⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐼:

jermajesty filmed himself shirtless in the kitchen at 2am, only the refrigerator light illuminating his toned chest. he moved the camera to show you perched on the counter, wearing just his oversized t-shirt.

"caught her stealing my ice cream again," he whispered, zooming in on your mouth full of ben & jerry's. you flipped him off mid-chew. He chuckled, then panned down to where his hand rested between your thighs. "but I'm about to steal something back."

“oh my god??”

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐼𝐼:

Sunlight filtered through hotel curtains as Jermajesty propped his phone against the pillow. The camera captured you sleeping peacefully, your braids spread across the white sheets. He gently traced your shoulder blade with his fingertip.

"Woke up like this," he mouthed to the camera, then leaned down to kiss your shoulder. Your eyes fluttered open and you smiled sleepily before pulling him down for a proper kiss. The video ended with his hand disappearing under the covers.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐼𝐼𝐼:

Jermajesty filmed the city lights through the car window before turning the camera on himself. "She thinks I'm taking her to dinner," he whispered, "but—" He panned to you in the passenger seat, adjusting the rearview mirror. "—we're not making it to the restaurant."

You caught him filming and rolled your eyes, but your hand drifted to his thigh. The video ended with him dropping the phone as you squeezed harder.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐼𝒱:

Jermajesty filmed your legs dangling in the pool at night, underwater lights making your skin glow. "Can't believe she talked me into skinny dipping," he narrated quietly.

You turned to look at him over your shoulder. "Who said anything about swimming?" With that, you stood up, revealing you were completely nude, and walked toward where he was filming. The phone fumbled and suddenly showed only the night sky before cutting out.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒱:

Jermajesty was filming himself in the hotel room when your hand suddenly came down from the bed, holding a condom between two fingers. He looked up and laughed, then panned the camera upward to show you looking down with a mischievous smile.

"Five minutes," you mouthed before disappearing. Jermajesty ended the video with a grin.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒱𝐼:

Streetlights flickered past as Jermajesty filmed you riding him in the backseat. Your dress was bunched around your waist as you moved, head thrown back.

"Fuck," he breathed, trying to keep the camera steady. "Don't stop."

Your hand covered his on your hip, guiding him deeper. "Wasn't planning on it," you gasped, nails digging into his shoulder.

The car hit a bump, making you both cry out. "Shit, driver definitely knows," Jermajesty laughed breathlessly.

You leaned down, kissing him deeply. "Let him watch," you murmured against his lips.

The video ended with a close-up of your intertwined fingers on the fogged-up window.

the backyard was transformed into a chaotic paradise of primary colors and cartoon characters, a testament to how far you and jermajesty would go for your son. party streamers hung from every available surface, a bouncy castle dominated one corner of the lawn, and a table groaned under the weight of more food than twenty toddlers could possibly consume. three-year-old jovonnie, currently wearing a crown that was slightly too big and a superhero cape that dragged on the grass, was the undisputed king of his domain.

"more juice, mama!" he demanded, holding up his empty cup with the authority of a tiny dictator.

you took it from him, your fingers brushing against his sticky ones. "after you say please, my love," you reminded him gently, turning to head inside where jermajesty was manning the drink station like it was a five-star bar.

"please!" jovonnie shouted after you, already distracted by a cousin trying to steal his plastic sword.

jermajesty was leaning against the kitchen counter, a bottle of apple juice in one hand, his phone in the other. he glanced up when you entered, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched you approach. "his royal highness requires a refill?" he asked, already reaching for a clean cup.

"and he's decided 'please' is optional today," you sighed, leaning against the counter beside him, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his arm. "thanks for helping with all this. i know you hate parties."

"i don't hate his parties," jermajesty corrected softly, pouring the juice with careful precision. "i just hate sharing your attention with your entire family for five hours straight."

you rolled your eyes, but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at your lips. "drama king. just like your son."

"he gets it from you, ma," he shot back, handing you the cup, his fingers lingering against yours for a moment too long. "you know, we make a good team when we're not trying to kill each other."

the moment was interrupted by your mother calling your name from the backyard, announcing it was time for cake and presents. you pulled away from jermajesty's touch, the brief connection severed as quickly as it had formed.

cake cutting was a messy affair, with frosting ending up on faces, clothes, and somehow in your hair. jovonnie tore through his presents with gleeful abandon, each new toy eliciting shrieks of excitement that made your heart feel full. it was during the opening of a particularly elaborate train set that he stopped suddenly, looking between you and jermajesty with an expression of pure, unfiltered childhood logic.

"daddy," he said, his voice clear and loud enough for several nearby relatives to hear. "for my next birthday, can you and mama live together again? so you can both be here when i wake up?"

the backyard fell silent for a beat, the cheerful music from the portable speakers suddenly seeming intrusive. you felt your cheeks grow hot as several pairs of eyes turned toward you and jermajesty, who looked just as caught off guard as you felt.

"buddy, that's..." jermajesty started, clearly struggling for an appropriate response.

"that's a big thing to ask for, my love," you jumped in, kneeling down to smooth jovonnie's curly hair. "right now, mama and daddy love you so much, and we both live in different houses so you get two of everything. two bedrooms, two sets of toys, two christmases."

jovonnie considered this, his little brow furrowed in concentration. "but i want one mama and one daddy in the same house. like my friend evan."

"well, we'll think about it," jermajesty said finally, reaching down to ruffle his son's hair. "right now, let's finish opening these awesome presents you got, okay?"

the party eventually wound down, parents came to collect their sugar-crashing children, and slowly, your backyard returned to its normal state of quiet order. jermajesty stayed behind to help clean up, just like he always did, moving through your house with an easy familiarity that still made your chest ache sometimes.

by the time jovonnie was bathed and tucked into bed, exhausted from his day of royal duties, you were collapsed on the couch, feet aching and mind buzzing. jermajesty emerged from the kitchen with two glasses of wine, handing one to you before sinking onto the couch beside you.

"today was something else," he said, swirling the dark liquid in his glass. "he really knows how to hit where it hurts, doesn't he?"

"he doesn't even know what he's saying," you replied, though you both knew that wasn't entirely true. "he's three. he sees his friends with their parents together and wants the same thing."

"do you ever think about it?" jermajesty asked quietly, turning to face you, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the living room. "us trying again? for real this time?"

you took a long sip of wine, considering your response carefully. "i try not to," you admitted finally. "because when i do, i remember all the reasons we ended. all the fighting, all the drama..."

"but do you remember the good parts?" he pressed, setting his glass on the coffee table and turning his body toward yours. "do you remember how we used to stay up all night talking? how we'd take jovonnie to the park and you'd push him on the swing while i took pictures of you both, pretending i was just taking pictures of him?"

you did remember. you remembered all of it, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the broken. "of course i remember," you whispered, surprised by the thickness in your throat.

jermajesty reached out then, his fingers tracing a path along your jawline. "i think about it all the time, ma," he confessed, his voice low and earnest. "i think about you all the time. maybe... maybe we could try one more time? really try, no games, no bullshit. for him, but also for us."

you searched his face, looking for any sign of the man who had broken your heart so many times you'd lost count. instead, you found only vulnerability, hope, and something that looked suspiciously like love.

"one more time," you agreed softly, the words barely audible as you leaned into his touch. "but if you mess this up, jermajesty jackson, i swear..."

"i won't," he promised, closing the distance between you, his lips finding yours in a kiss that tasted of wine and second chances. "this time, we're getting it right."

as he pulled you into his arms, you allowed yourself to hope that maybe this time, you really would.

the front door swung open without so much as a knock, the sound making you jump on the couch where you were scrolling through your phone. you didn't even have to look up to know who it was. only one person walked into your house like he still paid half the mortgage.

"where jovonnie at?" jermajesty asked, his deep voice filling the small space as he kicked off his expensive sneakers by the door, lining them up neatly next to your worn-out slippers like he always did.

you finally glanced up, taking in the grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips and the black tank top that did absolutely nothing to hide the fresh tattoo of your name inked across his chest. "he's in his room playing," you replied, trying to sound unbothered as you turned your attention back to your phone, thumbs flying across the screen.

jermajesty's eyes narrowed as he watched you, a frown pulling at his full lips. he crossed the living room in three long strides, dropping onto the couch beside you, the cushions dipping under his weight. "who you texting, ma?" he questioned, leaning closer to try and catch a glimpse of your screen, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around you like a blanket you'd been trying to throw off for months.

"none of your business," you mumbled, shifting away slightly but not daring to get up and create more distance than necessary. "we're not together, remember? you don't get to ask questions like that anymore."

"always with your phone now," jermajesty observed, ignoring your comment completely as he reached out, his fingers brushing against your thigh. "used to be you couldn't go five minutes without talking to me. now you're always smiling at that screen like somebody funnier than me is on the other end."

you swatted his hand away gently. "maybe somebody is," you shot back, immediately regretting how childish it sounded.

jovonnie toddled out of his room then, a plastic dinosaur held tightly in his chubby little fist. "daddy!" he shrieked, dropping the toy and scrambling toward the couch, his little legs moving as fast as they could carry him.

jermajesty's entire face transformed, the possessive tension melting away as he scooped their son into his arms, pressing noisy kisses against the toddler's cheeks. "what's up, little man?" he cooed, bouncing jovonnie on his knee. "missed you today. daddy missed you so much."

for the next hour, you watched them play on the floor, your phone buzzing periodically with messages you were trying desperately to ignore. jermajesty kept looking over at you between building block towers and making dinosaur noises, his expression unreadable whenever he caught you smiling at your screen.

when it was time for jovonnie's bedtime, you carried him to his room, jermajesty trailing behind you like a shadow. after two stories and three sippy cups of water, the toddler was finally asleep, his breathing soft and even in the dimly lit room.

back in the living room, you settled onto the couch again, reaching for your phone. you'd barely unlocked it when jermajesty snatched it from your grasp, his movements quick and deliberate.

"hey!" you protested, reaching for it, but he held it above his head, scrolling through your messages with his expression growing darker by the second.

"who the fuck is this nigga that keeps texting you?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous as he finally looked at you, his eyes flashing with anger. "asking if you're home? talking about coming back over tomorrow? yo, you had this nigga around my son?"

"give me my fucking phone back, jermajesty!" you said, your voice trembling slightly as you stood up, trying to grab it from him.

he stood too, towering over you, his body radiating heat and frustration. "nah, we're gonna talk about this first," he insisted, blocking your path to the door. "you got some new dude texting you while i'm here with our son? while you're still wearing my hoodie?"

you glanced down at the grey material you'd thrown on earlier, realizing too late it was his. "it was clean," you defended weakly. "and we're not together, jermajesty. i can talk to whoever i want."

"nah, you can't," he shot back, stepping closer until you were backed against the wall, his palm pressed flat beside your head. "not when it comes to you. not when i still have your name permanently inked on my chest."

his free hand moved to your waist, fingers digging into your soft flesh as he pulled you flush against him. "tell me you don't miss this, ma," he murmured, his lips brushing against your ear. "tell me this new nigga knows exactly how to touch you to make your knees weak."

you couldn't speak, couldn't breathe as his hand slid up your side, his thumb tracing circles against your ribs through the thin material of your shirt. when his fingers wrapped gently around your neck, your eyes fluttered shut, your body betraying your mind as you leaned into his touch.

