear â âyouâre so strong, love. just a little more. you got this. i love you so much.âÂ
and then, in a final, agonizing surge of effort, the last hour of christmas day â the tension finally snapped â a sharp, piercing cry filled the room, a sound so beautiful it made it all worth it. the silence of the hospital room was shattered by the first breath of your child.
mark didn't look at your baby first. he looked at you. his face was wet with tears, his expression one of pure awe.
âyou did so well, love,â he whispered, his voice cracking. he pressed a lingering, tender kiss to your temple, his hand trembling as he stroked your cheek. you closed your eyes, a wave of profound relief washing over you, squeezing his hand one last time to tell him that you were okay.
then, the nurses placed the tiny, warm bundle onto your chest. the moment the babyâs skin touched yours, the world ceased to exist. the pain, the exhaustion, the fear â it all evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming, crushing weight of love that felt too large for your heart to hold.Â
you looked down at the small face, the tiny fingers curling instinctively, the baby already had markâs noseâŠso pretty.
then you looked up at your husband. he was staring at the baby, then at you, his eyes shimmering with a love so deep.
he leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that tasted of salt and sweetness, a seal on the new life you had created together.
âthank you,â he murmured against your lips, the words a sacred vow, âi love you both so much.â
đ THE END đ
an: đ„čđ„čđ„č and this is the endddddd! i want what they got so much but only if the guy is actually mark lee heheâŠ. they're so sickeningly in love it makes me want to throw up. i wonder how it feels to love someone this much. shoutout to miss olivia rodrigo for dropping yspsfagsil while i was writing this, it helped so much! anyways, i loved writing this story. it really felt like i was honoring mark in some way, i hope that was able to translate well <33 AND OF COURSE, OUR FUN LITTLE GAME!!!!!!! - CAN YOU GUESS THE BABY'S GENDER?! leave your guesses below! and let me know how you're feeling! thank you so so much for taking the time to read this <3333
p.s. the ring in this header is the ring mark got for her <3
đ likes, reblogs, and comments are not required but is very appreciated
đ if you enjoyed this story and would like to show extra support, my kofi is open!
pairing: researcher! mark lee x corporate heiress! reader | genre: angst, fluff, smut | words: 26k+ (35k+ total)
parts: 1, 2 (coming soon) (i had to split it into two guys, sorry! it was ridiculous how much i deleted to not hit the 1k limit)
synopsis: what do you do when the ghost of your twenty-one year old self walks back into your life five years later with a proposal so absurd it sounds like a joke? that's the question mark lee finds himself asking when you appear. it should've been easy to refuse, to walk away, to pretend it never happened. too bad first loves are stubborn, billionaires are terrifying and letting go has always been the problem.
warnings: we dive deep into the angst!, this goes back and forth between present and past!! reader has lots of trauma, sadness, loneliness, +18 contains scenes that may be distressing to some readers. please read with care. a physically abusive father! doesn't get too descriptive, more implied, a mention of a bruise and one slap. slight! exhibitionism, virgins but not inexperienced, mark eatssss and heâs a giverrrr (ofc he is), fingering, blowjobs, riding, missionary. mentions of: a deceased mother, pregnancy, condoms, a cigarette, a scraped knee. i think that's it. this kinda looks terrifyingâŠbut there is a happy ending!
an: oh god, i haven't written a long mark fic in a while...this was so fun to write!!! i kept getting inspired every time we would get updates from upper room's ceo so you're going to see a lot of that inspiration here <3 i hope you love it as much as i love mark! please do share your thoughts with me - with love, c.
đ MARRY ME. đ
the ballroom glittered in gold, the entire venue filled with executives, celebrities, investors and the media that moved from one conversation to another. everywhere you looked, there were cameras, luxury gowns, pressed suits, and waiters carrying trays of champagne beneath giant digital screens advertising yĂŒ skincareâs newest launch â their vitamin line.Â
âmrs. zhong,â you greet warmly, approaching the woman of the hour, surrounded by reporters and company executives. your eyes flicker down briefly to the visible curve beneath her gold silk dress before returning to face her with a smile, âcongratulations on the pregnancy.â
the smile on her face softened instantly, âthank you,â she says, one hand resting over her stomach.Â
âitâs all anyoneâs been talking about lately,â you tease lightly, âwellâthat and this launch,â you gesture around the ballroom, âazur is very excited to officially add yĂŒâs new vitamin line into our stores.â
at the mention of azur, several nearby executives straighten. of course they do. azurâs luxury department stores practically dictated what became successful across asia. if a product received premium placement in your stores, sales skyrocketed overnight.Â
âms. y/n,â she says warmly, slipping easily into her public persona, âweâre incredibly grateful to continue working with azur.â
you exchanged practiced corporate smiles for the people listening nearby. perfect. elegant. professional. the life of the rich and wealthy. exactly what the cameras wanted. but the second the reporters drift away, your smiles melt into something real â you were childhood friends, after all.Â
âmy back is actually killing me,â she mutters under her breath.
you nearly laugh, âwhy are you here anyway?,â you whisper back, âshouldnât you be at homeâŠresting? chenleâs handling everything pretty well.â
âheâs perfect,â she sighs dramatically, a woman so in love with her husband you canât help but feel a little envious, âbut apparently revealing my belly for the first time at this event was âexcellent publicity.ââ
you snort quietly into your champagne glass, âromance and a baby,â you murmur, âthe media must be thrilled.Â
âtheyâre obsessed,â she deadpans, âevery time iâm even standing next to chenle, they follow us like vultures.â
your laughter slips out this time. âwell,â you tell her sincerely, âyou look absolutely beautiful.â
her expression melts instantly, âstop,â she pouts, lower lip jutting out slightly, âyouâre gonna make me emotional.â
then suddenlyâ
âoh, mark!â
your heart stops. it wasnât even intentional, just instinct â the name alone sends something sharp and knowing through your chest before you can control it. you slowly turn around.Â
âyes, maâam.â
his voice hits first. low, steady and grounding. it was a voice that had consumed your memories, a sound that triggered a flood of familiarity. Â
and then you finally seeâŠhim.
mark lee stands a few feet away in a black suit, one hand holding a tablet against his side, eyes landing on mrs. zhong first â and then on you.Â
the change in his expression was microscopic, invisible to anyone who didnât know the map of his face. but you noticed. you notice everything about him. the way his pupils dilated, the slight hitch in his breathing and the almost imperceptible tremor in his posture as the reality of your presence crashed into him.Â
mrs. zhong beamed, blissfully oblivious to the sudden, suffocating tension that had snapped into place between you.Â
ây/n,â she says, turning toward you excitedly, âmeet director mark lee, the brilliant mind behind our vitamin research and development team.â then she turns toward him, âmark, this is the heir of azur. their department stores will be leading the distribution for our new vitamin line.â
your eyes remained locked on his, a silent, intense collision as mrs. zhong continues speaking enthusiastically beside you. she goes on and on about mark being one of the companyâs greatest assets, detailing his research contributions and how hard the company worked to keep him from rival corporations.Â
but you didnât hear a single word.Â
because mark is staring at you too. his eyes are somewhere between shock and disbelief, like heâs still trying to figure out if youâre actually standing here in front of him or heâs materialized his hallucinations.
only one thought crossed your mind-
you want him.Â
you are going to marry him.Â
no one else.Â
as mrs. zhong finally trailed off, you stepped forward, the silk of your midnight blue dress gliding with every move. you extended your hand towards him, ânice to meet you, director mark.â
for the briefest moment, his gaze drops to your hand, his throat bobbing as he swallows hard. then he takes it, warm and steady, a stark difference to the turmoil evident in his eyes.Â
âyou too, ms. y/n,â he replies politely. too politely. he sounded like a stranger with his voice polished and careful, wrapped in a layer of professional distance that felt like a slap to the face. you hated it. you hated the wall he was building between you in real time.Â
before the silence between you can stretch any further, mrs. zhong let out a soft giggle, âi think my husband needs rescuing.âÂ
you follow her gaze to see zhong chenle trapped in a conversation with a group of investors, subtly trying to signal her over without looking desperate. she looks between the two of you, amusement flickering in her eyes.Â
âiâll leave you both to it,â she says casually before turning toward mark, âdirector, you can explain everything y/n needs to know about the vitamin, itâll help azur with the marketing campaign.â
mark straightens his posture instantly, the habit of a dedicated employee taking over, âyes, maâamâ
and just like that, she disappears into the gold-lit crowd, leaving you alone with him.Â
for a moment, neither of you say anything. the music from the ballroom swells softly beneath the low hum of conversations and clinking glasses, but the silence between you feels louder than all of it.Â
you tilt your head slightly, a slow, amused smile playing on your lips as you let your gaze wander over the sharp line of his jaw.Â
âdirector, huh?â you murmured, your voice dropping an octave.Â
mark clears his throat. suddenly, the brilliant researcher everyone spent the night praising seems to completely lose his footing. because now that itâs just the two of you, he canât even hide it anymore. the shock. the confusion. the realization.Â
heâs having a hard time wrapping his head around who you actually are.Â
and you can tell by the way he stutters. mark lee never used to stutterâŠunless he was nervous.Â
ây-yeah,â he nodded quickly, his eyes darting away for a split second before snapping back to yours, âiâuhââ
cute.Â
âyou did it,â you tell him softly, the corporate mask sliding away to reveal genuine warmth, a soft smile on your lips reserved for only one person in this room.
that simple acknowledgment acted like a catalyst. mark stopped glancing around the room and finally looked at you properly for the first time tonight. in an instant, the noise of the ballroom faded into a hum as heâs immediately transported to five years ago.
back when you were just â you.
not the heir to a multi-billion dollar empire.Â
âuhmâuhmâ,â mark stammered, frantically pulling up his tablet like heâs trying to find his ground, âsoâŠour new vitamin lineâŠâ
he was retreating. trying to claw his way back into professionalism because thatâs safer than acknowledging whatever this is. he starts explaining the product launch but you werenât listening. because all you can do is look at him.Â
heâs older now. the boy you met five years ago is replaced by someone sharper. more refined. more composed. his face had matured, his black suit clinging to his broad shoulders perfectly, his glasses gone, his eye lines more prominent, you wonder how many times heâs laughed over the years for those lines to appear. he still has the same moles on his cheeks. still has the same deep brown eyes you fell in love with before you even realized what it was. and despite everything thatâs changed, looking at him still felt like coming home.Â
without warning, you cut him off completely.Â
âfollow me, mark.â
his voice immediately dies off. mark looks up from the tablet just in time to see you already turning away, your gown swirling around your ankles as you led the way. then, after only a second of hesitation, he follows. it almost annoys you that he does so without a single protest because it highlights the difference between the two of youâÂ
you are the heir to retail conglomerate that could crush his career with a single phone call, the daughter to one of the most powerful men in asia.
and mark, no matter how brilliant, respected, or successful he became â is still an employee.Â
you led him up the grand staircase toward the private balcony overlooking the ballroom below. the music grows quieter the further you climb, the golden lights dimmer up here, the crowd downstairs far too busy with networking to notice the two of you sneaking away.Â
the cold night air brushes against your skin as you stop near the railing.Â
behind you, mark exhales a long, shaky breath, ây/n?â
the way he says your name nearly destroys you. itâs the exact same way he used to say it five years ago in seoul. careful. soft. laced with a tenderness that treated your name like something precious.Â
âi canât believe this,â he whispered, voice trembling, âyou didnât tell me you wereââ
âmarry me.â
silence.Â
complete and utter silence.Â
mark froze. and this time, he doesnât even try to hide the shock on his face. his eyes widen almost immediately as if his brain stopped functioning for a second, looking at you as if you had just spoken a language he didnât understand.Â
đ THE GHOST FROM HIS PAST. đ
mark feels like heâs hallucinating. because there is absolutely no way this is real. no way the ghost from his past just reappeared in thin air, draped in couture and smelling of expensive perfume to dismantle the carefully constructed walls of his life with one proposal.
literallyâŠwhose dream is this?
his heart hammers against his ribs like a trapped bird, his entire sense of reality currently collapsing in on itself as he stares at you. and after what seemed to be the longest ten seconds of your lifeâ
âwhat!?â he finally sputters out, the words escaping him as a breathless, panicked exclamation.
âmarry me,â you repeated, your voice steady, contrasting his chaos.Â
mark actually lets out a disbelieving laugh. not because itâs funny but because if he doesnât laugh, he genuinely thinks he might lose his mind.Â
âdudeâ,â he exhaled, dragging a hand down to his face, his fingers scrubbing at his skin as if trying to wipe away the vision of you.Â
the term sneaks a small smile onto your lips. it was so him.
âiâve got to be dreaming,â he whispered into his palm.
you smirked in amusement, biting down on your lip to try and contain your laughter, âyou dream of marrying me, markie?â
the nickname hit him like a punch. markie. another bittersweet memory heâs tried too hard to forget. a name that belonged to a version of himself he thought he had let go of.Â
mark looks at you then. he canât help but take you in, studying you with the same intensity he used to study his research samples back in the university labs, as if by analyzing every detail, he could prove you were real â youâre older now. still as beautiful as the first day he met you. your smile lines are still there, faint at the corners of your lips. he wonders briefly why they havenât gotten deeper over the years. had you stopped laughing as much? your hair is shorter. more refined. more elegant. but itâs your eyes that make his chest twist unexpectedly. god, those eyes. he remembered them too well. the same eyes he lost himself in for a whole year. he had memorized every detail without realizing itâŠevery line in your iris, every expression before you laughed, every look you gave him when you thought he wasnât paying attention. but now, as he searched your gaze, he realized the light had changed. something inside them looks quieter. colder. lonelier.Â
âsoâŠ,â you tilt your head slightly, that teasing smirk still on your lips, âis that a yes?âÂ
he finally snaps out of his daydream, your question pulling him back to earth. this isnât a dream. the cold air is real, the scent of your perfume is real, and the impossible request hanging in the air is real.Â
mark stares at you like youâve completely lost your mind.
âwhat is this?,â he asks finally, a sharp edge of frustration slicing through his shock, âa prank? some kind of joke?â
âdo i look like iâm joking, mark?â
âno, but y-you,â he cuts himself off sharply, trying to compose himself, âyou canât justâ,â he exhales hard through his nose.
âyou disappeared.âÂ
the teasing expression on your face falters slightly. for a split second, the mask of the azur heir cracked, revealing the girl who had once loved him.Â
mark laughs again, quieter this time, bitter, a sound devoid of any joy, âno goodbye. no explanations.â his jaw tightens, âyou were justâŠgone. you left me like you never existed.â
your chest twists painfully but instead of acknowledging it, you slip into the version of yourself that knows how to survive difficult conversations, forcing indifference onto your expression. Â
âand now iâm here,â you say lightly, head held high, âand iâm making you an offer you shouldnât resist.â
mark looked at you as if he were staring at a stranger wearing the skin of someone he once loved. and maybe he was. maybe the girl who stole his heart five years ago isnât the same girl standing before him now.Â
âdo you think marriage is a game?â he asks finally, anger quietly bleeding into his voice.Â
your expression softens just slightly, the ice in your eyes flickering. you stepped closer, the scent of your expensive perfume swirling around him.Â
âi think,â you start carefully, your voice dropping to a low hum, âwe can work well together.â
the words hang heavily between you.Â
âlike we did before,â you added softly.Â
he just stares at you, waiting for an explanation. so you continue.
âletâs face it mark,â you continued, your voice losing itâs softness and taking on a sharp edge, âno matter how smart, impressive and hardworking you are,â you paused, letting the weight of the statement sink in, âyou will always be an employee.âÂ
you notice the subtle twitch in his expression immediately. you know you hit a nerve, crossing a line you shouldnât, but you keep going anyway. you leaned in, your gaze locking into his.
âmarrying me would change everything for you,â you gesture vaguely toward the glittering ballroom below, âyour status, your influence, your position in this industry.â
markâs face hardens, his expression becoming a mask of stone.
âyou donât want to spend the rest of your life being the brilliant director executives profit off of while they sit comfortably above you,â your gaze stays locked onto his, âwith me, everything youâve ever wanted is yours.â
for a second, you saw it â the flicker of temptation. mark wasnât blind. he knew the math. and he knew heâd be a fool to pass up this offer. he could dedicate another ten years of his life and still never truly stand beside the wealthiest â people like the zhongâs, the parkâs, the naâs. people like you. that kind of status wasnât earned. it was inherited.
but even though the wealth is blinding and tempting â mark is a fool.Â
a fool who believes marriage should mean something. that a vow was a promise of the soul, not a contract for mutual benefit.Â
his mind flashed back to his parents â the only blueprint for love he had ever known. they ruined themselves loving each other, spent years struggling financially, sacrificing everything for one another, and yet they still look at each other like they won the lottery. itâs his favorite love story. a testament to the idea that love was the only currency that actually mattered. thatâs why he canât imagine marrying someone for strategy or status or convenience.Â
âand what exactly do you get out of marrying me?,â he asks finally, completely dumbfounded.Â
none of it made sense to him. heâs sure there was a line of guys waiting at your feet â billionaire heirs, ceoâs, politiciansâ sons, executives raised specifically for marriages like this, men with family names powerful enough to impress your family. soâŠwhy in the world would you ever choose him? he didnât have billions of dollars attached to his name. his family is ordinary. and you said it yourself â he is just an employee.
your gaze flickers for the first time tonight.
âi have three months,â you admit quietly as markâs brows furrow slightly. the sudden time constraint shifted the energy of the conversation from a strategic negotiation to a desperate plea.
âmy father made it clear,â you inhale slowly before meeting his eyes again, âiâm getting married this year whether i want to or not.â
the cold night air suddenly feels heavier and mark felt a sudden surge of protectiveness that he had no right to feel. he absolutely hates how much that imagery affects him. you, in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle to someone else. it bothers him far more than it should. which is ridiculous, really. he hasnât seen you in five years. you were strangers who shared a history, ghosts of a seoul that no longer existed.Â
but then you spoke and that sharp edge was gone, leaving behind something aching and raw.Â
âiâd rather it be you,â you say softly, your voice barely a whisper, âthan the man my father chose for me.â
that almost breaks him. because for the first time tonight, you finally sound honest. the conflict within him reached a fever pitch. on one side was the man who valued love, the man who refused to be a pawn in a corporate game. on the other was the boy who had spent five agonizing years wondering where you went, the boy who had kept a small, locked part of his heart reserved for the girl who had disappeared without a word, leaving him to bleed in silence.Â
looking at you now, the anger and the betrayal are still thereâŠbut also...the primal, aching longing that refuses to die.
đ THE GIRLFRIEND. đ Â
âthere you are,â a sweet, melodic voice cuts through the tension hanging between you and mark, âiâve been looking for you.â
both of you turn at the same time as a woman approaches from the staircase, her heels clicking softly against the marble. sheâs beautiful in that effortless way and she isnât familiar to you. but the way she walks directly toward mark tells you enough already.Â
âkarina,â mark calls out her name. the way his voice softens around her makes your stomach twist unpleasantly. that tone used to be reserved only for you.Â
âuhmâ,â he clears his throat quickly before gesturing toward you, âmeet ms. y/n, heir of azur, i was just explaining the vitamin line like mrs. zhong asked.â
karinaâs eyes widen slightly before she bows politely, âoh,â she says softly, âiâm so sorry for interrupting.â
youâre already preparing to dismiss her. to tell her you and mark were still discussing something important but mark beats you to it.
âms. y/n,â he says carefully, his voice regaining itâs professional distance, âthis is karina, head of the marketing teamâŠâ
thereâs the briefest pause. thenâ
â...and my girlfriend.â
your expression almost slips. but years of media training and executive dinners save you before it can fully show. still â it feels strangely humiliating how quickly disappointment crashes into you over a man you havenât spoken to in years.Â
karina naturally moves beside him and markâs hand settles against her lower back â a gesture of comfort, of habit, of belonging. the sight makes something ugly tighten in your chest, a surge of jealousy coursing through you.Â
right. of course. why wouldnât he have someone? everyone fell for him. you knew that firsthand.
you force a small smile onto your face anyway, nodding in her direction. you donât say nice to meet you because itâs not. instead, you go back to default - work.
âwell, iâm sure the vitamin line will perform extremely well. azur will set up a meeting with yĂŒ headquarters sometime this week to discuss distribution and marketing strategies further.â
you look at mark the entire time, not once sparing karina a glance, effectively erasing her presence from the conversation.
âoh,â you add lightly before stepping away, âand mark?â
his eyes meet yours immediately.Â
âthink about it.â
the words land heavily between the two of you. itâs selfish, maybe even cruel, but you had to try. this isnât just about a wedding â this was your whole future on the line. you donât care if thereâs someone new in his heart now. not when you can still see the flicker of the old mark, your mark, in his eyes. not when there is a chance that you are still etched into his soul.
then, you turn and walk away, head held high, expression composed, untouchable until the very end, not daring to glance back.Â
only once you disappear down the staircase does mark finally exhale properly for what feels like the first time all night. the second youâre out of sight, he immediately steps away from karina.
âwhat the fuck was that?!â karina whisper-shouts, looking at him in disbelief, âiâm not your girlfriend!â
he lets out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. the composure he had fought so hard to maintain in front of you shatters instantly. karina was not his girlfriend. never had been. she was a good friend. and now sheâs looking at him like heâs completely lost his mind.Â
âdo you remember the girl i told you about?â he sputters out, his voice strained, âthe one i met in south korea?âÂ
karina blinks once. then twice.
âuhh you mean the girl youâve been hung up on for the past five years because she ghosted you and âshe was the only woman iâve ever loved,â â that girl?,â karina teases, mocking his voice.Â
mark grimaces immediately, a flush of heat creeping up his neck, âi never said that,â he scoffs, rolling his eyes.Â
ââughh karina, love is not realâiâll never love againâsheâs the only one for me, no else will ever take her spotâ,â karina continues teasing him, voice going several octaves lower in a terrible imitation of him.Â
âokay, okay!â mark hisses, rubbing his face in embarrassment, âi get itâŠi may have said those things,â he grumbles in defeat.
karina lets out a soft chuckle, her expression softening as she looks at him. the teasing fades, replaced by a flicker of curiosity and concern. she knows the depth of the scar you left on him.
âwhat about that girl?â
mark lets out another tired sigh before glancing toward the staircase you disappeared down moments ago. and instantly, his expression turned serious. the exact look karina recognizes from late nights in the office â the expression he wears when he is on the verge of a breakthrough, when he becomes so consumed by a singular goal that the rest of the world ceases to exist.Â
âthat was her.â
karina freezes. â...oh.â her eyes widening at the revelation, âoh, shit.â
âWAITââ she hisses, smacking his arm, her voice climbing an octave, âso whY THE HELL DID YOU TELL HER I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND!?â
âshhhh!,â mark whispers immediately, glancing around to make sure nobody heard her, âkeep your voice down!â
karina lowers her voice, still mixed with the same frustration, âwhy the hell did you tell her i was your girlfriend!?â
âbecauseâŠshe asked me to marry her.â
his friendâs eyes almost pop out of her sockets, âWHATâ!?âÂ
she processes the information quickly, her gaze shifting from his face to the empty space where you had stood then back to him. she points a finger accusingly at his chest, âand you turned her down.â
mark winces, â...i turned her down.â
in a flash, a hand comes down to smack the back of his head.Â
âAYE!ââ mark rubs the back of his head immediately, glaring at her with a mix of pain and confusion, âwhat was that for!?â
âfor being stupid!,â she groans, throwing her hands up in the air as she starts pacing in a small circle, her voice a frantic, dramatic whisperâ
âmark, iâm struggling to see the problem here!âthis is the same girl youâve been in love with for five years!âand sheâs the heir of azur! do you know how much this will elevate you. not only do you get the girlâyou also get the name. the wealth. the status. youâd practically be royalty!â
mark lets out a long, heavy sigh, âthatâs exactly why i canât do it,â he says quietly.
karina stood mid-gesture, staring at him blankly.Â
mark exhales slowly, his gaze drifting back toward the staircase, âi donât want to marry her because of her money. or her name. or the material things she can give me.â
karinaâs expression softens immediately. the fire in her eyes dies down, replaced by a look of profound, almost pained understanding. god. sometimes she forgets how painfully sincere mark actually is. in a world of corporate sharks and social climbers, mark lee was an anomaly â a man whose integrity was as rigid as his research.Â
âyou and your morals,â she sighs dramatically, though thereâs obvious fondness in her voice now, a small, proud smile tugging at her lips.
âitâs all iâve got.â
karina snorts, shifting back into her theatrical persona, clutching her chest and mourning the loss of a lifestyle she never had, âgod, i canât believe i wonât be a nepo friend. i could be in your private jet, mark! shopping in paris!â
mark lets out a genuine laugh, the first one of the night, the tension in his chest loosening just a fraction.
âbut now what?,â she pauses, the playfulness vanishing as she looks at him seriously now, â-families like hers are expected to marry one way or another, are you honestly going to be okay watching her marry someone else?â
đ MIDNIGHT. đ
the question follows mark home like a curse. it echoes in his head during the drive back to his condo, during the elevator ride up to his penthouse and now â at midnight â it has finally cornered him.
markâs room is dark except for the faint glow of the cityâs skyline filtering through the curtains. usually after events like tonight, heâd already be fast asleep. he had work in the morning. meetings. reports. lab reviews. his life was structured and predictable.Â
you had always been the one thing capable of ruining that.Â
he lies flat on his back against his king sized bed, one arm thrown over his eyes as if physically blocking out the memory of you would somehow help. it doesnât. because every time he closes his eyes â he only sees you.Â
he exhales sharply before turning onto his side for what feels like the hundredth time tonight. heâs completely restless. and angry. angry that you suddenly showed up after five years as a stranger wrapped in the skin of the woman he loved. angry that you asked him something so insane like it was nothing. angry that some stupid part of him almost said yes immediately. angry that despite everything â his first instinct was still you.Â
in a fit of frustration, he drags a pillow over his face. this is ridiculous. five whole years has past without you. years heâd spent convincing himself heâd moved on. that whatever happened in seoul belonged in the past. that you were just another chapter in his life he had eventually learned to turn.
but now â every memory he thought he had buried comes rushing back all at once, playing in his mind like a movie he canât turn off no matter how hard he tries.Â
he still remembers the first day he met you. still remembers how your hand feels in his. the scent of your perfume that clung to his memory long after you disappeared. the sound of your laughter that still echoes somewhere in the back of his mind sometimes. and your lips â even after five years, he can still taste you. he remembers the heat of your breath, the soft desperate way you used to pull him closer, the taste of salt and sweetness and longing, as if it all happened yesterday rather than a lifetime ago.Â
thatâs the part that truly drives him insane.Â
what kind of person remembers someone this vividly after half a decade apart? what kind of person still gets wrecked by a single look from someone they havenât seen in years?
apparently him.Â
âjesus christ,â he mutters under his breath as he turns in his bed again.Â
he closes his eyes again, and this time, he doesnât try to block you out. he lets the memory of you wash over him.Â
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: FIVE YEARS AGOÂ Â
âïž MARCH: THE STATISTICS. âïž
the lecture hall lights were dimmed just enough for your presentation slides to glow brightly against the large screen behind you. rows of students sat scattered across the room, some paying attention, some pretending to care. laptops clicked quietly beneath the sound of your voice while your professor sat comfortably at the back of the classroom. he was one of those who preferred watching students teach themselves rather than actually lecturing. typical. you stood confidently at the front, remote in hand as graphs and marketing statistics flashed behind you.Â
â-data visualization is critical to the consumer experience because 80% of information transmitted to the brain is visualââ
â90.â
the voice cuts cleanly through the room, stopping you mid-sentence.Â
slowly, your eyes move toward the source â a boy sits near the front row, one arm resting lazily against the desk while the other twirls a pen between his fingers, his silver-framed glasses reflecting the light from your powerpoint presentation, briefly hiding his eyes, but not enough to hide the calm confidence in them.Â
â..sorry?â you say slowly, one eyebrow lifting. your voice had a sharp edge to it, the instinctive defense of someone used to being the smartest person in any room they entered.Â
âthe statistics,â he clarifies casually, âvisual information transmitted to the brain is actually 90%â
the room falls strangely quiet. you couldâve sworn your textbook said 80. and judging by the way nobody else corrected you, everyone else thought so too. but before you could argue further, your professorâs voice cuts you off.
âmark is right. it is 90%. and though itâs not a critical mistake. you should always be careful with numbers, y/n â wrong numbers could cost you an entire company.â
normally, a public correction like this wouldâve irritated you. you hated making mistakes. hated being corrected even more. to be proven wrong in front of people was a bruise to the ego you had spent years polishing.
but strangely, you arenât annoyed. in fact â youâre impressed. because for the first time in your life, someone interrupted you without hesitation. no nervousness. no flattery.
it was the most honest interaction you ever had.
once class finally ends, the room erupts into noise almost immediately. chairs scrape loudly against the floor, students begin shoving laptops into bags while conversations start to overlap. you stay near the podium, packing away your things.
âhey.â
you glance up. mark stands awkwardly in front of you, backpang hanging off one shoulder while one hand grips the strap absentmindedly. up close, he looks softer. handsome. annoyingly handsome.Â
âhi,â you reply, a little colder than necessary as you slide your laptop into your bag, âhere to point out anything else wrong with my presentation?â
ânoâiâ,â he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly before letting out a quiet breath, âsorry.âÂ
you find the sudden shift in his demeanor a bit amusing, trying to hide the smile creeping in on your lips.Â
âsorry for what?â
mark shifts his weight awkwardly, âi uhâwasnât trying to interrupt you,â he explains quickly, âor act like i thought i was smarter than you or anything. i actuallyâŠi really liked your presentation,â he admits, âyour powerpoint was really easy to understand.â he gestures vaguely with one hand, clearly struggling to explain himself properly. âlikeâŠyou explained everything in a way that made the information simple without losing the important parts. most people canât really do that. usually they just read the slides or copy and paste everything from the book.â
you stare at him, your gaze searching his face for any sign of a facade. you were used to the curated compliments of the elite â the polished, hollow praise designed to gain favor or secure a connection. but as you look into his eyes, you realize thereâs no fake politeness here. no calculated flirting. no hidden agenda. heâs justâŠhonest.Â
which somehow catches you more off guard. in your world, honest was either a luxury or a weapon â it was rarely just a default setting. most people either tried too hard to impress you or walked on eggshells, terrified of disagreeing with you.Â
mark wasnât like most people.Â
your lips twitch slightly before you can stop them, âyou rehearsed that apology before coming over here, didnât you?â
his ears immediately turn red, â...maybe.â
and for the first time since arriving in seoul â you laugh.Â
âughh, i swear my brain is going to explode,â you groan, dramatically burying your head in your arms and collapsing onto the library table.
mark lets out a quiet laugh from beside you. the sound alone almost makes suffering through six straight hours of studying worth it. almost.Â
outside the large library windows, the sky had already begun glowing softly beneath the fading sunset. the once crowded floor was slowly emptying now, students packing up one by one as dinner time approached. meanwhile, you and mark were still buried beneath textbooks, highlighted papers, laptops, empty coffee cups and scattered handwritten notes.Â
over the past two months, the two of you had gotten unexpectedly close. close enough that studying together had somehow become routine. at first, it was accidental. a shared group project here, an exchanged set of notes there. and then suddenly â you were spending almost every day together. not that you minded. in fact, out of everyone in this prestigious university, mark was probably the only person you genuinely enjoyed being around. he never exhausted you. never tried too hard. never acted differently around you. never expected anything from you.Â
around him, you didnât feel like azurâs heir. because to mark, you were just another exhausted university student trying not to fail. and maybe that was exactly why being around him felt so easy â he had absolutely no idea who you really were. no idea that your family owned the luxury department stores he studied in class. no idea that your surname alone could open doors for him. no idea that the âsmall apartmentâ you claimed to live in was actually a luxury penthouse paid for by your father.Â
but the real irony was â even though he didnât know the real you, it felt like he was the only one who actually knew the real you. every shared joked, every frustrated sigh, every moment of comfortable silence felt real in a way the rest of your life never did.
and to add on to the benefits of him â mark was ridiculously attractive. the kind of handsome that he wasnât even aware of. which was annoying at times because you spend more time staring at the stars in his eyes than youâd like to admit. and god. when he started nerdy talking? absolutely unfair.Â
âhow about we take a break?,â he suggests finally, smiling softly at you.
you narrow your eyes immediately, turning your head towards him, strands of your hair falling to your face.Â
âa break?â you repeat dramatically, âyou?â
mark laughs quietly, âyes, me.â
âthe same person who doesnât stop until he finishes what heâs doing because âitâll ruin my flowâ you??â you tease slightly.Â
he bit back a smile, his gaze lingering on you. then, without thinking â he reaches over.Â
your breath catches instantly as his fingers brush lightly against your cheek, carefully tucking the strands behind your ear. the movement so absentminded. so gentle. like he doesnât even realize what heâs doing to you. meanwhile, your heart practically stops beating altogether. itâs honestly infuriating how unaware he is of his own effect on you.Â
âbreaks are good,â mark says softly, completely oblivious to the internal crisis you were experiencing, âbesides, weâll retain more information if our brains don't explode.âÂ
which is how you ended up here â standing inside a small 7/11 near campus with its fluorescent lights buzzing softly overhead, the warm air carrying the smell of instant noodles and melted cheese wraps around the store.Â
your eyes scan the shelves lined with different instant ramen cups and packets stacked almost to the ceiling, colors blending together in a way that feels overwhelmingâŠyet youâre completely fascinated by all of it.Â
âthereâs so many flavors,â you murmur under your breath.Â
mark, who had been walking behind you, pauses mid-step, looking at you curiously, â...have you never been here before?â
you glance toward him quickly, a flicker of panic crossing your mind, âof course iâve been inside a 7/11 before.â
he raises an eyebrow immediately, âbut?â
you hesitate. technically, yes, youâve entered convenience stores before but usually itâs because your driver needed to stop for gas. or because security had to grab something quickly. or because you got bored waiting in the car once. but standing here casually after studying? having instant ramen for dinner? that was new.Â
you look back toward the shelves again, âiâve justâŠnever really had this stuff before.â
markâs eyes widen slightly, âyouâve never had instant ramen?â
you shake your head once and for the first time since knowing him, mark looks completely stunned.Â
âhow is that even possible?â he asked, his voice a mix of horror and bewilderment.
you shrug awkwardly. all your meals growing up had been prepared by professional chefs. perfectly plated breakfasts every morning, fresh ingredients flown in internationally, nutritionists deciding your meals before you even woke up. the kind of luxury so deeply embedded into your life you rarely noticed it yourself. now, standing here while mark stared at you like youâd confessed to never drinking water before â you realize how absurd your life probably sounds to normal people.Â
âi donât know,â you mumble defensively, âmy family justâŠeats at home a lot.â
mark narrows his eyes slightly. you are definitely leaving something out. but instead of questioning it, he simply grabs a shopping basket, his attention already shifting back towards the ramen shelves.Â
âwhat are you doing?"Â
he looks at you like the answer is obvious.Â
âyouâve never had instant ramen before,â he says simply, âweâre fixing that problem tonight.â
before you can argue, he starts grabbing different ramen cups off the shelves.
âthis oneâs a classic,â he holds up the shin ramyun before dropping it into the basket.Â
âthis one tastes better with cheese,â he says, adding the buldak carbonara.Â
âthis brand is kind of overrated,â he continues, grabbing the jin ramen, âbut the noodles are actually really good.â
you watch him in amusement as he selects different flavors with the seriousness of someone conducting research, his brows furrowing slightly while comparing spice levels. youâre pretty sure heâs taking this more seriously than your last group project.Â
âare you making me a starter pack?â you ask, laughter slipping into your voice.Â
mark glances at you briefly, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, âyouâre judging me,â he says dryly, âbut youâve literally never had instant ramen before.â
â...fair point.â
he reaches toward another cup, âthis oneâs my favorite,â his voice softening slightly when he says it.Â
you take it from him carefully, looking down at the packaging like it means more than instant noodles, âthen iâll try this one first.â
he pauses, and for a brief second, something unreadable flickers across his expression, soft enough that you almost miss it, then he clears his throat quickly and tosses a few drinks into the basket too.Â
âcome on,â he says casually, walking towards the register while you follow after him. the cashier begins scanning the items as you instinctively reach for your wallet inside your bag â only for mark to beat you to it.Â
âmy treat.â
âoh, no, you donât have toââ
âi invited you,â he shrugs, already pulling his card from his wallet, âbesidesâŠâ a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips, âthis is technically your first instant ramen experience,â his eyes meets yours briefly, âit should be memorable.â
you stared at him, momentarily speechless. you canât remember the last time someone did something this simple for you without expecting anything in return. in your world, every âgiftâ was a transaction, every kindness was a strategic move.Â
a sudden, piercing thought hit you â if he knew you had billions to your name, would he still insist on paying for it? youâd like to think he would.Â
a few minutes later, you find yourself standing beside the storeâs self-service station near the back wall, staring at it with open fascination. there was a hot water dispenser, a microwave, disposable chopsticks and apparently â people actually cooked their dinner right here.
your curious expression tugs something warm in markâs chest as he admires you with pure adoration, though he kept his posture relaxed.Â
âyou can stop looking at it like itâs a flying car,â he teased, setting the shopping basket down on the counter.
you glance toward him, âi didnât know convenience stores could do this.â
he shakes his head, amused, âdude, what planet have you been living on?â
âi told you,â you defended yourself, crossing your arms lightly, âmy family eats at home.â
âright,â he mutters, clearly still unconvinced.Â
you ignore him, leaning closer toward the machine while he begins opening the ramen lids one by one with practiced ease. he moves naturally around the tiny counter space like heâs done this a hundred times before, sleeves pushed up slightly as he carefully adds seasoning packets into the cup while you stand beside him completely useless.
âwhat do i do?â you ask finally.Â
mark glances sideways at you, biting the inside of his cheek immediately to stop himself from smiling too hard. you look so concerned about it all, your brow furrowed as if you were facing a complex problem rather than a cup of noodles. itâs cute.Â
he clears his throat quickly before handing you one of the seasoning packets, âokayâ he says patiently, âyou pour this in first.â
you take the packet from him carefully like heâs handing you something fragile â but as you tore the edge, your fingers slipped and a cloud of spicy red powder erupted, spilling some on the counter.
â...fuck.â
mark stares at the mess, then at your horrified expression. and he finally laughs. loud and intoxicating. a sound that echoed through the quiet store - you felt it in your bones. you thought you could live inside the sound forever.Â
âdonât laugh!â you complained, though a smile was fighting to break through your pout.
âi justâŠcanât believe someone could actually struggle with this,â he says between quiet laughs.Â
âyouâre being mean,â you huffed.Â
âno,â he corrects, his eyes shimmering with amusement, âiâm just being honest.â
you glare at him but the effect was ruined by the flush on your cheeks. he reaches over wordlessly, brushing the spilled seasoning aside with a napkin before helping you open the rest properly.Â
âthere,â he says softly once the cups are finally ready, ânow we wait.â
you watch while the steam slowly rises from the ramen cups. the store is peaceful this late at night. a little old. a little cramped. nothing like the places you usually spend your evenings. and even so â you think you like this more.Â
mark glances down at you briefly. your eyes are focused entirely on the ramen, your expression one of pure, childlike wonder. in this moment â he decides youâre the cutest person heâs ever met. but instead of saying that out loud, instead of risking the fragile, beautiful thing growing between you, he simply shakes his head slightly to himself, keeping the thought hidden where itâs safe.Â
eventually, the two of you step outside into the cool air, ramen cups warming your hands immediately as you head towards the benches near the river, the dark water reflecting city lights beautifully beneath the night sky. for a while, neither of you says much, just sitting there shoulder-to-shoulder beneath the glow of the streetlight while the city hums softly around you.Â
then finally â you take your first bite, eyes widening instantly. mark watches your reaction carefully.Â
â...oh. my. god.â
you turn towards him immediately, your expression one of genuine shock and delight, eyes practically sparkling under the streetlight.Â
âthis is amazing!â
seeing your excitement, mark laughs softly, smiling into his own noodles while you continue eating with bubbling excitement beside him. you talked about the texture, the heat, the way it felt like a hug in a cup, your voice animated and light in a way youâve never heard from yourself.Â
and maybe itâs stupid.Â
maybe itâs just ramen from 7/11. but sitting here with him, beneath the stars â you realize that this simple, unscripted moment of honesty might just be one of your favorite nights of your entire life.Â
âïž JUNE TO JULY: LATE NIGHT LIBRARY SESSIONS. âïž
âi still canât believe she gave you a spare keyâŠshe barely says a word to me!,â you whispered. you felt a thrill of illicit excitement, though technically, the two of you werenât breaking and entering.
mark slides the card through the doorâs reader, the automatic doors quietly unlocking with a soft beep.
âdude, thatâs because youâre scary,â he teases, glancing at you over his shoulder, his eyes crinkled at the corners, a playful, knowing smile tugging at his lips, âyou need to smile more.â
âplease,â you scoff quietly as the two of you step inside the dim interior, âitâs because she has a crush on you.â Â
mark laughs softly under his breath while locking the doors behind the two of you, âthatâs ridiculous.â
âis it?â you hummed.Â
what was truly ridiculous was markâs complete oblivion to the effect he had on people. i mean, everyone loved him â students. professors. the cafeteria lady who dotes on him like he was her own son, always giving him extra servings. and of course, the librarian who you always catch staring at him when he wasnât looking. mark had captured their hearts simply by existing, entirely unaware that he was doing it.
âyes,â he replies.Â
âshe literally gave you access to an entire building,â you remind him, walking beside him, your shoulder occasionally brushing his.Â
âshe just trusts me,â he argued, though he was smiling.Â
âshe wants you.â
mark shakes his head with another laugh, refusing to entertain your delusions as the two of you make your way toward the back corner of the library. your usual spot. far enough from the entrance that nobody would notice the two of you. you settle into your chair by the window while he drops his backpack onto the table before sitting down next to you, close enough that your legs almost brush underneath. as usual.Â
it had been over a month since 7/11. at this point, you had lost count of how many cups of ramen the two of you had shared. it had somehow become your thing. youâd once tried eating it alone once, only to realize it didnât taste the same without markâs laughter right next to you. which was a little concerning.Â
âwhatever,â mark says, waving off the conversation as he pulls a textbook from his backpack, âthat doesnât matter.â
you open your laptop, the light illuminating your face, but before you could even type a word, mark reached over, grabbing it without asking, his fingers moving across the keyboard as he pulls up your shared google docs notes. this was the rhythm of your friendship â easy and collaborative. if one of you struggled understanding something, the other explained it without judgment. there was no competition. no ego. just a quiet, mutual reliance.Â
âwhy not?â you ask curiously, watching his profile in the dim light.
âi donât know,â he shrugs lightly, his focus still on the screen, âi just donât really have time for distractions.â
your eyes narrow slightly, âsoâŠwhat?,â you turn toward him, âyouâre just never going to date anyone?â
he shrugs again, his tone remaining casual, âi wouldnât say never,â his tone stays casual, âit's just not my priority right now.â
âhmm,â you hum softly, âokay.â
mark immediately stops typing then, focusing his full attention on you, âokayâŠâ he repeats suspiciously, âwhat?â
you shrug innocently, ânothing. just okay.â
ânu-uh,â he shakes his head, leaning forward slightly and resting his arm on your chair, effectively boxing you in.
heâs way too close. close enough that you can smell his detergent. close enough to notice the moles near his cheeks more clearly. close enough that your heart immediately starts racing. you pretend not to notice.Â
âthatâs not your âjust okayâ okayâŠthat was your judgy âokayâ,â he says firmly.Â
your jaw drops slightly, âi do not have a judgy okay.â
âyou have a judgy everything,â he teases, a triumphant smile on his lips, âyouâre actually a very judgmental person.â
âhey!,â you shove his shoulder playfully in protest but he barely budged. instead, he just looks at you with that stupid smile sitting on his lips, clearly waiting for you to explain yourself.Â
âitâs justâokay,â you sigh, the playfulness draining away as you lean back into your chair, âi know your end goal is to become a research director,â you say. mark nods, confirming your statement.Â
âand i know youâre going to get there too,â you add honestly, "probably faster than everyone else.âÂ
that makes him smile â not the teasing grin from before, but something small and shy. like compliments still caught him off guard even though people praise him everyday.Â
âbut then what?â you ask quietly, making markâs brow furrow faintly.Â
âyou spend your entire life working toward this huge goal,â you continue, âyou sacrifice sleep, a social life, you push yourself until youâre exhaustedâŠand then one day, you finally have everything you wanted,â you paused, your heart aching with a truth you had known since childhood, âbut you look around and realize youâre completely alone.â
the library suddenly feels quieter now. no teasing. no laughter. mark watched you with a piercing intensity, his eyes searching yours as if he were trying to read a language he hadnât yet mastered.
âwouldnât it be nice,â you ask softly, âto have someone to share it all with?âÂ
mark pauses. heâs never really thought of it that way. in his head, life had always been a linear equation â work hard, achieve more, keep climbing. life was one massive ladder stretching endlessly upward. and heâd spent so much time focusing on the next step that he never stopped to ask himself what waited at the top â or if the view was worth it if there was no one standing beside him to see it.Â
âi think,â he began, choosing his words carefully, âi just figured love would happen naturallyâŠif it was meant to.â
âand if it doesnât?â
mark shrugs lightly, âthen i guess iâll survive.â
the answer makes you sad. because the way he says it sound so simple. so accepting. like surviving is enough. your gaze drops briefly toward the table.Â
âi donât want to survive,â you murmured.
mark studies your profile as if you were the most complex research project he had ever encountered, trying to find the deeper meaning, the hidden trauma beneath the poise.Â
âi want to feel it,â you admit, voice barely audible, âat least once.â
markâs brows pull together slightly, âfeel what?â he asks gently.
âthe love weâre supposed to feel.âÂ
the words hung in the air. for a moment, mark forgot how to breathe. because suddenly, the girl sitting beside him doesnât look like the confident sharp-tongued student that could dismantle a professorâs arguments in seconds and judged every little thing. in her place was someone who lookedâŠ.lonely. that quiet kind of loneliness that makes something painful twists in his chest. and all he can think about is how softly your voice said those words, almost as if love was something fragile, something distant, something you werenât entirely sure was real.Â
his gaze lingers on your face longer than it should. he wants to ask what happened? who hurt you badly enough to make you sound like that? who made someone like you, someone so beautiful and confident, talk about love like it was some impossible thing people were lucky enough to have? but all he can manage to say isâ
âyouâll feel it,â he says softly, âwhy wouldnât you?â
a small laugh escapes you then, though thereâs nothing amused by it. mark didnât know. he didnât know that love didnât exist in business. that love was the biggest privilege⊠the rarest luxury of all.Â
âyeah,â you sigh softly, forcing a practiced smile onto your face, âyouâre right.âÂ
but the smile doesnât fully reach your eyes â the sparkle he usually looked for isnât there.Â
you wave the tension away before he can question it further, reaching for your laptop and pulling it towards you like you hadnât just cracked something open between the two of you.
âanyway,â you say lightly, pretending your voice didnât break seconds ago, âif we fail this class after spending our entire lives in this library, iâm killing you.â
mark stares at you for another second like he knows youâre hiding something. that thereâs more there than youâre willing to say out loud, a story that you werenât ready to tell.Â
eventually, he lets you change the subject.Â
âif we fail this class, iâll kill myself first to save you the trouble,â he jokes, making you shove his shoulder playfully again before you both turned back to studying.
late-night library sessions became routine after that, along with your shared convenience store meals, walks on campus, sitting together in shared classes. in the past month, you were together so much that other students started assuming that you were dating. whispers followed you through corridors, their glances lingering on the way mark leaned into your space or the way you looked at him when you thought he wasnât watching. neither of you cared enough to confirm or deny the rumors.Â
truthfully, you were too immersed in the bubble you built â a world where you werenât the heir to a retail empire. a world where you can simply enjoy anotherâs company without anything in return. just two regular people slowly starting to become inseparable without realizing it.Â
for mark, maybe this was just a beautiful friendship â a rare, honest connection in a competitive academic world.Â
but for you â it was more dangerous than that. because somewhere along the way, you realized life felt lighter when he was around. the suffocating weight of your fatherâs expectations, the looming shadow of your planned future, the coldness of your upbringing â it all seemed to fade into the background. with mark, you could breathe. you could laugh without calculating the costs. you could simply exist. it felt as though your impending doom was being held at bay by the mere presence of him.Â
âmark,â you murmur softly, eyes still focused on your laptop screen, âcan you pass me my highlighter?â
a second passes, then another, and another. silence.Â
your brows furrow in confusion before you finally glance toward him â only to pause immediately.Â
mark had fallen asleep, his head resting against his arm beside the textbook opened to the last page he was reading. his glasses sat slightly crooked on the bridge of his nose, lips parted slightly, breathing slow and even.Â
your entire demeanor shifts, softening while you watch him. the usual furrow between his brows is gone now. no stress. no overthinking. no constant need to achieve something. he just looks peaceful.Â
carefully, you reach over, your heart pounding in your chest as your fingers brush lightly against his cheek. you gently slid the glasses off his face. you couldnât imagine how uncomfortable it must be to sleep in them, but the excuse was flimsy â you just wanted a reason to touch him.Â
for a while, you stayed there, quietly looking at him beneath the soft library lamp. heâs beautiful. not in the polished way magazine models were beautiful. but in a quieter way. the kind that sneaks up on you slowly until suddenly you realize you could stare at someone for an eternity and still find something new to admire.
that was the moment the realization hit you â you had fallen for him.Â
it wasnât a sudden explosion or a cinematic epiphany. it had been a gradual accumulation of small moments â the way he defended his ideas, the way he looked at you when you were being âjudgy,â the way he made you feel seen.Â
it was an emotion that didnât need theater or grand gestures. it felt as though your soul had simply recognized his and decided to come home.Â
slowly, almost hypnotically, you lower your head onto your arm beside him, studying every detail freely at once â details you didnât want to forget. the curl of his lashes, the moles near his cheeks, the way his hair falls messily over his forehead. and before you can stop yourself, you lean in a little bit closer. just a little. like gravity itself is pulling you toward him.Â
but the second you do â markâs eyes flutters open.Â
you froze, your heart leaping into your throat, eyes widening at the initial shock of being caught. for a second, neither of you moves.
you didnât pull away though, and to your surprise, neither did he.
markâs sleepy expression slowly sharpened as his brain processes the situation. his gaze drops, flickering briefly to your lips, then traveling back up to your eyes, searching for something. the air between you thickens, charging with a quiet tension that had been building for months.Â
before either of you could overthink it â mark closes the distance, moving slowly, deep brown eyes locked on yours, giving you every possible second to retreat, to laugh it off, or to pull away. but you didnât. until finallyâ
his lips touch yours.Â
a soft, tentative press at first, a question asked in the silence of the library. itâs hesitant, almost reverent and for a heartbeat â the world stopped.Â
your eyes fluttered closed as you savor the gentleness of it before pulling back just a little, your lips still brushing his, your voice a breathless, teasing murmur, âi thought you didnât have time for distractions.â
markâs expression softened, his eyes searching yours with a quiet intensity.Â
âyouâre not a distraction,â he rasped, his voice dropping an octave before his hand slid upward, warm fingers carefully settling at the nape of your neck, tangling slightly in your hair to pull you in again â the kiss deeper, more purposeful â every soft slide of his lips a confession.Â
SHANGHAI, CHINA: PRESENT TIME
đ THE MEETING. đ
unfortunately, or fortunately, you were still trying to figure it out â your father had personally assigned you to handle the partnership meeting at yĂŒ skincare headquarters. which meant you were now sitting inside one of the conference rooms trying very hard to act normal while mark sat directly across from you.Â
it wouldâve been fine, you had wanted to see him again after the launch party, to have another chance to convince him to accept your proposalâŠif it wasnât for the fact his girlfriend was here too.Â
karina sat right next to mark, her presence a sharp reminder of the five year gap you were trying to bridge. she was currently locked in a heated fast-paced discussion with jeno, azurâs marketing director, their voices overlapping as they debated campaign concepts. zhong chenle sits at the head of the table, looking deeply entertained with their arguments.Â
you couldnât bring yourself to care about the aesthetics of the campaign. both azur and yĂŒ skincare are already known in a global level. at the end it didnât matter what the campaign concept was.Â
your focus was entirely on the man across the table.Â
you remained mostly silent beside jeno, nodding here and there, while your attention drifts toward mark for what was probably the hundredth time. and every single time, without fail, you catch him already looking at you, too. his eyes werenât just glancing, they were searching, heavy with an unspoken weight. you swear you caught his gaze drop to your lips at times.Â
it doesnât help that mark looks annoyingly good today. he wore a black polo with the sleeves rolled slightly past his wrists, exposing the lean strength of his forearms and the silver watch that glinted against his skin. every now and then his brows furrow slightly when someone says something scientifically inaccurate. you remember kissing those furrowed brows once. bad thought. very bad thought. you immediately force your attention back toward the screen.
â...i still think we should focus more on the science of it all,â mark said, his voice cutting through the chatter.Â
âif we lean too heavily into luxury branding, consumers might think itâs just another overpriced celebrity supplement,â he glances briefly toward the campaign mockups before his eyes flickered back to yours, âbut if we explain how it works instead, consumers will be more inclined to trust the actual research behind it.â
god. even his work voice is attractive. you hate him. you want him to keep talking.Â
karina nods immediately beside him, âthatâs a good point.â
your eyes flicker toward her unconsciously.
chenle glances between the presentation slides before nodding once, âsounds good,â he says easily, âletâs revisit the campaign tomorrow with that direction in mind. everyoneâs dismissed.â
the room immediately shifts into motion. chairs slide back. laptops begin closing. papers shuffle. but before anyone can actually leave â chenle suddenly turns toward you, a mischievous smile pulling at the corners of his lips.Â
âso,â he says casually, âhowâs the marriage proposal going?â
you nearly choke on your own spit. across the table, mark froze. beside him, karinaâs eyes immediately dart between the two of you so fast itâs almost impressive.Â
you stare at chenle in disbelief. because of course he would say something like that in front of employees.Â
âwhat?â you ask carefully. you definitely did not tell anyone about your proposal to mark. you werenât about to hand the world a front-row seat to your desperation and potential embarrassment.
chenle looks equally confused by your reaction, âwith dejun?,â he added, as if it were the most obvious fact in the world.
oh. right. you exhale a quiet, shaky breath, the tension in your shoulders shifting from panic to a dull, familiar ache.Â
âmy wife told me you guys were finally getting married this year,â chenle continues, completely unaware of the emotional destruction happening elsewhere in the room. he smirked, leaning back, âi figured you finally fell for his charm after all these years.â
xiao dejun. the name felt like a heavy weight on your shoulders. he was the man your father had hand-picked for you when you were twenty-two â the son of his closest business associate, the heir of the #1 ice cream brand in the country. he was the five star standard of corporate matches â the perfect lineage, the flawless reputation, the strategic alliance. dejun was handsome, funny, kind. he always showed up with gifts upon gifts. thereâs nothing, really, to complain about â except for the fact that he wasnât the brilliant researcher you had fallen for.Â
before you can respond, your assistant, winter, who had been quietly taking notes near the corner of the room the entire meeting, carefully speaks up. Â
âms. y/n,â she says gently, âyou actually have a dinner date scheduled with mr. dejun laterââ
your expression hardens instantly, the professional mask snapping back into place.Â
âcancel it.â
winter hesitates, her brow furrowing, â...itâs the twelfth date youâve cancelled this year,â she whispered, her voice dropping to a cautious level, âyour father isnât very happy.â
âi donât care,â you reply flatly, your voice cutting through the air like a blade, âcancel it.â
the room goes awkwardly silent. even chenle straightens slightly. but still â heâs chenle. so naturally, he keeps talking anyway.Â
âthe married life isnât so bad, you know?,â he chimes in, âhighly recommend it, actually.â
you almost roll your eyes. of course he would say that. in a world of transactional unions and cold contracts, chenle was the blip â the one who had managed to secure both genuine love and immense power. it was a miracle you envied.Â
slowly, you scanned the room. everyone was still there, frozen in a state of pretend-busyness. karina awkwardly looks down at her laptop. jeno had become deeply interested in reorganizing his folders. and then there was mark, who hadnât moved an inch, his expression an unreadable void â quiet, controlled, and terrifyingly still. but you could feel it. the tension radiating off him was a physical force, vibrating with a frequency only you could hear.Â
your eyes meet his for a fleeting, electric second before you snapped your gaze back to chenle.Â
âi really wish we werenât discussing my personal life in front of our employees, mr. zhong,â your voice is calm, but it carried a frost that silenced the room completely.
chenle straightens up at the tone of your voice. out of everyone in your social circle â youâd always been the frightening one. you werenât loud or explosive â you were controlled. the kind of cold that made people acutely aware the moment they had crossed a line. and chenle had definitely stepped way over it.Â
âright,â he coughs awkwardly, â right, sorry. that was very unprofessional of me.â
âvery,â you agree smoothly. the room stays painfully quiet. no one is brave enough to interrupt. after a brief pause, you turn slightly toward chenle again.Â
âi still have a couple things i need to discuss with director mark,â you stated, your tone shifting back into polished professionalism, âwould it be alright if we continued using this room?âÂ
at the mention of his name, markâs head snapped up. his eyes locked onto yours, dark and intense, burning with a mixture of confusion, jealousy, and a frustration that had nothing to do with business.Â
chenle nods, âyeah, of course,â he says easily, âi should head home anyway,â a smile softens his face instantly, âi have a very pregnant wife waiting for me.â
a quiet, involuntary laugh escaped you, the first genuine sound youâd made all meeting, âtell her i said hi.â
âi will,â he replied with smile, before finally heading towards the door.Â
one by one, the remaining employees follow after him. jeno gave a polite bow before taking his leave. karina gives mark one suspicious look before leaving too. winter quietly closes the door behind herself.Â
and then â silence.Â
mark remains seated across from you for a long moment, his posture rigid. then, slowly, he leaned back in his chair, the mask of the polished research director finally slipping, replaced by the exhaustion washing over his features.Â
you simply watch him. the physical distance of the conference table acting as a barrier felt almost cruel. you were used to being by his side, your shoulders brushing his, the warmth of him grounding you.
âhave you thought about it?â you ask softly.Â
âi already gave you an answer,â he replied, his voice cold and distant. like heâs deliberately holding the wall up between you, trying to shut you out.Â
âno,â you say calmly, âyou didnât.â
frustration flashes across his face, a spark of heat in his cold demeanor, âyou literally met my girlfriend,â he snapped, his voice rising slightly, âwas that not enough?â
you hold his gaze steadily.
âexcept sheâs not your girlfriend.âÂ
âwh-what?â he stammers, the composure he fought so hard to maintain fracturing in real-time.
you almost smile, leaning back slightly in your chair, entirely too relaxed.Â
âi had winter look into your relationship,â you shrug as if you were discussing the weather and not a blatant violation of his privacy.Â
mark stares at you in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape, ây-you what??â
âno evidence of a romantic relationship,â you continue smoothly, âat least not between the two of you. sheâs dating some guy named kai. older. owns a popular nightclub in the city.â
mark looks seconds away from developing a migraine. he closes his eyes for a moment, a pained expression crossing his face.Â
âand you,â you finish calmly, âdonât appear to be seeing anyone at all.â
ây-you canât just investigate me like that!â he exclaimed, completely appalled.Â
he has every right to be. but instead of feeling guilt, you felt a surge of triumph. you tilted your head slightly, watching the way his chest heaved with agitation, âwhy not?â
his eyebrows shot up, like he couldnât believe what just came out of your mouth, âwhy not?!â
âi have the power. the resources.â you shrug lightly, the heir of azur speaking now. âbesides, all this was public information. there wasnât much âinvestigationâ involved. just a few clicks and phone calls.â
âthatâs not the point!â
âthen what is?â
mark opens his mouth to argue, then closes it again, a look of sheer frustration crossing his face.Â
you watch him carefully for another second before finally asking the question that had been rotting in your chest.Â
âso why did you lie to me?âÂ
his jaw tightens immediately. he couldnât look at you anymore. he stood up abruptly, âi will be excusing myself from this discussion, ms. y/n.â
he grabs his briefcase without waiting for your approval, already turning his back to you and heading to the door. panic flashes through you instantly.Â
âstopââ
he doesnât stop. he doesnât even slow down.Â
before he can reach the exit, you move after him quickly and on instinct, your hand shot out, fingers wrapping firmly around his wrist. the contact was intense, a sudden jolt of heat that seemed to stop time itself. mark halted instantly, his entire body stiffening under your touch.Â
everything went quiet again.Â
your warm hand felt like a stark contrast to the coldness of the room. for a long moment, neither of you spoke. the only sound was the synchronized, heavy thrum of two hearts beating too fast.Â
âpleaseâŠâ
your voice broke, coming out softer this time, smaller, stripped of all the corporate armor. you werenât the composed heir of azur. you werenât the intimidating billionaireâs daughter who could buy and sell companies with a signature.
you were just you.Â
â...mark.â
the sound of his name in your voice nearly destroys him. it was the voice of the girl he had spent five years trying to forget and failing every single day. the voice he swore heâd give everything to and up for.Â
slowly, agonizingly, he turned back toward you. the second his eyes meet yours â the second he saw the raw vulnerability and the unshed tears shimmering in your gaze â his frustration cracked.Â
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: FIVE YEARS AGOÂ Â
âïž AUGUST: MY HEART, IT BEATS FOR YOU. âïž
âbaby, where are we going?,â mark asked, his voice a breathless whisper against the shell of your ear, followed by a soft, airy laugh as your fingers were locked tight around his wrist, practically dragging him through the halls.Â
you didnât answer until you slipped through the heavy door into a tiny, abandoned lab room, âi thought maybe you could use a break,â you murmur, a teasing smile on your face as your back met the door.Â
you didnât give him a chance to respond. in one fluid motion, you reached up, your fingers tangling in the soft hair at the nape of his neck, and pulled him towards you. his lips connected with yours in an instant â not the hesitant, shy kisses of the library a month ago, but something deeper, more certain.Â
a kiss that confirmed how well the two of you knew each other now. both of you smiled into the contact, a soft, breathless sound echoing in the small room as your tongues met in a slow, rhythmic synchronization.Â
okayâŠmaybe a lot had changed since that night in the library. the tentative boundaries had dissolved, replaced by a magnetic pull neither of you could â or wanted to â resist.
and mark had lied â you were the biggest distraction of his life. every lecture he attended, every page of the textbooks he pored over, every ambitious goal he set for his future â it all started having versions of you.Â
you had become the singular, pulsing rhythm of his existence.Â
for the first time in his life, the relentless drive for academic perfection felt secondary. the presentations, the grades, the pressure to succeed â it all failed in comparison to the way you felt in his arms. he didnât care that his focus was fracturing, he welcomed the chaos you brought into his orderly world.Â
mark realized that his heart had learned a new way to beat â a way it can only for you.Â
âbreaks are good,â he teases, the inside joke sparking a small, breathless laugh between you, vanishing the moment his lips left yours, trailing kisses down your jawline to that sensitive spot on your neck, his teeth grazing your skin, eliciting a soft, whiny moan from you as your head fell back against the cold metal of the door.Â
âwhat do you want, baby?,â he whispered directly into your ear, his breath hot and sending goosebumps down your spine.Â
âyou know what i want, markie,â you pouted, voice winded, your body already humming with a need for him.Â
mark pulled back just enough to look at you, his silver glasses sitting prettily on his nose. he leaned in and kissed the pout away softly, sucking on your lower lip in a way that made your stomach flip. then â without breaking eye contact â he slowly sank to his knees.Â
from this angle, he looked up at you, his silver glasses glinting, his expression a lethal combination of devotion and lust. his hand slid up your bare legs, under the fabric of your skirt until his fingers brushed the lace edges of your panties, teasing the sensitive skin of you inner thigh with his thumb, circling closer and closer to your center without actually touching it.Â
âmarkâŠplease,â you whispered, voice breaking slightly as you gripped his shoulders, your nails digging into his shirt, desperate for the contact.
he hummed a low, guttural sound of satisfaction, âpatience,â he murmured, a playful smile on his lips.Â
slowly, agonizingly, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of your panties, dragging them down your legs, eyes still locked on yours. once they were off, he tucked the lace into the back pocket of his jeans with a smirk that was entirely too confident for the ânerdyâ student the rest of the campus knew.Â
then â he leaned in.Â
the first touch of his tongue was hot. you let out a sharp gasp, your fingers tangling in his hair to hold him in place. mark ate you as if he was hungry, his tongue licking up and down your folds, tasting every drop of your wetness, then going up to swirl circles around your clit, flicking rapidly against the sensitive nub before sucking it deep into his mouth.Â
you hadnât had sex yet â you had both agreed to take it slow. but the way mark worshipped you with his mouth made the idea of âslowâ feel like a torture you were happy to endure. he knew exactly where to press, exactly how much pressure to apply. exactly how to use his fingers to open you up, sliding one, then two, deep into your soaking wet heat, curling his fingers perfectly.Â
âfuckâmarkâright thereâ,â you gasped, your legs shaking around his shoulders.Â
he groaned against you, the sound muffled by your skin as he increased the pace. he was relentless, lapping you with the same focused intensity he had when he was concentrating on his research.Â
you could feel the tension building, a coil tightening in your lower belly until your head was up in the clouds, eyes rolling back, body shuddering as your thighs unintentionally clamp around his head. he didnât pull away, drinking every drop of your release, his tongue continuing to draw circles until the last of the tremors faded.Â
as he finally pulled back, breathless and glistening with your juices, he looked up at you with a look of pure, unadulterated devotion. mark stood up slowly, pulling you flush against him, your shaking legs barely supporting your weight as you leaned into him, listening to the thrum of his heart. he held you softly, arms around your waist, gently rubbing your back to soothe you from the high, his face buried in the crook of your neck.
when the world began to stop spinning, you pulled back just an inch, eyes fluttering open to find him staring at you. his silver glasses were crooked, sliding down the bridge of his noise, his lips swollen and pink â he looked absolutely undone.Â
a smile tugged at your lips as you reached up, gently pushing his glasses back to place, the simple, domestic gesture feeling incredibly intimate. mark caught your wrist, pressing a lingering, tender kiss to your palm, his eyes never leaving yours.Â
âyouâre my favorite break,â he winked, voice low, teasing.
