xo

Jungwon shuddered. It was the middle of summer. Even when it was late in the depths of night, beads of cold sweat managed to find their way back onto Jungwon’s neck. Sitting up on his bed, his knees pressed against his chest, Jungwon’s heart pounded in his ribcage, so loud that he could hear it in his ears, yet his fear was so quiet in his heart.

His eyes flickered around his dark bedroom. He needed to call you, he thought. Images of your dying face, choked sobs, and teary voice flooded his memory. It made Jungwon’s eyes line with hot tears, as they always did whenever this nightmare returned to him. He needed to call you, to make sure that you were okay, that his greatest fears hadn’t come true.

Jungwon's hand, still trembling, reached out for his bedside table. If he ignored the empty coffee cups cluttered on it, or the way he had hundreds of ignored messages and call notifications, he would have slowed down. And just as he searched up your name in his contacts, his shaking fingers about to call you, he stopped.

Oh right. He’s not with you anymore.

6 months is a long time.  Apparently not long enough for Jungwon to forget his feelings for you.

If his chest wasn’t already aching, it was now. It was him that broke up with you.  It was him that chose to break your heart. It was him that chose to leave you crumbling to your knees, tears spilling from your eyes as you silently begged him to stay.

And maybe that was his biggest regret.

Jungwon stared at his hands. He gazed each callous on his palm, every single scar and scratch still evident on his skin. His eyes glazed over the black spider-like veins on his wrists.

No, there was no time to mull over you. Not when there was an imminent threat in this city. Slapping his cheeks awake, Jungwon huffed before climbing out of bed. There was no way he would be able to fall asleep anyway. He might as well distract himself with something productive. Start early.

His eyes fluttered back to his moonlit window. Ah, fuck it.

Jungwon had a secret.

A secret that he kept guarded day in and day out, like his life depended on it. And the truth was, his life did depend on it.

Ignoring the way the red and blue spandex felt particularly uncomfortable as it stuck to his still-sweaty skin, Jungwon shot a sticky white web at a building. He gazed at the web that had ejected from his wrist, before peering over the ledge. In this busy city, it seemed like no road was ever going to be completely empty, not even in the depths of night. There were still people roaming the streets, noisy cars honking at one another with their tires screeching.

You hated heights, was the resounding thought that clouded his head as he looked down to the city below him. Once again, Jungwon's heart tightened in his chest, and he shook his head.

He needed to stop thinking about you. You probably already stopped caring about him anyway. You're a pretty girl, even before you and him broke up there was already a line of guys waiting for you to be single. Jungwon wouldn't be surprised if a girl like you already found someone else.

Someone better. Someone that wasn't a damn coward like Jungwon was.

Jungwon let his eyes fall shut, relishing in the way that the cool summer night air brushed against him. It's hard. To let you go, to accept that what once was his could be someone else's.

He looked back down to his gloved hands, the same hands that have been fighting crime for the past 6 months, the same hands that were responsible for the safety of this city, the same hands that touched your pretty face, the same hands that have brought criminals to justice.

It was all blurring together. Jungwon dug his teeth into his bottom lip. He needed to let you go, before his mind devoured him. He needed to let you go, before his identity as Spider-Man, the number one crime-fighter in this city, gets inevitably revealed, and he has to witness you die for the hundredth time. But for real this time.

"Damn, you look like shit."

Jungwon rolled his eyes at his friend's comment, sighing loudly as he flipped through the pages of his textbook. "Didn't get much sleep last night."

Look, Jungwon is a college student. Although his Spider-Man gig was pretty good at paying him, he wanted to contribute to his community in another way. Like through tutoring the local kids.

"Why are you even studying basic elementary algebra?— you're a film major!" Jungwon's good friend Sunghoon Park was a great guy. A little rambunctious, but still a good friend. But not right now.

Jungwon had agreed to have a quote un-quote "study date" with Sunghoon at the coffee shop below Jungwon's apartment complex. Jungwon was a little proud that his friend suddenly wanted to study with him (such intellectual vitality!), but seeing as all Sunghoon has been doing for the past 30 minutes is scrolling on his phone and looking around conspicuously tells Jungwon otherwise. Sunghoon didn't even order a coffee or soak in the scent of warm coffee beans in the coffee shop. He just sat there.

Jungwon shot a look at Sunghoon. "This kid that I'm tutoring, apparently he's not very good at math."

Sunghoon nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as his thick brows quivered.

"Okay..." he said slowly, his vowels drawing out. "But why do you need to study for it? Don't you like—" the man made a face— "Already know how to do basic math?"

Jungwon opened his mouth to explain that he's not necessarily trying to review elementary math, but moreso trying to figure how to teach it, but he was cut off by Sunghoon's continued rambling.

"—Like shouldn't you know how to add apples? Like if Sally has 2 apples and she gets 3 more, how many does she..." Sunghoon trailed off when he saw Jungwon's completely vacant, unamused expression. Jungwon clicked his tongue, going back to his very informative reading. However, he could practically feel Sunghoon staring at him, to the point that it felt like he was burning holes into Jungwon's person.

Jungwon let out another annoyed sigh. When he looked up to Sunghoon very obviously staring at him, his friend comically looked away. As if Sunghoon was fooling anyone.

"Do I have three heads?" Jungwon asked bluntly.

"What?"

Jungwon huffed, leaning back in his seat. "You keep looking at me. What is it?"

Sunghoon blinked. Jungwon watched as his older friend's Adam's apple bobbed. The once relaxed, though awkward, expression on Sunghoon's face wiped almost immediately, being replaced with a deeply uncomfortable and uneasy one. He squirmed in his seat, his dark eyes darting around the coffee shop in silence.

"Are you okay?"

But instead of answering, Sunghoon just shoved his face into his hands, muttering something under his breath that Jungwon couldn't make out.

Finally, Sunghoon finished his mini-mental breakdown and looked at Jungwon. Somehow, in the span of a few minutes Sunghoon went from looking perfectly fine to looking like he just went through hell.

"Jungwon." Sunghoon finally said, his voice solemn. Which was weird, because when is Sunghoon ever serious? To add to Jungwon's bewilderment, Sunghoon reached across the table, taking hold of Jungwon's hands. His expression was so comically somber that Jungwon thought he was joking. "I have something to tell you."

Jungwon rolled his eyes, the corners of his lips lifting. "Yeah, yeah, get on with your little bit—"

"I"m serious." Sunghoon looked around again, as if he was making sure that no one was listening. He leaned in closer to Jungwon, his voice dropping to as low as a whisper. "It's serious."

Jungwon's brows knitted together, his expression pinching in pure confusion. "What are you talking abou—"

Sunghoon squeezed Jungwon's hand from across the table. His friend took a deep breath, before earnestly facing Jungwon. "What I'm about to tell you, you didn't hear it from me."

"Just—" Jungwon's scowl deepened. "Just tell me already, dude!"

Usually Sunghoon would react, but he just shook his head solemnly. Sunghoon took another deep breath, before he opened his mouth and let words tumble out: "She has a blind date. This weekend."

Jungwon blinked slowly. "Um. Who?"

Sunghoon looked like he was going to shit himself. "You know...."

Jungwon didn't know. Jungwon literally does not talk to anyone except a select few of his friends. And none of them are girls. "I don't, though...?"

Sunghoon sucked in another sharp breath, his tongue darting out to swipe over his bottom lip. "Your... Your girl."

Oh. Jungwon's heart sank to his stomach. That's not... what he expected. Not in the slightest. And the way that Sunghoon physically flinched as he revealed such information didn't make Jungwon feel any better.

"Who... told you that?"

Sunghoon pressed his lips together, forming a line as thin as paper. "You know my coworker? Wonyoung? She's [Name]'s good friend and she's been boasting how she hooked her up to this guy."

But Jungwon tuned Sunghoon out after that. Maybe if Jungwon had a better grip he would have calmly explained that you were not his anymore. It’s not like your breakup was a secret, and if there was anyone who had to bear witness to Jungwon's abject gloominess, it would be Sunghoon. Jungwon couldn't understand why his friends still referred to you as his, even when they were well-aware of the fact that you two were separated.

"C'mon, man, we all know you still want her," was a sentiment echoed by all of his friends.

And they were right. As if they could see through Jungwon's quiet exterior, his robotic composure so keen on hiding his true feelings.

Sunghoon's words fell upon deaf ears. If he did listen, he would hear Sunghoon pleading Jungwon to let go of this act, to stop putting up walls, to finally admit that he was wrecking himself from the inside out by continuing to act like he no longer cared for you.

Jungwon stared blankly at the coffee shop table. The pain in his chest no longer felt new. It felt more like a constant.

In his pencil case he still had the expensive mechanical pencil that you gifted him. Its silver ridges were practically molded to the curves of his fingers. The capsule of lead that came with the pencil only had a few pieces left. When he studied he still listened to the same songs that you introduced to him, the same songs that you and him kissed to as the two of you laid in his bed, and—

Jungwon thought he was okay. And for the first few weeks, he really was just fine. After all, he'd convinced himself that it was all for the better. But Jungwon knew that he'd break sooner or later. And it would be now.

It seemed like in every waking moment, you still managed to consume his thoughts.

All roads led back to you.

As Jungwon swung from building to building, he tried his best to clear his mind. As he always did.

After his little coffee chat (disaster?) with Sunghoon, Jungwon had excused himself to go to some "work." When really, he was just reporting for duty as Spider-Man. Feeling the wind against him as he swung around the city, the thrill of nearly flying through the air, was always useful whenever Jungwon had a lot on his mind. Like always, Jungwon checked his usual stops: banks, daycares, financial and business centers, just to make sure that no one was rumpling with civilians' safety.

Lately, it hasn't really been working. But what did he expect?

The bright summer sun, blaring its orange-yellow light, was now dipping into the horizon. The air smelled like gasoline and peaches, and yet, Jungwon couldn't even relish in the tranquility. Jungwon didn't know why he kept thinking about you. The thought of you going on a date at all with someone else made him feel sick to his stomach. His gut twisted as images of you laughing and smiling flashed through his mind. It hurt so bad, so damn bad.

A few more times of helping kids cross the road, or giving an elderly person some directions, and Jungwon felt like his legs were going to give out. Which was strange.

As Spider-Man, Jungwon was cursed with enhanced senses and incredible regeneration abilities. Ever since he got bitten by that spider, Jungwon never had to experience feeling physically worn out.

Not until right now. Jungwon slumped against the wall in the back alley, the cool stone pressing against his cheek. He looked down at his hands— was he sick? Losing his abilities? Seriously, what was wrong with him? His body was feeling uncharacteristically warm, like he was burning up from the inside. His eyelids felt heavy, while his legs felt like jelly.

And maybe Jungwon would have passed out in that alleyway if it weren't for the god-awful sound of his cellphone ringing.

Kriiiing! Kriiiing! Mindlessly, he picked up the call. "Hello?" Jungwon breathed, pushing nearly all of his body weight against the cold wall for support. He laid his head back, exhausted in ways that he couldn't explain.

A familiar voice greeted his ears. "Hey, it's Sunghoon."

Jungwon gritted his teeth. Not again. "I'm not interested—"

"Listen." Sunghoon said, his voice earnest. "I'm sorry about what I said today, but—"

Jungwon's lips pressed together. How shameful. It must be so shameful, the fact that everyone knew that Jungwon was suffering so much, that it was so obvious.

"—Me and the guys are going out this weekend," Sunghoon's gravelly voice said over the phone. "And we thought that you should really come with us."

Without even realizing it, Jungwon's breath got caught in his throat. He swallowed the lump, his voice coming out so much weaker than he wanted it to, "Like I said, I'm not interested—"

"Jungwon," Sunghoon pleaded. "You... You haven't been yourself lately. We know that you're struggling right now—we're worried about you. Please, just let us be there for you."

Jungwon felt so humiliated. Ashamed even, at the way Sunghoon's voice was filled with so much sympathy. So much pity.

Jungwon wanted to scream. He wanted to shout at Sunghoon and all of his friends for not minding their damn business, for treating him like he was some charity case.

But as Jungwon's eyes traced his shadow on the road, his phone to his ear, Jungwon wanted to shout at himself, for being so weak, for being a coward, for pushing people away, for having an ego so fragile that he felt threatened by his own friend caring about him.

How pathetic. And Jungwon has the gall to call himself a hero?

Jungwon clicked his tongue. "Okay, I'll be. there."

Jungwon wasn't stupid.

He knew exactly why his friends called him out tonight. It was to distract him from the fact that on this same night, you'd be going on your date.

The plan was to all meet up at Jake's apartment, and then go to the club from there. The moment that he arrived at Jake's apartment, he scurried to the bathroom.

Jungwon stared into Jake's bathroom mirror. The entire cramped bathroom smelled like strong fumes of manly cologne and hair spray. From inside, he could hear the muffled bantering of his friends, probably arguing about who would be driving.

His eyes glazed over the tight black compression shirt that clung to his chest, the dark-washed ripped jeans hanging from his hips. It's been a while since Jungwon utilized his pierced ears, and he figured that he'd put in some simple flat black studs before the piercings inevitably closed up. On his wrist, Jungwon had mindlessly slipped on the braided tassel bracelet that you made him; it was still hanging around his room, and he had forgotten that it was from you. Despite that, he didn't have the heart to take it off and shove into his pocket.

Jungwon couldn't recognize himself. It wasn't just the breakup that ruined him.

Sure, losing you was probably one of the greatest losses in his entire life, he was sure of that. But since then, Jungwon has also purposely distanced himself from his friends. He stopped responding to their messages and going to big group outings.

He could hear Jay's howling laughter and Jake's shouting, all sounds that should be completely familiar to him. And yet, there he was, feeling awkward.

He felt like staying in this bathroom until someone noticed that he was absent.

Click! But that wasn't what Spider-Man's do.

Jungwon cracked the bathroom door open, and the moment that he stepped into the hallway, revealing his blank expression, all of his friends whipped their heads. Jungwon could feel their eyes on him, staring at him like he was some anomaly, and for a second, he regretted even agreeing to hang out with them.

He hadn't seen these guys all together in so long. In fact, Jungwon hadn't been in a personal group setting for months now. He wasn't going to lie and say that showing his face to the friends that he strayed away from made him feel uneasy.

But almost immediately, his friends' faces cracked with large grins, whooping his name.

"Jungwon!" Jake delighted as Heeseung threw an arm around Jungwon's shoulder, pulling him snugly to the side of him.

Jay's sharp features morphed into a big, boyish smile, his lips forming a curve. Jay brought up a hand to dap Jungwon up, and Jungwon received it. "Hey, man."

Sunghoon followed behind him, his sharp canine teeth revealing as he chuckled. "Glad you could make it, Jungwon."

Jungwon felt unnatural. Out of place, like a fish out of water. When was the last time he was around people that enjoyed his presence? Other than the group of middle schoolers that cheered him on when he dashed through the air, or the middle aged women at the local library club that doted on him, Jungwon couldn't remember clearly.

For all the months that Jungwon tore himself away from his friends, he didn't know what was more surprising, that his friends still wanted something to do with him, or that nothing had changed while he was gone.

Sunoo's eyes still pressed into thin crescents as he threw his head back, laughing at something stupid Riki said. Heeseung still pulled Jungwon into a headlock, aggressively scruffling his head and ruining his hair despite Jungwon's complaints. Jake, Jay, and Sunghoon still liked to argue loudly, their voices reaching volumes so high that Jungwon was sure they'd get a noise complaint before even leaving.

And as Jay and Sunghoon wrestled, falling onto Jake's couch, the room erupted with the same familiar howling laughter and quips that Jungwon had forgotten how much he loved.

As Riki jumped in to join in the pseudo-wrestling match, Sunoo chanting "fight, fight, fight!," and Heeseung and Jake acting as refs, Jungwon gaped at the scene.

The boys that he's grown up with, the boys that had seen him grow from a wimpy little middle schooler into a strong adult, the boys that never failed to make him laugh— have stayed the exact same.

And for the first time in a while, Jungwon felt his lips lift up, soft giggles erupting from his chest as his eyes squeezed shut. It was such a foreign feeling, and an even more foreign sound.

His friends seemed to think the same. In an instant, the room fell silent. Once again, Jungwon felt all eyes on him.

But before Jungwon's mind could play tricks on him, Riki dashed over to him, throwing the older boy over his shoulder and throwing him on the couch.

"You son of bitch, Jungwon!" Riki laughed affectionately, beginning a tickling assault on him.

Once again, Jake's apartment was engulfed in chaos and laughter.

Well, after being tickled so hard that he almost started crying, as well as a well-deserved noise complaint from Jake's neighbors, Jungwon and his friends finally decided to go to the club. Which was their plan all along, but it wasn't any of their faults that messing around in Jake's home was more fun. And plus, Jungwon accidentally used too much of his spider abilities and body slammed Riki so hard that they all needed a momentary time-out to get Riki an ice pack for his head ("How the hell did you get so strong?!" was what Riki was more concerned about than the giant red mark on his forehead).

Bright strobing lights, the smell of sweaty bodies and alcohol, and the sound of techno music filled all of Jungwon's senses.

And with the encouragement of his rowdy, unruly friends, Jungwon sucked in sharp breath.

Fuck it.

Whatever worries he had now, or whoever was breaking his heart, he was going to forget it. He was going to pretend that it never existed, that it never hurt him, that he was okay.

Just for tonight, just for his friends.

"C'mon!" Jake pulled Jungwon by his arm to the bar. The older boy ordered the two of them a few shots. As they waited for the bartender to prepare their drinks, Jake and Jungwon sat on the barstools. In the corner of Jungwon's eyes, he could see his other friends fucking around like they always did.

"Would it hurt them to have some class?" Jungwon muttered playfully, unable to hide his amusement when Heeseung slipped and fell on the dance floor.

"Nah, class is a foreign concept to them." Jake let a bashful smile spread on his face, his gelled hair falling over his eyes. The older man tapped his fingers on the bar counter to the electric music loudly blasting.

Jungwon grinned, and the two sat in a comfortable silence, before Jake opened his mouth again.

"We missed having you around, you know."

Jungwon whipped his head over to his friend. He quirked a brow. "Really?"

Jake put a hand on the back of his neck, a soft chuckle falling from his lips. "Yup." Jungwon followed his eyes, back to their friends that were now teasing Jay for his wild dance moves. "I think you're the smartest out of all of us."

"That's not true."