"that's what i thought," he whispered, his lips finally claiming yours in a kiss that was all teeth and tongue and desperation. your hands found their way into his hair, pulling him closer as years of history and heartbreak melted away in the heat of the moment.

somewhere in the back of your mind, you knew you'd regret this tomorrow. knew you'd have to face the consequences of cheating on a man who treated you right for a man who treated you like you were his greatest possession and his biggest headache all at once.

but as jermajesty lifted you and wrapped your legs around his waist, his mouth never leaving yours as he carried you toward your bedroom, you couldn't bring yourself to care. some cycles were too powerful to break, some connections too strong to deny, no matter how toxic they might be.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty and you have broken up so many times that nobody reacts anymore. every single breakup starts with one of you saying it's over forever and ends with the two of you somehow sitting next to each other at your baby's soccer game three weeks later.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty loves acting like he doesn't care until another man starts spending time with you. suddenly he's calling more, texting more, volunteering for every pickup and drop-off, and finding reasons to be at your house almost every day.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty got your name tattooed on his chest three months after your "final" breakup. he claimed it was because you're the mother of his child, but nobody believed him. not even you.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty always says he's only coming over to pick up the baby. somehow that ten-minute pickup turns into him sitting at your kitchen table for two hours eating your food and arguing with you about something completely ridiculous.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty swears he's over you, yet he still knows your coffee order, your work schedule, your favorite takeout place, and which blanket you always steal when you're tired.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty still calls you “ma” even years after the breakup, but not in a co-parenting way. in a you way. it’s become such a habit that he doesn’t even notice anymore. “move over, ma,” when he squeezes onto the couch next to you. “you hungry, ma?” when he’s bringing food over. “c’mere, ma,” when he’s trying to show you something on his phone. it drives your new boyfriend insane because jermajesty says it so naturally, like it’s always belonged to him. the worst part is that whenever somebody points it out, jermajesty just shrugs and says, “what? i’ve been calling her that for years,” before continuing the conversation like he didn’t just make things ten times more awkward

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty hates your new boyfriend immediately. he doesn't care whether the guy is nice, respectful, successful, or perfect. if another man is around you and his child, jermajesty already has a problem with him.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty suddenly becomes father of the year once he finds out that you’ve moved on. he's showing up early, offering extra help, buying things for the baby without being asked, and finding any excuse possible to stay involved in your daily life.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty gets irrationally jealous whenever your baby starts getting attached to another man. the second he hears your child call somebody else funny, cool, or their favorite, he's planning the most expensive and over-the-top father-child day imaginable.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty constantly says things like "i'm only here for my kid" while sitting on your couch for the third hour in a row watching movies with you and the baby like you're still a family.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty acts completely unbothered whenever people ask if the two of you are getting back together. the second somebody asks if you're dating someone new, though, he's suddenly paying very close attention to the conversation.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty keeps every picture you've ever sent him of your child. every single one. blurry pictures, random selfies, pictures of finger paintings, pictures of naps. he has folders full of them and refuses to delete any.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty always pretends he forgot something at your house. his hoodie, his charger, his keys, his watch. sometimes you're pretty sure he leaves things behind on purpose just so he has an excuse to come back.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty and you can go from arguing about co-parenting to laughing at baby pictures in less than five minutes. one second you're threatening to block each other, the next you're both crying laughing over something your child did.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty hates when you ignore him, even though he's usually the one who started the argument. he'll spend hours acting annoyed and then get offended when you actually stop responding.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty still has a family photo of the three of you as his lock screen. every time somebody notices, he changes the subject so fast it gives people whiplash.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty always finds himself sitting next to you at family events. nobody knows how it happens. not even him. somehow every birthday party, holiday, school event, and cookout ends with the two of you side by side.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty absolutely hates when your child talks about wanting mommy and daddy to live together again. not because it bothers him, but because hearing it out loud feels way too close to what he secretly wants.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty knows exactly which buttons to push when he's annoyed, and unfortunately you know exactly how to get under his skin too. that's why your arguments are legendary.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty acts like your biggest headache and your biggest supporter at the exact same time. nobody understands how he can annoy you more than anyone else while also being the first person you call when something goes wrong.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty secretly keeps every family photo, every drawing, every handmade card, and every random keepsake your child gives him. if the picture includes you standing next to him, it's getting stored somewhere extra safe.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🥀˚ jermajesty and you are the definition of unfinished business. no matter how many breakups happen, no matter how many times you swear you're done, neither of you has ever really figured out how to let go.

The apartment was quiet, save for the low hum of the refrigerator and the distant, muffled sounds of traffic filtering through the open balcony doors.

You lay sprawled on the living room sofa, your phone face-down on the cushion beside you, having long since abandoned any attempt to focus on work.

Your gaze, however, wasn't drifting toward your screen or the books scattered around the coffee table. It was fixed, with a hunger that was both embarrassing and undeniable, on the man across the room.

Ohyul was making himself comfortable, the tension of the day seemingly melting off his shoulders as he let out a long, exhausted sigh.

He was wearing that familiar tank top, the one that had become your new favorite thing to stare at, with its thin, worn fabric clinging to his torso. It was doing wonders for the view, showcasing the definition of his chest and the sculpted lines of his arms with every subtle movement.

You watched, your eyes tracing the path of a droplet of water trailing down his neck from his damp hair, sliding slowly over the collarbone and dipping into the hollow of his throat. You imagined licking it off, imagined tasting the salt and the warmth of him, and felt a traitorous warmth bloom low in your stomach.

Ohyul froze, his eyes slipping shut as he reached up to rub the back of his neck. He opened them slowly, his dark gaze locking onto yours from across the room. He knew. He always knew when you were staring. And he knew exactly what you were staring at.

"Stop staring," he murmured, his voice low and rough, the corners of his mouth twitching with a smirk. He turned slightly, giving you an even better view of his side profile, his shoulder and arm flexing as he shifted his weight. "You're making it weird."

"I'm not staring," you lied, unable to look away. "I'm just... appreciating the view."

"Mhm," he hummed, a noncommittal sound. He took a sip of the water he’d grabbed from the kitchen, his lips wrapped around the plastic bottle with a deliberate, languid motion that had your breath hitching. "You've been staring at me for the last twenty minutes. It's not subtle, y/n."

"I can't help it," you admitted, your voice breathless. "You look... good."

He let out a short, incredulous laugh, shaking his head. "Good? That's it? I'm just 'good'?" He set the water bottle down on the coffee table with a soft thud and stood up, his movements fluid and confident. He walked toward you, his long legs eating up the distance between you in a few short strides. He stopped at the edge of the sofa, looming over you, his shadow casting over your small form.

"Come here," he commanded softly, his hand coming up to rest on the back of your head, his fingers threading through your hair.

You didn't need to be told twice. You sat up, leaning into his touch, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes.

"You're insatiable," he whispered, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin behind your ear. "First you stare, then you complain I'm not paying enough attention to you. Now you want me to come to you." He leaned down, his face inches from yours, his eyes dark and filled with a possessive heat. "What do you want, y/n? Tell me."

"I want you," you breathed, the words spilling out before you could stop them. "I want you to touch me."

Ohyul groaned, the sound vibrating through his chest and into yours. He didn't waste any time. He captured your lips with his, his kiss rough and demanding, instantly erasing any space between you. His other hand slid down to grip your waist, pulling you flush against him. You felt the hard heat of him through his sweatpants, and a whimper escaped you as you ground yourself against him, desperate for more.

"Fuck," he swore against your lips, pulling back just enough to catch his breath. "You have no idea what you're doing to me."

"Neither do you," you retorted breathlessly, your hands sliding up his chest to trace the lines of his muscles beneath the thin fabric of his tank top.

He laughed darkly, the sound low and dangerous. "Oh, I think I do." He stepped back, tearing his tank top over his head in one fluid motion and tossing it onto the floor. He stood before you, bare-chested, his skin flushed and glistening with a light sheen of sweat. You let out a small gasp, your eyes drinking in the sight of him, his chest heaving with every breath, his nipples peaking in the cool air of the apartment.

"Like what you see?" he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "Or do you need a closer look?"

He reached for the hem of your shirt, his fingers brushing against your skin, sending sparks flying. "Off."

"Bossy," you murmured, but you didn't resist. You pulled your shirt over your head and tossed it aside, leaving you in your bra and panties. You didn't feel self-conscious; Ohyul had seen you like this before. But the way he looked at you was like he was seeing you for the first time, his eyes raking over your body with an intensity that made you melt.

"Beautiful," he whispered reverently, his hands coming up to cup your face, his thumbs stroking your cheeks. "God, you're beautiful."

"Stop teasing," you said, trying to sound nonchalant, but your voice was trembling with need. "Just fuck me already."

Ohyul’s grin widened. "So impatient," he said, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. He pushed you back onto the sofa, his hands guiding your hips as you lay down, your head resting against the pillows. He moved between your legs, pressing his body against yours, his hands roaming over your curves, mapping every inch of your skin with his fingertips.

"I love when you beg," he murmured, his lips trailing kisses down your neck, his teeth grazing your sensitive skin. He bit down lightly, just enough to make you gasp, his tongue soothing the sting with a long, slow lick.

"Baby," you hissed, your back arching off the sofa.

"Call me what you want," he whispered, his mouth moving lower, his lips brushing against the lace of your panties. "Just don't stop."

He hooked his fingers into the elastic band and pulled them down, his fingers brushing against your wet heat. You gasped, your hips bucking up against his hand. "So wet for me," he murmured appreciatively, his finger tracing the outline of your folds. "Did I do that? Did I make you this wet just by staring at me?" He flicked his tongue against your clit, and you cried out, your hands tangling in his hair.

"Ohyul! Yes! Don't stop!"

"You're so loud," he teased, his tongue swirling around your nub. "Neighbors are going to hear you."

"Let them hear," you groaned, your fingers tightening in his hair. "I don't care."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking with yours, dark and hungry. "You want me to fuck you?" he asked, his voice thick with need. "You want me to fill you up?"

"Yes…”

He groaned, the sound primal and raw. "Fuck," he hissed. "Hold on."

He reached down and pulled his sweatpants and boxers off in one go, his erection springing free, thick and heavy. He took a condom from the nightstand and rolled it on with practiced ease. Then, he positioned himself at your entrance, the head of his cock pressing against your slick folds.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes searching yours.

"You know I am," you breathed, wrapping your legs around his waist, pulling him closer.

He didn't wait. He thrust forward, his cock burying itself deep inside you in one smooth stroke. You cried out, your back arching off the sofa, your nails digging into his shoulders. He was huge, stretching you so perfectly, filling you so completely. He began to move, his hips snapping against yours, a steady, rhythmic pace that had you seeing stars.

"Oh god! Ohyul! It's so big! It feels so good!"

"Tell me how it feels," he commanded, his voice rough and breathless. "Tell me I'm stretching you open so good."

"So good! Mhmmm!"

He leaned down, capturing your lips again, swallowing your moans, his tongue dueling with yours. He was so hot, his skin sliding against yours, his breath mingling with yours. He moved faster, harder, his grunts and groans filling the air. The friction was exquisite, sending waves of pleasure crashing over you.

"So beautiful when you come apart for me," he whispered, his hand sliding between your legs to rub your clit as he continued to pound into you. "Come for me."

You couldn't hold back. The combination of his words and the relentless thrusting sent you over the edge, your body seizing up, your walls clamping down around him. Your orgasm crashed over you, intense and blinding, making you scream his name.

"Y/n!" he groaned, his own release crashing through him as your muscles pulsed around him. His body shuddered violently, a deep, guttural groan torn from his throat as he buried himself to the hilt, his hips stuttering against yours. He collapsed on top of you, his full weight pressing you into the sofa cushions, his face buried in the crook of your neck. For a long moment, the only sounds were your ragged, panting breaths mingling in the quiet air, the frantic beat of your hearts slowly beginning to calm.

"God," he finally breathed, his voice muffled by your skin. He shifted slightly, propping himself up on his elbows to look down at you. His dark hair was a complete mess, sticking to his damp forehead, and his cheeks were flushed a deep, rosy pink. A lazy, sated grin spread across his lips, his eyes soft and hazy. "You're going to be the death of me, you know that?"

A breathless laugh escaped your lips, your hands coming up to card through the damp strands of his hair. "I think it's the other way around," you whispered, your voice hoarse. "I can't feel my legs."

He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through his chest and into yours. "Good," he murmured, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss to your lips. "That means I did my job." He kissed you again, deeper this time, his tongue tracing the seam of your lips before delving inside to tangle with yours. It was a slow, lazy kiss, a stark contrast to the frantic, desperate passion from moments before. It was full of tenderness, of affection, of the comfortable intimacy that had settled between you over the months you'd been together.

He pulled away, his eyes searching yours. "You okay?" he asked softly, his thumb stroking your cheek.

"More than okay," you assured him, a genuine smile spreading across your face. "I'm perfect."

He smiled back, his heart swelling in his chest. He loved this. He loved the quiet moments after, when the world outside their apartment seemed to fade away and it was just the two of them, tangled together in the aftermath of their passion. He loved the way you looked at him, with so much trust and adoration in your eyes, and the way your body fit so perfectly against his.