â...and youâre a very good student, mark,â you joked, your voice still airy.Â
he lets out a soft chuckle, leaning in for a soft lingering kiss.Â
you werenât the only distraction â mark was just as bad.Â
he craved you as much as you craved him. the only difference was you gave into his touch much quicker than he did yours, his moral responsibility stopping him most of the time.
except for right now.Â
mark loved to please you and tease you at the same time. and he was currently hitting two birds with one stone at the moment. because under the heavy drape of his cardigan, which he had strategically placed on your lap to act as a shield from the rest of the class â two of markâs digits were buried deep inside your soaking pussy, stretching you open and claiming you in the middle of a lecture. your professor was going on and on about market penetration and consumer loyalty, not knowing mark was practicing a very different kind of penetration.
his fingers curl upward, dragging along your sensitive spot with a precision that made your vision blur. you kept your gaze fixed forward, staring at the presentation, but the words were nothing more than meaningless letters. you grip your pen as he continues playing with you, dragging your wetness up to your clit before sliding back into you over and over and over again.Â
your walls tighten around his fingers, a reflexive, desperate squeeze. you werenât sure if you wanted to pull him deeper into your heat or push him away before you lost all control. but as he began to pick up the pace, you knew there was no escape.Â
he leaned in closer, his shoulder brushing you, his clean, cotton scent enveloping you, âfocus, baby,â he whispered, his voice playful, âyou wouldnât want to miss the most important part of the lesson.â
you glance at him, your eyes silently pleading. you want him to stop. you donât want him to stop.Â
you felt the first wave of a climax beginning to burst, your breath hitching â a small, broken sound escaping your throat that you barely managed to disguise as a cough. you were drowning in him, your pussy clamping down hard on his hand for every bit of friction. you wanted to scream, to arch your back and moan his name until the entire hall fell silent. but instead, you bit your lip, your fingers coming up to shield the gasp from your lips.
âïž SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER: THE WORLD, IN COLOR. âïž
the next two months were a blur of playfulness. your relationship with mark became a delicate dance of adoration and a healthy, simmering obsession. there were sneaky touches in the quiet corners of the library â your hand sliding up his thigh under the table while you both pretended to discuss, quiet nights in his small apartment where you spent hours tangled together innocentlyâŠor maybe not so innocently. you had done everything except crossing that final line, the pact of taking things slow still withstanding somehow.Â
but the physical chemistry, as explosive as it was, paled in comparison to the emotional haven he provided - mark was patience and kindness personified. neither of you had uttered those three specific words yet, but you felt it in every lingering gaze, every protective gesture, every day spent in each otherâs company.Â
like that afternoon at the park, when he decided you needed to step out of your comfort zone and onto a skateboardâ
âmarkieâŠiâm scared,â you whined, your voice sounding smaller than usual as you wobbled on the four-wheeled contraption.Â
he laughed softly, âbabe, iâm literally holding you right now,â he pointed out, his warm hands softly placed on your waist, grounding you.
âwellâŠhold me tighter!,â you groan, genuine panic in your voice. youâve never done anything like this before. you were used to being prim and proper. piano lessons. language classes. afternoon teas â skateboarding was not on the approved list of activities for a girl like you.Â
mark didnât tease you for your hesitation. instead, he guided your hips to help you find your balance, a steady presence that made the world feel less tilted.Â
âsee? itâs not so bad,â he murmured softly, his grip on your waist loosening just a fraction. âyou think you can do it if i let go?â
âokâok,â you nodded, trying to summon a courage you didn't know you possessed, âiâll try.â
before he released you, he pulled you in for a quick kiss while you stayed standing on the skateboard, âyou got this, baby.â
and then you were skating â all on your own! the wind whipped through your hair, the golden sun kissing your skin, and for a moment, you felt an exhilarating sense of freedom. mark jogged beside you, his laughter harmonizing with your own as you navigated the pavement, feeling like you were flying.
for a while, you were doing pretty wellâŠuntil the wheel got caught on a tiny rock, which sent you tumbling straight to the ground.Â
mark was at your side in a fraction of a second, his voice laced with immediate concern, âholy shit, babeâyou okay?!â
you winced, sitting up slowly to inspect your scraped knee. the skin was raw and bleeding. instinctively, you felt the old walls go up, terrified of being yelled at for being weak or clumsy, so you put on your usual front, that cool stoic composure that showed you could handle the pain, handle yourself. you braced yourself to tell him you were fine, to play the part of the girl who never falters.Â
but then mark reached out, his touch incredibly gentle as he carefully turned your leg toward him. he didn't look at the wound with pity, but with a strange kind of reverence.
âyour first skateboarding battle scar,â he says in awe, like it was an achievement, âi remember mineâŠi cried for like 3 hours straight, my dad had to buy me so much ice cream.â
hearing him admit his own vulnerability acted like a key to a lock - the mask crumbled, and you let the tears fall, hot and fast.
â-it hurts a lot, markie,â you finally admit. because with him, you could be soft. vulnerable. you didnât have to be so protective of your emotions knowing he will gladly hold it in his hands.Â
âyeahâi thought so,â he teases you playfully, leaning in to give you a kiss on the forehead, âcome onâŠletâs clean that up.â
he settled you onto a park bench, disappearing for a few minutes to the nearby convenience store. when he returned, he knelt between your legs with a first aid kit, working with meticulous care to clean the scrape and blowing softly on the skin to soothe the sting. after carefully applying a spider-man themed bandaid, he pressed a tiny, sweet kiss directly onto the plastic.
then â he pulled three stems of vibrant gerbaras from his back pocket.
âcongrats, skateboard warrior,â he says, a gentle, crooked smile on his lips. his eyes full of adoration reserved exclusively for you.Â
as you looked up at him, the weight of your own history pressed against your chest â you had known care, but you had never known love.Â
you had accepted that your future would be a mirror of your past â cold. lonely. meticulously managed. because for twenty-one years, your existence had been a cage. your father was a man of stone, a man who viewed emotions as liabilities. and then there was your mother â a ghost from the moment you were born, a sacrifice made for your first breath.Â
you had grown up in a house of echoing hallways and heavy silences, raised by a rotating carousel of maids and nannies â people who were kind, yes, but whose kindness came with a price.
but mark was different.
mark never asked for anything in return. he cared about you simply because he cares about you.Â
with him, the world had color.Â
the loneliness that had been your constant companion for two decades vanished whenever he looked at you with those honest, yearning eyes.Â
a tiny, fragile seed of hope had begun to grow in your chest â the idea that you could be loved for who you were, not for the empire you were destined to inherit or the image you were forced to project.
you only wanted this â the scent of the outdoors, the sting of a scraped knee, and the overwhelming, dizzying realization that for the first time in your life, you were truly seen.
âthank you, markie,â you whispered, your voice thick with an emotion you were finally allowing yourself to feel.
he leaned down, pressing his forehead against yours, his breath warm on your skin. âalways, baby.â
âïž NOVEMBER: THE REMINDER. âïž
that hope was crushed before it could fully bloom.
âyour father has heard about your grades dropping,â johnnyâs vice broke the silence.Â
you were standing outside the universityâs main entrance, the cool air clinging to your skin. johnny, your personal driver and security guard, stood tall right in front of you, the black sedan by his side. his expression was unreadable but there was a flicker of pity in his eyes that you hated.Â
âitâs fine,â you replied, your voice sliding into that cool, nonchalant mask you wore for the world, âi can get them back up. it was just a rough month.â
johnny sighed, a sound of genuine weariness, âhe knows youâve been hanging out with a boy.â
the air seemed to leave your lungs then, âh-how does he know that?â
âyour father has eyes everywhere, ms. y/n,â johnny says softly.Â
the reminder hit you hard. in the bubble of your happiness with mark, you had forgotten who you were. you had forgotten that you were less a daughter and more a prized asset under constant surveillance. you had let yourself believe, even for a second, that you were invisible.
at that moment, a familiar figure appeared at the university gates. mark waves at you, his face lighting up with a smile that usually made your knees weak, but as he caught sight of johnny, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Â
you forced a quick smile toward mark before turning back to johnny, your voice a desperate whisper, âjust donât say anything, okay? i can handle it. iâll fix the grades, iâll be perfect. justâŠdont tell him about mark.â
âi wonât ms. y/n,â he replies, âbut i canât promise he wonât find out on his own.â
you nodded slowly, the dread pooling in your stomach. you knew your father. he didnât just find things out â he hunted them down. he dismantled secrets until there was nothing left but the truth.Â
you saw mark walking toward you in your peripheral vision, his stride confident and eager.Â
âgo. donât bow. just get in the car and leave,â you hurried to whisper as johnny quickly followed your instructions, sliding into the driverâs seat and pulling away from the curb without a word.Â
âbaby, who was that?â mark asks as he steps beside you. he naturally reaches out, taking your bag from your shoulder to carry it for you, his eyes searching yours, sensing the tremor you were trying so hard to hide.Â
âno one,â you lie, the words tasting like ash. you curl your arm in his, beaming up at him with a fake radiance, as you guide him back towards the campus, âhe just needed directions.â
as you walked, you leaned your head against his shoulder, closing your eyes for a briefest second. you clung to him, terrified that the moment you let go, the walls of your fatherâs world would close in and tear you apart.Â
SHANGHAI, CHINA: PRESENT TIME
đ THE WEIGHT OF YOUR WORLD. đ
the air in the conference room felt suffocating for mark. he sat rigidly in his chair, the sleek surface of the table reflecting a version of himself that looked composed, professional and entirely hollow.Â
he wasnât paying much attention. instead, he was trapped in a loop, his mind obsessively replaying the final moments of yesterday.Â
â...mark.â
the way you had whispered his name had sliced through his defenses like a razor. it was a sound he had tried to scrub from his memory for five whole years, the voice that had haunted his every failed attempt at moving on.Â
he remembered the moment his eyes locked on yours, expecting to see the cold, calculating mask youâve been carrying lately. instead, he found raw, bleeding vulnerability. your gaze had been his undoing â it had cracked the carefully constructed wall of frustration heâd spent years building.Â
âwhy me?â he asked, sounding small and desperate, only wanting to hear one answer from you.Â
âbecause,â you had started, voice trembling, âbecauseâwe already know each other.â
wrong answer.
ânot good enough,â he sighed, a sound of profound defeat, before slowly peeling your fingers from his grip. he had walked out, leaving you alone in this same room. but he had carried the weight of your gaze with him every second since.Â
âwhy is ms. y/n not here today,â mr. zhongâs voice cut through the room, sharp and demanding. he turned his gaze toward winter, who was sitting in your spot, her tablet in her hands.Â
âuhm,â winter stammered, shifting uncomfortably, âpersonal matters, sirâŠsheâs asked me to sit in and take notes for the day.â
mr. zhong gave a curt, dismissive nod. mark tunes the meeting all out, just correcting a few technical facts here and there, his mind miles away. your disappearance is hitting him harder than it should. he hated it. absolutely loathed the way he canât stop thinking about where you were or who you were with. he hated that a single day of your absence felt like a physical withdrawal, leaving him restless and irritable.Â
he had spent half a decade convincing himself that he was over you, that the life with the girl in seoul was a fantasy he had outgrown. but as he watched winter scribble notes in your place, mark realized with a sinking sense of dread â he was still just as enslaved to you as he had been at twenty-one.
he didnât just want you in the roomâŠhe wanted to know what you were feeling. he wanted to know if you were thinking about him with the same destructive intensity that was currently eating him alive.Â
the silence of your absence was louder than any argument you could have had, and it was driving him insane.Â
you didnât show up until 3 days later.Â
immediately, mark knew something bad had happened. your eyes are sadder â a depth of grief and exhaustion that seemed impossible, considering how hauntingly lonely they had already looked.Â
then, he saw it. a tiny, faint purple mark on your cheekbone that no one would notice if they didnât look at you with the same precision as he did.Â
âi reviewed everything,â you said, addressing mr. zhong.Â
you havenât looked at mark once this entire meeting. it was as if you were terrified that if you did, heâd unravel you completely.Â
âit looks goodâmy father has scheduled a meeting in our home office in two days for finalization,â you continued.Â
mr. zhong nodded, âalright, sounds good with me. mark and karina youâll be attending with meâŠwill you be present ms. y/n?â
âno,â you replied, a forced smile touching your lips, âi think itâs best for you if i wasnât there.âÂ
you keep it simple and mark desperately wants to ask why? why would the heir of azur exclude herself from a meeting in her own home?
the moment the meeting ended, you excused yourself quickly. winter followed closed behind.Â
mark couldnât let it go.Â
âms. y/n, wait a minute,â he called out, his voice echoing through the glass-walled hallway.Â
you stopped abruptly, your shoulders tensing as you turn to winter, your voice low, âiâll meet you in the car.â
once she had disappeared around the corner, you turned to face him, the professionalism back on like a suit of armor.Â
âdid we forget to discuss anything in the meeting?â you asked.
mark didnât answer immediately. he stood there, reading you. a bitter thought surfacing from the depths of his mind â do i even know you?Â
five years ago, he had fallen for the girl you were. but he didnât really know that girl, did he? there were so many things you didnât say. so many things he wasnât aware of. you had hidden your entire world from him, and now â that world seemed to be crushing you.Â
âif there is nothing else to discuss, i will be going, director,â you continue, your voice breaking him out of his thoughtsâ
he doesnât care.Â
about the lies. about who you were then and who you are now. his heart is still beating for you the same way it did before.
he stepped forward then, slowly, noticing the way your eyebrows furrow slightly in surprise. he didnât stop until he was in your personal space, the scent of your perfume intoxicating him. then his hand rose, his fingers carefully grazing your jawline, thumb moving with slow tenderness, gently caressing the hidden purple mark on your cheekbone â the touch light but with a heavy intent.Â
you have been exposed.Â
âwho did this?,â he whispers, his voice thick with a mixture of care and fury.Â
your breath hitched, a broken sound in the quiet hallway. for a split second, the mask slipped, your eyes fluttered and every fiber of your being screamed to lean into him, to collapse against his chest and let him carry the weight of your world for just a little bit. you craved the sanctuary of his arms, the feeling of being seen and protected.Â
but you knew the cost. you knew that giving yourself a taste of heaven when you were destined for hell only made the fall more painful.Â
you pulled back, your expression snapping shut, turning ice cold, âexcuse me.â
you turned away from him, leaving him standing alone in the glass hallway, his thumb still tingling from the touch of your skin. the silence between you once again becomes a deafening roar.Â
there was no point dreaming again.Â
he isnât going to save you. he made that clear already.Â
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: FIVE YEARS AGOÂ Â
âïž BACK TO DECEMBER. âïž
you were curled up on the couch of markâs tiny apartment, him sitting right beside you. you spent most of your days here, claiming your apartment was âtoo farâ and âtoo tiny.âÂ
today, he had insisted on watching eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, swearing it was one of his favorite movies of all time.
you stare at the notification that pinged on your phone, a sigh leaving your lips.Â
âhmm?,â he hums as he presses a soft kiss to the curve of your shoulder, âsomething wrong, baby?â
âmy flight got cancelled due to the snow storms,â you murmured, turning your phone toward him.
markâs eyes widened as he processed the words, âwaitâŠso you canât go home?âÂ
you nodded slowly, a tight-lipped smile on your face. truthfully, you didnât mind at all. the holidays have always been lonelier â a mansion full of people you didnât know, a towering tree filled with presents you never liked and a father who showed up like it was a meeting and not a holiday. in hindsight, it might be nice to not pretend to care about all of it.Â
but the way mark is looking at you now seems like you just delivered the worst news of all time, his brows furrowed in that earnest, protective way. you almost laugh, he was too cute, too concerned for a girl who had spent her whole life pretending she didnât need anyone.
âwhy donât you just come home with me for christmas break?âÂ
you quirked a brow, blinking up at him, âand meet your parents?â
âyeah,â he shrugs, as if he were suggesting you grab another round of ramen rather than introducing you to his family.Â
you lean back a bit, searching his eyes for any sign of teasing. but there was only that steady, unwavering affection.Â
âisnât a little too soon? i meanâŠweâve only been together for six months. i donât want to intrude or make your family uncomfor-â
before you can finish your sentence, he shuts you up with a kiss that you melt into instantly. when he pulled back, he nudged his nose against yours, his eyes searching yours with tenderness.
âbabyâŠno one should have to spend the holidays alone,â he whispered sweetly. if only he knew how many holidays youâve spent by yourself.Â
âare you sure itâs okay though?,â you ask shyly.Â
âmore than okay,â he insisted, curling an arm around your shoulder and pulling you closer to his side, placing a soft kiss on your forehead. he sounded so certain, so effortless, as if bringing you into his world was the most natural thing ever, ânowâŠwatch this part, itâs my favorite.â
you smiled, a genuine, radiant, tiny thing that reached your eyes as you leaned your head on his shoulder.Â
you and mark arrive at his parentâs home two days before christmas day. the drive there had been a blur of falling snowflakes and heavy suffocating silence built from your whirlwind of anxiety. by the time his car finally pulled into the driveway, your stomach had tied itself into knots. for the first time in your life, you were truly nervous.
mark saw right through you. as you stepped out into the cold winter air, he reached for your hand, his fingers interlocking with yours before lifting it up to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it.Â
âdonât worry,â he murmured, eyes searching yours, âtheyâre going to love you.â
you managed a small nod, hoping he was right. before you could spiral any further â the front door swings open. a woman rushed down the porch, her coat barely thrown over her shoulders, her face alight with pure joy.Â
âmark!â
your boyfriend barely has time to react before sheâs pulling him into a tight hug.Â
âmomââ
âoh, look at you!,â she exclaims, pulling back just enough to grab his face between both hands, her thumbs brushing over his cheekbones, âyouâve gotten thinner! are you eating? tell me youâre eating!â
âiâve just been busy, mom,â mark groaned, though he didnât pull away.Â
âyou need vitamins,â she insisted, her voice filled with motherly concern.Â
âi have vitamins.â
âyou should take more!â
you bit your lip to stop yourself from laughing. mark looks absolutely horrified while his mother is completely unbothered as she presses kisses all over his cheeks.Â
âmom!,â mark groaned, his voice cracking slightly.Â
âwhat! i missed my baby!â she exclaims, lightly slapping his arm with a playful grin.
you let out a laugh before you can stop it. mark immediately turns toward you, his expression a mix of betrayal and embarrassment. you tried to look apologetic. you really do. but the sight of him standing there, ears red with embarrassment while his mother fussed over him, was simply too cute.Â
it was all so foreign to you â the casual affection, the ease of their interaction, the warmth radiating from a woman who loved her son without conditions or expectations. you had spent your entire life watching families from a distance and now you were standing in the middle of one.Â
eventually, mark manages to escape, stepping back to regain whatever shred of dignity he had left.Â
âmom,â he says, clearing his throat and gesturing toward you, âthis is y/n.â
immediately, his motherâs attention shifts to you. you felt the air leave your lungs as she looked you up and down. in that moment, you realized exactly where mark got his intensity â she looked at you with the exact same focused, piercing gaze. for one terrifying second, the old instincts kicked in. you waited for the judgment, the assessment of your status, the cold calculation of whether you were âsuitable.â
but then â her entire face lit up.Â
and before you could even utter a greeting, she pulled you into her arms. the hug was warm. soft. it felt real.Â
she pulled back just enough to cup your face between both hands, her touch gentle and sincere, âoh, youâre beautiful,â she said immediately, her voice brimming with warmth.Â
you blink, whispering a soft, âthank you.â
âlook at her, mark!â she says excitedly, turning towards her son with an excited glow.Â
âi am looking at her,â he replies, voice softening with a smirk of amusement.Â
âshe has such pretty eyesâand her noseâand her lipsââ
you felt a sudden, treacherous prickle of tears in your eye, which felt ridiculousâŠsheâs just being kind. but nobody has ever looked at you like this before. not as a tool for a merger, not as an heir to fortune â but as a person. like you belonged somewhere. like they were happy you existed. your throat tightened and you looked down for a moment, thankful that the falling snow hid the sudden shimmer in your eyes.Â
âokay, momââ mark says eventually, gently placing a hand on her shoulder to pull her back. you almost reached out to stop him, wanting to stay in that warmth just a second longer, â-donât kill her now.â
âoh, iâm sorry,â she says sheepishly, though she immediately went back to hold your face, âiâm just so excited.â
âclearly,â mark comments, which she ignores completely.Â
âyou know, heâs never brought a girl home before,â she confides to you, leaning in as if sharing a top secret.Â
you smiled, glancing at mark with a playful glint in your eyes, âreally?â
âi was starting to think he was going to marry his research papers,â she sighs, shaking her head in mock disappointment.Â
âmom.â
â-or a microscope,â she continues relentlessly.
âMOM!â mark exclaims, his voice hitting a higher octave.Â
you burst out in giggles, the sound echoing through the driveway as he groaned loudly. even his mother joined in, her laughter melodic and bright.
âiâm serious,â she said, wiping a tear from her eye, âthe boy works too much.â
looking at him now, you understood everything â why he was so patient, why he was so honest and why heâs the man that he is. he came from a house that felt warm. a place where the air was thick with love and the walls held the echoes of laughter. the kind of place where people tease each other because they know theyâll be loved anyway. the kind of place you had only ever dreamed of.Â
âcome on,â his mother says suddenly, slipping her arm through yours and pulling you close, âletâs get you inside before you freeze out here.â
and just like that â she starts pulling you toward the house, her chatter filling the space between you. you looked back over your shoulder to see mark standing alone in the driveway, surrounded by snowflakes and two heavy suitcases. he didnât look annoyed. he just stood there, shaking his head with a fond, helpless smile, following after the two most important women in his life.Â
the day before christmas, markâs mom suggested he bring you to the tiny ice skating rink downtown. the weather was a bit better now, the sun peeking shyly through the clouds, making the fresh snow sparkle like scattered diamonds.
the rink itself was small, just a sheet of ice surrounded by wooden fences and strings of christmas twinkling lights. the only other people on the ice were a family with three children who skated with confidence. the rest of the town seemed to be preparing for christmas eve tonight. the only sound you could hear is from the overhead speakers currently playing music from the one employee in charge at the moment.Â
and then there was you and mark.Â
to say you were struggling would be the understatement of the century. you were fighting for your lives, both of you looking like newborn kittens trying to walk for the first time. one minute you were standing, the next your feet would betray you, sliding sideways. mark would lunge forward to catch you, his instincts to protect you overriding his own balance, only to send both of you crashing down.Â
the two of you fell on your asses way too many times that at one point, you just laid there.
âthis is actually embarrassing,â you groaned.Â
mark was lying beside you, his chest heaving slightly, his cheeks flushed a deep, healthy pink from the chilly air as you two stared up at the winter sky.
âi donât know what you meanâŠ,â he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he turned to look at you, âiâve been falling on purpose. i just wanted to see how you looked from this angle.â
you let out a huff of laughter, the sound turning into a small cloud of steam. the smiles on your faces never wavered, a shared secret of clumsiness and joy.Â
after accepting total defeat, you rented one of the skating aids shaped like a polar bear, usually reserved for children learning how to skate for the first time. and now, you were pushing said polar bear across the ice while mark attempted to skate behind you, his hands resting firmly on your shoulders to steady himself.
âthis tiny thing is carrying our entire relationship,â mark declared.
ârespect the bear, markie,â you joked, glancing back at him with a grin, âheâs our hero.â
the three children passed you again. for the seventh time. one of them, a little girl who couldnât have been older than seven, let out a high-pitched giggle as she skated past you with effortless grace, her eyes wide with amusement.Â
âweâre being judged by children,â mark sighed, though he didnât let go of your shoulders.Â
âtheyâre just jealous because we have a bear and they donât,â you countered.Â
the two of you dissolved into laughter again.Â
when a particular song came on, mark couldnât resist pulling you closer towards him, his hands shifting from your shoulders to your waist. he leaned in, his head resting on the crook of your neck, his warm breath ghosting over your skin and sending shivers down your spine.Â
he began to hum â then, he whispered the words directly into your ear, his lips slightly brushing your skinâÂ
âsaw so many pretty faces, before i saw youâŠnow all i see is you.â
the butterflies exploded then â a surge of heat rushing to your cheeks. you tried to maintain some of your composure, but you failed miserably, smiling like an idiot as you leaned your head back against his shoulder.Â
in that moment, surrounded by the scent of winter and the warmth of his embrace, you felt a terrifyingly beautiful realization â you have never been this happy before. you found yourself wishing, with every fiber of your being that time would simply stop.Â
you wanted to stay right here forever, frozen in the ice. Â
christmas eve was spent gathered around the lee familyâs dining table. the house smelled like meat, spices, and freshly baked pastries. soft christmas music drifted from the living room while colorful lights from the tree blinked quietly in the corner. the clock on the wall ticked closer and closer to midnight, a feast large enough to feed twice the number of people spread across the table.Â
and for the first time in your life â christmas didnât feel lonely.Â
you sat beside mark, your shoulder brushing his, your knees occasionally bumping beneath the table. across from you sat his older brother, a man who seemed to have made it his lifeâs mission to keep mark humble, teasing him whenever the opportunity presented itself. his mother occupied the seat beside his brother, her presence a radiant warmth while his father sat at the head of the table. the kind of family gatherings youâd only ever seen in movies, the kind you had secretly craved since you were a little girl.Â
before everyone began eating, marks father cleared his throat. the room immediately fell into silence as he folded his hands together and bowed his head slightly. the rest of the family followed suit, and you found yourself mimicking them, bowing your head in a gesture of belonging.Â
markâs hand found yours beneath the table, his fingers sliding between yours, squeezing gently as his father began a simple prayer filled with gratitude. you wouldnât exactly call yourself religious. in a world where your value was measured by your lineage and your obedience, you had never been given much reason to believe in anything. but if there was a god, youâd like to thank him for this moment, too.Â
immediately after the prayer, the silence broke into a flurry of activity â markâs mom began piling food on your plate, urging you to try every single dish she had prepared. and every single one of them was better than every five-star meal youâd ever eaten. conversation flowed easily around the table â stories from markâs childhood, his brother exposing family secrets, his mother laughing so hard she nearly spilled her drink.Â
even markâs father smiled more than you expected. he was quieter than the others but thereâs a gentleness to him you hadnât noticed initially. at first glance, he had seemed intimidating but after spending two days with the family, you realized all the lee men were all built from the same blueprint â quiet on the outside, soft on the inside. they didnât shout their love, they lived it in the small, steady ways they cared for one another. Â
then, right in the middle of dinner â markâs father looked directly at the two of you.Â
âso.â
the entire table went quiet. the clinking of silverware ceased. markâs brother stopped mid-sentence, an amused grin spreading across his face.
âdo the the two of you plan on getting married?â
mark nearly choked on his fried chicken while your eyes widened slightly, heart skipping a beat.Â
âdad!â mark managed to gasp out, his face flushing a deep, vivid crimson.Â
âwhat?â his father replied, completely unfazed.Â
mark looks absolutely horrified, his gaze darting around the table as if searching for an escape route. meanwhile, your heart had completely stopped. talks of marriage wasnât anything new to you. you had been a pawn in the game since you turned eighteen, your father presenting you with a curated list of bachelors of his choosing. but â this was the first time youâd ever considered the word and felt happy.Â
âwh-what??â mark sputtered, his voice an octave higher than usual, âdad, we just started dating.â his ears were bright red now, a shade of embarrassment youâve never seen on him before. heâs finding it very hard to look at you or anyone else at the moment.Â
unfortunately for him, his father wasnât finished.Â
âwhatâs the point of dating if not to marry?,â he asked reasonably, pointing his chopsticks vaguely between the two of you, âyou should date someone because you see a future together⊠don't be like all the other kids these days who are just doing it for fun.â
mark looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. but you didnât mind at all. you didnât find it awkward or overbearing. because despite how old-fashioned the conversation was â if mark had asked you to marry him right nowâŠthe answer wouldâve been an immediate yes. you would say it before he even finished the sentence, give up everything just to ensure you could spend every christmas eve for the rest of your life at this table.Â
âuhmâŠâ mark finally managed, his voice dropping, losing itâs frantic edge. his eyes flickered towards you briefly, the horror in his expression softening into something vulnerable, âwe havenât really talked about it,â his voice softened, ââŠyet.â
yet. the word lingered. small but full of possibility.Â
his father nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting from mark to you, his eyes searching, almost intuitive.Â
âbut you love each other donât you?â
the room suddenly felt much quieter. mark froze. and so did you. neither of you had said that word yet. not once. not out loud. you felt it â you knew you did. every second you spent with him made that increasingly obvious. but the words had remained trapped between you, unspoken and waiting for a moment that felt safe enough to hold them.
his dad continues relentlessly, âmarriage is the easiest thing in the world, as long as you truly love each other.â
the simplicity of the statement felt like a blow. for markâs family, love was the foundation, the easy part. for you, love was the most dangerous thing you had ever encountered â a rebellion against everything your father stood for, a flicker of light in a life designed to be cold.Â
thankfully â his mom finally intervened, sensing the sheer panic radiating off her son.Â
âokay, okay!,â she waved her hand dramatically, a bright melodic sound that broke the spell, "let them figure it out for themselves, okay? theyâre still young, after all! they still have so many dreams to achieve,â she added lightly, a bubble of laughter slipping from her lips.
she turned to her husband and shook her head fondly, âgod, you can be such an old man, sometimes,â she teases, the entire table dissolving into laughter then, the tension slowly disappearing.
âalright,â his dad chuckles, paying attention to his food instead.
everyone resumes eating after that, conversations returned to normal â stories about the ice rink, questions about classes, updates about work. the kind of ordinary conversations youâd spent your entire life missing.Â
but while everyone else talked â your gaze drifted toward your boyfriend.Â
he was laughing at something his brother had just whispered, his eyes crinkling at the corners, the twinkling lights reflecting in the dark depths of his pupils. and you realized his mom was wrongâ
you didnât have dreams.Â
dreams were for people free to choose their futures. and your future had been decided for you long ago. you were a piece on a chessboard, a legacy to be preserved, a daughter to be traded for power.Â
as you watched mark steal a piece of meat from your plate with a cheeky grin because his mother had given you the best portions â you realized the truth.Â
the only dream youâd ever truly had is him.Â
it wasnât a career, or a title, or a destination. itâs this. the sound of his laughter, the smell of his skin, the way his hand feels in yours. your dream was this family â filled with a loud, messy unconditional love that you had never known.Â
when the clock finally struck christmas day, âmerry christmasâ bounced around the dining room, overlapping with laughter and smiles.Â
markâs mom pulled you into a hug so tight, pressing a warm kiss against your temple. his dad patted your shoulder once, a small smile appearing on his face. and his older brother gave you an awkward high five. then mark looked at you. he wore that soft, devastating smile you had memorized in every detail â his eyes crinkled, the slight tilt of his head. he leaned down slightly, pressing a kiss against your cheek.
âmerry christmas, baby,â he whispered directly into your ear, your heart responding immediately.Â
for the first time you understood why people loved the holidays so much. it wasnât the presents, or the decorations, or the food. it was the feeling of home. of being wanted. of being loved.Â
âahhh,â markâs mom yawns, stretching her arms over her head.Â
âyou should head to bed, mom,â mark says immediately, his voice tender, ây/n and i can take care of the dishes.â
âoh, nonsense!,â she waved her hand dismissively, ây/n is a guest! she shouldnât touch a single dish.â
you laugh. you wouldnât mind washing up for her. in fact, the idea of contributing to his home, however small the task, felt like a privilege. even if, in reality, your experience with housework was limited to directing staff.Â
mark rolls his eyes, glancing at you with a smirk, âfine, iâll wash the dishes,â he conceded, âshe can supervise.â
ânow thatâs a good plan,â his mother declared, satisfied.Â
âmommm,â his brother suddenly spoke up from across the table, a dangerous smile appearing on his face, âi think they just want alone time toââ
before he could continue â markâs foot connected with his brotherâs shin under the table, âHYUNG!â
the table dissolves into another round of laughter. mark looked seconds away from throwing himself out a window. he wonders if his family has made it their personal responsibility to embarrass him as much as possible this evening.Â
âfine, fineâŠ.,â markâs mom stood up while still chuckling. she was clearly her sonâs only savior in this house of chaos.Â
âweâre gonna call it a night, the old people need their sleep,â she jokes before finally retreating to her bedroom with her husband, leaving the three of you on the dining table.
âhave fun making out in the kitchen,â his older brother teases, leaning back in his chair.Â
âweâre not even gonna do that,â mark groans.
âwhatever, lil broâŠjust donât make me an uncle, i donât have the money to spoil the child yet,â he stands up, pointing toward the two of you dramatically.Â
âoh my god, leave!â
âgoodnight, y/n,â the older boy smiles at you innocently before getting up and walking back into his own room as well.
âgoodnight,â you reply back, an amused smile lingering on your lips.Â
mark turns to you then with a sheepish smile, âgod, iâm so sorry about themâŠweâre all so close i think we forgot what boundaries are.âÂ
your smile softened immediately, the warmth in your chest expanding, âdonât worry about it, markie, itâs nice.â
the nickname made him smile automatically as you leaned forward, closing the small gap between you and pressing a gentle, lingering kiss against his lips to comfort him. mark melted instantly, as he always did when it came to you, his strength dissolving into a soft, needy vulnerability. when you finally pulled away, he looked significantly less traumatized, his eyes hazy with affection, almost glad that his family didnât send you running.Â
âbetter?â you tease softly.Â
âcan i have another one?â
you laughed, âwash the dishes first.â
as promised, mark ended up washing every dish and true to your role as a supervisor, you stood beside him drying them afterward. the kitchen was quiet and peaceful. the rest of the house asleep. christmas lights from the living room still casted a warm glow across the counters while the soft christmas music still drifted faintly.Â
neither of you said much, you simply basked in the usual comfortable silence and worked together naturally. passing plates. drying glasses. putting things away. it was such an ordinary, mundane task. and yet â you couldnât stop thinking about how much you loved this over everything else. nothing had ever made you feel this at peace â standing in your socks in a small kitchen at one in the morning, drying dishes with the boy who owns your heart.
itâs the kind of happiness that made you want things you shouldnât â a future that wasnât a business contract. a home that smelled like christmas and laundry. a family that laughed until they cried. a life where the only expectation was to love and be loved in return.
you glanced toward mark, watching him absentmindedly roll up his sleeves higher while washing another plate and found yourself wondering what it would be like if this could be your life forever.Â
then just as quickly â the thought twisted into a dull ache. because deep down, you already knew.Â
forever was reserved for someone else â a stranger with no face. no name. a stranger who will never hold your heart the way the boy in front of you does. eventually, the clock would run out. eventually, the world would reclaim you and someone would take him away from you. and if forever wasnât promised, if your time together was merely a beautiful, borrowed dream â then he at least deserved to know the truth of your heart.Â
âïž ITâS CHRISTMAS AND I LOVE YOU. âïž
mark placed away the last dish on the drying rack, the soft clink echoing through the quiet kitchen. before you could lose your courage â you stepped forward, wrapping your arms around his waist from behind, pressing your cheek against the warmth of his back.Â
he sank into your embrace instantly, his body relaxing as if you were the only place he ever felt truly safe, hand instinctively settling over yours, squeezing gently, a tiny contented smile forming on his lips.Â
and finallyâ
âi love you.âÂ
the words came from your lips, barely above a whisper. small. fragile. and completely terrifying. three little words youâve never said out loud or to anyone before. three little words you never knew the meaning of until this very moment.Â
mark didnât move. didnât breathe. didnât speak. and immediately panic started creeping into your chest. maybe it was too soon. maybe you had overstepped. maybe the weight of those words was too heavy for him to carry. maybe you shouldnât have said it. maybeâ
he turned around, his eyes sparkling.
ây/nâŠâ
your heart was beating so hard it almost hurt.Â
âi know itâs too soon,â you rushed out nervously, âyou donât have to say it back right awayâor everâi justâŠwanted you to know and itâs christmas and everyone keeps talking about marriage and love andââ
mark cuts you off with a kiss. his warm hands cup your face, fingers sliding into your hair. this kiss felt different. it wasnât playful or teasing or hungry. just â overwhelmingly tender. when he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against yours, his hand dropping to your waist to pull you flush against him, erasing every millimeter of space between your bodies.Â
âi love you, too.â
he said it so softly, the words seeping into every crack and broken place inside you, sealing the wounds left by a lifetime of loneliness.Â
âyou know that, right?â he murmured, his voice thick with affection.Â
you nodded immediately but your eyes were already blurring, the tears coming in hot and fast, spilling over your lashes. he notices immediately, his thumb brushing your eye gently.Â
âwhy are you crying?â he whispered, his brow furrowing in gentle concern.Â
âiâm just happy.â
his expression softens completely, looking at you like you were the most precious thing heâd ever been trusted with. he leaned down, pressing a kiss against your forehead, closing his eyes as if trying to memorize the feeling of you.
the world outside his childhood bedroom ceased to exist. the two of you are squeezed into markâs tiny twin sized bed, facing each other, legs tangled under the blanket draped over both of you, larger than the bed itself. the quiet hum of the heater and markâs christmas playlist drifted through the room, the singular lamp in the corner casting a warm glow.
âfeel free to ignore this questionâŠbut have you ever thought about it?...marriage?â he asks softly, his fingers tracing slow circles across the small of your back.Â
the real answer was no. in fact, you tried very hard not to think about it.Â
âwith you?â you ask, teasing softly to mask the sudden tightening in your chest.Â
mark sputtered, the sudden shift in tone catching him off guard, âi meanâit doesnât have to be with me,â he stammered, feeling nervous, âi just mean, in generalâŠis that something that sounds appealing to you?â
âif i said no, would you break up with me?âÂ
âno! babyâwhat?â a flash of genuine panic crossed his eyes at the mere suggestion of losing you. he looked almost wounded by the question, âforget i asked.â
you couldnât help it, a soft chuckle escaped you, the sound freeing him from his self-inflicted torment. you reached up, tracing the line of his jaw with your thumb, your expression softening.Â
âiâd only want it if itâs with you,â you admit truthfully.
the confession hit him visibly. a deep, crimson blush creeping up his neck and flooding his cheeks, and for a moment, he looked like the boy you had first met in that classroom.Â
âhow about you?â you whispered, your voice barely audible, afraid, âcan you see yourself marrying me?â
he shifted then, turning around just enough to reach for the bedside table. you furrowed your brows, confused, as he grabbed a black permanent marker. then â without a word, he took your left hand in his, his grip firm yet gentle, lifting it up and drawing a circle around your ring finger.Â
your heart stopped.Â
âiâll put a real ring on this finger someday, i promise you.âÂ
he said it softly, watching as your gaze remained on the black ink â it was temporary, it was messy, and it was the most beautiful thing you had ever owned.Â
âi like this one better,â you muttered softly.Â
that earned a real laugh from him.Â
âno wayâŠiâll buy you the prettiest ring in the world, baby, i promise,â he brought your hand up to his lips, trailing slowly, searing kisses up your knuckles, then your wrist, before his lips finally found yours.Â
he lingered there, his breath warm against your mouth, âjust wait a little while, okay?â he whispered, his smile shy.Â
you knew exactly what he meant. he had ambitions. he had other dreams.Â
you can't seem to find your words. and you didnât want to make promises you canât keep.Â
so instead, you pulled him closer, wrapping your arms around his neck and kissing him with a desperate, starving intensity. you pour everything you couldnât say into that kiss â every unspoken fear, every hidden truth and every ounce of love that felt too large for your chest to hold, hoping that if you held on tight enough, the rest of the world would simply forget you existed.Â
the kiss deepened, shifting from a desperate plea into something hungrier. markâs tongue swiped firmly against your upper lip, demanding entry and you opened for him instantly, the taste of toothpastes clashing with the heat of your shared breath.Â
as the kiss grew more frantic, your hand wandered, sliding down the expanse of his chest and stomach until your palm landed on the ridge of his cock, rubbing him through the fabric of his grey sweatpants.
âmarkie,â you whispered against his lips, âare we still taking things slow?â you punctuated the question with a light, deliberate squeeze, feeling him twitch beneath your touch.Â
markâs eyes fluttered shut, his head falling against yours as he inhaled a shaky breath, âi really, really donât want to anymore, baby,â he groaned.
âwhatâs stopping you?âÂ
he paused, his expression flickering with a sudden, piercing vulnerability making your hand stop.Â
âcan i be honest?âÂ
you quirked a brow, small and playful, âwhen are you never not honest?â
he chuckles softly, shaking his head, âiâm a virgin,â he admits shyly.Â
you stared at him, momentarily stunned. given the amount of times heâs made you cum on just his mouth and fingers, you had assumed he was an expert.Â
a soft giggle escaped you, the tension breaking into something tender, âthatâs why you were so adamant about taking things slow,â you realized.
he chuckles too, âi justâŠi donât want to ruin it for you.â
âyou literally wonât be able to,â you countered, your voice softening, âiâm a virgin, too.âÂ
markâs eyes snapped open, widening in sheer disbelief, your words hanging heavy in the air. the odds seemed impossible â that two people with this kind of magnetic, visceral chemistry could both be virgins. you knew exactly where to touch him, unravel him with a single look.Â
âso i guess weâll just have to figure it out together,â you add, a small smile blooming on your lips.Â
he didnât waste another second. he surged forward capturing your lips onto his again, âtogether,â he whispered against your lips, âeverythingâŠtogether.â
he kisses you deeper now, pulling you even closer before his hand starts wandering down until it slides beneath the waistband of your pajama pants, slipping under the cotton of your panties.Â
you hum into the kiss, lifting your leg to curl around his hip, giving yourself up to him as his fingers start rubbing up and down your folds, teasing your leaking hole.Â
mark might be a virgin. but he had no problem when it came to research. and after six months of dating, he knows exactly how to prepare you, how to touch you, how to get you wet â he sinks two digits deep into your heat, your gasp muffling against his lips, your body arching instinctively.Â
you were acutely aware of the risk â his family is somewhere in the house and youâre pretty sure the justin bieber playing through his laptop right now isnât enough to draw out your noises.Â
that doesnât stop him from quickly curling his fingers inside you in that way that makes you bury your face in his shoulder, nails digging into the fabric of his shirt, desperately trying your best to control the sounds passing your lips.Â
your hips begin rutting against his hand, seeking more, âmarkieeââ you moan softly, biting your lip hard to stifle the sound, your body trembling on the verge of a peak. he always knew that specific, electric spot deep inside.Â
youâre so close. so, so close. but you didnât want to cum on his fingers tonight. you wanted to feel the weight of him, the stretch of him.Â
âwaitâstop,â you whispered, grabbing his wrist.
mark froze, his chest heaving, his eyes clouded with lust, âwhy? you were so close,â he points out, his voice that strained pitch it always gets when heâs pleasing you, almost as if he gets off just by the mere action of getting you off.Â
âi want to feel you,â you whispered, ââŠd-do you have a condom?â
mark nodded quickly. he had been carrying one in his wallet since the day you started dating â just in case â a testament to his cautious, responsible nature. he reached for his wallet on the bedside table, pulling out the packet with shaking fingers. he almost canât believe this is happening right now.Â
âdo you know how to put it on?â you ask softly.Â
mark paused, a look of genuine uncertainty crossing his face. he let out a soft, embarrassed chuckle, âi-i actually donât,â he admitted. âwait, let me watch a tutorial video.â
you couldnât help but burst into a quiet giggle as he seriously reached for his phone, pulling up a youtube tutorial. this is, by far, probably the nerdiest thing heâs ever done â itâs endearing.Â
the room is suddenly filled with a robotic, educational voice discussing the importance of practicing safe sex and checking expiration dates.Â
âwellâŠthis is one way to kill the mood,â mark grunted, though he continued watching the screen with intense concentration.Â
âkeep watching, markie,â you teased, âi got you,â you whispered, pressing a soft kiss under his ear.Â
and before he could react, you disappeared beneath the heavy duvet, crawling between his legs.Â
âwha-â
he didnât get to finish. you swiftly pulled down his pajama pants and boxers, exposing his hard, leaking cock and without hesitation, you wrapped your lips around the tip, swirling your tongue around the head.
âfuuckâbaby,â he whines, his head hitting the pillow as he peeled the blanket back to watch you fully.Â
the educational video continued to drone on in the background, a surreal contrast to the sight of you sucking him. you coated him in spit, your mouth tight and warm and his mind was a chaotic mess â one hand trying itâs best to hold up his phone and keep up with the video, the other gripping the sheets to keep from cumming right then and there.Â
as the video finally demonstrated how to roll the latex, mark quickly pulled you off his cock.Â
âokay, okay babyâi got it,â he gasped, grabbing the packet again as you sat on your knees, still in the middle of his legs, watching him, completely amused.Â
âi gotta do thisâŠand then this,â he muttered, rolling the condom down the length of his shaft with a tiny groan, the feeling of the latex tightening around his cock entirely new.Â
then he looked at you, his eyes dark and searching, âhow should we do it?â
you didnât answer with words, simply pulling off your pajama pants and underwear, leaving you wearing nothing but his oversized university sweater, which swallowed your frame. you crawled back up to him, capturing his lips in a searing kiss as you positioned yourself, caging him in with your thighs.Â
slowly, you began to rub your soaking wet pussy against his condom-covered cock. you had dry-humped plenty of times before â this position was somewhat familiar but the feeling was entirely different. with only the thin latex between you, everything seem magnified. you could feel the throb of his pulse, the heat of his skin, the sheer size of him pressing against your opening, teasing.Â
god, it felt good.Â
the friction was driving you both insane. the way his cock hits your clit with every glide earning a silent moan from you while markâs breath was coming in jagged hitches, his hands gripping your waist with a strength that bordered on desperate, yet he remained still, letting you set the pace.Â
you pulled back from the kiss just an inch, your foreheads resting against each other, your voice a trembling whisperâ
âmarkâŠplease. put it in. i want you inside me.â
mark swallowed hard, his adamâs apple bobbing as he looks up at you with raw vulnerability, mixing with an intense hunger. he didnât just want to take you, he wanted to make sure this was perfect.Â
âare you sure?â he whispered, his voice cracking slightly, âi donât want to hurt you. iâi donât know exactly how muchâŠif it iâll be too much.â
âiâm sure,â you whimpered, shifting your weight, âplease.â
slowly, with caution, mark grabbed the base of his cock, you guided him, aligning him to your soaking wet entrance. as the head of his cock first touched your opening, you let out a sharp, shallow gasp. it was already so much more than his fingers.Â
âyou okay?â he asked immediately, his voice strained as he fought the urge to just thrust upward, his fingers digging into your hips to anchor you.Â
âyes..yes, letâs keep going.â
you lowered yourself inch by inch. as his cock started to slide into your tight heat, you felt a sudden, sharp pressure. it was a fullness you had never experienced, a feeling of being completely occupied. you froze, your breath catching in your throat, your muscles instinctively tightening around him.Â
âwait, wait,â mark whispered, his eyes fillled with concern as he takes in every bit of your reaction, âdoes it hurt? tell me if hurts, baby. iâll stop. just tell me.â
you closed your eyes, taking a deep breath, doing your best to relax. the initial sting was fading, replaced by an overwhelming sense of warmth and a deep, aching want of more. you felt the stretch but it felt right.Â
âiâm okay,â you whispered, âit justâŠitâs a lot. but it feels good. i want more.â
reassured, mark let out a nod as you sunk further down, feeling the way his cock expands inside you.Â
âgod, youâre so tight,â mark groaned, his head falling back against the pillow, eyes fluttering shut, face contorting in a mix of pleasure and disbelief, âbabyâŠyou feelâŠincredible.â
as you finally bottomed out, feeling the base of his cock press firmly against your pussy, you let out a long, shaky sigh and collapsed onto his chest. the two of you stayed like that for a moment, chests heaving in unison, the only sound the distant beat of the music from his laptop and the frantic drumming of two hearts beating as one.Â
âare you okay?â mark whispered again, his arms wrapping around you, pulling you tight against him.Â
he kissed your temple, his lips lingering there, âiâmâŠiâm actually inside you,â he laughs.Â
you let out a soft, shaky laugh, âiâm perfect. youâre perfect.âÂ
you stayed draped across his chest for a few more minutes, getting used to him before slowly shifting, pushing yourself up on your palms to look down at him. markâs eyes were dark and dilated, completely focused on you.Â
âi want to move,â you whispered, your voice thick with desire.Â
âme too,â he groaned, his hands sliding from your waist down to your ass, lightly squeezing the soft flesh, âjustâŠdo what makes you feel good, baby.â
you experimentally lift your hips, sliding up the length of his cock, the friction against your sensitive walls sending a wave of pleasure through you. you let out a soft gasp, your eyes fluttering shut. then you sank back down, letting him stretch you again. you continue this over and over, finding the rhythm of your pleasure.Â
mark let out a low, guttural sound in the back of his throat, his hips instinctively twitching upward to meet you. he was fighting for control over his own body. he didnât want this to end quickly, wanting to savor every single second of your first time together.Â
ât-that feels s-so good, baby,â he groaned, reaching up to pull you down into an open-mouthed kiss, your tongue tasting of desperation and love, the kiss mirroring the slow, grinding pace of your hips.Â
as you found a rhythm together â markâs hand wanders, sliding his fingers beneath you and rubbing slow, deliberate circles on your clit, his thumb applying just the right amount of pressure.Â
the combination was too much. the pleasure spiked, an electric current that snapped through your entire body. you arched your back, head tossing back as a loud, unrestrained moan ripped from your throat, echoing through the small bedroom.Â
both of you froze instantly.Â
you stopped mid-ride, your breath hitching, your heart pounding so loud. markâs hand stayed frozen on your pussy, his eyes wide as he looked up at you. the silence that followed was deafening, making the distant music from the laptop sound like a roar.Â
you leaned down, your voice a frantic, hushed whisper, âfuckâŠmark, do you think your parents heard that?â
mark stared at you for a beat then a slow, wicked smirk spread across his lips, the one you only see when the restraint he practices snaps. he gripped your hips firmly, pulling you down hard against him.Â
âi honestly donât care,â he rasped, his voice dropping an octave, sounding raw and hungry, âthat was so hot.â
you leaned down and nipped at his lower lip, a playful smirk on your lips, âyouâre such a dirty boy.â
âonly for you,â he teases back, rolling his eyes playfully and earning a chuckle from you.Â
you giggled, âcan you actually get on top? my knees are starting to hurt.â
mark didnât need to be told twice. as he pulled out to reposition, you let out a small, disappointed whimper, at the feeling of emptiness. you scrambled together, limbs tangling in the sheets, until you were flat on your back and he was hovering over you.
âready, baby?âÂ
you nod in response.Â
the moment he slid back in in one deep thrust, both of you let out a simultaneous sigh of pure relief. riding him had been fun but being pinned beneath him felt different â more surrender, more intimate. you could focus entirely on the feeling of him as you sank into the mattress, your legs instinctively wrapping tightly around him.Â
mark moves with a steady rhythm, no longer holding back as much, the raw hunger in his eyes evident every time he looked down at you. as he drove deeper â his cock angled upward, hitting a specific, sensitive spot deep inside you.Â
your eyes rolled back into your head, fingers digging into his back, âoh godâŠright thereâŠmarkie, right there,â you managed to whisper, your voice shaking.Â
he heard you loud and clear though, the sound of his name in that tone driving him crazy. he focused his movements, hitting that exact spot again and again. and with every stroke, your walls clamped down on him even tighter, squeezing his cock in pulses.Â
mark let out a choked sound, his jaw locking. he felt like he was losing his fucking mind. he was so close â so dangerously close â but he refused to finish without you.Â
âplease come for me, babyâplease,â he rasped, his voice sounding like gravel.Â
âjustâŠdonât stopâ,â you whisper in a moan.Â
he reached down between your bodies, his fingers finding your clit once more, rubbing it with a frantic, expert intensity. that was your undoing. he leaned down and captured your lips in a desperate kiss, swallowing your moans into his own mouth.Â
you felt the tension snap as you peaked, your entire body shaking under the force of the orgasm, eyes shutting close, jaw slacked in a silent moan, as your toes curl, the heat traveling through you.Â
mark couldnât hold on any longer. the feeling of you cumming around him was his final trigger.Â
âfuck, i cantâ,â he whined against your cheek, his body stiffening. he gave one last, deep thrust, as he buried his face on the crook of your shoulders, spilling moans only reserved for your ears as he filled up the condom. he collapsed onto you, his heartbeat matching yours, both of you trying to catch your breath.
slowly, he lifted his head, pressing a lingering, tender kiss to your forehead, then your nose, and finally your lips.
âi love you,â he whispered, his voice still raspy and broken from the intensity of the moment, âgod, i love you so much.â
you reached up, framing his face with your hands, âi love you too, mark. so much.â
he let out a contented sigh, nuzzling into your neck one last time before he slowly pulled out of you. as he moved back slightly, he paused, his gaze dropping to where you were open and glistening. the sight of your swollen pussy inviting him. without a word, mark leaned back down, licking from your opening up to your clit.Â
you let out a sharp, sharky breath, your hips twitching instinctively, âmmmâŠmarkieâŠâ
he hummed against your folds, tongue swirling around your clit, attempting to clean you up. but the pleasure was almost too much. your nerves were raw, every touch feeling too overwhelming.Â
âstopâ,â you breathed, gently pushing at his shoulders, âstop, markâŠitâs too much.â
âsorry,â he smiles sheepishly, âyou just taste so good, baby.â
the words make you blush but you disguise it with a playful roll of your eyes. he kisses your inner thigh then before sitting back on his heels, looking down at his own cock which was still semi-hard and protected, the condom now filled with the evidence of his release.Â
a look of genuine confusion crossed his face. he looked at the condom, then at you, then back at the condom.Â
âwait,â he muttered, his brow furrowing, âhow do i actually take this off withoutâŠyou know, making a mess everywhere?â
you burst into a fit of giggles, the tension fully breaking as you grab his phone from the bedside table, unlocking it and clicking on the youtube app once again. mark lets out a chuckle as he lays beside you, watching you with adoration as you begin scrolling for another tutorial video.Â
on christmas morning, you woke up before him, thighs still feeling a bit sore. mark was still out cold by your side, his mouth parted slightly, his breathing slow and his hair a chaotic, beautiful mess against the pillow. he looked so cute. you lingered there for a moment, staring at him with a swelling warmth in your chest, taking a mental screenshot of this version of him.Â
but then the sound of the piano, a familiar melodic tune, drifted through the hallway. you quietly slip out of his bed, careful not to wake him. you make yourself presentable enough as you slip out of his room in your pajamas and markâs oversized sweater still clinging to your body.Â
as you stepped into the living room, the music became clearer, filling the space with a warmth that matched the holiday decorations. markâs mom was seated at the piano, her posture elegant, her fingers dancing across the keys with effortless grace. you stopped in the doorway, momentarily breathless, simply admiring the way she seemed to merge with the music.Â
the moment she noticed you, her entire face lit up, âoh! good morning sweetheart,â she beamed, her fingers never missing a beat.Â
âgood morning, mrs. leeâŠthat sounds really beautiful,â you praise her.Â
âcomeâcome sit,â she urged, gesturing toward the space beside her.Â
you obeyed, sliding into the space next to her. she paused for a heartbeat, looking at you with a flicker of curiosity and excitement, âdo you know how to play?âÂ
of course you knew how to play. piano lessons were a must in your world. a sign of properness and wealth. but beyond the expectations of your father, you had genuinely fallen in love with the instrument. you loved the way a single chord could express a grief or a joy that words were too clumsy to handle.Â
you nod softly, âyesâŠi can play.â
âoh! thatâs wonderful! join me then,â she says, her excitement increasing tenfold.Â
you let out a small, shy chuckle before your fingers found the higher register of the keys, tentatively entering her melody. you followed her lead, your notes weaving around hers, creating a rich harmony that filled the room.Â
at one point, in a moment of playful improvisation, the two of you hit two notes that just sounded horrible together. the sound was jarring and terribly off-key, clashing against the melody. the silence that followed lasted only a second before you both burst into delighted laughter, the sound echoing through the house, warm and unfiltered.Â
unbeknownst to you, mark was standing in the shadows of the hallway. he had woken up to the sound of music and had followed it, stopping just short of the living room. he leaned against the doorframe, watching. he canât help the tender smile spreading across his lips as he looked at you â in his sweater, laughing with his mother, your fingers on the keys â and felt a surge of love so strong it nearly knocked the wind out of him.Â
there were so many things he still didnât know about you. so many hidden layers, secret talents, and quiet fears he had yet to uncover. but as he watched you, he felt a profound sense of peace. after the promises whispered last night, he knew he didnât have to rush. he was grateful that he now had forever to learn everything there was to know about you.Â
SHANGHAI, CHINA: PRESENT TIME
đ THE FATHER. đ
âthe boss will see you shortly, please follow me,â winterâs voice was quiet and professional as she led the zhong team deeper into the mansion. mr. zhong walked beside her, unimpressed. meanwhile, karina couldnât stop looking around, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity.Â
mark couldnât blame her. the place was absurd in its scale and its extravagance. every room they passed looked like something straight out of an architectural magazine. floor to ceiling windows overlooked the gardens, paintings that probably cost more than entire houses hung from the walls, and the polished marble beneath their feet reflected the chandeliers above them.Â
it was beautiful. and mark fucking hated it â he hated the cold, pale blue of the walls. the endless hallways that felt designed to keep people apart. the silence, a heavy suffocating void.Â
as they walked, a sickening realiztion settled in his gut â this was your world. the loneliness he felt just walking through these halls was likely the only constant companion you had ever known.Â
after passing several more hallways, winter finally stopped before a pair of open double doors. immediately, markâs gaze locked onto the man standing guard beside the entrance. his heart skipped. it was him. the same man from seoul. the one you had claimed was âjust asking for directions.â their eyes met and a flash of mutual recognition sparked between them. the security guard dinât look away. instead, his expression softened into something that looked painfully like pity, almost sad, as if he knew a secret that was about to break markâs world apart.Â
but before mark can dwell on it, a voice shattered the silence â a voice that sounded like a scream from the depths of a drowning soul.Â
âI STILL HAVE TWO MONTHS!â
the entire hallway froze.Â
âTHAT WAS OUR DEAL! WHY ARE YOU MOVING THE WEDDING TO NEXT WEEK?!âÂ
karinaâs eyes widened, her head snapping toward her best friend. mark felt his stomach drop.Â
âplease wait a while,â winter intervened quickly, pointing to the velvet chairs lined against the wall. mr. zhong, ever the stoic, sat down without a word, his face a mask of indifference as he motioned for mark and karina to do the same. none of them spoke.Â
inside the office, a manâs voice answered. not loud. not angry. not screaming. he didnât need to. his voice was deep, controlled, and resonated with a terrifying level of absolute authority. a voice of a man who didnât ask for things â he dictated them. he was power itself.Â
ây/n. i refuse to continue discussing this.â
mark had never met your father, but in that single sentence, he understood exactly who the man was. it was chilling how calm he sounded. like the two of you were just having another business disagreement and not discussing your entire life.Â
âIâM NOT MARRYING HIM!â you yelled. the sound raw. the sound of someone who had run out of options, out of breath, and out of hope. mark has never heard you sound like that before.Â
and then, your father laughed, dry and humorless that sent a shiver down markâs spine.
âand what?â he asked, his tone dripping with a cruel, mocking curiosity, âyouâre going to keep waiting around for that boy you swear loves you?â
markâs breath hitched, very aware the he was that boy.
âi gave you more than enough time,â your father continued, his voice sounding bored, almost exhausted by your resistance, âit has been reported to me that you already proposed to him.â
mark canât breathe. his lungs seized and he felt the world tilt on its axis.
âand he turned you down,â he snickered, like being right makes him happy.Â
every word felt like a knife to markâs chest.Â
ââso stop playing these games y/n,â his voice hardened, the boredom replaced by a sharp, cutting edge, âitâs embarrassing for my reputation.â
and that was your ugly truth wasnât it?Â
that this whole time â you waited. you had been in a state of suspended time, waiting for mark to reach his dreams, for him to become a man your father couldnât dismiss. waited for a version of him that could stand beside you without being crushed by the weight of your familyâs empire.Â
for five whole years, your world had stopped. you had lived in a frozen moment of hope, clinging to the memory of a christmas day, believing that the purity of that love was a tether strong enough to pull you back to him when the time came. you had played a dangerous game of patience, enduring the suffocating grip of your father, all while believing that if mark just reached his dreams, he would be the one to rescue you.Â
you had simply failed to factor in the most devastating variable â that he would no longer want to stand by you. and how could he? in his eyes, you werenât a prisoner. you were the one who left him.Â
âi donât love dejunâ your voice came again, smaller this time, fragile and utterly broken.Â
âyou donât need to.â the answer came instantly and something dark flashed across markâs expression.Â
âlove isnât necessary.â
your father sounded almost annoyed now, as if your desire for affection was a tedious error he had to correct.
âso because youâre miserableâŠâ your voice cracked, âi have to be miserable, too?â
mark sat frozen in his chair, his knuckles white. the picture is so clear to him now â the bruise heâd noticed. the hollow loneliness in your eyes. the sudden, desperate proposal you had sent him, the way you whispered his name in the conference room, not as a command, but as a prayer.Â
ânot everyone gets to have what they want,â your father replied, his tone flat.Â
thenâvery quietlyâso soft that everyone outside almost missed it, you saidâ
âyou did. you married who you loved.â
the silence that followed was predatory. slowly, your father rose from his chair, âyou know nothing.â
âeveryone tells me mother loved you,â you whispered, the bravery of the desperation taking over.Â
âenough.â
âand i know you wanted to choose her over me.â
âenough.â
and i knowââ
âENOUGH!â
the roar shook the very foundations of the mansion, followed immediately by a sharp, sickening slap! â the sound of his palm connecting with your cheek, ringing throughout the office and echoing into the hallway. you didnât scream. you didnât even gasp. you barely reacted at all, a chilling testament to how accustomed you had become to the violence.Â
but outside the doors, markâs entire body stiffened, his pulse pounding violently in his ears, the sudden urge to walk-in coursing through him. but before he could move a muscle, a hand landed firmly on his shoulder.Â
âsit down.â
mark looked at mr. zhong in utter disbelief. the younger manâs expression was tight, his eyes clouded with a weary, distant soundness. his voice a low, commanding warning.