Jake shook his head. "Nah, you should have seen us. Me and Sunoo were trying to figure out how to do taxes. Never again."

As the bartender served up their drinks, Jungwon turned back to Jake, who continued, "I know you're having a hard time, but just know that we're here for you."

Jake raised the shot glass filled with a golden brown liquid— "Cheers."

Jungwon smiled.

Clink! Their shot glasses collided.

"Cheers." And with that, Jungwon threw the shot back, the bitter taste on his tastebuds burning so hard that it reached his nose. Almost immediately, Jungwon's expression turned sour, his nose scrunching at the taste. "Blegh— How do you drink this?!"

Jake shrugged. "You'll get used to it if you drink enough."

Jungwon hunched over the bar counter, his elbows on the counter as he held his hands in his head. He shook his head. "Never again. That's nasty."

A few moments of silence pass. Jungwon slid his empty shot glass over. "Give me another shot."

Despite being an adult, Jungwon had forgotten what it felt like to party.

The thrumming of the techno music that filled the club felt like it was stringing directly through Jungwon, droning through his head. After a few shots and buzzed laughs with Jake, Jungwon was tipsy enough that his body felt weightless. Weightless enough to find himself on the dance floor.

As his strong body moved to the music, Jungwon felt the rhythm of the music. His mind was hazy, nebulous as the alcohol in his system began to take over. Jungwon's head felt warm, and his vision despite his spider senses was more blurry than usual. But that didn't matter.

Blood was rushing all over Jungwon's body. His cheeks felt warm, and he couldn't tell if it was his enhanced spidey-senses or if the music was just that loud that he could physically feel the hum in his chest.

Then, the music switched from an upbeat electronic sound, to a slower, more melodic one. Jungwon swore he recognized the song, but he couldn't name it. Jungwon felt the multiple bodies of the room brush against him, before he felt one directly press up against him.

It was clearly a woman. Jungwon let his eyes shut as he let his body take reign.

Swaying to the gradual beat, Jungwon found his hands on this new woman's body. As his chest pulsed to the song, he took in her scent, he could smell sweet, floral nodes. He could barely feel his feet below him, and for a few moments, he felt like he was going to float off of the ground. And just as Jungwon thought he was going to ascend, he felt two manicured hands on his chest. His hands slid down to her hips, squeezing them, which earned him a sultry giggle.

If Jungwon weren't drunk, he may have jumped away the moment he realized that a woman was practically grinding on him. But the alcohol was too deep in his system, and he was too far gone. Even with his eyes closed, Jungwon could feel everything so intensely. He felt fingers reach for his belt loops, pulling him along.

As the music slowed to a stop, momentarily invading the usually bumping club in a hushed silence, Jungwon felt the woman lean into his ear.

"So handsome," she rasped, her warm breath brushing against his skin.

And as the chills trickled down his spine, the music finally came back on. And strangely enough, even though they were, in fact, inside a partying club, the music that blasted from the speakers was the complete opposite.

A slow piano, rich and deep vocals, and a romantic cadence.

Even in his drunken state, Jungwon immediately recognized this song at the first lyrics. Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Preseley. Without a doubt, it was this song.

How did Jungwon know? Because this was the song that you and him loved to slow dance to on your kitchen floor. And just like that, Jungwon's mind drifted into the deepest pits of his mind, the parts that he'd locked away.

In his mind, he saw you and him swaying to this song. You and him both wearing matching aprons, giggling as you attempted to slow dance. He saw the way you'd look at him, with those beautiful eyes that he could never refuse. He saw the way you said his name with a smile that he could never forget, not even in a million lifetimes.

Then, he saw flickering images of you and him: you and him holding each other in the winter to keep each other warm, you and him crying into each other's arms, you and him arguing over something so silly that you just ended up bursting out laughing.

And for a moment, it felt like you were there. Another body up against his, dancing so rhythmically that for a split second, Jungwon could pretend that it was you.

And in the depths of his heart, he prayed that it was you.

He hoped that when he opened his eyes, this nightmare would end, and he would get to see you. He hoped that when he opened his eyes, he would see you, staring up at him with those same beautiful, glossy eyes. He hoped that when he opened his eyes, this song would end, and he could scoop you up and bring you home, to show you all the love that he desperately wanted to give you.

But as Elvis Preseley's resonant voice sang earnestly, Jungwon's eyes slowly peeled open to not see you, but another woman.

A woman that was not you.

"N-Not her," Jungwon's lips quivered, his body instantly pulling away. His feet stumbled, in an attempt to tear away from her grasp. Jungwon ignored the way the woman attempted to pull him back, calling out to him.

In his intoxicated state, Jungwon felt hot tears line his eyes as he staggered away.

Not you. She wasn't you. It didn't matter, in fact. No one was you.

It didn't matter what Jungwon tried to do, his heart kept going back to you.

His head was spinning. Jungwon could barely control his body as he bursted out of the doors of the club, and even less, he couldn't control the tears that were now staining his cheeks. The expensive bottle of water that the club had at the entrance was completely chugged down in a single swish, minus Jungwon's struggles to manage his soft sobbing.

Even with water in his system, Jungwon's head was still spinning. His vision was swirling. Finally, after faltering for a few moments, Jungwon found himself sitting on the stairs at the entrance of the club.

As his vision cleared up, the alcohol in his system slowly washing away, Jungwon brought his hand to his mouth, to muffle the sounds of his crying.

Maybe he was just drunk, but the tears were just not stopping. Jungwon's chest heaved up and down, labored and stammering breaths rising from his chest. His hot tears were beginning to burn his eyes.

Even from outside, he could still hear Elvis Preseley's vocalization.

Damn it, did he have to ruin tonight? Jungwon pulled his knees to his chest, burying his face into his knees. His jeans were getting wet with his tears, and the late-night breeze was getting chilly.

In fact, everything was hurting.

Why couldn't he just forget you? Why couldn't he just let you go? Why did he still yearn for you?

Jungwon lifted his head. He could see his hunched figure in his shadow on the ground. How pathetic of him. He hasn't cried in a long time. It felt weird. It didn't feel like him.

Jungwon looked at the spider-like black veins on his wrist. Why was he cursed? Why did it have to be him? He wasn't worthy, he would never be worthy of being Spider-Man. Jungwon didn't ask to be bitten. He didn't ask for that stupidly rich and ignorant scientist to come to him and urge him to use his powers for good. He didn't ask for this responsibility. He didn't ask for anything, except you.

"With great power comes great responsibility," was what he was told the moment the scientists found him. And Jungwon really believed in it. He used his strength to help the weak, he gave others the power that they couldn't have, he protected the love that others cherished.

But couldn't keep any for himself.

After Jungwon's initial honeymoon phase with his newfound spider abilities, he realized something that changed his entire life forever. That he was no longer safe, and even more, everyone that he loved was no longer safe. And Jungwon thought he was strong enough; he thought that he could let you and all of his friends go slowly to protect you all. But he simply wasn't.

And Jungwon felt so damn selfish. He felt like a greedy bastard, someone who couldn't sacrifice himself for the good of others. Why was he even crying? There were people in danger right now, and here he was crying because he missed the girl of his dreams? How pathetic.

But he wanted you so bad.

Jungwon never wanted anything in life. All his life, he was obedient like a dog. He did everything that others asked of him. He always tried his best, always valued his righteousness, always did what was right.

But now, all he wanted was you.

He's never wanted anything, but the moment that he wants you, he couldn't have you.

Here he was, crying like some idiot all alone while you were probably still on that date. God, he wished Sunghoon never told him. He tried his best for the past few days to just not think about it, but now Jungwon had to truly face the fact that you've already moved on. His chest felt like it was going to burst.

Jungwon sunk his teeth into his fist to muffle his sobs even more. Maybe he should just go home. It's cold, it's uncomfortable, it's unsanitary, and most of all, Jungwon felt like shit.

As Jungwon stumbled to his feet, he sucked in one more breath. It still smelled like alcohol, with a scent of cigarettes. Then, he looked at the bustling road across the street. Somewhere out there, you were laughing with another man. Probably kissing him, calling him the same names that you'd call Jungwon.

God, it made him physically ill. Jungwon brought the back of his hand to wipe his nose one more time. He was going to go home. He'll leave a call for Heeseung or something later.

But before he could even take another step—

Boom!

Jungwon looked up at the sky. Even when it was dark, he could see a large cloud of black smoke. And now, he heard police sirens in the distance and the screaming of civilians.

Shit.

You fiddled with your fingers, bouncing your knee in anticipation to the beat of the 2010's pop song that your taxi driver chose.

Damn it, Wonyoung, you thought. You glanced down at the dress that your best friend chose for you. In the reflection of the backseat car window you caught your made up face. The blush on your cheeks, your curled lashes, the lip gloss. You thought you looked pretty.

Your eyes fluttered to your phone resting in your lap. The latest notification was from Wonyoung, telling you good luck and that you looked pretty. You couldn't help but smile.

It's been 6 months since your boyfriend Jungwon broke up with you. And frankly, it's probably been the worst 6 months of your life.

Words could not describe the types of pain and downright suffering that you went through. You cried for weeks straight, and up until recently, you hadn't had the motivation to really do anything.

The breakup was so unexpected, too. One day you and Jungwon were laughing, the next he left you. You couldn't understand why, and it wasn't like Jungwon gave you a succinct reason either. All he had said was that he was sorry, and that he had no other choice.

And the worst part was, you still weren't over your ex.

All that pain for nothing, you thought as your eyes followed the cars that passed your taxi. Your best friend, Wonyoung, on the other hand, had had enough.

"I don't like seeing you like this," Wonyoung had told you one night, as you cried into her shoulder. Despite what she showed others with her bubbly personality, her voice was stern. "It's not fair to you."

And you knew she was right. Which was why you let her set you up on a date with one of her colleagues. You figured that it was time that you stopped mulling over a man that couldn't stay anyway.

It's been so long in general since you even considered looking at someone else that wasn't Jungwon. And for a reason that you couldn't explain, it didn't feel right. And yet, you pushed it to the back of your head as you stepped out of the taxi.

The restaurant that your date, a guy named Haruto Watanabe, chose was a semi-formal one, called Bisco's Palace. You thought that name was a little bit corny, but you brushed it off. Thick stone walls, yellow-orange moody lighting, and an elegant grassy hedge at the entrance. It looked like a fairytale, and because of the beautiful dress that Wonyoung made you wear, you felt like you were in a fairytale.

When you arrived, you were met with a tall man with sharp features.

"Haruto?" you asked. He turned to look at you. You watched as his eyes widened, before he gave you a once-over.

"[N-Name]?" he spluttered. You recognized the look on his face. It was the look on a man's face whenever he found a woman attractive, and unfortunately, you were no stranger to it. "You look— You look beautiful."

If you were someone else, maybe you'd feel flattered. It's not every day that a good-looking man calls you beautiful. But all you felt was a sense of unease. Not that it was his fault; there was nothing intrinsically wrong with him. You just didn't know why you felt so uncomfortable.

You fought back the urge to make a face, and you instead forced a tight-lipped smile.

"Thank you." Now it was your turn to look him over. He was wearing a crisp button-up with slacks. He looked well put-together. "You look great too."

Haruto visibly turned pink, and he muttered something under his breath as he averted his gaze. Finally, he cleared his throat, extending his hand out to you. "Shall we go in?"

You narrowed your eyes at him, before you took his hand curtly. "Of course."

The two of you were quickly seated, and after being greeted by a cheery waitress that was clearly still in high school, your food was ordered and served in a timely manner. If you were to be honest, you weren't exactly too invested in tonight's date. Even if you agreed to it to get over Jungwon, you knew that your heart wasn't there yet.

Not to say that Haruto wasn't a sweetheart. He was polite, had very good manners, and was very respectful toward you. He tried his best to keep a flowing conversation with you, and in recognizing his efforts, you simply just went along with him. He was handsome and a well-natured guy. And, the food was great. Everything was to your taste, from the appetizers to the drinks to the dessert. The wait staff were also on top of it. As a whole, the restaurant was just perfect. The lights, the music, even how cushioned the chairs were.

Like a fairy tale. Everything was perfect. Perfect man, perfect food, perfect night. But it just wasn't good enough.

You felt nothing for Haruto, not even an ounce of interest. And as much as you didn't want to admit it, you knew why you were like this: Because he wasn't Jungwon.

There was nothing "Jungwon" about this date. Haruto certainly wasn't Jungwon, but everything about this date was nothing like how you liked to be treated. You liked to laugh and to get into dynamic discussions about silly topics, ones that didn't even matter. Haruto was so sweet, but he couldn't match your level of wit. While the food was tasty, you didn't want something so stringent and formal. You'd rather do something together with your date, to get to know each other better rather than sitting at a candle-lit restaurant.

Who would have known all of this? Who would have allowed you to do all of these things regardless of the environment? Who did your heart still stubbornly belong to?

Jungwon.

You let out a forced laugh at one of Haruto's jokes before excusing yourself to the washroom.

Shhhhh! As the sink water ran, you stared at your reflection. Even your makeup was done in a way that you knew Jungwon liked. The lipgloss in your purse was the same one that he bought you all those months ago. You didn't even know if you had the heart to use it up.

You thought that you were doing better. But it seemed like time and space only made your heart grow fonder.

It was getting later into the night now. And against your better judgment, you wondered what Jungwon was doing. Maybe he's playing video games. Or reading all of the superhero comics that he loved to collect.

Then, your mind wandered. What if he was with another girl? Your chest overwhelmed itself with unimaginable hurt. He never gave you a real explanation as to why he wanted to end things, and seemingly, his closest friends couldn't either. You'd be lying if you said that your mind didn't betray you, wandering to all of the darkest places.

Your eyes traced your own face in the mirror. Would Jungwon do that to you? Was he really the type to be unfaithful?

You knew the answer: no. Never. Jungwon was many things, and a cold-hearted unscrupulous cheater was not one of them. But then again, you thought you knew him to be the type to never spring a breakup on you. But he did. Maybe you didn't know him as well as you thought he did.

You took a deep breath. Not right now, you thought. You were on a date with another guy. It would be disrespectful to think about your ex, wouldn't it? Even if Haruto was most definitely not the one for you, you should have some courtesy.

You quickly rinsed your hands, dried them, and reapplied your lipgloss. And as you were ready to step back out, prepared to brave your tight-lipped smile and kind words, a large crashing sound pierced your ears.

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, the tiled bathroom floor below you rumbled, low growls rolling from under your feet. You froze. Your hand jerked out to grab the counter, the wall, the bathroom door handle— anything— to keep you stable.

"W-What the—"

Another deafening roar thundered through the air, enough to make your ears ring. At that instance, the floor below you ripped open.

What the hell was going on? Was it an earthquake? That would explain why the ground tore open. And yet, in the distance, you could hear booming thumping sounds.

Almost like the footsteps of a humongous being. Almost like the footsteps of a supervillain. Shit.

You're well aware of the state of your city. In the past few years, there has been a strange phenomenon of evildoers and mutants alike, appearing throughout your city to wreak havoc and torment civilians. And with that came the rise of even more bold crimes. Bank robberies, arson, kidnappings, pretty much everything.

Luckily, in the past 6 months, a new hero has appeared. The red and blue masked hero; the friendly neighborhood superhero himself; Spider-Man.

Your apartment, located near the center of the city, was awfully close to all of the commotion, nearly all the time. Which was why you couldn't help but admit that Spider-Man was quite the gem, for taking out all of these ne'er-do-wells and eccentric supervillains. And yet, here you were, probably in the middle of a supervillain attack.

All of the past villains have been eccentric but petty. But as the tiles below your feet literally cracked with each booming thrum, you were sure that this new villain, whoever it was, was worse.

Much worse. Probably worse than you could ever imagine.

And before you could react to the way that you tumbled to the ground, the cold floor hitting your knees so achingly, you heard a shriek from outside the bathroom.

"It's Baron von Fizzlebang!"

.... Who?

Baron von Fizzlebang?

What kind of shitty villain name is that—

Boom!

The smell of smoke filled your nostrils. You didn't know where it came from, but from the way that civilians screeched and screamed outside, you figured that it couldn't be far from you.

Boom!

Okay, this is urgent, you needed to get out!

Your heart rate picking up, you breathed slowly to keep yourself calm. You pushed yourself to your feet, ignoring the way your soon-to-be bruised knees ached. As you reached for the bathroom door handle, the lights flickered, followed by the sound of explosions. Even though you were definitively inside the bathroom, with all sides of the room still intact, the dust seeped through the cracks, filling your lungs. With a strained gasp for air, you clamped a hand over your nose, squinting.

You pressed your ear against the bathroom door. Now the entire restaurant blared with fire alarms and smoke detectors. Police sirens also sounded. The large footstep-like thudding in the distance came closer and closer. You had no choice but get out of this damn bathroom and book it.

Your heart was now pounding so quickly that it felt like it would fall out. Your legs felt so weak, your head feeling too heavy. Who the hell is Baron von Fizzlebang? And more importantly, why did it have to be tonight? Without even realizing it, your palms had become sweaty, and with all the blood rushing to your head, you were mere seconds away from sweating.

You shook your head. Focus! You squeezed your eyes shut, your hand wrapped tightly on that bathroom door handle. On a count of three, you were going to open that door and run for your life.

One. Why did some good-for-nothing supervillain have to ruin your already-mediocre night?

Two. You needed to relax. There's no time to sit around and think and languish. Just do it!

Three. You pushed the heavy bathroom door open, and you bursted through the doorway.

And much to your relief, the dark hallway that led to the restaurant's bathroom was hidden away in a little nook; at the end of the hallway was the entrance to the main room of the restaurant.

Slowly creeping down the hallway, you could see the destruction that was wreaked on Bisco's poor, fancy restaurant. Chairs and tables were knocked over, with broken glass and porcelain scattering the red-carpeted floor. From the looks of it, it seemed like all of the restaurant's patrons were either huddled up in another section of the restaurant, or they had escaped.

Great. Now, all you had to do was get out. Thankfully, at the other end of this hallway, there was a backdoor exit. So all you had to do was turn around and—

There standing at the end of the hallway, in front of your exit, was a tall and slender man.

He wore a fitted tailored suit, yet it was bright purple, with a giant bow tie. He had a monocle over his eye.

Like some type of costumed noble. Like a baron.