"Let's get cleaned up," he said, his voice gentle. He carefully pulled out of you, hissing softly at the overstimulation before rolling off you and onto his feet. He disposed of the condom, then turned back to you, holding out a hand. "Come on."

You took his hand, letting him pull you to your feet. Your legs wobbled slightly, and he chuckled, wrapping an arm around your waist to steady you. "Still can't feel your legs, huh?"

"Shut up," you grumbled good-naturedly, leaning into his side. "You did that to me."

"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. He guided you toward the bathroom, his arm securely around your waist, his body warm and solid against yours. "Let's take a shower. Then we can order some food and watch a movie. How does that sound?"

"Like heaven," you sighed, content to let him lead you.

The shower was warm and steamy, the water cascading over your bodies as you washed each other, your hands and lips exploring with a newfound tenderness. Ohyul took his time, his fingers tracing the lines of your muscles, his palms gliding over your skin, his eyes never leaving yours. He washed your hair, his fingers massaging your scalp with a gentle pressure that made you melt against him.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water. "I love you."

"I love you too," you whispered back, your heart overflowing with emotion.

After the shower, you both wrapped yourselves in fluffy towels and padded back into the living room. Ohyul ordered your favorite takeout, and you curled up on the sofa together, wrapped in a thick, warm blanket, your head resting on his chest, his heartbeat a steady, comforting rhythm beneath your ear.

You watched a movie, but you couldn't focus on the plot. You were too aware of him, of the rise and fall of his chest with every breath, of the way his fingers traced patterns on your arm, of the soft, contented sighs he let out every now and then. You were happy, truly and deeply happy, and you knew, with a certainty that settled deep in your soul, that this was where you were meant to be.

As the credits rolled, Ohyul shifted, turning his head to press a soft kiss to your forehead. "You're quiet," he murmured, his voice a low, sleepy rumble.

"Just thinking," you whispered, tilting your head back to look at him.

"About what?"

"About how much I love you," you said, your voice barely a whisper.

His smile was soft, his eyes filled with a warmth that made your heart ache. "I love you too, y/n," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "More than you'll ever know."

He leaned down and captured your lips in a slow, sweet kiss, a promise of all the tomorrows you would share. And as you kissed him, your hands tangling in his hair, your bodies pressed close together, you knew that this was just the beginning. This was your forever, and you wouldn't have it any other way.

TAGLIST: @lovelynyah @hoonksl @ccarline @enha4ria @ludmiig @riddlessecretss @rickyshensgirlfriend @aquariusscollection

the entire drive there, woojin sat curled slightly into the passenger seat with nervous energy radiating off him in waves, his knee bouncing endlessly beneath the dashboard while his fingers picked absentmindedly at the sleeve of his hoodie. anxiety looked strangely soft on him.

not dramatic enough to be obvious, but present in the small details—the way he kept exhaling through his nose, the way he checked his reflection in the window every few minutes, the way he kept asking if his outfit looked “normal enough.” meeting your family carried a weight different from interviews, cameras, and screaming crowds. idols were trained for public attention, polished carefully into digestible versions of themselves, but families were unpredictable. families saw through rehearsed smiles. families noticed the pauses between words.

“you’re making me anxious,” you said quietly while keeping one hand on the steering wheel, your tone light enough to tease him but soft enough not to make him spiral further.

woojin turned toward you immediately, disbelief flashing across his face before he laughed nervously under his breath. “i’m the one meeting your family,” he argued while pressing a hand dramatically against his chest. “why are you anxious?” his voice cracked slightly at the end despite the joke, betraying the nerves he’d been trying to hide for the last twenty minutes.

“because they’re insane,” you admitted honestly while pulling into your parents’ neighborhood, where cars already lined the street in uneven rows. music echoed faintly from down the block, bass vibrating through the warm evening air before you’d even parked. “especially my cousins.” you sighed quietly before glancing at him again. “and my dad’s definitely gonna interrogate you.”

woojin groaned immediately, dropping his head back against the seat like he’d just received devastating news. “see?” he complained while dragging his hands down his face dramatically. “you keep saying terrifying things like that.” he looked out the window toward the crowded house ahead of you and blinked slowly. “there are so many people.”

you laughed softly under your breath while unbuckling your seatbelt. “you thought it was just my parents?”

“you said cookout,” he defended while climbing carefully out of the car, smoothing his clothes down the second his shoes hit the pavement. “i thought maybe like ten people.”

the second the car doors shut behind you both, the atmosphere swallowed him whole.

music blasted loudly from giant speakers near the backyard fence. laughter overlapped in every direction. somebody was yelling about dominoes. the smell of barbecue, charcoal, seasoning, and fried food drifted thickly through the summer air, wrapping around the neighborhood like its own living thing. kids sprinted through the grass at dangerous speeds while adults shouted half-hearted warnings they clearly didn’t expect anyone to follow.

woojin stared for another second before slowly nodding to himself. “okay,” he murmured while adjusting the chain around his neck nervously. “this is different.”

“this is normal,” you corrected while grabbing his hand gently.

his shoulders relaxed almost instantly the second your fingers laced together. comfort settled over him quickly whenever you touched him, like his body recognized safety before his mind could catch up.

then one of your little cousins spotted you from across the yard.

“Y/N’S HERE!” he screamed at full volume while pointing dramatically toward the gate.

every single head turned at once.

woojin nearly stopped breathing.

“oh my god,” he whispered while staring at the sudden attention like he might evaporate on the spot.

your aunt stood up first, already grinning before she’d even fully reached you. “that must be the boyfriend,” she announced loudly while pointing directly at woojin with zero hesitation.

woojin’s ears turned pink instantly.

“auntie,” you groaned while covering part of your face in embarrassment.

your aunt ignored you completely. “he’s cute,” she added proudly while looking at the rest of the family like she’d personally accomplished something.

woojin bowed politely almost on instinct, years of training kicking in immediately. “hello,” he greeted softly while smiling nervously. “i’m jung woojin.” his hands stayed clasped carefully in front of him, respectful posture settling into his body automatically despite the panic flickering behind his eyes.

before anyone else could respond, your mother appeared.

warmth lived naturally in her expression, immediate and effortless. she hugged you first, squeezing tightly enough to make you laugh before pulling away to look directly at woojin.

“so this is the boy,” she said while studying him curiously.

woojin bowed again. “yes, ma’am,” he answered quickly while trying not to stumble over his words.

your mother’s face softened instantly. “oh, he’s polite,” she murmured approvingly while glancing at you knowingly.

you were about to respond when your father stepped into the conversation.

and suddenly the atmosphere shifted.

dads always carried a different kind of silence around their daughters’ boyfriends. not loud enough to start conflict, but heavy enough to make people stand straighter. your father wasn’t intimidating in an aggressive way. it was worse than that. he was calm. observant. the kind of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to make people nervous.

woojin visibly swallowed.

“dad,” you started carefully. “this is woojin.”

your father nodded once while looking him up and down slowly. “boyfriend?” he asked flatly.

“yes, sir,” woojin answered immediately while bowing again before your father had even fully finished speaking.

your father held out his hand.

woojin shook it carefully.

then your father squeezed harder.

not enough to hurt. just enough to establish something.

woojin’s smile twitched slightly.

“dad,” you warned immediately while narrowing your eyes.

“i’m greeting him,” your father defended calmly without releasing woojin’s hand yet.

woojin laughed nervously through the pain. “strong grip, sir,” he complimented politely while trying very hard not to embarrass himself.

one of your uncles burst out laughing nearby. “oh, he’s getting tested already,” he said while pointing dramatically at woojin.

“if he survives the handshake, he survives the family,” another cousin added while eating chips casually.

your father finally released him.

woojin flexed his fingers subtly afterward when he thought nobody was looking.

unfortunately, you noticed immediately.

and so did your mother.

“leave that boy alone,” she scolded while smacking your father lightly on the arm.

“i wasn’t doing nothing,” he argued despite very obviously doing something.

woojin smiled awkwardly beside you while whispering under his breath, “i think your dad almost broke my hand.”

you snorted quietly while squeezing his arm reassuringly. “that means he doesn’t hate you.”

“that’s comforting,” he muttered weakly.

but the strangest thing happened afterward.

instead of staying nervous, woojin slowly melted into the chaos of your family like he’d always belonged there.

your younger cousins attached themselves to him almost instantly, swarming him with questions before he’d even properly sat down.

“can you dance?” one demanded while staring up at him with suspicious eyes.

“are you rich?” another asked immediately afterward.

“do you know famous people?” your little brother added while crossing his arms like an interrogator.

woojin blinked rapidly for exactly two seconds before recovering beautifully.

“yes,” he answered carefully while crouching slightly to their level. “but only a little.” he smiled playfully afterward, intentionally dramatic enough to make them laugh.

it worked immediately.

kids trusted people who treated them seriously.

and woojin, despite being nervous himself, instinctively knew how to meet them where they were.

within thirty minutes, your little cousins were obsessed with him.

completely.

he played basketball with your younger brother in the driveway until both of them were sweating through their shirts. he let your youngest cousin braid tiny clips into his hair while pretending not to notice everyone secretly taking pictures. he joined a water balloon fight knowing fully well he was being set up to lose. every time one of the kids laughed around him, his own laugh followed naturally afterward, softer and freer than the one he used around cameras.

you watched him from the porch while your mom sat beside you quietly.

“he’s good with kids,” she observed while sipping her drink slowly.

“yeah,” you admitted softly while watching woojin dramatically accuse your cousin of cheating during basketball.

“he likes you a lot,” she added casually.

your eyes flicked toward her immediately. “mom.”

“baby,” she said while looking at you knowingly. “that boy looks at you like he’s still surprised you exist.”

heat crawled up your neck embarrassingly fast.

you looked back toward woojin automatically.

right on cue, he glanced over too.

the second your eyes met, his entire face softened.

not dramatically. not performatively. just instinctively.

like seeing you relaxed something inside him every single time.

your mom hummed quietly beside you. “exactly.”

across the yard, your father watched the interaction too.

his expression shifted slightly while observing woojin with the kids. there was something strangely vulnerable about watching someone you loved blend carefully into the people who made you. especially when they did it without trying to impress anyone. woojin wasn’t performing. he wasn’t trying too hard. he simply cared enough to be present.

your dad noticed that.

eventually, your little brother dragged woojin into another basketball game while your uncles loudly coached from the sidelines despite giving terrible advice.

“cross him up!” one uncle yelled dramatically while pointing.

woojin laughed breathlessly while wiping sweat from the back of his neck. “he’s still beating me,” he defended while pointing accusingly at your brother.

“because you’re old,” your brother shot back immediately.

the entire yard exploded into laughter.

woojin clutched his chest dramatically like he’d been fatally wounded. “that was disrespectful,” he gasped while stumbling backward theatrically.

your dad laughed. a real laugh. deep enough to make you notice instantly.

and honestly?

that moment mattered more than you expected it to.

later, as the sky darkened into soft shades of orange and deep blue, your father motioned for woojin to follow him near the grill.

woojin immediately looked nervous again.

you watched carefully from your chair while your mother smiled knowingly beside you.

your father handed woojin a plate first before speaking.

“you care about my daughter?” he asked simply while turning another piece of chicken over the grill.

woojin answered immediately.

“yes, sir,” he said firmly while holding the plate carefully in both hands. “very much.”

there wasn’t hesitation in his voice.

just sincerity.

your father studied him quietly for a long moment before nodding once.

“good,” he said simply.

woojin blinked in surprise. “that’s it?” he asked before he could stop himself.

your father laughed loudly. “boy, what’d you think this was?”

woojin hesitated. “honestly?”

“don’t answer that,” your father interrupted immediately while laughing harder.

you smiled quietly to yourself while watching them.

because somehow, against all odds, jung woojin fit into your family like he’d always been meant to sit among them.

TAGLIST: @lovelynyah @hoonksl @ccarline @enha4ria @ludmiig @riddlessecretss @rickyshensgirlfriend @aquariusscollection

the camera had already been recording for nearly four minutes before either of you actually started the video properly.

most of those four minutes consisted of you yelling at jaafar from across your apartment while he stood in the kitchen pretending not to hear you.

“jaafar!” you shouted again from the living room, one hand gripping your camera while the other adjusted the throw pillows behind you for the fifth time. “if you don’t come sit down right now, i’m starting the video without you.”

“i’m literally coming,” he called back lazily from the kitchen while opening another cabinet.