âdonât get in the way of family matters.â
âbutââ
âit isnât our place.â
the words felt like a slap to markâs own face. who was he in this world? in this fortress of power and blood, he was nothing. he was a researcher, an employee, a ghost. he had zero leverage over the monster in that room.Â
he looked around, his gaze frantic. he saw the security guard who hadnât moved an inch. what kind of security guard doesnât protect? he looked at the maids who continued their tasks with robotic precision, their faces blank. no surprise. no shock. no horror. like it was just another day. he looked at winter, who was staring intently at the wall, her jaw clenched, pretending nothing happened.Â
mark felt sick.Â
how often does this happen? how often have you cried behind closed doors? how many bruises had gone unnoticed because nobody dared to notice them? how many times have you walked out smiling afterward, pretending along with everyone else?
all this time, he had convinced himself you had turned into ice. he thought you were cold, manipulative â a woman who had traded her heart for a corporate throne. he thought you had become someone he didnât recognize. he realized now, with a crushing weight in his chest, that you hadnât changed. you had just learned how to survive.Â
then â you walked out of the office.
markâs gaze is stuck on you as you stopped for a fraction of a second, your eyes rimmed with a raw, painful red. your lower lip split slightly, a small bead of crimson blooming against your skin. it wasnât enough to alarm a stranger â but more than enough for him. enough for the man who memorized every curve of your face. enough for the man who couldnât stop seeing you in every dream. enough for the man who still loves you.Â
you froze when you saw him, not expecting an audience to your shame.
for a second, your expression crumbled. and mark saw her â the girl from seoul. the girl who taught him the meaning of love. the girl who gave him the entire world.Â
then, just as quickly, you forced back the mask â cold. untouchable. professional. you looked right through him, your eyes turning into shards of glass, and you said nothing, simply walking away, the click of your heels on the marble sounding like a countdown.Â
mark remained standing there, paralyzed. for the first time since seeing you again, the anger, the confusion and the hurt were gone. in their place was a hot, blinding fury. not at you. but at the silence of the hallway, the maids, the guard â the man behind the double doors who thought power gave him the right to destroy.Â
and most of all, he was furious at himself.Â
you had been drowning in plain sight. you had reached out your hand in the only way you knew how. and for someone who prided himself on his brilliance, mark realized he had been the blindest man in the room.Â
PART TWO: COMING SOON.
an: oof đ«Șđ«Ș well that was an emotional roller coaster...but have no fear! we're not done yet! next part will heal you, i promise. just wait a little while, okay? also i hope the different timelines arenât too confusing! let me know what you think of this part! thank you for reading :3
đ likes, reblogs, and comments are not required but is very appreciated
đ if you enjoyed this story and would like to show extra support, my kofi is open!
synopsis: Na Jaemin is annoying as fuck, clingy, needy, nosy, loud, the walking nightmare of campus and definitely someone you wouldn't normally associate yourself with. You could call him every adjective under the sun, and still, it wouldn't be enough to get him off your back. But his eyes are so pretty, his lashes so long, and somewhere along the way of being forced to show him the ropes of bartending, ignoring him is not an option anymore.Â
pairing: student!Jaemin x student fem! readerÂ
genre: strangers to coworkers to lovers? university!au, fluff, crack, smut!!, eventual angst (in pt2)Â Â
word count: 28k+Â
warnings: so much slow burn ahhhh, blatant flirting, terrible jokes, jaemin is obsessed and a lil tapped in the head but what's new, a lot of inner thoughts and confusion, forced proximity, worries about the future, sexual shame/guilt, oc is a very self-aware meanie who likes to torture jaemin :( but i like her so you should too, fuck buddy chenle (and i oop-), alcohol, smoking, brief mention of menstruation and blood, there's like one argument but it's not angsty, pet names: partner/wiggles or wigs (hers), jaem/loser (his), mdni +18: smooching with lots of tongue, brief penetrative sex (not with each other), voyeurism (jaemin's a perv sozz), manhandling, oral sex (both receiving), clitorical stimulation, fingering, forced orgasm, jaem jerks it <3, spitting, a lil choking, cum play (they're both for the streets), the piss story returns (iykyk), strong language blah blah blah⊠also jaemin isn't necessarily blonde in this, i just love that pic heh :)
The queue outside is longer than Jaemin expected. It curls down the pavement in a slow, restless line â people shifting from foot to foot, laughing too loudly, complaining about the cold like they didnât choose to stand in it. The bass from inside leaks through the walls every time the door opens, warm light spilling onto the street for a second before snapping shut again.
Jaemin stands somewhere in the middle of it all, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, barely bothered.
Haechan is already annoyed. Jeno is quieter, standing close enough to his girlfriend that they might as well merge into one at this point. Jaemin glances at them once, then forward again.
Start of spring energy. Everyone trying to squeeze something out of the night before everything resets into exams and exhaustion. The line inches forward. Warm air hits in waves whenever the door opens. Music follows it â heavy, messy, familiar.
Then when Jaeminâs in, noise swallows everything. Every corner is packed. Full tables, standing clusters, people leaning into each other and still shouting. The bar is already packed, orders shouted over each other, glasses clinking nonstop.
Jaemin steps further inside and blinks once, already knowing who to look for.
Same girl heâs been obsessing over for god knows how long.
Heâs seen you plenty of times. Sometimes with Jisung, sometimes not. Sometimes in the library, others in the social studies building. Mostly he sees you here. Always behind the bar, barely smiling at customers. Always half-elsewhere even when youâre physically there.
He never fails to notice you for some reason. Never able to look away as fast as heâd like. First your posture. Not slouched exactly, but weighted, or bored. Like your body has learned how to keep functioning even when youâre past your limit.
Then your hands. Short nails. Practical length. Old polish chipped at the edges, like you painted them on a day you had energy and havenât had another day like it since. You donât even seem aware of it. Or maybe you just donât care.
Your fingers move fast anyway â pouring, counting, sliding drinks across the bar without hesitation. Not a single wasted motion as you laugh at something one of your colleagues whispers in your ear.
Then his eyes glance at your arm when you reach up for a wine glass. The small tattoo sits on the inside of your forearm â simple, dark ink. Not decorative in the way people show off. More like something chosen for yourself, placed somewhere only visible when you move a certain way.
An outline of a tiny daffodil that disappears again when your sleeve falls back.
Then your face. Makeup that was probably neat earlier in the day, now slightly worn down at the edges. A faint smudge near your eye, like youâve wiped sweat or pushed hair away too many times without thinking.
Jaeminâs mouth tilts before he realises it. Why are you always so nice to look at yet so difficult to approach?
âJaem, this roundâs on you, right?â Haechan says beside him.
âYeah,â He answers carelessly, already stepping forward.
He slips into a free space at the bar before anyone else can, close enough that he doesnât need to raise his voice.
You still donât look up.
âHey,â He tries, already feeling like an idiot.
You glance up. Thereâs a flicker of recognition and his mind already thinks youâve tagged him as someone familiar from somewhere mildly annoying. Then your expression resets into something neutral.Â
âHi,â You greet, with a nod and something could resemble a smile if you didnât look devastatingly bored. âWhat can I get you?â
Jaemin leans lightly on the bar. âFour beers, please.â
âWhat kind?â Youâre already reaching for a pint glass.
He watches your hands again. âWhateverâs quick.â
You nod once, without further comment. Turn. Pour. Move. And Jaemin instantly thinks, damn, your manager must love you.
Behind him, Jeno laughs at something Haechan says. But Jaemin couldnât be less curious. Heâs still too busy watching you.
The full drinks land in front of him one after the other before he has enough time to admire you as much as he'd like.
âCash or card?â You ask, reaching for the card machine on autopilot, like you already know his response.
âCard,â He says, tapping it. And before he can speak again or thank you, youâve already migrated to the next customer, the dismissal so disappointingly quick it feels like a punch in the gut.
You work fast. Faster than most people in a place like this could reasonably manage. But thereâs no flourish to it. Just survival through repetition. Someone calls your name and you respond immediately without looking away from what youâre doing, no distraction allowed to get in your way. And Jaemin internally pictures his compromised attention span laughing at him.
When you come back down the bar, he does something he never really had the intention of doing doing with you. He acts on instinct.
âY/N, right?â He speaks a little too loud, miscalculating the decibels of the music, and immediately wishes he could ascend out of his body and slap himself. Maybe you'll do it for him instead.
You look at him a fraction of a second longer than before. Thereâs a faint twitch of your eyebrow, fatigue pressing closer to irritation, but still contained under professionalism. âSomething wrong with your drinks?â
âYouâre Jisungâs friend?â He doesnât think heâs ever sounded this lame before.
Your eyes narrow slightly as you study him again. ââŠyeah,â you say. âWhy?â
âIâve seen you with him,â Jaemin says, his own voice irritating him already. âAround campus.â
Great, now he sounds like a stalker.
Something in your expression adjusts - subtle recalibration. Like youâre placing him properly now instead of just acknowledging him.
âRight,â You reaffirm. âYouâreâŠ?â
Do you really not remember him? He's introduced himself to you at least three times in the last few months. You've been to his house parties for crying out loud. And you still can't remember his name?
âJaemin.â He smiles a little, hoping he looks a lot calmer than he feels. âI live with Ji.â
A small breath leaves you. Almost a laugh, but you donât give it all the way.
âOkay,â You nod, like that settles it and you're in a rush to move on. âAnything else?â
There it is. The politeness. So fake that he wonders what youâd sound like if you screamed at him in anger.
Jaemin leans slightly against the bar, gaze drifting briefly past you and lands on the sign behind you heâs never seen before.
HELP WANTED
He nods toward it. âDoes that still stand?â
You follow his gaze, then look back at him like you already know where this is going. âThat I know of, yes.â
âAnd youâre hiring just anyone?â
You offer an indifferent shrug. âIf theyâre competent.â
âSlightly low bar, no?â
You huff a dismissive laugh, eyes rolling a little. âYouâd be surprised.â
He studies you for a second longer. Your exhaustion is so evident, yet youâre holding this whole place together without letting it touch you more than necessary.
âYou think I could apply?â A genuine question. The man studies biology, doesnât know anything about bar tending.
âHonestly?â You say carefully, still polite, but focused on writing something on a small notepad in front of you. âGo for it, but youâd probably quit after one shift if youâve never worked at a student bar before.â
Jaemin tilts his head slightly. Youâre not judging him. You just donât care whether youâre right or wrong. He still feels like you indirectly called him inexperienced, though.
âAlright,â he says. âSay I did apply.â
âYouâd need to talk to the manager.â Again, so disinterested.
âAny warnings?â
You blink at him once. âAbout what?â
He gestures vaguely around him. âThe job?â
You halt for just a second, then get back to pouring. âNo, not really.â Then you shake your head. âYou get what you see.â
And youâve already moved to the other side of the bar, shouting about something he canât quite decipher over the music. Maybe a missing cocktail pitcher?
A quiet laugh of disbelief slips out before he mumbles to himself. âFair enough.â
âWell done.â Haechan drags him out of his thoughts as he grabs two of the four drinks. âYou actually spoke to her and didnât faint.â
âI was close.â Jaemin picks up the remaining two drinks and hesitantly retreats with a last glance towards you. He scans the crowd to find Jeno and his girlfriend have already secured a table in the furthest corner of the crowded space. Too far from the bar. At least for his liking.
Itâs colder than you expected, the kind that settles in slowly, creeping through your sleeves, but at least itâs quiet out here and no oneâs calling your name, no oneâs waiting for you to pour their drink or fix something that isnât your fault.
You lean back against the wall, cigarette between your fingers, letting your head rest for a second as you exhale. The noise from inside is muffled now, like itâs happening somewhere far away instead of just behind the door that you barely register opening again.
âOh, hi.â
You glance over. Ugh.
You recognise him immediately â the one who always stares at you. The one you always actively ignore. Tonight you even went so far as pretending not to remember his name. Again. The one and only campus legend, Na Jaemin.
He looks very well put together tonight. Annoyingly so. Hoodie thatâs a little too oversized, hair that looks effortless in a way that definitely isnât, and a smile that comes too easily to be accidental. His teeth are ridiculously perfect.
You look at him for a second, then away again. Youâre too tired to cover up the disinterest now. âHi.â
He doesnât take the hint.
âYou look different out here,â He observes you skeptically.
You take a drag before answering, letting the smoke sit in your lungs for a second longer than necessary. âLess busy.â
He huffs a quiet laugh, even though you made no joke. Is he stupid?
âYou shouldnât smoke,â He nods towards your hand. You can tell heâs in the mood to tease.
You exhale slowly, turning your head just enough. âYou shouldnât drink. I still served you.â
âYouâre not very friendly when youâre off.â
You glance at him briefly. âWeâre not friends.â
Thereâs a glitch behind his eyes, as if he wasnât expecting that to be the end of it. What an odd little fella.
âWe could beââ
âDonât even,â You cut in, immediately. âIâm already bored of this.â
He blinks once in shock, then lets out a very loud, almost crazy laugh. Itâs drawn out on purpose. Like heâs testing how serious you are and deciding not to be.
âIâm sorry.â He pretends to be serious again. âThat was funny.â
You eye him carefully this time. âAre you, like, super bored, orâŠ?â
âNo, not at all.â He responds with a shrug. âDo I need to be bored to talk to you?â
You tilt your head slightly. âNo offence, Iâm really not interested.â
That doesn't seem to do much other than pause him for maybe half a second. Then he nods like heâs processing a new problem.
âOkay,â he says slowly. âSoâŠâ
You straighten slightly, cigarette between your fingers, watching him. This is already getting old. âSo I wouldnât bother if I were you.â
He frowns a little. âWouldnât bother doing what?â
âFlirting, or whatever this qualifies as.â
âHow do you know Iâm flirting?â
Itâs your turn to laugh this time. âThe brick wall knows too. Youâre not slick.â
His pout is too cute for a man his age. âSo itâs not working then?â
Before you can even think of a response, a voice cuts in from behind him, saving you.
âJaemin, hurry up. Iâm going home.â His friend â half-annoyed, half-laughing â clearly has been watching this whole thing and canât be bothered to intervene properly.
Jaemin turns slightly but doesnât move away immediately.
âGive me a sec,â He calls back.
âCan he have your number?â His friend is looking at you now. âHeâs actually not as annoying as he comes across and I would quite like to go cuddle my girlfriend.â
Jaemin glances back at you again in disbelief, like heâs weighing too many options. âIgnore him.â
You snort a laugh, slightly entertained by their weird dynamic. âSo you donât want my number.â
âOh, I do.â He steps back a little, finally starting to retract. âBut you wonât give it to me.â
You donât react.
He nods to himself like heâs collected enough data. âSee? Iâm not that deluded.â Then, just before he fully turns away, he speaks again with a smile too pleased for someone who just got rejected. âMaybe Iâll try some other time.â
You struggle not to smile back. Then you look back at his friend, whoâs still watching the strange interaction with fascination written all over his face.
âI wouldnât,â You say flatly, internally battling whether you mean it or not. Would you want him to try again? He probably wonât anyway. He seems like the type to move on from these kinds of situations a little too easily. Maybe thatâs good.
âOkay, I wonât then.â He just laughs again as he finally walks off. And annoyingly, it doesnât sound like heâs serious at all.
âOh, shitââ Jaemin whispers mid thrust, forcing his brain to tune out Noraâs loud moans. He focuses on his pending climax instead. So close. Right fucking there.
âJaem, baby, cum for me.â She slurs, sounding too fucked out. Is she faking it? Jaemin swears he barely put any effort in making her cum tonight. Heâs too distracted.
He buries his face in her neck, eyes clenching shut, ears blocking out her sounds, hips delivering sharp thrusts, still chasing a high that seems unreachable. The way she strokes his hair â gentle, sweet â seems to be working, and he thanks the universe that his dick finally gives up being stubborn. Not too long after, he finally releases in the condom with a defeated sigh.
Itâs when Noraâs in the bathroom and heâs managed to regulate his breathing, that Jaemin finds himself in deep thought.
It wasnât really her voice, or touch that pushed him over the edge, but his filthy imagination. Because for the first time in forever, Jaemin thought of someone else when he reached his high. His mind didnât go blank. Noraâs naked body got replaced by the scandalous thought of you his brain chose to produce. You being in her spot. Under him, moaning a lot gentler than her, not faking anything, writhing in overstimulation but also begging him for more.
And for the first time in a long while, shame creeps in.
Not because heâs disrespected Nora. What she doesnât know wonât hurt her. But because he barely knows you. Yet somehow, youâve managed to lodge yourself in his head so deeply that his brain fills in the blanks without permission. Is this normal? Or is his conscience finally deciding to torture him?
Youâre younger than him, he knows that much. If youâre Jisungâs age, youâre definitely two years below, which makes you a second-year student. And what business does he have entertaining thoughts about a girl at such a different stage of life?
Two years isnât much. Not really. But it feels like more when he remembers who he was at that age - confused, broke, permanently overwhelmed. And he still is all of those things, but not for much longer hopefully. Youâre probably still navigating uni life like a tourist in foreign land, meanwhile, heâs supposed to graduate in less than five months. To get out in the real world and get one of those big job things that everyone strives for. And Jaeminâs sure that if you were older than him, he wouldnât even hesitate. But youâre not. And for some reason he cares.
Though, he will admit you did seem to have your wits about you. You have a job. You probably pay your own bills. You're responsible in ways he definitely isn't.
Maybe he really should apply for that vacancy. He'd been joking earlier, but now heâs seriously considering it. Especially after checking the remaining balance in his bank account.
âYou staying?â Noraâs voice jolts him out of his spiral.
âNah.â He offers an apologetic smile. âGot class early tomorrow.â
âYikes.â She settles under the covers with a tired pout. âYou seemed a little out of it tonight.â
Women and their weird intuition.
âSorry.â He rubs the back of his neck. âJust tired, I think.â
She laughs softly. Like sheâs caught the lie. She probably has. âDonât worry, Iâm not judging.â
Jaemin smirks knowingly, staring up at the ceiling. âYouâre always judging.â
âTrue.â The answer comes so quickly it pulls a smile from him.
A second later sheâs yawning into her pillow, and Jaemin takes it as his cue to get out of her space.
âHeard you met Jaemin hyung the other night.â Jisungâs side eyes you as you two walk out of your final class of the day. The expression on his face betrays something you canât quite pinpoint, and you donât quite like that curiosity blooms in your mind.
âYeah, heâs weird.â You opt for indifference.
Jisung chuckles at your disapproving tone. âNice guy, though.â
âAwfully flirty.â
Another short laugh. âYeah, heâs had a thing for you since last year, I think.â
You completely ignore your friendâs useless statement. âWasnât there a rumour going around about him?â
You remember laughing when you heard about it, but then when you rethought the situation, you felt bad for the girl.
âYou meanââ
âThe piss in the eye thing.â You lower your voice as you exit the main building, and you catch Jisungâs lips purse in thought.
âI thinkâŠâ His expression changes into a concerned one. âThe girl he was seeing at the time asked him to try it and then when he ended things, she kind of made the whole eye thing up.â
âReally?â Your head shoots up. âSo he didnât piss on her?â
You already know the answer when Jisung slightly cringes.
âWell, that partâs true.â He clearly struggles to not laugh at his friendâs antics. âHe just didnât get her eye.â
âShit,â You raise your eyebrows in wonderment. âSome people really struggle with rejection I guess.â
âYeah, well, in this caseââ Jisung pauses, like his next revelation could ruin Jaeminâs career. âHe kind of, unknowingly, slept with one of her friends and then ghosted her.â
âUgh, what a prick.â You cringe, all of a sudden supportive of the girlâs pettiness. âAnd youâre friends with this person?â
âI mean, heâs nice to me.â Jisung shrugs, causing you to smile at the fondness he emits. You sometimes wonder why Jisung is still single. Heâs most likely the nicest guy friend you have, always sweet, always polite, always warm. A girlâs dream. Not necessarily yours. But most girls would certainly kill for a boyfriend like him.
âYouâre too sweet for your own good Ji.â
âOh, câmon, itâs not like you havenât fucked people over.â He gives you pointed look, his hand instinctively wrapping around your elbow to halt you from crossing the street as the red light is still on for pedestrians. âYouâve made guys like Jaemin cry in the past.â
Itâs your turn to shrug. âI'm just doing god's work.â
âSpeaking of men,â Jisung tugs at your sleeve as he starts walking, practically dragging you with him, and you always have to hold back a laugh at the silly little habit. âHowâs things with Chenle?â
âMmm, not sure.â You pout in contemplation about the odd situation youâve recently found yourself in. âHeâs hella cute, donât get me wrong, great sex too, but I think thatâs just it.â
âThatâs not necessarily bad, no?â
âNo, itâs ideal, but I think he might be in love.â
âEhâ?â
âChill, not with me.â You reassure Jisung quickly before he jumps to conclusions. âI have a feeling heâs hung up on someone else.â
âOof.â Jisung sympathises with a scrunch of his nose.
âYeah, as amazing as dick can be, it feels a bit weird when the other person can barely look at you, you know?â
The whole ordeal with Chenle started randomly and predictably where most similar situations start. A party. A lot of alcohol involved. A game of truth or dare. A kiss. And then suddenly youâre bent over a bathroom sink getting your back blown out.
He gave you exactly what you were looking for. A distraction. And so you both kept going back. For almost a year now. But the last few months, youâve sensed the change in him. The hesitation before a kiss. The pauses between touches. The way his eyes seem focused somewhere else. You're not hurt by it. The sex is still good. But being cast in the role of someone else's stand-in isn't exactly appealing.
The problem is that ending things with Chenle would mean giving up convenient sex. Which, unfortunately, has become one of the highlights of your increasingly exhausting weeks. And it would likely mean going back to your old pink wand-shaped friend. Not the worst thing in the world, but also not as good as the real deal.
What really is the worst thing in the world is the fact that when you try to think of alternatives, your brain keeps landing on the same person. A person whose lifestyle, reputation, and entire approach to life go against everything you usually stand for.
Yet, you canât help but wonder.
What is it about Na Jaemin that makes people go so feral? Apart from his ridiculously gorgeous face. And hair. And hands. And arms. Okay, yes, heâs insanely attractive. But attractive enough to get away with anything?
Even after that ridiculous rumour started going around, he seemed completely untouched by it, and so did everyone around him. He still drifted through parties like he owned them, collecting attention without even appearing to try, somehow maintaining his âpussy magnetâ status like nothing could ever tarnish it.
His erratic behaviour, paired with the endless stream of people drawn to him, had always felt like a mystery you werenât remotely interested in solving. Until the other night.
One thing youâre sure of is that if his dick game is as weak as his flirting skills, then what a shame.
âWell, hello partner.â The familiar but grating voice penetrates your distracted brain as youâre too busy looking in your bag for your work t-shirt.
âHuh?â
And there he is again, outside your workplace like he belongs. Perfect set of pearly whites on full display, blinding you. He looks like a more of a normal person compared to the other night. Like heâs just heading home after a long day of lectures, his backpack hanging off one shoulder.
Annoying.
âWe must stop meeting like this.â He attempts to joke, letting the door of the main entrance slam shut behind him.
âI work here.â You point out, as though he doesnât already know. âWhy are you here? Weâre not even open yet.â
âWell, as of tomorrow, I work here too.â He says a little too chirpily, like he didnât just drop a bomb on you.
âUmm,â You suspect you must look like a crazy person judging from his amused expression. âNo you donât.â
âIâm afraid I do.â He nods with the cockiest grin sporting his face.
âHowââ
âJust had my interview with Johnny.â He points a thumb behind him. âSo, I guess Iâllââ
âDo you even have bar experience?â You interrupt him a little too abruptly, the tone of your voice carries a surprise to both of you. A little too cold even for you.
His smirk doesnât falter. âWe all start from somewhere.â
âYeah, in your case, rock bottom.â You donât want to offend him. Donât want to give him more of your energy to cling on to. Yet, itâs so difficult not to.
He dares to let a stupid laugh slip. âIâm just so lucky to have you as a mentor then.â
âI ainât teaching you shit.â You scoff, tightening your grip on your bag strap. The nerve of this man.
âWell, I gotta learn somehow.â He pouts.
Fake.
âYouâre welcome to sit in a corner and watch then.â You offer him a sweet smile with absolutely no warmth behind it before moving past him and towards the door. Another long-ass shift awaits.
You can still feel his eyes on you when he speaks again. âIâll happily watch you. Just not sure Iâll learn much.â
Your hand stills on the handle.
The grin threatening your mouth is immediate as you catch the meaning tucked beneath his words. You refuse to give him the satisfaction of turning around. Instead, you push through the door and disappear inside.
Even then, you can still feel his gaze burning between your shoulder blades.
Jaemin hates working with you. Not because youâre bossy. Not because youâre too fast. Not because you roll your eyes at him every time he makes a mistake. Not because you called him an imbecile earlier. Not because your jaw tenses whenever he flirts with a customer.
But because none of those things make him think about you less. Jaemin leaves every shift either irritated or turned on and definitely a little more obsessed with you.
His eyes threaten to roll to the back of his head each time you insult him. Itâs like he lives to frustrate you nowadays. And he swears he almost let a moan slip when you grabbed him by the back of his collar yesterday as he was pouring what turned out to be a pint of Guinness like he would pour every other pint of lager. You have to let it sit half-way through apparently. Or whatever it was you snarled at him.
After a week of being shouted at and having enjoyed every single second of it, heâs finally starting to get the hang of things. And as much as heâs enjoyed torturing you, he's realised that he needs to lock in if he wants to keep his job. The manager seemed to trust your judgment, so he couldnât really risk it for longer.
He liked the tiny comment of praise you gave him when he successfully closed the till at the end of the shift. But as much as the little ânice oneâ you muttered excited him, nothing comes close to âI could so easily slap you right nowâ.
Yes, Jaemin has long accepted that he might be sick in the head. But he just canât help it when it comes to you and your short temper.
What gets him the most, though, what really makes him weak in the knees, and rewires his brain every single time, is how you shift from mean to kind and back to mean in a matter of seconds. One moment youâre looking at him with eyes that scream murder and the next youâre smiling at a customer and offering water when they seem too intoxicated.
Itâs almost three am when the last few customers slip out tonight. Youâre already on your phone, your back pressed against the bar as you quickly type a response to something that made you almost smile.
âBoyfriend?â He tries, already knowing the answer, but needing to inspect further.
You surprise him by actually giving a somewhat satisfactory answer. âNot really, no.â
He nods, pretending to stay focused on the cleaning task in front of him. âGirlfriend then?â
He canât help but giggle at the way you roll your eyes but still smirk at his nosy but teasing tone.
Jaemin is very much aware of your current situation. Turns out drunk little Jisung canât keep a secret for the life of him. But even if it werenât for his younger housemate, Jaemin has eyes. Heâs seen you at parties, sneaking around with only one guy. A guy he only knows through other friends and Haechanâs girlfriend. He remembers sharing a vape with him once outside a club.
Chenle is someone he could only describe as likeable. He hasnât ever heard a single bad thing about the guy. Always cracking jokes and hosting the best parties out of everyone in the circle of Jaemin's acquaintances. And it goes without saying that heâs insanely hot. As straight as Jaemin is, he can appreciate an attractive man. The younger boyâs cheekbones and jawline could slice him in half. So he canât really blame you.
But he can and he will be secretly jealous.
Especially when his brain keeps taking him back to that night he walked out in the back garden of some strangerâs house for a piss, just because the bathroom was otherwise occupied. He wishes he had walked away the second he realised what was actually happening, but in the midst of his drunken state, Jaemin stalled. And he watched. For longer than he should have.
Because there you were, backed against a concealed corner, just a few feet away from the spot he chose to empty his full bladder, which was quickly forgotten the second he laid eyes on the sight in front of him. Your bent knee resting on Chenleâs hip, uncovered thigh concealing whatever the boyâs hand was doing between your legs.
It was when you broke the kiss with a low whine that Jaemin realised he needed to leave. He still didnât, though. Not for a few seconds longer. Not until he heard you brokenly whisper âThink Iâm gonna cumâ. Thatâs when he bolted. Because it got too real. And as much as Jaemin hates to admit it, he really, truly, genuinely, passionately despised the way you sounded so sweet with another boy. A boy that wasn't him. A boy that couldn't possibly think about you as much as Jaemin does.
And when he got back home that night, Jaemin, shamefully, had the most intense jerking off experience ever. What was shameful about it wasnât just the filthy imagery of you that occupied his sick little mind â mostly scenarios where youâd be on your knees for him â but how your name so easily rolled off his tongue when his load landed on the shower floor. And he couldnât even blame his imagination anymore. Just his memory.
âHey, partner.â Jaeminâs now familiar greeting makes you look up from the drink youâre pouring yourself. Oddly, itâs not as aggravating now youâre not surrounded by kegs of beer and screaming customers.
âHey, loser.â You greet back like you always do, this time a little more lightheartedly. Blame it on the alcohol coursing through your bloodstream. âDonât tell me youâre here to ruin another one of my evenings with your nagging.â
His expected laugh rings through the loud music. Heâs already leaning against the counter next to you as you mix cheap vodka with lemonade. âNah, just spotted you and thought Iâd say hi. Is that allowed?â
You glance over at him, pretending to think about your answer as you briefly take a sip to taste test the drink. âI suppose it is at this point.â
You donât miss his gaze taking in your appearance when you turn around to lean your hip against the counter so you can properly look at him.
He hesitates a little before speaking again, his hand nervously swirling the content of his cup. âAnd what point is that?â
âHmm,â You hold back a grin, enjoying his squirming a little too much. âIâm not sure yet. What point would you want it to be?â
You can practically see the wheels turning in his head before his signature grin appears. âSomething tells me friendship point would be a no-no from your side.â
You canât contain it this time. A chuckle lets loose, making you look away, his wide-eyed reaction a little too overwhelming for you and so is the entirety of his handsome face.
âYeah, I wouldnât go that far.â You say disapprovingly, and his exaggerated groan is less annoying than other nights.
He pauses to take a look at you, expression more serious than youâre used to, and it makes you feel almost shy. Almost.
âWho you here with then?â He breaks the silence with what could pass as the most casual question, but you can sense the hidden meaning behind it.
âMy flatmate, Winter.â You search through the crowd that occupies the living room area and quickly spot her with Ningning and Chenle. âThe blondie over there.â
âAh,â Recognition appears on his features. âYou close with Ning and Chenle too?â
âMm.â You take a sip of your drink as you do your best to show nonchalance. âNot really.â
âPff.â The scoff is difficult to ignore. He knows youâre lying. Of course he does.
âWhat?â You ask as innocently as possible.
âNothing, just didnât take you for a liar.â He challenges with a smirk, his fingers getting your attention as they tap on the counter surface.
âHow am I a liar?â You mirror the tilt of his head with your own.
âI live with Jisung, Y/N.â He steps closer, voice lowering just a tad. âYou probably know things about me you shouldnât know.â
He's not wrong there. You might not be at a friendship point, but thereâs definitely no secrets between you two with Jisung as a mutual friend. That fact doesnât seem to bother you as much as it should, though. Not when all you can really focus on in the moment are Jaeminâs unfairly long eyelashes and his incredibly moisturised lips.
How can a man be this pretty?
âDo you think youâd take off if you blinked too fast?â Your unexpected question seems to baffle him, and to your amusement he expresses his confusion by blinking a little faster than normal.
âOh my god⊠youâre drunk!â He brings a hand to his mouth, gasping dramatically.
You poke him in the chest, making him stumble back a little. âAnd youâre a pretty little girl.â
A shocked laugh erupts from him and before he can speak another word, youâre clumsily walking away. Fuck Na Jaemin and his stupidly flawless face.
Itâs not too long after when youâre dragging Chenle upstairs, in need of a distraction, which proves to be impossible when Jaeminâs gaze finds yours through the crowd like itâs an instinct. You hold eye contact longer than necessary. Longer than youâd normally allow yourself.
You take pride in being a self-aware person. You know your limits and you can tell when youâve crossed them. This is a case of the latter. Because looking into Na Jaeminâs eyes like youâre passing a silent invite while Chenleâs hand is in yours is definitely something that goes beyond your moral boundaries.
And you know what youâre doing when you leave the door ajar behind you as you crash your mouth into Chenleâs. And you definitely know what youâre doing when instead of the bed, you choose to walk back into the desk, where anyone walking past the room could take a peek at. The whole time, youâre perfectly aware of your actions and the repercussions they entail, but youâre also aware of Jaeminâs eyes on you when you bury your face in Chenleâs shoulder.
âFuck, Y/N.â Chenle moans against your neck as he keeps thrusting into you. Hard. His hands harshly squeeze your ass, slightly lifting you off the desk, bouncing you just right, nudging the perfect spot inside you.
You canât help but let your head roll back for a few seconds, allowing the pleasure to consume you. And just when youâre teetering close to the edge of your orgasm, you allow yourself to steal a glance at the door, the little crack allowing you to see the shadow of someone standing there.
You know itâs him.
You know he can see everything clearly, and that thought alone is enough to send you into total bliss.
Jaemin hates you. He does. But most of all he hates himself and how down bad for you he is. He feels pathetic. And extremely turned on.
How dare you eye fuck him that hard when youâre guiding another man into a room clearly with intention of getting dicked down. And how dare you look in his direction while youâre getting railed into next week.
Do you know he's fucking insane?
You canât possibly be able to see him, but he knows you know heâs there. He knows you know heâs watching. And he knows you like it. You invited him after all. Itâs obvious youâre putting on a show for him. And even though heâs well hidden, your gaze keeps trailing towards the door. Itâs filthy. And itâs obscene. And itâs new. Nothing heâs experienced before.
Youâre right there, just a few feet away from him. Again. Getting touched by Chenle. Again. And Jaemin is watching. Again. Only this time, youâre aware of him.
By the time he let his intrigue take over his logic and decided to head upstairs, you're already moaning, thighs spread around the other boyâs waist as he pounds into you. And Jaemin will give it to Chenle. He seems like he knows what heâs doing with you. Like he knows what you need. And when your legs start shaking, Jaemin canât bring himself to look away. He feels hot and flushed, his cheeks burning with shame and arousal, but he needs to keep looking. Needs to see you fall apart, even if itâs on another manâs cock.
And he does exactly that. He watches.
Your mouth hangs open in the cutest way, your expression blissed out, eyes unfocused, hands gripping onto Chenleâs shirt while you cum with the sweetest cry of desperation heâs ever heard.
And Jaeminâs dick is so hard it hurts. But what hurts more is his pride.
Youâve humiliated him without even trying. Just tossed a bait he so willingly grabbed onto like he was deprived and starved. He gave you all the power he could ever give someone. All for you to chew him up and spit him back out. And for him to love every second of it.
The next couple of weeks are, as expected, a torture. Him trying to get the image out of his head and you putting it right back into its wedged place whenever you look at him.
âSo, how's working with Jaem going?â Jisung points his drink toward your coworker, whoâs currently belting out âShe Will Be Lovedâ to the karaoke mic in the middle of the living room, while half the people sitting down are hyping him up and the other half are booing. Except for Haechan whoâs just filming with his phone like a proud mum.
You have to hide your smile behind the rim of your cup. Otherwise, itâs too obvious who the reason behind it is. âAs well as it can go.â
âThat could either be awful or amazing.â
âIâm not telling you shit. You canât keep your mouth shut.â It comes as a joke, but you mean it.
âWhat? Iâve neverââ
âYes, you have.â You chuckle at your friendâs automatically defensive mode.
Jisung rolls his eyes in surrender. âHe asked me!â
âAnd you said âoh, yeah sheâs actually banging Chenleâ?â You take a sideways glance at him but return your attention to Jaemin and his chaotic performance.
âWell...â Jisung pauses to think. âHe already kind of knew. I think he asked Haechan as well.â
âSee? Thatâs what I mean!â You laugh with a shake of your head. âYouâve just thrown your friend under the bus.â
Jisung groans in annoyance. âAs if you donât already know heâs into you.â He points at his housemate again, whoâs now on his knees in front of Haechan finishing the song. âHeâs been following you around like a lost puppy for at least a month now. It's not rocket science.â
You refuse to react to the statement, even though itâs a fact.
âAnd you like it.â Jisung concludes with a teasing grin.
Your tongue reflexively pokes into your cheek to contain another smile.
âJust fuck him.â
âJi!â You whack him on the chest, the out-of-character and vulgar comment shocking you.
âWhat?â Jisung giggles at your reaction, arm coming up as a shield. âHeâs graduating soon, so you might as well get it out the way before itâs too late.â
âOh, do me a favour.â Your dismissal makes Jisungâs eyebrows raise in confusion. âThat man doesnât have the brain cells to pour a drink let alone graduate.â
âHeâs actually on his way to a distinction.â
âHuh?â Your neck almost cramps from snapping your head to look at Jisung only to find his irritating smirk still in place.
âSurprise, he's clever!" Jisung mocks your shocked expression with a gasp. "Spanner in the works, huh?â
You click your teeth in annoyance, returning to your dismissive tone. âNo works so no spanners.â
âLie some more. I'm enjoying this.â
You tune out Jisungâs rant about how âyou always deprive yourself of real connections because youâre scared of trusting menâ and take a meticulous look at Jaemin. Heâs now sat on the sofa while someone else has taken his place on the mic. Itâs something about the way he carefully listens to Jeno and nods that gets your thoughts rolling.
Yes, heâs undeniably handsome. Yes, he can be funny at times. Yes, his light-heartedness is what you look forward to during a rough shift sometimes. But itâs mostly his attention to detail and careful nature that intrigues you. It's how he can always read what mood youâre in without you even having to utter a single word. Itâs how his eyebrows tense and he hums along in understanding when you complain about something random or explain work stuff to him. Itâs how heâs never once fucked up at work, always completing tasks like a pro and even saving your from awkward situations with rude customers. And you realise that through the silliness and endless flirty comments, youâve overlooked qualities that make him so much more desirable than he already looks.
You realise that youâre finally seeing through the persona he very obviously has built as a wall around himself.
And maybe that explains why later in the night, when Jaemin very openly follows your every movement as you walk in the sitting area of the party, you give in.
âSit next to me?â No partner this time, no teasing lilt in his tone, just pure hope as he looks up at you from his spot on the already occupied sofa. Shiny lips parted slightly, eyes wide when you approach him, clearly taken aback by your newfound docility.
Jeno instantly slides further down to make space for you, smiling politely when you squeeze in between the two boys, and you can undoubtedly feel Jaeminâs eyes burning holes into your side profile.
âStop staring.â You mutter with a grin you fail to hold back when you feel him sink back into the cushions again, legs spreading just a little. Just enough for his thigh to press against yours, the heat radiating off his jeans easy to feel on your bare skin.
âWhat you drinking?â He inches a little closer, chin just a few centimetres off your skin as he looks over your shoulder, warm breath littering the expanse of it with goosebumps. You donât think heâs ever been this close before. Or maybe you just havenât noticed.
You lift your cup closer to his face, offering a sip but only throw him a quick sideways glance. âVodka cranberry.â
He takes it after balancing his own cup between his thighs. âYum.â He smacks his lips after a big gulp, the tip of his tongue darting out to lick a stray droplet of translucent pink liquid. âYou know, I read somewhere that if you share your drink with someone, theyâre be able find out all your secrets.â
You snort at the ridiculous and probably made-up fact. âGood thing Iâm an open book.â
âMm,â He taps his index on the rim of your cup heâs still holding. For some reason your eyes keep drifting to his fingers. âThat you are.â You can hear the mischief in his tone and you know what heâs referring to. You both do.
A thick drop of alcohol spills over the edge of your red cup when he passes it back, landing right on your bare thigh. You stare at it. He doesnât apologise. Instead, his thumb brushes away the liquid on your skin before putting it in his mouth. Like it was never there. Goosebumps form instantaneously as you watch his lips in utter shock. The fuck did he just do?
âEveryone has secrets, though.â He brings your attention back to his eyes.
âGo ahead then.â You gesture, as though offering the floor for him to take, choosing to ignore the lewd act of him sucking on the thumb that just touched you. âWhatâs one of mine?â
He narrows his eyes as he thinks carefully, taking in your already judgmental expression. âYou still listen to Paramore.â
A loud, abrupt laugh bubbles in your chest at the random guess. âThatâs no fucking secret.â
âYeah, I just uncovered it.â He gestures with both palms open, like itâs the most obvious thing in the whole world.
âYouâre a clown.â You shake your head.
âOkay okay, I have a better one.â He sits up, straightening his back a little as he turns to face you better. You instinctively mirror him, brain now blocking out the rest of the commotion in the crowded living room. âYou actually like mentoring me.â
Your eyebrows have a mind of their own as they inch closer to your hairline in surprise. âInteresting. Why dâyou think that?â
He extends his arm along the back of the couch, his skin brushing yours, the same shoulder he was breathing on. You watch his mouth form a sceptical pout, eyes more serious than ever. âBecause you enjoy bossing me around.â
âIâm just giving you what you want.â The words slip out before your brain has the chance to filter them, and you suddenly get the urge to slap a hand on your mouth. You donât.
âNice.â He nods in approval, proud smile on full blast. âAnd you havenât even had a sip of my drink.â
âItâs no secret.â
âWhat?â He challenges. You hesitate. He presses. âSay it.â
His expressions are too tempting to finish the conversation here. âThat you like being told what to do.â
He hums ponderingly. âSounds to me like weâreââ
âA match made in heaven?â You humour him for what feels like the first time ever, imitating what he wouldâve sounded like in your brain, whiny and irritating.
He smiles wide, pearly whites blinding you, fingers curling inwards against your shoulder, knuckles lightly tickling you. âDidnât know you were cute like that.â
You tut your tongue at him, eyes rolling in feigned annoyance, all just to let him know that his flirty remarks still fail to affect you. Which has been a big fat lie since that first night you officially met him.
Next time you see Jaemin is not at work, but at the science building cafeteria. Chenle is going on about how happy he is that youâre not awkward with him now that youâve stopped fucking around and how much he appreciates you as a friend. You think itâs funny that heâs so apologetic considering youâre the one who actually initiated the conversation last week. You thought it was about time. Especially after you found him drunk in a bathtub, crying his eyes out. He has a weird habit of getting in bathtubs when heâs at parties, but you know by now itâs just his way of escaping overwhelming crowds. And so you just nod away when he keeps yapping about how grateful he is that youâre so cool and respect his space.
Youâve just devoured a spoonful of rice when you hear it.
âYo yo, partner!â You instantly know who it is, but you still raise your head from your plate, and you wonder if you look like a caricature with your cheeks protruding like youâve been starved for days. Jaemin stands over you, his dumb smile intact like itâs never left since that party. It always makes you wonder what heâs like when heâs serious or upset about something. Is he the vocal or silent treatment type? Is he chill or intense? Or is he the kind that would shut you up and put you in your place? Nevermind.
âOh lord, you got enough rice there?â He mocks, eyes widening to humour you. âYou look like Patrick with a crabby patty.â
He somehow looks even brighter in daylight. Maybe itâs the pink jumper. Maybe itâs his unusually fluffy hair. Or maybe itâs the way he rocks back and forth on his heels like a child desperate for attention. What a sight.
You just blink.
Chenle folds in half laughing and points at you while you force yourself to chew.
âWell, take your time. I donât really need you to speak.â Jaemin hands you a flyer. âI was gonna invite you to this photography exhibition. Youâre both welcome.â
Both? Heâs potentially seen the two of you going at it on a desk, blatantly flirted with you days after, and now is inviting you both to his photography exhibition. Like none of that is remotely weird.
Something stirs in you as you struggle to chew.
Jaemin has made it abundantly clear heâd be in your pants the second you gave him the green light. Yet heâs never been jealous. Never possessive. Never made things uncomfortable. If anything, his interest in you, day by day, seems to be inching closer to something that could only be described as genuine. Not just sexual. Not just competitive.
And your stomach feels weird. Because you like that.
Chenle smiles at the older boy while you still struggle to swallow down your food. âI thought you studied biomed?â
âHobbies are a thing.â Jaemin drags the words teasingly, with no malice detected in his voice.
âWeâll be there.â Chenle agrees cheerfully without sparing you a glance.
âUmmââ
âNice one!â Jaemin claps his hands and walks away before you can get a coherent word out.
âSo, I see Iâve been replaced in no time.â Chenle attempts to joke but of course it doesnât land. Like most of his jokes. Instead, it earns him a cube of mango in the face.
Itâs not that you donât want to go. You certainly do. Youâre curious. But youâre also a tiny bit terrified. Because that invite, as ridiculously casual as it was made out to be, felt somewhat intimate.
And what has put âa spanner in the worksâ, like your dear friend Jisung said the other night, isnât that Jaemin has a creative hobby. Or that heâs intelligent. Or that he doesnât mind being the butt of every joke while half the university spreads ridiculous rumours about him.
Itâs how interesting of a person heâs turning out to be. Not just smooth. Not just confident. But... charismatic.
And thatâs something you would describe as an obstacle. Something disturbing.
Because it renders your efforts to ignore his advances useless.
You could never really wrap your head around the fact that some women so easily go about their day while on their period. Meanwhile, youâre struggling to pour drinks and take card payments due to the agonising pain in your lower back and what could only be described as stabbing in your uterus. The only thing you can do is sip water every five minutes to reward your body for its endurance during this fuckass shift that will probably pay for less than a pack of tampons.
Youâre putting on the best smile you can muster, but you can feel that client after client it keeps weakening, and so do your knees. The smell of alcohol isnât helping either, with your stomach already being in bits since this morning. The loud laughter coming from all the tables around keeps piercing through your aching head and youâre pretty sure your back is dripping in sweat from your fluctuating body temperature.
âYou look a little pale, you okay?â Jaemin asks quietly as he stands next to you behind the bar. Itâs a busy Friday night, people coming in and out. Some looking to stay, some just pregaming for the rest of their long night out. And youâll give it to Jaemin, heâs been a lot more productive tonight than you have. So much that youâre actually thankful youâre working with him tonight. Because he keeps taking the heat from all the demanding customers without questioning your distraction.
"Mm, just tired." You lean forward against the shelf beneath the bar, eyes shut as you try to breathe through another wave of pain. "Sorry for letting you take the lead tonight."
You hear him take another order. Something about a Sex on the Beach. A moment later comes the beep of the card machine, then warmth envelops your side - his chest. And a gentle hand settles on your lower back.
You're too exhausted to flinch.
"Seriously, do you need a minute?" he asks, genuine concern softening his voice. The heat of his palm lands exactly where it hurts. "I don't mind if you go downstairs for a bitâ"
"No, I'm good." You shake your head quickly, resentment bubbling at being seen like this. You hate it enough that you could cry. Probably the insane hormones in your body working their magic.
âY/Nââ
âIâm fine.â
âNo, youâre not.â He presses, voice firmer than before but still laced with worry. His hand stays on your back, thumb tracing absent circles that might've been soothing if you weren't in so much pain. Then he shifts slightly, shielding you from the other bartenders. "Do you need painkillers? I've got ibuprofen in my bag."
Oh. So he definitely knows youâre bleeding out of your vagina. Great. And heâs attentive. Super great.
A sharp cramp twists in your tummy, forcing you to give in. So you nod. âWill you be good on your own for a few minutes? I might need toââ
"I'll be fine." He saves you from having to admit you need the bathroom to check whether you've leaked through your tampon.
The loss of his warmth is immediate, but a second later he's slipping a blister pack into your hand. His fingers linger for the briefest moment around your wrist before he pulls away as two new customers approach the bar.
"Take your time," he says quietly.
When you finally look up, he's already behind the till, already smiling at customers. Back to his usual chirpy self, as if he didn't just make you feel strangely safe.
By the end of what feels like the longest shift in human history, you've lost count of how many times Jaemin has checked if you're okay. Now he's practically forcing you into your jacket because he refuses to let you stay and close up. The painkillers have finally kicked in, and all you want is your bed and a hot water bottle. Still, you're oddly reluctant to leave without saying something.
âThanks for earlier, by the way.â You catch Jaemin's baffled look as he tries to sort glasses onto the shelves.
âWhy are you still here?â he scolds, disapproval written all over his face.
Despite yourself, you smile. âIâm going, Iâm going.â You lift your hands in surrender, already wearing your jacket, bag hanging off one shoulder. âJust wanted to say thanks.â
He glances up briefly, shoulders lifting in a small shrug before his attention returns to the cocktail jar in his hands. âItâs what partners do, no?â
Now that you're standing on the customer side of the bar, you finally get to see what everyone else sees. A very pretty, smiley man you'd probably avoid if you were ordering.
âWell, goodnight, partner.â
His entire face lights up, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. âI like it better when you say it.â
And then he's gone, disappearing into the back before you can think of a response.
The thudding in your chest leaves no coherent thoughts behind.
Itâs not that Jaemin is in love with you. Absolutely not. How could he be?
Everything he knows about you is what heâd know about any coworker. How you sound when youâre frustrated with him. How annoyed you get when he forgets to turn the dishwasher on. How pretty you look when youâre complaining about rude customers. How you always wear black tops to work but brighter colours around campus.
Heâs also noticed that you answer his questions before he asks them. He never has to spend long looking for something behind the bar; youâre already pointing him in the right direction.
No, itâs not that heâs in love with you. Thatâs not the case at all. He just canât seem to get you out of his head.
Heâs not sure when it became a problem, but he noticed it after that night you were feeling unwell. Heâd never seen your guard so low before, never seen you look like you needed someone to take care of you.
He wanted to text you after your shift. Make sure you got home okay.
He didnât.
Partly because he chickened out, and partly because you strike him as the type to leave a man on read without a second thought. Probably because you can. Sensational women tend to get away with things like that.
Lying in bed that night, exhausted but unable to sleep, he couldn't stop thinking about comforting you.
Not sex. Not any of the filthy scenarios his brain usually specialises in.
Just you. Curled up in his arms beneath a blanket. A bouquet of flowers abandoned somewhere on the coffee table. Chocolate. Your favourite snacks. His fingers combing through your hair while you slowly drift off against his chest.
Heâs fantasised about plenty of things before. Never this. Never about making someone's day easier.
With you, thoughâŠ
He wonders if youâd ever want him in your space like that. If youâd trust him to hold you like that. And most of all, he wonders if youâve thought about it too. But, to put it plainly, no. Jaemin is far from being in love with you.
Heâs really struggling to focus tonight.
With you sitting beside him, the booth somehow feels both too small and too big. He canât decide whether he wants more space between you or none at all.
Itâs Jisungâs birthday drinks. Three weeks after his actual birthday, his younger housemate finally managed to gather everyone for a quiet night out. No clubbing. No chaos. Just a lively bar a little outside of campus.
Jisung claimed he was sick of seeing the same faces all the time, to which Jaemin had agreed. And yet here he is, distracted by your familiar face.
Youâre tucked into the corner of the booth, practically shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Jeno sits on his other side. Beyond that, Jaemin couldnât tell you who's sitting where.
Not because heâs drunk.
Because you smell too good.
Because your arm keeps brushing his whenever you reach for your drink.
And because your dress...
Fuck.
Your dress.
You always look pretty. But tonight youâre on a different level. Or maybe itâs just his silly little brain playing tricks on him. Itâs only a black dress. Nothing he hasnât seen on other girls before. Then again, Jaemin often thinks that no one can pull things off like you do.
âSo whatâs Jaemin like at work, Y/N?â Renjun chimes in curiously from the opposite side of the booth. Here we go.
âHmm.â Jaemin feels your eyes on him before you answer. âSame as now, just less rigid.â
âHey, Iâm not rigidââ
âYou are a little.â Renjun saves the day again, clearly in the mood to mock.
âHeâs probably just annoyed he canât escape my presence.â You lean over the table, as if sharing a secret with his friend.
Oh, so youâre playing that game. Cool cool cool. âWhy would I wanna escape your presence? Being all up in your business is my new hobby.â
You shoot him the deadliest side-eye. So pretty. âIs it now?â
âMhm.â He twirls his straw playfully before taking a sip of the very strong rum and coke he ordered not too long ago. âHonestly, itâs what gets me through the week.â
Your scoff says you don't believe him for a second. âYou might as well just confess your undying love at this point.â
Yeah, heâs seriously thinking about it. âThat would be highly unprofessional considering youâre, like, my boss.â
âSince when do you give a fuck about professionalism?â
âUm,â He raises a sassy finger. âIâm pretty you lack in that department more than I do.â
You blink at him in disbelief. âExcuse me?â
âI donât spit in peopleâs drinks.â
âHe made her pay for everything and kept staring at my tits!â you fire back.
Jaemin laughs at the memory of you âaccidentallyâ dribbling into some guyâs beer before handing it over with the sweetest smile imaginable.
âNah, that was actually fire, I rate it.â He praises and leans more against the table, elbows on the surface as he rests his chin on his interlinked fingers, trying really hard not to stare at your tits, clearly no better than the man who, unknowingly, had the pleasure of tasting your spit. Maybe if Jaemin openly stares, youâll spit in his drink too.
Thatâs not a normal thing to want, is it?
Renjun is already immersed in another conversation with Haechan and Jisung, and Jaemin realises that for the first time in what feels like an eon, heâs nervous. As though heâs all alone with you and doesnât know how to handle it. Though, he doesnât have to dig too deep in his brain for a topic of conversation before you strike him with a surprisingly serious question. âSo, you excited to graduate?â
He feels like he needs hours to think about the right answer. Youâve definitely put him on the spot here, and no oneâs even listening. âYes and no.â
âThatâs awfully vague.â
âItâs true.â He shrugs, eyes trained on your nails. Not chipped for the first time. He can almost picture you painting them with a serious but insanely adorable look of concentration all over your face. âIâm curious about life after uni, but also, I know this is probably the freest weâll ever feel.â
âYeah,â You take in his words, and he can almost visualise your brain processing them as you slowly nod. âI donât think Iâm cut out to have a big girl job.â
âI think youâre cut out to have anything you want.â His words donât even click in his mind but your raised eyebrow makes him catch on. Heâll admit - though, not intended that way - that sounded like a line. âIâm serious.â
The corner of your mouth twitches. A hint of a smile. âDidnât say you werenât.â
âYou didnât have to.â
âRight, you know all my secrets. I forget.â Itâs the first time you refer to that night you two spent hours talking on that dingy sofa.
âNah, not all of them.â He deflects with a pout.
You tilt your head in question, cheek now resting on your palm as you give him your full attention. Itâs strange. It should feel like a victory. Instead, it makes him feel exposed.
âNo?â You ask teasingly.
He offers a nod and leans an inch closer. Enough for his arm to press against yours. Skin on skin. A rarity with you two. âI feel like I could know a lot more.â
âAnything specific?â You surprise him by not pulling back, if anything, you just hold eye contact. Like the rest of the group doesnât even exist. âFeels like youâve got a questionnaire prepared.â
Jaemin canât fight the cheeky smile. This is his moment. It's either go big or go home. âWhy did you leave the door ajar?â
Itâs like your mouth parts in slow motion. Then shuts again. And repeat. Youâre doing a good job at not showing much emotion at the outrageously daring question.
âWhy did you come upstairs?â You predictably answer him with a question of your own, and he has to bite a grin back. Because, of course, youâd do that.
âBecause you wanted me to.â His shoulders lift in a small shrug, like itâs self-explanatory. To him it is.
âAnd youâre so good at knowing what I want.â
âIâm definitely better at it than you are.â
âOof...â You lean back and cross your arms, your dubious frown causing a turmoil in his chest. Did he go too far? âDo you even know what you want?â
âMm, to be honest...â He leans in so he can whisper without risking getting heard by anyone else. âI rarely do, butââ
âOh, do me a favour.â You roll your eyes like youâre already bored of what heâs about to say next.
He chuckles, so amused with your reactions. âYou didnât even let me finish.â
âOh, Iâm so sorry.â The regret is so clearly faux, but still endearing, nonetheless. âPlease, carry on.â
âNo.â He leans back like you did, arms crossing stubbornly, sassily jutting his bottom lip out. âI donât wanna say now.â
âOh, no, please tell me.â You say with the most stoic look, still mocking him. âHow can I go on without knowing?â
âSarcasm will get you nowhere with me.â He disapproves with a determined smile, knowing heâs successfully getting under your skin.
âI donât know,â You casually reach and take his drink out of his hand, the straw already between your thumb and index as you swirl the remaining liquid, condensation dripping on your thigh, and Jaemin gets deja vu. âI think you prefer it when Iâm mean.â
Maybe you know him better than he thinks. Or maybe youâre just more observant than you let on. You certainly get a kick out of making his dick suffocate, though. Because as Jaemin watches you wrap your glossed lips around the straw heâs just had in his mouth, he feels appallingly turned on. And he really wants to wipe the drop off your thigh exactly like he did last time. He doesnât. But he does let his deranged mind entertain the thought of using his tongue instead of his thumb. Maybe someday. Hopefully.
âOh, so now Iâve got a humiliation kink?â He pretends to be offended, watching the movement in your throat as you swallow a gulp of his drink with a disapproving scrunch of your nose.
âYou said it, not me.â You put down the drink with a disgusted cough. âFuck, did you ask for battery acid?â
He giggles at your rapid blinking. âRuined your flirty antics, did I?â
âFuck off.â You laugh along, cheeks now rosier than before with the hint of embarrassment.
âNot too much with the bullying. Iâll get a boner.â
Your eyes widen in disbelief at his crudeness, and he feels like heâs thriving. Youâre finally speechless. This is what success feels like.
âI could get you fired for that.â
Oh.
âWait, what? I was just joââ
âGod, youâre such a guy.â You shake your head with mockery, mouth now around your own straw as you sip on what looks like something disgustingly fruity. âYou talk like you ownthe biggest pair of balls on planet earth but the second a girl outdoes you, itâs all begging and wah wah wahââ
âDo you ever shut up?â He doesnât know where the outburst came from, but your confused frown goes straight to his cock, and before he can apologise-
âYou shut up.â You clap back with a childlike frown, your ankle nudging his under the table in retaliation, and Jaeminâs competitive nature comes forth.
Youâre not winning this one. He refuses to let you. So instead of nudging you back, he hooks his ankle around yours. You donât ease up - as expected - trying to shove him away with a hand on his knee, glancing around with exaggerated innocence. Your worry about being seen is almost endearing, especially because youâre clearly biting back a smile.
Which is exactly why, instead of letting you go, Jaemin catches your hand and laces his fingers through yours.
Your small, sharp inhale slips past you, unnoticed by everyone except him. Your fingers twitch against his grip, but it holds steady â anchoring you in place â and finally does what he hasnât managed to do for weeks.
It quiets you.
And Jaemin feels, for once, like heâs won.
Especially when you stop resisting and sink back into your seat, his ankle still tangled with yours, your hand now folded into his.
All you give him is a side-eye sharp enough to pass as affection. And every time he drifts into conversation, he can feel you looking at him. He pretends not to notice, answering with a squeeze of your ankle or a slow stroke of his thumb across your knuckles.
He doesnât let go when Haechan brings over birthday shots for Jisung. One hand around his glass. The other one still holding yours like itâs instinct.
At some point â quietly, maybe even without meaning to â you lean into his side.
If anyoneâs noticed, they donât say a word. Jaeminâs almost certain thatâs because of you. Because if it were anyone else, his friends wouldâve made it unbearable by now. But your presence doesnât really allow for noise like that.
Theyâve learned.
The illusion breaks the moment you lean in and whisper that you need the bathroom. And when you slip out of the booth, leaving him wedged between wall and friend, Jaemin can already feel the questions forming.
Still, the ghost of your hand in his makes it worth it.
Youâre leaning against a lamppost waiting for your uber when Jaemin emerges from inside the bar. You really canât escape this man. Not that youâre trying that hard anyway.
âIâd ask where âWigglesâ came from but not so sure I wanna know.â
He takes his place in front of you, looking as effortless and unbothered as he always does. âYouâre always trying to wiggle away from me.â He discloses with a performative pout, lips shining more than before. He mustâve applied lip balm after you exited.
âRight. And you wonât let me.â You squint your eyes as though emphasising a complaint. Youâre sure he can see right through it anyway.
âI would hate to deprive you of the joy of my presence.â He flashes you a bunny-like smile with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows. âYou cold?â He asks with a sniffle as he catches the little shiver that cuts through you.
âNah, Iâm good.â You check your phone again. âMy uberâs here in two mins anyway.â
He nods, but doesnât move to head back inside, eyes remaining fixed on you. âDid you have fun?â
You want to tease, make a comment about his earlier antics, but his question sounds genuine, and you donât think you'd want to go into that right now anyway. Not when thereâs a time limit. âI did, yeah. You?â
âOh, I had the most fun ever.â He drags the word, clearly not able to hold a serious conversation for more than four seconds.
âAt least you keep yourself entertained.â
He hums mischievously, taking a step closer. The shadows from the streetlight and the bar lights make one side of his face glow in yellow and pink. âYou never answered my question, you know.â
Heâs standing close enough that you have to tilt your head slightly to look at him properly. âWhich one?â
Before he can answer, a car engine roars, ending your conversation prematurely.
Heâs grinning, but he almost looks disappointed, like an opportunity was snatched right out of his hands. âIâll tell you another time.â
Your uber pulls up, and you nod at the driver with a smile, letting him know heâs got the right person. Before you can lift a hand, Jaeminâs opening the door to the backseat for you.
âBed time for you, wiggles.â He steps aside to make space for you, hand still on the car door when you turn to look at him before getting in. âIâll tell Sung you stayed until late.â He reassures, indicating that the birthday boy is at a level of intoxication that most likely will compromise his memory.
For a reason unbeknownst to you, thereâs a feeling of hesitation sitting in your chest. Youâre reluctant to leave. Not just because youâve had such a fun night. Itâs the boy in front of you that poses an obstacle, as always. Itâs how heâs made you feel all night. Itâs how heâs looking at you now. Itâs how heâs also still glued to the ground, not making an effort to end the night either.
âMake sure he drinks some water.â You opt to say, and Jaeminâs twitching mouth catches your attention. You feel like he can read your unease through your body language. Like he can read your mind. âRight, well, goodââ
Itâs funny how youâve always thought you had the upper hand in most situations in life. Jaemin was definitely one of those situations. Until now. Until he shut you up for the second time in one night. Only this time, with his mouth on yours. It's not searing, nor is it the kind of kiss that knocks the air out of your lungs. To your surprise, itâs soft. His lips are slow against yours, moving lazily, like heâs got all the time in the world, and you surprise yourself by finally giving in to the desire youâve suppressed for what seems like too long. Your hand finds itself on his nape, pulling him in with more determination, but with a delicate swipe of his tongue across your bottom lip, heâs gone.
âGoodnight, partner.â The whisper feels hot against your tingly lips, his smile is something you can only describe as wicked, and with that, he squeezes your waist in a way that makes your skin prickle with goosebumps before stepping away. Heâs walking back inside before you can utter a word or offer any type of reaction to what just occurred, something you shouldâve expected by now. Because itâs Jaemin. And Jaemin is unpredictable.
What you also know is that a kiss that short shouldnât have melted your brain the way it did.
When youâre settled in the back of the car, it finally dawns on youâ if he hadnât pulled away, you wouldnât have either. If Na Jaemin had kept kissing you, it is highly likely that you wouldâve dragged him in the backseat of this uber with you. And the faint heat between your thighs feels like a personal attack your body wasnât prepared for. But whatâs embarrassing is how willingly you would've let him take care of it. Or make more of a mess if he pleased.
Your hazy brain keeps blaming the alcohol youâve consumed, but as you sit there drowning in your overflowing thoughts, driving through campus and trying not to rub your thighs together, your thudding heart is telling you otherwise.
Since you started working with Jaemin, itâs become known to you that heâs a very punctual guy. Never late, and if not on time, then most likely early. So when you turn up for your first shift of the week on Monday â thankfully a quiet one â and Jaemin is nowhere to be found, the first thought that crosses your mind is that heâs quit. That he kissed you just because heâd had enough of your attitude and endless negativity. And now that heâs barely broken through those, heâs had enough of chasing after you.
You could ignore his absence and go about your day. Itâs the wise option. But your phone is already in your hands and your thumbs are typing away.
You: why is your friend not at work?
Sung: why do you ask
You: ??
Sung: heâs off this week
Sung: smth about a lab project thing he needs to prepare for
You: đ
Sung: he knew you were gonna ask me
You: lol
Sung: apparently youâre predictable đ
Great. So now youâre being mocked by who used to be your sweet friend Jisung. Fuck your nosiness. Or neediness in this instance. Needy for Na Jaemin? You? No. No. No. Absolutely the fuck not.
But then why are you already dreading dealing with customers without his hushed teasing comments? Or the provocative wiggling of his eyebrows when someone asks for your number in addition to their drink. Or the way he somehow appears beside you whenever a customer starts being difficult. Or how he always makes sure to add straws to a drink when you forget, even though heâs worked there for far less than you have. Or...
You suddenly come to the realisation that Jaemin has somehow become such a big part of your weeks. Like a habit you would struggle getting rid of.