"That's right," he said, a devious grin spreading across his face, in a way that almost made him look like a carnival clown. Your pulse froze, mid-beat. Theatrically, he gave you a bow, before he reached a hand out to you. " 'Tis I, Baron von Fizzlebang."

Your gut twisted. And when you stared at him with shaky eyes, your entire body frozen in time, the supervillain let out a cackle.

"Oh dear," Baron von Fizzlebang put his hand to his chest, feigning offense. He slyly eyed you, and at once, you could see a lightbulb seemingly pop from his head. "You don't mind being a hostage, right?"

Before you could even open your mouth, Baron von Fizzlebang shot you with finger-guns. And before you knew it, you fell to your knees, your vision became hazy. The last thing that you heard as you lost consciousness was the supervillain's laughter, police sirens, and shouting for a particular red and blue masked superhero.

Jungwon swore that he had a special sense for you.

Jungwon arrived at the scene barely even 5 minutes after he heard the initial explosion. The big fancy restaurant at the end of Mainstreet was the scene.

Really? Jungwon thought. Bisco's Palace? That pretentious place?

The thing was, Jungwon wasn't really nervous. One time, he had to fight an entire group of 20 thugs with guns barely 5 minutes after he was rudely awoken. Jungwon could probably fight people in his sleep. His body and physicality, although he resented it half the time, was perfectly attuned to everything that he needed.

Even now, as he was barely sober and emotionally wrecked, he could see clearly. When he arrived at the scene, half of Bisco's Palace was completely destroyed. Mini fires spotted the scene, with pods of smoke bursting in the night air. Terrified civilians cried that they heard earsplitting thumping in the distance, like footsteps. Others claimed that an eccentric villain called "Baron von something-something" was the cause of this all.

Jungwon huffed. Another crazy supervillain? Seemingly there was another crazy supervillain appearing everyday! What, was there some kind of factory pumping them out? From the looks of it, it seemed like most of the civilians had escaped relatively unscathed.

Good. Jungwon readied himself to launch into that burning restaurant. He had a simple action plan: Rescue the remaining civilians, beat that Baron von something-something's ass, and go home.

The moment that Jungwon's striking red and blue figure launched across the sky, Jungwon could hear the gasps of civilians, police officers, and on-site journalists alike. Jungwon landed easily into what was left of that restaurant building.

And when he entered, it was quiet. Eerily quiet.

Jungwon had to be careful.

Jungwon creeped slowly, closer to the main dining room. He kept his breathing as quiet as a whisper. And when he peeked his head through the grand, arched door-frame that led into the dining room, there, he saw a group of civilians, huddled among the flickering fires Men, women, children— there they were, shaking in fear, and coughing as the. Fire smoke filled their lungs. With his enhanced senses, he could hear mothers hushing their wailing babies and children asking their fathers if they were going to die tonight.

Not on my watch, Jungwon mentally answered their questions.

Jungwon shot a web at the ceiling, and in one fell swoop, he gathered enough momentum to swing across the restaurant, landing where the civilians were.

"Spider-Man!" they cried.

Jungwon crouched down toward them, putting his hands on his knees.

"Listen," he began, his voice stern. "I am going to help you guys escape." Jungwon grimaced at their amazed gazes. "But I need you guys to listen to me carefully."

Jungwon's eyes glazed over the group of civilians. There were up to 15 of them. He didn't have time to carry each and every one of them out. The entrance was burning, and there weren't any other ways to get out. Jungwon wanted to conserve his time as much as possible. To prevent that bastard of a villain Baron von something-something from doing any more damage.

And now that he took a better look at these civilians, they looked tired and worn out. Their cheeks were covered in soot, sweaty faces from the fire that was surrounding them.

Jungwon's eyes darted around the restaurant. There had to be another exit. Then, his eyes fell upon the tall window that stretched from the ceiling down to the floor.

Bingo.

"Mama, it's too hot," Jungwon could hear a toddler babble. Other people seemed to join in on agreement, and yet, they could barely speak coherently. With sweat-stained shirts and cheeks, Jungwon cursed under his breath.

Damn it, the fire was physically weakening these people. Jungwon's plan was nothing short of easy: he was going to break the hell out that window and get these people to escape that way. Yet, the problem was, the windows were bound to shatter and create dangerous shards. Jungwon was going to instruct them to be careful, but judging from the way that these civilians flinched at even the slightest flutter of fire while barely even having the strength to stand up, there was no way that they could have the alertness and mental precision to actually avoid the shards.

Think, think! Jungwon squeezed his eyes shut. What should he do? In the palace that was his mind, Jungwon ran through every possibility. These fires were big. They looked much smaller outside, but now that he was in the restaurant itself, these tongues of fires were massive. Not only were these fires scalding, but the smoke was painful for these civilians.

Come to think of it, shouldn't every building in this city have a robust mechanism for when fire breaks out? And yet, the walls, floor, and remaining civilians in this restaurant were dry. Which means that the sprinklers haven't gone off yet.

This was why public establishments needed health inspections... Jungwon shook his head. He didn't have time to criticize the efficacy of his government.

At once, Jungwon shot webs at whatever hard object he could find— fallen plates, bundles of metal utensils, even pieces of debris— before slinging them into the ceiling, directly toward all of the sprinkler bulbs that dotted the tall ceiling.

I'm sorry about your ceiling, but you'll thank me later, Jungwon thought, before slinging thick wads of webs toward every vent.

As each sprinkler bulb shattered, flared streams of water bursted from the ceiling. And as each vent of this flaming restaurant were webbed over, Jungwon prayed to whichever god he could think of that his physics professor was right about buoyancy. Hopefully, if he was right, by webbing over the vents, new smoke would not be able to enter the room, and thus reduce the amount of smoke that the civilians were breathing in.

As cold water droplets pittered and pattered over Jungwon's suit, he watched as the remaining civilians cheered and cooled off under the sprinkler. And with his physics-accurate ventilation blockage, they'd now be much more compliant.

Jungwon latched onto a larger piece of debris and slung it at the closest and safest window.

"Okay," he began instructing, creating a temporary web to shield the civilians from the fractured pieces of the window. "

You—" he pointed at a man—"Take that kid. And you two—" he pointed at two teenagers—"Stick together."

Jungwon organized the people. "Be careful, and step around the shards!"

The civilians were already on it. Jungwon watched as they carried their young and old, fleeing as fast as they came, all of them murmuring a "thank you, Spider-Man," as they pushed out through the window.

And with that, Jungwon was left all alone. The fire had died down just a little bit, by virtue of the sprinklers. For safe measure, Jungwon configured a few webs to create a few fire barriers to slow those damned flames down.

Now where was that Baron von something-something?

Jungwon scanned the restaurant. He looked everywhere. In the foyer, at the entrance, in the kitchen, even under the tables.

But he couldn't find anyone.

Except, there was one place that he didn't check: the dark hallway in the corner of the restaurant.

Jungwon inched toward it, slowly. He took small, spider-like steps.

"Oh, would you just hurry it up already?!" a loud voice boomed through the air.

Emerging from the hallway was a tall man.

Baron von something-something.

"Look at you, Spider-Man!" he cried, mockingly batting his eyelashes and clasping his hands together. "So brave! So strong! You helped those poor, poor civilians escape!"

Jungwon narrowed his eyes. Who the hell was this maniac? Jungwon's fingers twitched.

"But it looks like you forgot one." A sinister smile spread across his face. "Oh come out, dear!"

There was nothing that could have possibly prepared Jungwon for what he saw next. His heart plummeted to his stomach, because from the dark hallway emerged you.

Your face was dazed, your eyes cloudy, and your movements so sluggish. As if you were unconscious, and your mind was being controlled.

"Dontcha think she's pretty?" the villain continued, eccentrically throwing his arms around you. He laughed. "They don't call me Baron von Fizzlebang for no reason! With a single gunshot from my fingers, I can take anyone under my control!"

Jungwon tuned everything out.

He felt a flood of emotions.

Fear.

You, the person that's been haunting him. You, who has been consuming his thoughts and life. There you were, in front of him, after all of this time. Even when you weren't really there, Jungwon couldn't bear to look you in the eyes.

And yet, it meant nothing. His fear meant absolutely nothing. Not when there was another emotion taking hold: anger.

So much anger, that his blood felt hot. Jungwon dug his fingernails into his gloved palms, enough that his knuckles were beginning to ache. How dare this villain take advantage of you? Your safety was in jeopardy. It made Jungwon's stomach boil with a rage that he couldn't comprehend, the way that you were quite literally not in control of your body. That in the time that Jungwon wasn't there, unspeakable things could have been done to you. To think that your own autonomy was torn from your hands, to think that your own dignity was desecrated in the name of some supervillain's sick power game— that conjured a feeling that Jungwon couldn't even describe. Disgust, horror, wrath; he felt it all.

Jungwon now looked upon the villain with eyes full of wrath.

Baron von Fizzlebang continued to rave on and on about how great he was, and how this was just all part of his master plan to subjugate this city. But it didn't mean anything.

To the entire world, Spider-Man was a hero. And in most ways, he was one. Jungwon saved people daily, he prevented the city around him from crumbling to the ground like it was easy. He was a man of the people, the beacon of hope for all city residents.

The symbol of law and order, the righteous hero of the city, Spider-Man.

And yet, as Jungwon's eyes couldn't bear to tear away from your dazed face, he felt his resolve slip away.

The obligation to protect others, defend freedom, and uphold justice, like a vessel from a dock, sailed away into the horizon, into the unknown. Right now, Jungwon was not Spider-Man protecting a civilian. He was not the Spider-Man that had no other duty than to ensure the safety of his fellow citizens. He was not the Spider-Man whose every action reflected his moral purity.

No, Jungwon was a man that was so ashamed of his own fears, that he never even dared to speak of them. He was the man that pushed everyone away, frightened by what would happen if he continued to associate with them. And worst of all, Jungwon was the man that still continued to yearn you, longing for your touch one last time before he would consign his love to oblivion.

Which was why all Jungwon saw was red.

Maybe if he was actually listening to Baron von Fizzlebang's monologue he would have heard how his abilities worked, but Jungwon didn't care. He'll probably figure it out later when this lunatic gets thrown into jail.

Jungwon couldn't control his body, or his mind at that matter. All Jungwon could remember doing was shooting a web at the ceiling to gain a higher vantage point, before (with all of the maximum, inhuman speed that his body was capable of) swinging down to land a kick flat onto Baron von Fizzlebang's cheek, effectively knocking the man down to the floor.

Before the villain could even react, Jungwon couldn't stop himself; he pinned the villain down to the floor using all of his body weight, before he let nothing but his sheer anger reign. All of his pent up emotions— anger, fear, shame, guilt— spilled out. No longer was Jungwon the pure hero.

With his bare hands, he landed punches to Baron von Fizzlebang's abdomen. Over and over and over.

Spider-Man used spider webs and crafty tricks to defeat his enemies. But Jungwon? He used his bare hands. With gritted teeth, and blood boiling hotter than lava, Jungwon punched, and punched, and punched. Even when he could feel his knuckles beginning to bruise, he punched. He ignored every cry and groan of pain coming from the villain, for there was only one thing on his mind: your dignity.

Jungwon wouldn't have stopped, not even if his arm gave out (because he would just switch to his other arm), not even if this maniacal supervillain was out for good.

The only thing that pulled Jungwon into his blind rage was the sound of you collapsing to the ground, with a thump!

Instantly, Jungwon snapped out of his fury, his head whipping over to you. Seemingly, with Baron von Fizzlebang knocked out, you were released from his control.

Immediately, Jungwon rushed over to you, leaving Baron von Fizzlebang's unconscious body.

"[Name]!" he cried, scooping your limp body up into his arms. You no longer looked dazed, so at least Baron von Fizzlebang's control of you wore off for good. And yet, your expression looked exhausted. Your eyes were half-lidded, labored breaths and soft whimpering pushing from your lips. "[Name], can you hear me? Are you okay?—"

Overhead, Jungwon could hear helicopters and the shouting of police officers and firemen from outside. They must have figured that Jungwon defeated Baron von Fizzlebang, and now they were sending re-enforcements. But all of Jungwon's focus was still on you.

"Spider-Man...?" you mumbled weakly, your voice hoarse and quivering. Now that he got a better look, your eyes were bloodshot, and your cheeks were tear-stained. Jungwon's heart clenched in his chest. He couldn't understand why he felt such an overwhelming urge to pull you into his embrace, to hold you close as if you would disappear. "Spider-Man, I—"

"Don't speak," Jungwon's voice came out as a whisper. And maybe it was now that Jungwon realized that his eyes were welled up with tears. It's been so long since he's been able to see you, and yet ironically, the only reason that he could was because your life was in danger. Jungwon let out a choked sob. "Don't say anything, [Name]."

"But I—I wanted to thank you—"

"Shhhh."

You looked so tired. He couldn't imagine how you felt, being under the control of a supervillain that has malicious intentions. But here you were, still taking it upon yourself to thank him. He couldn't even fathom what type of pain (emotional? physical? mental? you definitely weren't going to be okay after this, he knew you that well) you were going through.

Hug her, was the resounding thought that filled Jungwon's head. He almost cursed himself for thinking such a thing. After all, he wasn't yours anymore. But as he watched your worn face, he thought again. When you were still his, you always felt soothed when you were under intense stress if he hugged you tightly, the way that you always liked it.

Holding his breath, Jungwon gently lifted your head and chest, before pulling you into his arms. Almost instantly, you relaxed into his body, pushing your face into the crook of his neck. Like how you used to. You murmured something under your breath, but Jungwon was too distracted by the tears that were now definitely streaming down his face. He hadn't felt your touch in so long. He's been dreaming of getting to hold you one last time for months now.

Your eyelids began to fall, your head yielding to his shoulder, which was a tell-tale sign that you've fallen unconscious.

In the restaurant of ruin and rubble, Jungwon sat there on the debris-ridden floor, with you in his arms. Before he finally decided to get back up and take the two of you out of this place, he gave you one more tight squeeze.

"I love you," he whispered into your ear. And maybe it was wishful thinking, but he hoped that somewhere in dreamland, you heard him.

Jungwon stared out of his apartment window. It's been a few days since the Baron von Fizzlebang-Bisco's Palace incident. Baron von Fizzlebang was taken into police custody and his trial awaited him. Meanwhile, the city was still cleaning up the aftermath, with an entire block of the city being taped off.

But the city wasn't the only thing that had to be repaired.

Namely, Jungwon hadn't recovered yet. His fists still had red-purple marks on them. Even with his superhuman regenerative abilities, he had pushed himself to the extreme when he was beating up Baron von Fizzlebang the other day. But that wasn't the issue.

Ever since that day, Jungwon hadn't stopped thinking about you. Well, to be sure, he never stopped thinking about you, but he was thinking about you extra now.

He wondered how you were doing. You were a strong girl. You could withstand pretty much everything, because it was in your nature. But after an incident like this one, he was sure that you were going through a lot.

Jungwon felt selfish. He wanted to check up on you. He wanted to ask one of his friends to ask your friends how you were doing, or maybe go to your apartment as Spider-Man to check up on you himself.

But that's a purely selfish desire.

Jungwon couldn't do that to you. He broke up with you for a reason: to protect you. He'd never want to do anything to put you in danger, and by even opening an avenue of communication between him (in both his hero and civilian form) and you was dangerous in and of itself.

It scared him so deeply, the thought of losing you. But still, Jungwon wanted to be selfish. He wanted to love you greedily, to have you all to himself.

He looked out his window again, then he looked down at his wrists: the black spider-like veins looked darker today. Maybe in another lifetime, because in this lifetime, he had a duty as Spider-Man.

Speaking of which, there were few actual benefits of being Spider-Man. One of them was that Jungwon got to directly impact other people's lives. Which was why every week, the municipal government would send him all of the fan-mail that civilians had for him.

Jungwon shook the thought of you away, pushing it to the back of his mind as he. grabbed his keys, slipped on some slippers, and ventured down to his apartment complex's mailroom.

As always, his mailbox was filled to the brim with mail. From letters to postcards to care packages, Jungwon looked like a madman as he struggled to carry all of his fan=mail back up to his apartment. It sucked that he couldn't use his spider abilities to help him in broad daylight.

In fact, there was so much mail that as Jungwon traversed the hallway back to his apartment, stumbling over himself, one stray letter fell from the stack of letters that he had atop all of the packages.

He cursed under his breath, rolling his eyes. He watched as that one stray letter seemingly flew off of the stack, gracefully floating in the air for a few seconds before landing before his feet.

Jungwon huffed again. He quickly made his way back to his apartment, set down all of his fan-mail, before running back out into the hallway to pick up that pesky envelope that decided to fly away.

But as Jungwon marched down that hallway, crouching down to pick up the letter that had fallen out of his grasp, his eyes fell upon that name on that envelope.

It was your name. Jungwon snatched it up.

You wrote him fan-mail. Jungwon couldn't help but smile.

It has been about two weeks since the incident, and frankly, you're only halfway over it. You could tell that you were getting better compared to how you were in the immediate aftermath. But you still couldn't sleep at night, and you needed lots of mental preparation to go anywhere outside.

But today, you decided that you were going to put on a brave face, and stand up against your fears.

Pushing what fears you had to the back of your mind, you stared at the ceiling of your bedroom. It was late into the morning, and yet, you were wearing makeup.

Wonyoung (that smart girl, always with tricks up her sleeve), feeling apologetic about what had happened at that disaster of a date last week, begged to take you out on a girl's date today. After being cooped up in your room everyday for the past few days, you couldn't say no to her offer.

You felt a little nervous, though. The last time you went out, you got taken control of by that supervillain. But Wonyoung had been there for you the entire way, talking you through it every night. You trusted her, and you appreciated how she didn't treat you like a victim; Wonyoung wasn't babying your every step, but instead just treating you like a normal person.

And plus, it was summer. You wanted to have fun and to live your young adult life. Your eyes fluttered over to your window. Streams of yellow sunlight peeked through. Today was too beautiful. You could remember Wonyoung's excited voice over the phone a few nights ago.

"We should go take pictures!" she has squealed over the phone. "You just look toooooo pretty and we need to post something on your Instagram— to show all the guys what they're missing out on!"

You giggled. You still couldn't get used to being treated like you were single. There were indeed a few cool freedoms that came with being single. But in your mind, you still belonged to someone.

You looked at your phone. Wonyoung talked about posting pictures to make guys feel like bums for not getting on their knees and worshipping you (her words, not yours!). But when you thought about posting pictures, all you thought about was whether or not Jungwon would see them.