“you said that six minutes ago,” you complained dramatically while dropping backward onto the couch cushions.

“that’s because you keep restarting your intro,” jaafar answered while finally walking toward the living room.

“because you keep making noise in the background,” you argued while pointing accusingly toward him.

a loud cabinet slam echoed through the apartment immediately afterward.

you stared directly into the camera with narrowed eyes.

“this is exactly what i mean,” you muttered toward your future viewers.

finally, jaafar walked fully into frame holding an unnecessarily large bowl of chips tucked against his chest like he was preparing for a movie marathon instead of filming a simple youtube video. gray hoodie. black sweatpants. messy curls. completely unbothered.

“you’re dramatic,” he muttered while dropping onto the couch beside you.

“you took forever,” you shot back while shifting the camera angle slightly.

“you spent ten minutes fluffing pillows,” jaafar pointed out while reaching into the chip bowl.

“because aesthetics matter,” you defended while fixing one last pillow behind you.

jaafar glanced around the apartment slowly before looking back at you with a completely straight face.

“this looks exactly the same,” he said calmly.

you gasped loudly before turning toward the camera in mock offense.

“do y’all hear this disrespect?” you asked dramatically while clutching your chest.

he immediately started laughing while tossing another chip into his mouth.

“you invited me here,” jaafar reminded you while leaning back against the couch.

“this is our apartment,” you replied while narrowing your eyes suspiciously.

“and yet somehow i still feel like a guest,” he answered with a shrug.

you rolled your eyes dramatically before scooting closer toward the camera.

“okay,” you started finally while slipping into your youtuber voice effortlessly. “hey guys, welcome back to my channel.”

jaafar looked directly into the lens and waved awkwardly with two fingers.

“you look terrified,” you snorted while lowering the camera slightly.

“i hate cameras,” jaafar admitted while rubbing the back of his neck.

“you’re literally related to michael jackson,” you pointed out while staring at him incredulously.

“that doesn’t mean i enjoy this,” he defended while shrugging again.

you grinned immediately.

“anyways, today we’re doing a q&a with my boyfriend because you guys have been begging for this video for months,” you explained while pulling your phone into your lap.

jaafar blinked slowly before looking at you suspiciously.

“they have?” he asked while raising an eyebrow.

“yes,” you answered confidently while nodding.

“nobody begged,” jaafar argued while laughing under his breath.

“they absolutely begged,” you insisted while scrolling through screenshots dramatically.

“you posted one instagram story,” he reminded you while reaching for another chip.

“that counts,” you replied instantly.

jaafar laughed quietly while crunching loudly into another chip directly beside the microphone.

you immediately turned toward him in horror.

“oh my god,” you groaned while grabbing the bowl away from him.

“what?” jaafar asked innocently while trying not to laugh.

“they can hear you chewing,” you complained while setting the chips dramatically far away on the coffee table.

“so?” he asked while spreading his hands defensively.

“so stop,” you answered while staring at him in disbelief.

“you bought loud chips,” jaafar argued while pointing toward the bowl.

you stared at him silently for a long moment.

“you sound like a horse eating drywall,” you muttered before turning back toward the camera.

“you say things that don’t even make sense,” jaafar laughed while shaking his head.

you ignored him completely and unlocked your phone.

“okay,” you started while trying unsuccessfully not to laugh already. “first question.”

jaafar leaned back against the couch confidently now, one arm stretched behind your shoulders.

“what’s the most annoying thing about each other?” you read aloud while glancing between your phone and the camera.

“easy,” both of you answered immediately while pointing at each other.

you both paused before turning toward one another.

“see?” you accused while pointing dramatically toward him. “that right there.”

jaafar started laughing instantly while leaning forward.

“you asked the question,” he defended between laughs.

“you answered way too fast,” you complained while narrowing your eyes.

“so did you,” he pointed out while trying to stop laughing.

“because i had material prepared,” you answered smugly.

“that’s concerning,” jaafar muttered while shaking his head.

you turned toward the camera dramatically.

“this man leaves cabinet doors open everywhere he goes,” you explained while counting on your fingers. “kitchen. bathroom. bedroom. one time i woke up at three in the morning and thought somebody broke into the apartment because every cabinet downstairs was open.”

jaafar was already laughing too hard to defend himself properly.

“that happened one time,” he argued while wiping tears from his eyes.

“no,” you corrected immediately while pointing toward him. “it happens daily.”

“you exaggerate,” jaafar insisted while leaning back again.

“you left the refrigerator open yesterday,” you reminded him while staring at him accusingly.

“that was different,” he answered confidently.

“how?” you asked while folding your arms.

“i was thinking,” jaafar explained while nodding seriously.

you blinked slowly at him.

“and thinking prevented you from closing a refrigerator?” you asked flatly.

jaafar pointed toward you immediately.

“okay, now my turn,” he announced while sitting up straighter. “you wanna know the most annoying thing about her?”

you narrowed your eyes suspiciously.

“he better watch himself,” you warned the camera while pointing toward jaafar.

jaafar ignored you completely.

“she asks questions,” he started calmly while looking directly into the camera, “and then gets mad at honest answers.”

“that is not true,” you interrupted immediately while laughing in disbelief.

“you literally just got offended because i answered your question too quickly,” jaafar reminded you while holding his hands up defensively.

“because you sounded excited,” you argued while staring at him accusingly.

“you asked,” he repeated dramatically.

you dissolved into laughter while jaafar leaned back smugly against the couch cushions like he’d won something important.

the next question barely lasted thirty seconds before turning into another argument.

“who said ‘i love you’ first?” you read aloud while glancing toward him.

“you did,” jaafar answered immediately while nodding confidently.

“no, i didn’t,” you argued while turning toward him in disbelief.

“yes, you did,” he insisted while reaching for the chips again.

you looked directly into the camera with genuine offense.

“why is he lying this early in the video?” you asked dramatically.

“i’m not lying,” jaafar defended while laughing.

“you absolutely are,” you answered while pointing toward him again.

“you said it first,” he repeated confidently.

“no,” you scoffed while crossing your arms. “i said ‘love you.’ that doesn’t count.”

jaafar stared at you silently for a moment.

“that is literally the same sentence,” he answered flatly.

“no, it’s not,” you argued immediately.

“how?” he asked while trying not to laugh.

“because ‘love you’ is casual,” you explained seriously.

“there is nothing casual about telling somebody you love them,” jaafar replied while staring at you incredulously.

“it was casual when i said it,” you insisted stubbornly.

jaafar started laughing again.

“you sounded nervous too,” he added while pointing toward you.

“see? now he’s making up details,” you complained dramatically.

“you were shaking,” he answered while nodding confidently.

“i was cold,” you defended immediately.

“it was august,” jaafar reminded you while staring at you blankly.

you sat there silently for a second before turning back toward the camera.

“next question,” you muttered while trying not to laugh.

jaafar grinned victoriously beside you.

the comments only got worse from there.

“who’s more jealous?” you read aloud while smiling innocently.

“jaafar,” you answered immediately while pointing toward him.

“that’s insane,” he argued while sitting up straighter.

“it’s true,” you insisted confidently.

“you’re literally the jealous one,” jaafar replied while laughing.

“i’m not jealous,” you denied immediately.

“you got mad at a waitress for calling me ‘sweetheart,’” he reminded you while trying not to laugh.

“because she was flirting,” you defended while staring at him seriously.

“she was seventy,” jaafar answered while bursting into laughter.

“she knew exactly what she was doing,” you argued confidently.

jaafar physically bent forward laughing while you maintained complete seriousness.

“you sound crazy,” he managed between laughs.

“i’m right,” you answered stubbornly.

“you’re actually insane,” jaafar replied while wiping tears from his eyes.

“you’re actually blind,” you shot back immediately.

he stared helplessly toward the camera.

“see what i deal with?” jaafar asked dramatically while gesturing toward you.

you crossed your arms proudly.

the next question nearly ended the entire video.

“what was your first impression of each other?” you read aloud while smiling.

“he was quiet,” you answered immediately while glancing toward him.

jaafar blinked slowly.

“that’s your answer?” he asked while staring at you.

“you were,” you insisted while shrugging.

“i barely spoke because you kept interrupting me,” he defended while laughing softly.

“that is not true,” you argued immediately.

“you talked for like forty straight minutes,” jaafar reminded you while pointing toward you.

you looked genuinely offended.

“why would you expose me like this?” you asked dramatically.

“because it happened,” he answered simply.

“you liked it,” you argued while smiling smugly.

“i survived it,” jaafar corrected while laughing.

you shoved his shoulder lightly.

“anyways,” you continued loudly over his laughter, “i thought he looked mean.”

jaafar’s eyebrows lifted immediately.

“mean?” he repeated while staring at you in disbelief.

“you had this look on your face,” you explained while trying not to laugh.

“what look?” he asked suspiciously.

you demonstrated his expression badly by narrowing your eyes and leaning backward with fake attitude.

jaafar burst out laughing instantly.

“that’s not what i look like,” he argued between laughs.

“that’s exactly what you looked like,” you insisted confidently.

“i was nervous,” he defended while shaking his head.

“you looked judgmental,” you replied while pointing toward him.

“you looked loud,” jaafar answered immediately.

you gasped dramatically.

“i am not loud,” you argued while placing a hand against your chest.

both of you fell silent for a second.

then jaafar looked directly into the camera.

“she’s loud,” he announced calmly.

you immediately grabbed a throw pillow and smacked him across the chest while laughing.

“this is abuse,” jaafar complained dramatically while shielding himself.

“you deserve worse,” you answered while laughing harder.

“you’re proving my point,” he muttered while fixing his hoodie.

the video spiraled further downhill after that.

half the questions never even got answered because both of you kept getting distracted arguing over irrelevant details.

at one point jaafar accused you of stealing his hoodies.

“you literally own more hoodies than me,” you defended while throwing your hands up dramatically.

“because you keep taking mine,” jaafar argued while pointing accusingly toward you.

“they’re our hoodies now,” you answered proudly.

“no,” he replied firmly while shaking his head. “communism doesn’t apply to clothes.”

you laughed so hard you nearly dropped your phone.

another question asked who was more dramatic.

neither of you even answered because you both started speaking at the exact same time before arguing over who interrupted first.

then jaafar accidentally exposed himself.

“what’s one thing your boyfriend does that always makes you laugh?” you read aloud while smiling already.

“he dances when he thinks nobody’s looking,” you answered immediately while staring at him smugly.

jaafar froze instantly.

“no, i don’t,” he denied while sitting up straighter.

“yes, you do,” you argued while laughing already.

“that’s a lie,” he insisted dramatically.

“you literally danced while making cereal yesterday,” you reminded him while pointing toward him.

“i was not dancing,” jaafar defended while trying not to smile.

“you were moonwalking,” you answered immediately.

“i slipped,” he argued confidently.

“you snapped your fingers,” you added while laughing harder.

jaafar buried his face into the couch cushions dramatically.

“you are such a hater,” his muffled voice complained.

“you looked like somebody’s unemployed uncle at a barbecue,” you answered while wiping tears from your eyes.

“that description was way too specific,” he muttered while finally sitting back up.

you could barely breathe from laughing now.

by the time the video reached its final ten minutes, both of you looked exhausted.

your makeup was slightly smeared from laughing too hard. jaafar’s curls were flattened crookedly on one side from constantly dropping backward against the couch cushions dramatically every time you exposed him.

“this was supposed to be wholesome,” you sighed eventually while leaning against him tiredly.

“it stopped being wholesome twelve minutes ago,” jaafar muttered while looking toward the ceiling.

you smiled softly while glancing up at him briefly before looking back toward the camera.

“okay,” you started quietly while calming down finally. “last question.”

jaafar immediately groaned.

“that sounds dangerous,” he complained while rubbing his face tiredly.

you ignored him while reading the final comment silently.

then your expression softened slightly.

“aww,” you reacted quietly while smiling.

jaafar looked suspicious immediately.

“what?” he asked cautiously while staring at you.

you smiled wider.

“it says, ‘what’s your favorite thing about each other?’” you explained softly.

his entire demeanor shifted slightly afterward, amusement settling into something quieter.

you looked at him expectantly.

“you go first,” jaafar said while avoiding eye contact briefly.

“no, you,” you argued while nudging his shoulder.

“you asked the question,” he reminded you quietly.

you grinned smugly.

jaafar shook his head once before finally looking toward the camera.