And whatâs worse now is that since that night he randomly kissed you and made your brain short circuit, youâve not been able to shake the thought of him. The memory of him. The feeling of him. Of his lips on yours, of his hand in yours, of his mouth curling around the word âpartnerâ. A word you once were so indifferent to that has now acquired a completely different meaning to its actual one.
Jaemin has really become your partner at work. And generally, someone you look forward to seeing. Someone you seek but canât seem to find in your other coworkers. Or anyone you know really.
And as ridiculous as it may seem. Later in the week, three shifts in without him, you canât deny a fact that about two months ago wouldnât have even crossed your mind.
You miss Na Jaemin and the vibrant colours that come with him.
Jaeminâs never lacked initiative. Ever. Not as a kid, not as a teenager, not as an adult. Heâs always been one to go for things he wanted. Whether it be a goal, a dream, a plan, a piece of clothing, a book, a video game. Anything. And when it comes to his love life, well letâs say heâs never lacked initiative in that department either. The only thing heâs lacking there is curiosity. Or intrigue. Itâs always the same with every girl. No surprises. He knows what he wants, knows what he gets. And itâs not that heâs always been successful. Heâs had girls reject him before. Or ghost him even. But heâs only cared until heâs found his next conquest, which doesnât normally take more than a Saturday night and a few tequila shots.
Heâs always viewed himself as someone who comes across as light-hearted. Harmless even. Certainly not intimidating. He knows that for a fact. People look at him and smile openly. They welcome him in. They embrace his quirkiness. They see him as someone who holds no weight. No depth. No substance. And heâs always been fine with that.
Until recently. Until he got a taste of what itâs like to be taken seriously. To be levelled with. To be challenged.
Until you.
Until he felt curious and genuinely intrigued.
Not in a poetic âsheâs so different to everyone elseâ type of way. Because youâre not. You blend in quite well with everyone around you. Yeah, maybe youâre more on the grumpy side most of the time, but who isnât nowadays. You donât make rooms light up. Youâre not the centre of attention. Youâre just... you. Sarcastic to the bone. Short-tempered. Like most girls heâs encountered these three and a half years heâs been a student. Yet, you sometimes look at him like you fear him. Like heâs someone youâre not allowed to let in. Like heâs someone that comes with consequences.
And once again, Jaemin knows what he wants. He just doesnât know what he could get. He knows how to approach you. He knows thereâs a way in. Just isn't sure if thereâs a way out. And if there is... does that involve you and him both or just him? What if he finds his way in and then you kick him out? He knows thatâs very much a possibility.
But.
She kissed me back. He keeps repeating the words in his head. The memory of it even more. The little sound of surprise you let out. Your hand touching his neck, inviting him in.
Heâs deep in the reminiscing state when heâs jerked out abruptly, a soft hand tight around his wrist, dragging him towards god knows where. It doesnât take him longer than two seconds to recognise the back of your head. Your shoulders squeezing through the crowd of the house party, not a single glance thrown behind you, just your fingers clinging onto his skin, making him feel like heâs still daydreaming.
Heâs sure heâs not. But thereâs no realistic scenario in his head in which youâd be taking him up the stairs of a house whose owner he barely knows.
A few steps and a door later, heâs in a bedroom. A very girly one. Plushies, fairy lights, candles, heavy perfume lingering in the air, name it. The same door you dragged him through is slammed shut and locked and Jaemin is shoved into the fluffiest blanket ever, the bed creaking slightly covering the yelp that escapes his lungs. His hands reflexively catch his upper body weight, propping him up. And after what seems like the longest walk in history, youâre looking straight at him. Staring down at him, or more accurately, peering into his soul, never having looked more intimidating, and before Jaemin can question any of your actions, youâre stepping closer, eyebrow raising in what he can only assume is frustration.
Oh shit. Oh fuck. Oh fucking shitting shit. He shouldnât have kissed you.
âWhat the fuck is your game plan here?â You demand, sounding enraged, and Jaemin canât think of the last time he had such a negative reaction to a kiss. Heâs had girls tell him heâs a bad kisser, but theyâve still kissed him again after that. One girl even dodged him once, but she also pounced on him not longer than an hour later.
âI umââ He can feel his jaw twitching with nerves, refusing to slacken and give him the opportunity to give you a satisfactory response.
âYou what?â You take a step forward, and even the tiniest movement from your side feels like a threat. âWhy did you kiss me?â
Here we go. Itâs out in the open.
âDo you even remember doing it?â
âWhaâ yes.â Well, look at that. He can speak. Fucking well done, loser. âOf course, I remember.â
âOh, congrats!â You give him a condescending smile, as though congratulating him for being able to utter a total of three words. âDo you remember why?â
He knows why. âI wanted to?â
You blink twice, nostrils flaring as you inhale deeply.
âIâm sorry ifââ
âIf what? You overstepped? Confused me? Do you understand that we work together? Iâm not doing this work drama thing just so you canââ
âI confused you?â Itâs the only part that matters out of all the things you listed. âHow?â
Your features contort in bafflement, eyes narrowing slightly. âThatâs what you care about?â
âTell me.â He is close to pleading, butt moving to the edge of the bed, knees touching yours as he inches closer. âPlease.â
âThatâs not the point, Jaemin!â Your hands raise in exasperation, feet taking a step back, your warmth absent again as you turn around and walk toward the door. Heâs already accepted the fact that youâre about to exit the room and the situation, but you halt instead. And all Jaemin can see is your back. Your shoulders moving in sync with your deep breathing have him captivated. He canât look anywhere else.
âWhat is then?â The question slips without permission. Itâs only when you turn around that heâs very aware of his mouth and how itâs moved on its own accord.
If looks could kill, Jaemin would be dead now. âThe point is that you donât think. You just do things.â
âI do think.â He doesnât waste a second to defend himself. Because he knows heâs right, even if your scoff completely disregards his statement. Regardless of his calm nature, Jaeminâs jaw ticks at your reaction. And so does his brain. âI think about you an awful lot. And you know it.â
You slump against the door with a groan, face dropping into your hands, and Jaemin doesnât understand why youâre so vexed. Is it really that much of a burden that he likes you?
âWhy did you bring me here, if youâre just gonna insult me?â Heâs on his feet before he completes the sentence, voice raising slightly, making you look up in subtle surprise quickly concealed by your anger. âJust say youâre not interested in me like that andââ
âInsult you?â You scowl, throwing the word right back at him like it disgusts you. âHow am I possibly insulting you? By trying to understand what you want from me?â
âWhat about you, huh?â He steps closer, despite his effort to hold back. âWhat do you want?â
âStop deflecting.â His eyes catch the clenching of your fists at your sides, and the thought of you fighting the urge to punch him, exhilarates him. Does he really get under your skin that much?
âIâm notââ
âThe fuck you smiling at, you clown?â Is he? Oh shit. He hadnât even clocked that. âThereâs literally nothing funny about this.â The impact of your hands on his chest shocks him, shoving him back into his previous spot on the bed. Clearly you like him sat down. And itâs no secret to him that he doesnât mind looking up at you. Heâd happily get on his knees if you asked him.
He needs to control his thoughts. And if heâs going to do that, he canât have you standing above him or heâs going to lose all sense. So he moves to get up again. Futilely. Because you shove him back down before he can even try. He refuses to lose the battle. He tries again. Fails. And this time you push him so hard he ends up on his back. Which snaps his compromised patience.
âStopââ He grabs onto your wrists, jerking you forward. âFuckingââ Pulls again when you fight back. âPushing me.â He manoeuvres you, not letting you crush him, and somehow, in all the mess of whining and grabbing and yanking, heâs got you on the bed with him.
You both somehow land on your backs, in an awkward position. Half your torso is on him, the other half on the mattress, one of his arms crushed under you as opposed to the one caging you and holding you hostage despite your incessant squirming and twisting.
âStop it, you nutcase.â He canât help but laugh, not on purpose. Not to piss you off. The situation is just too amusing for him to stay as serious as you want him to. He still tightens his hold around you, forearm, pressed against your collarbones, hand gripping your shoulder until you gradually still your crazy limbs. âYou done?â
Your erratic breathing resembles his, making him feel less pathetic, and Jaemin canât ignore the intense thrumming of your heart through your back. You can probably feel his; beating wilder than it ever has. He can feel it in his ears.
Your pliancy bemuses him, but he thanks all the forces above for it, and he sighs in relief when you let him roll you onto your side so he can get his arm back. Before you can escape, even though you make no such advance, he drapes his newly functional arm over the dip of your waist, keeping you in an almost spooning position but still leaving space between your back and his front.
âWe can talk or we can keep scrapping like cats,â He speaks calmly again, and by the movement of your shoulders he knows you can hear him clearly. âUp to you.â
âYou wanna talk now? Like this?â You ask in disbelief, already starting to get on his nerves again.
âYes. Now.â He drags you closer, expecting some sort of protest when he leaves just a couple centimetres between your bodies, settling close enough for his face to bury in the citrusy combination of your perfume and shampoo. Or moisturiser. Or whatever it is that makes him feel all warm and fuzzy. Regardless,he tries his best to stay as focused as possible. âIf you donât mind, Iâll start.â
You try to turn around. âI do mind actuallyââ
âDonât care. Iâm talking.â The arm heâs got around your middle keeps you in place, and he feels your sharp exhale against the arm your head is resting on. âI feel like youâre either in denial or you just have no fucking clue whatâs going on here, which would be impossible considering youâre one of the smartest people I know.â
Silence. Good, youâre finally listening to him.
âWhich leaves us with the first option.â He lifts his head a little, the tip of his nose touching the end of your jawline. He adores the way you shrink away from him, face tucked even further into his elbow, the heat radiating off your cheek and onto his skin. âAnd that would be a shame, cause that means youâre missing out.â
He feels movement on his arm again. Maybe your lips pursing, maybe your nose scrunching, definitely something. âOn what?â
He takes that as his cue to eliminate the tiny space left between you. Chest to back now, ass to crotch, his mouth brushing the shell of your ear. âMe. And you. Sitting in a tree. Kissing.â
The tiny shiver that runs through you is something that affects him more than it should. Something so minimal yet powerful enough to go straight to his head, shaking up whatever is left in there.
âYouâre a fucking idiot.â You mutter stubbornly into his skin, a finger slowly tracing one of the veins on his extended arm, like youâre trying to distract yourself. âIâm not in denial. Iâm perfectly aware of whatever weird vibe we have going on.â
Interesting. âOkay...?â
âI just donât understand what you want from me.â Your index reaches his wrist, and when he expects you to withdraw, you trace further instead, onto the lines of his unclenched palm. It also mirrors what youâre doing beneath all of this. Trying to figure him out. So, he instinctively flexes his fingers, palm opening, giving you more space to explore.
He decides to tease. âYou want a power point presentation or...?â
âNo, I want you to tell me.â The joke clearly doesnât land. Your tone doesnât resemble the one your voice carries when you roll your eyes at him. Itâs serious, like youâve had enough of his shit.
Heâs not ready to give in just yet, though. âOkay, Iâm sensing your preferred type of love language is words of affirmation.â
âBe for real.â You lightly dig your nails into the skin of his palm in a quiet threat, which strangely, goes straight to his dick. That strips him of his playfulness, and he gives in with a sigh, forehead dropping against your shoulder.
âI donât wanna say the wrong thingâ like, I donât know what you wanna hear. Or what youâ like, what if I say something and then things get awkward andâ
âDoesnât matter what I wanna hear.â Your fingers stop tracing and you reach for his other hand this time, the one on your stomach, squeezing in something that feels like reassurance. âThereâs no right answer. You already know what you want. You just need to tell me.â
Jaemin really does need to. Heâs been dying to tell you. But now heâs actually getting the chance to, he feels slightly dizzy, like heâs experiencing an outer body experience. Like heâs looking at himself from across the room, warning himself, judging himself. He keeps hearing the words âwatch what you sayâ, because what if he scares you away? What if you laugh in his face? Or worse, what if you donât take him seriously?
âI want...â
You hum in anticipation, fingers slithering between his, your warm palm engulfing the top of his, exactly like he did to yours a few nights ago in that booth. Only this time it feels different. It feels like it matters. Thereâs nothing lighthearted about it. Just like the words heâs struggling to get out.
âI wanna know more about you.â He starts easy, buying himself time. âAnd I wanna spend time with you. Outside of work.â Your thumb playing with his distracts him from his deafening heartbeat, and he takes a second to swallow, but even thatâs too loud. âThink thatâs something we can do?â
You turn your head slightly, letting him nuzzle against your cheek. âThatâs all?â
âNo.â He wants to look at you, but he canât bring himself to open his eyes. âI want... to make you laugh more.â
âReally?â You question in a tone so genuinely adorable that almost kills him.
âMm.â He nods, eyes fluttering open when he feels you move his hand with yours a little further down.
âDo you⊠wanna take me on dates?â
âYeah.â He nods again, ears focused on your words, but eyes glued to your intertwined hands and the journey the dangerous path theyâre trailing down. âWanna be good to you.â
âGood how?â Your lips graze his cheekbone, hand adamantly still guiding his, ass pushing back into him just a tiny bit, offering enough pressure to make his eyes shut for a second. âNuh-uh.â You scold when his hand starts moving on its own, moving past the waistband of your skirt, and he immediately halts, letting you have the upper hand quite literally.
He exhales shakily, brain scrambled, struggling to put his thoughts into words. âI dunno, just⊠wanna do nice things for you and spoil you.â
âThatâs sweet.â Your nose cutely nudges his cheek, and Jaemin starts questioning his sanity. âWhat else?â
âWanna be able to kiss you whenever I want.â He admits openly, not having searched much in his brain for that one.
âHow do you wanna kiss me?â Your locked hands are now just below the hem of your mini skirt, his fingertips brushing your inner thigh, and he canât help but curl his impatient digits around the fabric. You donât scold him this time.
Jaemin could easily show you how he wants to kiss you right now. He could so easily grab your face and shove his tongue down your throat. But thatâs not what you're asking. You want words. And as much as he hates how obedient heâs become for you, itâs also turning him on. âHow do you like to be kissed?â
âHmm,â You ponder, clearly enjoying the torture youâre putting him through. âSlow. And a little wet.â Perfect. Exactly how he likes it too. Maybe more than just a little wet, but heâs sure you two can meet in the middle. He just needs to actually kiss you first. âUnless weâre fucking.â
He lets out an embarrassing moan at the obscene imagery his brain instantly creates, hips unintentionally grinding into your ass, hard cock now tucked between your cheeks, and he realises heâs got the pads of his fingers digging into the flesh of your inner thigh. So close to where he wants to be. âWhat about then?â
âMessy.â You mumble into his arm, sounding a little breathless yourself. âWant it really messy then.â
âMessyâs good. I like messy.â He finally cracks, not caring how desperate he sounds. Heâs already given up on trying to win with you. Heâs been losing ever since the first time he spoke to you. âAnything you want, Iâll fucking do it.â
Your resolve seems to be abandoned too this time, trembling hand leaving his momentarily to bunch up your skirt just enough for easier access. Just above your upper thighs, without revealing whatâs underneath. He gulps in anticipation, not making a single move before your hand is back on his, not moving as slow this time, but dragging his fingers across your skin, over to the crease of your thigh and crotch, the seam of your panties moving a tiny bit from the light friction, but not out of the way.
âShit.â He exhales in awe. âYouâre soââ
âShush.â You whine bashfully, dragging a weak laugh of disbelief out of him. He keeps his mouth shut by landing a long kiss on your shoulder. The first time heâs kissed your skin ever, and he wishes he could do it every day.
âAwh, are you turned on?â He coos, letting his middle finger drag over the fabric of your panties, feeling your wetness seeping through and coating his skin with your essence. Itâs so slippery, and sticky, and just so perfect as the light pulse of your clit makes him slightly overflow with need. Your little nod against his arm makes him smile, his teeth sinking on his bottom lip in delight. âIâll make it better, if you let me.â
âMm, please.â It sounds more like an instruction than a polite request, and your fingers wrapping tightly around his wrist make it clear. Youâre not begging him, youâre just demanding what you deserve. And heâs going to give it to you on a golden platter. Heâll give you anything you ask for. Heâll get on his knees for you if you say the word. As long as you keep letting him touch you. As long as you keep letting him please you.
âFuck, Iâm so into you.â He whispers needily, cock twitching in its confines, jeans suffocatingly tight as he tries to get some relief through subtle rolls of his hips, almost too worried heâll accidentally start rutting into you like a dog in heat. Your drenched folds separating as he slips his finger between them, as much as your panties deem possible, donât help him at all, especially when accompanied by the tiniest mewls youâre letting out each time he softly rubs over your already swollen nub. âGuide me again. Show me where you want me.â
Your fingers join his again, positioning his middle and ring fingers directly above your covered clit, panties still somehow clinging on even through all the slick thatâs gathered at the seat of them. âHere, slow at first.â You urge him to stimulate the tender spot in small circles, fingers moving above his to show him how much pressure you like. Your deep sigh gives him all the confirmation he needs that heâs touching you just right.
Jaemin watches your reactions over your shoulder. The rise and fall of your chest with each shallow breath. The glimpse of cleavage beneath your crop top. The hem of your skirt hiding your joined hands and everything they're doing underneath.
Normally, he'd want a better view. Being a visual person, he would've found an excuse to hike your skirt higher or reposition you just enough to watch exactly what he was doing to your pussy, but right now, he couldnât care less. Because somehow, this is hotter. Not seeing everything. Not having you bare beneath him. Just watching your body give him away, little by little. It doesn't compare to anything he's had before. And he has a feeling it never will.
Your hand comes into view when it leaves his, letting him take over, but it quickly takes its place around the back of his neck, fingers slowly sneaking through his hair, forcing his eyes shut at the soft feel of your touch. He keeps rubbing your clit just how you showed him, and lets you pull him close enough that his forehead brushes your temple, resting there for a moment, keeping his eyes closed and focusing on the sweet sounds he coaxes out of you and the slick that keeps accumulating beneath his fingers. He contemplates slipping his hand inside your panties to feel you properly. Heâd be lying if he said he isnât dying to. But you havenât given him that green light yet, so he adds a little more pressure on your clit instead.
âJaemââ Your hips buck into his hand, the needy reaction almost funny, but he contains his laugh with a bite on his lip and gently cups your pussy in his palm, preventing you from running away.
âRelax, Wiggles.â He says softly, landing a tiny kiss on your cheek before running his fingers over the expanse of your folds and then resuming the circular motions on your clit, a little faster than before but still gentle. Still giving you a lot less than he really wants to.
The harsh tug you give his hair makes him grunt in surprise, taking the gesture as a warning. He harshly grinds his cock into your ass in retaliation, earning a breathless laugh from you that brings a smile to his face, which spreads wider when you twist your neck to take a look at him, and he feels like itâs the first time youâre looking at him without a threatening edge in your eyes. He shuffles as close as he can, face hovering over yours as he takes in the pleasure littering your features like a canvas. He would kill to have his camera with him and snap a picture of it. His cock throbs with want as you slowly blink up at him, clearly taking him in too, and youâre not subtle when you let your eyes drift down to his lips momentarily.
âYou wanna kiss me, donât you?â He teases, already knowing the answer but enjoying the little crease of frustration between your eyebrows a little too much. You give him a small nod, letting your gaze drift down again. He still doesnât budge, fingers slowing down too, on a mission to punish you a little for the painful hard-on heâs got going on because of you. âSay please.â
Thereâs a look on your face heâs positive heâs never had the delight of encountering before, one that obliterates any pride heâs got left. The puppy eyes youâve put on are doing enough pleading. So much that you donât even have to say it, and Jaemin instinctively lowers his face close enough to nuzzle his nose with yours, something heâs not sure heâs ever done with anyone before. Heâs never felt the need to. He doesnât even realise heâs doing it until you raise your head to initiate the so desired kiss, your lips brushing his lightly for half a second. He pulls back just a fraction, taking one last look at your flushed face, savouring the haze in your eyes just a little longer, but a particular stroke of his fingers makes your eyes shut in pleasure. And itâs the sweet whimper you let out that makes him finally close the gap, tongue already slipping past your parted lips.
He kisses you exactly how you said you liked to be kissed. Slow and wet. Not too sloppy, no teeth. Just his lips dragging against yours, head tilted enough for his tongue to sneak inside your mouth just a little, and you match his rhythm in no time. Your mouth parts to let him in, your taste just like he remembers it. A little sugary from the drinks youâve had earlier, enough to make him sigh from the relief of finally being able to experience this. Just like heâs daydreamed for what feels like too long. Maybe even better.
You swiftly flop onto your back, the movement catching him off guard, but your hands engulfing his face in them get him back on track. He breaks the kiss for just a second, so that he can steal a glance at his hand working between your now spread legs.
âDonât stop.â You whine needily, your hips arching off the bed, chasing for more as you bury a hand in his hair, bringing his mouth back to yours.
âFuck, baby.â He moans all muffled, sounding completely wrecked even though it should be the other way around. Your tongue coaxes his lips open this time, forcing itself inside his eager mouth, and he canât help but cheekily suck on it as his fingers move on their own accord, slipping down, teasing your entrance over the soaked fabric of your underwear. Youâre so wet he can feel the outline of your pussy lips as if thereâs no barrier, and god, he wishes his face was buried between your legs. Wishes he could smell you and taste you for hours. The thought of devouring your cunt while your legs shake and lock around his head, suffocating him, sends a fresh jolt of arousal straight to his cock. And it hurts. Itâs painful not to thrust against your hip, seeking for any kind of relief, so he does, letting you swallow his low whines as you keep him close.
âMmhâ can youââ
âMm, what?â He nods frantically, desperate to give you more.
âJust...â You keep kissing him, one hand gently caressing his jaw, while the other finds his again, and before he can question you, youâre dragging his hand up until it reaches the waistband of your panties. And then youâre urging him to slip inside. He internally celebrates and obliges without a word; tongue tangling deliciously with yours as he quickly dips two of his fingers between your folds with a deep groan, quickly finding your clit again, picking up where he left off, with tight circles on your cute nub. Fuck, itâs pulsing, and he wonders if your pussy would pulse just like that around his cock, swallowing him. âFaster.â
Again, he obeys, denying you anything never an option, and he instantly starts stroking your clit with three of his fingers, fast and hard, from side to side, and your mouth parts against his in a silent moan, the vibration getting a reaction that claims a place in his brain. âGood?â
âYeah,â You nod desperately. âIâm close.â
He nods back. âWant my fingers inside?â
âNo, no.â You plead, clearly too in the moment to care. âJust keep doing what youâre doing.â
His free hand wraps around the back of your neck, holding you in place as he gives you what you want. âYouâre so wet.â He mumbles between frantic breaths. âDidnât know you wanted me that bad.â
You whine in protest, your panting making it impossible for you to speak words other than a broken: âOh my god.â
âFuck, youâre shaking.â He whispers, in complete awe of your pleasure, admiring how your face contorts, how your eyes roll back, how your legs tremble. âDonât hold it, let go.â He encourages gently, able to see right through your self-control, and eager to demolish it. Even now, even on the brink of an orgasm you clearly want to reach, you try to squirm away from his touch, your legs clamping around his hand stubbornly, preventing any movement.
âDonât get me wrong, I love it when youâre being difficult, but right now is not the time.â He huffs in frustration, hand fidgeting, fingers now squished between the plush of your thighs, unintentionally coating your flesh in your arousal. âIf you wanna cum before someone finds us in here, I suggest you spread those legs again.â
The hand still nudged in his hair pulls him closer again, but he resists, not in the mood to give into your wishes anymore. He recognises the distress and conflict in your eyes. Youâre not being stubborn, youâre just embarrassed. What for, heâs not sure, but he likes it. Because itâs unlike you.
It does click in his head, though. âIâll keep kissing you if you let me make you cum.â
And with that, the clenching of your thighs eases up a little. And Jaemin canât fight the amused laugh that bubbles in his chest. Because bribery does work. And heâs finally connected the dots.
You only got shy when he stopped kissing you so he could watch you. And, suddenly, so much makes sense, but he chooses to lock that thought away in the back of his mind. For now. Because your legs are parting for him again.
âYeah?â He coos, fingers now moving freely, momentarily dipping down, collecting slick arousal thatâs trickled out of your entrance before returning to your clit. He nods along with you when you let your eyes shut in bliss. âThatâs it. Good girl.â
He doesnât let you react to the praise, mouth slotting with yours like he promised, silencing whatever protest was bubbling in your throat. He knows he was treading on thin ice with that, repeatedly having been made aware how youâre not about to let a man patronise you or degrade you. Ever. Your boundaries have always been clearer than water, the harsh tug on his hair proves that much. But Jaeminâs not backing down again. Heâs had enough of your shit, and so he kisses you harder, sloppier.
âHave you lost your fucking mind?â You tug harder, making him grunt and rub you in quicker and firmer circles.
âShut. Up.â He almost doesnât recognise the harshness in his own voice, never having felt so annoyed at someone and wanting to please them at the same time. Itâs usually one or the other. It seems youâve proven him wrong once again. âBe grateful Iâm not bending you over and fucking the shit out of you.â
He pulls on your hair too, his level of roughness not enough to match yours, but enough to have your teeth biting down on his bottom lip, and heâs pretty sure youâve drawn blood.
âFine.â He challenges, his limits already crossed. âHave it your way.â
His knees hit the floor before he can think, his hands grabbing on your thighs, dragging your body to the edge of the bed, and before you can let out more than a yelp, Jaeminâs pulling your panties to the side, revealing your dripping centre.
âWhat theââ
âSo cute.â He mumbles as he watches his middle and ring fingers slip inside your clenching hole too easily, the wetness making everything nice and slippery for him, and when he curls them, your back arches. Too fucking pretty.
âJaem, oh my god.â You whimper out weakly, clouding his already jumbled head.
âFuck, I love that.â He whispers mindlessly, circling your visibly swollen nub with his tongue once. âYou sound so sweet.â
He can tell itâs finally (thankfully) game over for you, when your legs open further for him, and he wastes no time. He soon finds a rhythm with his fingers that has your walls tensing, but he keeps hitting what he believes is the right spot. And when he angles a little more upwards, his doubts are instantly gone.
âYes, yes, yes, fuck, right there.â You exclaim in despair, chest heaving, legs quaking just like before.
âI got you.â He mumbles against your folds, then engulfs your clit in his mouth, sucking gently while drawing slow circles with his tongue, finally able to enjoy your taste like heâs always wanted. A satisfied hum escapes him when your hands slip in his hair again, holding him in place as your pussy quivers around his digits. The tighter you get, the louder the squelching noises become, and when he fucks his fingers into you a little faster, he knows youâre finally climaxing.
âShit, Iâm cumming.â You exhale abruptly, like youâre caught off guard, legs closing in around his head, only this time, he doesnât mind. Far from it. If he could suffocate between your thighs, heâd probably thank you.
Your little cries are more than gratifying. The kneading of your walls as he tries his best to drag out your high goes straight to his erection, his balls feeling so heavy and sore, and when your nails lightly scratch his scalp, he feels his abdominal muscles contract, pelvis involuntarily thrusting into nothing. Itâs when his cock throbs painfully that he knows itâs inevitable, and before he can even pull away from your core, Jaemin is shamefully releasing in his pants. Untouched. Coating his boxers in his own cum.
He blames it on the edging and the fact that he's been sporting a hard-on for at least half an hour, but deep down he knows itâs just his unfiltered want for you. He knows itâs you. You and everything about you.
He can hear your overstimulated whines when the haze starts to dissipate, and he slowly slips his fingers out, realising that his mouth is just aimlessly parted against your folds, nose squished against your pubic bone as he tries to regain his breath.
âYou okay?â He pants, sounding like heâs just ran a marathon instead of given head.
You let out a fucked-out laugh. âI feel like I should be asking you that.â
âShut up.â He laughs with you, forehead defeatedly resting on your tummy as he tries to conceal his hot face. Fuck, he doesnât think heâs ever felt embarrassed in front of a woman. It doesnât help that heâs currently on his knees either. Your soft fingers carefully combing through his damp hair offer a little bit of calmness, however.
âIs that, like, a recurring theme or should I feel honoured?â You tease, the light heartedness in your tone making him smile like an idiot. He doesnât think heâs ever heard you like this before.
âKeep testing me and youâll find out.â He feigns annoyance, landing a light slap on your outer thigh before squeezing the flesh hard.
You whine in protest, and even though he canât see your face, he can picture the frown youâre sporting. His imagination not being enough, he decides to lift his head so he can look at you properly, only to find that youâre already staring at him.
âHi.â He lands a quick kiss just below your bellybutton, where your top doesnât meet your skirt.
âHi.â Your lips twitching in a half-smile urge him to kiss your skin again, and then once again until youâre giggling. âStop.â
He hums against your skin in fake contemplation, already knowing he doesnât want to, but then he glances down between your legs, drenched core still on display, puffy folds glistening from before, panties still messily pushed to the side, and when you attempt to shut your legs, he beats you to it, holding them in place, refusing to miss out on the pretty sight. So enticing.
âCan I clean it up?â He asks without a second thought, thumbs pulling the lips apart to reveal more of what a mess heâs made, your pretty clit still protruding a little from the attention it received earlier. He looks up at you, taking in your bemused eyes, and he chuckles at your cuteness. âItâs a subtle way of saying I wanna lick yourââ
âI know what it means,â You cut him off with a pointed look, clearly disapproving of his crude choice of words. âIâve just never had anyone ask that before.â
He clicks his teeth in judgment, internally laughing at the joke heâs about the make. âReally? Chenle not that freaky then?â
âEw!â You shriek adorably, gently kicking him on the shoulder. âDonât talk about him when youâre between my legs.â
âWhy not?â He wiggles his eyebrows provocatively, face already inching closer to where he wants to be.
âBecause itâs weird?â
âYou had no issue with me watching him rail you.â He blows air on your clit on purpose, watching you squirm in his hold, his hands firm on the backs of your thighs. âI gotta admit, though...â He catches your little hole clenching. âYou werenât as loud then as you were tonight.â He chuckles when your hands come up to cover your face with a pained groan. âDonât be shy. I loved it.â
âJust fucking do it.â You huff in frustration and buck your hips towards his face.
He leaves a wet kiss on your inner thigh, sucking the supple flesh teasingly, before he darts his tongue out, licking a wide stripe between your folds, doing his best to gather as much of your essence as he can, and repeats the action again and again, clearly not doing a very good job as the more he laps you up, the more arousal keeps gathering at your opening and your whimpers get louder and louder.
âSuch a sweet pussy.â He relishes in your taste and decides he needs to stop when he feels his dick starting to stir back to life in his pants, otherwise youâll be stuck in this room for god knows how long. With a gentle kiss on your clit, he withdraws and pulls your underwear back into place before giving your thighs a gentle but condescending pat. âAll done.â
Before you can sit up, heâs crawling up your body, caging you with his arms, and fuck his life, you look so good under him. So soft and pliant, legs on either side of his waist. Nothing like the girl he knows from work. He likes both versions equally, but this one he doesnât think he could ever get used to.
âYouâre hard again.â You wiggle your hips against his, cock flush against your thankfully covered centre.
âYeah, and youâre still wet.â He responds with a subtle roll, cock sitting uncomfortably in his damp boxers, but nothing he canât handle. âSo, please can we go before I fuck you in some strangerâs bed?â
You snort, arms loosely wrapping around his neck, urging him closer, and he easily caves in. This kiss is soft, no tongue or urgency, just little sucks on your bottom lip, until heâs temporarily satiated his need for you.
âCome on, donât want my friends thinking youâve kidnapped me.â He leaves another chaste smooch on your lips and gets up with a dramatic groan, already missing your body heat against him.
A few minutes later, when heâs leaning against a wall next to the bathroom, waiting for you while pretending heâs aimlessly scrolling through his phone, Jaemin thinks back to how he ended up in this situation in the first place, and realises he still doesnât really know where he stands with you. Yes, clearly, youâre both attracted to each other, and thereâs no doubt in his mind that he likes you. But do you genuinely like him? Or do you just find him hot and fuckable? What if youâre just getting bored of whatever arrangement you have with Chenle and Jaeminâs just another distraction until you find someone youâre actually interested in?
âThanks for waiting.â You interrupt his thoughts, ready to head for the stairs, but Jaemin feels like if he doesnât clear this up now, he might lose the courage to do so later.
âWait, hang on a sec.â He gently pulls you back by your hand, and you quickly face him, seeming clueless about his internal turmoil, eyes blinking up at him curiously.
âIs something wrong?â You ask carefully, worry laced with your tone, making Jaeminâs stomach do a little flip.
âNo.â He shakes his head, and smiles when your shoulders drop in relief. âI guess Iâm just still a little confused.â
âAbout?â You squeeze his hand, a tiny gesture of encouragement that makes him feel warm and fuzzy.
âWell...â Heâs suddenly incapable of holding your gaze, your fingers posing as a distraction as observes your hand in his and how good they look like that. âI mean what I said. I want to, like, you knowâŠâ
âBe good to me?â You tease, referring to what he said earlier in the heat of the moment. Not that he didnât mean it.
âMm, that too,â Both hands are now playing with yours like itâs a fidget toy. âBut also spend more time with you and go on dates and stuff. If you also want that. Obviously.â He lets out a nervous laugh. God, he sounds pathetic.
You step closer, leaving no space between your bodies, and Jaemin feels himself relax a little, finally able to look at you. Youâve got an adorable grin on your face, as though you can already see right through him. Like the idea of making his heart go crazy is so enticing to you. âI also want that.â
âReally?â He perks up, excitement already brewing in his chest at the thought of holding your hand in public.
âMhm,â You nod, hand flexing in his, fingers extending like heâs just proposed to you and youâre waiting for the ring. Maybe he should start saving up for one at this point. âButââ
âBut what? Why but?â The questions roll off his tongue without permission, and he hates how desperate he sounds.
âRelax, loser. Iâm not rejecting you.â You laugh at his misery. Itâs kind of hot. But he wonât admit that. At least not right now. âI was just gonna say, Iâd rather we kept it low-key at work. If thatâs okay with you.â
âI can do low-key.â He says quicker than heâd like to. âIâll behave.â
âOkay, well, donât behave too much.â You poke him in the chest with a smirk that makes him feel all tingly and giddy. He feels like a teenager speaking to their crush for the first time.
âOh?â He pouts playfully, fluttering his eyelashes like he knows you hate, his arm loosely circling your waist, hand resting at the small of your back, slowly pulling you close, the proximity clearly something youâre both still getting used to. âWhy? Would that be too sus?â
âItâs good youâre self-aware.â You say sarcastically, your free hand coming to squish his cheeks, surprising him. âHas anyone ever told you your eyelashes are, like, freakishly long?â
He laughs loudly at the random observation, remembering that time you said something about him flying if he blinked too fast. âYeah, you.â
âHave I?â You tilt his face, evidently too busy inspecting his lashes to actually pay attention to what heâs saying. âWhen?â
âRight before you gave me the bedroom eyes and made me watch youââ
âShhhhh.â You squeeze his cheeks harder, making it impossible for him to finish his sentence. âYouâre pretty, but you talk too much.â
âMmphââ Heâs not able to complain, not due to your tight hold on his face, but mainly because youâre suddenly shutting him up with your mouth on his. You leave a loud smooch on his lips, and then a second one, and before you can pull away, he doesnât even realise heâs got a hand in your hair, holding you in place.
Your hand trails from his face to his chest, resting there, allowing him to tilt his head so he can deepen the kiss. And just when heâs about to turn you around and pin you against the wallâ
âWoah!â Jisungâs high pitched exclamation makes you both pull away in surprise. And when Jaemin looks up, thereâs his younger friend, barely able to stand up due to the amount of alcohol heâs consumed, yet enough in touch with his surroundings to understand what you two are up to. âEw, ew, ew, ew, absolutely not, stop it right now, thatâs vile. Bye.â He slurs and abruptly sits down at the top of the stairs with his forehead resting on the wall.
Jaemin struggles not to burst out laughing when he takes in your comical expression, eyes wide, lips pursed tightly to contain your own snicker. And then he internally groans, realising that heâs probably Jisungâs saviour for tonight. âI think Iâm gonna have to take him home.â
âYeah, thatâs all you.â
Itâs maybe three or four quick kisses later that Jaemin, hesitantly of course, manages to find the will to pull away from you.
Youâve learnt to expect everything from Na Jaemin. At this point you could say youâve mastered the art of not getting surprised at things he says or does, regardless of the outrageousness they sometimes carry. You were confident that his unfiltered and blunt way of navigating life didnât really faze you much anymore.
Until last night.
Last night, you were surprised. Last night, you were fazed. Pleasantly so, but still. What you were expecting were vague answers, boyish excuses, charming batting of long eyelashes and maybe the distracting smile that always gets him out of trouble. What you were not expecting was your insufferable coworker getting on his knees for you and giving you one of the most mind-blowing orgasms youâve ever experienced, right after admitting he wants to date you (to put it plainly). What you also didnât expect was his neediness. And how weak it made you feel. So much that you left the party wondering what his cum tastes like.
Who in their right mind wonders that about someone? Clearly you. Because clearly, youâre not in your right mind. You canât be. Since when can you not control your impulses? To the point where you allow yourself to drag a man into a strangerâs room only to ask for explanations you donât really need anyway? Since when do menâs explanations matter to you? Na Jaeminâs out of all menâs thoughts should be something of low significance to you. So why were you so bothered? Yeah. He kissed you out of the blue. So what? Something so easy to ignore, yet it had been gnawing at your brain like a parasite. A stupid fucking kiss that tasted like rum and coke.
You're still in bed, staring at the ceiling when your phone starts going off, slightly startling you out of your snoozy state.
âHello?â You pick up without properly checking the screen.
âYou sound cute when youâre sleepy.â Before you can even finish processing him, Jaeminâs annoyingly chirpy voice blasts through the speaker, breaking through the quiet of your room. Of course heâs a morning person.
âHowâd you get my number?â You grumble, still not entirely awake but oddly pleased to hear him.
He must be in the middle of typing as you hear the keyboard clicking in the background. âWork group chat, silly.â
âAnd youâre calling at eleven am on a Sunday because...?â You shuffle onto your front and place your phone on your pillow after putting Jaemin on speaker.
âWell...â He drags the word as though he enjoys the suspense. Knowing his dramatic ass, he probably does. âI got up early to finish a paper, and now Iâm feeling clingy with no one to cling onto.â
You catch yourself smiling into the pillow like an idiot. He should not have this effect on you. âDonât you live with a thousand other men.â
âJust four actually.â His chuckle echoes, and you can picture his bright teeth a little too easily. âAnd youâd be surprised at how busy they all are. Well, apart from Jiji. Heâs just dead.â
Youâre not surprised in the slightest Jisung is not up and about considering the state he was in last night. What a messy boy. âWhat could they possibly be doing on a Sunday morning?â
âHmm,â You imagine him swivelling in his chair in deep thought. âHaechan and Jeno are out on a double brunch date with their females, and Renjun... I actually have no idea. He doesnât like seeing me in the mornings.â
Itâs your turn to laugh. It comes out all muffled but youâre sure he can hear you. âI can see why. Also, females?â
âYeah, speaking of females, can I come see you after I submit this?â He asks, like itâs something heâs asked a thousand times before. The question itself doesn't surprise you. You could tell it was coming from miles away. Itâs just his casual tone that leaves you slightly perplexed.
âYou sound awfully comfortable asking to invade my personal space.â You flip onto your back again, phone now on your chest.
âYou didnât mind me invading your personal space last night.â How can someone be so quick witted? Damn his sexy brain.
âConsider yourself lucky youâre not in my space right now.â
âNothing lucky about that.â He whines playfully. âCâmonnnn, Iâll bring food, and sweeties, and we can watch a film. Or just talk. Or you can sleep and Iâll just watch you.â He pleads hopefully, and a little too adorable for you to hold your ground.
âCreep.â You mumble defeatedly, and itâs mostly meant for yourself, but he picks up on it judging from the little hum he lets out, like he agrees.
You wonder if this man has ever had anyone tell him no in the past. If so, youâd like to ask them for advice.
When you hear his knock, you have just about finished putting fresh clothes on after your shower, your hair is still wet, and the taste of toothpaste too strong in your mouth.
Ever so punctual, there he is, leaning against your doorframe when you swing the door open. He doesnât look as fresh and bright as he sounded on the phone, the tiredness evident in his eyes, but somehow, he looks even more handsome like this. You notice youâre matching, both wearing hoodies with your universityâs logo printed on them, his grey sweatpants mirroring yours.
âWell, this is uncanny.â He speaks first, amused eyes taking in your attire the same way youâre taking in his.
âCome in before I change my mind.â You step aside to let him inside, unable to fight your smile when he takes off his shoes without you having to ask.
âIâm here now, no need to be so aggy.â He says with a reassuring pout you never fail to question. Because how does a grown man so masculine act so feminine and cutesy without a care in the world.
âWe can chill in here, Winterâs at her boyfriendâs for the day.â You dismiss his antics and lead the way towards the small living room space you and your flatmate share. âWeâve got Netflix and Disney plus.â
He gasps, making you turn to look at him. âSo we can watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians?â
âAbsolutely not.â You deadpan. You refuse to watch something that will most likely obliterate your already barely functioning brain cells.
âBlue planet then?â He drops the takeout bags on your coffee table and you can see thereâs a huge bag of Skittles and a pack of fresh cookies on top of the boxes. You try not to laugh at the thought of him standing in a bakery waiting to buy overpriced treats. As funny as it is, you canât help but find it incredibly endearing too.
âSo itâs either brainrot or full-on intellectuality with you.â You nod in fake approval.
âIf you have beef with sir David Attenborough, Iâm afraid I canât invest in this.â He protests but still plops down on your sofa and snatches the TV remote off the table like he owns the place.
âInvest in what exactly?â You narrow your eyes at the ballsy statement, and he side-eyes you in return, brows lifting like the answer is self-explanatory. âAlso, I donât think anyone has beef with David Attenborough.â
âWise.â He keeps his attention on the screen as he scrolls through Netflix, and suddenly you feel like youâre intruding in your own home. âI knew you were wifey material.â
The eye-roll is inevitable when you head for the kitchen to get water. Not because his silly comment offended you. But because it should have.
Itâs maybe halfway through the first episode that you and Jaemin both have devoured your bowls of pho noodles and he quickly reaches for the cookies.
He offers you the box with a sweet smile, as if saying âdo the honoursâ.
You instantly shake your head. âIâm too full.â
He pouts stubbornly, like youâve offended him and confused him at the same time. âWanna share one?â He asks, eyes big and full of hope and so unfairly pretty. And you canât find it in you to deny him a second time.
âYeah, fine, Iâll do half.â
âYay.â
You observe him as he tears the lid off, carefully picks a cookie like itâs an important decision, and then splits it in two. You notice how cautious he is not to drop any crumbs on the blanket youâre sharing, keeping his hands above the container thatâs resting now on his lap. You only realise youâre smiling when he offers you the slightly bigger half, and if he's noticed, he doesnât comment on it, just waits patiently for you to take a bite, whales and dolphins forgotten in the background.
When the second episode starts, you realise you and Jaemin have barely exchanged any words since he stepped foot in your apartment. The silence hasnât felt awkward at any point, but you canât deny itâs a slightly unusual dynamic.
His newfound restlessness makes up for it, however.
You donât say anything when you feel him staring, but you also canât hide the little twitch of your mouth. And you know he notices when he shuffles a tiny bit closer, not enough to close the distance between you, but enough for you to get a whiff of his clean boyish scent. A chuckle brews in your chest but only escapes when he gently tugs on the blanket, trying to get your attention in a way that doesnât require words.
Heâs yet to tear his persistent eyes off you, probably amused by the deeper shade of your burning cheeks, so you bring your knees up to your chest, along with the hem of the blanket, seeking for cover. Your hand blindly reaches over to his side, fingers poking into his cheek, forcing his attention back on the TV, at which he shamelessly giggles. You donât manage to retrieve your arm as he swiftly but so gently takes hold of your wrist and tugs the same way he did with the blanket, a subtle request for you to move into his space.
Itâs way too easy. Just like most things in his life it seems. And as easily as you give in, it doesnât feel wrong. Not when you so comfortably allow yourself to curl into his side. Not when he wraps an arm around your shoulders and lets you snuggle closer. Not when your cheek squishes against his chest, ear right above his steady heartbeat. Not when you feel his nose nudge you on the forehead. And definitely not when you hear his little sigh of relief.
You could pretend it doesnât mean anything. You could just blame it on the tiredness and the fact that youâre both slightly hungover from last night. You could just be two people who casually ended up cuddling on the sofa while watching a documentary about creatures of the ocean. But the way your heart speeds up defies that. Just as easily as you fell into his arms just now.
âYou smell nice.â He murmurs, the contentment in his voice and body language difficult to not make you feel warm and fuzzy too.
âSo do you.â You slip, not really meaning to admit that youâve been having the same thought. âHope you donât use one of those three in one shampoos that could kill a Victorian child.â
His chest vibrates under you, his loud sneaker making you laugh along. He lets his weight sink further into the cushions, moving you with him. âThatâs actually offensive. I take my skincare very seriously.â His fingers threading through your hair make you feel woozy, goosebumps prickling on your nape, accompanied by a little shiver, which unfortunately doesnât go unnoticed by Jaemin. âAww,â He coos, hand repeating the action, this time lightly scratching your scalp. âThatâs so cute, you like head scratches.â
âIâm not a fucking dog.â You grumble, with no intention of pulling away from his soothing touch.
âHmm, I don't know,â He trails sceptically, fingers now scratching at the crown of your head, coaxing you further into drowsiness. âYou are kind of like a puppy at times. All bark no bite.â
You nuzzle deeper into his neck, allowing your eyes to shut. âI bite when necessary.â
âIâm in deep shit right now if youâre a vampire.â
You let out a lazy giggle, hand tugging on his hoodie to reveal more of his neck. âYeah, I could so easily eat you.â
âSexy.â He says in a playful tone. âDoubt Iâll taste as good as you did last night.â
Youâre weak. So fucking weak.
What the fuck are you even meant to say to that? And why did the words make your toes curl? Youâve been trying so hard not to let your mind wander to last nightâs events, and not because youâre ashamed or embarrassed. Quite the opposite.
It would be wise to swerve the subject. Hell, it would be easier to pretend youâre asleep. But whereâs the fun in that? Why miss the opportunity to see him squirm a little?
âI mean...â You hook your fingers over his neckline teasingly, before letting them trail upwards, your knuckles grazing his skin; first his neck, then the opposite side of his jaw, where your palm settles. âWe couldâve found out last night if you hadnât jizzed in your pants like a teenager.â
Silence. Even his breathing stops. Youâre almost starting to worry youâve pushed too far. And maybe you have. But his hand in your hair tightening and then pulling, even though harsh, it reassures you he's fallen face first into your trap. And a breathless laugh slips out when he forces you to look at him. The wicked smile on his face does something to your tummy.
âWe could find out now.â He suggests. So predictable.
âI thought you wanted to watch Blue Planet.â You pout just like he would if he had the upper hand. Just like he did last night. Condescendingly.
His hold on your hair loosens, giving you leeway to bring your face closer to his, hand still cradling his jaw when you give him a very quick kiss on the cheek. You sense the hesitancy in his actions, both hands hovering close, but not properly touching you anymore.
âYou okay?â You ask with genuine concern, urging him to look at you, not used to this demeanour from him.
âYeah,â He nods quickly, arm settling around your waist in no time. âIâm justâ I donât want you to think that I came over forâŠâ
âI don't.â You hold his face with both your hands, thumbs stroking his soft cheeks, a little rosy now.
His tiny nod makes your stomach do a flip. âOkay, good.â He nods again, more to himself this time, like heâs fighting an internal conflict. âLike, I know you mightâve heard things, and you probably think I just wanna get in your pants, but I swear I donâtâ I mean, obviously, I do, but not in that way, you know?â He swallows visibly, and youâre too taken by his sudden outburst to interrupt him again. âLike, I do want you and Iâll do anything with you, but I donât want that to be the main thing. Like, yeah, sex is great and Iâm sure itâll be fire with you, but I swear I just wanted to hang out todayââ
âJaemin.â
âHm?â He looks at you with big eyes, like youâve startled him out of a trance. âSorry, Iâm rambling.â
âBreathe, please.â You lightly shake his head, in hope of knocking some sense into him and bringing him back from his spiral. âI donât know what you think Iâve heard, but I couldnât care less about idiotic rumoursââ
âNot all of it is, though.â
âOkay, and?â You straddle him abruptly, suddenly annoyed at his uncertainty. Heâs blinking up at you like he needs something heâs not sure of. Such pretty eyes. âItâs sweet that you worry about this stuff. It means you care and I like that. But I'm not one to judge people based on their past. Unless they're cheaters or misogynists.â
"I've only had one girlfriend in high school and I think women should get paid more than men." He quickly admits.
Your heart overflows with fondness at how he clutches the blanket thatâs loosely scattered around your thighs, his fingers fidgeting in an anxious manner youâve never seen from him before. Adorable.
âI know you like me, Iâm not dense.â You give into your instincts and shuffle closer, overcome with the need to have some form of direct contact, to feel his warmth. âAnd I'm absolutely fine with you wanting to get in my pants. As long as itâs not all you want.â You smile at his mouth parting, expression changing into something that resembles awe and realisation, as though youâve solved a puzzle heâs been getting tortured by.
âItâs not.â He shakes his head in denial, his hands now on your thighs, a comforting weight.
âGood.â You encourage him with an affirmative nod, the tip of your nose barely touching his. You take in his features as he shuts his eyes and inhales slowly, his chest touching yours momentarily before he exhales, and you feel the intense want to smother him in affection. âYouâre so cute.â Your lips pucker against his cheek like itâs a reflex. Like kissing his skin would scratch a long-lasting itch. âWhy are you so cute, huh?â Another smooch, a lingering one this time. âSo annoying.â
âWhy are you being sweet?â He whines, as though bothered and confused by the sudden turn in your attitude. âYouâre scaring me.â
âIâm actually very clingy behind closed doors,â You trail more kisses down his jawline, letting your tongue make contact when you reach his neck. âSo, you should be scared.â
He outright moans at the threat, or maybe at the way youâre lightly sucking on his pulse, his head tipping back to give you more space.
âMaybe youâre just bipolar.â He teases mindlessly, one hand sneaking into your hair, holding you in place, as the other drags up your thigh and stops at the small of your back, fingers ghosting over your ass, palm pressing you into him. You feel him growing under you, the subtle bulge poking you against the crease of your thigh, so you reposition your hips slightly, this time making sure youâre sitting directly on it.
âYeah, I bet your freaky ass would love it if I had a mental disorder.â You tug on his hair, your mouth now on his left clavicle, teeth grazing his skin like a warning. âYouâd probably wanna fix me.â
"Damn," He breathes out a fucked-out laugh, clearly entertained by your choice of words. âAm I that easy to read?â
âI just pay attention.â You say the words without much thought behind them, but the second they slip out, his mouth is on yours. And you give in quicker than you wouldâve allowed if it were anyone else. His hand in your hair doesnât give you much choice anyway, and neither does his tongue, swiping across your lips as he tilts your head gently. He tastes like candy and something familiar that has your mouth eagerly parting for more. The quietest of moans escaping your lungs reminds you of how much he weakens any restraint you always try to maintain.
Suddenly, ruining him seems more enticing than any other thought that occupies your mind in that moment. You could edge him enough to make him beg. Heâd like that, right? Heâd look so pretty crying.
You let him kiss you however he wants, without failing to notice how he tries to keep it languid and wet enough that it resembles the way he kissed you last night. Exactly how you told him you like to be kissed. Your tongue plays with his slowly, just like your hands slide from his neck to the zipper of his hoodie. It comes undone easily, and you canât help but slip your hands underneath, nudging the fabric off his shoulders before you indulge in giving his uncovered arms a squeeze. He reciprocates with both his hands on your ass, kneading the full flesh and urging you to move your hips against his.
âFuck,â He gasps against your mouth, his pelvis bucking off the sofa just a little, trying to get more friction when you keep your movements too slow.
âWhat do you need?â You break off the heated kiss, hands flat on his chest to hold him in place when he tries to trail after you. âIâll do it, just want you to tell me.â
You know youâre being slightly selfish, but you also canât pass on the opportunity to get him all putty and needy under you. He looks scrumptious with his cheeks all flushed, and his cute nipples poking through the white tank top heâs got under the hoodie that now hangs off his elbows. He looks so good that it feels wrong to touch him. Like you shouldnât be allowed to, but heâs somehow letting you.
Heâs fully erect now, his hard length resting a little too comfortably between your folds, proud and thick enough that you can feel the outline even through the layers of both your layers. Heâs got a look of contemplation as he stares at your connected crotches, his legs spreading further, inevitably sliding you a little upwards, and his cock brushes against your clit just right, pulling a tiny whimper out of you.
âAnything I want?â He asks innocently, bunny teeth digging into his bottom lip as he bats his eyelashes up at you. Thereâs the devilish look you know.
âMm, you gotta ask nicely first.â You match his tone, playing along whatever game heâs decided to start.
His eyes travel down, fingers slipping past your waist band just a tiny bit before letting it snap against your skin. âJust want these off.â He gestures at your bottoms.
âPanties too?â You climb off his lap to stand between his legs, already looking forward to feeling him with less layers in between.
âUp to you.â He shrugs, eyes now on your face as you slip the baggy garment down your legs, your intimate area covered by your long hoodie, that as opposed to his, is still zipped up. âActually, yeah, those too.â
You instantly raise a challenging eyebrow, head tilting in warning.
âPretty please?â He recovers quickly, sweet smile and obedient eyes making you feel giddy. He really does catch on quickly. Or maybe he just gets you too well.
The thin cotton tickles as it drags down your legs, some of your slick smearing on your knee as the seat of your underwear touches you directly. âNow, what?â
âSit back down.â He doesnât play as nice this time, and you donât really need him to. You reclaim your seat, knees on either side of his hips, but you hover, too conscious of how wet you are and how easy to stain his gray sweats are.
âIâll be real with you; those will get ruined if you keep them on.â You point your chin at his crotch, and he doesnât say a word before pulling the unnecessary barrier down, letting it rest mid-thigh. His white boxers come into view, matching his tank top, making him look like heâs about to pose for an underwear ad, if you ignore the outrageous hard-on of course.
His hands feel hot on your thighs, the pads of his fingers sinking into your skin slightly. âWigs? Please?â
âWigs?â An unexpected giggle tumbles out of you at the somewhat new but cute nickname as you lower your bare centre onto the bulge beneath you, weight completely dropping on him. The throbbing between your legs intensifies when you witness his expression go from troubled to serene, the crease between his eyebrows disappearing, shoulders dropping. Itâs like heâs just melted into the cushions, and you wish you could take a snapshot of his reaction with your brain.
âSo wet.â He whispers, eyes fixated between your thighs even though he canât see anything, and you shouldnât, but you feel bad for him, all of a sudden wanting to give him anything heâs after.
âWanna see?â You lean down, cupping his face in your palms, connecting your lips with his before he can speak. He moans against your mouth, the sound vibrating between your chests, your nipples pebbling at the needy sound. You kiss him harder in response, licking into his mouth like you need to quench an inexplicable thirst, and the more you keep kissing him, the louder he gets. One of his hands curls around the back of your neck, while the other one grabs onto your ass, forcing your hips to move.
âDonât need to,â He mumbles, teeth biting onto your bottom lip, pulling at the skin before letting it snap back into place. âCan feel you just fine.â
For some reason, in your twisted mind, that sounds hotter than him begging to see the mess between your legs. Whatâs even hotter is the fact that youâve barely done more than kiss him, barely shown any skin, yet heâs so responsive. His strained breathing goes straight to your mushy brain, his whimpers each time you grind on him sound sinful and soft at the same time. You're so lost in the heat that youâre not sure which pulse is more rigorous, the one in your chest or the one in your pussy.
âOw!â You accidentally let out a loud whine when Jaeminâs hand pulls at your hair a little too hard.
âSorry.â He laughs lightly, loosening his grip just a tad but still forcing your head back so he can start scattering kisses down your neck. The wet swipe of his hot tongue on your skin sends a shiver down your spine, hips accidentally rolling against him, exposed cunt dragging over his clothed cock, your mixed arousals seeping through the cotton, making everything slippery. Each time you grind down on him, he thrusts upwards, every movement turning into a push and pull game as his length slides between your folds just perfectly, the head nudging your clit just right.
âShit, thatâs so good.â He murmurs softly against your neck, both hands on your backside now, each one grabbing onto a cheek, guiding your rhythm whenever your hips stutter. His touch on your bare skin, tugging, squeezing, sends a bloom of fresh heat in your belly, more arousal dripping out of you and adding to the unholy mess.
âAw, you gonna cum in your undies again?â You counter in a condescending tone, not quite settled with him thinking that heâs got the upper hand here.
âI will if you want me to.â He pants, no ounce of shame detected; his dignity clearly left somewhere behind.
You halt your movements, hands moving to his chest for support as you take in his perplexed expression. âActually... Can you do something else for me?â
He nods without hesitation. âMhm.â So sweet.
You scoot back on his lap, his hands dropping to his sides as he waits for your instructions. He looks like a lost puppy, staring up at you like youâve got the solution to all his problems. And maybe you do. âTouch yourself.â
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, lips parting, his cute two front teeth poking out a tiny bit. âReally? Right now?â
âYeah.â You lean back with your hands on his knees. âWanna see.â
âFuck.â He exhales shakily. âWhy are you doing this to me?â
You catch yourself biting back a smirk at his unexpectedly shy demeanour. And you feel your heart stutter at the incredibly cute way he lifts his bum off the sofa as he shoves his briefs down, just enough to reveal whatâs hiding underneath. And holy fuck.
Itâs not just the length or the girth; itâs more the way it lightly slaps on his stomach, the tip not too far from his belly button, cute, pink and angry, the shade matching his swollen lips. It looks heavy, and you canât help but wonder how it would feel to have him inside you, stretching your snug walls more than anyone has before.
âPretty.â You mutter in awe, the word sneaking out before you can contain it.
âDid you just call my dick pretty?â He breathes out a bemused laugh.
You laugh along, more in confusion at your strange outburst of honesty, your eyebrows tensing. âYeah, I guess I did.â
You almost feel guilty for the objectifying thoughts that pollute your brain, but itâs not like thereâs much of his decorum left to preserve anyway. And how are you meant to behave yourself when he looks like heâs been plucked straight out of some sort of anime universe. Now you understand why he walks and carries himself the way he does. No one with a dick this good looking should be humble.
He wraps his fist around his twitching length, slowly teasing the head first, while his free hand reaches to grab onto your thigh. It seems more like a grounding gesture than anything else, as if he needs to be touching you somehow to stay sane. He carries a baffled expression, like he canât believe heâs actually enjoying this, but a quiet moan proves exactly that.
âWigs?â He squeezes your thigh lightly just to get your attention, obviously not aware that youâre transfixed by his every move.
âHm?â You dumbly nod, the view too precious to miss, but in the back of your mind youâre very aware of the wetness that leaks out of you and onto his bare thigh.
âCan youâ shitââ He hisses as his thumb brushes over the glistening tip. âUm, can you get it wet for me please?â
You obediently lean closer, head tipping forward so you can aim, and just like he so nicely asked, you let a long string of saliva dribble from your lips. It lands on the underside of his cock and trickles down to his fingers where heâs tightly gripping the base. He lathers the added lubrication all over his length, making the glide smoother and louder.
âBetter?â You scoot a little closer, letting your hands cradle his flushed face, and you canât help but push his messy fringe back, his sweaty forehead coming into view, dark eyebrows pinched in pleasure as he sets a steady pace; not too fast, not too slow.
âYeah.â He sighs, leaning into your touch, nuzzling into your wrist before leaving a sloppy kiss there, just above the ink on your skin. âI donât think Iâm gonna last long.â
âThatâs okay.â You encourage him with small pecks on the exposed side of his face.
âFuck, I want you.â He pants needily, shattering your heart a little.
âIâm here.â You tangle your fingers in his hair, messily kissing down his neck, comforting him through the pleasure. âWant you too.â
His head lolls back, resting against the back of the sofa, and when you feel the speeding up of his arm, you inevitably look down, drinking the sinful sight like a renaissance painting. The slit of his cockhead oozes more precum with each upward stroke, the skin is more flushed than before, veins more prominent. You study how he likes to be touched, how he focuses on the tip more, fist twisting slightly before he glides down again. A tiny spasm of his pelvis sends an intense throb to your cunt, and the accidental moan you let out seems to spur his hand into faster and less coordinated jerks.
âGonna cum.â He announces urgently, nails digging into your thigh as he starts trembling. âOh myâ fuck fuck fuck.â
You manage to lift his tank top just below his chest right before the first spurt of release paints his abs, and the second his lips part in ecstasy, you donât miss the chance to stick your tongue past them, swallowing his deep grunts with a loud and sloppy kiss. His mouth barely moves, tongue lazily poking out to lick against yours between laboured breaths, and you feel powerless not to smile at his free hand cupping your jaw weakly, even through the haze of his orgasm and his inability to kiss you back properly.
"I'm so fucked." He whines, sounding like he's in pain, and for some reason, you don't urge him to elaborate, ignoring the need to know the exact meaning behind his words as well as the heavy feeling in your stomach.
âCan I clean it up?â You mumble mid kiss, throwing his words from last night back into his face.
He kisses you harder in response, his pleased groan vibrating between you. âYeah? You wanna get on your knees for me?â
âBehave.â You let your fingers wrap around his throat in a quiet threat, though it doesnât seem to faze him in the slightest. His wicked smile only betrays enjoyment and makes you pulse around nothing, reminding you that youâve most likely drenched his thigh.
âI gave you a full on show and youâre worried about me behaving?â He presses a lingering smooch on your chin, then one on your cheek. âI think weâve established the power imbalance here, donât worry.â
What an oblivious, silly little man. He clearly has no grasp on the effect he has on you, and it couldnât get sweeter than that. What he doesnât know wonât hurt him, though, and you certainly wouldnât want his head getting any bigger. âWhatever you say.â
âWhatââ
âShush.â You shut him up with a light squeeze around his throat before swiftly sinking down to your knees between his spread legs, the carpeted floor slightly digging into your skin, but not enough to distract you. What does distract you is the mess heâs made. His fingers are now limp around the base of his softening cock, covered in his release that has somehow not reached his chest. You mentally give him points for decent aim, having experienced unwanted facials in the past. Nothing you would have minded in this case, though.
âThis feels awfully scrutinising.â He points out with a playful tilt of his head, clearly unbothered by your staring but impatient enough to kick up a fuss. âItâll dry if youâ oh shit, okay.â
His reaction is almost laughable when you lick a stripe from his balls to his tip, lapping up as much of his cum on your tongue as you can in one go and swallowing the salty essence before diving in for seconds. You teasingly suckle onto one ball, before repeating the same with the other one while intentionally letting out a moan that earns you his praise. "Fuck, you're so filthy."
You slowly blink up at him as you provocatively flatten your tongue over his coated fingers, and he gets the hint with a lustful glint in his eyes. He so willingly slips three of his salty digits past your wet lips whimpering when you eagerly slurp everything up, sliding your tongue between them before sucking hard and maintaining eye contact. You drag your mouth off with another performative moan and focus on his cock again, now replacing his hand with yours and relishing in the way he feels in your palm. Heavy, warm and overwhelmingly thick like you predicted, the skin velvety soft and slippery with your spit. So fucking perfect.
"You tryna make me hard again or what?" He rasps in most likely warranted frustration, though, his clean hand on your nape says otherwise.
âAs if youâd mind fucking my throat.â You whisper, scattering languid kisses up one side of his shaft, your lips dragging across the sensitive skin until you reach the bulbous head that almost begs for your attention.
âI wouldnât. Thatâs the problem.â His thumb strokes along your jaw, soft as ever, making you swoon, goosebumps raising along your neck and arms, your thighs rubbing for some much-needed friction.
âHowâs that a problem?â You ask innocently, glancing up at him before swirling the tip of your tongue agonisingly slowly around the shiny head, then letting your lips vacuum around it, welcoming his taste in your mouth straight from the source, like slurping on an ice lolly on the hottest day of summer.
âWeâll be here all fucking day.â He lazily laughs, wincing when you suck harder and take him a little deeper. âEasy you demon, itâs still sensitive.â
You decide to ease up on the torture and abandon his cock with one last kiss before moving onto his abs, slurping and shamelessly licking along his skin, making sure not to miss a drop of his cum. And when youâre satisfied with your work and heâs whining and squirming as you hoped, you finally resurface for air. You donât get much of it, though. His mouth quickly finds yours in a filthy battle of tongue and teeth, and you feel helpless at the thought of him moaning at his own taste. You're pretty sure there's cum smeared on your nose and chin, but he doesn't seem to give a fuck.