You squeezed your eyes shut. You needed to stop thinking about him. It wasn't healthy. But you still wondered if he thought about you, the same way you thought about him. You sat up from your bed, before you glanced into the mirror near the foot of your bed.

You hoped that he thought about you, too.

Ding dong! Oh! A ring from the front door! It must be Wonyoung! You happily promenaded to your apartment door, excited to greet your best friend with a big hug, and—

"J-Jungwon?!"

Instead of seeing your pink-wearing scheming best friend, you're greeted with your ex-boyfriend. However, for some reason, he looked more surprised than you!

"[N-Name]?!" he spluttered, his cat-like eyes as wide as saucers with his jaw falling open.

The two of you stare at each other like that for what felt like an eternity.

Your eyes fell over his features. His hair had grown a little bit longer since the last time you saw him (granted, that was half a year ago). His face looked slimmer, like he had lost weight. As you glazed over his figure, he had a backpack on his shoulders as always, but you eyed the way his biceps looked. He looked like he had put on more muscle, and before you could start ogling at him, you stopped yourself.

This was the guy that broke your heart. This was the guy that left you with no words. And now he was at your door?

"What the fuck do you want?" you spat at him, crossing your arms over your chest. Your brows crashed together, your expression turning sour. When he didn't respond, because you could tell by his expression that he was too busy checking you out, you began to close the door in his face.

"W-Wait!" he put his hands in front of him, flailing them panicked. You shot him a questioning look. "I think— I think I'm at the wrong apartment..."

You scoffed. "Oh, bullshit. What do you actually want?"

"I-I promise that I'm serious," Jungwon breathed out, and for a second you felt the walls you built for yourself threatening to crash down. He looked like a sad cat. Frantically, he shoved his hands into his pockets, searching for his phone that was squashed somewhere in them. When he finally found his phone, he fumbled with it, before showing you his screen. "I'm tutoring... a kid on your floor, I think."

You took a good look at his phone screen, and he was telling the truth.

You sighed, pinching your nose-bridge.

"Do you..." he began, his eyes refusing to look at yours. "Do you know how to get to room 1214?"

You let out another sigh, this time louder. Jungwon stumbled, stammering to explain himself again, but you put a hand up, effectively silencing him.

"Keep going down the hallway, make a left turn, and you'll find room 1214 on your right," you said simply.

"Thank you," Jungwon said, as he nodded slowly, and you hummed.

Another long moment of silence engulfed the two of you. The tension in the air was so thick that you swore you could cut it with a butter knife. You watched the way Jungwon's fingers fidgeted, a habit that he's never lost. He did this whenever he felt nervous or shy. It was a habit that you had grown to be fond of. You thought it was sweet that he was so fidgety. You tore your eyes away from him.

Was this the guy that wordlessly broke your heart?

"I'm gonna—" Jungwon started, breaking the silence. "I'm gonna go now."

He locked eyes with you, but just as he tried to break eye contact, you sent him a warning look. He didn't look away.

"Okay," you said simply. "Me too."

"Yeah."

And yet, the two of you still stood there, staring at each other. You've spent so many nights crying over him. You've never felt so much pain in your life before. There was so much anger and resentment that you had built up for him. There were a million words that you wanted to say to him, to tell him how much he hurt you.

But right now, you couldn't think of anything.

"Take care," you said.

"You too."

And with that, you slowly closed your door on him, while he slowly walked away from your door. But you swore that he kept looking back at you.

The moment that your front door clicked shut, you pressed your back up against it, before sliding down and holding your knees to your chest. You couldn't get over him when he clearly still wasn't over you. Why was he playing with you like this? Why did it have to be you, and more importantly, why did it have to be him?

Surely in time, Wonyoung showed up, and the two of you went on your little girl's day.

You huffed as you stumbled through your apartment doorway, struggling to take off your shoes amidst all of the shopping bags hanging on your arm. That Wonyoung, so eager to treat you to a nice day out. She bought you everything that you remotely showed interest in.

The moment that you arrived home, you shed all of your outdoor clothes, retreating to the comfort that was your bedroom. By now, it was dark out, and despite having a long and fun day with Wonyoung, you didn't feel tired. Unlike most days like this one that would follow a logical sequence, you still felt restless, as if your day had not been complete.

You were plagued with a weird gnawing feeling inside you. This happened a lot lately, probably just your anxiety from the past few weeks' incident.

And when you finally realized that laying in bed for hours scrolling on your phone was barely productive for an adult like you, you sighed, before sitting up from your bed.

Maybe you should write to him.

Ever since the incident at Bisco's Palace, you've found yourself especially restless. It's hard to tell if you're just paranoid, but on nights like this, you found yourself doing the same thing: writing to Spider-Man.

You used to be indifferent to the buzz around the masked hero, but now you understood it. You didn't know the reason why, but you found yourself finding comfort in simply writing to Spider-Man. It's simple things like thanking him for his service, and telling him about your day.

You glanced at the disorderly pile on your desk, of folded letters and envelopes. You never sent your letters. You've only ever sent him one letter.

The rest of your letters, which were structured more like long streams of consciousness vomited on a piece of paper, were left unsent.

You sighed. It wasn't like Spider-Man was really going to read your letters. You were just writing your thoughts out. You sat at your desk, scrolling through your Spotify Playlists to first choose the perfect moody music to get you writing. Your finger scrolled around your screen, glazing over the icons for each of your playlists.

You stopped when you saw a familiar, yet long-forgotten one.

It was a playlist that was created an entire year ago, with a simple title: love. Its icon was none other than a picture of you and Jungwon, with your cheeks smooshed up against each other. Smiling. In love.

Your finger hovered over its icon for a few moments. You haven't listened to this playlist in months. It's practically been collecting cobwebs in your Spotify account. If you listened to it now, you'd probably lose your mind. And yet you felt drawn to it.

You closed your eyes, rubbing your temples. In times in stress, we as humans seek familiarity. It's not crazy for you, who just experienced something traumatizing, to seek the solace of an old playlist reminiscent of a happier time. Right?

Play, you clicked.

Immediately, songs that you haven't heard in a long time filled your ears, the familiar tunes and melodies that you've grown to love hanging in the air.

You grabbed a pen, and began jotting down your thoughts.

'Dear Spider-Man,' you started off your letter. Below your desk, your knees bounced to the rhythm of each song— each song chosen by Jungwon, reminding you of all of his laughs and soft kisses as you and him shared earbuds on the city's underground subway.

As the black ink of your pen smudged against the side of your palm, you hummed along to the music that emitted from your phone. For a second, you could pretend that it was last summer, when you still had a boy to call yours.

You bit your lip, staring at the words scribbled on the paper.

It wasn't like Spider-Man would ever read these letters. He was a hypothetical addressee in your letters, so to speak. You took a deep breath.

'I miss him,' you wrote next, wincing as you gazed at your handwriting. How embarrassing, that you're confiding in the hypothetical version of a superhero in your head about your boy troubles. Whatever. You continued, 'I don't think I'll be able to move on from him, not any time soon.'

You stared at your words again. Oh, isn't this just pathetic?

You groaned, exasperated. You seriously just needed to get a life, or something. Just as you were about to throw yourself into your bed and scream into your pillows, leaving an unfinished letter open on your desk—

Crash!

You whipped your head toward the source of the sound: your bedroom balcony.

For a moment, your shoulders tensed. The last time a loud sound filled your ears, you got your mind controlled. And plus, it wasn't safe being a woman that lived alone, especially in a city notorious for its crime.

With trembling eyes, you stared out your glass balcony doors. It was completely dark out, save for the streams of light staining your balcony from your room. There's loud sounds all the time, but this time, you were 100% certain that the sound was on your balcony.

Should you go check it out? Or should you just turn off all your lights and jump into bed?

But before you could scare yourself even more, a strong figure slowly rose from the darkness. Hunched over, as if he was in pain, emerged a familiar red and blue hero.

"S-Spider-Man?!" you gaped to yourself. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

And despite the darkness, you and him seem to lock eyes. Spider-Man, although it was him that was intruding on your property, seemed even more surprised by your presence, physically jolting away as if he was really that taken aback by you. And unfortunately for him, just as he was about to scurry away, you bursted through your balcony doors.

"Spider-Man!" you called out, as the cool night air kissed your face. You could feel goosebumps rise on your skin, as your thin pajamas did you no justice against the night coolness.

Although he was masked, you swore that Spider-Man was looking at you like you were some kind of freak of nature. But you ignored his gaze, noticing the way his clothed thigh had a massive dark-red splotch on it.

"I-Is that blood?" you peeped, pointing to his thigh. That would explain why Spider-Man had such an unceremonious crash landing into your apartment balcony; he was injured. You looked back up at the hero's masked face. "Spider-Man, are you okay—"

"I-I'm fine!" Spider-Man blurted, his voice shaky and almost uncertain. The hero staggered, stumbling to his feet. You could tell that he was in pain, but was trying to hide it. "I'm okay."

You watched as Spider-Man limped, quietly wincing in pain to the railing of your balcony, gripping it tightly to support himself.

He looked over his shoulder. Even when his face wasn't visible, it was like he was sheepish. Timid, even.

"I'm...." Spider-Man began. You could see his toned back tense. "I'm sorry."

You blinked. "For what?"

The hero hesitated. Why was Spider-Man being so... shy? And unassuming? Wasn't he this grand and powerful hero?

"For...." he drew out his syllables, as if he was grasping for thoughts in his head. "For abruptly— um— crashing. Into... your apartment."

A curve formed on your lips. "No, no. no!" you waved your hands in front of yourself. "Don't worry at all!"

You glanced at the wound on his thigh. Blood ran down his thigh, seeping through his costume. "Are you sure you're—"

Spider-Man interrupted you with a loud groan of pain, as he attempted to take a step forward. He crumbled to his knees, choked cries of pain falling from his lips.

The hero cursed under his breath, muttering about some "bastard" stabbing him.

You rushed to his side, your arms wrapping around his torso to pull him back to his feet. Despite being in pain from his injury, he seemed even more baffled by your touch, flinching away.

"S-Sorry," he apologized again.

"It's okay," you shot him a small smile. "Why don't you come inside?"

Jungwon wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

After his tutoring session with one of your neighbors, Jungwon went home and decided to take a long nap. After all, running into you, his ex, was definitely not something that he intended to do. He needed a nap to clear his mind.

Except, that was not what Jungwon got. Instead, he got another dream of you dying. Combined with seeing you getting controlled by that supervillain, Jungwon was not in the right headspace when he awoke.

Once again, with goosebumps littering his arms, cold sweat rolling down his temples, Jungwon's first instinct, as always, was to jump out of that damn window and take a lap around the city. By the time he finished a lap, it was already dark, and yet neither his mind nor body had the sharp precision that he needed to fight criminals.

Which was why when fighting a group of bandits, Jungwon dishonorably got stabbed in the thigh (though, of course, he kicked their asses to the moon).

And after he tried to swing away via his webs, his painful wound in the thigh made him miscalculate and web, and he tumbled down from the sky.

And that's how Jungwon found himself sitting on your bed.

This time, instead of breaking up with you, he was clad in his spandex suit, waiting for you as you rummaged through your bathroom cabinet.

Jungwon looked around your room. Everything was the same.

You had the same plushies on your bed, with the scent of your perfume still strong in the air. Your desk is still cluttered with the same papers and pens.

Everything, and really everything, was the same. Like one of those unfortunate true-crime cases, where someone dies under mysterious circumstances, and yet their home is completely untouched, with no signs of disturbance. As if nothing had changed at all, save for the absence of life.

It was a strange stillness, and yet, Jungwon shook his head. He was in no position to judge. Though, Jungwon's eyes did catch something interesting.On your desk lay a messy stack of envelopes and papers, some crumpled up and others pristinely folded. Like letters.

And maybe Jungwon was paranoid, or heartbroken, but his mind wandered to the worst places. Were you seeing another guy? Maybe the guy that you went on that date with. Was that why you were probably writing love notes?

Have you moved on that quickly? Was it that easy to forget him? Jungwon's heart ached, and against his better judgement, he rose to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his thigh. He creeped up to your desk, limping with each step. With each inch closer, he could feel the world shattering around him.

And when he realized that there was an unfinished letter already in the works, freely laying on your desk, his heart dropped.

Jungwon gazed at the stack of letters, then back at the half-written letter played on your desk. But his eyes caught the heading of the letter: 'Dear Spider-Man.'

And it was now that Jungwon realized another crucial detail: your phone, also laying on your desk, was playing music. Playing music from the playlist that you and him made together.

"Spider-Man?"

Jungwon whipped his head around as your voice pulled him out of thought. And before he could even question why you would be writing to him of all people, you were already throwing all of your bandages onto your bed, rushing profusely to him as you cried, "Don't look at those!"

You tugged on Jungwon's arm, pulling him and gently pushing him onto your bed. Your bottom lip jutted out into a small pout, your face painted with an embarrassed expression.

"You were not supposed to see that," you murmured with your brows knitted together, standing in front of the now sitting hero. When Jungwon didn't respond, you continued, your voice breathy. "Just— Just forget you saw anything."

Jungwon nodded slowly. Under the mask, he glanced back to your desk. Were all of those letters addressed to him? As in, Spider-Man? And why were you still listening to that playlist?

"It's okay," he said reassuringly, even though he was extremely uncertain himself. "I didn't see anything."

You visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh. "I-It's just embarrassing."

Your eyes fluttered up to Jungwon's masked face. You opened your mouth to speak, but Jungwon could tell by the way your lips trembled ever-so-slightly and your brows crashed together that you felt uncomfortable.

You made that face when you felt like you needed to talk. Jungwon swiped his tongue over his bottom lip, his arms opening up and his palms opening. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"But—"

Jungwon hoped that you could see his earnest smile from behind his mask. "I mean it. Don't worry about it."

Your eyes narrowed, as if you were studying his face. You sighed again. "Okay, sorry."

A silence engulfed the two of you, as you reached for the bandages and first-aid supplies that you had so abruptly thrown onto your bed earlier, completely unaware of the way Jungwon watched you so intently. He hadn't been so close to you in so long. With every flicker of your eyes and twitch of your face, Jungwon admired you closely.

What he would do to reach out and cup your cheek again, to feel your living and breathing self against his hands. To verify that you hadn't died. To confirm that you were safe and sound, alive and well.

"Can I—" you started, breaking the silence— "Can I help with your wound?"

Jungwon blinked. He had high levels of regeneration, so in a few hours, the wound on his thigh would be completely gone. It would be better to not waste both of your time.

But how you looked at him with wide, innocuous eyes, filled with worry and your characteristic kindness, Jungwon's greed clouded his mind.

"I would love that," Jungwon replied, his voice a near whisper.

How shameful of him, to sit here and selfishly bask in your presence as if he hadn't broken your heart.

You smiled, taking your rubbing alcohol and coming to Jungwon's side. Quickly, you started at your ministrations. Jungwon hissed at the burning sensation of the rubbing alcohol on his open wound (he had forgotten what it felt like), whispering apologies with each squeak of pain that fell from his lips. You hummed to yourself, your delicate face so focused.

"You know, Spider-Man," you began as you continued treating his wound, your voice soft, "I always wonder if you remember me."

Jungwon scoffed, his lips moving faster than his brain. Breathy, but eager, words came out, in a tone that Jungwon had always reserved for you. "How could I ever forget you, [Name]?"

You let out a peep, your face slowly morphing into a flustered expression. "W-What are you talking about?"

Shit. "I-I mean—"

Jungwon's ears burned, the apples of his cheeks prickling with warmth. This is not what he meant to do! Jungwon cleared his throat, sucking in a sharp breath to recompose himself.

"W-What I meant was that I—" Jungwon narrowed his eyes, thinking of an explanation— "I could never forget what happened at Bisco's."

You blinked at him a few times, your face breaking out into a frown. "Oh."

Jungwon sunk his teeth into his bottom lip. Did that make you upset?

"I always remember the people that I save," he continued, observing your facial expressions carefully. "I could never forget the impact I made on others, and that includes you, [Name]."

You shook your head understanding, but Jungwon could still see the frown on your face. "You're right," you said. Your eyes met with his. "You really have made an impact on me, Spider-Man."

You reached for the bandages, beginning to slowly wrap them around his wounded thigh.

"You know..." you started slowly. A bashful curve formed on your lips, nearly forming one of those cute grins that you always did whenever you felt particularly happy or appreciative. "I think about you quite a bit."

Jungwon cocked a brow.

"The truth is," you continued, the bashful expression on your face growing, "I write letters to you whenever I feel like shit."

"Why?" Jungwon blurted. He knew he probably shouldn't ask. It would make him spiral even harder, but his curiosity got the better of him.

You let out a chuckle, closing your eyes and shaking your head in embarrassment. "Because you saved me. And because you're a pretty universal symbol of strength and reliability."

You looked up at him again, flexing your arms with a goofy grin. "You're this city's number one defender. I write to you because I feel like even if I can't send you anything, I could rely on you, y'know?"

"Yeah," Jungwon breathed. He hadn't seen you smile like that in a while, and your reasoning was un-surprisingly sweet. Because you were that type of person. He couldn't help the way his lips pulled up into a small smile. "That makes sense."

"How about you, Spider-Man?" you asked.

"What about me?"

"What do you do when you feel like shit?" you cocked your head, blinking owlishly. "You must go through a lot as a hero. What makes you feel like you should keep going?"

You, he thought. You were what made him want to keep being a good person. All his deep fears of failure and imperfection were intrinsically rooted in his desires to make himself worthy for you. It was all you.

"You," Jungwon said. But he couldn't have you. "... And other people that I've saved. Knowing that I have helped others is enough to keep me going."

You nodded your head, understanding, your lips forming an 'oh' shape. You continued wrapping his thigh with bandages. "Do you ever check up on the people that you save?"

"I wish I could," Jungwon responded. "I would love to check up on everyone."

"So why don't you?"

You were always so curious. Jungwon pursed his lips. "Because there's too many people that I've saved. I don't know all of them by name. I don't know how to find them."

You hummed. You finished wrapping Jungwon's leg with bandages, using scissors to cut the cloth bandages and securing them. You patted your hands off, sending the hero another smile. "Aaaand you're all done."