“my favorite thing about her,” he started slowly while glancing toward you briefly, “is that she makes literally everything fun.”

you blinked at him, caught slightly off guard by the sincerity.

even he looked embarrassed afterward.

“aww,” you teased softly while smiling.

“don’t make it weird,” jaafar muttered while rubbing the back of his neck.

“you’re being sweet on camera,” you pointed out while laughing quietly.

“answer the question,” he replied while nudging your knee gently.

you smiled before leaning your head naturally against his shoulder.

“my favorite thing about him,” you started softly while looking toward the camera, “is that he’s kind.”

jaafar looked down at you immediately.

“and annoying,” you added quickly while grinning.

“there it is,” he sighed dramatically while shaking his head.

“but mostly kind,” you corrected while smiling softly.

a small smile pulled at his mouth despite himself.

then naturally, the moment got ruined immediately afterward when your phone buzzed loudly from beside you.

you glanced at the notification once before snorting loudly.

jaafar looked over curiously.

“what?” he asked while leaning closer.

you started laughing harder.

“what?” he repeated while staring at you suspiciously.

you turned the phone toward him.

“it’s my mom,” you managed between laughs. “she texted, ‘tell jaafar to stop lying about them cabinet doors.’”

jaafar stared at the screen in complete betrayal.

“your own mother is against me,” he complained dramatically while dropping backward onto the couch.

the first thing you notice about louis in person is that he looks younger than he does online.

not younger in a bad way. not childish either. just real.

the cameras always sharpened him into something louder; brighter smiles, cleaner angles, perfectly timed reactions. but standing beneath the concert lights, sweaty hair sticking slightly to his forehead while he laughed at something ryul yelled from across the stage, he suddenly looked like an actual sixteen-year-old boy trying very hard to act older than he was.

and maybe that was what caught your attention first.

or maybe it was the fact that he kept looking at you.

you stood against the barricade near the extended stage, crushed between screaming fans and shaking lightsticks. your ears rang from the bass vibrating through the arena floor, from the chants echoing off the walls hard enough to rattle your ribs. everything around you felt too loud, too bright, too fast.

but every few minutes, louis’ eyes kept finding yours anyway.

the first time it happened, you assumed it was accidental.

idols looked into crowds constantly. it meant nothing.

except the second time lasted longer.

and the third time came with a smile.

a real one too. crooked and quick, appearing like he forgot cameras existed for half a second.

your stomach dropped stupidly fast.

“oh my god,” the girl beside you gasped suddenly, gripping your arm hard enough to hurt. “he keeps looking over here.”

you laughed nervously. “probably because everybody’s screaming.”

“no,” she whispered immediately. “he’s looking at you.”

you almost told her she was insane.

then louis missed part of his choreography because he was still staring in your direction.

ohyul physically shoved him back into formation.

the entire section screamed.

heat rushed straight into your face so quickly you had to look away for a second.

this could not be happening.

around you, fans started noticing too. phones angled toward your side of the barricade now, people whispering loudly while louis kept pretending he wasn’t distracted every time he drifted near the front of the stage.

which would have worked better if he wasn’t so obvious about it.

during one of the talking segments, woojin started speaking while the members caught their breath. louis stood slightly behind the others, water bottle hanging loosely from his hand while his eyes wandered over the crowd again.

then landed on you.

again.

you should’ve looked away.

instead, you smiled before you could stop yourself.

something in louis’ expression softened immediately after that.

small.

barely noticeable.

but real enough to make your chest tighten painfully.

ryul noticed instantly.

even from the stage, you could tell.

he leaned toward louis with the biggest grin imaginable while saying something near his ear. louis shoved him hard without looking away from you once.

the fans around you lost their minds.

by the encore, things had somehow gotten worse.

the members ran around freely now, splashing water into the crowd while fans screamed loud enough to distort the speakers. louis jogged toward your section again before slowing near the edge of the stage.

then he crouched directly in front of you.

your brain stopped working.

completely.

up close, he looked exhausted. flushed cheeks, damp hair curling slightly from sweat, oversized jersey sticking to his shoulders under the stage lights.

and he was looking directly at you like nobody else existed.

you forgot every single thing you planned on saying if you ever met him.

every thought vanished instantly.

louis glanced down toward the sign hanging loosely from your hands before laughing quietly under his breath.

“you made this?” he asked.

you nodded too quickly. “yeah.”

“it’s cute.”

the compliment hit embarrassingly hard.

before you could respond properly, fans behind you screamed loud enough to shake the barricade. security started motioning for the members to move toward the opposite side of the stage again.

louis stood reluctantly.

for a second, it looked like he wanted to say something else.

instead, he pointed toward you once more before jogging backward toward the others.

but he kept looking back.

once.

twice.

three times.

and each time, your stomach flipped harder.

.☘︎ ݁˖ᝰ.ᐟ

after the concert ended, you stayed near the venue longer than you meant to.

mostly because leaving felt impossible.

fans crowded outside the arena in loud clusters, replaying concert videos and screaming over moments that had already started spreading online. every few seconds, someone nearby mentioned louis staring at “that one girl in the front row.”

unfortunately, that girl was very obviously you.

you had already seen three separate tiktoks.

your phone buzzed nonstop inside your hoodie pocket while you leaned against the side wall near the exit gates, trying desperately not to think too hard about any of it.

then someone approached you.

a staff member.

at first, you thought you were in trouble somehow.

maybe you accidentally broke a rule. maybe you stood in the wrong section. maybe fans weren’t allowed near backstage exits.

but the woman stopped directly in front of you with a careful smile.

“hi,” she said gently. “you were in front row section b tonight, right?”

“…yeah?”

“would you mind coming with me for a second?”

your heart nearly stopped.

“why?”

the staff member hesitated for exactly half a second before smiling again.

“someone asked to meet you.”

your brain immediately short-circuited.

“someone?”

she gave you a look that answered everything.

the walk backstage barely felt real.

your shoes squeaked against polished hallways while staff rushed around carrying equipment and garment racks. somewhere nearby, you could hear loud laughter followed by someone yelling in korean.

your hands shook the entire time.

the staff member stopped outside a half-open door before glancing back at you, “you can go in.”

then she walked away before you could panic properly.

inside the room, louis sat stretched across a couch scrolling through his phone while ryul stood nearby drinking something from a paper cup.

the second ryul noticed you, his entire face lit up.

“oh my god,” he laughed loudly, smacking louis’ shoulder immediately. “she’s real.”

louis looked up so fast he nearly dropped his phone.

for the first time all night, he looked nervous.

actually nervous.

and somehow that made you relax slightly too.

ryul grinned between both of you like he’d just orchestrated world peace.

“okay,” he announced dramatically, already backing toward the door. “i’m leaving before this gets embarrassing.”

“it’s already embarrassing,” louis muttered.

“good luck, lover boy.”

“get out.”

ryul laughed all the way down the hallway.

silence settled awkwardly afterward.

louis stood almost immediately, rubbing the back of his neck once before speaking.

“sorry if this is weird.”

“it’s a little weird,” you admitted honestly.

he laughed quietly at that.

up close, he somehow looked softer. less polished than he did on stage. his hair still looked damp near the ends, oversized hoodie thrown on over his concert clothes now.

for a second, both of you just stared awkwardly at each other.

then louis smiled suddenly.

and there it was again.

that exact smile from the stage.

the one that made your stomach feel unstable.

“i just…” he started before stopping briefly. “i really wanted to talk to you.”

your pulse sped up instantly.

“why?”

his ears turned slightly pink.

“because i thought you were pretty.”

the honesty hit harder than any rehearsed line could have.

you blinked at him once.

then laughed softly out of disbelief.

louis looked mildly horrified immediately after.

“wait, not in a creepy way.”

“i know.”

“okay good because ryul said i sounded insane.”

“you kind of do.”

he groaned dramatically before dropping back against the couch cushions. “great.”

you laughed again, quieter this time.

something about him felt unexpectedly easy now.

like the nervousness burned away the second conversation actually started.

louis looked up at you carefully from where he sat.

“can i ask something?”

“depends.”

“can i get your number?”

your stomach flipped all over again.

he said it casually, but there was still something hesitant underneath it. like he genuinely expected rejection despite everything that happened tonight.

which felt ridiculous considering he was louis.

still, the nervousness made him seem younger somehow. softer around the edges.

more real.

you pulled your phone from your pocket slowly. “you brought me backstage just for my number?”

“…pretty much.”

“that’s insane.”

“yeah,” he admitted easily. “but did it work?”

you tried not to smile while handing him your phone.

unfortunately, you failed immediately.

and judging by the way louis smiled back afterward, he definitely noticed.

TAGLIST: @lovelynyah @hoonksl @ccarline @enha4ria @ludmiig @riddlessecretss @rickyshensgirlfriend @aquariusscollection

“So today, I’m going to be pranking my boyfriend and acting like I’m doing something suspicious on my phone.”

You whispered it dramatically into the camera while sitting in the passenger seat of Jaafar’s black SUV, sunlight cutting through the windshield in warm streaks across your face. The parking lot around you buzzed with ordinary afternoon noise—shopping carts rattling over pavement, distant conversations, engines turning over—but inside the car, everything felt contained inside the little world of your vlog camera.

You lowered your voice conspiratorially, leaning closer.

“And before anybody starts attacking me in the comments, no, I’m not actually cheating on him. Relax. This is literally just a prank.”

A grin pulled at your mouth.

“But Jaafar gets jealous really easily.”

From outside the windshield, Jaafar glanced back toward the car while walking toward the store entrance, sunglasses sitting low on his nose. Even from a distance, he looked unfairly good without trying. Gray hoodie. Black sweats. One hand shoved into his pocket while the other carried his phone.

You zoomed the camera dramatically toward him.

“Look at him,” you whispered. “He thinks everything is fun and games.”

The second he disappeared into the store, your entire demeanor changed into exaggerated panic for the camera.

“Okay. We have limited time.”

You reached over the center console and adjusted the small hidden camera you’d already tucked near the dashboard earlier. Then you grabbed your phone and opened the group chat you’d made with your friends specifically for this prank.

“Spam me in exactly two minutes.”

“And PLEASE don’t say anything crazy because he will absolutely read over my shoulder.”

“They’re too excited for this.”

You propped your phone against your knee and continued talking to the vlog camera like you always did when filming alone.

“I honestly don’t even know if this prank is going to work because Jaafar acts calm at first whenever he’s jealous.” You paused knowingly. “But then he starts asking weirdly specific questions.”

You mimicked his voice.

“‘Who was that?’ ‘Why’re you smiling at your phone?’ ‘Lemme see.’”

A laugh escaped you.

“He swears he’s so intelligent.”

You checked the store entrance again. Still no sign of him. Your phone buzzed once.

Then again.

Thennnnn again.

You brightened immediately.

“Oh, they started.”

The screen lit repeatedly beside you with incoming texts, vibrations stacking one after another against the leather seat.

You quickly flipped the phone face-down just as the automatic doors opened again.

“Okay, okay—he’s coming back.”

You hurriedly repositioned yourself into a normal posture, grabbing your iced coffee and pretending to scroll casually.

Jaafar opened the driver’s side door, balancing two shopping bags awkwardly in one hand.

“The line was ridiculous,” he muttered while climbing inside.

The car shifted slightly under his weight.

You hummed absentmindedly. “Mhm.”

He tossed the bags into the backseat before glancing at you.

“You good?”

“Yeah.”

Your phone buzzed again.

And again.

And again.

His eyes flickered downward immediately.

You fought to keep your expression neutral.

Jaafar started the car slowly, though his attention clearly stayed on the phone vibrating against your thigh every few seconds.

“You’re popular today.”

You shrugged casually. “ just the group chat.”

“Mhm.”

There it was already.

The suspicious hum.

You bit the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing.

He pulled out of the parking spot carefully, one hand resting against the steering wheel while the other adjusted the air conditioning.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Buzz.

This time you picked up the phone quickly, angling it away from him before typing rapidly.

Jaafar’s eyes shifted toward you again.

“What’s so important?”

“Nothing.”

“You smiling hard for nothing.”

“I’m literally not smiling.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

“You are right now.”

A grin immediately betrayed you.

Jaafar narrowed his eyes slightly.

“See.”

You turned toward the window quickly, pretending to hide your expression.