âBend over the table.â You feel the seriousness in his tone in your stomach, excitement, and uncertainty blooming.
âI thought we werenât fucking today.â
âWeâre not.â He confirms with a snap of his boxers back into place, covering your new favourite toy.
âSo, whyââ
âBend the fuck over, Y/N.â It sounds more like a threat, and you can tell heâs very much done with your bullshit now the blood has travelled up to his brain again. You also donât miss the lack of a cutesy nickname this time. And youâre positive your name has never sounded sexy in a manâs mouth before. And so, you hold back on the questions this time and do as youâre told, curious and eager to find out what his dominant side entails.
The yelp you let out when he manhandles you abruptly almost sounds animated. Your front is pressed against the wooden surface of the coffee table you remember purchasing from Ikea about a year ago, and your remaining layers are shoved up, now resting just below your tits as Jaemin hovers behind you on his knees.
"So pretty like this," He praises as he slots between your legs, easily probing them apart, and you suddenly feel incredibly exposed with your backside and pussy out in the open air. "Knew your ass would be a fuckin' dream."
âJaem?â You call for him more desperately than you intend, arching your back a little to tempt him more.
âYeah?â He whispers above you, running his hands over the dip of your waist and down to your hips. So gently you feel your eyes getting heavy. He's then gathering both your hands at the small of your back, hold loose around your wrists but it's enough to make a point. Enough to leave you aching and helpless.
âPlease do something.â You try to sound serious, but the whiny edge in your voice slips through regardless as you waggle your hips in desperation. "My clit feels like it's about to explode."
âAwh,â He coos with a satisfied laugh, his chest now flush against your back, radiating warmth as his lips leave a trail of tiny kisses from your temple down to your ear. "Needy baby.
He gently sucks on the lobe before letting his tongue tease the shell and then your helix piercing, all while his free hand sneaks around you and down to the apex of your thighs. Youâre so worked up and sensitive, even a light swipe of his fingers across your swollen nub makes you squirm, arms fighting his firm hold off fruitlessly.
âShhh, be good.â He instructs, voice steady with a sultry edge to it, sending more sparks through your body. Your nipples are so erect and tingly against the hard surface, they almost hurt with need for attention.
Your pathetic mewl resembles a cry that sounds offending to your pride. So much that you manage to piss yourself off. âStop playing games with me, you prick.â
You feel him falter for a second, and then he taps on your pussy lips in warning, halting any movement from your pelvis. âThatâs rich coming from you.â His two middle fingers, the ones you earlier had your lips wrapped around, prod at your weeping entrance before he runs them up and down your slit, spreading your slick down to your clit where he focuses his attention after a couple more teasing strokes. âBeen fucking with my head since day one.â He admits openly, the honesty sitting heavy in your guts, making your lungs malfunction as he slowly swirls his fingers around the bundle of nerves. Too delicately. So much that it feels like the wickedest game of edging. So much that your pussy contracts around emptiness.
âYouâve known for a while now, havenât you?â He whispers against your neck, and you aimlessly try to suppress your cries when the circles on your clit become a little harsher than you can handle, the heat in your belly begging for a release that approaches shockingly fast. âThat Iâm obsessed with you.â
The feeling is euphoric, almost overwhelming in a way you canât explain. You could swear itâs the infatuation his voice drips with that clouds your senses more than the intensity of the unexpected orgasm itself. âOh my god, what the fuck.â
âYouâre doing so good.â He murmurs, clearly affected as he releases your hands and brings a safe arm around you, grounding you through every little spasm of your muscles, the strokes on your pulsing nub still precise and relentless, even as your legs tremble with oversensitivity. âThatâs it, baby.â
âPlease, I canât cum again.â You feel tears threatening to spill from the overwhelming pleasure. âI feel likeââ Youâre spluttering nonsense along with weak sobs as your cunt keeps clenching around nothing, dripping slick down your inner thighs. âAhâ!â
Youâre pulled upright without warning, clearly losing a battle youâre not even fighting as you let Jaemin drag you with him on the floor, positioning you between his spread legs as he leans against the sofa with a strong arm slung across your torso like a seat belt.
âLegs up.â He instructs promptly, clearly not in the mood to hover, and the second your knees are bent and far apart, you donât even have time to accommodate your body in the new position before two of his fingers find their way in your sopping hole this time, the stretch intense but somehow delightful.
âShit, Jaemâ wait!â You exclaim in utter shock at the unexpected intrusion, your walls fluttering around his nimble digits.
âDoes it hurt?â His fingers stay hooked inside you, tickling a deep spot that only you can normally find this quickly, but he stops moving at your distress.
âNo, just â just give me a sec.â You lean back in his embrace, melting against the warmth of his chest, head limply resting on his shoulder while he drapes his arm over your sternum, hand finding its way to your jaw, urging you to turn your head and meet his dark eyes, full of want and hues of brown you hadn't noticed before.
âYouâre so pretty.â He mumbles sweetly, lips brushing against yours before delivering a soft peck that makes your stomach flutter along with your stuffed pussy. âYou like it when I talk to you?â
You can sense the teasing lilt, but you nod anyway, not having the backbone to talk back when heâs got you spread out all to himself. And now you hope he knows thereâs no point talking about power imbalance when just a few words of praise and a slow drag of his fingers against your walls have you suffocating. Your legs are already fighting to stay open when slow strokes gradually turn into short jabs against your g-spot, and gentle pecks turn into lazy open-mouthed kisses that leave you both breathless.
The fact that he's using the same hand he pleasured himself with to get you off, tickles your brain in ways you didn't think possible, making your insides feel funny. And you find yourself wanting to shake your next thought out of your lust-clouded head. I shouldn't have sucked his fingers clean. Are you really that twisted? Wishing a man would fuck his cum in you? Na Jaemin of all men?
âMâso close.â You pant into his mouth when you feel the tight bubble of tension in your tummy threatening to burst for the second time, only not as quick as before.
âYeah?â He drags his hand to your neck, fingers tightening like a necklace over your pulse points. âGonna cum for me?â
âUh-huh.â You absentmindedly let your tongue brush against his bottom lip, and he eagerly sucks it in his mouth while the obscene squelching of his hand ruining your pussy echoes around the quiet room.
âFuck, how are you so wet?â He moans, adding momentum in the motions of his wrist, fingers now pistoning in and out of you, palm faintly slapping against your folds. Just when you're about to say you need more, he buries his fingers deep and crooks them along the curve of your front wall, rubbing against your sweet spot and pulling an incoherent exclaim of astonishment from you. His thumb starts rapidly flicking up and down, stimulating your needy clit just the right amount, and when you glance down, catching a glimpse of the sinful sight â him pleasuring you like it's a mission â itâs game over for you.
âShit, shit, shit I'mââ Your mouth parts in a silent squeak, head tilting back in eye-rolling pleasure that feels too good for your sanity to stay intact. You feel the thick arousal trickling down to your ass as Jaeminâs fingers keep pressing upwards through the constricting of your throbbing walls. Your hips uncontrollably stutter with the little aftershocks of pleasure that he forces out of you, and you realise how tightly your hands are clutching on his thighs, nails clawing onto the cotton of his sweats as you hang on by a thread.
âSo fucking hot.â He mumbles against your temple, his breath warming your already heated face as he slowly drags his fingers out of your still lightly pulsating opening. He coos when you wince at the emptiness, his hot palm resting over your folds in a delicate and oddly comforting manner. âYou good?â
You close your legs around his hand, trapping him there as you try to get your lungs to regain proper function. You manage to hum with a weak nod, already aware of the sweat dripping down the side of your face. âI feel like I need another shower.â
âNuh-uh,â He keeps his free arm wrapped around your shoulders as he gently rocks you side to side, slowly bringing you back down from the clouds. "Wanna cuddle you.â
You let out a long sigh of contentment, already feeling too exhausted as you descend from cloud nine, and a little too smitten to deny him anything. "I suppose we can cuddle."
"It's so cute that you're still trying to act all mean." He giggles cutely before sucking onto the apple of your cheek, making you whine in disgust at the slobber he leaves on your skin.
"Ew! That's gross, youâ"
He kisses you on the wet patch he just left, laughing at the way you try to swat him away. You can't help the giddiness that blossoms in your chest, hating how weak you feel for his odd ways of affection.
"Oh, no! We forgot about Blue Planet!" He exclaims in fake distress, finally ending the wet torture he was putting your cheek through.
A breathless laugh erupts from your chest when you glance at the forgotten TV, Netflix somehow aware of your distraction as the screen reads in big letters: Are you still watching?
The documentary has long since faded into the background. The snacks are half-finished. The blanket is messily draped on the floor.
Somewhere between pho, cookies, and whatever the hell just happened, the day has slipped away from you. And for the first time, the thought of Jaemin leaving feels a little unbearable.
Not just tonight. But eventually.
Because while you've spent the last few months trying not to think too hard about Na Jaemin, time hasn't exactly stopped moving.
You're only half a semester away from his graduation. From whatever big plans he's got for his future and from him becoming someone you'll no longer rely on to make shifts feel a little less monotonous and a little more chromatic.
Half a semester away from watching him walk out of your life just as easily as he barged into it.
Part two coming soon... <3
cookie's note: for the love of GAWD take my laptop away from me i almost went insane writing this đđ« i hope it's what people wanted/hoped for and if not then don't tell me bc i will dead ass cry haha im so serious haha pls don't be mean like oc, i'm not like jaemin!! i will only accept loveeee!! part two is still in the wips but i'm hoping it won't take as long as part one (god forbid). as always pls pls pls share your thoughts with me!! i love interacting with ya'll and reading your reactions! ILY đ€
âš ps. pls spare me some liquid love on kofi if you liked this story help a girlie out i'm so broke and i need to book a flight home đ§đŒââïž
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synopsis: youâve known zhong chenle since you were five years old. once inseparable childhood best friends, everything between you shattered at eighteen â the moment your arranged marriage became real. to him, you became a symbol of everything he lost: freedom, choice, and a future that no longer belonged to him. by twenty-four, you finally marry as the countryâs beloved golden couple. the heirs of zhong cosmetics and yĂŒ skincare, bound together by legacy, business, and expectations.
warnings: some scenes are very angsty! chenle is mean! cheating! a near death experience! pregnancy! +18 reader is a virgin and very inexperienced, not your ideal first time, sex is treated as a duty once, chenle is a pussy eaterrr, he cums inside every time, not super detailed but a sex montage featuring the following: slight exhibitionism, rough sex, dirty talk, fingering, he bends you over a billiards table, blowjob, riding him in the hot tub, doggy-style, squirting, i hope i didnât miss any. mentions of: blood
an: i am in my chenle feels! and iâm also procrastinating writing for the donors, the loverboys and ruin the friendship jeno ver right now, so youâre all getting this instead! and liking it! (i hope) please let me know what you think of this one! - with love, c.
âïž THE GOLDEN COUPLE âïž
âi would like to thank everyone for coming today,â lili zhong, aka chenleâs mother and legally your mother-in-law as of five hours ago, says into the microphone. her voice carries effortlessly across the grand ballroom, smooth and commanding without needing to be loud. the entire venue stills for her, conversations fade, forks lower onto porcelain plates.Â
there were exactly a thousand guests in attendance tonight. family, friends, business partners, celebrities, investors, socialites, industry executives from every corner of asia, people whose names appear in magazines and headlines and billion-dollar reports. the ballroom itself looked almost unreal â dripping crystals suspended from the ceiling, white roses woven into towering arrangements, soft gold lighting reflecting against polished marble floors. every detail had been curated to perfection. fitting for the wedding of the heirs to two of the most influential beauty empires in the country.
âwe have been waiting for this union for years now,â mrs. zhong continues, and somehow every person in the room hangs onto each word she says. she has always had that effect on people.
âmy one and only son, chenleâŠi am very happy and excited as you take on this next chapter,â her eyes land on him briefly, full of pride, âi know you will be extraordinary, as you are in everything you do.â
a wave of soft applause spreads through the room. chenle beside you gives a polite nod, composed as ever.Â
then her attention shifts entirely to you.
âand of course, my beautiful daughter in law, y/n zhongâŠ,â the warmth in her voice softens you completely. the last name making your heart flutter. you don't know if you'll ever get used to hearing it.
âiâve always wanted you as my real daughter,â she says with a small smile painted in her signature crimson lipstick, âand now i can finally say you are.â
your chest tightens in the best way possible. you smile back before you can even think about it, eyes sparkling beneath the lights as emotion swells quietly inside you. because unlike the cameras and contracts and business articles surrounding this marriageâŠthis part felt real.Â
lili zhong was someone you had admired long before you ever understood what admiration truly was.Â
you can remember it as if it was yesterday â being seven years old inside the towering headquarters of zhong cosmetics, your tiny dress shoes squeaking against the floors as you and chenle ran through the halls without a care in the world. the building had felt gigantic back then, less like a corporate empire and more like your personal playground. you remembered hiding beneath reception desks with chenle while assistants searched for the two of you in panic. remembered spinning around in leather office chairs worth more than most peopleâs rent. remembered sneaking into empty conference rooms just to press random buttons on expensive remotes.
and then lili zhong walked out.
and the entire atmosphere shifted the moment she appeared. not much different from how it is now. employees straightened immediately. conversations stopped mid-sentence. people moved aside for her without being told to. she carried herself with grace and effortless authority, shoulders back, chin lifted slightly, heels clicking sharply against the floor like a metronome everyone unconsciously followed. but what fascinated you most wasnât the fear or respect she commanded. it was how composed she looked doing it.Â
you remembered watching from next to chenle as she reapplied her lipstick using the reflection of a glass wall, precise and graceful like second nature. one smooth swipe of red. cap clicked shut. then immediately back to discussing quarterly projections as if perfection came as easily as breathing. prim. proper. poised. she was untouchable. and you had been completely mesmerized.Â
from that moment on, youâd wanted to become the kind of woman lili zhong was â respected, strong, confident â the type of woman who could walk into a room and have the world rearrange itself around her. and now, standing beneath thousands of glittering lights with the zhong diamond resting heavily on your left ring finger and her son beside you, you suddenly wondered if this was the closest you had ever come to becoming her.Â
âi wish you both a fruitful marriage,â she says with a subtle wink in your direction, a wave of laughter spreading softly through the ballroom. your face warms instantly because everyone here understands exactly what she means. not just the merger between zhong cosmetics and yĂŒ skincare. not just the billions this marriage would bring. not just the headlines already flooding social media tonight.
but heirs too. children with the zhong name. future successors beautiful enough to belong on campaign billboards before they could even walk.
âmay it always be filled with prosperity and success,â mrs. zhong continues, lifting her glass slightly, âand may the two of you continue bringing honor to our families and our companies.â
camera flashes explode around the room like lightning. you can already imagine tomorrowâs articles.
THE GOLDEN COUPLE OF BEAUTY
CHINAâS MOST POWERFUL MARRIAGE!
LOVE, LUXURY, AND LEGACY.
âthis country has not seen such a beautiful couple before.â
the applause is immediate. a thousand guests rise to the toast without hesitation, crystal glasses lifting beneath the chandelier light. from the stage, the entire ballroom looked dipped in gold.Â
âto mr. and mrs. zhong.â
âto mr. and mrs. zhong!,â the crowd echos.Â
you lift your champagne glass with a smile so genuine it almost hurts. because despite everything, despite the pressure and expectations and business contracts hidden beneath layers of silk and diamonds â you were happy. maybe pathetically so.Â
you have loved zhong chenle for most of your life.Â
before the magazines started calling him the future of luxury cosmetics. before investors nicknamed the two of you the golden couple. before marriage turned into obligation instead of possibility.
and there was a time, too. a time when chenle used to reach for your hand first. a time where the two of you spent entire afternoons running through corporate buildings while your parents attended meetings. a time where heâd steal your desserts at dinners and complain when other boys talked to you at events. a time where marriage jokes from your families made both of you groan dramatically before dissolving into laughter.Â
back then, it had felt harmless. like something far away. until you both turned eighteen. when meetings became serious. when contracts replaced teasing. when your families stopped asking and started deciding.Â
that was when everything changed.Â
because every time chenle looked at you after that, it was no longer with warmth â it was resentment.
you became the physical reminder of every choice he would never get to make for himself. the life he would never get to live. the love he would never get to experience freely.Â
somehow, the public never noticed. that was the worst part â chenle was terrifyingly good at pretending. like right now, with one hand resting against the small of your back, he looked every bit like the devoted husband he wanted the media to believe him to be. calm smile. soft gaze. protective touch.Â
the perfect heir beside his perfect wife.Â
and the cameras adored him for it â âmr. zhong, look here!â âmr. zhong, one more picture with your wife!â âyou two are stunning together!âÂ
his fingers flex lightly against your waist as another round of flashes goes off, and anyone watching would think the gesture is affectionate. loving, even. but you know chenle well enough to recognize performance from sincerity. his hand only ever lingers when people are watching. once they turn away, he lets go like touching you burns.Â
still, your heart betrays you. every. single. time. because some part of you still remembers the boy before all of this. the boy who used to grin at you with missing front teeth and tell everyone you were his favorite person in the world.Â
the boy you always pictured on this day.
âi canât wait for this to be over,â chenle murmurs beside you, barely moving his lips. to everyone else, it probably looked like he was whispering sweet nothings into your ear.Â
âperfect!,â someone gushes behind a camera, âthey look crazy in love.â
the irony nearly makes you laugh.Â
chenle turns toward you then, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear with such practiced tenderness that several people nearby audibly swoon. you hate how your stomach flips.Â
heâs beautiful at pretending to love you.Â
sometimes beautiful enough that you can almost pretend with him.Â
the reception continues in a blur of diamonds, champagne and endless congratulations. one by one, some of the most influential people in the country approach your table to greet the two of you personally, every gift placed before you looking absurdly expensive.Â
chenle smiles effortlessly but if someone looked closely enough, they would notice you speaking far more than he was, carrying conversations, thanking guests, asking about their families and businesses with perfectly timed warmth. prim. proper. poised. you had learned from the best. every time chenleâs expression dulled slightly, you stepped in before anyone could question it. when his attention drifted you redirected conversations smoothly. when his smiles became visibly strained, you compensated with your own brightness. and youâre convinced no one notices his lack of sincerity. or maybe they do and simply choose not to acknowledge it. because appearances mattered more than truth in a room like this.Â
âyou two truly are perfect together,â an older woman sighs while admiring the two of you, âjust look at how attentive your husband is.â
âhe always takes good care of me,â you reply quickly, smile never faltering, the lie sliding off your tongue so naturally it almost scares you. chenle glances at you briefly after that comment. you canât tell if heâs irritated or grateful. perhaps both.Â
minutes pass like that. more smiles. more photos. more toasts. more champagne. your cheeks begin aching from smiling so much but you endure it anyway. this was your wedding day. everything is supposed to be perfect. untilâ
âexcuse me,â chenle suddenly says beside you after another round of greetings, âi need to use the restroom.â
you immediately nod before anyone else can react, âof course.â
one of the investors chuckles knowingly, âalready escaping from married life, mr. zhong?â
a ripple of laughter follows. chenle gives them a charming grin that doesnât reach his eyes, âjust five minutes. i'll be right back.â he leaves with calm steps, posture still immaculate beneath his suit. you continue smiling after he disappears into the crowd.Â
five minutes pass. then ten. then twenty. people begin noticing.Â
âwhereâs your husband?â someone asks casually.Â
you let out a soft laugh, âprobably being dragged into another business deal somewhere.â they laugh with you easily. and you cover for him again. and again. and again.Â
by the thirty-minute mark, you can practically feel whispers beginning to bloom around the ballroom like perfume in the air. so you straighten your spine further, lift your chin slightly, and you smile brighter. if chenle was going to disappear from his own wedding reception, then you would make sure no one noticed the crack forming underneath the surface. you continue greeting guests alone, accepting congratulations with elegance polished into your bones.Â
mrs. zhong watches you from across the ballroom, sharp eyes lingering knowingly on your solitary figure. she says nothing. because she knows her son. how loud his resentment has been years, months, weeks building into this. but she also knows you. and she trusts youâll be perfectly fine. thatâs why she chose you for her son anyway.
chenle finally returns before he hit the forty-minute mark. your eyes find him immediately across the ballroom. his tie is slightly loosened now, not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough for you to catch instantly. his expression remains composed. but the second he reaches your side â you smell it. whiskey. strong enough to linger beneath his cologne.Â
and truthfully? you donât really mind. chenle was always easier when he drank. looser around the edges. less cold. less careful about keeping distance between the two of you. sometimesâŠhe even looked at you like he used to.
and after disappearing for almost forty minutes, he was going to have to sell this act twice as hard.Â
âthere you are,â you say smoothly as another cluster of guests approaches the two of you. before you can even fully turn toward them, chenleâs hand settles against your waist. firm. far more natural than earlier.Â
âsorry,â he says quietly near your ear, voice lower now, slightly roughened by alcohol, âgot cornered.â
you hum in acknowledgement, not bothering to call him out. he was lying, obviously. but this version of chenle was infinitely more tolerable than the sober one who treated your marriage like a prison sentence.Â
âmr. and mrs. zhong!â another investor greets excitedly, approaching with his wife beside him, âwe were just saying you two look unbelievable together tonight.â
normally, chenle would give a polite smile, a practiced nod, maybe rest his hand on your back for exactly five seconds before pulling away. instead, he pulls you closer.Â
âthank you,â he says easily, âmy wife makes it difficult not to stare.â
your breath nearly catches. it was the first time heâd call you that. his wife. and you hate how much you loved hearing it.Â
the investorâs wife practically melts on the spot, âoh, he adores you.â
you knew that couldnât be further from the truth. chenleâs just performing harder now. making up for lost time. and annoyingly enough, heâs very good at it. throughout the next hour, he barely left your side. and youâd be lying if you said it didn't affect you. drunk chenle was dangerously convincing. this version of him looked softer around the edges, dark eyes warmer beneath the ballroom lights. he smiled more. touched you more. occasionally leaned close enough that his shoulder brushed yours naturally instead of mechanically. like right now-
âyouâre doing that thing again,â he murmurs quietly, only for you to hear.Â
âwhat thing?â
âover-smiling,â his lips twitch faintly, âyour cheeks are probably hurting.â
the fact he noticed at all sends something uncomfortable fluttering through your chest.Â
âiâm fine.â
âmhm,â his pointer finger lightly grazes your cheekbone, soft and careful, âliar.â
your heart stumbles embarrassingly fast. you hate that alcohol makes him kinder. or maybe not kinder. just more honest with his attention.Â
another camera flash bursts in front of you both. another perfect photo for the headlines tomorrow. you wonder if anyone would still call the two of you the golden couple if they knew chenle only touched you this much after drinking enough whiskey to blur the resentment out of him.
you enjoyed the rest of the wedding reception. or maybe endured was the more accurate word. either way, you played the role of the perfect wife flawlessly. enough to fool an entire ballroom full of billionaires. by the time the reception finally ended, your cheeks ached from smiling and your feet hurt from hours in heels.Â
still, there was a strange warmth sitting inside your chest because despite everything â you had married the boy you love. even if he no longer loved you back.
âïž THE MARRIED LIFE âïž
the drive home is quiet. chenle sits beside you, his gaze lost outside the window. he doesnât look at you once. the alcohol from earlier seems to have worn off already. funny how quickly the warmth disappeared from him too.Â
eventually, the gates to the mansion slid open. your mansion now. your home for the rest of your life. the estate stood enormous against the night sky, lights glowing warmly throughout the property. it was less of a house and more of a private villa, complete with a fountain in the middle, sprawling gardens, balconies overlooking the endless green landscape, rooms neither of you would probably ever step foot in. beautiful but cold.
the car comes to a stop and before the driver can even fully open the door, chenle steps out first. you follow shortly after, one of the maids helping you with your dress as you stepped inside the mansion. the grand foyer stretches high above both of you, chandelier light reflecting against polished floors.Â
chenle was already halfway up the left staircase. ânight,â he finally says. flat. automatic. not even turning around. like the two of you didnât just celebrate a once in a lifetime event people dream of.Â
he disappears down the left wing leading to his bedroom without another word. you stare after him for a moment before quietly turning toward the opposite staircase. right side. your side. your room. Â
lili zhong had arranged this mansion for the two of you a month before the wedding, insisting that it would help ease the transition. she genuinely believed that if the two of you lived together beforehand, chenle would eventually come around, that proximity would soften him, that heâd remembered the closeness you once had. you remembered how hopeful she sounded while showing you around the estate.
âgive him time,â she had told you gently, âchenleâs stubborn, but heâs a good boy.â
you wanted to believe her. you really did. so for a month before the wedding - you tried. you asked him about work. about basketball games you knew he loved. about the restaurants you knew he liked. you sat beside him even when he barely acknowledged you were there. you tried being patient. understanding. gentle. it didnât work. and in the end, your efforts never mattered anyway. because whether chenle liked it or not, the wedding was always going to happen.Â
now that it had, the distance between you felt even larger. married yet sleeping in separate bedrooms like strangers forced under the same roof. itâs whatever, really. the mansion had far too many empty rooms anyway.
three months pass like that.
the routine becomes almost mechanical. you wake up separately. leave for work separately. return home separately.Â
real conversations only happen at the office. meetings. sale projections. marketing campaigns. brand collaborations. like business partners instead of husband and wife. which, you probably should have expected.Â
at home, chenle barely spares you a glance. he doesnât sit beside you on the sofa. doesnât ask about your day. doesnât linger in rooms you enter. dinners are eaten across opposite ends of a table long enough to seat twenty people comfortably, silence filling the space where conversations shouldâve been. sometimes the only sounds are the clink of silverware against plates and the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway.
and at night, the lights still glow beneath two different bedrooms. youâve never stepped into his this entire time. and he wouldnât be able to tell anyone what the colors of your walls were. sometimes you wonder if he stays awake as long as you do.Â
one night, you walked into the living room to find him watching basketball. for the first time in weeks, he actually looked alive. completely relaxed against the couch, eyes fixed on the television while quietly reacting under his breath. stephen curry had just made an impossible three-point shot and chenle actually laughed softly, shaking his head with genuine enjoyment lighting his face. you had almost smiled seeing it. because it reminded you of the boy he used to be. then he noticed you standing there and immediately, everything disappeared. his posture straightened. his expression flattened. he watched the rest of the game in complete silence, pretending not to care when curry hit the game winning shot minutes later. pretending he hadnât been enjoying himself at all before you arrived â that one hurt more than you expected. you realized then that your presence drained the life out of him. he physically could not relax around you anymore.Â
so eventually â you stopped trying to fill the silence. stopped asking if he wanted dinner together. stopped lingering in shared spaces hoping he might speak first.Â
if chenle wanted distance that badly, then fine. you would give it to him. even if the loneliness of this massive mansion swallowed you whole because of it.Â
âïž THE OTHER WOMAN âïž
you couldnât help it though. every night, no matter how much you told yourself to stop caring, you still waited for the sound of chenleâs bedroom door shutting. just to make sure he came home.Â
some nights he came home early, footsteps echoing through the quiet mansion before midnight. other nights, he returned a little later, long after you were supposed to be asleep, the distant sound of his shoes against the floor enough to finally let the tightness in your chest loosen.
he never knew you waited. or maybe he did. either way, neither of you acknowledged it.
but tonight was different.
the grandfather clock in the foyer had already struck two a.m. nearly fifteen minutes ago, the sound heavy and hollow throughout the massive estate.Â
chenle has never been out this late.
you glance toward the entrance again before lowering your gaze to the untouched cup of chamomile tea in your hands. it had gone cold almost an hour ago, when you first realize how late it was and your husband was nowhere to be heard.Â
âdid chenle say where he was going tonight?â you ask the maid standing nearby.
âno, mrs. zhong,â she answers carefully, âbut he did call for the driver around twenty minutes ago, he should be making his way back.âÂ
and itâs ridiculous, really, how your maid knows more about your husband's whereabouts than you do.Â
âokay,â you nod gently, setting the untouched tea aside, âgo ahead and get some rest,â you offer her a smile despite the exhaustion sitting heavily behind your eyes, âiâll wait up for him.â
âare you sure, mrs. zhong? i could wait instead.â
you wave her off, âitâs a wifeâs duty to take care of her husband.âÂ
she smiles politely at your response, âokay mrs. zhong, iâll be here when you need me.âÂ
âthank you,â you say genuinely.Â
she bows her head slightly before disappearing down the hallway, leaving you alone with the silence again. the moment sheâs gone, your smile fades. slowly, you rise from the sofa and make your way toward the grand staircase. more specifically â the left staircase. chenleâs staircase. the one you never use.
the mansion had been designed almost absurdly symmetrical, splitting the house in two. like the house itself understood the distance between you.Â
you settle onto the second step quietly, smoothing the fabric of your silk pajama dress beneath you, waiting for him to come home. your eyes drift across the foyer absentmindedly â the massive chandelier overhead, the single round table with the antique vase filled of flowers you didnât even like, and the wedding portrait hanging near the entrance your mother-in-law gifted. it always made your chest ache a little. you looked so happy in it. chenle looked convincing.
you wonder if this is what arranged marriages are supposed to feel like. waiting around in silence for someone who never notices you waited at all. you lean your head lightly against the staircase railing. maybe he was working late. maybe he was drinking. maybe he didnât want to come home anymore. the last possibility settles the heaviest.Â
your mind drifts despite yourself, back toward the beginning. a time when chenle used to text you constantly whenever he went anywhere. texts that were as silly as:
look at this ugly dog i found
watch basketball with me, i have popcorn
and others, that always made you smile and your heart race:
just tried the new restaurant down the street from our favorite tea place. i have to bring you there..it will make you cry tears of joy.
i saw this dumpling plushie and it reminded me of you, so guess who has a new dumpling plushie
letâs go on trip this weekend, just me and youâŠalready got the flight ticketsÂ
my momâs annoying me. come save me. please.Â
where are you? iâm picking you up
you used to be the first person he looked for in every room. now you barely knew what was going on in that mind of his. a soft laugh escapes you suddenly, quiet and humorless. if the tabloids could see you now, theyâll realize just how easy it is to create fake gold.
another thirty minutes pass when headlights appear through the front windows. your body straightens instantly before you can stop yourself, heartbeat quickening embarrassingly fast.Â
the front doors open moments later, chenle walking in. his tie hangs loose around his neck, dark hair slightly messy like someone has been running their fingers through it repeatedly. he smells faintly of alcohol, expensive cologne and perfume that definitely wasnât yours. your stomach drops before you can even process it fully. itâs sweet, floral, feminine â not familiar.Â
chenle freezes the second he notices you sitting on the staircase. for a brief moment, genuine surprise flashes across his face.Â
âwhat are you doing up?â he asks, voice rough and tired.Â
you force your expression to remain soft, normal, âwaiting for you.â
something unreadable flickers in his eyes. guilt. maybe. or irritation. you can never tell with him anymore. whatever it is, it disappears almost instantly.
âgo to bed, y/n,â he says with a sigh, already sounding exhausted by the conversation before it even begins. then he walks past you. just like that. and something inside you finally snaps.Â
there were many things that you could let slide. chenle ignoring you. chenle barely speaking to you unless necessary. chenle looking at you with those cold eyes sharp enough to cut skin open. chenle hating you for a life neither of you truly chose.Â
but this? coming home way past midnight smelling of alcohol and another womanâs perfume while wearing lipstick marks on his neck like he didnât even care enough for you to hide them???
a wife could only take so much.Â
you could only take so much.Â
before you know it, youâre standing abruptly and following him up the staircase. his staircase. your slippers hit the marble harder with every step as anger burns hotter beneath your skin. he pushes open his bedroom door and you follow him inside immediately, shutting it sharply behind you, the sound echoing through the room.
itâs your first time entering his bedroom in the four months youâve been married. that realization alone feels pathetic. itâs cleaner than you expected. dark walls. dark sheets. expensive furniture. floor to ceiling windows overlooking the green landscape, similar to yours. it looked less like the room of a married man and more like a luxury bachelor suite. nothing about it felt like there was space for you.Â
âare you fucking cheating on me?!â you demand, voice coming out harsher than intended, anger cracking through the polished composure you spent years perfecting.
chenle groans immediately, dragging a hand through his hair before kicking his shoes off carelessly, âi donât want to fucking talk about this right now.â
you ignore him completely, hurt and fury already boiling too violently inside your chest.Â
âis this why you hate me so much?,â you ask, voice rising, âbecause youâre already in love with someone else?!â
that catches his attention instantly. his head snaps toward you so fast it almost startles you.
âwhat?â
you let out a bitter scoff, âoh my god, chenle!,â you gesture toward him angrily, âyou have her scent all over you, thereâs lipstick all over your neckâiâm not fucking stupid.â
your voice gets louder with every word. so much for grace. so much for being poised. right now youâre just angry. hurt. humiliated.Â
chenle stares at you for a second before rubbing both hands down his face tiredly, âiâm not fucking in love with someone else,â he mutters.Â
âthen what the fuck is this?!â
silence stretches for half a second.
âi needed to get laid.â
chenle laughs once humorlessly, âif you havenât noticed,â he says coldly, âiâve basically been fucking abstinent for four months and i justâŠneeded a release.â
itâs almost sickening how that makes you feel better. your anger doesnât disappear but the crushing feeling in your chest eases slightly knowing there wasnât some other woman holding his heart while you sat here playing the perfect wife. it was just sex. not love.Â
you step closer before you can think better of it. chenleâs brows furrow slightly at the sudden closeness.Â
âif you need to get your dick wet, you come to my room.âÂ
his expression changes instantly, genuine shock flashing across his face. you continue before he can interrupt.Â
âno one elseâs.â
your chest rises sharply with each breath.
âiâm your wife now, for fuckâs sake.â
chenle just stares at you like he genuinely doesnât know what to say.
âi donât care if this marriage was arranged for business,â you snap, âyou do not get to cheat on meâŠagain.â
that room falls silent after that. you can practically see the conflict moving behind chenleâs eyes now. because he hates this. all of it. the marriage. the expectations. the loss of freedom. but you can also tell he didnât expect this reaction from you. didnât expect you to claim your place beside him so bluntly.Â
âbesides,â you add bitterly, âwe need to have a child eventually, as our parents love to remind me,â your laugh comes out hollow, âyouâd be doing me a fucking service.â
irritation flickers in chenleâs face immediately. but you donât stay long enough to examine it. you turn sharply and walk out before he can say anything else, your heartbeat pounding violently in your ears as you cross to your side of the mansion.Â
âïž THE BEST FRIENDS âïž
the two of you never talk about that night again. it got buried beneath the same routine. work meetings. silent dinners. passing each other in hallways without speaking. but something had changed after that. because you opened a door that night. and whether or not chenle chose to knock was entirely up to him.Â
it takes another month before he finally does.Â
chenle canât believe heâs actually considering this. he stands in his bedroom, staring at the half empty whiskey glass in his hand. this was insane. he was about to walk into your room and what? sleep with his wife? his best friend? except heâs not even sure that title still belongs to the two of you anymore.Â
best friends didnât look at each other the way he looks at you now â like you were both the wound and the knife that caused it. best friends didnât spend five months barely speaking despite living under the same roof. best friends definitely didnât resent each other enough to split a mansion into separate lives.Â
chenle exhales sharply before taking another shot. not enough to get drunk, just enough for that liquid courage to settle into his bones, silencing the voice in his head that told him this was wrong and allowing himself to knock on your door.
he knows this is so hard to do because of him. he knows heâs been irrational. resenting you for decisions neither of you truly got to make. taking every ounce of frustration and grief and anger about his life and placing it onto your shoulders because it was easier to have someone to blame than to accept that this is his reality.Â
and yet despite all of that â the only thing you had ever truly asked of him during this marriage was to not cheat on youâŠagain. you couldâve demanded affection. attention. a real marriage. instead, you simply looked him in the eye and told him to come to you first. that memory hasnât left his head since.Â
another sigh escapes him before he sets the empty glass down and finally walks out of his room. the hallway separating your bedroom feels strangely longer tonight. every step making him question himself again. this was a terrible idea. he should turn around. go back to his room. pretend this impulse never happened. but fuck, he needs to get laidâŠright now.Â
the knock startles you instantly. you glance up from your bed in confusion. itâs almost midnight. no one ever knocks this late and the maids only enter when called. for a second, you wonder if somethingâs wrong.Â
slowly, you slip off the bed and walk toward the door, your silk, short pajama dress flowing around you. and there he is â standing in the hallway looking strangely tense beneath the dim lights.
for a moment, neither of you speaks. then chenle says flatlyâ
âi want to have sex.â
simple. direct. like heâs discussing a business proposal instead of standing outside his wifeâs bedroom at midnight. your chest tightens painfully because somehow, even after everything, a part of you still hoped heâd come here for another reason. that maybe he missed you. maybe he couldnât sleep either. maybe tonight, after months of silence, he finally wanted to talk to you like he used to.
but of course not. he wasnât your chenle anymore. and this was your marriage - transactional. carefully detached. emotionally hollow.
âokay,â you answer softly after a second, stepping aside to let him in.Â
chenle walks past you quietly, eyes scanning your room almost curiously. unlike his bedroom, yours actually looked live in. warmer lighting. books scattered across tables. skincare and makeup products lining the vanity. blankets thrown carelessly across the couch near the windows â and trinkets, gifts, specifically from him â scattered around different parts of the room.Â
the dumpling plushie he got you when you were fifteen all because it reminded him of you.
the vintage camera on your shelf he bought behind your back when you were sixteen because you had mentioned once, only once, that you loved taking pictures because it made moments feel permanent. he remembers showing up the next day with your dream camera like it was nothing. âdonât say i never support your hobbies,â he teased.Â
even those damn crybaby figurines he bought you when you were seventeen were lined carefully beside your bookshelf. every single one from the collection you obsessed over years ago. you had a frown on your face over not getting the rare one from a blind box once and chenle spent nearly two weeks secretly hunting every figurine down until your collection was complete. you used to tell him he was insane for it. he used to think seeing you happy made the effort worth it.Â
suddenly the room feels suffocating. because there are pieces of him everywhere in here. small reminders scattered throughout your life of proof that before everything fell apart â chenle used to love you loudly. maybe not romantically. maybe not in the way you wanted. but enough to memorize the smallest things about you. enough to notice every passing comment and quietly turn it into something real.Â
chenle rubs the back of his neck awkwardly before finally looking at you fully and for the first time in months â he doesnât look angry when he does. if anything, he looks shaken. then he clears his throat.
âwe donât have to make thisâŠâ he pauses, brows furrowing slightly, âmore than what it is.â
âokay,â the answer leaves your mouth too quickly. too easily. like youâve already accepted that this was how it was always going to be.Â
he nods, leading the way as he reaches for the buttons of his pajama shirt. you look away the second the fabric slips from his shoulder, the room suddenly feeling warmer. chenle drops his shirt onto the chair near your vanity while you remain frozen beside the bed, fingers nervously toying the hem of your pajama dress.
neither of you knows how to start this. that becomes painfully obvious almost immediately. thereâs no romance here to guide the moment. no affection softening the edges. just tension and awkwardness.Â
finally, because if you stand there any longer, you think your heart might actually burst through your ribs, you reach beneath the fabric of your dress. with shaky fingers, you hook the elastic of your underwear and slide them down your legs, stepping out of them and leaving it on the floor. you keep the pajama dress on through, the thin material clinging to your curves.Â
the room goes still. chenle's eyes lift instinctively toward you, tracing the silhouette of your body before darting away almost immediately. and somehow that reaction hurts more than if heâd stared openly. because this feels like restraint. like guilt. like he is forcing himself not to want you.
you climb onto the bed quietly, trying desperately to appear calmer than you feel.Â
âyou can turn the lights off if you want,â you murmur softly.Â
and maybe that was better. maybe if he couldnât see you, he could pretend you were just another one of his one night stands. maybe the darkness would erase the history between you, leaving only the physical need. darkness settles over the room instantly, softened only by the lights outside filtering through the windows.Â
chenle approaches the bed slowly afterward, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight as he climbs in beside you, leaving enough distance between your bodies. neither of you speaks. thereâs nothing comforting to say. just the sound of breathing filling the dark room.Â
then, he finally reaches for you. his hand settling against your waist, his palm warm against the thin fabric of your dress. he pulls you toward him and your breath catches immediately. and itâs sad, really, that despite the coldness, despite the hate, youâve wanted this for years. you want him so badly it feels like a physical ache in your chest.Â
you close your eyes as he shifts closer, the last fragile layer of distance between you finally disappearing. he doesnât lift the dress, simply just bunching the fabric up around your waist, exposing your hips and thighs to the cool air. he doesnât kiss you. he doesnât whisper your name. he simply positions himself, his cock hard and pressing against your entranceâŠand he thrusts in.Â
âfuck,â chenle groans under his breath, his hand gripping your waist harder instinctively, digging his fingers into your skin, âyouâre so fucking tight.â
your breath catches painfully at the stretch, a sharp, searing pressure tearing through your center as your body struggles to accommodate the sudden intrusion. your fingers unconsciously claw into his biceps, gripping the hard muscle as a gasp of genuine pain escapes your lips. it hurts â more than you expected it to. there was no slow build up to soften any of this. no tender words whispered against your skin to ease the transition. this wasnât lovemaking.Â
for chenle, this is only a physical release, a way to drown out the noise of his own sadness and the crushing weight of his expectations. for you, it was simply duty. the possibility of giving both families the heir everyone expected from the moment your engagement was announced. just two emotionally exhausted people trying to fulfill a role theyâd been pushed into years ago.Â
chenle notices your pain immediately. you know he does because his movements stall, his body freezing inside you for a beat. in the dim light, you see his brows furrow, a flicker of something â hesitation, perhaps, or a ghost of the boy he used to be â crossing his features. he gives you a moment to adjust, his chest heaving against yours, but. neither of you say anything.Â
what would even be the point? there are no sweet words to be exchanged here. no declarations of love. only uneven breathing filling the dark room and the occasional strained sound slipping from both of you despite yourselves.Â
chenle keeps his eyes fixed downward, jaw tense like heâs trying not to think too hard about any of this. about you. about the way you feel wrapped around him. about what this act actually means for the two of you.
your fingers loosen from his arm eventually, your grip shifting to the silk sheets beneath you, bunching the fabric in your fists as the initial, blinding ache slowly dulls into a manageable throb. but as the physical pain recedes, a different kind of agony takes its place â one that is far more suffocating, your mind cruelly reminding you that this is the boy who used to hold your hand while crossing the street to make sure you were safe. the boy who bought you random gifts because they reminded him of you. the boy you had loved with a purity that now felt like a joke. and now, here you are, beneath him in a silence so heavy it felt suffocating.Â
he doesnât try to make it last. he doesnât try to find your pleasure or bridge the emotional divide between you. he simply drives into you with a mechanical, rhythmic intensity, his movements devoid of affection.
he lasted six minutes before it was finally over.Â
chenle curses softly under his breath as he paints your walls white. his forehead drops briefly near your shoulder, breathing unevenly before finally stilling completely. the room falls quiet almost immediately afterward except for both of your breathing.Â
then, chenle carefully pulls away. he begins to shift back but freezes mid-motion, his eyes dropping toward the sheets beneath you, the air in the room vanishing â small, vivid spots of red stain the white sheets.Â
âshit,â he breathes, his entire expression changing instantly. the detachment he had maintained through the act vanishes, replaced by a sharp, jagged edge of alarm, âare you okay?â
the concern in his voice catches you off guard more than anything else. real, genuine concern that you havenât heard from him in years. the same boy who used to worry if youâd scraped your knee.Â
still trying to steady your breathing, you blink at him tiredly, âwhat?â
âyou bled,â he says immediately, eyes darting back toward the sheets before the realization visibly crashes into him. his face tightens, jaw locking as the implication sinks in.Â
âfuck, y/nâŠ,â he exhales sharply, âare you a virgin?â
you stare at him for a long second, the silence stretching between you. you feel empty, raw and utterly exhausted. you shrug lightly, âwell,â you mutter dryly, âas of a couple minutes ago, i no longer am.â
chenle looks at you like youâve just punched him in the chest. thereâs disbelief there. guilt. and worst of all â pity. you hate it instantly. you arenât a porcelain doll. you are the owner of an empire and you had walked into this encounter with your eyes wide open.Â
âdonât look at me like that,â you scoff, reaching for your blanket and pulling it over you, âitâs not a big deal, chenle. it was gonna happen one way or another.â
he lets out a frustrated sound immediately, dragging both hands through his hair, âwhy do you keep saying that?!,â he snaps suddenly.Â
you blink, startled at the sharpness in his tone, the sudden eruption of emotion, âbecause itâs true.â
âno, itâs not,â his brows pull together harder, frustration and disbelief bleeding into his voice, âand this is a big deal. i just took your virginity.â
âand?!â you shoot back instantly, emotions finally cracking open.
âit was always yours to take!â
silence. thick. heavy enough to suffocate the entire room. chenle stills completely. the lights spilling through the windows cast shadows across his face, but you can still see the shock there clearly. he looks haunted, as if youâve just revealed a truth he wasnât prepared to handle.
âwhat?â he asks quietly.Â
âunlike you,â you say bitterly, your chest rising sharply, âi never thought marrying my best friend was something so repulsive.â
the words hit hard enough that chenle just stares at you. stunned. because he genuinely cannot understand it.Â
when he found out about the arrangement years ago, it felt like his entire life stopped belonging to him. suddenly every conversation had contracts hidden beneath it, every family dinner felt staged, every interaction between the two of you became another reminder that his future had already been decided before he even got a say. he panicked. rebelled. slept with girl after girl trying to desperately prove to himself he still had freedom. he still belonged to himself. still had choices before marriage locked him into a life he never asked for.Â
but you â you just accepted it.Â
you didnât run. you didnât scream. you didnât burn the world down to get away.
he remembers sitting in those meetings, hating every single second of it and every single time he looked at you â you were just sitting quietly beside him. calm. composed. nodding along politely whenever someone addressed you. you never argued. never pushed back. never looked angry enough.Â
and chenle convinced himself that meant you didnât care. that maybe this really was just business to you, too. he resented you for it. resented the way you accepted everything so easily while he felt like he was suffocating. resented the way you let your parents decide both of your lives without fighting harder beside him. resented how fake everything started feeling after that. like your friendship had never really belonged to the two of you. like it had been another transaction always meant to happen.Â
just like tonight.Â
just like this bed. this room. your first time.Â
the reality settles sickeningly into his chest. because despite all his anger, despite all the resentment he carried for years â this should have been special. not because virginity itself mattered to him. but because you did. somewhere beneath the layers of bitterness, the boy who loved you was still there, and he realizes with a jolt of horror that he is the one to turn this moment into something cold. another deal to complete. another box to check.
for the first time in months, chenle genuinely feels ashamed standing in front of you.Â
you slide beneath the blankets completely, turning away from him. your voice goes cold again. controlled. composed. your expression slowly shutting down. piece by piece. the same way it always does whenever he hurts you. itâs a practiced defense, a wall built from years of his indifference.
âiâll have the maid clean the sheets tomorrow.â
chenle opens his mouth slightly. then closes it again. because thereâs nothing he can say that fixes this. nothing that gives you back the moment he just ruined. he cannot un-take your innocence.
âif youâre done here,â you murmur quietly, âyou should just go.â
the guilt eats him alive, gnawing at his insides as he stares at your curled-up form. yet, chenle walks out anyway.Â
âïž THE MOTHER IN LAW âïž
you get your period two weeks later and it annoys you far more than it should. the second you see the faint streak of red, disappointment settles heavily into your chest before you can stop it. pathetic. you actually let yourself hope that one night would be enough. that somehow, despite how cold and emotionally disastrous it had been, it mightâve at least resulted in something tangible. something that would finally make this marriage feel like itâs moving forward instead of rotting quietly in place. something that would finally make this mansion feel like a house.Â
youâre afraid of the possibility it wonât happen again. not after the way things have been recently.Â
itâs gotten worse between you and chenle. at least before, when he looked at you, there was fire there. albeit, not the good kindâŠbut fire, nonetheless.Â
now, it was just stone cold. and every now and then â guilt. itâs like he doesnât know what to do with himself around you anymore. and every single time you notice it, sorrow settles deeper inside your chest. guilt isnât love. you donât want him feeling sorry for you. you want â no. you force yourself to stop that thought before it finishes.
wanting things from chenle only ever leads to disappointment.Â
ây/n, dear, how are you and chenle?â mama liâs voice breaks through your thoughts. sheâs sitting elegantly across from you in the living room, posture perfect even in something as simple as afternoon tea. sunlight pours through the massive windows behind her, catching the gold resting against her fingers as she lifts her teacup gracefully.Â
sheâs beautiful in the same terrifying way chenle is. composed. sharp. impossible to fully read. sometimes looking at her hurts because all you can see is him.Â
she asked the question gently. but thereâs always command hidden beneath her voice, years of power woven naturally into every word she speaks.Â
âuhm,â you hesitate, âi donât know, mama li,â the nickname leaves your lips naturally. it always has, âi donât think weâll ever go back to the way we used to.â
for a moment, genuine sadness flickers across her face. she exhales softly before offering you a small smile, âjust give it time,â she says gently, âyou know heâs always loved you.âÂ
your chest tightens painfully. itâs what everyone says. your parents. his parents. family friends. employees who watched the two of you grow up together. everyone insists chenle loved you once. maybe still does. but lately, youâre not so sure anymore. maybe everyone simply misunderstood him all these years. maybe being comfortable around someone your entire childhood wasnât the same thing as loving them.Â
after all â chenle himself has never actually said it. not once.Â
mama li studies your expression carefully before continuing, âchenle has always been difficult with his emotions,â she says with a quiet sigh, âbut that boy would follow you around everywhere when you were younger. you were the only person who could calm him down whenever he got upset.â
you force out a faint smile, âthat was a long time ago.â
âfeelings donât disappear that easily,â she replies smoothly.Â
you wish you believed that. instead, you take another sip of tea to avoid answering.Â
âeven so, my dear,â her eyes linger meaningfully on you, âi hope youâre not forgetting your duties.âÂ
there it is. the real reason behind this conversation. behind her visit. Â
children. heirs. you suddenly feel exhausted. you donât know what to say. youâve only slept with chenle once. and considering the fact you got your period this morning, youâre very aware you are not pregnant. still, you canât exactly tell his mother that her son barely touches you. so instead, you straighten your posture slightly and force your voice to remain calm.Â
âweâre trying.â
mama liâs expression brightens immediately, genuine excitement sparkles in her eyes, âwell, thatâs wonderful news,â she says warmly, âwe have to continue our legacies after all,â she adds with a soft smile, lifting her teacup once more.Â
legacy. sometimes you wonder if anyone in this family actually understands how lonely that word feels.Â
âïž THE DRUNK WIFEâS PINKY PROMISE âïž
itâs been a month since mama liâs visit. and half a year since you and chenle got married. he hasnât touched you once since that night. not even accidentally. no lingering touches while passing each other in hallways. no brushing shoulders. no quiet midnight knocks at your bedroom door. absolutelyâŠnothing.Â
and lately, the restlessness sitting inside you has started turning into panic. because six months into marriage and you still werenât even close to being pregnant. your parents ask constantly. mama li asks so often that your stomach knots every single time. even the public has started wondering. the media hasnât said anything outright yet, but youâve seen the headlines.Â
WHEN WILL THE GOLDEN COUPLE ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST HEIR?
A BOY OR A GIRL? IT SHOULD BE ANY DAY NOW.
and worst of all â people at work were starting to notice things too. the whispers had gotten louder these past few weeks:
why do you never arrive together? why do you leave separately? why do the two of you never eat lunch together despite literally being married? were you both simply that professional??? or did you secretly hate each other???
the stress had been eating at you slowly. you feel like youâre being watched even more so than usual.Â
so tonight, for the first time in months, you finally leave the mansion for something other than work. with your best friend - yizhou ning-qian. if anyone understood arranged marriages, it was her. except for the obvious difference that her husband, kun qian, absolutely adored her. even with their seven year age gap, they worked. somehow effortlessly. which honestly made your own marriage feel even sadder by comparison.Â
âhave you tried initiating it?,â yizhou asks casually, sipping her tequila.
the two of you were tucked away inside one of the private rooms at a high-end bar where membership alone cost more than most peopleâs yearly salaries. dim lights glowed against velvet seating while soft jazz echoed faintly beyond the closed doors.Â
you stare at her, âyizhou,â you say flatly, âi canât even get close enough to try.â
she snorts immediately, the sound sharp and mocking of the situation.
âevery time i walk into a room,â you continue, âhe leaves. immediately.â
"man,â she sighs, shaking her head, âchenle seriously needs to grow the fuck up.â you canât even disagree. âthis was always going to be our lives,â she continues, taking a quick sip of her drink, âand honestly? itâs not even that bad.â
another tequila shot arrives at the table. she pushes it toward you with a mischievous glint in her eye.
âi mean,â she giggles, âweâre literally billionaires! it canât get better than this.â
you burst into laughter with her despite yourself, the alcohol finally beginning to warm your chest pleasantly.Â
âexactly!,â you groan dramatically after downing the shot in one go, âall we have to do is marry someone else rich and pretty yet chenle thinks the world has ended.â
yizhou nearly chokes, laughing, âgod, heâs just been too spoiled.â
the two of you dissolve into another fit of giggles. and if it was any other person, youâd feel awful for trash talking your husband. but she was your best friend, one of your safe spaces. and it feels good to laugh. you havenât done that in a while.Â
yizhou wipes beneath her eyes dramatically before leaning back against the couch, âif anything,â she says, still grinning, âyou guys are the luckiest out of all of us.â
your smile falters, âand whyâs that?â
âyou married someone you already knowâŠsomeone you already love.â
the words silence the laughter instantly. the love you carry for chenle is a heavy, aching thing â a devotion that has survived his coldness and his resentment. but love is a two-way street. and chenle has shown it loud and clear that he didnât share those same feelings for you.Â
âhe doesnât love me, yizhou,â you say quietly.Â
for a second, she just stares at you. then suddenly, she bursts into even louder laughter. âyeah,â she says sarcastically between giggles, âand my husband is fucking poor!â
you shove her shoulder weakly while laughing. considering kun was literally one of the ten wealthiest men in the country, the statement sounds ridiculous.Â
her expression softens after laughing, ây/n,â she says more seriously now, âthat boy has loved you since before we even knew what love was.â
âyou donât know that,â you whisper, chest tightening painfully as you shake your head immediately.
âoh, please,â she rolls her eyes, âeveryone knows that.â
you sigh into your drink. you wish people would stop saying that. it just lets the hope linger longer. just reminds you of the boy he used to be. just makes the man he has become feel more like a tragedy.
âseriously,â she continues, leaning forward now, âhe just needs to wake up from whatever self-pity hole he dug for himself.â
you stare down at the amber liquid in your glass quietly.Â
âi mean, come on, he has to know that it could be worse,â she adds.Â
âhow could it be worse than this?â
âjaeminâs literally arranged to marry someone he actually hates,â she points out, âand even he isnât acting as childish as chenle,â she reaches for your hand then, intertwining her fingers through yours.Â
âitâs not your fault, y/n.â
your throat tightens at her comfort, the alcohol heightening the vulnerability of your emotions.Â
âand sooner or later,â she says softly, "chene's going to realize that too. heâs going to realize that while he was busy hating the arrangement, he was losing the only person who actually gives a damn about him.â
you drank a lot more than you shouldâve. at first, it was just to loosen up. but somewhere between the expensive tequila, the soft jazz playing in the private room and yizhouâs ridiculous stories, the warmth spreading through your body started feeling addictive. every shot made things quieter. lighter. your thoughts blurred around the edges. your chest stopped hurting so much whenever chenle crossed your mind. for the first time in months, you werenât thinking about the empty side of your dinner table or the way your husband avoided looking at you like eye contact physically pained him.Â
you were just laughing. drinking. existing. and maybe thatâs why you didnât realize how much time had passed until yizhou was shoving your purse into your hands while laughing at your completely incoherent attempt to put your heels back on.Â
by the time your driver finally pulls into the mansionâs driveway, itâs nearly three in the morning. the second the car door opens, cold air hits your face and you instantly regret every decision you made tonight.Â
âmmm,â you groan softly while stepping out drunkily, âwhy is the ground moving?â you complain.
âthe ground is not moving, mrs. zhong,â your maid says gently while helping steady you. you squint suspiciously at the marble steps leading toward the front door. you manage to stumble inside the mansion without face-planting into the floor. barely. if it wasnât for your maidâs help, youâd be on the ground.Â
âits uhâkay,â you mumble as your maid carefully tries helping you remove your coat, âmmm okay, i can take care of myself. iâm a professional. iâm aâŠceo of being okay!â
you absolutely are not. your words are slurring into a thick, honey-like mess and you nearly take out a priceless vase with your shoulder before you finally collapse onto the bottom step of the right staircase.Â
upstairs, chenle hears your voice immediately. he had been awake. waiting. though heâd never admit that out loud. usually, when he came home from work, your bedroom light would still be visible through the tiny crack beneath your door.Â
tonight, it had been dark.Â
and when he checked downstairs earlier under the excuse of getting water, you hadnât been in the living room either. and for reasons he doesnât want to examine too closely, it unsettled him. so tonight, he intentionally left his bedroom door slightly cracked open. just enough to hear when you returned home.Â
and now here you were. sounding very, very drunk.Â
chenle exhales sharply before stepping out into the hallway. he makes his way downstairs quietly only to stop midway down the staircase at the sight in front of him. youâre sitting on the bottom step of your staircase now with your head slumped against the railing while your maid looks one second away from panicking.Â
âi said iâm okayyyy,â you groan.Â
âsir zhong,â the maid says immediately in relief the second she notices him.Â
your head snaps upward clumsily at her voice, eyes unfocused as you follow her gaze. chenle stands halfway down the staircase dressed in dark sweatpants and a loose shirt, his hair looking unbelievably soft. he looks unfairly handsome for three in the morning â a devastatingly beautiful statue carved from ice and moonlight.Â
âmrs. zhong is drunk,â the maid explains carefully.
âiâm not drunk,â you counter immediately. then your body sways sideways slightly and she catches your shoulder before you topple over completely.Â
she turns back toward chenle helplessly, âiâm trying to help her up the stairs, sir. she might hurt herself without guidance.â
chenleâs jaw tightens slightly. then he nods once. âiâll take care of it, you may go.â
she bows politely before quickly disappearing down the hallway, leaving the two of you alone. silence settles briefly. chenle walks down the remaining stairs slowly before stopping in front of you.Â
âyou drink now?â he asks flatly, clearly not amused.Â
you squint up at him from the floor, âwow,â you mumble, a small, crooked smile playing on your lips, âjudgmental much? mr. perfect.â
stubbornly, you attempt standing on your own. terrible decision. the second you rise, the world spins 360 degrees. chenle reacts immediately, one arm hooking firmly around your waist and hauling you flush against his chest. the contact is electric. itâs the first time in months he's touched you with any kind of intent, and the sudden heat of his body against yours makes your breath hitch. he is solid, warm, smelling of expensive soap and something uniquely him.
you blink up at him, your heart hammering against your ribs as you reach out, poking his chest weakly with a finger, âyouâre not the only one,â you whisper, your voice losing its playful edge and becoming raw, âwho wants to forget.â
the words come out quieter than intended. more honest too. youâre too drunk to notice the way his face softens for half a second. deep down, heâs always known it. he just never wanted to acknowledge it â the fact that you were hurting, too.Â
he reaches forward, his hand cupping your face and squishing your cheeks together, forcing your lips into a pout. his brows furrow, gaze scanning your flushed face, âyou know youâre not good with alcohol.â
you sway weakly at his wrist with a dramatic scoff, âpsh, whatever.â
then you wriggle yourself fee from his hold before turning toward the staircase again, âiâm a big girl now,â you mumble stubbornly as you begin walking upwards, âi can do it.â
chenle hums behind you, not convinced in the slightest. you make it about five steps before the world starts tilting unpleasantly again. he was right. you were never good with alcohol. your head feels heavy. your feet hurt from the heels you still havenât taken off and suddenly the stairs look impossibly long and all you want to do is fall asleep right here.
with a defeated sigh, you finally turn around. and only then do you realize how close chenle actually is. heâs standing just two steps below you. close enough that if you slipped backward even slightly, heâd catch you instantly. it softens you immediately. the way he still followed you. your expression crumbles into something smaller, softer.
âlele,â you mumble quietly, the nickname naturally slipping from your lips. you havenât called him that in years. not since everything between you became sharp and complicated.Â
chenle visibly freezes. the air in the stairway seems to solidify, trapping him in the space between who he is now and who he used to be.
your lower lip juts out slightly as you blink at him tiredly, âi need help,â you admit finally, your voice small and stripped of all its corporate armor.
his heart stops. he swears the world stops moving. because you sound exactly like her. not the polished corporate heiress version of you who sits through board meetings with perfect posture and calculated smiles. not the wife who carefully measures every word around him now.Â
you sound like the girl he used to know. the one who used to cling onto his arm after getting tired at amusement parks. the one who cried dramatically over a barely scraped knee and demanded he carry her because âbest friends are supposed to help each other.â the one who looked at him as if he were the only source of light in a dark world.
you sounded like the girl he loves.Â
before business meetings hollowed everything out between you. before his own resentment poisoned every room you shared.Â
chenle exhales slowly through his nose, a shaky breath that rattles in his chest. he sighs, and for the first time in years, the sound isn't one of annoyance, but of defeat.
âcome on, you big baby,â he mutters.Â
the tease slips out so effortlessly it surprises both of you, a sudden echo of a decade ago. your eyes widen slightly, he hasnât sounded like that with you in a very long time. before you can even respond, chenle bends slightly and hooks an arm beneath your knees. you let out a tiny squeak as he lifts you effortlessly into his arms, bridal style. instinctively, your hands grab onto his shoulder, settling against his chest automatically as he starts carrying you up the stairs properly this time. his warmth surrounds you immediately, steady and safe, your alcohol fogged brain melting into it without resistance.Â
chenle tries very hard not to think about how natural this still feels. how your body still fits against his as if they were two pieces of a puzzle designed by a higher power. he feels your fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, a subconscious grip that mirrors the way you used to hold onto him when you were children. years ago, this wouldâve been normal. he used to carry you all the time. after you fall asleep in the car rides home. after twisting your ankle once trying to impress him at basketball. after you threw a dramatic tantrum at sixteen because your heels hurt during some charity gala. back then, touching you was easy. now it feels dangerous.Â
he pushes your bedroom door open with his shoulders before walking inside. carefully, he lowers you onto the mattress. but the second he starts pulling away, your hands grab onto him tighter.Â
ânot yet,â you mumble immediately, tugging him downward with surprising strength until he half falls onto the bed beside you. your arms wrap around him instinctively, face burying against his chest, holding him close.Â
chenle freezes for half a second. then exhales slowly. because fuck. he missed this. he missed you. not the tense silence between board meetings. not the careful distance. not the version of you that flinches emotionally every time he looks at you now. but this â warm and soft and clinging onto him like he was still your safest place in the world.Â
your hugs always used to calm him down faster than anything else. even now, after everything, his body relaxes embarrassingly quick the moment your arms tighten around him. he lets himself stay there for a little while. just a little. his hand settles carefully against your back as your breathing slowly evens out.Â
eventually, he pulls back enough to look at you properly, brushing your hair away from your face gently, his fingers lingering slightly longer than necessary.Â
âwhyâd you drink so much anyway?â he asks softly.Â
and maybe itâs the alcohol. maybe itâs the exhaustion. or maybe you simply miss your best friend too much to keep pretending you donât. because suddenly, you start talking to him like heâs still that person.Â
âmy husband wonât touch me,â you mumble sadly.
the words hit him directly in the chest. especially because you say it like your husband and the man currently holding you are two entirely different people. his eyes widen slightly, heat creeping into his face almost instantly and heâs almost grateful youâre drunk enough not to notice.Â
âand everyone keeps asking me about children, leleâŠâ your voice grows smaller, âitâs justâitâs too much,â you pout slightly afterward, eyes glossy and tired.Â
chenleâs guilt continues to grow. he knows all of the pressure has been landing on you. his mother stopped bringing children up around him months ago. your parents tread carefully too. everyone gives him space, shows him more grace. he thinkâs itâs because everyone is afraid that if they push him too hard, it will make him snap completely. make him finally leave. no one realizes he never actually could. not when the thought of a world where he wasnât with you, even in this broken, tragic way, felt more impossible than the marriage itself.