"Thank you," Jungwon held a fixed gaze on you again. It took all of his self-control to not throw his arms around you and embrace you. "I don't know how I can repay you—"

You waved your hands in front of you profusely. "No, no! I'm repaying you for saving me—"

Jungwon shook his head. "If it wasn't for your balcony, I would have probably died."

You chewed on your bottom lip, contemplating, before a lightbulb seemingly popped above your head. You swiftly took Jungwon's hands, squeezing them tightly.

"Come visit me."

Jungwon spluttered. "W-What?"

"You said that you didn't know how to repay me, and that you didn't check up on people you saved because you didn't know how to find them," you gushed eagerly. "You found me. You can repay me by visiting me ever so often."

"But— But why?"

You shrugged. "It gets lonely sometimes," was all you said, but your wide and glassy eyes staring up at him so pleadingly made it hard to say no. "Please?"

"I'll try."

You didn't catch it at first. "What?"

"I'll try," Jungwon murmured. "To come back. If I can."

You chuckled. "Good enough for me."

Jungwon wasn't sure if he made a promise that he could keep.

"Good morning! Welcome to Maeum's Coffee Shop, what can I get you— Damn it, [Name], did you have a rough night again?"

You winced at Wonyoung's words. Wonyoung worked at a local coffee shop, and as a good friend, you always came in to support her.

It's been a few days since you found Spider-Man on your balcony, and you would be lying if you said that you weren't excited. You stayed up a few nights waiting for Spider-Man to crash-land on you again. It wasn't anything romantic for sure, you were just interested in talking to him. The truth was, you stayed up most nights anyway. You stayed up most nights thinking about everything, unable to truly rest. If you were going to be restless, you might as well think about your new friend Spider-Man.

"The usual," you murmured to your friend, who hummed understandingly, despite you completely ignoring her question. You rubbed your eyes. "I'm so tired, Wonyoung."

Wonyoung's bright eyes ran over your figure: you were wearing sweats with a hoodie draped over your shoulders, as if you just woke up. She chuckled at you, before ringing you up. "We could go to the beach after my shift, if you want."

You groaned as you swiped your card. You didn't feel like doing anything, but when it was Wonyoung, it was hard to say no. "Fine."

You grinned lazily as she cheered, before you took a seat in the coffee shop, slumping over yourself as you waited for your coffee. You could hear some light jazz playing, but especially the laughter of Wonyoung as she charmed customers, and most importantly, the flagrant whispers of her coworkers.

There was always one downside of visiting Wonyoung while she worked: her coworkers, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Jake, who just so happened to be your ex-boyfriend's best friends. And now as you tried to fight your tiredness, all you could hear now was their whispers. Their frantic whispers.

If you weren't literally about to fall asleep, pulling your hood over your head, you would have shot them a glare, maybe even text Wonyoung to tell them to shut up.

"....that's definitely his..." you could hear Jake whisper-yell.

"...ngwon's gonna blow his shit..... Hurry, call him!"

"—Shit, he's on his way already!"

Ding! The doorbell of the coffee shop rang, making everyone in the shop (including yourself) turn their heads. And lo and behold, standing at the doorway was none other than your ex-boyfriend.

You couldn't even bring yourself to care. You could hear his friends practically shouting in the back while your phone pinged a billion messages from Wonyoung, but you just continued to push your face into your arms, taking comfort in the hoodie that you had thrown on this morning.

You hoped that Jungwon didn't notice that you were here. Maybe that would be better for your mental stability.

"[N-Name]?" Sunoo's shaky voice called out from the counter, where Sunoo, Sunghoon, and Jake liked to hang around. Your drink was ready. Finally.

Lifting yourself off of the cafe table, you trudged over to the counter, only a few feet away from the cash register. Where Jungwon was standing, getting ready to order. Which meant that he 100% saw you, and now he 100% knows that you're here.

Damn it. You really couldn't take seeing his face today. You fiddled with your hood, pulling it closer to you to hide your face.

"Here's your.... drink," Sunoo said, slowly and awkwardly, as if you were some alien. You rolled your eyes, fighting the horrible feeling of Jungwon's eyes boring into the back of your head, as you took your coffee from the counter.

As you read over the labeling and Sharpie'd name on your cup, you verified that this drink was indeed yours. And just as you were about to turn on your heel and get the fuck out of there (away from Jungwon, who was now 100000% staring at you), Jake just had to open his mouth.

"I-Isn't that Jungwon's hoodie?" Jake blurted, throwing an accusatory finger at the hoodie draped over your shoulders.

You didn't know what came first: Wonyoung's gasp from the cash register, you choking on your spit, or Jungwon spluttering from where he was. Sunoo and Sunghoon whacked Jake in the head, but the damage was already done.

Once again, for no apparent reason, you and Jungwon found each other. You couldn't fight the urge to turn over your shoulder and spot Jungwon, who was staring at you with big, shivering eyes, his ears red and his lips agape. Your heart skipped a beat in your chest. Your emotions were so erratic. Sometimes when you saw pictures of Jungwon you felt nothing, but now that he was in front of you, face to face, you wanted to scream and cry.

You looked down at the hoodie that enveloped you. Now that Jake mentioned it, yes, this hoodie was Jungwon's. In fact, you could remember how you acquired such a thing. One time, it was raining so Jungwon let you wear his hoodie, and you never gave it back. What once belonged to Jungwon was now yours, and you've made it such a normal part of your life that you forgot that it had ever been his.

This hoodie, having lived in your closet for months and months, smelled like your own laundry detergent. And as you brusquely walked past Jungwon, blinking back the tears that you hadn't even noticed were collecting in your eyes, you wished for something abnormal: you wished that this hoodie still smelled like Jungwon, even after all this time.

So that you could have something to remember him by.

Jungwon sucked in a sharp breath. Temptation was a work of sin, and unfortunately, it was not his fault that the devil was stronger than a man.

There were many reasons that Jungwon was so committed to keeping a distance from you. He wanted to respect your space, and he was dedicated to protecting you. But even more, there was an intimacy that was never speaking to you again. In his last act of love for you, Jungwon would grant you the peace that his presence could never give you. He hoped that his absence spoke of the words that he could never have said. And yet, as Jungwon sat on the ledge of some building, he watched the cars pass wistfully a few hundred meters below his feet.

In the daytime, he felt like he could deal with the guilt and loneliness. But at night, it was nearly impossible. It's been another week since Jungwon had uneventfully landed on your balcony, and you had requested that he, as Spider-Man, visit you.

And frankly, Jungwon wasn't going to visit you. Even if he promised you, he was so sure that he couldn't keep it. After all, he had a commitment. But when the summer air is so warm yet so unforgiving, sending hot beads of sweat running down Jungwon's face, the frustration and guilt festered, devouring Jungwon from the inside out. That was how Jungwon found himself only a few buildings away from your apartment. He teetered on the ledge. Half of him wanted so desperately to just swing onto your balcony again, to just see you again. But the other half of him couldn't stand putting you in harm's way any longer.

So imagine Jungwon's shame as he picked up his feet and swung by your apartment. All he wanted to do was check on you. He had good eyes, so hopefully he'd be able to catch a glimpse of you through your windows as he briefly came by. And yet, instead of finding you safe and sound through your bedroom window, what Jungwon saw from a distance was you, on your balcony, looking sad. Wistful, even. You had your arms over the railings, and even when he was afar, Jungwon could recognize any of your expressions, and this one, he could tell that you were crying.

His body moved faster than his mind, with zero hesitation, zooming right onto your balcony. Jungwon's mind was still racing, questions blurring through his mind, hesitating about what he should do. Why were you crying? Was it someone that made you feel this way? But his body knew his intentions better. His body knew the sorts of yearning that he had no chance of resisting. And just as swift as he came, Jungwon found himself breathing heavily as he landed back on the railing of your balcony.

"S-Spider-man?!" you sniffled. Under the dark sky, he could see the way your eyes lined with tears, your tearful eyes puffy and bloodshot. You quickly hid your face in your sleeve, turning your face away from him. "Wh—What are you doing here?"

"I..." Jungwon's mouth ran dry. He didn't have an answer for you. Seeing you like this made him feel on-edge, nervous even. He didn't know why he was here with you. He didn't know why his body forced him to keep crawling back to you. He didn't want to be here, it went against all instinct. He stared at the back of your head. "I'm— Um—"

You let out a loud, high-pitched sob, before you threw your arms around Jungwon's shoulders, burying yourself into his chest. Jungwon stiffened under your touch. It felt weird. He hadn't been close to really anyone at all, at least not physically. If it wasn't you that he was physically intimate with, he'd rather not have it at all. But even when it was you, intimacy felt so foreign, so lost. But as your choked sobs rung through the air, your arms holding onto him like he'd save you, Jungwon relaxed. Mixed in with the smell of the night air, you smelled like your usual peachy perfume. Your touch, just like he had remembered it, was soft. Kind.

Jungwon brought a hesitant hand up to the small of your back, in an attempt to quell your distress. Yet, he felt such a weird warmth as you clung onto him.

"I h—hate him, Spider-Man!" you cried, your hand gripping his forearm. "I hate him— so much."

And maybe if Jungwon was stronger than he was now, he would have just listened to you silently without any questions, patting your back and lending you a shoulder to cry on. But he wasn't.

"Who?" he breathed into your ear, his brows knitted together. That horrible gnawing feeling filled his stomach once again. He didn't want to know what your answer was, but that sickening curiosity was burning from the inside out. "Who do you hate?—Did you— Did you get hurt?"

You shook your head, looking up at the hero. The moonlight reflected off your eyes. You looked so pretty, even when you were crying. Jungwon's heart ached at the sight of your pained face. My baby, he thought. After all this time, you could commit all the grievances in the world, and if you just looked at him with your big, teary eyes, he would acquit you of all your crimes.

You tugged on his arm, your glossy eyes staring at him like he was some god, pulling him back into your room. And against all resolutions that Jungwon tried to make to himself, he followed you in anyway.

As your balcony door clicked shut, Jungwon watched as you pulled him onto your bed with you, pulling him as close as you could as you continued to cry, murmuring about how much you hated "him."

This time, Jungwon just let his eyes fall shut. He hadn't laid down in your bed in a while, and frankly, he thought your bed was more comfortable than his. With you so close to him, and his arms wrapped around you, for a split second, it felt like he was back together with you. It felt like another one of those nights where you'd cry into his arms about how stressed you were, and all he could offer up was his presence to console you.

"I know, I know," he gently whispered into your ears. You always loved it when he reassured you like that. He rubbed slow circles on your back, continuing to whisper soft reassurances into your ear, even if he knew that you couldn't hear him. "I know, love."

"I c-cant get over him," you lamented. At this point, Jungwon's chest was wet. "I don't know why I c-can't. I h-hate him so much."

Jungwon gulped as his gut twisted.

"Tell me," he rasped. He knew what your words meant. He knew better than anyone that you were talking about him, that it was him that you hated. But he needed to hear it from your lips first, to get real confirmation. Despite the weak feeling in his knees and the pang in his chest, he wanted to listen to you.

After all, he'd do anything to make you feel better, even if you didn't know it was him. And he knew how to do that exactly.

You lifted your head to look at him in the eyes, shaking your head profusely. "But i-it's pa—pathetic," you stammered, but when you could feel Jungwon's unwavering gaze on you, you gave in. Resting your cheek on the hero's shoulder, you spoke in a low, shaky voice. You told him everything— every thought and emotion that's been swirling your mind. You told him of how you still constantly thought about Jungwon, how you felt like in every crevice of your life he was there, how you've done everything you could to get over him with fruitless results. You cried and cried and cried. You detailed to him what types of restless nights you had, what kinds of thoughts swirled through your head whenever you thought about your ex.

"I miss him," you ended your tear-filled rant with. "I mi-miss him s-so much and I feel so—so d-dumb."

And if you weren't so caught up in your feelings, you would have noticed how the hero's body tensed with each word that fell from your lips.

A silence fell over you and Spider-Man, as you rested your cheek on his shoulder, letting your bated breaths calm down with each hiccup. You let your heart rate slow down, as your eyes— sore from crying— rested. Against you, the hero was so... still. He was definitely breathing, but it was slow and tranquil. If you listened hard enough, you could hear his heart beat; weirdly enough, it was erratic and loud.

That's what Jungwon's heartbeat sounds like when he's excited, you thought, before shaking your head and pushing that thought into the back of your mind. The mere thought of Jungwon made your stomach churn. You didn't want to even entertain that thought.

"Spider-Man...." you began in a soft voice, your finger coming up to poke his masked face. No response. "Spider-Man, are you asleep—"

Suddenly, Jungwon jolted up from the bed, his voice ripping through the air: "Boo!"

You let out a loud shriek, jumping away from him, surprised. You stared at him for a few moments, before Jungwon bursted out into giggles. On your bed, you watched as the red-and-blue masked hero who had just tried to startle you attempted to conceal his giggles, clamping a hand over his mouth.

"S-Sorry—" his voice was shaky, trying so goddamn hard not to laugh. Airy laughs escaped his lips, filling the air with something that felt all too familiar.

Despite having just cried for what seemed like forever, you slapped his chest, your lips pulling up into a wobbly smile. Spider-Man's laughter was contagious, and even as you continued to lightly punch him, you couldn't help but let giggles fall from your own mouth.

"Sh-Shut up!" you said between laughs. Having enough, you reached for a stray pillow and threw it at him. "You're so annoying!"

You couldn't remember the last time you laughed like this with someone. In fact, perhaps if you weren't so busy beating Spider-Man up like your life depended on it, you would have noticed the way your beloved hero was watching you closely. Jungwon knew exactly how to get you to loosen up; and in this case, it was to do something so stupid and dorky that you had no choice but to laugh.

"Ow! Ow!" Jungwon squirmed like a spider that had just gotten hit by bug spray. He let you win, as now he was pinned down on the bed, with you smothering him with your pillows. "White flag—Ack!"

Your laughter rang through the room. You weren't even that strong, but Jungwon did not dare to use his own strength on you. That wouldn't be fair.

That's right, he thought. Forget about me. Forget about the pain, forget about everything that I've done to you. Your eyes crinkled and your nose scrunched and your lips parted when you threw your head back and laughed. If he could preserve that laughter for the rest of his life, he would. Forget about me, baby.

"Jesus Christ, Spider-Man!" you snickered, as you held him down with a hand on his hard chest. "I thought you were stronger than this."

Jungwon's strong hand slid to wrap around your wrist. "You really wanna see strength?"

A weak yet sly grin spread across your face. You leaned down to him, so close that your noses touched. Almost purring,"Try me— Eek!"

That was all the confirmation he needed. In an instant, Jungwon flipped the two of you over, crashing into the soft plushness of your bed. This time, he was the one pinning you down. And while airy laughter fell from your lips, the surprise of Jungwon's outburst reducing you to giggles, Jungwon was distracted. You're just so pretty, so strikingly beautiful that he had no choice but to admire you.

And if Jungwon wasn't so distracted, he would have noticed the way that you stared at him owlishly, with a type of hunger and curiosity that was all too familiar. As if a lightbulb had switched on, your arms slithered up from under him to wrap around his neck. With glassy eyes and a girlish giggle, you gently pulled him toward your face.

Jungwon's body froze up as you plant a soft, tender kiss on his masked cheek, a spluttering sound coming from his mouth.

"Relax, silly," you rasped into his ear with a chuckle. Even with the mask, your fingers found their way to the crook between Jungwon's ear and jaw, delicately running your fingers over that spot and mindlessly caressing it— something that always made shivers roll down Jungwon's back. "You can save lives but you can't handle a girl kissing you?"

Jungwon's face felt hot. "Shut— Shut up!" That night, you eventually laughed yourself to sleep, and after tucking you in, Jungwon left with a bittersweet feeling in his chest. He hoped that he'd given you any type of emotional refuge, so that you would eventually forget the hurt and pain that he had caused you. 

To be a girl, after a long week of stress, unloading your worries and the like in a nice steamy bath— Oh, that is the best thing any person could experience.

You relished in the warm solitude of your bathtub. You hummed along to the quiet music you liked to play when you bathed, the peachy bubbles and scent of your soap filling your senses. You relaxed with an "ahh" into the water. Tonight was going to be perfect. After this bath, you were going to do your skincare routine and lather yourself with your new yummy lotion. Then you'd go make yourself a late night snack. Then maybe you'd spend the night reading some manga, or watching some shows, or anything you wanted frankly.

You had worries: finding an internship, employment, boy troubles. But this was no time to care about them. You let your eyelids gently fall shut... and maybe if you weren't careful, you might... just... drift... off...

"Eep!" You're startled back into reality by the sound of a distant crash! You glance around your bathroom, clutching yourself. It didn't sound nearby, so you had nothing to worry about. You sunk into the water again, letting your tense muscles relax into the warmth. Your tired eyes fell closed again. And maybe this time.... you'd be permitted the peace... to just... drift... off...

Crash! You jolted up, your eyes shooting open. This time, this crashing sound was much louder, and appeared to be much closer. Following that outburst was the sound of rustling and scrambling, which (in your already paranoid state) confirmed your fears that whatever the cause was, it was too close to you.

Emboldened, you stepped out of your bathtub, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around your body tightly, before slipping your shower slippers on.

And maybe you're dumb. Really dumb. But you peaked your head out your bathroom door, eyes glazing over the hallway between your bathroom and kitchen. Everything seemed fine. You crept out of the bathroom. Your entire apartment was quiet, maybe a little too quiet. Slowly, you made your way into your bedroom. It looked normal, not a single hair out of place. Nothing was wrong then.

Since you were already out of the bathroom, you should probably start dressing anyway. You loosened your grip around the towel, and just as the fabric fell from your chest—

"[N-Name]?!"

There had to be something psychological about the way bright red and blue were incredible at camouflaging, because you had not noticed the red and blue superhero perched at your window. And it seemed like he didn't notice you either, until now.

"Spider-Man?!" you cried. But it was too late. There you were, naked in all your glory and exposed entirely to the spider hero himself. You didn't know what was worse. The feeling of the cool air hitting your skin, sending goosebumps on your arms, or the feeling of Spider-Man practically ogling at you. It didn't seem to matter because the two of you stood like that: in silence, in complete and utter horror.

"I-I'm..." You've never seen Spider-Man more flustered, but if you weren't too busy trying to cover yourself up, scrambling for your fallen towel, you would have noticed the way the hero's hand shot up to clutch his face in embarrassment. A habit that you loved to see in your ex-boyfriend. "S... Sorr—"

"Get out!" you cried, clutching your towel so tightly as you began reaching for all of the pillows and plushes on your bed, hurling at the hero at full-force. Your face burned with embarrassment as you heaved. "Out! N-Now!"