Another vibration rattled through the car.

Then another.

Jaafar exhaled through his nose.

“Who even texts that much?”

“People with friends.”

“That’s funny.”

You looked at him innocently. “What’s funny?”

“Nothing.”

The way he said it made you nearly break character already.

Jaafar wasn’t aggressive when he got jealous. If anything, it was worse because he got quieter. More observant. He’d start acting overly casual while obviously thinking too much.

You watched him tap the steering wheel lightly.

Buzz.

This time, you grabbed the phone almost too fast.

His eyebrows lifted.

“Okay.”

“What?”

“Nah, because now you’re acting weird.”

“I’m literally sitting here.”

“You keep hiding your phone.”

“I’m not hiding it.”

“You turned it away from me three times.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did.”

You opened your mouth, then closed it dramatically.

Jaafar glanced at you again.

“That little fake offended face doesn’t work when you’re actually suspicious.”

You laughed despite yourself and immediately covered it with a cough.

Smooth.

He side-eyed you harder.

“Mhm.”

The phone buzzed again.

You looked down quickly.

Jaafar noticed immediately.

“See?”

“See what?”

“You keep checking it.”

“Because people are texting me.”

“Who?”

“People.”

“What people?”

You tried not to smile.

“Why do you care?”

“I don’t.”

The speed of his answer made you burst out laughing.

Jaafar looked personally attacked.

“You do care.”

“I said I don’t.”

“You sound jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

Another vibration interrupted him.

Your friends were committed now. The phone practically vibrated nonstop against your palm.

You angled the screen away again intentionally.

Jaafar went quiet.

Too quiet.

You glanced over carefully.

He stared straight ahead at the road, jaw tighter now.

“Oh my God,” you thought. “He’s actually getting annoyed.”

A tiny wave of guilt hit you.

Followed immediately by amusement.

“You okay?” you asked sweetly.

“Yeah.”

“You seem upset.”

“I’m driving.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Jaafar finally looked over briefly.

“You want the truth?”

You nodded innocently.

“You’re being weird.”

You blinked at him. “How?”

“Because every five seconds your phone goes off and suddenly you’re acting you got somethin' to hide.”

“It’s private.”

He gave you a look.

You nearly lost it again.

Jaafar shook his head slightly, muttering something under his breath while turning at the next light.

The silence lasted about thirty seconds before another buzz filled the car.

Then another immediately afterward.

Jaafar laughed once in disbelief.

“Ain’t no way.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You keep saying nothing.”

“Because if I say something, you’re gonna tell me I’m crazy.”

You leaned back against the seat dramatically.

“Jaafar Jackson,” you gasped. “Accusing me of things?”

“I didn’t accuse you of anything.”

“You implied it.”

“Because you’re moving suspicious.”

“There you go again with suspicious.”

“You are!”

He pointed briefly toward your phone.

“Who keeps texting you?”

You pretended to hesitate.

“My friend.”

“Singular?”

You shrugged.

“Yup.”

“Your one friend has sent like thirty messages in ten minutes?”

You cracked a smile.

Jaafar groaned immediately.

“Nah, see. You laughing means something.”

“It doesn’t.”

“It definitely means something.”

The SUV rolled into another red light. Jaafar finally turned fully toward you now, expression halfway between amused and genuinely bothered.

“You got a secret boyfriend or something?”

The offended gasp you let out this time was so dramatic that even he started smiling a little.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m asking.”

“You think I’d cheat on you?”

“I didn’t say cheat.”

“You implied it.”

“Now who’s implying?”

You laughed again, shaking your head.

Jaafar studied your face carefully, then your phone buzzed again. Without thinking, you turned it away. His eyes narrowed immediately,”Okay, nah.”

“What?”

“Lemme see your phone.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Yes it is.”

“No, it’s not.”

You clutched the phone against your chest dramatically.

“Privacy is a human right.”

Jaafar stared at you for two full seconds before laughing softly in disbelief.

“You are so suspicious right now.”

“You’re paranoid.”

“You’re hiding the phone like somebody named… Marcus is confessing his love to you.”

The fact that he picked a random name so confidently almost made you choke.

“…Marcus?”you tapped your finger on your chin,“I don’t think know any Marcus.”

“Mhm.”

“I don’t!”

“You hesitated.”

“Because you said it weird!”

Jaafar shook his head slowly, trying not to smile now despite himself.

“You know what’s crazy?”

“What?”

“If I was acting like this, you would absolutely think something was up.”

“That is not true.”

“Oh for real? you’d be interrogating me immediately.”

“I would not.”

“You literally once asked who a girl was because she liked my Instagram story.”

“She had weird vibes.”

Jaafar burst out laughing.

“She had weird vibes from liking a story?”

“Yes.”

“That’s insane.”

You crossed your arms stubbornly while fighting a smile.

The tension finally softened slightly between you both, though he still kept glancing toward your phone every time it vibrated.

Which it continued doing relentlessly.

Jaafar pulled into your shared apartment garage a few minutes later, parking carefully before turning the engine off.

The silence afterward felt louder somehow.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Jaafar looked at you slowly.

“You gotta be kidding me.”

You immediately bit your lip to stop yourself from laughing.

He leaned back against the seat.

“Alright. Real question.”

“What?”

“Am I supposed to be concerned right now?”

The genuine curiosity in his voice nearly ruined the prank for you.

“A little,” you teased.

His eyebrows lifted instantly.

“A little?”

You started laughing immediately after saying it.

Jaafar groaned dramatically, dropping his head back against the headrest,“Oh my God.”

You were fully cracking now, shoulders shaking while trying unsuccessfully to contain it. His eyes narrowed again.

“Wait.”

That tone.

You laughed harder.

“Y/N.”

The second he said your name like that, you completely lost composure.

Jaafar stared at you for another second before realization finally clicked across his face.

“No.”

You covered your mouth, laughing.

“No way.”

He looked around the car suspiciously.

“Are you filming something?”

That immediately sent you into louder laughter.

Jaafar spotted the hidden dashboard camera almost instantly afterward.

His mouth fell open.

“You are so annoying.”

You doubled over laughing while he pointed accusingly toward you.

“Nah, because I was actually sitting here trying to act calm.”

“You were jealous!”

“I was not jealous.”

“You thought I had a secret boyfriend named Marcus.”

“Because you were moving shady!”

You reached over, still laughing, grabbing his sleeve.

“The texts were fake.”

“I figured that out eventually.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Yes, I did.”

“You absolutely did not.”

Jaafar shook his head, though he was laughing now too.

“I knew something was wrong when you started acting like a detective hiding classified information.”

You grinned proudly.

“So the prank worked.”

“Barely.”

“It worked.”

He sighed dramatically.

Jaafar looked at you quietly for a second afterward, amusement still lingering across his face.

Then he reached over suddenly, grabbing your phone from your hand before holding it above his head.

“Jaafar!”

“What? Privacy’s a human right, remember?”

“You’re literally stealing.”

“I’m investigating.”

You lunged toward him laughing while trying to grab the phone back, but he leaned away easily.

The confined space of the car made both of you dissolve into laughter almost immediately.

“Give it back!”

“Lemme see Marcus.”

“There is no Marcus!”

“That’s exactly what somebody cheating with Marcus would say.”

You shoved his shoulder lightly while laughing.

Jaafar finally handed the phone back, still smiling.

Then he leaned over suddenly and kissed you quickly before pulling away again.

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” he muttered.

You grinned triumphantly.

“So you were jealous.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Turn off the camera before I change my mind.”

the first time maddie made you feel unwanted, you were seventeen and standing in jermaine’s kitchen holding a plate of food while jaafar argued with jermajesty over music playing through somebody’s speaker.

it had been normal before she got there.

that was the thing that bothered you the most when you looked back on it years later. nothing about your friendship with jaafar had ever felt complicated until maddie started showing up beside him.

you and jaafar had grown up attached at the hip. the jackson house practically raised you alongside him. jermaine used to yell at both of you for running through the halls too loudly. jermajesty followed you around like an annoying little shadow because he thought you were cooler than everybody else. prince jackson treated you like another cousin. everybody did.

you belonged there.

and maddie noticed that immediately.

you still remembered the first time she looked at you too long.

you had walked into the kitchen laughing about something stupid jaafar said in the car. he had his arm around your shoulders for maybe two seconds before letting go to grab a drink from the fridge.

maddie watched the entire thing silently.

then she smiled.

“you two are really close,” she said casually.

jaafar nodded without thinking twice. “that’s my best friend.”

something flickered across her face for half a second before she laughed softly. “that’s cute.”

you ignored the weird feeling in your stomach.

you shouldn’t have.

because after that, things started changing little by little.

at first it was comments.

small ones.

easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention.

“you and y/n spend a lot of time together,” maddie had said one day while everybody sat in the living room.

jaafar shrugged from beside her. “yeah. we always have.”

maddie smiled at you. “i don’t think i could date somebody with a girl best friend like that.”

the room got awkward for exactly three seconds before jermajesty changed the subject loudly on purpose.

you pretended not to notice.

then came the slick stuff.

the kind of things that sounded innocent until they kept happening over and over.

one night you showed up to one of jaafar’s performances because he specifically texted you asking if you were coming. when you got there, maddie looked surprised to see you.

“oh,” she said. “i didn’t know you were invited.”

you blinked. “jaafar asked me to come.”

“really?” she replied, eyebrows lifting slightly. “that’s weird. he told me it was mostly family tonight.”

you stood there awkwardly while she smiled politely at you like she had not just made you feel stupid.

later that night, jaafar found you sitting near the back.

“why are you all the way over here?” he asked.

you shrugged. “didn’t wanna get in the way.”

he frowned. “you’re never in the way.”

maddie walked over before you could answer.

she slid her arm around his waist naturally and smiled at you. “we’re about to leave soon.”

you looked at jaafar. “oh. okay.”

he looked confused. “you don’t have to go.”

“i should,” you said quietly.

maddie smiled again.

that smile made you want to leave even faster.

another time, jermaine invited you over for dinner while jaafar and maddie were there. you ended up sitting beside jaafar automatically because that was where you always sat.

maddie looked at the chair between you and smiled sweetly.

“actually, y/n, can you switch with me?” she asked. “i barely got to see him all day.”

you immediately stood up because saying no would’ve made you look dramatic.

jaafar frowned slightly. “you were just with me.”

maddie laughed softly. “and now i wanna sit next to my boyfriend.”

everybody at the table got quiet for a second.

jermajesty rolled his eyes so hard you thought they might stick.

you moved anyway.

after that, you started avoiding situations where you’d have to compete for space you used to have naturally.

you stopped calling jaafar as much.

stopped showing up unexpectedly.

stopped texting first.

he noticed eventually.

one night your phone rang while you were in your apartment in seoul after practice.

jaafar.

you stared at the screen before answering.

“hello?”

“did i do something?” he asked immediately.

you froze. “what?”

“you’ve been weird with me for months.”

you leaned back against your couch quietly. “i haven’t been weird.”

“you barely talk to me anymore,” he replied. “you don’t come around.”

you closed your eyes for a second.

because how were you supposed to explain something he clearly didn’t see?

“you have your own life now,” you said carefully. “things change.”

“that’s not an answer,” he said.

you stayed quiet.

after a few seconds, he sighed softly. “did maddie say something to you?”

your stomach tightened.

“no,” you lied.

he was silent for a moment. “okay.”

you hated how disappointed he sounded.

but you hated how relieved you felt when the conversation ended too.

because distance was easier than feeling unwanted every time you walked into a room.

years passed like that.

not completely apart.

but different.

you still talked to jermajesty constantly. he’d facetime you randomly while you were backstage during tours just to annoy you. he’d send you clips of jaafar working on music without realizing how long you stared at them afterward.

the jacksons still treated you like family whenever you saw them.

but you and jaafar existed in this weird space where neither of you acknowledged how much had changed.

your solo career was doing better than ever. you had just finished promotions in korea and flew back to los angeles for a few weeks before your next schedule.

you were exhausted when your phone buzzed with an unknown number.

unknown number: answer your phone before i leak your middle school pictures.

you laughed immediately.

you: jermajesty if this is you i’m blocking you.

unknown number: wow. no hello or anything.

you shook your head smiling before sending another text.

you: why are you texting me off a fake number like a weirdo.

unknown number: because you ignore me on instagram.

you: because you’re annoying.

your phone rang immediately after.

you answered while walking into your kitchen. “what do you want?”