âdo you even want a child?â he ask quietly, not sure why he keeps this conversation going. maybe because this is the most honest the two of you have been with each other in years.Â
you shift, turning on your side to find a more comfortable position, and in the process, you instinctively seize his hand again. without a second thought, you tug his arm around your waist, pulling him flush against you until your back is pressed firmly against his chest. the position nearly wrecks him. because this used to be normal too. movie nights. sleepovers. lazy afternoons tangled together on couches while studying. you always used to curl into him naturally like he was home. and he used to hate having to leave, always wanting more time with you.
âit wouldnât be that bad to have one,â you admit softly, your fingers playing absentmindedly with his, tracing the lines of his palm, âi meanâŠwe have all the money in the world.â
chenle huffs quietly through his nose, a small, dry sound. it always comes back to that, doesn't it? the money. the wealth. the legacy. the gold-plated chains that bind you together.
âwe could have twenty and still have plenty left over,â you add with a sleepy, whimsical giggle.
that actually almost makes him laugh. the image of the two of you with twenty children running around this mansion sounds absolutely insane. he can barely handle one drunk wife right now. still, his chest feels strangely warm hearing you talk like this â domestic, hopeful, almost dreaming. it stirs something in him that he thought he had buried under layers of corporate coldness.
chenle doesnât even know if he wants children. at least, not like this. not because families and investors expect it. not because itâs another duty to fill.Â
suddenly, you shift again, turning in his arms to face him fully. your movements are slow, languid, you lift your hand, fingers grazing his jawline with a touch so light itâs almost a hallucination. you caress him carefully, your eyes searching his with a heartbreaking intensity.
âgive me a baby, lele,â you whisper.Â
his entire body stills. every muscle locks. he knows its the alcohol talking.Â
but, fuck.
the way youâre looking at him right now could ruin him. chenle would give you anything. money. houses. companies. his entire fucking life if you asked for it. just â not like this. not when it would feel like another transaction instead of something real.Â
his hand slides carefully into your hair instead, âwhy do you want a baby so badly?â he asks quietly, voice strained.
you shrug faintly. then your expression softens into something heartbreakingly vulnerable.Â
âi just donât want to be so lonely anymore.â
his heart breaks instantly. completely. itâs his fault. he is the one who built the walls. he is the one who turned this house into a gilded cage.Â
âsoâŠâ you mumble sleepily, eyes barely open now, âwill you give me one?â
hope flickers across your pretty face so softly it nearly kills him.Â
he swallows hard, ânot right now, y/n,â he says gently. your expression falls immediately and the guilt twists violently inside him again. so he adds.. quietlyâŠâmaybe someday.â
your eyes lift toward him again slowly. then, you raise your pinky between the two of you.
âyou promise?âÂ
chenle stares at it and suddenly heâs thirteen again. you donât link pinkies the way others do. you once declared that it âfelt fakeâ and that crossing fingers didnât feel lucky enough for important things. so, the two of you had invented your own ritual. your own secret language of loyalty.
carefully, with a tenderness that makes his chest ache, chenle takes your hand and he leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the very tip of your pinky finger.
âi promise.âÂ
your sleepy face brightens instantly. you grab his hand and softly kiss the tip of his pinky too.Â
a promise sealed. except this promise wasnât as simple as the ones before.Â
eventually, your body relaxes fully against his chest while his fingers continue stroking slowly through your hair until you fall asleep in his arms. chenle stays there longer than he should, watching you sleep peacefully against him, finally not hurting for a little while. once heâs sure youâre completely asleep, he carefully slips out of bed. but before leaving, he gently pulls your heels from your feet one by one. then he places a glass of water and two pieces of tylenol on your nightstand. the same way he used to after parties years ago. for a while, chenle just stands there staring at you. then quietly, he turns the lights off and finally lets the night end.Â
âïž THE DEATH GUMMY âïž
another month passes. and things were starting to shift subtly. youâre not entirely sure what happened that night you got drunk. honestly, most of it is blurry fragments in your memory â warm arms, soft whispers, the feeling of safety you hadnât felt around chenle in years.Â
whatever happened though, it softened chenle a little. just a tiny bit.Â
he still doesnât initiate a conversation unless absolutely necessary. still keeps most of his thoughts locked tightly behind careful expression. still retreats into himself more often that not. but he doesnât leave rooms as soon as you enter anymore. and slowly, he starts joining you for dinner again. you ate silently, still on opposite ends of the table but at least he was there now.Â
then, one night, you found him in the living room watching an episode of f.r.i.e.n.d.s. normally, you wouldâve turned around to avoid making him uncomfortable. instead, chenle glanced at you briefly, eyes soft, not leaving, not telling you to go away either. so, cautiously, you sat on the opposite end. the two of you watched an entire episode, occasionally laughing at the same jokes. at one point your laughter overlapped and both of you went awkwardly still afterward. but even that tiny moment felt precious. more than you could ask for.Â
maybe everyone was right. maybe chenle simply needed time.Â
today, the two of you are at yĂŒ skincare headquarters. a product development meeting. one of the companyâs biggest launches planned for next year. your team had spent nearly eleven months developing a new type of vitamin e supplement. and because you took your work seriously, you always insisted on testing products yourself. if consumers were putting your products into their bodies, then so would you.Â
the testing room buzzes quietly with concentration. there are only five people here today â you, chenle, your assistant, mark lee â head of the vitamin research development team, and another researcher seated nearby typing notes rapidly into a laptop.Â
mark steps forward excitedly, holding the newest batch carefully, âtoday is mainly flavor testing,â he explains, âwe finally stabilized the texture, so now we just need to ensure the taste is actually enjoyable for the mass market.â he places one small green chewable into your palm. then another into chenleâs, âwe infused it with natural fruit extracts to eliminate the vitamin aftertaste.â
you nodded absentmindedly, your mind already drifting toward the logistics of the rollout. you trusted mark implicitly â he was one of the best in the industry.
without a second thought, you and chenle both placed the gummies into your mouths.
and thatâs when everything goes wrong.
your throat locks almost instantly. your eyes widen violently. for half a second, you think you might have swallowed wrong. but then your airway starts closing. fast.Â
you canât breathe.Â
in a blind surge of terror, you slapped your hand hard against chenleâs arm, the sound sharp in the quiet room. his head snapped toward you, and every ounce of color drained from his face. he watched, in horror, as you began to turn a terrifying shade of red, your mouth opening desperately, gasping for air that wouldn't come. your eyes were wide, filled with a raw, primal terror.
chenle reacted before anyone else could even process what was happening. he lunged forward, gripping your shoulders with a strength that nearly knocked you back, facing you fully.
âY/N?!â his voice was tight, laced with immediate alarm.
your lips parted, but no sound emerged â only a wet, wheezing struggle. you clawed at your own throat, your nails digging into your skin in a desperate attempt to open the airway.
a wave of pure, unadulterated terror hits chenle, his eyes darting around the room frantically, searching for the cause, mind racing through every possibility.
âwhat the fuck happened?!," he roared, voice echoing off the sterile walls.
the room froze. everyone stood paralyzed, their faces masks of confusion and sudden fear. no one answered. no one has answers. the silence was suffocating, broken only by the horrific, whistling sound of your struggle to breathe. chenleâs gaze snapped to the tray of green gummies. he pieced it together then.
âweâre there kiwis in these?!â chenle demands sharply.
mark blinked, nodding quickly, his voice trembling, âuhâyes, sir. we infused it with concentrated kiwi juice because itââ
âSHEâS ALLERGIC!,â chenleâs voice cracks through the room so loudly everyone jumps.Â
you were deathly allergic to kiwi. not mildly allergic. not uncomfortable. deathly. a single slice of the fruit in a room could make your throat itch, a concentrated extract delivered directly into your system was a death sentence.
his breathing turns uneven instantly as fear floods his system. youâre not coughing anymore. youâre struggling. really struggling. your body starts slumping sideways in your chair and chenle catches you immediately before you hit the floor.
âheyâhey, stay with me!â his voice shakes.Â
for the first time in years, he completely loses his composure in front of other people. he was no longer the cold heir, he was a terrified boy watching the only person he truly loved slip away.
âher bag,â he barked, the command slashing through the chaos, âsomeone get me her fucking bag now.â
your assistant rushes forward immediately, handing your bag over. another employee is already yelling for medics outside the room. everything becomes chaotic around him. but chenle barely hears any of it. all he can focus on is you. the violent red of the reaction was fading into a ghostly, terrifying pallor. your lips were tinged with a bruised blue, and your head kept dipping weakly, your consciousness flickering like a dying candle. your hand, resting against his suit jacket, felt colder with every passing second. for one horrifying, timeless moment, he genuinely believed you were dying.
âlook at me,â he pleaded, his voice urgent and wrecked. he gripped your face, his fingers trembling against your cheeks, trying to force your unfocused eyes to lock onto his. ây/n, look at me! stay with me!â
your eyelids fluttered, your pupils blown and hazy. you could see him â the panic in his eyes, the sheer, unadulterated terror â but you couldn't reach him. you were drowning on dry land.
âfuckâ!â he let out a choked sound, his hands shaking violently as he dove into your bag. he tossed aside your wallet, your phone, a lipstick, his movements frantic and clumsy, âwhere is itâwhere the fuck is itââ
then finally â the epipen. you always carried it for emergencies.Â
relief crashed through him so hard it was almost physical, a wave of adrenaline that surged through his veins. he didn't hesitate. he didn't even remove your clothing, he slammed the injector hard against your outer thigh, the needle piercing through the fabric of your trousers with a sharp, clinical click.
âstay with me,â he whispered, his voice rough and broken, âplease, please stay with me.â
the seconds that followed were an eternity of agonizing silence. chenle held his breath, his heart hammering against his ribs, watching your face for any sign of life. then it happened â you let out a sudden, violent gasp, a broken, desperate inhale that sounded like a sob. it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. oxygen flooded back into your lungs, and the sudden rush of air brought a torrent of tears that spilled from your eyes, soaking into the fabric of his shirt.
chenle exhales shakily like he forgot how to breathe too, his forehead nearly dropping against yours from relief, his eyes closing tight.
âthatâs it,â he whispers frantically, his voice a breathless wreck, âthatâs it, baby, breathe.â
he doesnât even realize what he called you. he only cared that your hand, though weak and trembling, was curling around his fingers, clinging to him as if he were the only thing keeping you anchored to the earth. chenle grips tighter immediately, as if letting go would allow the death that had just brushed past you to return and take you away.Â
his breathing is uneven. his eyes are glossy. everyone in the room is staring now because theyâve never seen zhong chenle like this before.
but chenle doesnât care about appearances anymore. not when he thought he was about to lose you forever.Â
âïž THE ONLY CHOICE HEâS EVER MADE âïž
chenle never visits you in the hospital.
the first day, mama li told you he was busy dealing with the fallout at work, there were investigations happening now, meetings with legal teams and a very furious chenle. the second day, you waited. by the third day, you stopped expecting him entirely.
your private hospital suite overlooks the city skyline, expensive and pristine in the way only billionaires could experience. fresh flowers arrive every morning from companies and family friends. assistants rotate in shifts outside your door. nurses practically hover around you like youâre made of glass. everyone treats you like you almost died. which, to be fair, you technically almost did. still, you feel fine now. a little tired maybe. but alive.Â
your father is currently standing near the windows watering the ridiculous amount of plants someone sent earlier when the question finally slips out of you quietly.
âhas chenle come by?â
he pauses mid-motion before looking over his shoulder at you. then slowly, he shakes his head, âsorry, sweetheart.â
you look down at the blanket pooled over your lap, âyou were right, dad,â you admit softly, your voice sounding hollow in the vast room.
his brows furrow, âiâm right about a lot of thingsâŠbut what is this one about?â
you force out a weak laugh, âmaybe it wouldâve been easier to marry someone i didnât love.â
that makes him stop completely. he places the watering can onto the nearby table before he walks toward your bed. your father has never been particularly good with emotions. he showed love through stability, protection and business lessons disguised as life advice. still, he takes the seat beside your bed quietly.Â
âsweetheart,â he says carefully, âthere are positives and negatives in every situation. and sometimesâŠthe choices we make can hurt more than we expected them toâbut you already made your decision,â he sighs softly, âand just like every good business deal, you have to commit to it fully.â
you almost smile. trust your father to turn emotional comfort into a corporate lesson.Â
âtrust your instincts,â he adds quieter this time, his hand patting yours awkwardly. itâs probably the closest thing to emotional reassurance he knows how to give. it helps a little.Â
âthanks, dad,â you murmur.Â
he nods once before leaning down to kiss the top of your head gently, âget some rest.â
then he leaves you alone again. the second the door shuts, the loneliness creeps back in. because despite his words â the only person you actually wanted to see was chenle.Â
unbeknownst to you, chenle visits every single night.
always after midnight. always once heâs certain youâre asleep. he slips into your hospital room quietly, dressed in dark clothes and exhaustion. the first night, he genuinely thought you looked dead. too still. too pale. fear hit him so hard he crossed the room immediately just to place a trembling hand near your face and make sure you were still breathing. only after feeling your warm breath against his skin did he finally relax. after that, it became routine. every night he checks your breathing first. sometimes, he sits beside your bed for hours in complete silence, staring at you while guilt slowly eats him alive from the inside out.Â
because you couldâve died.
and worseâ
you couldâve died believing he hates you.Â
chenle doesnât think he wouldâve survived losing you. that realization was a cold, jagged blade, cutting through the carefully constructed armor he had worn for years. it terrified him more than anything else. for years, he convinced himself the opposite, that you were the reason he felt trapped, the reason his life no longer belonged entirely to him. the reason everything started feeling planned and suffocating. but the second your breathing stopped sounding normal â none of that mattered anymore. all he remembered feeling was pure, violent fear.Â
the memory keeps replaying in his head every night no matter how hard he tries to shut it out. your hand grabbing his arm desperately, your face turning red, the sound of you struggling for air, the way your fingers slowly weakened in his grasp, the horrifying weight of your body slumping against him and worst of all â how cold he felt. like someone had dumped ice water directly into his chest.Â
he hates that it took a near-death experience to shatter his delusions. he hates that he had been so blind. fear like that doesn't stem from obligation. you donât unravel, you donât scream into the void, and you donât beg a person to breathe if all they ever were to you was a responsibility â he hates how almost losing you made him realize that everything he felt for you had always been real. not planned. not arranged. not a script written by two powerful families to ensure a monopoly on the cosmetic industry.
because long before contracts existed. before business meetings and inheritance talks and engagement announcements â chenle loved you.Â
he loved you when you were thirteen, sealing promises with kissed pinkies. he still remembers the first time you came up with it. the two of you had been sitting on the rooftop terrace of your parentâs vacation house, legs dangling over the edge while sharing melted popsicles in the middle of summer. âcrossing fingers feels fake,â you complained dramatically after he broke a promise to watch a movie with you the week before, âpeople break pinky promises all the time.â he laughed, âso what? we sign contracts now?â you rolled your eyes before grabbing his hand. then, with complete seriousness, you pressed a tiny kiss against the tip of his pinky finger. âthere,â you said proudly, ânow itâs permanent.â after that, every important promise between the two of you was sealed that way. he never broke a single one.Â
he loved you at fifteen when you attended every single one of his basketball games with his number painted proudly across your cheeks in bright blue despite both your parents immediately scolding you for putting âcheap toxic paintâ on your skin. you didnât care though, you sat front row, screaming, âthatâs my lele!,â every time he scored. he used to pretend to act embarrassed in front of his teammates while secretly searching for you in the crowd every few minutes just to make sure you were still there. you always were. and after the games, youâd rush toward him, still wearing his jersey, eyes sparkling. no victory ever felt as good as seeing you proud of him.Â
he loved you at sixteen when your vintage camera became permanently filled with blurry pictures of him. half the photos were terrible â his face cut off, him mid-yawn, him glaring because you kept shoving the camera into his face while he was trying to eat. but mixed between those were softer ones too like him asleep in the car with his head tilted towards you, him laughing with his head thrown back, pictures of the two of you together. he once asked why you took so many pictures of him and you shrugged like it was obvious, âbecause youâre my favorite person.â he thinks maybe that was the first time his heart ever genuinely stuttered inside his chest.Â
he loved you when you were seventeen, in a moment so sudden it had nearly knocked the wind out of him. he remembered the weight of the shopping bags in his hands, the handles digging into his palms, and the sheer, unfiltered joy radiating from you. you had spent weeks in a state of mourning over your crybaby figurine collection, devastated after failing to pull the secret rares. you hadnât asked him for help â you never did â but chenle had watched your disappointment from the sidelines, and it had felt like a physical weight in his own chest. he spent nights contacting resellers behind your back until he found every missing figurine himself. when he finally handed you the completed set, the expression on your face had been blinding. you had looked at him as if he were the center of the universe. without a second thought, you reached up, grabbed his face in your small hands, and pressed a fervent, lingering kiss to his cheek. âi love you the most!â you squealed, your voice high and breathless with excitement. chenle remembered the way the blood had rushed to his face, a heat so intense it felt like a fever, while you remained blissfully oblivious, already turning back to admire your figurines. in that moment, he had realized that your affection was a drug, and he was already hopelessly addicted.
and deep, deep down, he knows he loved you at twenty-four. especially on the day you became his wife. the moment those heavy doors opened and you stepped inside wearing that white dress you spent months carefully choosing â he forgot how to breathe. everything around him blurred instantly. time slowed to a crawl, yet he felt his entire future rushing toward him at the same time. all he could see was you. the slight tremble in your hands, the way your eyes shimmered with a mixture of hope and fear, and the way you looked at him as if he were still your favorite person in the world, despite everything. you looked beautiful. not in the polished, public way magazines later described. not like âthe perfect heiress.â you looked devastatingly you. and chenle wanted so badly to reach for you, pull you close, wanted this marriage to be real in every way that actually mattered. when the officiant gave the command to kiss the bride, his chest ached with a sudden, sharp grief. it felt cruel that this â a choreographed moment in front of a thousand witnesses â was your first kiss together. he remembers leaning down slowly, your lashes fluttering, lips soft and warm and gentle against his. and for a second, chenle forgot there were a thousand people surrounding you both. forgot cameras existed. forgot he was angry. kissing you felt terrifyingly natural, like a missing piece of his soul finally clicking into place, a homecoming he should have claimed years ago.
but the truth was, he had loved you long before he even had a word for it. back when the two of you were six years old and accidentally broke expensive glass tubes inside one of the zhong cosmetics labs while playing tag in the rooms. assistants had panicked instantly, someone yelled, another employee nearly cried seeing the shattered equipment all over the floor. you got scared immediately, eyes filling with tears as adults crowded around the two of you. and without even thinking, chenle stepped in front of you protectively, âit was my fault,â he lied. he remembered the feeling of your watery gaze on the back of his head while he stood there, taking the brunt of the scolding from every adult on the floor. he hadn't cared. the only thing that mattered was that you weren't crying anymore. later that evening, you had secretly slipped half of your dessert onto his plate, whispering that âheroes deserve rewards.â
everything else in his life had been a predetermined path. the schools, the internships, the board meetings, the carefully curated image of a successor. his life had been a series of checkboxes marked by people who didn't care about his heart.
but all those moments â the pinky swears, the blue paint on your cheeks, the secret figurines, the shared dessert â those belonged entirely to him. entirely to the two of you.
loving you was the only choice he ever truly made on his own.Â
it had happened naturally, quietly, and without permission. he had built this love in the secret spaces of his heart, and in his desperate, panicked attempt to protect his freedom, he had almost destroyed the only thing that had ever actually set him free.
he hasnât forgiven himself for any of it yet. not for avoiding you all these years. not for making you lonely inside your own marriage. not for turning your first time into something cold and painful. not for the way your face looked when you admitted you just didnât want to be lonely anymore. and definitely not for freezing in that meeting for even half a second before realizing what was happening.
which is exactly why he canât face you while you were awake right now. he physically canât. because the second you look him with those eyes of yours, heâs terrified heâll completely break apart in front of you. he imagined himself sobbing at your bedside, begging for a forgiveness he didn't believe he deserved.
and everyone keeps reminding him stress is bad for your recovery. the irony was a bitter pill to swallow. chenle knew he was the primary source of stress in your life. so, he remained a shadow, visiting only in the dead of night, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of your chest. it was pathetic. it was cowardly. but it was the only way he knew how to love you without hurting you further.
by the third day, your regular hospital meals suddenly disappear. instead, trays arrive with your favorite comfort foods â steaming siomai, all types of dumplings, wonton noodles â all warm and prepared exactly the way you like them. you canât hide your smile when you see them because there is only one person in the world who knows your comfort order by memory, a relic of a childhood where he used to sneak you treats when you were sad. you stared at the tray fondly. chenle might not have visited you, but this feels like proof he still cares anyway.Â
and by the fifth day, youâre completely over it. everyone is being ridiculously dramatic. you feel so energized already. bored out of your mind. still, every doctor insists your body needs more recovery time after the severity of the reaction. your parents refuse to let you leave early and the only person who actually has the authority to pull you out, your husband, isnât taking that risk either.
you end up staying in the hospital for two more days before finally coming home.Â
âïž THE AIR âïž
when chenle got home that afternoon, heâs exhausted. the past week had destroyed him more than he let anyone sees. he barely slept. barely ate. and every single time his phone rang unexpectedly, panic seized his chest before he could stop it.Â
he loosens his tie tiredly as he walks through the mansion doors, mentally preparing himself to go to the hospital to pick you up. but as he walks into the kitchen â he freezes.Â
youâre standing there, alive and healthy, wearing one of your silk pajama sets while leaning casually against the island, sipping water and scrolling through your phone like nothing happened.
for a second, he thinks heâs imagining you. you werenât supposed to be released for another three hours. then again, you were stubborn enough to convince almost anyone to do what you wanted eventually. no one ever really knew how to tell you no when you looked at them with that specific, determined glint in your eyes.
âyouâre home.âÂ
the sound of his voice quickly diverts your attention from all the emails you were catching up on to him. you glance up and in his eyes â you see the difference. the armor he usually wore wasn't just cracked â it was gone. his eyes were wide, vulnerable, and shimmering with a relief so profound it looked like pain. slowly, you place your phone down on the counter, smiling at him gently.Â
âiâm home.â
for the first time all week, he remembered how to breathe again. like he had given you all of his air and itâs now finally being returned to his own lungs.Â
the briefcase he was carrying hit one of the glass tables with a loud, jarring crash. he didn't care. he didn't even look at it. he crossed the kitchen, closing the distance between you and collided with you, pulling you into his arms so suddenly and with such force that the air left your lungs in a small gasp.
chenle hugs you tightly. desperately. like he needs physical proof youâre still here. still warm. still breathing.Â
your eyes widen in shock, breath hitching against his shoulder. then, slowly, you let your guard down and wrap your arms around him, feeling the frantic, erratic thumping of his heart against your ear.
âi thought i was gonna lose you.â
his voice cracked, the sound raw and jagged against your hair. the confession was stripped of all pride, all resentment, and all the distance he had spent years cultivating. the fear was completely exposed, leaving him naked before you.
you pulled back just enough to look at him, though you stayed in his arms. the sight of him broke your heart. there were dark circles beneath his eyes, and his skin looked sallow from lack of sleep. and then, a single tear escaped, tracing a slow path down his cheek.
you froze. in all the years you had known him â from the boy who chased you through the labs to the man who ignored you across the dinner table â you had never seen chenle cry. not once.
with tenderness, you lifted your hand and brushed the tear away, your fingertips lingering on his skin, impossibly soft.
âzhong chenle,â you murmur softly, voice trembling with a mixture of ache and affection, âyou really think you can get rid of me that easily?â
his eyes close briefly at your touch like your fingers can undo the pain inside him. he doesnât answer, doesnât joke, doesnât hide behind sarcasm or distance or that cold indifference he perfected over the years. instead, chenle just pulls you back into his arms again, holding you tighter this time. and for the first time in years, you let yourself lean into him fully.Â
eventually though, reality settles back between the two of you. chenle slowly loosens his hold first. the second he realizes how tightly heâs been clinging to you, his expression shifts immediately. he clears his throat quickly and takes a half step back like distance might help him regain control again.Â
âiâm glad youâre okay,â he says quietly, guarded again.
before you can even process the moment properly â he leaves. just walks out of the kitchen entirely, leaving you standing there alone trying to understand what the hell just happened.Â
none of that made sense.
chenle has spent the last six years hating you. yet, for a few minutes, he had held you like you were the only thing in the world that mattered. you stare at the doorway long after he disappeared through it. confused. hopeful. terrified. you didn't want to read too much into a moment of panic-induced weakness, but the ghost of his heartbeat was still echoing in your ears.
until your phone buzzes nonstop, dragging you back to reality, life continuing on like your world hadnât just tilted.
âïž THE MISTAKE THAT ALMOST TOOK YOU FROM ME âïž
the next day youâre back at the office like nothing happened. your heels click softly against the marble flooring of yĂŒ skincare as staff members greet you nervously on your way toward your office.
you settle into your executive chair with a quiet sigh, immediately scanning through the pile of reports waiting for you. the vitamin incident had already become a nightmare with legal teams involved, quality control investigations and public relations teams working overtime to keep information contained.Â
you press the intercom button lightly, âsend mark lee in.â
less than a minute later, the heavy door to your office swung open to huang renjun, human resource manager. his posture was stiff, his expression carefully neutral, yet there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes that immediately set off alarm bells.
your brows furrowed as you continued flipping through a document, âwhereâs mark?â you asked, your voice cool and professional, âi need the updated reports on the supplement.â
renjun coughs awkwardly, the sound immediately making you look up, something about his expression feeling off, âmaâamâŠâ he hesitates, âheâs no longer with the company.â
your hand stills completely against the papers, ââŠwhat?â
âheâs been terminated.â
âi didnât receive a resignation letter, nor did i authorize a termination,â you pointed out calmly, though your eyes narrowed, âexplain.â
renjun uncomfortably shifts beneath your gaze, âsir chenle fired him.â you stare at him for a moment, trying very hard to not let your surprise show too obviously. renjun clears his throat again, âhe actually fired everyone involved in the vitamin project.â
your mind raced. chenle was many things â arrogant, distant, and emotionally stunted. but he was never impulsive when it comes to business. he was a strategist who weighed every risk. for him to wipe out an entire department without a single consultation, without even a courtesy to call you, meant he had completely lost his composure.
you force your expression neutral anyway, âi see. you may go, renjun.â
renjun bows quickly before practically escaping your office. the second the door shuts, you lean back into your chair slowly. you should be angry. technically, you are. chenle had overstepped every professional boundary, sabotaging your chain of command and stripping you of your most experienced researchers. but beneath the irritation, a treacherous warmth bloomed in your chest. for the first time in six years, chenle had been emotional. he had been protective. he had burned down a project just because it had dared to hurt you. it was a violent, impulsive gesture of care, wrapped in the guise of corporate cruelty.
that night, you leave your office long after most employees have already gone home. the building is quieter now. the endless clicking of keyboards and ringing phones reduced to distant murmur somewhere far below. through the massive windows lining your floor, the city glows beneath the dark sky, millions of lights flickering like stars against the glass.Â
you wrap your blazer tighter around yourself before stepping out into the hallway. your heels echo sharply against the tiles as you make your way toward the glass bridge connecting yĂŒ skincare headquarters to zhong cosmetics tower beside it.
the bridge had always fascinated everyone. two billion dollar companies physically connected in the middle of the skyline. a symbol of merger. of power. of the marriage between you and chenle. you used to love walking through it. now it just feels symbolic in the cruelest way possible â close enough to see each other yet still separated by glass.Â
you knew these buildings like the back of your hand. every hallway. every hidden office. ever late-night corner where you and chenle used to sit as teenagers avoiding meetings your parents forced you into. the memories follow you all the way across the bridge tonight.Â
by the time you reach the executive floor of zhong cosmetics, the receptionist has already gone home. only chenleâs personal assistant remains seated outside his office. the man immediately stands and bows politely the second he sees you.Â
âmrs. zhong.â
you nodded once, your gaze fixed on the closed doors. âis he busy?â
his assistant hesitated for a fraction of a second, glancing at the clock. âyes, maâam, but⊠you may go in.â
you donât bother knocking, simply pushing the doors open and walking inside. his office is dim except for the warm lighting near his desk and the city lights pouring through the windows behind him. chenle sits in his massive leather chair, sleeves rolled up slightly while scanning through documents with quiet concentration. he doesnât look up immediately, probably assuming itâs just his assistant.
âyou fired mark lee?â your voice cuts cleanly through the room, chenleâs attention snapping upward instantly. for a fleeting second, relief flickers across his face, like part of him still instinctively checks whether youâre okay every time he sees you now. then the expression disappears again, turning into something neutral.Â
âwhoâs that?â
you exhale slowly through your nose, already irritated, âchenle,â you say flatly, âmark lee. head of the vitamin research team.â
understanding clicks across his face immediately, but it isnât accompanied by apology.
âahh,â he leans back slightly in his chair, âyes. that guy. how could i forget.â
the dismissiveness in his voice immediately annoys you further as you walk deeper into his office, âyou cannot fire my people without consulting me first.â
chenle finally sets the file in his hands down, âyour people are my people,â he says coolly, âthatâs the whole point of this marriage.â
you ignore the sting in that statement â the reminder that in his eyes, you are just another asset to be merged.
âi want him back on the team.â
his jaw tightens almost instantly, âno. y/n.âÂ
the answer comes too quickly. too firmly.Â
you stop dead in front of his desk now, arms crossing, refusing to back down, âchenle,â you say, your voice carefully modulated, fighting to keep the anger out, âmark lee has been employee of the month for seven consecutive years. heâs one of the best researchers in the industry. heâs valuable to this company and firing him is a strategic mistake.â
"valuable people donât almost kill my wife."
the room goes still. your heartbeat stumbles slightly at the sharpness in his voice, at the way he says my wife. the possessiveness of it nearly undoes you, but your frustration and stubbornness is stronger.
âfor fuckâs sake, chenle,â you snap, the poise youâve spent years perfecting finally cracking, âit was an accident!â
his expression hardens immediately, âan accident?â
"yes, an accident!," you throw your hands up, âhe didnât even know i was allergic to kiwis!âÂ
which was true. almost nobody did. allergies were weaknesses and weaknesses were dangerous in industries like yours. information could be weaponized to easily. chenle knew that better than anyone.Â
suddenly, he stands, furious enough that his chair rolls backward sharply against the floor. his palms slam loudly on his desk, a sound that cracks through the office.Â
âan accident that almost took you from me!â
his voice hits the room heavily â raw, furious, terrified â completely unraveled in a way youâve never heard before. you stare at him across the desk, chest tightening painfully before anger rushes back to protect you from the hope that can completely blind you.
âoh please,â you scoff bitterly, rolling your eyes, âi bet youâd be jumping up and down if i actually died. it would have been the perfect exit strategy for you wouldnât it? no more obligations, no more arranged marriage.â
the second the words leave your mouth, the atmosphere changes completely. the heat of his anger vanishes, replaced by a cold, suffocating stillness. chenle freezes, his eyes locking onto yours, hurt plastered all over his face.
âwhat?â he whispers.
your own emotions spill over immediately afterward. because youâre angry too. and hurt. and most of all, confused. you donât know what he wants anymore. he needed space, you gave him space. you offer him a physical relationship that benefits him, he barely even touched you. and now â now heâs acting like he cares.
âyouâve spent the last six years making it very clear that you hate me,â you say, refusing to let your voice shake, âyouâve avoided me, ignored me and treated me like a burden. so donât suddenly start playing the caring husband because i almost died. donât pretend you have a heart now just because youâre scared of the paperwork a death certificate would cause.â
his expression breaks even more. the anger is gone, replaced by a look of such profound devastation that it almost feels like a crime to feel the way you do.
âi donât hate you.â
and he sounds painfully, devastatingly honest.
you stare at him from across the desk, your heart beating so loudly it almost drowns out the silence filling the office. chenle doesnât look away from you. the room feels too small now. too full of things neither of you know how to say.Â
âyou donât get to say that now,â you whisper finally, your voice cracking, ânot after all these years.â
he looks down sharply, jaw tightening hard enough for you to see the muscle twitch. then he laughs once, a miserable, dry laugh.Â
âi know.â the words come out rough. he drags a hand over his face like heâs trying to pull himself back together. it doesnât work. âi know,â he repeats weaker this time, sounding small and hollow.Â
you watch him carefully now, even more confused. zhong chenle never falls apart. not publicly. not privately. not ever. he is the gold standard of control â composed, untouchable, a man carved from ice and expectation. yet, standing before you, he looks like heâs seconds away from total collapse.Â
your anger starts cracking around the edges as you look at the boy in front of you. you were always weak when it came to him. if there were a list of your weaknesses, heâd be right there, on top of that damned fruit.
âchenleâŠâ
he suddenly shakes his head. he physically canât let you comfort him right now.
âdo you know what i thought when you stopped breathing?â
the question hangs in tha air as you hold your breath.Â
âi thought,â he exhales shakily, âi thought the last thing you were ever going to believeâŠwas that i hated you.â
he finally looks at you again then, completely wrecked, his eyes bloodshot and swimming with a grief that has been simmering for years.Â
âand i couldnât fucking breathe,â he admits quietly, his voice trembling, âbecause all i could think was that you were going to leave me believing i didnât love you.âÂ
the world feels like it stops spinning. love. he said love. not care. not obligation. love. your lips part slightly but no sound comes out. chenle laughs bitterly again before shaking his head.Â
âyouâre right. i spent years blaming you for everything because it was easier than admitting i was scared,â he confesses, his gaze searching yours, âscared that none of my choices were mine anymore. that my entire life was a script written by our parents,â he swallows hard, his adamâs apple bobbing, âbut loving youâŠthat was the only choice that was actually mine.â
that brings tears to your eyes instantly. chenle looks at you helplessly now. he doesnât know what to do with all the emotions spilling out of him anymore.Â
âand i ruined us anyway.â
he moves then, walking around the desk quickly, finally removing the barrier that always sat between the two of you. you think heâs going to stop in front of you.
instead â he drops to his knees.Â
âwhat are youââ
before you can even process the gesture, his arms wrap tightly around your waist, forehead pressing against your stomach and finally â he breaks completely. you feel the shuddering breath leave him in a great, racking sob, his grip tightening almost painfully around you, tears slipping down his cheeks.Â
âiâm sorry.â
the words come out cracked. wrecked. nothing like the polished man the world knows.Â
âiâm so fucking sorry.â
you cover your mouth with your hand, stifling a sob of your own, even though you could already taste the salt from your own tears. this is the same boy who never apologizes unless forced to. the man who would rather bleed out than let people see weakness. and here he is, kneeling at your feet, clinging onto you like youâre the only thing keeping him together.Â
âiâm sorry for all of it,â he gasps, his voice breaking, âfor hurting you, for making you feel lonely, for making you believe i hated you when iâ,â his voice breaks completely.Â
slowly, tentatively, you thread your fingers through his hair. the moment your touch meets him, chenle exhales a shaky, broken sound against your stomach, his entire body shuddering. even a small gesture of comfort from you is enough to undo him.
âstop that,â you whisper, voice trembling.
your heart is breaking for him, for the boy who spent years pretending to be a monster so he wouldn't have to admit he was a prisoner. you can't stand to see him like this â on his knees, apologizing as if he is something broken and discarded at your feet, rather than the person youâve loved for all of your life.Â
you gently tug at his hair, coaxing him to look up. when he finally does, his eyes are swimming with tears, his expression completely defenseless. in this moment, everything else feels distant and irrelevant. there is only one overwhelming realization pouring through your chest:
chenle loves you.Â
the boy you spent years mourning while standing right beside him this entire time still loves you. your heart feels too full for your body. before you can overthink it, before the fear and doubts can return, you slide your hands down to his face, pulling him upward carefully.
âget up,â you murmur through your own shaky tears. chenle obeys immediately, still staring at you like heâs afraid this moment isnât real. your hand slides slowly against his cheeks, wiping his tears away before settling on his jaw.
âyou really love me?âÂ
the question is a fragile thing, barely a whisper, floating between you like glass that could shatter at the slightest breeze. you sound disbelieving, your voice trembling with the weight of six years of silence and cold shoulders.
chenleâs expression dissolves. the hardness in his eyes, the armor heâs worn since he was eighteen, it all melts into something so painfully tender it nearly wrecks you.Â
âi always have,â he confesses.Â
thatâs the final blow. the last shred of distance, the last wall of resentment.
you kiss him first.
but chenle returns it immediately, kissing you back like heâs been starving for it, years of tension snapping instantly. his hands come up to your waist, pulling you impossibly closer, enough to pull a gasp from you while your fingers tangle tightly into his hair.Â
this kiss feels nothing like your wedding day. itâs not polite. not careful.Â
itâs desperate. itâs the sound of two people drowning and finally finding air. all the years you spent silently loving each other crashing together at once. he kisses you like heâs trying to make up for every moment he wasted. every cold shoulder. every lonely dinner. every time he walked away instead of reaching for you.Â
your back bumps lightly against the edge of his desk. he breaks the kiss for a fraction of a second, his forehead pressing against yours, both of you panting, breaths mingling in the charged air.
âfuck,â he whispers against your lips, his voice a wrecked, needy rasp, âi missed you so fucking much.â
the words makes your head spin. you don't let him breathe, pulling him back down, your mouth seeking his with a hunger that matches his own. his grip on your waist tightens, and in one fluid, powerful motion, he lifts you effortlessly, hoisting you onto the desk. papers scatter, sliding across the desk and fluttering to the floor. he doesn't give a damn about the reports. the only thing that matters is the heat of you.
you wrap your legs around his waist automatically, pulling him into you as he steps between your knees. he crashes his lips back onto yours, his tongue sweeping through your mouth with a possessive urgency. this isn't just lust, itâs an exorcism. he is purging years of loneliness, and you are drinking him in, fingers clutching his hair, pulling him closer as if you could merge your very souls.
âdo you know-,â he groans, his voice sounding almost angry at himself, his mouth moving to the sensitive skin of your jaw, â-how long i've wanted to do this properly?â
âstop talking then,â you tease, your voice breathy and laced with desire. you reach down, hooking your fingers into his belt loop, tugging hard, dragging his hips flush against your center.
chenle lets out a grunt as he grinds his cock firmly into your clothed core, the friction sending a jolt of pure electricity through both of you. he freezes, a shudder racking his entire frame, his breath coming in jagged hitches.
âwait... wait, baby,â he groans, his forehead dropping to your shoulder as he forces himself to pull back just an inch.
âwhatâs wrong?âÂ
âi really, really want to do this,â he rasps, âbut...not here.â
you laugh softly and it almost undoes him. almost makes him take back what he just said. with a tiny smile on your lips, you nod, âokay.â
then you glance around the wreckage of his desk, your smile turning into something playful, âdo you need help finishing up those reports first, then?â
âare you crazy?â he asks, though his tone is fond. he doesn't let go of you, his hands sliding down to squeeze your hips one last time before he helps you down.
âweâre going home...right now.â
the ride home is a blur of friction and heat. for the first time in your marriage, you don't sit in separate cars. you spend the entire journey tangled together in the backseat, the partition slid up to shield you from the driverâs view. you canât stop kissing him. you canât stop laughing into him, feeling the giddy, overwhelming rush of being loved back.
chenle is just as relentless, his mouth roaming all over your exposed skin, leaving a trail of dark, possessive marks that claim you as his. every time you try to catch your breath, he finds a new spot to kiss, his hands roaming your curves.
the air in the car is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and arousal, the silence of the ride punctuated only by the sound of wet kisses and the shaky, happy sighs of two people who have finally come home.
âïž THE MASTER BEDROOM âïž
as you step through the front door, chenle is practically jumping beside you, a boyish grin plastered on his face. he looks at you with a hunger that is now subdued by an overwhelming sweetness.
ârace you to the top!,â he shouts.
before you can even process the challenge, heâs already bolting up the left staircase, his laughter echoing through the foyer.
âlele! this isnât fair! iâm in heels!â you squeal, your voice sounding lighter than it has in years. you run up the right staircase anyway, feeling like a kid again â the version of you that loved him without fear, and the version of him that followed you everywhere.Â
by the time you reach the top, breathless and flushed, heâs already there, leaning against the railing with a smug, sparkling expression.Â
âthat was not nice, you shouldâve given me a head start!,â you complain, crossing your arms and pouting, a childish expression you havenât dared to show him in a lifetime. he chuckles then, stepping forward, his presence enveloping you as he pulls you back into his arms.Â
his finger lifts your chin to tilt you face up to his, âand what does the winner get?,â he asks, eyes dancing with a mix of mischief and adoration.Â
you lean back slightly, a playful, daring glint in your eyes, âhmmâŠyou get to choose.â
he quirks a brow, gaze dropping to your lips, âchoose what?â
âmy room or yours?â you say with a smile that looks innocent but tastes like a provocation.Â
a slow grin spreads across his face, âhow about ours?â
âours?â confusion flickers across your features.Â
without a word, he takes your hand and begins leading you. he doesn't turn toward the left wing or the rightâŠinstead, he guides you toward the central hallway â the one youâve spent months ignoring. it was the dead zone of the house, a place too painful to acknowledge because it represented the void in your marriage. the hallway that leads straight to the master bedroom.
as you walk, he slides behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist in a tight back hug, pulling your back flush against his chest. he presses a kiss to the side of your neck, his breath hot and steady as he pushes open the two grand double doors.
you freeze, your breath catching in your throat. the room is breathtaking. grand and dipped in gold.Â
âwow,â you whisper, stepping inside, âi havenât been in here since your mom gave me the tourâŠi thought it wouldâve collected cobwebs by now.â
âit did,â he whispers against your ear, his voice thick with a sudden, piercing apology, âi had the maids clean while you were in the hospital. i wanted it to be perfect for when we finally came home together.â
you turn in his arms, looking up at him. a small, bittersweet smile tugs at your lips., âmaybe i shouldâve eaten that kiwi a lot earlier.â
chenleâs grip on your sides tightens, his expression shifting into one of genuine panic, âdonât joke about that, baby. please.â
you giggle, the sound soft and melodic. he scolds you, though his eyes are softening, âitâs not funny, y/n.â
âiâm not smiling because of the kiwi,â you reply softly, your voice barely a breath.
âthen why are you smiling?â he asks, his thumb tracing the line of your jaw.
you look away for a second, your cheeks flushing in embarrassment, âi justâŠi really like it when you call me baby.â
chenleâs heart is practically audible in his chest, his gaze intensifying as he tips your chin up gently, making you look into the depths of his devotion.
âi love you,â he declares, the words sounding like a vow.
âi love you, too,â you whisper back.
he kisses you then â not the desperate, starving kiss from the office, but something slow, sweet, and profoundly tender. itâs a promise of a future. a seal on the new life youâre starting.
then, without warning, he breaks the kiss and sweeps you off your feet. you let out a startled gasp, clutching his shoulders as he lifts you bridal style. he carries you across the room with effortless strength, eyes locked on yours, matching smiles on your faces before placing you carefully in the center of the massive king-sized bed.
as chenle looms over you, the playful energy morphs into something more deeper. he moves with deliberate, agonizing slowness, as if he wants to memorize every single inch of you, making up for every second of the years he spent pretending he didnât want you.Â
he leans in, his lips brushing against yours in a kiss that starts as a whisper and grows into a demand. his tongue swirls against yours as you moan into his mouth, hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.
âyou have no idea,â he murmurs against your lips, his voice a low, gravelly vibration, âhow long iâve dreamed of kissing you.â
his hands move to the hem of your blouse, fingers grazing your skin and sending jolts of electricity through your nerves. he undresses you with a reverence that borders on worship, peeling away the fabrics slowly, pausing to kiss the hollow of your throat, the slope of your shoulder, and the middle of your breast. when youâre finally bare beneath him, he pulls back for a moment, his eyes darkening as he drinks in the sight of you.
âyou're so beautiful,â he whispers, his gaze heavy with adoration.Â
he descends slowly, lips finding your breast as he takes your nipple into his mouth, sucking firmly, you let out a sharp gasp, your back arching off the mattress. the sensation is new â a focused, searing heat that radiates from your chest down to your core. he alternates between soft licks and deep, demanding suctions, moving from one breast to the other, leaving a trail of wet, burning kisses across your ribs.
âleleâŠoh, god,â you whimper as he continues trailing lower, his tongue tasting the skin of your stomach, circling your navel and teasing the very edge of your underwear. you can feel the heat radiating from him, the scent of his skin mixing with the luxury of the room, your breath coming in short, jagged hitches.
youâve only known one kind of intimacy ever â that cold, transactional night with him that left you feeling empty. this is different. this is a slow burn, a deliberate awakening.
as he slides your underwear down your legs, he settles between your thighs, pushing them wide. you feel a surge of vulnerability, a sudden flash of inexperience that makes you shy away slightly.
âwait, chenleâŠi've... i've neverâŠâ you start, your voice trembling.
chenle looks up at you, a tender, knowing smile on his face, âi know, baby. just relax. let me take care of you.â
the first contact of his tongue against your clit pulls a soft moan out of you, a sensation you werenât prepared for. the feeling of pleasure, making your hips instinctively jerk upward, arching off that mattress in a desperate search for more. he presses deeper, his tongue swirling in a slow, rhythmic motion that targets the most sensitive part of you.
âdo you like that?â he mumbles, his voice a low, vibrating growl against your wetness, the heat of his breath sending fresh shivers racing down your spine.
âyesâŠâ you whisper shyly, voice trembling. you try to keep your eyes open, wanting to witness the sight of him. but you donât get to watch for long before your eyes begin to roll back, lids fluttering as he begins to feast on you with a sudden, hungry intensity. heâs no longer just tasting you â heâs consuming you. his tongue flickering rapidly, alternating between broad strokes and sharp, pointed pressure that makes your toes curl. when he suddenly sucks your clit into his mouth, creating a powerful vacuum of pleasure, your vision blurs into a haze of white and gold. you are completely undone. the tension in your lower belly coils tighter and tighter, building into a frantic crescendo that makes you feel like you're vibrating.
âchenle, iâm⊠i think iâmâŠâ you gasp, your fingers clutching the silk sheets until they bunch up in your fists.
âgo on, baby. give it all to me,â he encourages, his voice thick with desire. he works his tongue faster and harder, driving you relentlessly toward the edge.
as he does, he glances up, his dark eyes focusing on the sight of you â your head rolled back, your mouth parted in a silent, desperate gasp, your body arched, your nipples peaked.
he reaches up, grabbing your hand and locking his fingers with yours, anchoring you to the bed. you squeeze his hand with everything you have, clinging to him as the world finally shatters. you cum hard, your clit pulsing against his tongue in a series of intense spasms that leave you sobbing for air. the release is so overwhelming that it feels as though you're floating in a void of pure euphoria, a level of pleasure you never knew existed. you collapse back into the pillows, panting heavily, chest heaving as the aftershocks continue to ripple through you.
chenle slowly lifts his head, your pleasure glistening on his lips. he looks at you with a mixture of triumph and pure, unadulterated love. he crawls back up your body, kissing your forehead, your nose, and finally your lips, making you taste yourself on his tongue.
you reach up then, your fingers hooking on his tie. itâs already loosened from your earlier desperation. you tug on it firmly, finally removing it.Â
with a low, needy sound against his lips, you sit up, beginning to undress him, your movements hurried and clumsy with eagerness. buttons pop and fabric slides until heâs completely naked, his skin warm against yours.Â
your breath hitches in your throat. you hadnât seem him fully the first time â but now, in the soft glow of the bedroom, you canât seem to look away. your gaze drops to his cock.
driven by a sudden, bold curiosity, you reach out, your fingers wrapping around the warm skin of his shaft.Â
chenle lets out a sharp, strangled whine, his hips jerking towards your touch instinctively. the sound is so visceral, so unlike the composed man the world knows, that you freeze, your eyes widening.
âdid that hurt?â you whisper, looking up at him with genuine concern, as if you've just discovered a secret vulnerability.
a small, breathless smile tugs at his lips, though his eyes are clouded with lust. he shakes his head slowly, his voice a strained rasp, "no, baby... fuck, it feels so good. you drive me insaneâ,â he kisses you again, pulling back just an inch, forehead resting against yours, breath hot on your skin, â-but you need to stop,â he groans, the sound vibrating in his chest, âi need to be inside you.â
he carefully guides you back to lay on the bed, hands sliding under your thighs to pull you closer to him. he spends a long moment just looking at you, his gaze roaming over your flushed skin and swollen lips.
âiâm sorry about before," he whispers, âi promise iâm going to make up for every single second of it,â he says, voice thick with emotion before grabbing your hand and pressing a soft kiss to your pinky. and before he can let go, you pull his hand towards you, returning the kiss to his pinky too â not the innocent promise of children, but a mature, desperate vow of devotion. chenleâs breath hitches, the small gesture acting like a catalyst, snapping the last thread of his restraint.
he doesn't rush though. he moves with a slow, reverent precision, parting your legs with a gentle nudge of his knee, his eyes never leaving yours. as he positions himself, the head of his cock brushes against your entrance, slick and searing hot. you gasp, your hips instinctively arching upward, seeking the friction. chenle lets out a shaky exhale, his muscles trembling with the effort of holding back. he enters you in one slow, agonizingly steady glide.
âoh...chenle,â you moan, your eyes fluttering shut as you feel yourself stretching to accommodate him. youâve never felt so full.
he freezes for a moment, buried deep inside you, his forehead pressed against yours, a low groan escaping his throat, âyou're so tight... so warm. i can't believe you're actually mine.â
then he begins to move, and it is nothing like the clinical urgency of the first time. this is a dance. he pulls back until he is almost out, only to plunge back in with a slow, heavy thud that makes you cry out. every thrust is deliberate, designed to make you feel the weight of him, the heat of him, and the sheer intensity of his love.
âchenle... please,â you whimper, your fingers clawing into his shoulders, âright there... don't stop.â
âi've got you, baby,â he whispers, kissing the sensitive skin of your neck, his lips leaving searing trails of heat.
he picks up the pace slightly, the wet, slapping sound of skin on skin filling the quiet room. then he reaches down, his hand sliding between your bodies to find your clit, thumb circling your swollen nub, perfectly timed with the deep, rhythmic thrusts of his hips. the combination is electric. you feel that same tension building again, faster this time, a coil of pleasure tightening with every stroke. you wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, wanting to erase any remaining space between you.
âlook at me,â he commands softly. you open your eyes to find him watching you with an expression of pure, unadulterated worship, âtell me you feel it. tell me you know how much i love you.â
âi feel it,â you sob, your voice breaking, âi love you...i love you so much, chenle."
the words breaks something inside him. his movements become more urgent, more passionate, though he never loses that sweetness. he begins to whisper things against your skin â promises of a future, apologies for the past, and raw admissions of how much he craved this specific moment.
as the climax begins to crest, you feel your walls clamp down on him in tight, rhythmic waves. you gasp his name, body shuddering under the force of a release that feels like a spiritual cleansing. chenle lets out a guttural, strangled cry, his body stiffening as he delivers a few final, powerful thrusts. he pours himself into you, his own release consuming, his head falling at the crook of your neck as he gives in to the euphoria, collapsing onto you, his chest heaving against yours, his arms wrapping around you in a protective, crushing embrace. for a long time, the only sound in the room is the synchronized thumping of two hearts finally beating in the same rhythm.
âi love you,â he whispers into your hair, his voice exhausted but certain.
âïž THE REST OF YOUR LIFE âïž
you wake up to the sound of light snoring from your husband, his arms locked firmly around your naked waist, your back flushed against his bare chest. the warmth of skin on skin is electric, but itâs the prominent, hard bulge of his cock pressing firmly into the small of your back that makes your breath hitch.
you pinch your arm, a sharp sting that confirms this isn't a fever dream.Â
then you shift gently in his embrace, turning in the circle of his arms to face him. as you move, his cock slides against the curve of your hip, dangerously close to your core. the proximity makes your pussy clench instinctively. youâve always loved chenle but this kind of hunger was new - a desperate need to be consumed by him.
âstop staring at me, you creep,â he teases, his voice thick with sleep.
you let out a breathless laugh, swatting his shoulder. the sound of your own laughter feels foreign yet right.
it hits you then â the terrifying, beautiful ease of it all. like the past six years of coldness, the resentment, and the silence were just a bad dream, easily erased by the heat of his body.
sensing your sudden silence, chenle opens his eyes. the gaze he meets you with is soft, searching, and filled with an intensity that makes your heart race.Â
âwhat are you thinking about?â he asks softly, his hand drifting up to thread his fingers through your hair, massaging your scalp.
âjust⊠thinking about how nice this is,â you whisper, a small, genuine smile tugging at your lips.
âyeah?â he lets out a playful hum, his eyes shimmering with complete adoration, âthink you could do this with me for the rest of our lives?â
you lean in then, kissing him softly, âyes,â you murmur against his lips with absolutely no doubt, âyouâve always been the only person i could ever do this with.â
chenleâs heart stutters. he had thought his love for you had reached its peak, but every time you surprise him with your tenderness, the feeling grows, expanding until it feels like he might burst.
âdo you think this would still be nice with twenty kids?â he teases, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes.
you recoil slightly, a look of genuine horror flashing across your face. âwhat?! iâm not giving you twenty kids, chenle! are you insane?!â
he bursts into a loud, genuine laugh, his eyes disappearing into crescents, his kitten-like smile whiskers prominent. as he calms down, he smirks, leaning closer, âiâm not the one who wants twenty kids. iâm pretty sure it was my beautiful wife, coming home drunk a month ago and begging me for a baby.â
you groan, your face flushing a deep crimson as you try to rack your brain for any memory of such a confession. but you donât remember anything.
âi was drunk! i wasnât in my right mind!â
âhmm,â he draws the word out fondly, his hand sliding down from your hair to trace the curve of your hip, âhow many kids do you actually want then?â
âtwo,â you admit shyly, looking away.
âonly two? baby, this mansion would go to waste,â he teases, a playful smirk on his face.
âokay⊠three then,â you say, trying to hide the smile growing on your face.
âwhat if one of them feels left out?â
âfour. and thatâs it!â you exclaim.
in one fluid motion, chenle rolls you onto your back, pinning you beneath his weight, his eyes dark with lust, his hard cock hitting your thigh with a heavy thud.Â
âguess we should start getting to work then,â he smirks.
you giggle underneath him, pulling him in for a quick kiss before murmuring against his lips, âcan you do that thing you did last night first, though?â you ask, cheeks burning.
âwhat thing, baby? i did a couple of things.â
the embarrassment is overwhelming, but the craving is stronger. you bite your lip, unable to say it aloud.
âcâmon, mrs. zhong, owner of two beauty empires,â he teases, his voice a low, sultry drawl, âyou can tell your husband exactly what you want.â
âgo down on me again, chenle,â you whisper.
he grins, a predatory yet loving expression, âof course, baby⊠but you do know thatâs not how babies are made, right?â
you groan, shoving at his chest, âi really don't care.â
he chuckles, the sound vibrating in his chest before he slides down your body. he doesn't stop until his face is buried between your thighs, letting out a low moan at the scent of your arousal, his hot breath ghosting over your clit before his tongue makes a slow, wet sweep from your bottom to the top, tasting every drop of your longing.
âïž THE OFFICE âïž
when you get to the office later that day, arriving in the same car, and walking through the lobby of yĂŒ skincare together â the atmosphere shifts. you can feel the collective intake of breath from the staff, the employees practically vibrating with curiosity, eyes darting between you and chenle, trying and failing to hide their sheer shock. you don't blame them. for seven months, your marriage had been spent apart. to see him not only accompanying you to your door but looking at you with an expression of raw, unfiltered adoration is enough to send the office gossip into overdrive.
your eyes scan the room, landing on a familiar figure â mark lee is back at his desk, focused and working. a surge of triumph rushes through you. youâve won.
the moment the heavy door to your private office clicks shut, the professional facade vanishes. chenle doesn't waste a second. his hands are instantly back on you, grip firm and possessive as he spins you around to face him, pinning you lightly against the edge of your desk.
you grin, your eyes dancing with mischief, âi see mark lee is back,â you say teasingly.
chenle huffs a small, amused breath, his forehead resting against yours, âyeah, heâs back. but tell him heâs walking on a very thin line,â he murmurs, though thereâs no real heat in the threat. you laugh, a genuine, light sound, and shove his shoulder playfully.Â
his expression shifts, the playfulness melting into something achingly sincere as he cups your face in his hands, thumbs tracing your cheekbones with a reverence that makes your heart stutter.Â
âyou know iâd give you everything you want, right? just say the word and itâs all yours.â
itâs not just a statement â itâs another confession, a continuation of the vow heâs been making since you woke up.Â
âi told you,â he whispers, his gaze searching yours, âiâll spend the rest of this life, and every single one after that, making it up to you.â
you let out a soft, breathless laugh, feeling a warmth spread through your chest, âwhen did you become such a sap?â you tease, reaching up and winding your fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck to pull him down.
the kiss is slow, languid, and deep â a sweet contrast to the hunger of the morning, but filled with the same desperate need to be close. as your tongues slide together, the corporate world outside the door ceases to exist, there is only the scent of his cologne, the heat of his body, and the overwhelming realization that you are finally, truly, loved.
âïž THE FULFILLED PROMISE âïž
it didnât take long after that before you finally got pregnant.
you and chenle fucked all the time. and it wasnât even to conceive â the two you just physically could not get enough of each other. the mansion became your personal playground. you were pretty sure there wasnât a single square inch of the estate that hadnât felt the heat of your bodies.Â
like that one time when you both got home after a charity gala. you had worn a red dress that hugged every curve, the slit climbing dangerously high up your thigh. all night, chenle had been a predator in a tuxedo, his gaze burning into you, hand possessively gripping the small of your back, whispering filth into your ear while you smiled for the cameras. he didn't want to network, he wanted to rip the dress off your body. the moment the heavy doors of the mansion clicked shut behind you, the facade crumbled. he didn't even let you take off your heels. chenle grabbed you by the waist, hoisting you up with a grunt of effort and placing you down onto the large, circular marble table that sat centrally between the grand staircases, not even caring about the priceless antique vase sitting on top of it. he didn't waste time with foreplay â he reached down, bunching the red silk upward, exposing your lace panties and with one violent tug, he ripped the lace aside, the sound of tearing fabric echoing in the vast foyer. âiâve been thinking about this since the moment you put this dress on,â he growled, voice raw. he freed his pulsing cock, already leaking pre-cum, and shoved it into you in one deep, punishing thrust. you moaned his name so loud, back arching off the marble, legs locking around his waist to pull him deeper. the sound of your shared moans bounced off the high ceilings, filling the foyer with the raw noises of pleasure. he fucked you desperately, hips slamming against yours with a wet, slapping sound that could be heard all around the mansion. you knew the maids were nearby, you could almost feel their shocked eyes on you, but the thought only made you wetter. you gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his tuxedo jacket, sobbing his name as he hammered into you, driving you toward a shattering climax that left you shaking and drenched.
then there was the discovery of the billiards room. it had been a forgotten wing of the house, dusty and silent until you both stumbled upon it during a lazy afternoon. the moment the door closed, the atmosphere shifted. the green felt of the billiard table looked like an invitation. chenle didn't even let you stand still. he lifted you up the billiard table, hiking your dress up and spreading your legs wide. âyou smell so sweet,â he murmured, breath hot against your inner thigh. he didn't hesitate, burying his face in your pussy. his tongue was your favorite weapon â broad, wet, and relentless. he licked your folds, swirling around your clit, making your toes curl. he fingered you with his other hand, two fingers sliding deep inside your soaking walls, stretching you while his tongue continued to drive you insane. it was an intense combination. you were sobbing, fingers clutching his hair. just as you reached the peak, he pulled away, leaving you gasping and dripping. he didn't give you a second to whine about it, grabbing your hips to help you down then bending you forward until your chest was pressed against the green felt. âlook at you,â he whispered, his voice a dark caress, âalways so ready for me.â he entered you from behind, his cock filling you completely over and over again. the friction of the billiard table against your skin and the relentless pace of his thrusts sent you over the edge. he fucked you ruthlessly, his hand reaching around to pinch your nipples over your pajama dress, his chest heaving against your back. every thrust was a claim, a promise that you belonged to him, until he finally groaned, filling you with a hot, thick surge of cum that left you both breathless and spent.
and also that one time in the hot tub, it wasnât even night timeâŠit was pure daylight, the sun was out, illuminating every inch of the outdoor sanctuary. the risk of being seen by the gardeners or the staff was immense, but the adrenaline only fueled the fire. you were draped across him, your legs wrapped around his waist as you rode him. the warm, bubbling water splashed around you, clinging to your skin. chenleâs hands were everywhere â one gripping your ass to keep you steady, the other reaching up to grab your breast. he leaned in, his mouth latching onto your nipple, sucking it hard, his tongue swirling around the peak. you threw your head back, your moans echoing across the open terrace, completely uninhibited. you could feel the vibration of the water and the rhythmic slide of his cock deep inside you. every time you sank down, you felt him hit your cervix, a sensation that made you whimper and cling to his shoulders. âwho cares if they see?â he gasped, his eyes locked on yours, filled with a mixture of lust and adoration, âlet them see who you belong to.â he gripped your waist tighter, lifting you slightly before slamming you back down onto him. the splashing grew more violent, the water churning as the pace increased. you rode him with a frantic energy, your clit rubbing against his pelvic bone with every downward stroke. when the climax hit, it was explosive. you screamed his name into the open air, your walls clamping down on him in tight, rhythmic waves, while he groaned, thrusting one last time and flooding you with his cum under the bright, midday sun.
and then there was that one week honeymoon that chenle insisted on, saying that he never got to give you a proper one. you two spent a week in the most luxurious private resort in hawaii. the resort is beautiful, open to the tropical air and the rhythmic crash of the ocean, but you barely saw the view. you were too occupied by your husband. for seven days, the world ceased to exist. there were no board meetings, no family expectations, and no corporate rules â only the sound of wet, slapping skin and the desperate gasps of two people becoming one. he fucked you in the private pool, the warm water swirling around your hips as he held you against the edge, his cock sliding in and out of you with a frictionless ease that made you scream into the salty air. he fucked you on the outdoor daybed, under the moon, the linen sheets soaking through with your combined juices. he would spend hours worshipping your body, his tongue tracing every curve, every fold, before driving himself into you with a force that left you shaking and sobbing his name.Â
and of course, eventually, you fucked in both of your offices. the two of you tried to keep it professional at first but at one point, you just couldnât stop yourselves. i mean, no one can fire you anyway. and the two of you spend so much time at work it just makes sense. your favorite routine involved the desk â when you were the one who gets to play, disappearing from view while chenle continued a conference call. the contrast was intoxicating, his voice, cool and commanding, discussing quarterly projections, while your mouth was wrapped tightly around his cock. you would suck him with a focused intensity, swirling your tongue around the head and taking him as deep as your throat would allow, listening to the slight hitch in his breath and the way his hand gripped the edge of the desk to keep from groaning. when he finally hangs up, he would haul you out from under the desk by your waist and slam you down onto the edge of it, âmy little slut wants to play, huh?â heâd growl against your lips as you cling to the desk for dear life, heels digging into the carpet. he took you right there in the center of his power, filling you to the brim.
but still...nothing beats fucking in your shared bedroom, this was where the real intensity lived, especially on the nights when chenleâs gaze turned dark and determined. on those nights, he didn't just want to fuck you â he wanted to possess you completely. he would start by flipping you over, forcing you onto your hands and knees in doggy style. he loved the view of your arched back and the way your ass looked spread wide for him. he would grip your hips, his fingers digging into your skin, and thrust into you from behind. the sound of his balls slapping against your cheeks echoed through the room, a raw, primal beat that drove you insane. he would reach forward to pull your hair back, whispering filth into your ear about how much he loved the way you took him. then, he would flip you onto your back, hoisting your legs up high, sometimes draping them over his shoulders, so that he could penetrate you at the deepest possible angle. in this position, there was no escape. he drove himself in until he hit your cervix, each thrust a heavy, thumping blow that sent shockwaves of pleasure through your entire body. âlook at me,â he would command, his eyes burning with an obsessive kind of love, âtell me you're mine.â the friction and the intensity pushed you toward a peak you had never experienced before. in the heat of those nights, you discovered the sensation of squirting â your pussy drenching the sheets and leaving you gasping for air. the feeling of losing control, of your body literally overflowing with pleasure, sends chenle into a frenzy. he would fuck you even harder, driving you through multiple, shattering orgasms, his own release coming in a hot, thick flood that filled you completely, leaving you both tangled in the damp sheets, hearts racing in a synchronized rhythm of absolute devotion.
now, a year into marriage and you were two months pregnant with your first child.
it hasnât been easy, your baby was stubborn â which you honestly shouldâve seen coming knowing how stubborn its father is (and you, too).Â
the pregnancy had stripped away your usual composure. for a woman who navigated the cutthroat world of billionaire cosmetics with a steady hand, the loss of control was infuriating.
your morning sickness wasn't just âmorningâsickness â it was a rolling tide of nausea that lasted the whole day. you had spent the last few weeks throwing up everything from expensive lobster to plain crackers. to add to the misery, your breasts had swollen, becoming agonizingly sore to the touch.
you were, in a word â grumpy. a whirlwind of mood swings, snapping at assistants and sobbing over the smallest of things, existing in a state of perpetual irritation. which was especially unfortunate considering you had never been particularly good at dealing with discomfort. you are a billionaire. struggle is not your forte.
still, chenle had been unbelievably sweet and understanding through all of it. he spent his days balancing both companies and his nights massaging your back or holding your hair back while you retched into the toilet, kissing your forehead with a tenderness that still made your heart ache.
today, you were plagued by a craving so specific, so visceral, that it felt like a physical hunger. you wanted a tomato-egg dish. but not just any version. it had to be right.
chef sung ahn, a culinary genius, was currently in the midst of a crisis â seven bowls of the dish sat on the marble island, each one a slightly different variation of seasoning and texture. and yet, none of them were right.
you pushed the seventh bowl away with a pout, your lower lip trembling. you knew you were acting like a spoiled child, but as you rested a hand over your still-flat stomach, you reasoned that you were carrying what is about to be the most spoiled heir in the country. it only made sense.Â
the heavy thud of the front door announced chenleâs return. he stepped into the kitchen, shedding his blazer and loosening his tie, his eyes immediately landing on the scene.