Spider-Man simply stood there, stunned, which was weird considering that he should have a fast enough reaction time to stop you. Frustrated, you threw yourself on your bed, throwing the blanket over your naked body and pushing your face into the mattress, humiliated and flustered beyond belief.

"Get out!" you cried again, your eyes almost welling up with tears with how embarrassed you were. You felt so hot all over that you could probably melt. You hadn't felt this way— this flustered and embarrassed— in so long. You murmured, "What are you even doing here?!"

Finally breaking from his stupor, Spider-Man spluttered, "I-I just wanted to check up... on you."

You groaned from under the blanket, muffled, and that seemed to egg the hero on with a squeak. Words tumbling from his mouth like water, he squeals, "It seems like you're doing well! Youlookgoodasever—I mean— In all the years I've known you, you always look amazing— Like— Uhm— I— You're always—" he sucked in a deep breath, and you could hear how red his face was under the mask— "Beautiful."

There's a long silence, before Spider-Man nearly shouts, "Okay bye!"

And with that, he climbed out your balcony, and swung away. You stay where you are under the blanket all huddled up for a few moments, before you let out a giddy little chuckle. You flipped over to lay on your back, staring at the ceiling, before it hit you.

"Years?" you said aloud. Spider-Man said that you've been beautiful in all the "years" that he's known you.

You sat up. But you swore you only knew him for a few months.

Hm. Interesting.

Jungwon cursed under his breath. Fuck. He was in a pickle. After a few weeks in hiding, archvillain Baron von Fizzlebang was back for more, this time with more to show. It seemed like every time, he was getting progressively worse and worse. New gadgets, new costumes, new methods of entrancing people. First, Baron von Fizzlebang entranced a mob to rob a bank. Then, he controlled some elementary schoolers and tried to get them to walk into oncoming traffic (really evil of him). Most recently, the supervillain tried to possess the entire fire department and make them commit arson in an ironic turn of events. If it weren't for Jungwon's restless fighting, the entire city might have gone up in flames already.

Simultaneously, against his own better judgement, yet in alignment with his heart, Jungwon found himself intentionally coming to see you more. It's shameful that despite cutting you out of his life he still tried to keep you at an arm's reach. But oh, Jungwon was so greedy. Each time your face lit up when he appeared on your balcony left him eager for more. Every smile and little touch had him hungry. Hungry for more of you, hungry to keep you for himself, hungry to hide you from the world and selfishly have you all to himself. And the worst part was, your grief and sadness over civilian-Jungwon was slowly dissipating with time: you were reverting back to the you that he knew, not the sad, crestfallen version of you.

But, he had no time to think of that. Right now, Jungwon was beaten up pretty badly, resting atop the roof of a building and leaning against some structure there.

It's not easy to fight one Baron von Fizzlebang, when he's able to manipulate up to a hundred people to do his own bidding. Jungwon doesn't want to hurt the civilians under Baron von Fizzlebang's control, but how is he supposed to win at all if these civilians are being used to attack him?

One eye was incapacitated, with blood dripping down Jungwon's forehead and his lip bleeding. Even in the darkening night sky, Jungwon could tell that there were a few tears here and there on his hero costume, but the worst part was that Jungwon's right shoulder was most definitely out of commission.

Luckily, Jungwon got the victimized civilians to safety. Unluckily, Baron von Fizzlebang was still on the loose, pretty much unscathed. Jungwon could work under severe pressure, with great injuries too. But for some reason, he absolutely couldn't think straight as he stumbled to his feet, clutching his injured shoulder. He blinked his one working eye slowly, trying to see clearly, but there was too much blood coming from his head after getting slammed against a brick wall for him to get a clear view.

At the very least, Jungwon needed to locate where the villain went—

"Yoo-hoo!" a sing-songy voice boomed, and Jungwon whipped his pounding head around. "Spidey-Spidey!~"

Lo and behold, Baron von Fizzlebang was (for some reason) suspended in the air, completely uninjured, a stark difference from Jungwon's hunched-over, painful form. With his extravagant costume, he waved mockingly at Jungwon, a cackle spilling from him. "I'm back for more, Spidey. Are you?"

Jungwon's eyes narrowed, a pained grunt escaping his lips before he limped toward the villain. He sucked in a sharp breath. The blood from his bleeding lip tasted metallic on his tongue, but his physical pain mattered not— not when the livelihood and safety of the city was on the line because of this maniac.

"Yeah," Jungwon responded breathily, stumbling. "Come get me."

Much to Jungwon's chagrin, from Baron von Fizzlebang came some strange metal contraption. With big and long metal tentacle arms with grabby hands at the ends, Baron von Fizzlebang laughed maniacally as his new gargantuan device conjured a physical reaction out of Jungwon. Faster than Jungwon could move, the villain's metal arms snatched him up.

"Let me go—Ack!" Jungwon squirmed in the contraption's grasp.

"No," Baron von Fizzlebang said simply. "All you do is ruin my plans to take over this city!"

Jungwon cried in pain as the metal hands squeezed him tighter. The villain laughed again. "Have you ever had to experience someone try to ruin something you care about, Spider-Man?" Jungwon opened his mouth to choke a retort, but the Baron continued. "Or in your case, someone that you care about?"

Jungwon continued to squirm in the metal hands' grasp, the villain taking it as a sign to continue his villainous monologue.

"You don't think that I don't know you have a secret little girlfriend, right? She's the same one I claimed that one night at Bisco's." At the sound of that, Jungwon tensed up even more. No.... Don't tell me.."Maybe I should let this little spider go. To make you really feel my pain, why don't I go pay your little girlfriend a visit again."

"No!—" tore from Jungwon's throat, but it was too late. With panic filling his body, Baron von Fizzlebang's metal tentacles hurled him through the sky before the villain took off. Presumably to find you. And even though Jungwon was falling through the sky with an incapacitated eye and shoulder, all he could think about was you.

Every single fear and made-up scenario of you getting hurt or even worse, dying, as a result of Jungwon ran through his head in the milliseconds that he was in the air.

Just as Jungwon was about to slam against a sky-scraper, he shot a web to catch himself. His hands shook as he stabilized himself against another wall.

Dammit, dammit, dammit— I'm so fucking stupid— She's in danger now— Everything that he had feared was coming true, and it was all a result of Jungwon's selfishness and negligence and— Jungwon took a deep breath, not noticing that he had neglected to breathe as he spiraled. He shoved his face in his hands. Think, think, think. He had to do something.

He looked at his hands. He had to go find you, and warn you. Move you to safety, make sure you're somewhere safe where that maniac couldn't find you.

Even with all his injuries, nothing stopped Jungwon as he shot webs across the sky. With all the remaining strength in his body, and with all the power he could muster up, Jungwon flew across the sky to where he knew you'd be: in your apartment.

And just as he expected, you were in your room, peacefully listening to music and painting your nails. Usually, he'd be courteous and wait for you to welcome him in. But Jungwon had no time to waste: he crashed onto your balcony, practically busting into your room through the doors.

"Spider-Man?!" you cried, startled by his sudden entrance.

"You have to leave," Jungwon breathed with labored huffs. He clamored toward you, grabbing you by your shoulders. "I-I don't have time to explain—"

"What— What are you talking about?—"

Jungwon gripped your shoulders, the vehemence in his voice resounding as he desperately repeated, "You have to leave. It-It's not safe for you— I need you to leave and go somewhere sa—"

"Spider-Man," you said firmly. Jungwon breathed shakily, swallowing down hard. He shook his head. It felt like the world had fallen into his shoulders.

"Please, [Name]," he pleaded. Even with a mask, you can hear his sheer desperation. "Please listen to me this time."

You stared at him, with a curious yet concerned look, like you were studying him. “Please,” Jungwon said again, his voice high-pitched and cracking. His grip on you loosened, but his head hung low.“Please.”

You kept your eyes stuck on him, but Jungwon couldn’t focus. All he could think about was how you could die. Everything hurt, and yet nothing did at the same time. The mere thought of something even worse happening to you made Jungwon’s gut twist, the oncoming fear so great that it effectively numbed everything in him.

“I can’t— I can’t lose you—“

There was something unsettling about you that Jungwon never figured out. You’re sensitive and soft, but strong-willed and stern. But you’re also a level of smart that Jungwon couldn’t understand.

Which was why he couldn’t possibly understand why you grabbed him by his shoulders, pulled him into you, and slammed your lips against his. You let your lips stay on his for a little bit, but before you could pull away, all the hunger and fear consumed Jungwon whole. His large hands grabbed you by the waist, pulling you flush against him. Greedily, like a starved man, Jungwon hungrily kissed you back, holding you tightly as his breathing picked up.

Maybe it was all the adrenaline, or the pain and delirium, or just Jungwon’s fear, but he didn’t even think about what he was doing. Your lips against his, your body pressed against him, and your scent overtaking his mind— it all made it impossible for him to stop.

He muttered your name against your lips, grasping you like you’d disappear any minute. Your soft body on him felt heavenly, as he drank you in. Everything felt hot and everything ached, but even with his mask on, it felt so delicious. He heaved as your lips moved against his. A choked breath and whimper escaped his lips as you slid tongue into his mouth, your hands slithering up his chest and wrapping around his neck, the way that he always liked it. Almost like you knew how to make him feel good.

The kiss halted to a slow stop, with the two of you gently pulling away. And Jungwon, too dazed, didn’t know what to expect next— and he definitely didn’t expect the next words that came out of your mouth.

"Jungwon," you hummed against his lips, looking at him with an expression that he couldn't read. Jungwon's heart plummeted to his stomach, shaky eyes widening.

"Wh-What—" he began, but you brought a finger up to his lip, hushing him. No way. There's no way that you knew it was him all along—

"You need to calm down, Jungwon," you said as you pulled away from him, eyes glued to his masked face. You took his hand, rubbing circles on the back of his hand slowly, the way that always helped calm him down. "I know you. You're spiraling. We can't do anything if you're panicking. Deep breaths."

"I don't— I don't understand," Jungwon whispered, his strong body still. Had you known it was him all along? And if you did, why didn't you say or do anything? Did you find him pathetic? "How did you know?"

You blinked at him slowly, before a bashful grin pulled onto your face. You reached your hand out to him, your palm finding itself on his cheek. In a moment of instinct, Jungwon leaned into your touch.

"That's how I knew," you breathed. Your lithe fingertips then prodded at the crook between his jaw and his ear, the sensitive spot, and just as you expected, Jungwon shuddered. Your fingers traced down his jaw to his neck, pressing on the tender spot in the middle of his neck. Much to Jungwon's personal mortification, he let out a gasp, and when you leaned closer to his neck— so close that he could feel your breath on him— Jungwon let out a soft sound and shivered. Your lip grazed against the covered skin of his neck, watching him intently as you earn a sensitive whimper from him.

"What— What are you doing—" Jungwon was cut off again by your lip pressing against his jugular, at the spot that never failed to make him cry out in pleasure. Jungwon's ears burned, but the blood rushing through his body made him feel hot all over. He leaned his head back, eyes falling shut.

"I know you, Jungwon." Your voice was low, almost like a purr. Your hands continued to run over his jaw and neck, hooking onto the edge of his mask and uncovering the honey tan skin of his neck. You pressed your lips against his exposed skin, another gasp falling from his lips. "You're not good at hiding anything. And you're not a convincing liar."

You pulled his mask up, exposing his lower jaw and lips. When he muttered your name startled, you pulled the entire mask off.

Lo and behold, just as you had expected, it was Jungwon Yang. You had your suspicions, and when you made them known to him you were certain that you were right. And yet, you're still taken aback when it's really Jungwon behind the mask. His overgrown blonde hair falling over his eyes, his cat-like eyes staring at you with a mix of fear, shame, and desire, his jaw that had gotten stronger— you drank in every last bit of it.

"Son of a bitch," you murmured under your breath.

Jungwon hadn't noticed the way his chest pounded and how his breathing became erratic, nor did he notice that he was now blinking back tears, his chest heaving. "I—I'm sorry—" he struggled to get out, his voice getting caught in his throat. "Oh— I'm so— I"m sorry—"

He couldn't tell if you were angry, or disgusted, or both... because despite the unreadable look on your face, you still grabbed his face, slamming your lips against his once more.

Your fingers brusquely grab at his hair, tangling themselves in his grown-out blonde locks. This time, you're the hungry one. Your hands slid down his chest again, grasping onto his strong, toned arms, and running your hands all over him. Your lips moved surly against his, as if you hadn't been fed in days.

"You're a jackass," you rasped against him, and yet you kept kissing him like he'd disappear. "Fucking jackass." Jungwon tried to murmur apologies, but you kept kissing him, shutting him up. You pushed him against your bed slowly as your lips moved, so that he had no choice but to fall back onto it.

With Jungwon's back now pressed up against your bed, you were on top of him. Your hands roamed his body, and Jungwon couldn't help but let his eyes fall shut.

"I-I'm sorry," he rumbled, but with you on top of him, lips all over him, he couldn't do much but gasp and squirm under your touch. "I-I didn't mean to—"

Boom! In the distance, a massive explosion sound careened through the air. You and Jungwon, both alarmed, froze in your position. Even with you filling his senses, Jungwon's immediate thought is simple: he is Spider-Man.

Jungwon felt your body tense against his, with fear painted on your face. His body felt hot all over, the excitement still pulsing through his veins and desperate need for you still clouding his mind. But a trembling, paralyzed you was enough to pull him away from himself, and force him to focus.

In one fell swoop, Jungwon pulls the two of you to your feet, his arms wrapping around your waist firmly, yet gently. Ignoring your questions, he felt around for his discarded mask, before shooting a web from his fingers and pulling it to him.

"You have to go," he said to you, his hands tightening around your waist. Jungwon watched as your brows crashed together, your expression morphing from bewilderment to hurt, and then anger.

"What are you— Jungwon—" Jungwon ignored you, quickly searching around your room. He took a jacket from your closet (which was definitely his), before draping it around your shoulders.

"I'm serious," he said, his voice cracking with earnestness. "I mean it, [Name]. You have to go."

It was your turn to splutter, scoffing in disbelief. "Where would I even go? I don't know why you're saying this—"

Jungwon chewed on his bottom lip for a few moments, before he huffed. "Go to Jake's."

You're about to scoff again, but Jungwon— the most tender person you've ever met— sent you a stern look that shuts you up.

"Tell him that I sent you," Jungwon instructed. "Tell him to keep you safe. And text me when you're there...." the boy trails off, awkwardly scratching his head, "If I'm not blocked, y'know.... Or just have Jake text me."

You stared at him in silence, blinking slowly, in an attempt to assess his face. Finally, you sigh, your face looking sad. "Okay."

Jungwon helped you collect your things, the two of you engulfed in a silence, with nothing filling your apartment but the ambient sound of your footsteps and breaths. That is, until it was time for you to go.

"I-I think I should go now," you said shakily, your back turned to Jungwon as you reached for your front door. Jungwon solemnly nodded, wistfully staring at you as he fiddled with his mask; his face was still uncovered, making it difficult to hide his concern, yet he didn't have the courage to put his mask back on. Not when you were here. And Jungwon would have let you go like that, alone into the night, if it weren't for the sound of your sniffles.

"Hey, hey," he called out to you, reaching out to you and taking hold of your shoulder. His brows furrowed. "[Name], what is it?"

You sniffled, your breath getting caught in your throat, and it was clear now that you were crying. However, you just shook your head, your back still turned to him.

"Baby," Jungwon said again. "Baby, please tell me. What is it? Why are you crying?"

The sound of Jungwon's voice made you tense up again. You let out a choked sob, before you sucked in a sharp breath. "Th-That."

Jungwon reached for your face, tilting your chin so that you would face him, but you wouldn't budge. "Talk to me. Please."

"That!" you cried. You sucked in another sharp breath as you threw your face into your palms. "You— You l-left me the first time... and— and now you're leaving a-again."

Jungwon's chest ached, and in a moment of remorse and desire, he slid his hands around your waist, pulling you into an embrace with you pressed against his chest. The way you always liked it. He pressed his cheek against your head, his own tears welling up in his eyes as you sniffled and cried.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes squeezing shut. He knew he hurt you, it was nothing new to him. But just knowing that never made the regret feel any better. He kissed your head. "I'm so sorry."

There's another explosion in the distance, and Jungwon's hold on you tightened. "Please. I'll make it up to you. Please just go this time."

You shook your head. "I—I don't get it. J-Jungwon, I don't g-get it—"

In your state, there was no way you'd make it to safety in time. And Jungwon was a fool for thinking that you could, not after opening up the wounds you were trying to heal from. Jungwon pressed one more kiss on your head. He hauled you into his arms, ignoring your protests, only saying, "Wrap your arms around me."

Jungwon wished he had more time. He wished he could sit you down and explain everything. But there was no time, and he had to make sure you were safe first: he'd like to do it himself. All the injuries from earlier had been healed for the most part, just enough that he had strength.

"Hold on tight, baby," he said in your ear before putting his mask on, and shooting a web out your window. Jungwon figured it was your first time soaring with Spider-Man, because you let out a squeal, hiding your face in his neck.

"Jungwon!" you cried, your eyes still lined with tears. "P-Please, I'm scared—"

Jungwon chuckled, but complied with your request, taking less risky swings. And when he arrived at Jake's apartment, he simply forced his friend's window open. Much to his luck, Jake was already there.

"S-Spider-Man?!" Jake gawked. It wasn't every day that the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man showed up at your window. Then, his eyes fell on you. "[N-Name]?!"

Gently, Jungwon set you down. "Jungwon's request: Keep her safe."

Jake, utterly baffled, opened his mouth to speak. But like a little boy (quite literally) seeing his favorite super-hero for the first time, Jake nodded dutifully, his eyes comically filling with stars. "Yes sir!"

Jungwon nodded satisfied. He knew he could count on Jake. As Jungwon readied himself to jump out the window, he's stopped by your soft voice.

"G-Good luck..." you murmured, fiddling with your fingers. "Don't die... please."

Jungwon couldn't help but grin. "Of course."

And with that, he swung away, ready to kick ass.