“wow,” jermajesty gasped dramatically. “that’s how you greet family?”

“you are not my family.”

“tell jermaine that,” he replied instantly. “he literally asked where you’ve been yesterday.”

that made something in your chest ache unexpectedly.

you opened your fridge quietly. “i’ve been busy.”

“you’ve been hiding,” jermajesty corrected.

you rolled your eyes. “you’re dramatic.”

“and you disappeared.”

there was a pause.

then he sighed. “just come over.”

“jermajesty.”

“come over,” he repeated. “dad misses you. prince keeps asking why you act like you moved to mars. and honestly the house is boring.”

you laughed softly despite yourself.

“i’ll think about it.”

“that means yes.”

“that means maybe.”

he groaned loudly before hanging up.

two days later, you were standing outside the jackson house again for the first time in months.

your stomach twisted nervously before you even knocked.

the door swung open before you could.

jermajesty pointed at you dramatically. “look who finally remembered us.”

you shoved his shoulder lightly. “shut up.”

he hugged you immediately anyway.

walking inside felt weirdly emotional.

everything smelled the same.

the furniture was mostly the same.

music still played somewhere in the background.

it felt like stepping back into a memory you’d spent years trying not to touch too much.

“y/n?”

you looked up at jermaine walking into the room.

his entire face lit up immediately.

“there she is,” he said loudly.

before you could react, he pulled you into a hug.

“you forgot about us?” he asked.

you laughed softly into the hug. “never.”

“that’s what happens when y’all get famous,” he muttered teasingly.

“you raised me around performers. this is your fault.”

he laughed loudly at that.

then your eyes lifted.

and there he was.

jaafar stood near the hallway staring at you like he wasn’t expecting to feel whatever he was feeling right now.

you froze for half a second.

he looked older than the last time you really looked at him. broader shoulders. sharper jaw.

but his eyes looked exactly the same.

“hey,” he said quietly.

“hey.”

jermajesty looked between both of you and made a face. “okay. this is painful.”

you laughed awkwardly while jaafar shook his head.

then maddie appeared behind him.

and instantly the air changed.

“oh,” she said smoothly. “i didn’t know y/n was coming.”

jermajesty answered before anybody else could.

“because it was a surprise.”

maddie smiled at him tightly before looking back at you.

“you look good,” she said.

“thanks,” you replied politely.

she nodded slowly. “korea’s been treating you well.”

there was something weird under the compliment. you recognized it immediately because she’d always spoken to you like that.

sweet enough that nobody else noticed anything wrong.

sharp enough that you always did.

dinner that night felt strange at first.

not bad.

just unfamiliar.

you sat beside jermajesty while prince showed you videos on his phone and jermaine kept asking about your music.

jaafar mostly listened quietly, but every now and then you’d catch him looking at you.

really looking at you.

like he was trying to figure out where exactly things went wrong between you two.

maddie noticed every single time.

at one point, jermaine got up to grab drinks.

“y/n still hates sparkling water?” he asked from the kitchen.

“yes,” jaafar answered immediately before you could.

everybody at the table looked at him.

he blinked like he hadn’t realized how automatic that response was.

maddie smiled slowly. “wow. you remember that?”

jaafar frowned slightly. “yeah?”

“interesting,” she murmured quietly.

you suddenly wanted to disappear.

after dinner, you ended up outside near the pool trying to breathe for a second.

the back door slid open behind you.

“you still do that.”

you turned to see jaafar stepping outside.

“do what?”

“leave parties when you get overwhelmed.”

you laughed softly. “i didn’t know you noticed.”

he looked at you for a second. “i notice a lot more than you think.”

that made your chest tighten annoyingly.

he leaned against the railing beside you. “you really disappeared.”

you stared down at the water quietly. “you were busy.”

“that’s not an answer either.”

you smiled faintly. “you still hate vague answers.”

“because you only give them when something’s wrong.”

there was a long silence after that.

then he looked over at you carefully.

“did maddie make you uncomfortable?”

your heart jumped.

“why would you ask that?”

“because every time she’s around, you leave.”

you laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “maybe i just didn’t fit anymore.”

his expression shifted immediately.

“you’ve always fit here.”

you looked at him finally.

“not everybody thought so.”

he stared at you for a second like something was clicking into place too slowly.

before he could say anything else, the back door opened again.

maddie.

“there you are,” she said to jaafar. “i’ve been looking for you.”

her eyes flicked toward you briefly.

you immediately stepped back. “i was just heading inside.”

“you don’t have to leave,” jaafar said quickly.

“i’m fine,” you replied.

maddie smiled politely as you walked past her.

but right before you reached the door, she spoke softly enough that only you could hear.

“you know, it’s probably healthier not to cling to childhood friendships forever.”

you stopped for half a second.

then kept walking.

because if you stayed, you were genuinely afraid you’d say something ugly.

after that night, you expected things to go back to normal.

they didn’t.

jaafar texted you the next morning, off of instagram.

jaafar: did you get home okay?

you stared at the message longer than necessary.

you: yeah.

a few seconds later another message came.

jaafar: can i have your actual number again.

you blinked.

you: you lost it?

jaafar: maddie changed my phone a while ago and a bunch of.

you didn’t know why that bothered you.

still, you sent it.

you: don’t lose it again.

jaafar: i won’t.

and somehow that tiny conversation turned into another one.

then another.

then another.

soon you were texting him almost every day.

sometimes about stupid things.

sometimes about music.

sometimes about memories neither of you realized you both still carried around.

he’d send you clips of songs he was working on at two in the morning.

you’d send him pictures from backstage during schedules in tokyo or seoul.

you became best friends again so naturally it almost scared you.

maddie noticed immediately.

one night you were facetiming jaafar while he sat in his studio.

“you still have that hoodie?” he asked laughing after seeing you wearing an old sweatshirt.

you looked down. “this is literally yours.”

“i know,” he said smiling.

another voice suddenly came from somewhere off camera.

“whose hoodie?”

maddie.

jaafar looked away from the screen briefly. “y/n stole it years ago.”

maddie appeared beside him moments later.

“oh,” she said.

you smiled politely. “hi.”

“hi,” she replied.

the silence afterward felt awful.

then maddie looked at jaafar. “can i talk to you for a second?”

his expression shifted slightly. “right now?”

“yes.”

you immediately shook your head. “it’s okay. i should sleep anyway.”

jaafar frowned. “you don’t have to hang up.”

“i’m tired,” you lied.

maddie smiled softly. “goodnight, y/n.”

you hung up before answering.

the next day, jaafar texted you apologizing.

you pretended it didn’t bother you.

but it did.

still, no matter how awkward things got, you kept getting pulled back toward him anyway.

because when it was just you and jaafar talking, everything felt easy again.

like before.

like home.

your birthday came up three months later.

you barely planned anything because your schedule was insane.

which was exactly why jermajesty managed to trick you so easily.

“dad wants you over,” he texted. “something about dinner.”

you sighed while grabbing your keys.

you should’ve known something was suspicious when jermajesty sounded way too excited on facetime earlier.

still, you drove over.

when you walked inside, the lights were off.

“hello?” you called.

then suddenly the entire room exploded with yelling.

“surprise!”

you jumped so hard you nearly dropped your bag.

the lights flicked on.

the jackson house was packed.

music blasted through speakers. balloons covered half the living room. jermaine stood near the kitchen grinning proudly while prince laughed at your shocked expression.

jermajesty literally doubled over laughing.

“your face!” he shouted.

you stared around the room completely stunned. “what is happening?”

“your birthday party,” prince answered obviously.

“i didn’t ask for this!”

“good thing nobody cared,” jermajesty replied.

you laughed helplessly while everybody crowded around hugging you.

then your eyes found jaafar standing near the hallway.

he looked nervous.

which instantly made your stomach flip.

you walked over slowly. “you did this?”

he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “maybe.”

“jaafar.”

“you never celebrate yourself,” he said quietly. “so i wanted to.”

something in your chest softened immediately.

before you could answer, jermaine wrapped an arm around your shoulders dramatically.

“this girl practically grew up in this house,” he announced loudly to everybody nearby. “of course we’re celebrating her.”

you laughed while prince pointed toward the cake.

“jermajesty almost ruined the surprise three times,” prince exposed.

“snitch,” jermajesty muttered.

the entire night felt warm in a way you hadn’t realized you missed.

you sat in the kitchen with jermaine listening to old stories about you and jaafar as kids. prince kept making fun of your old hairstyles. jermajesty followed you around annoying you every five seconds.

and jaafar stayed close the entire night without making it obvious.

maddie noticed all of it.

you saw it in the way she kept watching.

the way her smile kept getting tighter.

the breaking point happened when jermaine pulled you into a family picture.

“come here,” he said.

you laughed. “i’m not in this.”

“yes you are,” jermaine argued immediately.

jermajesty grabbed your wrist dramatically and dragged you beside him while prince laughed.

jaafar ended up standing next to you naturally.

maddie stared at the entire thing silently.

the flash went off.

then another.

and another.

you didn’t realize maddie had walked away until later.

jaafar noticed first.

he found her outside near the driveway while everybody else stayed inside.

“what’s wrong?” he asked.

maddie laughed quietly like she couldn’t believe he was asking.

“seriously?”

he frowned. “what?”

“you’re asking me what’s wrong after tonight?”

his expression hardened slightly. “maddie.”

“everybody treats her like she belongs to you,” she snapped suddenly. “your family acts like she’s already part of everything.”

“because she grew up with us.”

“and you’re emotionally attached to her in a way that’s weird.”

jaafar stared at her. “what?”

“you look at her differently,” maddie said quietly. “you always have.”

he opened his mouth immediately. “that’s not true.”

but the hesitation before he answered ruined everything.

maddie saw it too.

her face fell slightly before she laughed bitterly.

“wow.”

“maddie.”

“i’m not doing this,” she said shaking her head. “i’m not gonna marry somebody who’s in love with someone else and pretending he doesn’t know it yet.”

his entire face changed.

because for the first time, he couldn’t immediately deny it.

maddie looked at him for another second before stepping back.

“you should figure your feelings out,” she said quietly.

then she left.

inside, you had no idea what happened.

you were sitting on the kitchen counter eating cake with jermajesty bothering you when jaafar walked back inside.

one look at his face made your stomach drop.

“what happened?” you asked softly.

he looked at you for a second too long.

then away.

“maddie left.”

everything suddenly felt wrong.

the party ended not long after that.

you stayed behind helping clean while everybody else slowly headed home.

jaafar barely spoke.

jermajesty kept looking between both of you nervously.

finally, when everybody else disappeared upstairs, you found jaafar outside near the pool again.

full circle.

you stepped closer carefully. “you okay?”

he laughed quietly without humor. “not really.”

you leaned against the railing beside him silently.

after a long pause, he spoke.

“she broke up with me.”

your chest tightened immediately. “because of me?”

he looked over at you slowly.

“because she thought something was going on between us.”

“there isn’t,” you said quickly.

another silence.

then he looked away again.

“that’s the problem,” he muttered.

your heartbeat sped up instantly.

“jaafar.”

he rubbed his face tiredly before looking at you again.

“i spent years thinking i was imagining it,” he admitted quietly. “every time you pulled away from me, it bothered me more than it should’ve.”

you stared at him silently.

“when you stopped showing up, the house felt wrong,” he continued softly. “when you started talking to me again, everything felt normal again.”

your throat tightened.

he stepped closer slowly.

“and tonight when she left, the first person i wanted to find was you.”

you could barely breathe suddenly.

“jaafar…”

“i know the timing’s messy,” he interrupted quietly. “i know it probably makes me an asshole. but i can’t stand here pretending anymore.”

you looked at him for a long second.

then finally whispered, “i used to think you stopped caring about me.”

his expression broke instantly.

“never.”

that answer came too fast to be fake.

his hand moved carefully against your face like he was scared you’d disappear again.

you didn’t pull away.

and when he kissed you, it felt years overdue.

slow at first.

careful.

then real.

your hand grabbed the front of his jacket automatically while he pulled you closer.

when he finally pulled back, both of you stayed there breathing the same air for a second.

then he laughed softly against your forehead.

“i really should’ve figured this out sooner.”

you smiled a little. “yeah. probably.”