âbaby,â he murmured, stepping behind you and pressing a lingering, sweet kiss to the crown of your head.
his scent, expensive cologne and the lingering musk of a long day at the office, usually calmed you, but today you were too frustrated to be fully appeased, âwhatâs going on in here?â
you let out a dramatic groan, leaning back into his chest, âyour stupid baby wants a certain taste, and the chef canât do it!" you complained, pouting up at him, ânothing tastes right, chenle! everything is wrong!â
chenle looked from your frustrated expression to the exhausted but patient chef sung ahn, a small, apologetic smile playing on his lips as he wrapped his arms around your shoulders.
âiâm so sorry, chef. sheâs been incredibly sensitive since the pregnancy started. i think we're dealing with a very demanding little one.â
chef sung ahn smiled knowingly, unfazed by the seven wasted bowls. he was paid far too much to be offended by the complaints of a pregnant billionaire.
âthatâs perfectly alright, mr. zhong. my wife was exactly the same way. i remember a week where she nearly kicked me out of the house because the toast was too loud.â
the two men share a low chuckle while you try not to roll your eyes. his wife was valid and you know it.Â
âi think i know exactly what she wants, though,â chenle said, his voice dropping an octave, becoming soft and confident.
"iâll take care of it. thank you, chef. you can head out for the day."
as the chef departed, chenle took his place, rolling up his sleeves and exposing his forearms. you remained seated on the bar stool, watching him. there was something hypnotic about the way he moved â the precision of his knife, the way he cracked the eggs with one hand, the sizzle of the tomatoes hitting the pan.
as the aroma began to waft through the air, something happened â for the first time in hours, the nausea in your stomach vanished, replaced by a sudden, intense surge of appetite.
your mouth watered. the scent was an exact match â not to a michelin-star recipe, but to a memory. a flash of nostalgia hitting you. you were seventeen again, shivering under a duvet in your room, delirious with a fever. chenle visited you with a simple, home-cooked tomato-egg dish. it hadn't been fancy, but it had been made with a quiet kind of care that had spoken louder than any words.
you looked at your husband â the man who had once been your best friend, then your cold stranger, and now the love of your life. a small, amused smile tugged at your lips. your baby, barely the size of a fruit, was already exerting its will, bypassing the expertise of a world-class chef to demand the specific, nostalgic touch of its father.
god, you thought, a small, amused smile tugging at your lips as you watched him plate the food. the baby already has a favorite. what a traitor.
chenle finished the dish quickly, the steam curling upward, carrying that precise, comforting scent that had finally silenced the storm in your stomach.
he slid the bowl in front of you, the colors vibrant and the aroma intoxicating. as you picked up the spoon to take a bite, he stepped towards you.Â
âhow is it?â he smirks teasingly. because he knows you. and he knows itâs exactly what you needed.Â
you let out a soft, involuntary sigh of contentment, but you refused to give him the satisfaction of a verbal compliment just yet. instead, you pouted, looking up at him through your lashes. without warning, you reached out and gripped the fabric of his shirt, bunching the material in your fist and tugging him towards you as you burrowed your face into chest.
âyouâre not allowed to go to work anymore,â you mumbled against his shirt, âyouâre staying with me. every second of every day.â
a low, vibrating chuckle erupted from his chest, the sound echoing against your cheek. he wrapped his arms around you, hands splaying across your back.
he adored this version of you â the spoiled, demanding, vulnerable woman who only wanted him.
âiâm perfectly okay with that,â he whispered, his voice dripping with fond adoration.Â
you pulled back just enough to look at him, your eyes shimmering. the stubbornness was still there, but it was softened by a deep, aching affection.
you reached up then, hooking your arms around his neck to pull him down toward you for a soft, lingering kiss filled with tenderness and love.
âïž THE END âïž
an: weeee!!!! did i spend my entire weekend glued to my computer writing this like a loser? yeahâŠi did. but i had to ride on the high of inspiration and delusions before i lose it or else this would take me months to finish lmao. anyways, i loved writing this! and iâm also realizing itâs very easy for me to write for chenle idk itâs always so fun for me!!! fun game: can you guess what kind of dad chenle is!! aka can you guess the gender of the baby??? put in the comments what you think! đ (i do have the answer). and please let me know your thoughts! thank ĂŒ for reading, much love to ĂŒ đ
đ likes, reblogs and comments are not required but is very appreciated
đł if you enjoyed this story and would like to show extra support, my kofi is open! (iâm so broke rn guys pls spare some change đđŹ)
includes :: [ ten screenshots ] boyfriend!jaemin x reader ( typically gender neutral ). pics of nana that the dreamies would send you <3. y/n used once. y/n is a foodie oops. renjun would be ur spy yes he would. i donât know why you hate hyuck. yes nana is the only one who sends the weird photos. heâs whipped for u btw. smitten. down bad. i like to think im hilarious. pictures from pinterest ! all mistakes are unintentional.
authors note, req ( kind of lol ). happy reading my lovelies đ
pairing: donor! jaehyun x client! reader I genre: smut | words: 12k+
warnings: STRICTLY 18+
an: donor jaehyun is here and heâs super sweet! i think this is the most fun i had writing for this series hehehe ;) i just love me my valentine, roses, cheeky gentleman. anyways, iâll stop talking now, itâs time to be taught how to touch! and figure it out! - with love, c
you eyed the coupon clutched in your hand, the glossy paper crinkling under your fingers. itâs your birthday gift from your friends, a prepaid session at that new clinic thatâs been receiving all the hype since it opened a couple of months ago.
according to the reviews, the neo orgasm clinic has surpassed peopleâs expectations in every possible way. not just with how sleek their setup is or their promise of discretion but also â the donors themselves. effortlessly attractive. professional. patient. skilled in ways that leave clients lingering in their reviews, revealing just enough to make your ears burn.
and you know damn well you needed it.
twenty-something now and youâve mastered the art of dodging real-life conversations about your sex life. itâs easy to laugh it off or pretend you know what your friends are talking about because in some way, you kind of do? i mean, youâve read all about it! in books, in fanfictions. in fact, all the knowledge you have about sex probably comes from reading about it.
when it comes to real life though? you stall. every time â no awkward firsts. no impulsive decisions. not even quiet attempts on your own. just you, untouched and curious, stuck somewhere between knowing and experiencing.
the couponâs tagline stares back at you, catching your eye for what feels like the hundredth time:
make your fantasies come true. book now. you deserve it.
you let out a quiet breath. because itâs not just the words. itâs the timing. the way it landed in your life like a question youâve been avoiding finally demanding an answer.
youâve already imagined it all â the rush of sensation youâve only ever read about.
what would it feel like to finally chase that lust for real?
before you could second guess yourself, you pull up the clinicâs website on your laptop. you read through sections you pretend youâre only skimming. policies. confidentiality. client care.
then you take a huge breath before finally convincing yourself to click the appointment section.
â BOOK NOW â
âitâs just booking,â you murmur, under your breath, like saying it out loud will make it less real.
step 1: medical verification â a form requesting a recent full panel STI test within the last month.
your brows knit slightly. weirdly enough, even though you were an extra virgin, you had just gotten a recent check up â it was like another sign from the universe to continue on.
you upload your medical form with ease. the next page loads and your breath catches at the list.
step 2: sexual preferences & boundaries â check all acts youâre open to exploring with your donor. this does not guarantee they will occur. your donor will review and operate within your boundaries at all times.
your fingers tighten around your mouse, each click of a checkmark making your ears burn brighter than ever. your cursor moves. hesitates. selects. unselects. then selects again.
âïž blowjob
âïž clitoral stimulation
âïž domination
âïž dirty talk
âïž fingering
âïž guidance
âïž hand job
âïž kissing
âïž masturbation
âïž nipple play
âïž oral
âïž praise
âïž vaginal penetration
you look at your final list. pretty tame considering you passed over more vulgar options like choking, spanking, vaginal fisting, threesome, toys, etc.
but even then, your list is still intimidating for a virgin.
step 3: why are you booking this appointment?
a blank box appears. you stare at it longer than you expected to. because suddenly â this feels personal. you compose your thoughts before finally typing:
âiâve spent years lost in books about intimacy, learning every detail from pages that make my heart race. but iâve never experienced it. no touches. no real connections. not even with myself. just endless curiosity and a longing to feel what iâve only imagine. iâm hoping this can help me turn fantasy into something real. i want to finally awaken that part of me, guided by someone who knows what theyâre doing.
you hit enter, the text saving with a soft confirmation.
step 4: choose your donor.
this should be the easiest part. you tell yourself that. just scrolling. just looking. just choosing the boy you imagine in all your books. nothing serious.
profiles load one by one. each polished. each composed. carefully written descriptions.
you scroll and scroll until â
jung jaehyun. the most valuable donor.
his photo catches your attention â handsome, sharp features, an inviting smile and dark hair falling just so. your pulse stutters and almost instinctively, you click on him.
his reviews were endless:
âjaehyun does a great job at adjusting to whatever you want!â
âif youâre nervous, choose him. gentle yet commanding, and the praise? leaves you floating.â
âheâs so pretty to look at and godâŠthat voiceâŠi was wet way before he even touched me.â
âjaehyun made me feel so specialâŠincredibly patient, nothing felt rushed, it was perfect.â
âhe lowkey broke my back but i would do it againâ
â'he made my first time feel like a dream i didn't know i needed. so attentive. pure magic.â
âfuckkkkkkkkk, can everyone cancel their appointments with him so i can take all the days?â
âtoo. fucking. good.â
âif it's your first time in this clinic, or your first time in general, booking jaehyun is a guaranteed good time. 127/10 will cum again.â
every single one felt like a magnetic pull and before you could even realize what you were doing. you were inserting the coupon code and clicking BOOK NOW.
Neo Orgasm Clinic Consultation: CONFIRMED
Donor: Jaehyun Jung
Date of Consultation: April 30, 2026
you stare at the screen, heart pounding, because itâs done. thereâs no undoing it now.
â THE CONSULTATION â
the days leading up to today had been a blur of restless nights. youâve checked the booking confirmation a dozen times just to check if it was real or if you somehow imagined the whole thing.
and now youâre here, heart hammering as you push through the doors.
the lobby envelops you immediately, a curated haven designed to soothe. soft golden light spills throughout the room, cream colored walls that were easy on the eyes, plush armchairs in neutral tones and the subtle scent of lavender and eucalyptus. everything about it is calming, grounding, whispering relax with every breath you take.
but even then, your feet feel rooted to the spot, nerves twisting into knots. you have half the mind to turn and flee before anyone notices. but a voice calls out softly from the reception desk, smooth and reassuring.
âwelcome to the clinic.â
you look up to see the receptionist, johnny, his nametag reads. he was sitting behind a computer, flashing you a warm smile as if he can sense the storm inside you. even he was handsome, and youâre pretty sure you saw his profile on the website with the words the first donor.
âyou feeling nervous?,â he adds.
you try to laugh it off as you make your way over to him, but it comes out shaky, a breathy sound that betrays you, ây-yeah, this is new for me.â
he nods, no judgment in the motion. just understanding, âitâs new for a lot of people, but donât worry, weâll take care of you.â
his words ease the tightness in your chest just a little bit.
âwhatâs your name?â he asks next.
ây/n l/n,â you manage, voice steadier now.
he types it in with a few clicks, his screen reflecting in his eyes as he pulls up your file.
âalright ms. y/n, donor jaehyun will be out in a few minutes,â he says, that smile returning, soft and encouraging, âin the meantime, please review your file then click agree if everything is okay. your consent is required for everything.â
he hands you a tablet carefully â the screen already glowing with your details. you take it with trembling fingers, murmuring a thank you as you retreat to one of the chairs. sinking into the cushions.
your thumb hovers over the agree button, ears burning red, pulse racing so loud you fear johnny could hear it. with a deep inhale, you finally tap it, the screen flashing with the words:
welcome to neo orgasm clinic.
you donât know how many times you read it before the door to the right side of johnny opens and out steps the most valuable donor.
jung jaehyun.
heâs taller than you expected, his frame filling the space effortlessly, handsome in a way that steals your breath, his casual soft grey polo making him look softer than his large frame, while his dark hair falls slightly tousled, angling his face perfectly.
his pictures donât do him justice. youâve never seen a man more beautiful.
and the realization crashes over you, twisting your nerves into something sharper. you feel so nervous you think you might throw up, hands clammy against the tablet.
he makes his way over to you with unhurried steps.
âgood afternoon,â he says, and fuck, those reviews were right. heâs only said two words and his voice, deep and smooth, has got you hooked. so hooked that you donât even reply, just staring at him, mouth dry, brain short-circuiting under the weight of his proximity.
he tilts his head slightly, a smile tugging at his lips, amused, like heâs trying to hide his laugh but the deep dimples carving into his cheeks give him away completely.
âare you ms. y/n?â he asks, fully smiling at you now, the expression lighting up his features and making your heart stutter.
you clear your throat, the sound awkward and too loud in the quiet lobby, âuhmâyeah, thatâs me, sorry mr. jungâŠiâm so nervous i think i might pass out,â you admit, the words tumbling out before you can stop them, heat flooding your face.
his eyes widen a bit at that, concern threading through, softening his gaze into something genuinely caring.
âcâmon, letâs get you some water,â he says, holding his hand out to you.
you hesitate for a split second, then place your hand in his, the warmth of his skin against yours making you even more nervous. he gives a gentle squeeze, just enough to guide and lead you towards one of the consultation rooms.
the door opens into another pocket of calm â neutral tones, a comfortable couch facing a low coffee table, an armchair across it and a small side table with a pitcher of water and glasses.
jaehyun releases your hand once youâre inside, gesturing for you to sit on the couch as he pours a glass of water for you. he hands it to you with another one of those dimpled smile, settling into the armchair across from you.
âtake your time,â he says, sitting comfortably, the tablet now in his hands, âwe can talk through everything at your pace. no rush.â his eyes meet yours patiently, waiting for you to find your footing in this new reality.
you sip the water slowly, the cool liquid steadying the flutter in your chest as you sink deeper into the couch, focusing instead on the vase of roses in the middle of the coffee table.
jaehyun sits across from you, his posture relaxed yet attentive. heâs scrolling through your file, his expression neutral, professional, but not cold. heâs taking way longer to read it than one should and you can tell heâs letting you get used to the space. to let the initial shock of his presence and this whole thing reside a bit.
minutes pass like that until he sets the tablet aside, looking up slowly, his gaze catching on the way youâre biting your lip, a nervous habit you canât quite shake.
ây/n,â he calls out your name, softly, like the two of you are just friends catching up over coffee. the informality of it disarms you, pulling the air from the room into something warmer.
âi know this can be nerve-wracking,â he continues, his voice a low, reassuring hum, âare you sure youâre ready for this?â
heâs gentle. so gentle. it catches you off guard. you look at him, surprised. you were sure he was here to convince you to go through with it â after all, this is still a business. butâŠthereâs no sales pitch in his tone.
âwhat?â you say, the word slipping out softer than intended, laced with confusion.
he just smiles at you, that dimpled curve returning patient and unforced.
âthereâs no proper timeline to these kinds of things,â he explains, his words measured, like heâs sharing a quiet truth rather than reciting policy, âitâs your body. your life. your choice when youâre ready.â
you take his words in, letting them settle over the whirlwind in your mind, easing the knot of anxiety that's been building since you stepped through the clinic's doors.
âi-i am ready,â you admit, your voice gaining a touch of steadiness as you meet his eyes, âitâs just iâŠdon't really know how to start this conversation.â
he nods, his expression shifting to one of quiet understanding. itâs as if he's seen this hesitation before, not as a hurdle to overcome, but as a natural part of the path.
âthatâs okay,â he replies, his tone encouraging without pressure, âstarting can be the hardest part. maybe we begin with what brought you here? your file mentions this is your first time exploring sexâŠwhat made you decide now?â
you hesitate for a moment. jaehyunâs eyes remain steady on yours like a quiet invitation to share as much or as little as you want.
âit wasâŠa gift,â you start, âfor my birthdayâŠbut i have been curious for a whileâŠi just always held back. books and stories were enough,â you pause, glancing down at your hands, now folded in your lap, âbut turning another year older made me realize i donât want to just keep reading about it.â
âthat takes real courage,â he says softly, âturning those stories into something real isnât simple, especially when theyâve been your safe space for so long.â
his words land gently, validating the swirl of emotions youâve kept bottled up and a faint smile creeps onto your lips, the first genuine once since you arrive.
âit does feel like the right time,â you reply, your voice steadier not, âthe clinicâs reviewsâŠand yours specificallyâŠmade it seem less intimidating. like it could be empowering instead of overwhelming.â
he smiles in return, âiâm honored that came throughâ our goal is to always create that sense of empowerment, no judgments, just support as you explore at your own rhythm.â
he glances briefly at the tablet in his hands, then sets it aside, focusing fully on you.
âit sounds to me like youâre interested in a gentle introduction without rushing into anything too intense. is that right? or has anything changed since filling out the form?â
you pause, letting his words sink in.
ânoâŠthat sounds rightâi want to be taught, guided through it all, so i can experience every bit iâve imagined.â
a subtle smile curves his lips, warm and knowing, as if heâs heard echoes of your words from others but savors the uniqueness in yours.
âi can definitely do that for you,â he replies, leaning forward a just a fraction, âiâll guide you step by step, help you feel every sensation youâve read aboutâŠall you have to do is show up.â
you nod slowly, every second gets more real than the last.
âwould you like to proceed with booking your session?â jaehyun asks, a reassuring smile on his face. like it was okay and totally not a waste of his time if you chose not to.
âyes,â you nod after a while, âi would like to proceed.â
jaehyunâs eyes light up with a quiet approval, âperfect,â he says, his smile deepening, revealing those dimples that you canât stop noticing, âhow does may 3 work for you?â
may 3. just two days away. this is it â the threshold between fantasy and reality. itâs now or never.
âsounds good,â you say, your voice gaining a quiet strength, sealing the choice with a steady exhale.
âokay y/n, iâll see you in two days,â he says, his voice carrying a subtle promise laced with the kind of steadiness that eases the last knots of doubt in your stomach.
and for the first time, the stories feel like previews to your own unfolding chapter, and youâre ready to turn the page.
Neo Orgasm Clinic Session: CONFIRMED
Client: Y/N L/N
Donor: Jaehyun Jung
Date of Session: May 3, 2026
â THE APPOINTMENT â
you enter the lobby right on time, not a second too early and not a second too late. youâve chosen comfort over anything flashy, dressed in slightly oversized grey sweats and an off the shoulder sweater hoping that it would make this feel more casual and not some grand event.
johnny greets you, âperfect timing, ms. y/n you can go ahead to the private rooms, jaehyunâs waiting for you in suite 14.â
you thank him, letting your feet carry you step by step, each one making your heart race wildly in your chest.
as suite 14 gets closer, it hits you then â you never once asked what to expect behind the door. no details on the setup. the realization sends a fresh wave of uncertainty but before it can pull you back, the door swings open.
and thereâs jaehyun. looking every bit as handsome as before, except this time he looked like comfortâwith the simple white t-shirt clinging to his broad shoulders and chest, paired with plaid pajama pants that hang low on his hips, making this feel like a lazy sunday rather than clinical encounters.
âhey y/n,â his dimples flash like a secret shared just for you, âcome on in,â he says, tone warm and inviting, stepping aside to make space.
you return the smile, feeling the edges of your tension soften under the casual welcome.
you scan the room quickly â it was nothing like you imagined at all. just an average comfy bedroom, the kind youâd sink into after a long day. thereâs a king sized bed draped in white sheets piled with soft pillows, a full length mirror tucked in the corner, plush carpet that muffled your steps and sultry music currently playing from somewhere.
the only thing that stands out, adding a layer of unexpected sweetness, are the vases brimming with fresh roses scattered throughout the room â on the nightstand, the dresser, the table against the wall â shades of deep red and soft pink, like a boyfriend had orchestrated this as a surprise for a quiet night in with his partner. itâs intimate, thoughtful and it tugs at something soft in your chest, making the space feel less like a session room and more like a private haven.
âyou didnât have a hard time getting here, did you?â jaehyun asks, his voice low as he closes the door behind you with a soft click.
he lingers there for a moment, watching you from behind as you take it all in, his shoulder lightly propped against the wall, giving you that space to breathe.
you turn toward his voice, âthis is not what i expected at all,â you blurt, the words spilling out, âand no, i got here really easily.â
he smiles softly, the expression crinkling the corners of his eyes as he pushes off the wall and takes a measured step towards you.
âdo you like it? i noticed you were looking at the roses during our last meet upâŠthought it would help.â
you nod, a warmth blooming in your chest â god, heâs perfect. like the best romantic lead stepping straight out of your favorite book, all effortless charm and quiet insight.
âyeahâŠroses are my favorite.â
he nods in return, closing the distance with another step, his presence pulling you in without force.
âi didnât think youâd notice,â you add.
he hums thoughtfully, âof course i noticed.â
duh, you think â thatâs part of his job, being this attentive, tuning into every little detail about his client. you just werenât aware he was already taking that many notes. plus the way he talks to you doesnât make it feel like this was just his job.
he takes another step closer, the air between you thickening just a touch.
âiâm sure you already read the terms and conditions over and over,â he teases lightly, like you two were in on some inside joke because he knows your love for reading, âbut just a quick reminder â nothing happens without your consent and we can stop whenever you want.â
heâs so close now that you can feel the subtle heat radiating from his body. he leans down, bringing his gaze level with yours, those deep brown eyes locking in with gentle intensity.
âare we clear on that?â he asks softly, and you catch the fresh mint on his breath, clean and inviting.
you bite your lip, nodding up and down, the motion automatic as your heart races.
âiâm gonna need words, love,â he says so casually, the endearment rolling off his tongue like itâs the most natural thing and â oh my godddd, this is really the start of your own fanfiction.
âyes,â you manage, your voice steadier than you feel, âi know the rules.â
he brings his hand up then, palm open and inviting. you hesitate for just a heartbeat before slipping your hand into his, the warmth of his skin enveloping yours in a gentle grip that feels surprisingly reassuring.
he starts guiding you deeper into the room, his steps slow and unhurried. you thought he was heading straight for the bed like the next inevitable step in this unfolding scene. but when you walk right past it, your brows furrow, glancing up at him, confusion flickering across your face.
he catches your look and offers a small, knowing smile, releasing your hand only to lower himself against the side of the bed with casual ease. then he pats the space right in front of him, between his outstretched legs.
âare we gonna do it on the floor?â the question tumbles out â this isnât how you pictured your first time to go. not when thereâs a perfectly inviting bed just inches away.
he shakes his head, the motion gentle but firm, âno, not yetâŠcome on,â he says, his voice light with encouragement, âi donât bite,â he adds, the tease curling at the edges of his words, drawing a reluctant chuckle from you.
you finally take your seat, sliding into the space between jaehyunâs legs on the soft carpet.
as you settle, you realize the full-length mirror is positioned directly in front of you, reflecting the two of you in this intimate arrangement.
his hands find your shoulders then, fingers pressing in with a deliberate slowness, starting to massage the tension there in firm, circular motions that coax the stiffness from your muscles.
he pulls you back toward him gradually, giving you time to adjust, until your back completely melts against his chest, the solid warmth of him grounding you. the fabric of his white t-shirt brushes your skin where your sweater has slipped and you can feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat against your spine.
ârelax, baby,â he murmurs, right by your ear, his breath warm and even, âyou have to trust me for this to work.â
before you can respond, he lands a soft kiss just below your earlobe, the light press of his lips sending a shiver racing down your neck, making you hold your breath as goosebumps rise throughout your skin.
âyou said you wanted to be taught,â he continues, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through you, âand iâm here to teach.â
you exhale shakily, leaning into him a fraction more, the scent of his clean soap mingling with the faint floral notes from the roses. itâs overwhelming in the best way â his body a solid wall of warmth behind you, the mirror capturing every subtle shift.
his fingers pause on your arms, then one hand lifts gently to turn your head softly toward him like heâs handling something precious. he tilts your chin up, eyes locking into yours, dark and intent but softened by that reassuring smile.
âhave you ever kissed anyone?â
you nod, the admission slipping out shyly, âa couple timesâŠbutâŠi was drunk each time.â
heat creeps up your cheeks but his expression doesnât shift to judgment. he just nods in understanding, thumb brushing once along your jawline.
âjust follow my lead, okay?â
the words are simple and before you can overthink it, heâs leaning in, closing the small distance to press his lips to yours, starting with slow, innocent pecks. each one is light, testing, feather-soft. your eyes flutter shut, the only thing in your mind is the warmth of his mouth.
then he deepens it, his lips sucking gently on yours, a little pull on the bottom one, then the top, drawing out the contact so each kiss lingers. the rhythm shifts, more deliberate, and when his tongue traces along the seam of your lips, memories from all those books flood back â the cues, the surrender.
you part your mouth open for him instinctively, inviting him in and he takes it with a low hum of approval that resonates against your chest. he tastes like toothpaste and vanilla chapstick and you're slowly coming to realize how kissing is so much better when youâre not just reading about it.
your hand lifts on its own, fingers threading into the soft strands of his hair at the nape of his neck, tugging lightly in this awkward angle but enough to pull him closer.
the hand on your jaw moves then, trailing down your side with deliberate slowness, fingertips grazing the hem of your sweater before dipping beneath, skimming the bare skin of your waist.
he breaks the kiss off abruptly, both of you panting for air, his lips tingling and swollen. you wonder if yours matches his.
âarmâs up,â he instructs, voice roughened at the edges. you follow without question. he tugs the sweater up and off in one smooth motion, setting it aside and leaving you in your bra and sweats.
âlook at you,â he murmurs, lips brushing the shell of your ear, sending another shiver through you. his chin settles over your shoulder giving you no choice but to stare ahead at the mirror. your reflection stares back â your face flushed pink, lips matching his, eyes wide with a mix of nerves and building heat.
his fingers move to the clasp of your bra, unbuckling it with a quick, practiced flick that loosens the straps instantly. he slides the fabric down your arms slowly, letting it drop to the carpet beside your sweater, the cool air hitting your bare skin and making your nipples harden immediately.
you watch your chest rise and fall in quick pants, each breath pulling your breasts up and down, the motion exposing the rush of heat flooding your body, the tangle of nerves twisting in your gut, the raw shyness of being this naked in front of someone else for the first time.
before you can completely shy away, his hands are right there again, palms flattening against your stomach, fingers splaying wide as he holds you steady against his chest, pressing just enough to remind you heâs in control.
âbeautiful,â he whispers right into your ear, his breath hot and steady, and you can feel his gaze locked on your reflection, taking in every inch of you like heâs memorizing it.
then he reaches for one of your hands, his grip loose but insistent as he drags it upward, guiding your palm to cup your own breast, your fingers brushing the curve tentatively at first.
âtouch yourself.â
his voice drops to a commanding timbre, low and rough. you hesitate for a split second, heart hammering, but the way he looks at you urges you on â your fingers curl slightly, squeezing the soft flesh, thumb grazing over your nipple experimentally. it hardens further under your touch, a spark of unfamiliar pleasure shooting through you, making you hold your breath.
he watches in the mirror, his free hand now inching lower toward your waistband, but he doesnât push yet.
âjust like that, pretty girl,â he encourages, voice softening just a touch, lips pressing a kiss to your shoulder.
âsqueeze a little harder â roll your nipple between your fingers. tell me what it does to you.â
your fingers tighten as instructed, the pressure sending a fresh wave of heat blooming across your skin, shooting straight down to your core, making your pussy clench emptily. the sensation is raw and new, like your bodyâs been holding back this fire until now.
âf-feels good,â you admit, your voice shaky and breathy, barely above a whisper.
âyeah, it makes you wanna moan, doesnât it?â he teases, that small, playful smirk curling his lips, softening his commanding presence just a fraction, making him seem even more intoxicating.
you bite your lip hard, the sting grounding you as you nod, cheeks burning hotter than before.
âwell, go on, let me hear those pretty sounds,â he urges, his tone dipping lower, his breath warm against your neck.
hesitation locks your throat, the idea of letting go like that in front of him feeling too exposed, too soon.
he senses it and without a word, one of his hands slides up from your stomach to take over your breast. his palm cups it fully, larger and rougher than your own touch, his thumb flicking your nipple up and down in quick, deliberate strokes.
the friction builds fast, a teasing rhythm that pulls a tiny, breathy moan from your lips before you can swallow it back, the soft sound betraying you completely, echoing in the quiet room. your head falls back against his chest at the rush of it, leaving you dizzy and wanting more.
âwanna feel even better?â he whispers, his voice a low rumble right by your ear, lips grazing the lobe as his other hand lingers at your waist, fingers hooking lightly into the band of your sweats.
all you can manage is a breathless, âplease,â your body already arching subtly toward whatever comes next.
he doesnât make you wait. his hands move with sure intent, tugging your sweats down your hips in one fluid pull, lifting your feet one by one to slide them off completely. they join the pile on the carpet, leaving you in just your underwear now â the thin cotton clinging damply between your thighs, the wet spot at the center impossible to ignore.
he reaches down and parts your legs wide, knees bending and lifting toward the ceiling like heâs opening you up for display. the view in the mirror is obscene and intimate, your bare breasts heaving with each pant, legs splayed shamelessly, his arms bracketing you like a frame.
his hands settle on your inner thighs, palms hot and steady, thumbs tracing lazy circles that inch closer to your core without touching yet, letting the anticipation coil tighter.
âlook at how wet you are already,â he murmurs, nuzzling your neck as one hand drifts upward again to knead your breast, keeping that slow, rolling pressure on your nipple,
ânowâŠ,â he grabs one of your hands, sliding it down your body and stopping at the edge of your panties.
âi want you to use these fingers,â he taps on your pointer and middle finger, ââand rub yourself over your panties for me.â
his eyes meet yours in the reflection, dark with hunger but still holding back, waiting for you to follow.
your hand trembles slightly, finger hesitating at the edge of your underwear before dipping lower. you press two fingers against the damp fabric right over your clit, the cotton already soaked and clinging to your folds.
the first rub is testing, a slow circle that presses the material against your sensitive nub, a breathy moan escaping your lips â soft and needy, like a sigh you couldnât hold back.
âthatâs it,â he praises, his breath hot against your ear, watching intently as your fingers move, âjust like that â feel how wet you are? circle it, press a little harder, figure out what makes you feel good.â
you obey, adding pressure as your fingers glide in tighter loops, the friction building heat that makes your hips twitch involuntarily. another moans slips out, a little louder this time, hitching as the sensation coils tighter in your belly, your pussy throbbing under the teasing barrier.
âgood girl,â he whispers, leaving trails of kisses down your neck, âsee how your body responds? youâre soaking right through â rub faster now, up and down.â
both of his hands are on your thighs now, his touch roaming.
your fingers continue to slide up and down the length of your pussy lips, the drag pulling a series of soft moans from you â each one higher, more desperate as the pressure mounts.
âmmmâŠoh,â you gasp when you hit a certain spot, your head lolling back against his shoulder.
âthat's the spot â keep it there,â he chuckles slowly, the vibration rumbling through his chest into your back, âyouâre doing so wellâŠhow does it feel?â
âs-so good,â you breathe out, voice shaky, as you continue rubbing over your clit, your free hand clutching at his arm for support.
âsuch a quick learner,â he murmurs, his hand trailing up your panties teasingly.
his fingers gently stop yours, wrapping around your wrist with a firm but careful hold as he guides your hand away from your core. you let out a quiet moan in protest but itâs cut off when he speaks again, voice low and steady.
âyouâre ready for more.â
then he hooks into the waistband of your panties, sliding them down your thighs in one smooth motion, the cool air hitting your exposed skin. the fabric pools at your ankles, and you kick them aside instinctively.
âtouch your bare pussy now, feel how wet you really are.â
his words sends a rush of embarrassment flooding to your cheeks, mixing hot with the arousal pooling low in your belly as you see it all laid out â your glistening entrance completely exposed to the cool air, clit swollen and begging for attention.
heart pounding, you let two fingers meet your bare skin, slipping easily through the wetness as you rub along your slit, tracing the soft, soaked lips from top to bottom. the direct contact is electric, no barrier to dull the sensation, and you moan louder, the sound raw and unrestrained.
âoh god⊠jaehyun,â you whine his name for the first time and the way it tumbles from your lips turns you on even more.
âhmm,â he hums in approval, leaning in to place a messy kiss on your shoulder, his lips lingering with a soft suck before pulling back.
âpush one finger in nowâslide it right along your entrance, feel how your pussy opens for it.â
you hesitate for a split second, then press one finger at your hole, pushing in slowly. the tight ring of muscle gives way with a wet squelch, your walls clenching around the intrusion as you sink deeper, inch by inch.
another tiny moan escapes you as you hold your breath. the fullness is strange but intoxicating, your finger buried to the knuckle inside your heat.
âgood girl,â jaehyun praises, his breath warm against your ear, and you could feel your walls react around your digit.
âmove it in and out now â slow strokes, tell me what you feel.â
you pump your finger experimentally, drawing it out before sliding back in, the drag pulling another moan from your throat, breathier and higher.
âmmm⊠itâs⊠warmâŠandâfuckâtight,â you gasp, the slick sounds echoing softly as you find a tentative rhythm.
âperfect â add the second one,â he murmurs, nipping at your earlobe, âpush them both in together, stretch yourself a little.
swallowing hard, you ease a second finger alongside the first, the added thickness making your pussy stretch with a delicious burn.
âcurl them up toward your belly â thatâs the spot thatâll make you see stars.â
you thrust them deeper, curling as he said, the tips brushing a spongy patch inside that sends sparks shooting through you, exactly like he said it.
âjaehyunâ,â you moan breathily, hips jerking forward into your hand as you start to pump, in and out, curling on every upstroke.
âfuck, yes â just like that,â he groans softly.
âkeep curling, rub that spot hard. feel how your walls flutter? youâre learning so fast, baby,â his praises wash over you, punctuated by wet kisses and his warm hands roaming all over your skin
after a while, you start getting the rhythm of it all, instinct taking over as your body chases after the sensation â fingers plunging faster, curling with precision, thumb occasionally grazing your clit. soft moans continue to spill from you, your head falling back against his chest, thighs trembling as the pleasure builds like a wave.
âthatâs it, my perfect girl,â he whispers, lips pressing fervent kisses along your neck and shoulders, anywhere his mouth can reach, tongue flicking out to taste your skin.
âlook at you fucking yourself so well â your pussyâs dripping down your hand. donât hold back, chase it.â
but as the heat continues to rise, coiling tighter in your core, it starts to feel overwhelming, the intensity bordering on too much, your fingers falter, and â you stop abruptly, pulling them out halfway.
âfuckâwait,â you pant, chest heaving, a whine edge in your voice as you try to catch your breath.
âwhatâs wrong?â he asks immediately, voice laced with gentle concern as he lifts his head to meet your eyes in the reflection.
âmy stomach felt weird,â you reply, cheeks burning with the admission, your fingers hovering uncertainly at your entrance.
he adores your innocence in that moment, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he presses a tender kiss to your jaw.
âgood weird or a bad weird?â
âi donât know⊠it feltâŠhot,â you explain, voice small and breathless, your body still thrumming with unmet need.
he smiles wider, another kiss landing on your flushed skin, âthat just means youâre close.â
your eyes widen in the mirror, a mix of surprise and lingering uncertainty flashing across your face, âdid i mess it up?â
he shakes his head no, his tone reassuring and firm.
âno. just touch yourself again for me and this time â donât stop until i say so.â
nodding, you slide your fingers back inside â two at once, curling right away as he taught you, resuming the rhythm, pumping steadily, the heat reigniting almost instantly. desperate moans pour from you now as the coil tightens again, faster this time, your pussy clenching rhythmically around your digits.
but when the the pressure builds to an unbearable peak â
âjaehyun⊠itâs⊠tooââ you try to pull your hand away again, whimpering.
he doesnât let you this time.
his large hand coming over yours, keeping your fingers buried deep inside as he holds you in place.
âshhh, stay with it â i've got you,â he murmurs.
his other hand slipping down to rub at your clit in firm, tight circles, pressing just right to push you over.
âlet it happen, cum for me.â
the sensation completely shatters you â your walls tightening around your digits â and your first orgasm ever crashes through you so hard you canât even contain yourself anymore, the sounds spilling out raw and desperate, echoing in the quiet room.
âahhâjaeâfuck!â
you cry, the words breaking into a high-pitched keen as your body arches off his chest, your toes curling tight against the carpet, eyes rolling back, vision blurring with stars, as your thighs clamp down around his hand, trapping him there. the pleasure pulses hot and endless, flooding every nerve until you're shaking uncontrollably, slick gushing over your fingers.
jaehyun holds you through it all, his arm banded securely around your waist to keep you from bucking too wildly, his free hand still working your clit in slowing strokes to help you ride the waves.
âthatâs it, love â feel every bit of it,â he murmurs softly, his lips brushing feather-light kisses along your temples, grounding you as the tremors start to fade.
he slows his fingers gradually, letting the aftershocks ripple through you, your pussy fluttering weakly around your buried digits until the intensity fades to a warm, satisfied glow.
your breaths come in ragged pants, body limp and heavy against him, sweat-damp skin sticking to his shirt. finally, your eyes flutter open, hazy and unfocused at first, meeting his gaze in the mirror â dark eyes full of pride and something deeper, more possessive.
with a gentle tug, he guides your hand out of your pussy, your fingers emerging slick and shining with your cum, the wet pop audible in the stillness.
âlook at yourself, look at your pretty pussy,â he instructs, voice husky and commanding, as he lifts your hand between you.
your eyes snap to the reflection, cheeks flushing anew at the sight â your thighs splayed wide, pussy flushed and puffy, entrance gaping slightly from the stretch, glistening with arousal that drips down toward your ass.
you watch, mesmerized, as he brings your slick digits up to his lips, parting them to take them inside his mouth. his tongue swirls around your fingers, sucking deliberately, drawing your cum off them with slow, savoring pulls â hollowing his cheeks like it's the sweetest treat he's ever had.
you stare wide eyed, arousal stirring fresh despite the exhaustion, a new heat blooming in your belly as you watch him devour your juices.
the way his eyes lock on yours, the soft hum of approval vibrating against your skin â it's filthy and captivating, making you wonder how it tasted, what it felt like on his tongue.
âhow does it taste?â you ask, finally finding your voice, breathy and tentative, your gaze flicking from his mouth to his face.
he smirks, releasing your fingers with a wet pop, a string of saliva connecting them briefly before he licks his lips, âyou want to know?â
you nod, heart racing again, curiosity overriding any lingering shyness.
without a word, he cups the back of your neck and pulls you in for a kiss â deep and unhurried, his tongue sliding past your lips to share the flavor, your own arousal coating his mouth as he explores yours.
you moan softly into it, tasting yourself on him, the intimacy of it sending a shiver down your spine as his free hand strokes your thigh soothingly, fingers tracing lazy patterns over your skin.
the kiss deepens, growing hungrier, his tongue stroking yours in firm sweeps while you tilt your head for more.
you shift, turning around in his arms for a better angle, rising onto your knees between his spread legs, hands sliding up his chest over the thin shirt. your fingers catch the hem, tugging insistently, suddenly aware heâs still fully clothed while youâre completely exposed.
jaehyun breaks the kiss just long enough to yank it off swiftly over his head, tossing it aside with your clothes, revealing the sculpted ridges of his eight pack abs â hard, defined lines flexing under smooth skin, a dark happy trail snaking from his navel down and sharp v-lines disappearing into his pants.
you pause, eyes widening as you admire him, one hand trailing down his abs, âgodâŠi donât think any fictional man can compare anymore,â you murmur, voice laced with awe.
he laughs low and rich, the sound vibrating through his chest, clearly enjoying this bolder side of you over the earlier nerves.
âgood thing iâm real and all yours,â he winks, dimples flashing as he pulls you back in for another kiss, lips claiming yours with renewed heat.
âall mineâŠfor another hour or two,â you tease breathlessly when you pull back, a playful glint in your eyes.
his dimples deepen then, eyes darkening with amusement and desire, âletâs not waste a second then,â he teases.
âthat would be a shame,â you say quietly, a smile curving your lips before your graze drifts lower, lingering on the thick bulge straining against his plaid pajama pants.
âyou can take it off, you know?â he says, reading your mind, his hand guiding yours to the waistband.
you nod, cheeks heating as you shyly hook your fingers in and slide the pants down his hips, exposing the black boxers that do nothing to hide his impressive length â thick and throbbing visibly beneath the thin material.
âtake that off for me too, sweet girl,â he instructs, voice firm and coaxing, eyes locked on yours.
you obey without hesitation, palms sliding up his thighs before tugging the boxers down, watching as his cock springs up immediately â heavy and erect, veined shaft curving slightly upward, the flushed head already beading pre-cum.
he lifts his hips to help, kicking the pants and boxers off and you canât help but gulp at the sight of him fully exposed. with your pulse racing, you reach out without asking, fingers wrapping around his length at the base.
his hips buck up sharply into your grip, a low grunt escaping his throat as you surprisingly squeeze experimentally, feeling him twitch and harden further in your palm.
âwhat are you thinking about?â he asks, noticing your silence.
âiâm comparing it to my fingers,â you say quietly, stroking once from base to tip before meeting his gaze straight on, âthis is gonna hurt, isnât it?â
jaehyun slowly guides your hand towards his mouth, eyes on yours the whole time when he lets his spit slowly drool from his lips to your palm. itâs vulgar and messy and it makes your head spin.
then he brings your hand back down to his cock, guiding you into a slow pump along his shaft, his abs tightening under where your other palm rests.
âit might sting at first, yeahâespecially since youâre new to this,â he admits honestly, making your thumb circle the sensitive underside of the head with your joined hands, smearing his pre-cum down the length, ââbut iâll go slow, make sure youâre wet and ready. youâll take me like you were made for itâŠuntil youâre begging for it.â
his words send fresh heat flooding your core, pussy clenching emptily as you watch your hand glide over his cock. he groans softly, hips rolling up into each stroke, free hand tangling in your hair to tilt your face up.
âkeep stroking me like that, twist your wrist at the top.â
you follow his guidance, earning a grunt from him.
âyeahâfuck, baby, just like that.â
itâs hot. heâs hot. the sounds he makes are hot.
you pump faster, mesmerized by him, feeling his cock throb thicker in your fist. his breaths grow ragged, eyes half lidded as he watches you, then pulls you up for a messy kiss, tongue fucking your mouth in time with your strokes.
his hand leaves yours, sliding down your back to cup your ass firmly, fingers digging into the soft flesh as he lifts you up slightly. your knees spread wider on the carpet, ass rising into the air, pussy exposed and dripping from behind.
and without warning, he presses one long finger against your slick entrance and pushes inside, stretching your walls with a single smooth thrust.
you moan loud into the kiss as your grip on his cock tightens, strokes pausing mid-pump while you adjust to the intrusion.
itâs so much different from fingering yourself â his finger is thicker, longer, moves with purpose you canât anticipate.
he drags it out slow, then slams back in, curling deep against that soft spot inside, sending sparks exploding through your nerves.
you try your best to resume pumping his cock, hand jerking unevenly along the slick length, but the sensation overwhelms you. after a few shaky strokes, you give up, fingers digging into his muscular thigh for anchor as your mouth hangs open against his, breaths panting hot and desperate.
he breaks the kiss to nip at your jaw, lips brushing your ear as he whispers praises, voice rough and commanding, âso fucking tightâyou like that, donât you? like it when my fingers fuck you like this.â
his digit pumps faster, plunging in and out with wet squelches, thumb now circling your swollen clit in firm presses.
and god, the not knowing makes it so much better â when heâll curl, when heâll thrust, when heâll grind his palm over your clit.
nothing registers but him finger-fucking you â the stretch, the heat, the relentless pressure building low in your belly.
âyouâre so wet baby, this pussy is ready to take me,â he grunts, adding a second finger without mercy, scissoring them wide to open you up, knuckles bumping your entrance as he dives deeper.
youâre a goner. your head falls to the crook of his neck, nose buried in his skin, teeth clenched, body seizing as your second orgasm crashes over you just like that. your walls clamp down hard on his fingers, creaming all over his hand, the fresh slick dripping down your thighs. your cries are muffled against his shoulder as your hips buck wildly onto his palm, chasing every brutal thrust through the waves.
jaehyun doesnât stop, his free arm banding around your waist to hold you steady as you tremble and spasm.Â
âfuck, thatâs itâsoak my fingers, sweet girl,â he praises, watching your body shake through the mirror.Â
your breaths come in shattered gasps, body going limp in his hold as the aftershocks ripple through you.Â
he eases his fingers out slow, then brings them to your lips, âtaste yourself,â he murmurs, pushing the soaked digits past your parted mouth.
you suck obediently, tongue lapping at your own release, eyes fluttering up to meet his heated gaze.Â
he groans at the sight, cock jerking visibly, ânow get on the bedâitâs time for the real lesson.â
your eyes widen slightly, pulse racing at his words, but at this point youâre so ready for this â your body practically begging as your pussy clenches around nothing, aching to be filled.Â
you push up on shaking legs, knees wobbly from the orgasms, turning toward the bed. before you can climb on and sit down â jaehyunâs large, strong hands grip your hips, spinning you around fast. his lips crash onto your again, kissing you hungrily.Â
he walks you backward step by step, guiding you onto the bed. your back meets the soft sheets, sinking into the plush mattress as your legs part on instinct, thighs spreading wide. he settles between them heavy and hot, his muscular frame caging you in, his rock hard cock dragging teasingly along your inner thigh.Â
jaehyun breaks the kiss only to trail his mouth down your jaw, to your neck, sucking hard enough to mark the skin red, drawing out a sharp moan from you.Â
he moves to your breasts next, mouth closing over one nipple, tongue flicking the peak before sucking on it. your body arches off the bed, pressing your chest into his face, the pull shooting straight to your core.Â
âjaehyunâ,â you moan, the sensation so new and overwhelming in the best way possible. he switches sides, lavishing the other nipple with the same attention â suck, bite, soothe with his tongue â leaving behind a couple of dark hickeys blooming purple on your skin.Â
finally, he pulls back, sliding down your body until heâs on his knees. one hand wanders flat over your stomach, tracing down to your hips, then dipping to your inner thigh until his fingers reach your pussy lips, parting them open and exposing your dripping entrance and throbbing clit to the cool air.Â
you watch him the entire time, breath held, excitement buzzing through your veins like electricity.Â
jaehyun grips his cock at the base, sending you a playful smirk before he guides the flushed head up through your folds â but not inside.
he slides it along your slick, coating himself in your arousal, then swirl the tip around your clit in lazy circles, letting you feel him skin to skin.Â
the pressure edges you mercilessly, building that coil together once again. you whine high and desperate, hips bucking up to chase the friction, needing more.
âpleaseâŠ.jaehyun.â
he smiles down at you, dimples flashing wickedly, eyes locked on your pleading face.Â
âgotta make sure youâre nice and wet, sweet girl.â
he doesnât give in just yet. tapping his cock against your clit â once, twice, three times â each tap leaving you wanting more. then he drags down your folds again, nudging your hole but pulling back every time, teasing the stretch.Â
your whines turn to full begging, thighs trembling, your pussy getting wetter and wetter with ever second.Â
when he finally deems you ready, he leans over to snatch the condom on the nightstand, ripping the packet open with his teeth and rolling the latex down his length with practiced ease, the sight making your mouth water. you had no idea who you were anymore, all you know is that you needed him. badly.Â
he crawls back up, face hovering inches from yours, âready?â he asks, voice softer than itâs been the whole night, his cock nudging right at your entrance, the tip kissing your hole.Â
you nod frantically, hands going to the nape of his neck.
âyesâplease, jaehyun, i need to feel you inside me.â
he doesnât make you beg anymore after that, pressing forward slowly, the thick head of his cock breaching your tight ring with a wet pop, stretching you inch by burning inch.
it burns so good, fuller than his fingers, your walls yielding reluctantly to his size as he sinks deeper. youâre thankful he took the time prepping you because you canât even imagine heâd fit if you werenât this wet.Â
you shut your eyes tight, hissing sharp at the slight sting of the stretch.Â
jaehyun notices immediately, hips stuttering just a fraction, âyouâre doing so well, love â almost there,â he grunts low, voice strained as he fights his own urges.
youâre so fucking tight, so fucking wet and it feels like heaven and torture rolled into one because he knows youâre a virgin â knows he has to go slow, let you savor it.Â
once he bottoms out, his balls snug against your ass, he stills completely, giving you a long moment to adjust to the impossible fullness splitting you open, your pussy fluttering wild around him. he peppers your face with soft kisses, a tender contrast to the raw stretch.Â
you open your eyes, a little watery from the intensity and he thumbs away a tiny tear before it can fall, gaze locked soft on yours.Â
âyou still with me?â he murmurs, breath hot against your skin.Â
you nod quick, but he tilts his head, dimples faint in that patient smile, âwhat did i say about words?â
âiâm with you,â you confirm, voice breathy, hands clutching his biceps.Â
âiâm gonna move now, okay?â
âokay,â you whisper, pulse thundering.
he starts thrusting slow, pulling out halfway then pushing back in with a smooth roll of his hips, letting you get used to the drag.
the pain starts subsiding quick, morphing into sparks of pleasure that bloom deep in your belly, your body starting to react to it as your hips buck up instinctively to match his slow rhythm, chasing more.Â
âfaster, please,â you plead, voice wrecked.Â
he obliges without question, picking up the pace slightly.
he hikes one of your legs higher, hooking it over his waist, opening you wider â and then heâs hitting it. every snap of his hips grinding right against that spot inside. you moan loud, unrestrained, the sound ripping from your throat.Â
âyeah, there we go, baby, let me hear you â you sound so fucking pretty,â he praises, voice rough with lust, urging you on as sweat beads on his temple.Â
âright there, right there, right there, please jaehyunâ,â your whines mixes with your moans, hands wrapping around his torso, nails scraping his back to pull him closer.
he knows exactly what you need, his cock slamming that spot deeper â relentless, pounding now.Â
youâve never felt anything like it, pleasure coiling vicious and hot, building to a peak that whites out your vision.Â
you last a couple more thrusts, walls clamping down hard before your third orgasm crashes through you fully. your entire body heats up, pussy spasming wild around his cock, mouth falling open in a breathless moan, the feeling of raw ecstasy making your eyes shut tight while stars burst behind your lids, limbs locking and trembling in his grip.Â
âthatâs it, baby, fuckâyouâre coming so hard for me,â jaehyun praises you through it, his hips grinding deep to drag out every pulse.
âlook at you, creaming all over my cock, squeezing me so tight â perfect little pussy.â
you barely have time to catch your breath and process the fact that youâre no longer a virgin when jaehyun pulls out with a wet slide, your empty pussy clenching around nothing, as your release slides out of your hole and down to your ass crack.Â
you hear the sharp snap of latex being yanked off and tossed aside. and the next second â jaehyunâs hovering over you â on his knees, his length obscene and huge, flushed dark and throbbing, veins bulging. he taps the swollen head onto your parted lips.Â
âwider,â he commands, tone firm, eyes dark with hunger.Â
he definitely fucked you stupid because you obey instantly, parting your lips wider, tongue flicking out instinctively.Â
âgood girl,â he praises low, dimples flashing wicked before he shoves his cock down your throat in one smooth thrust. it hits the back of your throat immediately, making you gag hard, drool spilling from the corners of your mouth.Â
you think back to all those books, the smut you devoured, and youâre prepared for this more than you thought â you force your jaw to slack, relaxing the muscles as much as possible, breathing raggedly through your nose and ignoring the tears welling fast, blurring your vision, as you let jaehyun fuck your mouth.Â
his hips snap forward, grunts and groans rumbling deep from his throat, so hot they vibrate straight to your core. you could listen to him forever â that raw, animalistic sound of need. it makes you horny again, pussy clenching empty, aching fresh, thighs rubbing together for some comfort.Â
you almost canât believe youâve avoided sexual acts for this long and now you have a man balls deep in your throat in the same hour you lost your virginity.Â
but fuck, you wouldnât change a thing.
this was all your fanfictions exploding into reality and itâs so much hotter â thicker, messier, real sweat and musk and stretch.Â
jaehyunâs abs clench tight above you, ânnghâ,â a low sound rattles in his throat, somewhere between a moan and a growl, âiâm gonna cumâfuck.â
heâs losing his bearings, his thrusts turning erratic and sloppy. you feel him start to pull back and itâs almost sweet how he doesnât want to force you to swallow his cum when heâs already choking you with his cock â but your desire is ravenous, your hands shooting up to grip his ass cheeks firmly, nails digging in to yank him deeper, holding him in place. you suck harder, hollowing your cheeks, tongue swirling frantically around him.Â
âohâgod,â he groans, head tipping back, âyou dirty, dirty girl.â
he grabs a fistful of your hair tightly, yanking your head steady as your tearful eyes lock on his â blown pupils, jaw slack, pure feral lust.Â
âyou better swallow every drop,â he growls through clenched teeth, his voice breaking, and then heâs erupting â hot ropes pulsing straight down your throat, thick and endless. you gulp it down greedily, not spilling a bit, throat working around him until heâs spent and shuddering above you, cock twitching with aftershocks.Â
jaehyun finally pulls out slow, slick strands of spit and cum connecting your lips to his tip before snapping free.
you let yourself cough for a bit, finally regaining air in your lungs as he slides back down your body.
âso good for me, taking it all like that â my perfect girl,â he praises, caressing your face gently before capturing your mouth in a deep kiss, tasting himself in you.
âwho taught you how to suck somene off like that, huh?â he teases, eyes sparkling wickedly as he props on his elbows, his body against yours.Â
you smile shyly, cheeks burning hot, biting your lip.Â
he grins wide, dimples carving deep, already knowing, âthose books are that good?â he asks, voice playful.Â
you laugh bright, playfully shoving his shoulder, âyeah, well, the writers are pretty damn amazing.â
he quirks a brow high, smirk tugging, âanything else they write about that you want to try?â he waits, gaze intense, hand tracing lazy circles on your skin.Â
âiâuhm,â you start, voice soft, âi kinda want to ride you.â
he chuckles deep, hand roaming down your hip, squeezing the curve firm, âyou gotta give me five minutes, love,â he says playful, making you laugh again, the tension easing into giddy warmth.
youâre thankful heâs not making this whole thing a bigger deal than it has to be, that heâs not treating you like something breakable just because itâs your first time.Â
âdo they write about how it feels to be eaten out?â he smirks slow, breaking you out of your thoughts.Â
you nod quick, pulse racing fresh.Â
âlet me know if the writing is as good as the actual thing,â he says teasingly.Â
and then heâs shifting down, strong hands spreading your thighs wide, hooking under your knees to pin you open. his breath ghosts hot over your soaked pussy before his tongue flattens, licking a long stripe up your slit from your hole to your clit, lapping your juices clean.Â
your head sinks deep into the pillow, back arching sharp, body reacting immediately to his touch,âgodâjaehyun,â you whine high, hands flying down to grip his dark hair, tugging the strands between your fingers.Â
he groans into you, vibration humming straight to your core and dives in hungrily â lips sealing around your clit, sucking, tongue flicking rapid circles around the sensitive bud. your hips buck up desperately, grinding your folds against his face, chasing the pressure.Â
he eats you out filthily, nose bumping your clit as his tongue thrusts in, slurping every drip of your arousal. spit and cream smear his chin, dripping down.
your thighs quake around his head, heels digging into the mattress, your grip tightening in his hair as that spark builds low in your belly once again.Â
âjaeâfuck, yes,â you gasp, legs trembling now, toes curling into the sheets.
he presses his face deeper and you shatter hard, your fourth orgasm crashing through you like fire, pussy spasming as you squirt tiny bursts against his mouth.
jaehyun drinks it down, sucking your pulsing clit to drag out every throb. your back arches off the bed, cry ripping raw from your chest, as you push his head off of you, giving yourself a moment to breathe.Â
his lips are glistening with your release, eyes dark and smug as he crawls beside you, sitting against the headboard as he caresses your hair.
âbetter than the book, yeah?â he murmurs playfully, earning an eye roll and a tired laugh from you as you calm your racing pulse.
âstill wanna ride me, baby?â he asks, voice low and coaxing.
you look up at him then. in truth, youâre feeling tired, but on the other hand, you still wanted to feel it.Â
âc-can i?â you ask shyly.Â
he nods, thumb stroking your cheek, âof course you can, anything you want to do, love.â
he reaches for another condom on the nightstand. you sit up now, watching him move.
âcan i put it on you?â
he gives you a soft smile, handing it over, âyeah, here.â his hand covers yours, showing you how to pinch the tip and slide it down smooth over his hard cock until it hugs him tight.Â
once itâs on, he guides you over his lap to straddle him, thighs spreading wide around his hips, ânowâŠjust grip the base of me like this,â he says, wrapping your fingers around his cock, steady and thick in your palm, âand sit whenever youâre ready.â
you nod, heart pounding, lining his tip up with your soaked entrance. you take a soft breath before slowly, pushing down, the stretch burning sweetly.Â
âohâshit,â you moans, sinking lower inch by inch, the new angle making you feel him even more, âoh my godâyou feel so big.â
he tries to hide his smirk as his hands settle on your waist, rubbing soothing circles, letting you control the drop.Â
âtake your time, sweet girlâyou can do it,â he praises. then his mouth latches onto one nipple, lips sucking softly and sweetly.Â
and fuck, thereâs a reason why heâs the most valuable donor.Â
you whimper, hips dipping further, taking half of his length now, walls clenching greedy around the invasion. he switches nipples, sucking the other into wet heat, humming approval that vibrates through your chest.Â
âfuck, youâre tight,â he groans against your skin, one hand sliding up your back to pull you closer, the other kneading your ass.
you continue until your ass meets his thighs and heâs buried balls deep, the fullness stealing your breath, pussy stuffed full and pulsing around him.
you pause there, panting, adjusting to his size. jaehyun kisses between your breasts, up to your neck, murmuring, âmove when it feels good, yeah? bounce or grindâwhatever you need.â
his words sink in, a gentle push to explore and figure out what your body likes.Â
you lift your hips slowly, slick pussy dragging up his shaft, then sink back down slow, the friction sparking fresh heat low in your belly.
then you try grinding circles next, your clit pressing firm against his pubic bone, cock buried deep and still. a soft moan slips out at that â your body likes this roll, the way it rubs that inner wall just right.Â
he watches close, eyes locked on your face, hands loose on your hips. and you canât help it, heâs just so handsome and patient and everything you wanted this to be. you lean forward, capturing his mouth in a messy kiss, moaning into it as you grind harder. each second builds pressure, pussy clenching around his thickness, learning the rhythm that makes your thighs quiver.Â
âthatâs it, babyâfuck yourself on my cockâyou love it donât you?â he breathes against your lips, still letting you lead.Â
âf-feels s-so full, jaehyun,â you admit in moans, bouncing slightly now, moans pouring into his mouth louder while your hips chase that rising coil, your sweat beads on your skin, tits brushing his chest with every grind.Â
the heat swells fast again, that now familiar ache demanding more. you rock frantically, your pace faltering as your thighs start to burn. whines escape between kisses, desperate little sounds that demand more.Â
âwhat do you need, love? tell me,â he asks, his voice husky, though his smirk says he already knows.Â
âneed it fasterâplease,â you whine, nails digging into his chest.Â
that flips the switch.
he plants your heels firm into the mattress on either side of his hips, âhold here,â he says, guiding your hands up to grip his shoulders tight. then he takes over â hips snapping up at a punishing pace, each thrust slamming into the spot that whites out your vision, his grip on your hip hot and bruising.
you moan louder than you thought you could, your raw cries bouncing off the walls as the sound of skin slapping wet and loud fills your ears.
soon enough, your knees buckle as you collapse against his chest. he doesnât stop, doesnât slow â his strong hands grips your ass cheeks, bouncing you up and down his cock easily.Â
âjaehyunâfuck!â
your pussy stretches around every ruthless plunge, walls fluttering wild. he grunts by your ear, breath hot on your neck, cock throbbing thicker inside you.Â
âiâmâiâm gonna cumâ,â you scream between clenched teeth, body seizing as the edge crashes, bringing you to your fifth orgasm.Â
âthatâs it, babyâsqueeze me just like that,â he growls low in your ear as you shatter completely, pussy convulsing violently around him, juices gushing down his shaft, pushing him to his own orgasm. he thrusts deep one last time, his cock pulsing hard as he fills the condom with thick ropes of cum.Â
youâre both wrecked, panting, locked together. his arms wrap tight around your back as he kisses your shoulder.
âso fucking perfect,â he murmurs, holding you close through the aftershocks.Â
you stay like that for a while, his hand stroking your back in lazy circles, letting you catch your breath and piece your scattered mind back together. the fullness is almost comforting, warm inside, a reminder of how thoroughly he wrecked you.Â
you lift your head finally, meeting his gaze, his eyes soft and searching, âyou okay?â he asks, thumb brushing your cheek.Â
you nod, a shy smile tugging at your lips, âthat wasâi donât know how thatâs going to be toppedâŠyou may have set the standards too high for real men,â you say, laughing softly.Â
he laughs with you, deep and warm, his hand sliding up to rub your arm up and down, his soft cock still buried inside you.Â
âwell, iâll be here if you ever need your standards met,â he winks, smile widening, those dimples carving deep into his cheeks.
and you canât resist it anymore â your finger reaches up sweetly, poking one dimple gently. his expression shifts to amused shock, brows lifting playfully as he catches your hand and landing a kiss on your fingertip.Â
âthank you,â you say sweetly, âi couldnât have asked for a better first time.â
he pulls you down for a kiss then, soft and slow, lips moving tenderly against yours, âthank you for trusting me,â he murmurs when he pulls back as you two share a smile.
âletâs get you cleaned up.â
you nod, finally hopping off him, your pussy clenching empty around nothing, juices spilling down between your thighs, already missing that thick stretch as his cock slips free with a wet slide.
he pulls the condom off, tying it off quick before tossing it to the bin, then guides you with a hand at your lower back toward the door leading to the bathroom, your legs feeling like jelly below you.
âone last lesson,â he says smirking, âyou need to pee.â
you laugh, the sound light and bubbly, âgot it, i have read about that.â
he laughs then, eyes crinkling at the corners, âyou gotta send me these books youâre readingâŠi might learn a thing or two,â he jokes, handing you a soft towel from a stack on the counter.