You're already asleep when Jungwon finds you back at Jake's house. He felt a little bad about placing the burden of you on Jake, but Jungwon couldn't care more about that when your life was on the line. Jungwon, in his hero form of course, left a note for Jake on the kitchen counter, as he slowly wrapped his arms around your sleeping figure.

You're left sleeping on Jake's couch, with a throw blanket awkwardly draped over you. He appreciated Jake's efforts, grinning softly as the way you stirred in your sleep. It's near dawn, and Jungwon couldn't ignore the ache in his body. But even so, the way your eyes were puffy, your cheeks stained lightly with tears made his chest ache more than his body did.

As quietly as he could, Jungwon took you in his arms, and took you back to his apartment (he didn't have the keys to your apartment, and he didn't want to make you angrier by breaking in). Helicopters were still flying overhead, the sound of police sirens below filling the air. Jungwon's eyes twitched with tiredness, his straining muscles nearly giving out. The city was asleep, and yet it was still functionally cleaning up the mess from earlier.

Speaking of, that son of a bitch Baron von Fizzle-dick or whatever was now in police custody. Jungwon was too exhausted to remember the details, but it was a long and tiring fight. One that was painful.

As he swung through the sky, Jungwon couldn't forget the fight. He was hit pretty badly, almost nearly stabbed in the chest. His entire body was in pain, and if it weren't for the precious you in his arms, Jungwon thought he would collapse mid-air. The feeling of the insurmountable physical agony that that villain inflicted on him was definitely one for the books. Jungwon could still feel the blood dripping down his back. But what was even worse were the things Baron von Fizzlebang had said. The threats he made, the words he said: the villain, and apparently, all the villains in the city, via their underground network, seemed to know you by name. They knew you because you were a soft spot for Spider-Man. It terrified him that now you had a target on your back. He cursed himself for letting himself get comfortable, for endangering you in the process. Even if he won the fight now, Jungwon couldn't forget the fear.

As he landed on his window, Jungwon slowly cracked it open, supporting both you and himself as he brought the two of you into his apartment. He placed you down on his bed, pulling his comforter over you. He watched as you snuggled into his bed, a satisfied murmur falling from your lips. You looked so peaceful, and for a moment, Jungwon could forget all the pain he felt.

Jungwon looked down at his hands. Ripped gloves, blood-stained palms... will it ever go away?

He pulled away from you, about to make his way to his bathroom. He ought to wash the blood off his hands. The night was at its peak, the dreariest that it had ever been. He didn't know what time it was— he lost track of that a long time ago— but all he knew was that it was dark outside. He better get some sleep too. But as he pulled away from you, he felt a few fingers weakly grip his arm. He froze.

"Jung... won..." you murmured. Your eyes were shut, and your voice sounded dreamy.

"I'm here," Jungwon breathed. He hadn't realized it, but his voice broke. Really, all he felt like doing was crying.

"Don't leave," you mumbled. Your fingers tightened around his arm. "I'll do.... do anything..." you drew on. "Just... don't go."

"Oh, baby—" And with that Jungwon broke, the hot tears he hadn't even realized he were holding in spilling. He pulled on his mask. He dropped to his knees, resting his head on the bed beside you. "I... I never meant to. I never wanted to leave you—"

You hummed, murmuring something incoherent. "Stay."

Jungwon let out a shaky breath. "I will— I really want to— Please, let me—"

"Jungwon," you said, rather firmly. You still had your eyes shut.

"I'm here, baby." Jungwon sniffled, swiping the back of his ragged hand to wipe his nose. "I'm not gonna go— I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so—"

"In the... morning," you whispered. Before Jungwon could ask, you continued. "Talk in the morning."

Jungwon's voice broke again. "W-What?"

Your hand reached out for him again, this time falling onto his disheveled head. Jungwon nearly flinched at the feeling of your hand running through his hair, but instinctively he leaned into your touch. For a few moments, your fingers ran through his blonde locks, such a foreign feeling and yet a welcome one. Jungwon let his eyes shut, and they burned as his lids fell shut.

Your voice is quiet, and Jungwon is almost certain you're awake now. "Jake told me some things. I put two and two together."

"Really?" Jungwon, too tired to be mad. "Was it bad?"

You only hummed, giving him a classic nonresponse. Your fingers continued through his hair. "Go to sleep now."

"But—"

You hushed him, petting his head slowly and affectionately. "I love you."

Jungwon was stunned, but it felt so natural as, "I love you, too," tumbled from his lips.

There's a warmth that spreads across his chest, reassuring and comforting. But yet, so deeply harrowing, and so deeply frightening. He's a man of a thousand words and complex ideas, and you knew it, so you hushed Jungwon before he could continue, petting his head slowly and affectionately. "We'll talk in the morning."

Jungwon opened his mouth to protest. But as your fingers ran through his hair, he couldn't help the satisfying chills that ran down his spine. And everything hurt, and it hurt so bad that it was unbearable and Jungwon felt like he couldn't take it.

But your touch was so soft and familiar, Jungwon felt like.... for a second... he could maybe... fall into your touch... and just... take... it... easy...

"Pro...tect you..." Jungwon murmured. "I'll protect... you."

You chuckled softly. "You're not alone. I'll carry your burden with you."

It's his turn to hum, nearly satisfied. As he drifted off into a deep slumber, his troubles melting away into the palms of your hands, there's only one last thought in Jungwon's head.

Maybe there will be a new day tomorrow, and hopefully, he won't be alone when the day breaks.

Self-sabotage must bloom from within you. 

Sprout and sow its roots into you, slow and steady, unsuspecting with a growing sinisterness blamed on something else ─ discipline scarcity, forgetfulness, an unseriousness you'd made more of a joke than stated, your laugh hollowed in its tail end as the weight of consequences push against your chest, crushing ribs and whistling wheezes. You wouldn't say it's terribly detrimental, some of your greatest life lessons are learned through your least loved trait. Life goes on anyways, whether you're your best friend or worst enemy and in those lulls, Jungwon remains stable. Unwavering. Much like he is now, as you tremble under his weight. 

He's one of your life's nicest surprises ─ unexpected, serious and with a heart like no other. It makes your brain stutter, lashes batted in increments because what warrants this? You're trudging through life, changes here and there made for your betterment but up to no standard of your own. Not that you're undeserving of him, but at least what you'd read in fictional tales and romantic poems, you thought you would've met him at a better place. In a better version of you, the one that doesn't need body doubling to get anything done, the kind of person who doesn't blank when asked about who they are, what they like. They're all too big of questions, ones you have answers for but somehow feel like don't fit into conversation ─ like they belong to a former life of yours, or don't deserve the platform at all. With time, and in no time at all, Jungwon fills in the blanks. Draw conclusions of you ringing too close to home, a prickle of unnerve at your nape for your fear of perception. Yet, you yearn. Yearn for love and to be seen, even in the dark crevices of yourself and in true Jungwon fashion, he loves you through it all. 

Doesn't mind the clutter when things get bad, when your joke's fall flat or the glossiness of your eyes coming with an impending burst of your chest. Unconditional is the love he holds for you, a something that cannot be revoked or misplaced by over-thought actions or a lack of words. Pressure conjures in his palm, soft yet heavy against your hand's back, a wobbled corner of your lips lifted given before another hand swallows the back of your head, your face burying into his chest. A metallic taste decorates your palate, teeth sunk into your bottom lip in a mask of your wails, a poor attempt if anything before the dam breaks. 

You could say you find yourself in a similar situation now. That same too-big feeling in your chest, lungs burning with the breath you forget to take with a vision becoming blurry. It's overwhelm ─ less horrific, with the beginnings of pleasure as you let out a winced whimper, lips clamped into a pale after. 

"Look at how good you're doing," Jungwon coos, love in his eyes while they hang low, glued to where you connect. "How perfect you are taking me." 

Sheets ruffle, a muffled moan at your throat's back before you pant in desperation, a simmered sting in your eyes and between your legs as Jungwon feeds inches of himself into you. Knuckles burn white, your dropped chin futile in your chanced look down below, unsure how much more length you can take before you're split open.

The inches grind to a halt, a burial to your hilt that has your teeth baring, a keen chocked back whilst your body burns furnace levels hot. Your ears ring like church bells, eyes blinked purposely to clear your vision's haze as your body adjusts to his size, clenching and squirming to his detriment. 

He's gracious about it ─ as he is everything ─ not fucking into you like some rapid beast kept away in his chest. The lid of cement contains it, some cracks and frays but nothing sizable enough to hurt you. 

Not in any way you wouldn't like, of course. 

All glossy eyed with a pant that doesn't cease, your voice finds its sound, vocalise your affirmations accompanied by a nod and with a short pause, a double check for your welfare, Jungwon moves. 

He groans, you whimper. Your toes curl with all the lust pooled in your stomach pushed to clog your throat, a feeling of fullness your body doesn't recognise but clings to, even in a dull seethe of pain, reaches out for hints of ecstasy. The more he moves ─ draws his hips back, slick echoing off four walls and announced when he plunges back in ─ the more it's accessible. The more you live for it, back of your head rolling against a pillow's plush as a galaxy dances across your eyes, your moans louder than your ears' rushed blood. 

"Aren't you lucky that I'm the one to ruin you and no one else?" Jungwon offers, tone bathed in that lick of condescend you clench at. The grin's shit-eating on his face as he feels the inevitable squeeze, a harder jut of his hips a crack in his composure. He collects, then carries on. 

"I took my sweet time with you too, made you come thrice on my fingers before you felt brave enough." 

Shadowed in the lowlights of your bedroom, his body magnetizes closer to yours, fingers undoing your duvet grip and weaving his with yours. All with hips at an impossible angle, one that feels like more inches you've had to accommodate for, friction burn on your heels as they glide hot against the duvet, body too small for his dispensed pleasure. 

"Tell me," the whisper dances in your ears, bottom lip grazed against the flesh with a slight labour to his breath. It's the single most erotic thing you've ever heard. "Is it worth it, princess? Feeling me in all the way in your stomach?" 

"Y─" you choke on enthusiasm, the tears in your eyes pushed past their waterline and down your warm cheeks, lips squeaking out the obvious. "Yes." 

"Aren't you sweet?" you hear his smile before seeing it, his face hauntingly beautiful as his pelvis hits the back of your thighs again and again. It spins your head dizzy. "Even sweeter when you're crying for me,"

A kiss bestows the skin of your cheek, a stripe against its warmth as he licks your tear away. All before his fingers squeeze against yours in a sequence of three ─ I. Love. You.

A sob hurtles out your throat, contained in the cross of moans pouring out in generosity, the piston of his hips, feel of his skin and cycle of his breaths making a mess of your body and mind. 

"It's okay, baby," his fingers untwine, the hover of his chest not as imminent while his body heat vacates, your legs handled and propped to the stretch of his shoulders. "You know nothing but pleasure with me." 

And you do. Even with its beginnings of pain, all nothing but a vague memory as he folds you, your thigh's flesh braced to your chest as his bodyweight bares into into their back. Your eyes roll to the back of your skull as you become untamed, voice's volume foreign to your ears as he chases you off a cliff, his thrusts pushing your head off the pillow and into your headboard. It smacks, your bed creaks, crying with the overwhelm you feel, body with no choice but to suffer the consequences of your actions. Your insistence that you can take it. To your credit, you do, but to an undoing of yourself you cannot overwrite. Ruined by him for anyone else and you wouldn't have it any other way, your tears kissed away before Jungwon's lips find yours, a kiss of death as your orgasm explodes through the cells of your body. 

What crosses your mind once the fog clears, when your body's back on Earth and you're more human is that you wish you watched. Saw the tip of him signal beneath your lower stomach's skin, the rosy flush fill the shell of his ears, the growing desperation Jungwon really can't hold back with you before he ruts into you. Letting go, giving you his everything. 

You wish you could've seen it all. 

Lucky for you, your boyfriend is nothing but willing. A cautious look given before his eyes widen at your legs linking around him, crossing at the small of his back. He laughs then, breathy and low-toned, licking arousal up your spine before he goes again, the feeling of fullness less thought of as self-sabotage and more like love.

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the sound of his laughter was always just a little too quiet to hear from across the floor, but you always knew exactly when it happened. you could tell by the way the girls in marketing would suddenly lean over their desk dividers, or how the receptionist would find a reason to walk all the way to the printer on your side of the building just to catch his eye as he passed.

yang jungwon had a way of distributing himself so thinly that everyone felt like they had a piece of him, yet nobody actually held anything at all.

it was a strange kind of currency he traded in. he didn’t have the loud, exhausting arrogance of the men you usually avoided. he didn’t smirk, he didn’t linger a second too long in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable. he was just... soft. incredibly, terrifyingly attentive. he remembered how people took their tea, he noticed when someone looked a little tired, and he always had the right words to smooth over a mistake before the department head could even find out about it.

you had spent eight months watching the cycle repeat itself. a new girl would start in accounting or design, she would get overwhelmed by the workload, and jungwon would appear out of nowhere with a reassuring smile and a cup of coffee. and a few weeks later, she would be looking at him with that same dazed, mesmerized expression you saw on everyone else. he got his shifts covered, his spreadsheets double-checked, and an absolute shield of loyalty from the entire floor, all because he looked at people like they were the only thing that mattered in a room full of fluorescent lights.

you hated how clearly you saw the pattern. it made you feel detached, like a ghost lingering on the edges of a game everyone else was happily playing. loneliness did that to you — it made you hyper fixate on the details of other people’s lives because your own felt so hollow. and maybe, just maybe, it was also about the fact that you were the only person on this floor who he hadn't tried to use that gentle charm on yet. it felt spiteful, almost, like he knew you were watching and had decided you weren't worth the effort of the routine.

you bit the inside of your cheek, forcing your eyes back to your spreadsheet. do not look. do not care.

"you're going to get a headache if you keep staring at that screen without blinking, y/n." your pulse gave a stupid, frantic flutter before you could stop it. he was right there, his shadow leaning gently over the divider of your cubicle. he looked so terribly neat, the sleeves of his grey button down rolled up just to his forearms, his dark hair falling perfectly across his forehead. he didn’t look like someone who had just spent the last twenty minutes quietly convincing the senior supervisor to give him an extra week on his report. he just looked like a concerned coworker.

"i'm almost done." you whispered, your fingers staying frozen over the keyboard. you didn't want to look up. looking up meant acknowledging the way he was tilting his head, the way he was offering you that quiet, private space he seemed to create wherever he stood.

"you said that an hour ago when i walked past." he murmured, his voice slipping into that gentle register that always felt like a secret meant only for you. he set a small paper bag from the bakery downstairs on the edge of your desk, careful not to disturb your papers. "you skipped the team lunch. i brought you one of those lemon tarts you mentioned liking last month." 

your heart ached a little, a sharp spike of anxiety hitting your chest. you hadn't even realized he had been listening when you said that to a completely different coworker in the breakroom weeks ago. that was his trick. he collected information like weights, saving them until he could wrap them up in sweet gestures, leaving you with no way to push him away without looking like the bad guy.

"jungwon, you shouldn't have." you said, trying to force your voice to sound flat, or at least indifferent. you finally met his eyes, searching for a slip, a hint of the calculation you knew was behind them. but there was nothing. just those wide, dark eyes looking at you with a steady warmth that made you feel completely exposed.

"i wanted to." he said simply, a tiny, almost imperceptible crinkle forming at the corners of his eyes. "you look tired, y/n. let me do something nice for you for once. okay?" the way he said for once, as if he had been waiting for the opportunity to care about you, made a bitter knot form in your throat. he was opening the door to the routine, and the worst part was how badly a small, pathetic part of you wanted to step inside.

you looked down at the brown paper bag, the grease from the pastry already leaving a translucent circle on the paper. it felt heavy, like an anchor pulling you straight into the deep end of his world. if you reached for your purse right now, if you pulled out a crisp bill and insisted on paying him back, you would look incredibly cold. you would be the girl who couldn't just accept a simple favor from a coworker who was only trying to be thoughtful.

but you needed a barrier. you needed to prove to yourself that you weren't like that girl from accounting, or the receptionists, or any of the other people who let his probably fake kindness soften their edges until there was nothing left to protect themselves with.

"how much was it?" you asked, your fingers gripping the edge of your desk a little tighter as you kept your voice low, trying to maintain the flat, corporate boundary between you. "i can venmo you. i also think i have some cash in my bag."

jungwon didn't move. he didn't blink, either. he just kept staring down at you, his thumb slowly brushing against the seam of his trouser pocket. for a second, just a tiny fraction of a second, the soft crinkle around his eyes vanished, replaced by an expression that was entirely unreadable. it was the closest you had ever seen his mask come to slipping, and it made your stomach do a small anxious flip.

but then, as quickly as it had gone, the sweetness returned. it bloomed across his face like it belonged there, gentle and effortless. "don't do that, y/n.” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave, sounding almost disappointed. not angry, just gently hurt, like a friend whose genuine intentions had been misunderstood. he reached out, his fingers hovering just an inch above the paper bag, not quite touching it, but close enough that you could smell the faint scent of his laundry detergent mixed with the sweet scent of the lemon. "it's just a tart. you don't owe me anything for it."

you hated how good he was at this. he made your self-preservation look like paranoia. "i just don't like feeling like i owe people things." you whispered, finally looking away from his eyes because the intensity of his gaze was starting to make your chest feel tight. you focused on his collar instead, tracing the neat, sharp line of his grey button down. "especially at work."

"you don't owe me." he repeated softly. he leaned a little closer over the divider, his shadow completely enveloping your desk space now, cutting off the rest of the bustling floor. "i promise. consider it an apology for the project timeline being so messy this week. i know it's been stressful for you."

he hadn't even been the one who messed up the timeline, it had been the senior supervisor's fault. yet there he was, taking the blame, wrapping it up in a pastry, and handing it to you like a peace offering. it was perfect. it was entirely unassailable.

before you could think of another way to push him back, another way to say no without sounding entirely irrational, he was already straightening up. he patted the top of the cubicle divider twice, the dull thud of his palms against the fabric signaling the end of your private pocket of time.