The argument started over something stupid.

At least, that’s what Kwon Ohyul said.

“You always say that after you hurt my feelings,” you snapped, standing in the middle of your apartment with your arms crossed tightly over your chest.

Ohyul ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Because you drag things out.”

“Oh my God.”

“There you go again—”

“No, because you don’t listen,” you cut him off. “You hear one thing and immediately get defensive.”

His jaw tightened.

The apartment suddenly felt too small. Too warm. Too loud.

You hated arguing with him because Ohyul wasn’t the type to yell constantly. He got quiet first. Sharp second.

And somehow that was worse.

“I’m not doing this right now,” he muttered.

“Then when? Since you love avoiding things so much.”

That hit.

You knew it did from the way his expression changed instantly.

“Oh, okay,” he laughed dryly. “That’s what we’re doing now?”

You looked away first.

Wrong move.

Because now both of you were angry enough to keep going.

“You know what?” he said, grabbing his hoodie from the couch. “Forget it.”

Your stomach dropped slightly. “Ohyul—”

But he was already heading toward the door.

“You’re really leaving?”

“I need space.”

“And I don’t?” you shot back.

He stopped for half a second.

Just enough to make you think he’d turn around.

He didn’t.

The door slammed hard enough to rattle the picture frames on your wall.

And then he was gone.

At first, you were still angry.

You texted him anyway.

Are you serious right now?

No response.

Ohyul.

Nothing.

You called once.

Then twice.

Straight to voicemail.

That only made you angrier.

So you stopped.

No more texts.

No more calls.

No more checking his location.

Nothing.

If he wanted space so badly, he could have it.

Meanwhile, Ohyul was losing his mind.

At first, he ignored his phone on purpose. Pride. Anger. Stubbornness.

But after an hour passed…

Then two…

Then the entire night…

His irritation slowly turned into anxiety.

Because you always texted back.

Even when you were furious.

Especially when you were furious.

By the next afternoon, he was staring at his phone during practice while Woojin talked about choreography changes.

“You’re distracted,” Woojin said.

“I’m fine.”

“You’ve checked your messages like thirty times.”

Louis looked up from the floor immediately. “Did she stop texting you?”

Ohyul glared.

“Oh my God,” Louis whispered dramatically. “She did.”

Ryul nearly choked laughing.

“She’s mad mad,” Woojin added.

Ohyul shoved his phone into his pocket. “Can all of you shut up?”

That confirmed it.

“Oh, he’s overly upset,” Ryul said.

Normally Ohyul would’ve snapped back.

Instead, he stood up suddenly and grabbed his bag.

Woojin blinked. “Where are you going?”

Ohyul was already heading for the door.

“To fix it.”

When your apartment door knocked later that night, you already knew who it was.

You considered ignoring it.

Really considered it.

Then came another knock.

Softer this time.

“…Baby.”

Your chest tightened immediately.

You opened the door just enough to glare at him.

Ohyul looked exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

His hoodie was wrinkled, his hair messy from running his hands through it too much, and the second he saw your face, his shoulders relaxed slightly like he’d been worried you wouldn’t answer.

“You ignored me,” you said flatly.

“I know.”

“You left.”

“I know.”

“You slammed my door.”

“That was accidental.”

You stared.

“…Okay maybe not accidental.”

You tried not to laugh.

Tried.

Ohyul noticed instantly.

“Please don’t be cute right now,” you muttered.

His lips twitched. “So you still think I’m cute.”

“You’re annoying.”

“I’m sorry.”

That made the teasing disappear completely.

He stepped closer carefully, like he thought you might shut the door in his face.

“I’m serious,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have walked out like that.”

Your expression softened a little despite yourself.

“Ohyul—”

“No, let me finish,” he interrupted gently. “I was frustrated, and instead of talking to you, I left. Then I ignored you because I was being stubborn.”

“You were.”

“I know.”

“And childish.”

“That too.”

You crossed your arms again, but there wasn’t much heat behind it anymore.

Ohyul looked at you for a second before speaking again.

“When you stopped texting me back…” he admitted softly, “I got scared.”

That got you.

Completely.

Because Ohyul rarely admitted things like that out loud.

You sighed dramatically. “You’re lucky I love you.”

His entire face softened instantly. “So you forgive me?”

You thought for a moment.

“…Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“You need to earn it.”

“Oh my God,” he groaned quietly. “What do you want?”

A slow smile spread across your face.

“You’re doing skincare with me.”

Ohyul blinked.

“…That’s it?”

“That’s the condition.”

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You’re plotting something.”

“I’m always plotting something.”

Ten minutes later, Ohyul was sitting on the edge of your bed while you organized products beside him.

He looked deeply offended by the fluffy headband you’d shoved onto his head.

“This is humiliating.”

“You look adorable.”

“I look ridiculous.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“Baby,” he deadpanned, “there are unicorns on this headband.”

You burst out laughing.

And honestly?

That alone made him feel better.

The tension from earlier had almost completely disappeared.

Almost.

“Come here,” he said, pulling you into his lap naturally.

Ohyul’s hands immediately settled on your waist like muscle memory.

“There,” you murmured. “Now stay still.”

“You’re very bossy.”

“And you’re lucky you’re pretty.”

He grinned lazily. “You missed me.”

“Barely.”

“You stopped texting my texts.”

“Because you were ignoring me.”

“I was suffering.”

“You were at practice.”

“I suffered there too.”

You rolled your eyes, squirting cleanser into your hands.

The second your fingers touched his face, Ohyul went quiet.

Not because he disliked it.

The opposite.

His eyes stayed fixed on yours while you gently rubbed cleanser across his skin.

“What?” you asked.

“You’re cute when you’re focused.”

“Stop flirting.”

“No.”

You tried ignoring him.

That lasted maybe thirty seconds before he leaned forward and kissed your cheek.

“Oh my God,” you laughed. “Sit still.”

“I am sitting still.”

“You just moved.”

“Technically my lips moved.”

You snorted.

Then he kissed your jaw.

Then your cheek again.

Then the corner of your mouth.

“Ohyul.”

“Hm?”

“You’re distracting.”

“You like it.”

Unfortunately, he was right.

You continued your routine anyway, trying to stay focused while he kept pressing soft kisses anywhere he could reach.

Cheek.

Temple.

Shoulder.

Your neck for half a second before you shoved his face away laughing.

“Behave.”

“I am behaving.”

“You’re literally not.”

Ohyul smiled against your skin, arms tightening around your waist.

“I missed you,” he admitted quietly this time.

That softened you immediately.

You put the moisturizer down for a second and touched his face gently.

“I missed you too.”

His expression changed completely at that.

Less teasing.

More vulnerable.

Then, because he was still Ohyul, he ruined the moment by kissing you again.

Longer this time.

Slow enough to make your brain stop working for a second.

When he finally pulled back, you stared at him.

“…I still have serum left.”

“So finish later.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you love me anyway.”

You sighed dramatically before grabbing the serum bottle again.

“Yeah,” you muttered, climbing back into place on his lap. “Unfortunately.”

TAGLIST: @lovelynyah @hoonksl @ccarline @enha4ria @ludmiig @riddlessecretss @rickyshensgirlfriend @aquariusscollection

Ryul first noticed you the way most problems start—quietly, and way too early to stop it.

You were adjusting the hem of Woojin’s stage jacket, crouched slightly in the practice room with a tape measure hanging around your neck and a pin cushion strapped to your wrist. The LNGSHOT members were scattered around the room, half-dressed in rehearsal outfits, half-dead from exhaustion.

“Don’t move,” you said softly, tightening the fit at Woojin’s waist.

“I’m not moving,” Woojin muttered, though he absolutely was.

From the corner of the room, Ryul watched.

He told himself it was normal. Stylists came and went. You were just part of the job.

But then you looked up.

“Ryul,” you called without hesitation, like you already knew he was staring. “Come here.”

He blinked once. Then pointed at himself. “Me?”

“Yes. You. I need to fix your sleeve length.”

That was the first mistake.

Because the moment Ryul walked over and stood in front of you, he realized two things:

One, you were slightly older than him.

Two, he didn’t care.

“You’re tense,” you said, tugging lightly at his sleeve.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m always like this.”

You hummed like you didn’t believe him, then pinned the fabric with practiced hands. “Hold still, Ryul.”

His name sounded different when you said it. Not like staff. Not like CEO supervision. Not like the way managers bark it across hallways.

Just… you.

“Noona,” he said suddenly.

Your hands paused for half a second. “Don’t start.”

“What? It’s respectful.”

“It’s unnecessary.”

“It’s accurate,” he added, leaning slightly closer like he was testing boundaries he wasn’t supposed to know existed.

You immediately straightened and stepped back. “You’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“The flirting thing.”

Ryul smiled like he had been accused of something he didn’t plan on stopping. “I’m not flirting.”

“Oh?”

“I’m just talking.”

Woojin, sitting nearby, coughed loudly into his fist. “He’s definitely flirting.”

Ryul didn’t even look at him. “No one asked you.”

From across the room, Ohyul laughed under his breath, arms crossed as he leaned against the mirror. Louis was sitting on the floor scrolling his phone, barely looking up but clearly listening to everything.

“Oh no,” Louis muttered. “Ryul’s in one of those moods again.”

“I’m always in a normal mood,” Ryul said.

You adjusted Woojin’s collar again, trying to ignore him. “Focus. You all have a schedule in twenty minutes.”

Ryul leaned slightly closer anyway. “Noona, you’re kind of scary when you’re serious.”

“I’m not scary.”

“You are when you pretend I don’t have a heartbeat.”

That got silence.

Woojin turned slowly. Ohyul raised an eyebrow. Even Louis looked up now.

You didn’t.

Instead, you flicked Ryul’s forehead lightly with the back of your fingers. “Stop talking.”

Ryul laughed.

And that was when it started getting worse.

After that day, he never stopped calling you noona.

Not because you liked it.

Because you clearly didn’t.

And Ryul had decided that was his favorite reaction.

Every morning, he showed up earlier just to “accidentally” be in the fitting room when you arrived.

“Noona, you’re late,” he’d say, even when you were on time.

“You’re early.”

“I missed you.”

“Ryul.”

He’d grin every time you said his name like that.

Woojin started calling it “Ryul’s disease.”

Ohyul called it “embarrassing.”

Louis called it “unhinged behavior,” which for a 16-year-old was saying something.

Jay Park, the CEO of their company—Jay Park—called it into a meeting.

And that was where things got interesting.

The conference room was too clean. Too quiet.

You stood near the side with a tablet in your hands while LNGSHOT sat across from you in a straight line like they were about to get graded.

Ryul looked completely unbothered.

Woojin looked tired.

Ohyul looked like he already knew this was going to be his problem.

Louis looked like he wanted to leave the country.

And Jay Park sat at the head of the table, calm but sharp-eyed.

“So,” Jay said, flipping through a report. “I’ve been hearing something interesting.”

Ryul raised a hand immediately.

“Yes?”

“I think it’s about me.”

“No,” Jay said flatly.

Ryul lowered his hand.

Jay continued, “I’ve been hearing that one of you is making rehearsal environments… distracting.”

Silence.

You immediately looked down at your tablet.

Ryul leaned slightly back in his chair. “That’s vague.”

Jay looked up. “It’s not vague.”

Ohyul sighed quietly. “It’s Ryul.”

“It’s always Ryul,” Woojin added.

Ryul put a hand over his chest. “I feel attacked.”

Jay’s gaze shifted slowly to him. “You’re the one calling the stylist noona every five seconds during work hours.”

You nearly choked.

“I call everyone noona,” Ryul said smoothly.

“You call her noona with intention,” Jay corrected.

Ryul blinked once. Then smiled. “Is that illegal?”

Jay didn’t respond immediately.

You could feel your face getting warmer.

This was your job. Not your personal life. Not something that needed… attention.

Jay finally leaned back in his chair. “I don’t care what you do outside of work hours.”

Ryul perked up slightly.

“But,” Jay added, “inside this company, you are not here to make people uncomfortable. You understand me?”

Ryul tilted his head. “She doesn’t look uncomfortable.”

Every head in the room turned to you.

Traitorously, you said nothing.

Jay sighed.

Woojin muttered, “We’re all doomed.”

Louis whispered, “I’m going to debut and disappear.”

Ohyul looked at Ryul like he wanted to physically reset him.