âgo ahead, iâll get your clothes,â he says before giving you a bit of privacy as he saunters back into the bedroom to pick your clothes off the ground.
you look at your reflection in the mirror and yeah, it does kinda scream that you just got railed in the best way possible.
you do your thing â wiping the sticky mess from your thighs before finally sitting on the toilet. you wash up softly, your pussy still throbbing tenderly, swollen lips aching sweet from the stretch and friction.
he knocks softly before peeking in, heâs back in his clothes now too while your clothes and underwear are draped over his arm.
âall good?â he asks, stepping in to lay them on the counter.
âyeah,â you say, taking the clothes, and slipping into it.
he turns away politely and itâs cute considering how heâs the only person to ever see and touch your body intimately.
you step out of the bathroom fully dressed and he walks over to you, placing his hand up, palm open just like how this all started.
âready to head out?â
you nod, placing your hand in his, warm and steady. he leads you out the door of suite 14 and into the hallway back to the lobby, his fingers laced loosed with yours. as youâre walking, he pulls out a single red rose that he tucked between his pajama pants like the cheeky, cheeky man he is.
âfor you ms. y/n.â
you try to hide your smile, cheeks warming, âthank you, mr. jung,â you giggle, taking the rose from him, the symbolism of the flower making you laugh inside â how poetic.
âis it always this sweet here?â you ask, twirling the stem between your fingers.
âit depends on the client,â he says honestly, dimples deepening as he glances sideways.
âhas anyone fallen in love with a client before?â you ask, head already swrling with romantic fantasies.
he pauses to think for a bit, âi donât think soâŠbut i wouldnât put it as past us,â he says rationally, âwe are still human after all.â
you nod at that. then you make it to the door that leads to the lobby.
âwellâŠjohnny will take care of you now,â he says, releasing your hand, âthank you for choosing me, ms. y/n,â he smiles then, releasing your hand softly just to offer it out again for handshake.
you take it, shaking his hand, âi couldnât have chosen a better donor,â you say softly.
then, just when you thought it was over â he brings your hand up to his lips, placing a soft kiss between your knuckles, the brush of his mouth sending a final spark through your skin.
âcome back whenever you want,â he says, sending you a playful wink, dimples flashing one last time before finally letting you step back into the lobby, your heart fluttering quietly in your chest as the door to the private suites closes behind you.
â END OF SESSION â
âwelcome back,â johnny says lightly, pulling you back to reality as you walk up to the reception desk.
âhow was suite 14?â
you grip the rose tighter between your fingers, body and mind still humming from jaehyun, âperfect,â you admit shyly, cheeks heating.
johnny nods approvingly, a small smile on his lips, âjaehyunâs got that effect.â
then heâs sliding a black bag towards you. you eye it suspiciously, curiosity piqued.
âa gift from us,â johnny says, eyes twinkling, âa little thank you for giving us a chance.â
you smile, grabbing the bag and thanking him before finally stepping out of the clinic and into the cool evening air.
you slide into the driverâs seat of your car, exhaling long and slow, processing everything that just happened. your body aches in the best way, the faint musk of sex clinging to your skin.
you checked the inside of the bag to find a folded white hoodie with the words ORGASM DONOR in bold letters across the chest. a laugh bubbles up from your chest, genuine and light, cutting through the post-sex haze.
you pull your phone out then, pulling up the neo orgasmâs clinic website to leave your own review:
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18+ only | watch at your own risk | contains mature content
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pairing: brotherâs friend! haechan x friendâs sister! reader
word count: 12k+
warnings: nothing really, just making out. lots of kisses. an are you gay? joke. some curse words. alcohol. clubbing.
an: i havenât stopped listening to drop dead since it came out and i fr just had to lock in and write something about it. this may or may not be based on real life events, real conversations, real crushes, real hotel rooms. who knows? (i know)
đč
a brotherâs friend is off limits. a friendâs sister? definitely off limits. itâs one of those unspoken rules everyone just knows.
and your younger brother â sweet, oblivious, far too trusting with the men around him â made the wrong move.
itâs not his fault.
the two of you were only three years apart and lifeâs circumstances forced you to become best friends. and as the best of friends, you ended up here â in a fully paid hotel room his rich friend invited him to. all expenses covered.
a little suspicious? maybe.
but youâre not one to pass up on free things. especially a free night stay at a four star hotel.
and, really â youâre practically just one of the guys.
âŠexcept for the tiny, inconvenient detail that you might have a tiny crush on his so-called rich friend â lee haechan.
âso,â giselleâs voice breaks you out of your thoughts, âthat haechan guy is kinda cute. definitely your type.â
you already know that.
âhmâŠheâs alright,â you shrug, forcing a careless tone as you drag your eyeliner across your lid. too long. you wipe it with concealer. too short. you redraw it. a repetitive cycle until you finally accept that your eyeliner are sisters, not twins.
âugh!â she flops dramatically onto her bed â the room comes with two double beds, courtesy of haechan, which she refuses to stop bringing up. âyou always say that. when are you finally getting a boyfriend?â
you laugh. because sheâs not the only one in your friend group waiting for that miracle to happen.
âplease, iâm so tired of boys,â you say, lining your lips now, âi swear â thereâs no real men nowadays. they all act like princesses.â
âgirl, he might be different!â she insists, sitting up now, eyes wide. âjust make the first move. i swear, with how pretty you are? heâll be wrapped around your finger in seconds,â she continues, adorably pouting up at you.
you donât know why your friends are so obsessed with your nonexistent love life. you barely think about it at all. at least, not as much as they seem to.
âno fucking way,â you reply, smacking your lips together as you finish with your gloss, âyou know iâm old fashioned.â
âfine! whatever,â she groans.
her phone rings on the nightstand sheâs occupied, finally taking her attention off of you.
instantly, her entire demeanor softens.
âhi my love,â she coos at her phone and you almost snort.
you canât even imagine yourself talking like that. to a boy. ever.
âyeah, baby, iâm just gonna go to the club for a bit with y/n and her brother and a couple of their friends, i promise iâll be back at the hotel before 2 a.m.â
ew. updates like that? like sheâs reporting to a parent? the thought makes you scrunch your nose. could never be you.
âoki, yes, iâll call you later taro, i love you.â
she hangs up, all dreamy-eyed and glowing, catching your gaze in the mirror. you gag dramatically, sticking your tongue out, and she laughs, throwing a pillow straight at your head.
âbut seriously,â she says, propping herself up on her elbows.
âseriously what?â
âwhy are we even invited to this?â she gestures around the room, âweâre the only two girls here. and iâm only here because of you â he has to be at least a little interested in you to book us a room.â
you shrug, refusing to agree, even though a small part of you knows that lee haechan may also have a tiny crush on you, too.
because there was that moment.
that stupid, lingering four seconds when your eyes met for the first time. you didnât even say hi then. there were no introductions. no words. but you felt it. crazy, as that sounds.
even crazier when you take in the fact that you only really formally met him earlier today â at the hotel lobby. when he waved at you, awkwardly, passed you your hotel room card and personally walked you and giselle up your room, which was, coincidentally, right next to his.
âjisung probably just forced him to include us,â you say, still pretending the boy had no effect on you, âand everyone knows no one can say no to my brother.â
giselle laughs, âyeah i guessâŠyour brother is just too adorable to say no to.â
you scrunch your nose up againâŠbecauseâŠew. if only they knew how annoying that little shit actually is.
âwe still have three hours until we need to get to the club,â you say, glancing at your watch, âwanna check out the hotel?â
giselle nods immediately, already halfway off the bed before you even finish your sentence.
it wouldâve been perfect. if it wasnât so hot. like, offensively hot. the kind that clings to your skin and melts your makeup no matter how hard you try to salvage it.
âokay, no,â giselle groans, fanning herself with her hand. âiâm gonna pass out.â
âsame,â you laugh, already turning back toward the elevator, âletâs go back.â
by the time you reach your floor, youâre both a little flushed, a little sticky, and very ready for air conditioning.
but as you walk down the hallway, something catches your attention â the door to haechanâs room is wide open.
and before you can even pretend not to notice â chenle, your personal favorite friend of your brothersâ, pops out.
âhey! come inâweâre just pregaming,â he says, his kitty-like smile beaming at you, whiskers and everything. and how could you say no to that actual cutie?
the room smells faintly of alcohol and cologne, the table cluttered with half-empty bottles of vodka and mixers, some sadboi/fuckboi playlist humming through the speakers. and the boys are all sprawled out in different parts of the room.
your brother was by the window, one hand in his pocket while jaemin angles a camera at him like heâs shooting a magazine spread. jenoâs on the bed, head down, thumbs moving across his phone â probably texting that situationship jisung told you all about. renjunâs seated neatly in the corner chair, sipping from his bottle like he doesnât belong in the chaos at all. then thereâs someone new, someone you didnât meet in the hotel lobby earlier.
and of course, lee haechan â with his back against the wall, a bottle in hand, standing coolly, chatting softly with renjun.
youâre not sure if thatâs his natural habitat or if heâs putting up a front for you but you come to a conclusion quickly â you donât really like it. he seems different from the first time you ever saw him. like heâs trying to be someone heâs not. but then again, you donât even know who he is.
âhey, iâm mark,â the new guy says, bringing your attention back to him.
markâs cute. his leather jacket fits him perfectly and he seems like the friendly/outgoing type which are the type of people you enjoy the most since youâre not too friendly yourself.
âiâm y/n,â you say, returning his smile, âthis is my friend, giselle.â
she waves at everyone before sitting at the unoccupied bed and starting a conversation with mark. she asks him what his major is. he asks her about her job. leaving you standing there.
your brother, who has now finally realized you were in the room turns towards your voice, and you look at him.
âi canât believe you guys started pregaming without us.â
âoops,â he shrugs, giving you a gummy smile. you notice jaeminâs camera is pointed at you now. you throw it a small peace sign with the signature duck lips â something youâve embarrassingly conditioned yourself to do every time a camera is on you.
âhere,â a voice captures your attention and your eyes are on the bottle haechan is handing you.
to be fair â he is the closest one to you, geographically speaking, so itâs only right he was handing you a bottle.
you inspect it. itâs quite literally â green.
âuhmâŠthat lookâs disgusting,â you say, a playful, totally not flirtatious, lilt in your voice.
he chuckles softly, holding the bottle out closer, âjust try it, itâs not that bad.â
âhow do i know if i can trust you?â you continue the playful nature, an eyebrow going up, the tiny smile on your face purposefully evident so he knows youâre kidding.
and he plays along with you. his mouth curving slowly, amused.
âguess youâll just have to take that risk,â he smirks, still holding the bottle out to you.
you huff out a quiet laugh, finally taking the bottle from his hand and bringing it up to your lips, ignoring the fact that this was, technically â an indirect kiss.
but whatever.
youâre too old to be giggling about indirect kisses.
youâre delightfully surprised when the alcohol hits your tongue, eyes flicking back up to him immediately, and heâs already watching you. like he never looked away in the first place. waiting.
âwhat did you put in this?â you ask, narrowing your eyes slightly.
âcanât tell you, itâs a secret ingredient,â he teases.
âokay, mr. krabs,â you scoff, taking another sip, trying to decipher what the flavor isâŠuntil it finally clicks, âitâs lime tang, isnât?â
he gives you a small chuckle. itâs cute.
âahh,â he hums, clicking his tongue, âand here i thought youâd spend your whole life trying to pry the secret from me.â
you roll your eyes, and you hate the way you can feel your smile getting wider.
over a boy.
yuck.
âsomeoneâs a little too obsessed with spongebob,â you mutter, âbut i do have to give it to you haechan, this is pretty good.â
you hand the bottle back to him. but he doesnât take it.
âkeep it,â he says, gently pushing it back towards you, his hands soft, âitâs yours now.â
you hesitate for half a second, ââŠthanks.â
your fingers tighten around the bottle and for a moment, the two of you just â look at each other. and there it is again. that same pull from the four second eye contact when you first saw him at your brotherâs university.
eventually, you have to force yourself to look away because his gaze is too much. and you donât like it. too aware of all the people around you. too aware of the fact that your brother was just right there.
so you turn, slipping away before it lingers enough for the others to notice, dropping down beside giselle on the bed. sheâs mid conversation with mark, chenle and renjun who joined at some point, you didnât even notice.
and you fall into it easily. laughing. talking. blending in like you always do.
đč
when everyone was dressed up and ready, you all met at the lobby once again. you kept it simple, not wanting to make it look like you were trying to impress someone â just a black fitted mid top with low rise jeans, black kitten heels and your cherry red mini handbag.
âwhoâs riding with who?â you ask, already pulling your phone out, thumb hovering over the grab app.
you glance around casually. but not really. because a small, traitorous part of you is waiting. for him. just one sentence. one âiâll go with you.â thatâs all it would take.
but the moment stretchesâŠthen passes.
most of them still feel like strangers. after all, besides chenle, you met the rest of them today. and thereâs still that awkward hesitation in the air, like no one wants to assume, no one wants to overstep.
âiâll go with you guys,â mark says after a beat.
renjun just nods, quiet but certain, like it was never even a question. and just like that, itâs decided.
you, giselle, mark, chenle, and renjun pile into one car.
jisung, jeno, jaemin, and haechan in another.
the ride is loud, easy, comfortable in a way that surprises you. mark keeps the conversation going effortlessly, chenleâs half-laughing at everything, and renjun, quiet at first, eventually warms up, adding little comments that make you laugh more than you expect.
itâs nice. more than nice. and for a moment, you forget about the other car entirely.
đč
the club is already alive when you get there. lights flashing, bass heavy enough to feel in your chest, the air thick with heat and perfume and something electric that makes your pulse pick up.
you spot your friends almost immediately â karina waving you over, ningning already mid-story about something ridiculous, jungwoo grinning as he pulls you into a quick side hug.
introductions blur into laughter, and somehow, seamlessly, everyone justâŠfits.
the music is good. really good. the kind that makes it impossible to stand still. one song bleeds into the next, and before you know it, youâre dancing, singing, losing yourself in the rhythm as drinks keep appearing in your hand like magic. shot after shot. picture after picture. arms slung over shoulders, phones flashing, memories being made faster than you can process them.
at some point, you notice the boys drifting. one by one, here and there â disappearing into the crowd, probably pulled away by girls who couldnât help but notice them. you donât blame them. your group easily has the most attractive men in the entire place tonight. it would be weirder if they werenât getting attention.
mark and renjun chooses to stay though. and somewhere between your fourth â or fifth? âshot, you realize theyâve quietly become your favorites.
especially when you belong with me starts playing.
âoh my god,â you gasp, grabbing renjunâs arm. his eyes light up instantly. and then the two of you are screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs, perfectly on-key, you think?, completely unbothered, jumping in place like itâs a private concert instead of a packed club.
markâs laughing beside you, shaking his head but joining in anyway, and itâs just â fun. pure, uncomplicated fun.
but just as promised, giselle left the bar around 1:40am, whispering in your ear, âiâm gonna goâŠhave fun babe,â she says, kissing your cheek.
you hold her hand, not letting her get away so easily.
âiâll go with you,â you say immediately, steady, no hesitation, âiâm not letting you go alone.â
she pauses, then turns back to you with that same bright, tipsy grin, eyes soft, a little glassy.
ây/n,â she laughs quietly, âyouâre having so much fun.â
you donât loosen your grip, âgiselleââ
âstay,â she insists gently, squeezing your hand now instead. âsee what the night holds.â
you narrow your eyes at her, âiâm not letting you commute by yourself,â you say, firmer this time, âespecially like this.â
âiâm fineeee,â she drags out, giggling under her breath. then she leans in again, dropping her voice like sheâs about to share a secret, âtaroâs already outsideâŠhe brought his motorcycle.â
she wiggles her eyebrows, âweâre gonna put that hotel bed to use.â
you snort, the concern breaking just enough for amusement to slip through, âoh my god.â
âwhat?â she beams, completely unashamed.
you shake your head, still smiling despite yourself, âfine,â you sigh, tightening your hold on her hand as you start guiding her toward the exit anyway, âiâm at least walking you out.â
âgod,â she mutters, leaning her head briefly against your shoulder as you both weave through the crowd, âyouâd be such a good girlfriendâŠâ
you side eye her.
ââŠso caring,â she adds softly.
you canât help but laugh as the two of you make your way down the stairs, out of the heavy bass and flashing lights, and into the thick, warm night air. it hits you immediately â humid, a little quieter, the distant echo of music still thumping behind you.
shotaroâs already there, waiting by his bike, helmet in hand, posture relaxed but eyes instantly lighting up the moment he sees her.
you feel giselleâs grip tighten just slightly in yours before she lets go, drifting toward him like itâs second nature.
âbe careful, shotaro,â you say, passing her over with a pointed look.
âof course,â he nods easily, smiling as he gently steadies her, carefully putting on her customized helmet. he is really good to her. and you canât be happier for your friend.
she watches him the whole time â soft, fond, completely gone. and you notice. of course you do. youâre the one who always notices.
and yeah, maybe, sometimes, very, very rarely, usually only when the clock hits 2am â you wonder what that would feel like. to let someone look at you like that. take care of you like that. instead of always being the one who does it for everyone else.
âand please,â you smile teasingly, âdonât do it on the left bed, that oneâs mine.â
giselle bursts into laughter, âno promises,â and then they were riding off, her arms wrapped tightly around his middle, their laughterâs ringing in the air.
gross.
but thereâs no real bite to it. just a small smile lingering as you turn back toward the club.
itâs past 2:00am now, which only means â the partyâs just getting started.
you thank the heavens that karina, ningning and jungwoo showed up tonight. because without them? youâd probably be standing awkwardly in a corner somewhere, pretending to enjoy your drink while wondering how the hell you ended up in a club full of your brotherâs friends.
instead, youâre grounded. comfortable. exactly where youâre supposed to be.
renjunâs basically been absorbed into your circle somewhere between screaming song lyrics with you and laughing at absolutely nothing. mark stuck around too, easygoing as ever, but you can tell that he had developed a tiny crush on ningning.
the party continues, more shots, more laughter more of everything. you catch glimpses of your brother once and immediately wish you hadnât. because heâs very clearly lip-locked with some random girl in the middle of a chanting crowd.
âoh my god,â you mutter, turning away instantly, âi donât have a brother.â
karina cackles beside you, âtoo late for that.â
âno, iâm disowning him,â you insist, already grabbing another shot to erase the image from your brain.
the music keeps going â song after song, each one louder than the last, lights flashing in colors that start to blur together the longer you stay. time slips. fast.
and then suddenly â itâs 3:00am.
âfuck,â renjun groans, checking his phone, his whole expression dropping. âi need to go. iâm way past my curfew.â
you blink at him, the words taking a second to fully land. right. theyâre still in university. some of them still live at home.
âcan you get home okay?â you ask, leaning a little closer so he can hear you over the music.
âiâll get him a grab,â mark cuts in easily, already pulling out his phone. you nod, trusting him without a second thought. maybe youâd be more concerned if you were sober.
but right now? your head is light, your body warm, the world just a little softer around the edges.
they disappear into the crowd and you donât even try to keep track of how long markâs gone for. because the second baby by justin bieber comes on, everything else fades.
âOH MY GODââ ningning screams.
you donât even think, already grabbing karina and jungwoo, the four of you forming a mini circle as you all shout the lyrics at the top of your lungs like itâs 2010 and this is the only song that exists. jumping. laughing. completely losing it.
by the time the clock hits 4:00am, the energy shifts.
itâs still loud, still bright, but softer now. heavier. like the night is finally starting to catch up with everyone. most of the boys have made their way back, sitting on the couch like gravity is pulling them in.
jenoâs the first one you noticed. heâs hunched forward, looking like heâs in distress, thumbs rapidly pressing buttons on his phone. you make eye contact with him, flashing him a thumbs up, a small way of asking if he was okay. he just nods solemnly. definitely not okay.
jaemin, slouched beside him, catches the exchange and grins lazily, mouthing, âgirl problems.â
you let out a quiet âahh,â nodding like that explains everything. good enough for you.
and right next to him â lee haechan. with his flushed cheeks and lightly damp hair. he looks like sin. pulling you in without trying.
so pretty. so tempting. everything your brotherâs friend shouldnât be.
and like he can feel you looking, his eyes meet yours. a slow smile tugs at his lips. itâs soft. but it does something to your chest that you donât like. youâre about to return it whenâ
ây/n, weâre leavinggg,â ningningâs voice cuts in, hands already on your shoulders as she turns you towards her, âweâve still got work in a couple of hours,â she groans.
âthankâs for coming,â you laugh softly, pulling her into a hug, âand not letting me dance alone,â you murmur in her ear. she hugs you just as tightly.
âmessage us when youâre back at the hotel, okay?â
you nod, already moving on to karina and pulling her in a hug as well.
then jungwoo, âyou gonna be okay? youâre the only girl left,â he says with concerned eyes.
âiâll be okay,â you assure him, âjisungâs around here somewhere.â
âplease,â he scoffs immediately, âthat big baby can barely protect you.â
you laugh, softly hitting him on the chest in a small act of protecting your brother. even though jungwoo was absolutely correct.
âsheâll be okay,â a voice behind you says. low. easy. and your heart speeds up without your permission, âweâll take care of her.â
you turn, already knowing who it is.
âyup, look â four strong men all right here to protect me,â you say gesturing toward the four men not equipped at all to protect a woman at the moment.
jeno is still too busy typing on his phone, sighing every two seconds. jaemin is fully slumped now, head tipped back, mouth half open, completely passed out. haechan just looks like pure trouble. and mark was sitting at the end of the couch, rubbing his temples.
you take note of the open space right between mark and haechan. like it was reserved with your name on it. like he wanted you to sit there.
jungwoo sighs in disappointment as you laugh, turning to face him again, âiâll be okay. you know me.â
he nods because he does know you. knows the fact that you never get drunk enough to lose your sophistication. and with that, they leave you to it. alone. with that empty space on the couch. you finally give in. settling right between the two boys.
markâs shoulder brushes yours immediately, his head lolling lazily from one side to the other, eyes half-lidded, clearly losing his battle with alcohol. every few seconds he lets out a quiet sigh, like heâs drifting in and out of consciousness.
you glance at him first, a small smile tugging at your lips.
âyou still doing okay?â haechanâs voice is low.
you turn and your breath catches for half a second. heâs right there. closer than you expect. closer than he has any reason to be. close enough that when you turn, your nose brushes lightly against his cheek. itâs quick. barely there. but itâs enough.
you pull back just as fast, leaning into the couch like it didnât happen, like you didnât feel that tiny spark shoot straight down your spine.
âyeah,â you say, clearing your throat just slightly. âthis is nothing. we barely drank.â
he lifts an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, âokayâŠmiss party girl.â
you laugh, nudging his knee with yours, âi donât party that much.â
he huffs out a quiet chuckle, leaning back into the couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest behind you â not touching, but close enough that youâre aware of it.
âwhereâs your brother?â he asks.
you tilt your head, giving him a look, âyouâre asking me? you were the one with him the whole night.â
âfair,â he admits, smiling a little.
you shrug, glancing out at the crowd, âlast time i saw him, he was making out with someone.â
his brows lift, âand you didnât step in?â
you let out a soft snort, âwhy would i step in?â
âyouâre his older sister,â he says, like it should mean something.
and for a second â you canât tell if heâs reminding youâŠor himself.
you roll your eyes, a small laugh slipping out, âplease. heâs twenty-two,â you say, shaking your head, âhe doesnât need me stepping in.â
you glance back at him, a teasing smile pulling at your lips, âwhat about you?â you ask. âyou disappeared a lot tonightâŠbusy?â
he lets out a quiet breath through his nose, like he already knows where youâre going with this.
âbusy playing your brotherâs matchmaker,â he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. âthatâs for sure.â
you hum, unconvinced, âiâm sure it was very mutual,â you tease.
ânah,â he shrugs, almost too casually. âdidnât really see anyone i liked.â
you blink at him, then laugh lightly, nudging his knee again, âreally? a whole club full of hot women and not a single one caught your attention?â
âguess not.â
thereâs something off about how easily he says it. you tilt your head, studying him a little closer now.
âyour standards that high?â
he doesnât answer right away. just looks at you. steady. unrushed. like heâs not even trying to hide it.
âwe canât always have what we want,â he says quietly but youâre so focused on him, you hear it loud and clear, even when the first beat of just like heaven fills up the room.
you feel it again. that pull. that quiet, dangerous tension that keeps threading itself between every interaction you have with him, tightening each time like itâs building toward something youâre not ready to name.
and for a second, you donât know what to say. donât know if you should say anything.
but before the moment can stretch any further, a sudden weight drops against your shoulder. you jolt, blinking as you look down.
mark.
completely out. head resting heavily against you, breathing slow and even like he passed out mid-thought. you let out a small laugh, glancing back at haechan.
âyour friend fell asleep on my shoulder,â you point out, amused.
haechan leans forward slightly, looking past you at mark, then huffs out a quiet laugh, âyeahâŠheâs gone.â
you shift a little, adjusting so mark doesnât slide off, instinctively steadying him even as you try not to laugh too loud.
âgreat,â you mumble. ânow iâm stuck.â
âmhm,â haechan hums, leaning back again, eyes still on you, âlooks like it.â
and somehow, even with mark half-asleep on you, it still feels like youâre the only two people on that couch.
đč
you try to stay upright. you really do. but your bodyâs slowly giving up on you, shoulders heavy, head dipping every few seconds no matter how many times you blink or straighten yourself out.
your head tilts forward slightly. you catch it. straighten. then it happens again, slower this time, your balance slipping just enough that itâs obvious youâre losing the fight.
haechan notices. of course he does. heâs been watching you longer than he should admit. the way your movements get softer, slower. the way your eyes take a second longer to focus. the way your head keeps dipping like youâre trying to convince your body to stay awake when itâs already decided otherwise.
so when it happens again, when your head tips just a little too far to the side â he moves. one hand comes up, gentle but sure, stopping you before you can awkwardly jolt yourself back upright. his fingers brush lightly against your temple as he guides you, not forcing, not rushing, just enough. until your head comes to rest against his shoulder. steady. comfortable. like it was meant to be there. he adjusts slightly after, shifting his posture so you donât have to hold yourself up anymore, his shoulder dipping just enough to support you properly. and youâre too tired to protest.
from an outside perspective you can almost imagine how ridiculous this group looks. a full row of half-dead bodies on a couch. mark passed out on one side, jaemin completely knocked out on the other, jeno still stress-texting like his life depends on it, and you â resting on haechan like the final piece of a sleeping train.
âtired?â he murmurs softly.
âno,â you whisper. it such an obvious lie, it almost makes you smile.
he chuckles under his breath, âwanna go back to the hotel?â
you nod your head no against his shoulder, the movement slow and lazy, âdonât wanna ruin jisungâs fun.â
honestly, you have no idea where your brother even is anymore. somewhere out there. still partying like the night isnât already over.
âokay,â haechan says.
just like that. no pushing. no teasing. justâŠokay. his voice is quieter now, like heâs matching your pace without making a big deal out of it.
a few seconds pass. then, âyouâre gonna fall asleep on me,â he adds, softer this time, almost amused.
you hum faintly, eyes slipping open for a second, âiâm not asleep,â you mumble.
he lets out another quiet laugh, âsure.â
after a while, he was getting pretty over it too. it was nearing 5:00am and jisung and chenle were still nowhere to be found.
haechan takes one last glance at you, your breathing has evened out now and heâs pretty sure youâve fallen into a light slumber. he moves carefully, afraid to wake you.
âjeno,â he calls out to his friend, whispering, which is pretty ironic since the rest of the club is still loud.
your ears pick up on it immediately even if your eyes refuses to open.
âcan you find jisung and chenle?â haechan says, softer than youâve ever heard him all night, âwe should head back soon.â
âyeah,â jeno mutters, pushing himself up from the couch, still sounding half-annoyed, half-exhausted. âiâll look for them.â
you feel the couch move under his weight. and for a second â itâs just the two of you again. youâre still resting against him, eyes slightly open now, too tired to pretend youâre not listening anymore. too tired to move away.
âgo back to sleep,â haechan murmurs, quieter this time, âiâll wake you up when theyâre here.â
you let out a small breath, barely audible, âmmm.â
his hand shifts again, briefly brushing against your arm like heâs checking if youâre okay. if youâre comfortable. and you are. too comfortable. dangerously so.
a few minutes pass before you hear familiar voices again â jisungâs loud, unmistakable laugh cutting through everything as he stumbles back over with chenle not far behind.
âyoâŠwhy do you all look dead?â jisung says, breathless, still riding whatever high heâs on.
the sound of your brotherâs voice finally snaps you back to reality and you slowly remove yourself from haechanâs shoulder.
âweâre heading back,â haechan tells them simply. no explanation. no teasing. and for some reason, they listen.
you reach for your bag and pause. itâs not there. your eyes shift to the side. haechan already has it slung over his shoulder like itâs been there all night. you donât say anything. you justâŠnotice.
đč
by the time you step out of the club, itâs exactly 5:15am the sky is pale blue now, the sun slowly rising like itâs stretching awake with the rest of you.
the air feels different. cooler. cleaner. quieter in a way the city never really is.
and somehow, that short slumber on the couch did wonders. your headâs clearer now, your steps steadier, your body no longer fighting to stay upright.
youâre already pulling your phone out, opening grab, thumb hovering over the screen whenâ
âiâm hungry,â your brother says, of course.
you look up at him, unimpressed, âyouâre always hungry.â
âthereâs a burger place like seven minutes away,â chenle adds, walking backward with way too much energy for someone whoâs been up all night. âwe can just walk.â
you hesitate. just for a second. you were about to book a ride. go back. end the night.
but then â you feel it. that look.
you turn slightly. haechanâs already looking at you. quiet. waiting. like the answer somehow sits with you.
you exhale softly, shoulders lifting in a casual shrug, âi could eat.â
and just like that â plans change.
the walk is slow, the streets are calmer than usual, nearly empty, filled with other late party-goers looking for food or getting ready to go home.
you end up beside haechan without thinking. step for step. you donât mention the bag still hanging off his shoulder. donât mention the way he subtly switches sides so youâre on the inner part of the sidewalk, closer to the buildings, away from the road. like itâs instinct.
jaemin and mark are a few steps ahead, quiet for once, walking a little too straight, a little too focused. like if they concentrate hard enough, no one will notice how drunk they still are.
far ahead, jisung, jeno, and chenle are louder. their voices echoing through the quiet street as they argue like itâs broad daylight.
âwhy not? peace of mind,â jisung adds like itâs the simplest thing in the world.
âbecause i like her,â jeno shoots back, frustration clear even from a distance.
âi donât know manâyou can like someone that doesnât make you feel like shit,â jisung says, way too confidently you almost roll your eyes.
for someone whoâs never been in a serious relationship he sure does speak like he knows it all.
âyeah, exactly!,â chenle adds. those two always hyping each other up.
you laugh softly under your breath, shaking your head.
âtheyâre giving terrible advice,â you mumble.
âyeah,â haechan hums beside you, hands tucked into his pockets, âbut itâs fine â jenoâs not gonna listen anyway.â
you glance at him âyou think so?â
he nods once, eyes forward, voice calm in a way that feels a little too certain.
âpeople forget all logic when love comes to play.â
you let out a small laugh, nudging his arm lightly, âokay, shakespeare found in a ditch.â
his lips twitch, shaking his head a little like heâs trying to hide how easy it is for you to make him smile.
đč
by the time you reach the burger joint â your brother is already seated. burger halfway unwrapped, bite already taken, like it never even crossed his mind to wait for you. you donât comment on it.
you just shake your head lightly, stepping inside and glancing around and realize itâs just you, mark, and haechan left standing.
mark stretches beside you, running a hand through his hair like heâs still trying to wake himself up, eyes scanning the menu lazily.
and haechan â heâs still next to you. close. like heâs been the entire walk. and maybe he notices the way your shoulders drop just slightly, the quiet acceptance of your brother beingâŠwell, your brother. because when you look at him, heâs already smiling at you.
âwhat do you want?â he asks, glancing down at you.
you blink, a little caught off guard, âuh â no, itâs okay,â you say quickly, shaking your head, offering him a small smile, âiâll just order after you.â
something about it â the idea of someone just casually buying you something â makes you feel a littleâŠawkward. flustered.
he notices that too. of course he does. and it makes his smile widen just a little.
âcâmon,â he nudges your arm lightly with his elbow, âmy treat.â
you narrow your eyes at him, half amused.
âhow rich are you?â
he scoffs, a brow lifting, âitâs a burger.â
you huff out a small laugh, crossing your arms loosely.
âyou already paid for the hotel rooms,â you remind him, like he mightâve conveniently forgotten, âif anything, i should be treating you.â
he laughs at that, easy and unbothered.
âthose were from my parentsâ saved-up credit card points,â he says casually, âdonât worry about it.â
then he tilts his head slightly, looking at you again.
âso you either tell me what you want,â he adds, voice light but firm, âor iâm ordering the entire menu.â
you blink. once. twiceâŠyouâre not entirely sure heâs joking. and honestly? you donât feel like finding out.
you sigh, giving in just a little, ââŠjust fries,â you mumble.
his grin widens instantly, âjust fries?â
you hesitate for half a second, ââŠand maybe a sundae,â you add, a little quieter this time.
thereâs something about the way he looks at you then â like heâs enjoying this way too much.
âwith chocolate syrup?â he asks, like he already knows the answer.
you glance up at him, lips pressing together to hide your smile.
ââŠwith chocolate syrup.â
đč
you find a table for the three of you after that, sliding into your seat with a quiet exhale, finally giving your legs a break.
jisungâs already on his second burger. of course he is. you donât even bother commenting anymore, just shake your head faintly as you settle in.
a few minutes later, haechan comes back with the tray.
he sets everything down in front of you first â fries, sundae, and a bottle of water you didnât ask for. but immediately appreciate. you glance up at him, just for a second.
ââŠthanks,â you murmur.
he just hums, like itâs nothing. like it didnât matter. like he didnât think twice about it.
he drops into the seat right in front of you. and youâre glad. because it gives you a perfect view of him.
his hair a little messy from the night, curling at the edge, cheeks slightly flushed, lips a little swollen from too many drinks and heâs so just so â pretty. annoyingly pretty.
and suddenly youâre aware of yourself. of how you probably look right now after hours of dancing, sweating, laughing, barely fixing your makeup. notâŠput together. not the version of you youâre used to presenting. you resist the urge to check your reflection on your phone. force yourself not to care.
instead, you just reach for your fries, acting like nothingâs changed. like you didnât just become hyperaware of everything.
you grabbed the ketchup packet, biting the corner off and out of pure habit â you drag a perfect line of red across a single fry. precise. neat.
haechan watches you do it. and then he looks at you like youâve just disobeyed all the laws of the universe.
âwho the fuck eats their fries like that?â
âhey!,â you say defensively, âdonât knock it before you try it.â
he lets out a short laugh, shaking his head.
âyou psycho,â he says, leaning back slightly, âitâs literally easier to just put the ketchup on the napkin and dip your fry like a normal person.â
âit doesnât taste as good!â you argue, already preparing another one.
he raises a brow, unconvinced.
âi swear,â you insist, glancing up at him. âit doesnât.â
and before you even realize what youâre doing â youâre holding it out to him. right in front of his lips. a perfectly ketchup-lined fry.
thereâs a split second where you register it. where you could pull back. laugh it off. but you donât.
and he doesnât hesitate. he leans in just enough, his pretty lips wrapping around the fry as he takes it from your fingers â eyes still on you the entire time.
itâs not as innocent as it should be. your breath catches, just slightly.
and then mark drops into the seat beside him.
you retract your hand immediately, reminded of company.
âsee?â you say quickly, grabbing another fry to distract yourself. âtastes better, doesnât it?â
âit tastes like a fry,â he says, completely unimpressed, but his eyes are sparkling with mischief. like heâs enjoying this more than heâs letting on.
you canât help the grin that slips through.
âwhatever.â
đč
itâs calm now. quiet. no pounding bass. no flashing lights. just early morning chatter, wrappers crinkling, the soft hum of the city waking up. conversation comes easy. you laugh over small moments, replaying bits of the night like it didnât just happen. and then, you look at mark. tilting your head slightly, a knowing smile creeping in.
âso, markâŠâ you start casually, grabbing a fry, âyou and ningning were dancing all night.â
you let it sit there for a second. just enough for him to realize you noticed.
âohâŠyeah,â mark shrugs, like itâs nothing, unwrapping his burger. âsheâs cool.â
you narrow your eyes at him slightly. sheâs cool? thatâs it? you glance at haechan for half a second, like you need a witness to how underwhelming that response was, before looking back at mark.
âjust cool?â you press, a teasing edge in your voice, âyou were glued to her the whole night.â
mark huffs out a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck, âokay, okayâŠsheâs more than cool,â he admits, a little sheepish now, âsheâsâŠfun. itâd be nice to see her again.â
you hum, satisfied. and if youâre being honest? youâre pretty sure ningning liked him too. and that doesnât happen easily. itâs hard for any man to keep her attention.
you lean forward slightly, resting your chin on your hand, âare you single, mark?â
it comes out casual. but not really. mark blinks at you mid-bite, clearly caught off guard.
âuh, yeah,â he nods. âyeah, i am.â
you nod slowly, like youâre filing that information away, âgood to know.â
he squints at you, ââŠwhy?â
ânothinggg,â you say simply, popping a fry into your mouth.
haechan lets out a quiet laugh across from you, watching the whole thing unfold and you canât help but match his smile.
âwhatâs your type?â you ask, shifting gears smoothly.
mark thinks for a second, chewing slowly, âi donât knowâŠsomeone easy to talk to,â he says. ânotâŠtoo complicated.â
you nod, accepting it, for now. then your eyes flick to haechan.
ââŠwhat about you?â
itâs casual. too casual. like you didnât just ask that on purpose. he pauses for half a second. then he leans in slightly, one arm resting on the table, gaze steady at you.
âsomeone who can be my best friend,â he says. simple. but it hits harder than it should. you donât know why. so you look away first, reaching for your sundae like it suddenly needs your full attention.
âand you?â mark asks, turning it back on you.
you pause mid-scoop, spoon hovering for a second before you shrug lightly.
âi donât knowâŠsomeone who actually knows how to act like a man,â you say, half joking, ânot someone i have to babysit.â
âeasy enough,â haechan murmurs.
you glance up at him, one brow lifting, a quiet challenge in your eyes.
âyet impossible to find,â you add.
mark laughs at that. and then â thereâs a brief moment. a quiet look shared between the two of them. quick. subtle. but you catch it. and immediately pretend you didnât.
suddenly, youâre regretting bringing this topic up.
âwhat about your typeâŠphysically?â mark asks, amused now.
you hum, thinking about it for a second.
âdonât have one.â
âoh well now thatâs just bullshit,â haechan says, not missing a beat.
you kick his foot lightly under the table, a laugh spilling out from your lips before you can stop it.
âswear,â you insist, shaking your head, ânone of my exes even look alike.â
âthere has to be something,â mark presses.
âwellâŠâ you trail off, tapping your spoon against the cup, âi guess theyâre all conventionally attractive,â you shrug.
âhow about you guys?â you ask, wanting to rid the attention off you.
mark opens his mouth but haechan beats him to it. you glance at him and immediately catching the smirk sitting on his lips. yeah. heâs about to be annoying.
âsomeone conventionally attractive,â he says, taking a slow sip of his cola like he didnât just throw your cop out answer right back at you.
you roll your eyes instantly but before you could reply, your brotherâs voice interrupts. you look over, and sure enough â him, chenle, jeno, and jaemin are already standing, throwing their trash away like they didnât just eat half the menu.
âweâll see you guys back at the hotel,â he adds casually.
thatâs it. no are you coming? no you good? no second thought about leaving you behind with two men youâve technically only known for a day. youâre over it at this point. waving him off without a word.
đč
you reach for your bag and pull out your compact mirror, flipping it open with a small click. you had a feeling the three of you would be leaving soon anyway. might as well check. you glance at your reflection â and freeze.
ââŠoh my god,â your head snaps up.
haechanâs already looking at you, amused.
âwhat?â
you turn the mirror toward him like evidence.
âi have no more lipstick,â you say, scandalized. âand none of you told me?â you look between him and mark like theyâve committed a serious offense.
mark lets out a tired laugh.
haechan just smirks, âweâre supposed to tell you that?â he asks.
âyes. thatâs what friends do,â you reply instantly, no hesitation.
youâre already digging through your bag, pulling out your lip liner and lipstick like itâs muscle memory. you lean slightly toward the mirror, fixing it. precise. practiced.
you notice the way heâs watching you. the way his gaze drops â lingers. follows the movement of your hand as the liner traces your lips, steady and smooth. but you donât comment on it.
and haechan â he canât help but stare at the way your lips part just slightly as you fill them in. careful. focused. itâs such a small thing. mundane. but for some reason, heâs captivated.
he shifts slightly in his seat, glancing at mark for a second like heâs checking if heâs the only one noticing this. mark doesnât look nearly as entertained, just tired, almost bored, half-focused on his food, completely unbothered. not like him whoâs eyes are now drifting back to your lips. his thoughts drifting somewhere he probably shouldnât let them go. like how your lips probably taste as sweet as the vanilla sundae with a hint of salt from the fries. a combo he doesnât mind trying.
you snap your compact shut with a soft click. and heâs reminded of who you are.
âthere,â you say, tucking everything back into your bag, âmuch better.â
haechan leans back slightly, dragging his eyes away like it didnât just take effort.
đč
it doesnât take long before the three of you are up too. you pull your phone out, opening the grab app.
âiâll book it,â you say.
âokay,â mark nods sleepily while haechan just hums beside you.
the car pulls up not long after. you slide in first, then haechan in the middle then mark. his thigh brushes yours immediately. and it stays there.
thereâs enough space to move away but neither of you does. instead, you stare out the window, pretending not to notice.
the ride feels longer than it should.
you donât know if the driver took a wrong turn, or if itâs the traffic slowly building. but you donât mind. not really. the city outside is alive now, soft light spilling over buildings.
and inside the car â itâs quiet. almost too comfortable. so you enjoy it. letting the ride take just a little longer.
but the longer actually gets ridiculous. almost concerning.
haechan leans over to whisper in your ear, âyouâre not kidnapping us are you?â his breath causing goosebumps to rise on your neck.
âlittle olâ me?â you say in mock offense.
he hums, glancing between you and the driver like heâs genuinely weighing his options, âi donât know,â he says, lips twitching. âyou did book the ride.â
you scoff softly, crossing your arms.
âiâm the one stuck in a car with three men i barely know,â you point out, tilting your head at him. âi think if anyone should be scared, itâs me.â
he lets out a quiet laugh. but it fades quicker than expected. because heâs been aware of it the whole night and for a second, something shifts in his expression, subtle, but there.
truth is, he doesnât get it. doesnât get how jisung could just leave you like that, not even thinking twice. he canât even imagine doing that to his own sister. his jaw tightens just slightly before he looks back at you.
âare you scared?â he asks softly. no teasing. no smirk. justâŠgenuine. his eyes search yours like he actually wants to know.
you meet his gaze, surprised by the change in tone but you donât hesitate â you smile. small. real.
âno,â you say honestly. and maybe it sounds a little crazy. but you mean it. you feel safe around him.
he holds your gaze for a second longer, like heâs searching for the truth in your eyes.
âgood,â he says, a faint smile returning.
đč
a few minutes later, the car finally slows, pulling up to the hotel entrance just as the morning light fully settles over the city.
itâs close to 7:00am now. the skyâs no longer soft and dim. itâs bright enough to feel real, like the night has officially ended whether youâre ready for it or not.
you sit up properly, blinking once as you glance over. markâs still out cold. completely gone.
âbro,â haechan nudges him lightly, then a little harder. âweâre here.â
nothing. not even a twitch. you sigh, already pushing your door open and stepping out, even though the entrance is technically on markâs side.
haechan follows after you, a sheepish smile on his face like he already knows whatâs coming. you both circle around the car.
and yeah â this is gonna be a problem.
âfuck,â you groan immediately when markâs arm lands around your shoulder, your heels digging into the pavement as his full weight leans into you. âyour friend is heavy.â
haechan lets out a breath on the other side, adjusting his grip.
âwhyâd you let him drink this much?â he shoots back.
you snap your head toward him, âme?â you groan. âyouâre the one who left him with us.â
âyeah, well,â he huffs, trying to hoist mark up properly, âi didnât expect you guys to be alcohol immune.â
you let out a laugh despite yourself, âdonât make me laugh,â you warn, struggling to keep mark upright. âor your friend is going down.â
haechan laughs too â quiet at first, then slipping out a little more.
âiâm seriousââ you choke out between laughs, tightening your grip.
âokay, okayâsorry,â he says, still smiling, though heâs barely helping by laughing himself.
the two of you wobble forward, barely coordinated, mark completely dead weight between you.
itâs ridiculous. but fun.
finally, the hotelâs doorman sees your struggle. thank god. and immediately got a wheelchair ready.
âhere maâam, sir, let me assistââ
âplease,â you breathe out, immediately letting some of markâs weight shift off you as heâs carefully guided into the chair.
you straighten up instantly, flexing your hands, rolling your shoulders, âtook him long enough,â you mumble under your breath.
haechan lets out a quiet laugh beside you.
âyou good?â he asks, glancing at you.
âi think thatâs the most workout iâve done this year,â you mutter. he snorts softly.
đč
the elevator hums softly as it starts to rise. haechanâs behind the wheelchair, one hand resting on the handle, the other loosely by his side. youâre standing next to mark, who is still completely out, head tilted to the side like heâs given up on consciousness altogether.
you glance at him. then at haechan. then back at mark. and you canât help it â a laugh slips out.
âthis is so embarrassing,â you mumble, already reaching into your back pocket.
âwhat are you doing?â haechan asks, though thereâs already a hint of amusement in his voice.
you pull your phone out, turning the camera on.
âthis is too good not to remember,â you say, stepping in slightly.
you angle the phone just right with mark slumped in the middle, you leaning in beside him, barely holding in your laughter.
and haechan doesnât hesitate. he leans in too. closer than necessary. just enough that his shoulder brushes yours.
the picture snaps. you glance at it and immediately grin.
âsend that to me,â he says, looking down at your screen.
you glance up at him, trying to act nonchalant, âsure.â
but internally â you hate it. because now youâre the one who has to follow first.
you unlock your phone anyway, opening instagram like you donât already know exactly what youâre about to search.
âwhatâs your instagram?â you ask casually.
like youâve never stalked him on the internet before.
he tells you. you type it in. and yeahâ itâs exactly how it looks the last time you were on his profile.
you send the picture quickly then hit follow before you can overthink it.
heâs already pulling his phone out, thumbs moving fast.
âfollowed back,â he says a second later.
your lips press together, trying to hide the small smile threatening to show.
âgood.â
đč
the elevator dings. doors sliding open. you step aside, letting him go first, one hand holding the door as he carefully wheels your shared patient of the night out.
you follow them down the hall, quieter now, the hotel almost completely still.
and you step into their room with him, not even thinking twice about it â just making sure everythingâs okay.
âokayâŠone more time,â haechan mutters, already moving to lift his friend. you step in without being asked, slipping under markâs arm again.
âgod, how did he get even heavier,â you mumble.
you both manage to get mark onto the bed with a soft thud, his body sinking into the mattress like he belongs there.
you straighten up, brushing your hands off, exhaling.
âthere,â you say, âmission accomplished.â
âthanks partner,â haechan teases, a small smile on his face.
you shrug it off like itâs nothing, âyeah, no problem.â
then you turn slightly, already about to head for the doorâ
âhey.â
you look back. heâs still standing there, watching you.
âyou still tired?â
you pause. pretend to think about it for a second even though you already know your answer as soon as he asked. then shake your head lightly.
ânot really.â
his lips curve, âwanna have a beer?â
ââŠwhere exactly are you planning on getting a beer at 7 am?â
he doesnât answer. just walks past you and straight to the mini fridge. you watch as he crouches down, opens it, and pulls out two bottles, opening them and holding one out to you.
you let out a quiet laugh, shaking your head. but you take it from his hand anyway, fingers brushing his briefly.
then, instead of taking the obvious seat â you walk over to his side of the room. slipping down to the floor, back resting lightly against the side of his bed, right in front of the window.
itâs partially hidden, tucked behind the frame of the bed. private. quiet.
in truth â you hate the taste of beer. you just didnât want the night to end.
he watches you for a second â then lets out a soft laugh.
âyou know you can sit on my bed, right?â
you glance up at him, immediately scrunching your nose, âew. what do you think i am? a monster?â
he pauses, ââŠhuh?â
âiâm not sitting on your bed with these dirty clothes on,â you say, gesturing to yourself. âthatâs disgusting.â
he laughs, shaking his head as he walks over, lowering himself down beside you anyway, back against the bed, shoulder just barely brushing yours.
âyouâre weird,â he mutters.
âand yet youâre sitting next to me.â
âunfortunately.â
you grin into the rim of your drink.
and for a while â itâs quiet. no music. no chaos. just the two of you, side by side on the floor, bottles in hand. watching the city wake up through the window. cars moving. people beginning their day. the sky fully bright now. and neither of you rushes to say anything.
you justâŠsit there. together.
đč
âso,â he finally breaks it, voice low, easy, âyour brotherâŠâ
âhm?â you hum, not looking at him, eyes still on the window.
âyou two close?â
you turn your head slightly, brow lifting.
âwhy?â you ask, a hint of amusement already creeping in. âyou got a crush on him or what?â
he chokes. actually chokes.
âwhâwhat??â
you turn fully now, fighting your smile.
âdo you have a crush on my brother?â
ân-no,â he stumbles, suddenly very awake. âare you asking me if iâm gay??â
you shrug, taking another sip just to hide how entertained you are.
âhey, nothing wrong with it, iâll even support you.â
âwhy would you evenââ
you cut him off with a small tilt of your head.
âmaybe because we canât get through a conversation without you bringing him up.â
he opens his mouth. closes it. pauses.
ââŠthatâs notââ
you just stare at him. waiting.
he exhales, running a hand through his hair, clearly flustered now.
âthatâs not why,â he mutters.
âthen why?â you press lightly.
and this time, he doesnât answer right away. the teasing fades. his gaze shifts back to you â and lingers. longer than it has all night. and you feel it again. that pull thatâs been there all night, in every look, every joke, every quiet moment.
but this one feels different. heavier. closer.
âbecause,â he starts, voice quieter now, like the words arenât meant for anyone else but you, âyouâre his sister.â
you exhale softly through your nose, fighting the urge to roll your eyes.
âyes,â you say, dry. âweâve established that plenty of times tonight.â
he doesnât take the bait. doesnât laugh. just huffs out a breath, gaze dropping for a second before coming back up to you. like heâs thinking. weighing it. like thereâs a line he knows he shouldnât cross. and heâs standing right at the edge of it.
but then he looks at you again. really looks. and whatever restraint he had â it slips. just enough.
âand iâve been trying really hard not to do something stupid.â
your fingers tighten slightly around your bottle. your heartbeat picks up before you can stop it.
ââŠlike what?â you ask, softer now. not teasing anymore. not really.
thereâs a pause. a small one. but it stretches. his eyes flick briefly to your lips. back to your eyes. like heâs already imagining it.
and then he says it.
âlike kiss you.â
it lands between you. heavy. quiet. real. no joke to soften it. no smirk to take it back. just the truth â sitting right there, in the space between your shoulders, your knees almost touching, your breaths just slightly out of sync.
you donât move. you donât even think you breathe. because suddenly â everything feels louder. your heartbeat. the silence. the way heâs still looking at you like he hasnât decided if heâs done holding himself back yet.
âhow long have you and my brother been friends again?â you ask.
he blinks at you, thrown off, confused. like thatâs the last thing he expected right now.
ââŠlike a year?â he finally says.
you nod slowly. like youâre actually thinking about it. weighing it. but you werenât. not really.
your fingers loosen around your bottle, setting it down gently on the floor. then you turn toward him slowly, deliberately, letting the moment stretch.
he watches you intently, his gaze darting from your eyes to your lips and back again. he's trying to read you, to predict your next move, but the air between you thickens, heavy with unspoken want.
you tilt your head just a fraction, holding his stare without flinching. the words slip out soft but pointedâ
âso youâre not gonna kiss me over a year long friendship?â
itâs quiet. but it hits. hard. his breath catches. for a second, just one, he looks like heâs still holding on to that last thread of restraint.
you lean in closer, inch by torturous inch, until the heat radiating from his body seeps into yours. the world narrows to the space between you, the faint hitch in his breathing, the way his scent settles into your lungs, steady and consuming, until itâs the only thing you can focus on.
and fuck. youâre so close he canât even hear himself think anymore. everything else fades. logic. rules. bro-code. markâs snores in the background. all gone.
all thatâs left is this pullâ magnetic, inevitable â like youâve both been circling this moment all night and finally stopped pretending otherwise.
and when your noses brush, you whisper, softlyâ
âor will you risk it and kiss me?â
and he feels like he might drop dead.
your question hang in the air between you, soft and sure, unraveling the last thread of his restraint.
haechan's eyes lock onto yours, dark and stormy. he doesn't hesitate anymore. can't. his fingers thread gently into your hair, cradling the back of your head as he tilts your face toward his â and then his lips crash into yours in a soft, slow kiss. enough to steal your breath.
you pull apart for a second, breathless, and you canât help but bite your lip.
âjisungâs just gonna have to deal with it,â he mutters.
you raise a brow, âyeah, bringing up my brother right after kissing me isââ
you donât get to finish your sentence because his lips are on yours again. soft, but urgent, like he's been starving for this taste. and you donât even remember what you were going to say. your mouth responds to him immediately.
his lips part just enough to let his tongue trace the seam of your mouth, seeking entry. you open to him â and god, you taste even sweeter than he imagined, now with the hint of his favorite beer.
it turns hungrier, tongues sliding together in a slick, intimate dance that sends sparks racing down your spine. haechan groans low in his throat, the sound vibrating against your lips, raw and unguarded.
his hand travels down, fingers settling on your belt loops, thumb tracing circles on your slightly exposed skin. your hands come up, tangling in his hair, eliciting a whine from him.
that whine ignites something fierce in you, a bold urge that overrides the caution flickering at the edges of your mind. you tug harder on his hair, guiding him with you as you lean back until your back meets the soft carpet floor, the bottle of beers completely forgotten.
your legs part instinctively, making room for him to settle between them, his body pressing down with a weight that's both grounding and electric.
the kiss is hotter now, lips and tongues clashing with desperate need.
the carpet scratches lightly at your back, but you barely notice â everything is him, the heat of his body pinning you, the way his breath comes in hot pants against your mouth, his hand roaming down your side.
his lips break from yours, trailing a wet path down your jaw, teeth grazing the sensitive skin there just enough to make you arch into him. he moves lower, mouth finding the curve of your neck, his hand comes up to move your hair out of the way and his touch is enough to make you feel dizzy. then he sucks hard, tongue flicking over the sensitive spot before his teeth sink in lightly, marking you with a blooming bruise. the sensation earns him a sweet moan, the sound echoing softly in the quiet room, reaching his ear like music.
haechan lifts his head just enough to murmur against your skin, his voice a low, teasing rumble.
âshhh, pretty girl, you donât wanna wake mark up now, do you?â he smiles into your neck, lips brushing the fresh mark as his hand squeezes your hip.
âplease,â you say breathlessly, âhe wouldnât even know if the world ended right now,â you joke, markâs soft snores from across the room confirming your statement.
haechan chuckles softly, the vibration humming against your skin as he nips at your earlobe.
âgood point,â he whispers, voice thick with desire, his mouth returning to your neck to soothe the mark with a slow lick while his free hand wanders up to squeeze your tit.
you bite your lip, stifling your moan as you slide your hand down his back, fingers dipping into his back pocket to squeeze his ass. the muscle tenses under your grip, and haechan looks up at you, eyes wide with a little shock, his lips parting in surprise.
âwhat? two can play that game,â you tease, your voice light but laced with mischief, holding his gaze as you give another squeeze.
he smirks, recovering quickly, his hand still cupping your breast as he leans in closer, âdidnât know you were an ass man,â he says, his tone playful, eyes darkening with amusement and hunger.
âoh yeah,â you reply, teasing, squeezing harder, feeling the firm curve fill your palm, âi just love cute little butts so much,â your tone laced with sarcasm.
haechan laughs at that, the sound warm and genuine, breaking the intensity for a split second and god, heâs just so, so pretty â youâre almost paranoid that you made him up. that this was all just a figment of your imagination. and youâd wake up with your phone in your hand opened to his instagram profile.
before you could completely spiral, you crane your neck up to kiss him again, almost begging. itâs kinda pathetic and so not who you are. but you canât help it, youâre a sucker for pretty boys.
âhmm,â he hums, the hand on your tit wandering up to brush your bottom lip. you place a soft kiss on the tip of this thumb, âso pretty,â he murmurs.
and lucky for you â heâs a sucker for you.
his lips crash on yours again, ânever wanna stop kissing you,â he sighs in between breaths, the moment heating up once more as he melts into you, tongues tangling urgently.
your finger pulls at his belt loop and he understands your signal, grinding on your clothed core once, hips rolling forward with deliberate pressure, and even through the layers of both of your jeans, itâs enough to make you shiver, a jolt of pleasure shooting straight to your clit. youâre so wet, so fucking wet, your panties soaked and sticking to your folds, aching for more friction, more of him.
but before you can ask him to do something about it â before you can beg him to unzip your jeans and slide his fingers inside â your phone buzzes in the back of your pocket.
you try to ignore it, focusing on him, but then it buzzes again. and again. and again. insistent and relentless.
finally, you break the kiss, turning your head to the side. haechanâs mouth trails after you, lips brushing your cheek in a reluctant chase, both of you out of breath and flustered, chests heaving in the dim hotel light.
âone moment,â you say, smiling sheepishly, as you reach back to pull out your phone from your back pocket.
haechan groans softly in protest, but he hovers above you anyway, propped on his elbows, his dark hair tousled from your earlier fingers raking through it, strands falling messily over his forehead. his lips are swollen and glistening from your kisses, parted slightly as he breathes heavily, eyes locked on yours with that hungry, lingering heat. pretty. so fucking distracting. you have to force yourself to look away, tearing your gaze away from the way his chest rises and falls, the faint sheen of sweat on his collarbone.
your screen lights up with a string of texts:
giselle đ€: where r u????
giselle đ€: itâs almost 9
giselle đ€: i heard the boys come in earlier
giselle đ€: if youâre not here cause of taro, he already left for work
giselle đ€: iâm getting really worried please
giselle đ€: if you donât answer right now, im calling the police
you almost feel bad, a twinge of guilt twisting in your gut. but hey, she was the one telling you to âsee what the night holds.â and if she knew you were under lee haechan right now â sheâd be proud.
âshit,â you mutter under your breath, thumb scrolling through the messages.
haechan's expression shifts instantly, worry creasing his brow as he pushes up slightly, his warm hand sliding to your waist.
âeverything okay?â he asks, voice low and concerned, laced with that protective edge that makes your heart skip a tiny beat.
he helps you sit up with gentle pressure, the two of you shifting to sit side by side on the carpet again, his thigh pressing firmly against yours. the heat from his body radiates through your clothes, a reminder of how close you were to stripping them off.
âitâs giselle â sheâs looking for me,â you explain, tilting the phone so he can see the frantic string of texts.
he leans in close, his shoulder bumping yours, breath warm against your ear as he reads over your shoulder, his scent filling your senses. and youâre not too sure how youâre going to walk out of this room.
his free hand rests on your thigh, fingers tracing lazy circles that send sparks up your leg, even now.
your phone buzzes again.
giselle đ€: 3 seconds and iâm waking everyone in this damn hotel
your eyes widen as you type quickly, thumbs flying:
y/n: iâm here!
y/n: sorry!
y/n: im okay!
y/n: omw back
you donât wait for her response, shutting off the screen and placing your phone to the side.
turning towards haechan, you send him an apologetic smile before cupping his jaw, pulling him in for a kiss â this one soft, innocent, almost sweet, a gentle press of lips that contrasts the raw urgency from before. his mouth yields to yours, warm, tongue flicking out just once to taste you before you pull back.
âi should probably go,â you say sheepishly, your voice hushed, fingers lingering on his cheek as reluctance tugs at you.
before you can fully pull away, haechanâs hand cups the back of your neck, his fingers threading into your hair with a gentle but insistent tug. he draws you back in, capturing your lips in another soft press.
âiâll walk you back,â he mutters against your lips, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through you, as he nips at your bottom lip.
you smirk, the playful curve of your mouth brushing his as you lean in again, stealing another kiss â quick but firm, âiâm literally right next door,â you murmur.
the two of you just canât seem to stop. every separation lasting only seconds before one of you closes the gap. his lips find yours again, softer this time.
he pulls back just enough to flash you a mischievous smile, his eyes sparkling with that devilish glint, dark lashes framing the heat in his gaze.
âi know you are,â he says, punctuating the words with another kiss, deeper now, âi put you there.â
you pretend to be shocked, pulling back with wide eyes and a dramatic gasp, though your fingers curl into his shirt, holding him close.
âahhh, i knew it wasnât a coincidence,â you say, your voice laced with feigned accusation, even though his confession makes your head spin.
âdid you?â he counters, his grin widening as he chases your lips for another kiss, this one playful and light.
âmhm,â you hum affirmatively, your response muffled as you kiss him back.
he chuckles, the sound low and vibrating against your lips, warm air fanning your face as he hovers close.
âwhat can i say? i always had a vision of you begging for my kiss,â he teases, his free hand drifting to your hip, thumb circling the strip of exposed skin above your waistband, dipping just under the edge of your jeans to trace the curve of your bone.
you pull back immediately in mock offense, swatting his chest lightly while trying to suppress your laugh.
âbegging? me?? youâre crazy,â you retort even though you did just that. the memory of how desperately you'd wanted him earlier flashing in your mind.
âokay, fine,â he laughs, the sound rich and genuine, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he concedes, pulling you flush against him, âit was me begging.â
âthatâs much better,â you smile, your thumb brushing his jawline, feeling the slight stubble rasp against your skin.
he matches your smile, slow and seductive, his gaze dropping to your lips before flicking back up, dark and intent.
âgive me another kiss, baby, please,â he says, the endearment rolling off his tongue like velvet, husky and intimate, making your pulse stutter.
and you do. because he called you baby. because he said please. because heâs just oh, oh, so pretty.
the kiss lingers, sweet and unhurried, his free arm wrapping around your waist to pull you closer, bodies aligning in a perfect, warm fit against the carpet.
when he pulls away for the umpteenth time, he stares at your lips a little too long and you think he might lean in again, but all he does is say something that pulls a soft laugh out of youâ
âyour lipstick is gone,â he says, a playful smirk on his face.
đč
haechan stands first, offering his hand to help you up, his fingers lacing with yours as you rise, the simple touch sending sparks up your arm.
âcome on,â he murmurs softly, âbefore your friend gets all of us kicked out of this hotel.â
you giggle, squeezing his hand, letting him lead you toward the door, the cool air of the hallway a stark contrast to the warmth you left behind in the room.
the walk is short â literally just five steps down the dimly lit corridor, the carpet muffling your footsteps, the faint hum of the hotelâs ac the only sound breaking the charged silence.
his thumb strokes the back of your hand, a subtle reassurance, his presence solid and comforting beside you.
at your door, you fish the key card from your bag, holding it out, but before you can swipe it, he takes it from your fingers, his touch lingering on your skin.
he pulls you in for one last kiss, slow and deep, lips molding to yours with a final, aching sweetness. his free hand cups the back of your neck, holding you there as his tongue teases yours one more time, a soft suck on your bottom lip that draws a quiet moan from you.
then, with a reluctant exhale, he breaks away, swiping the card through the reader. the lock beeps green, the door unlocking with a click. he hands the card back but doesnât step away, leaning in close, his lips brushing your ear.
âgood night,â he whispers, the words silent and intimate, meant only for you.
âgood night,â you whisper back, your voice barely audible, slipping through the door as it swings open.
your fingers stay tangled with his until the distance forces them apart, a final brush of skin that leaves you both reaching for a second longer.
the last thing he hears before the door shuts is your friendâs voice, sharp and exasperated from inside the room.
âoh my god, you better have a good reason why youâre back so late.â
the door clicks closed, muffling your response, and haechan stands there in the empty hotel hallway, a slow, unstoppable smile spreading across his face.
he looks like a lovesick fool, heart pounding and he thinks you two might go really nice together.
đč
an: i locked the fuck in for this one. and it was so easy because iâm lowkey just spilling some of my own tea in extreme detail. what do yall know about âšlimerenceâš ?????âŠ..anyways, i canât stop listening to drop dead so i had to get this out of my system or itâll keep bothering meâŠhope u like :3