"eat it before the sugar melts." he said, giving you one last, lingering smile that felt entirely too warm for a tuesday afternoon in a fluorescent lit office. "i'll see you in the meeting tomorrow, y/n."

you didn't answer. you just watched his back as he turned around and walked away, his stride easy and completely relaxed. and then, you watched the trap reset. 

barely three steps away from your desk, he ran into the assistant manager. within two seconds, jungwon’s posture shifted, his head tilting in that familiar, attentive way as he listened to the older man complain about a client. he smiled, offered a reassuring nod, and effortlessly slid back into being the floor's favorite person. it was like his conversation with you hadn't even happened. it was just another stop on his daily rounds.

you sank back into your ergonomic chair, feeling smaller than you had five minutes ago. the paper bag sat on the edge of your desk, a tiny, sweet monument to your own weakness. you hadn't won. you hadn't even fought back.

when you finally decided to pack your bag, the fourteenth floor was entirely dead. the quiet was suffocating, broken only by the distant, rhythmic hum of the building's ventilation system. you had stayed late on purpose, hiding behind the excuse of a heavy workload just to avoid having to walk out the double doors at the same time as everyone else. you needed the air to clear.

you walked down the narrow carpeted hallway toward the back supply room to drop off a final stack of hard copy client files before heading to the elevators. the lights in the back corridor were completely out, the darkness only cut by the faint city lights bleeding through the floor to ceiling glass windows at the end of the hall.

as you neared the heavy wooden door of the archive room, you realized it wasn’t fully latched. a thin sliver of light was slicing across the dark carpet. and then, you heard a sound that made your entire body freeze in place.

it wasn't a murmur about spreadsheets or a polite laugh. it was a breathy gasp, followed by the distinct, unmistakable friction of fabric rubbing against a hard desk surface.

"jungwon, please-"

it was sarah from design. her voice was completely unrecognizable, stripped of her usual corporate composure, thick with an open, desperate kind of heat.

"shhh." a voice quieted her. low, raspy, and completely dripping with that gentle cadence. "someone might still be on the floor. stay quiet for me, yeah?"

your heart gave a violent, sickening lurch against your ribs, your fingers locking onto the edge of the file folders so hard the cardboard bent. you shouldn't have looked. every piece of self-preservation you had left was screaming at you to turn around, to run to the elevators and pretend you hadn't heard a thing. but you were paralyzed. your eyes moved to the small gap in the doorframe, your breath catching in your throat. through the crack, the scene was explicit, dark, and entirely heavy.

sarah was pushed back onto the edge of the heavy wooden archive table, her knee length pencil skirt hitched all the way up past her thighs, her fingers tangled frantically in the dark hair of the boy pressing between her legs. jungwon’s shirt was completely unbuttoned, hanging loosely off his shoulders, exposing the pale, sharp lines of his chest and back as he moved against her. he wasn't being rough. even like this, hidden in a dark room against company policy, his movements carried that same terrifyingly smooth rhythm. his head was buried in the crook of her neck, his lips leaving slow, wet tracks along her collarbone, his hands gripping her hips to anchor her as he drove into her with a quiet deliberation. every roll of his hips elicited a muffled, shaking groan from the girl beneath him, her eyes completely blown out, utterly ruined by him.

"you're so good." jungwon whispered against her skin, his voice hitching slightly as his pace quickened, his thumbs digging into her skin. it was said with that same comforting warmth he used when he was handing someone a pastry or fixing a computer screen. "so sweet for me, sarah."

seeing him use that exact same tone — the soft sweetness he used to navigate the bullpen — while his body was violently taking someone against an office desk made a cold wave of humiliation wash over you.

he really was doing it. all of it. he wasn't just collecting favors, he was consuming them. and less than four hours ago, he had leaned over your cubicle divider, looked into your eyes with that exact same soft warmth, and told you he wanted to do something nice for you for once. 

you backed away from the door. you had thought you were being smart by observing him, thought you were immune because you saw the matrix of his charm. but the truth was, you were just another potential name on the rotation of favors he hadn't gotten around to breaking yet.

inside the room, the sudden, sharp rustle of your folders against your coat cut through the quiet. the rhythmic sound of his movements stopped instantly. through the gap, you saw jungwon’s head lift, his dark eyes instantly cutting through the dim light straight toward the door frame, his chest heaving as he stared directly at the shadow you were casting on the floor.

you didn't wait for him to pull away. you turned and ran toward the elevators, your chest heavy with an indescribable, uncomfortable feeling as the doors finally closed.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

the next morning, the fourteenth floor swallowed you whole, completely unchanged. the office was just its usual, sterile self. you sat at your desk, eyes fixed on your monitors, trying to drown out the intrusive images from the night before. because the worst part — the thing you refused to admit to yourself as you stared at your spreadsheets — was how it had actually looked. the sharp lines of his bare back, the tight grip of his hands on sarah's hips, the low, raspy weight of his voice... it had been explicit. it had been dangerous. and god help you, it had been the most terrifyingly attractive thing you had ever seen.

you bit the inside of your cheek until it tasted like iron. do not think about it. do not fall for it. you weren't going to be another project he managed. you weren't going to let a few seconds of office floor smut shake the armor you had spent months building. besides, you were certain he would never try to win your favor like that anyway — he clearly wasn't interested. you had never had those kinds of interactions with him, which only made the fact that you were fixating so hard on the memory feel even creepier. you were acting like a voyeur, replaying a performance that wasn't meant for you, all because the raw control he had displayed had been so violently hot, if you were honest. you needed to go back to your normal self and not think about him ever again.

the conference room smelled of stale catering coffee and the chemical tang of dry erase markers. everyone was crammed inside, reducing themselves to a neat row of titles and deliverables. sarah sat three chairs down from you, her posture slightly rigid, her eyes tracking jungwon’s every move with a quiet devotion. but she wasn't special. you watched how he shifted his attention effortlessly — offering a quick, easy laugh to one of the guys from logistics, leaning in to whisper a reassuring note to the senior supervisor, making sure that everyone felt chosen. he didn't look like a man who had spent the previous evening ruining a coworker against an archive table. he looked immaculate. when the supervisor praised the recent turnaround on the quarterly reports, jungwon offered a modest smile, deferring the credit entirely to the rest of the team. he was a calculated machine, running on the fuel of everyone's compliance, using his charm interchangeably to keep the floor running exactly how he wanted it to.

you kept your gaze firmly fixed on your ipad, drawing a series of neat, aggressive boxes in the margins. you were an observer. you just had to get through the remaining forty minutes of this meeting, go back to your cubicle, and bury yourself in data.

"y/n?" the supervisor’s voice snapped you out of your thoughts. 

you blinked, pulling your shoulders back into a sharp corporate posture. "yes?"

"jungwon mentioned that the client files from the fourteenth floor archives were still showing a few discrepancies. did you manage to drop off the hard copies last night?"

your breath caught in your throat. your fingers tightened around your pen so hard the plastic clicked. reluctantly, your eyes shifted across the table. 

jungwon was looking right at you. he didn't have his usual soft, accommodating expression. he was leaning back in his chair, his dark eyes locked onto yours with a terrifyingly unblinking intensity. there was no warmth in them now. no sweet, harmless coworker charm.

it was a dare.

"i dropped them off." you said, your voice a fraction thinner than you wanted it to be. you forced yourself to maintain eye contact, refusing to let him see the frantic flutter of your pulse. "right before i left."

"perfect." jungwon said softly. he didn't break his gaze. his fingers stopped typing entirely, resting flat against the aluminum casing of his laptop. "i went back in there this morning to organize them. i noticed a few of the folders were a bit bent at the edges. like someone had been in a rush."

a suffocating wave of heat rushed up your neck. he knew. he knew exactly who had been standing outside that door.

"the archive room is quite dark at night." you countered, your voice dropping into a flat, icy register that stood out sharply against the casual tone of the room. "it's easy to lose your footing when you're looking for something in the dark."

for a fraction of a second, the corner of jungwon’s mouth twitched upward. it wasn't his public smile. it was sharp, dark, and entirely private, like a glimpse of the calculating mind behind the mask. he liked this. he seemed to have realized that while the rest of the floor was blind to his games, you were watching every single move. and instead of pulling back, instead of playing it safe, he looked entirely reenergized by it.

"you're right, y/n." he murmured, his voice dropping into that raspy cadence that made your skin prickle with a dangerous heat. "it is very dark back there. you really have to be careful what you stumble into." he laughed softly, slipping effortlessly back into his usual public persona. a few of your coworkers laughed along too, entirely unaware of the double meaning bleeding through his words. you felt like you were going insane, like one of those tragic characters in horror movies who are the only ones capable of seeing the ghosts.

the meeting adjourned, and the room dissolved into the usual chaos of scraping chairs and murmured small talk. you gathered your notebook and pen, eager to escape the stifling air, but a tall shadow stepped directly into your path before you could reach the door.

jungwon stood close, effectively blocking your exit. the faint, expensive scent of his cologne hit you instantly, dragging your mind violently back to the image of his bare back and the frantic grip of his hands in the dark. your chest heaved, a sharp spike of anger and unwanted arousal hitting you all at once. 

"you didn't eat the tart, right?" he said. his voice was quiet, entirely obscured by the noise of the departing coworkers around you.

"i wasn't hungry." you replied, keeping your eyes trained on the top button of his shirt, refusing to look into his eyes. you weren't going to give him the satisfaction of a real reaction. he was just being fake nice, putting on the same calculated performance he used on everyone else to get his way. you were just a glitch in his perfect record of floor compliance, a loose thread he wanted to tuck back into his neat little tapestry because it bothered his meticulous nature that your edges wouldn't soften for him.

he leaned down slightly, his breath brushing against the shell of your ear as he spoke. "a shame. i spent a lot of time thinking about what you liked before i bought it."

you bit the inside of your cheek, gripping your notebook like a shield. you didn't call him out, you didn't mention what you saw. you just forced a professional, detached distance between your bodies, holding onto the corporate wall with everything you had left. 

"i have work to do, jungwon. i’ll excuse myself now, see you." you stepped sideways, brushing past his shoulder without looking back. but as you walked down the carpeted hallway, you could feel his eyes burning into your back, a silent promise that he was only just getting started.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

by thursday afternoon, the tension had settled into the very carpet of your floor, heavy and thick enough to make your lungs ache. you tried to perfect your routine. eyes on the monitor, fingers on the keys, headphones firmly over your ears even when there was no music playing. you were determined to be the ghost he couldn't touch.

but jungwon was a master of using the space around you against you. he spent twenty minutes at the shared printer island just three feet away from your cubicle opening. he wasn't alone. he was with elle from legal, helping her sort through a massive stack of compliance contracts. you could hear the low, smooth rumble of his voice filtering through your headset. you didn't look. you swore to yourself you wouldn't look. but then you heard that quiet, private laugh — the one that always made people lean over their desks. against your own damn will, your eyes flicked up.

jungwon was leaning over the printer, his grey button-down stretched tight across his shoulders. his hand was resting on the small of elle’s back, his thumb making slow, casual circles against the fabric of her blazer. it was a gesture so effortlessly intimate, so completely unnecessary for printing contracts, that a bitter spike of heat flared in your chest. elle was looking up at him with that exact ruined expression you had seen on sarah, on the receptionists, on everyone.

and then, without missing a beat in his conversation with her, jungwon’s dark eyes shifted. he looked directly over elle’s shoulder, straight into your cubicle, locking his gaze onto yours. his thumb didn't stop moving against her back. his face didn't change its pleasant expression. but his eyes were entirely dark, heavy with a silent, mocking challenge.

look how easy it is, you imagined him saying. look at what everyone else gives me without a fight.

he was doing it on purpose. he knew you were hyper-fixated on his patterns, he knew you had seen what happened in the archive room, and instead of hiding it, he was putting his transactional nature on full display right in front of your face. he wanted you to feel the weight of your own isolation. he wanted the jealousy and the confusion to twist inside you until you finally snapped and gave him the compliance he wanted. you ripped your eyes away, your heart hammering against your ribs like a trapped bird. you hated him. you hated how he could make you feel so entirely exposed without even speaking to you. and worst of all, you hated the pathetic, traitorous part of your brain that had watched his hand on elle’s back and wondered, just for a terrifying second, what it would feel like if those fingers were digging into your own skin instead.

you swallowed hard, the taste of iron lingering on your tongue. he doesn't want you, you reminded yourself, a cruel, internal mantra. he's just fake nice. he just wants to win the game.

the shadow fell over your desk before you could even register the sound of his footsteps. "the legal files are sorted." jungwon murmured. he wasn't leaning over the divider this time, he was standing right at the entrance of your cubicle, effectively blocking the view of the rest of the floor. he set a single blue folder on the corner of your desk, his fingers lingering on the plastic tab. "i put the updated compliance guidelines on top. i thought you might need them for your afternoon report."

you didn't look at his face. you focused strictly on his hands, on the neat skin of his wrists. "thanks."

"you seem quiet today, y/n." he said softly, his voice dropping into that low register meant only for the two of you. he leaned in just a fraction, his shadow completely swallowing your desk space. "even more than usual. did you get another headache?"

the artificial sweetness in his tone felt like a physical weight pressing against your chest. he was mocking your boundaries, testing the exact strength of the walls you were sweating to keep up.

"i'm fine, jungwon." you whispered, your voice tight, keeping the corporate distance as rigid as humanly possible. "just busy."

"mmh." a small, completely unreadable sound left his throat. he reached out, his index finger lightly tracing a slow line along the edge of your desk calendar, stopping just a millimeter away from where your hand was resting. the proximity made the skin on your arms prickle with a terrifying heat. "well... don't work too hard. it would be a shame if you got tired out before the week is even over."

he gave the desk a final, quiet tap of his knuckles and walked away, leaving you drowning in the suffocating air of his departure.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

on friday evening, the office had emptied out with a desperate speed, everyone fleeing for the weekend the second the clock hit five. you had stayed behind on purpose again. it was safer this way. the quiet felt like a shield, a brief window where you didn't have to watch him hand out his attention like loose change to every person who crossed his path.

the only light left on was the dull, overhead glow of your own cubicle row, casting geometric shadows across the empty desks. you were just finishing up the last data entry for the week, the rhythmic click of your keyboard the only sound in the entire space. you let out a long breath, your shoulders finally dropping from the tight, defensive posture you had kept up for days.

then, the printer island three feet away whirred to life. the sudden, mechanical groan made your heart drop straight into your stomach. a single sheet of paper began to slide into the tray, the sound incredibly loud in the dead quiet of the office.

"i thought i saw a light still on down here." his voice came from the darkness just outside your cubicle opening. low, completely devoid of the light, airy cadence he used during the day. jungwon stepped into the glow of your monitor. he had already taken off his tie, the top two buttons of his grey shirt undone to reveal the sharp lines of his collarbone. his jacket was slung carelessly over one shoulder, held by a single finger. he looked messy in a way that felt entirely intentional, entirely dangerous.

you froze, your fingers hovering over the keys. do not look at his neck. do not think about the archive room. "i'm just finishing up." you said, your voice tight, forcing that rigid wall between you even though the floor was completely dead. "i'm leaving in five minutes."

"there's no rush." he murmured, stepping fully into your cubicle space. but he didn't stop at the edge this time. he walked right up to the side of your chair, dropping his jacket onto the empty desk divider next to you. "the building doesn't lock down until midnight, anyway."

you kept your eyes fixed on the screen, your heart hammering a stupid rhythm against your ribs. "i want to get home, though."

jungwon didn't answer. instead, he reached past your shoulder, his bare forearm brushing lightly against your sleeve as he picked up the single sheet of paper that had printed out. the brief friction of his skin against yours felt like an electric shock, making your breath hitch in your throat.

he leaned back against the edge of your desk, trapping you in your seat, his dark eyes looking down at the paper in his hands. "you made a mistake on the logistics section." he said softly.

"what?" your head snapped up before you could stop yourself, defense mechanism kicking in. "no, i didn't. i checked the numbers twice."

"look right here." he leaned down, his face suddenly entirely too close to yours. you could see the tiny flecks of dark brown in his eyes and the immaculate line of his jaw. he pointed his long finger at a row of data on your monitor, his hand hovering right next to your mouse. "you put the shipping code under the wrong department head."

you looked at the screen, your mind entirely blank, completely unable to process the numbers because his chest was practically brushing against your shoulder. "it's... it's a minor formatting issue. i can fix it on monday."

"why wait until monday?" jungwon whispered. his voice dropped into that private register that made your skin prickle. he didn't look at the screen anymore. he was looking directly at your mouth, his gaze heavy, dark, and completely unblinking. "i'm right here. let me help you with it."

he placed his hand directly over yours on the mouse. his palm was warm, his fingers large and heavy as they entirely covered your smaller ones. your pulse gave a sickening lurch. he wasn't being gentle. he wasn't doing that soft, attentive routine he did all the time. his grip was firm, holding your hand in place on the plastic casing, forcing you to feel the solid weight of him.

"jungwon." you breathed, a panicky sound escaping your throat. you tried to pull your hand back, but his fingers tightened just enough to keep you pinned.

"shhh." he murmured, using the exact same low tone he had used on sarah in the dark. "you're always trying to push me away, y/n. why is that? i'm just trying to be a good coworker."

the blatant lie made a suffocating knot form in your throat. he was mocking you. he knew you knew exactly what he was, and he was using his body to deliberately test how much you could take before your walls completely crumbled.

"let go of my hand." you whispered, your voice shaking, although you tried with everything you had to keep it cold.

jungwon didn't move. he leaned in even closer, his breath warm against your cheek, his eyes darkening into something ravenous as he watched the frantic pulse fluttering in your neck. "and if i don't?" he asked softly, a tiny, dangerous smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "what are you going to do, y/n? call the supervisor? tell them i'm being too nice to you?"

you couldn't breathe. the sheer weight of him was entirely too much, trapping you between the hard edge of your desk and the solid heat of his chest. your fingers were frozen beneath his palm, your skin tingling everywhere it connected with his.

"i'll tell them exactly what you are." you whispered, the words slipping out before you could stop them. your voice was entirely too thinned out by the frantic beating of your heart, but you kept your eyes fixed on his chin, refusing to look up into the dark trap of his gaze. "i'll tell them you're a fraud, jungwon."

for a long second, the quiet of the fourteenth floor felt absolute. the hum of the ventilation system seemed to fade into nothing. then, jungwon let out a low, breathy laugh. it wasn't his public laugh — the quiet, pleasant one that made people lean over their desk dividers. this one was dark, raspy, and too dangerous. his hand didn't leave yours. instead, his fingers shifted, sliding down the sides of your hand to lock his fingers securely through yours, pinning your palm flat against the desk surface now.

"a fraud." he murmured, his voice dropping an octave, vibrating straight through the small space between your faces. he leaned down further, his lips so close to the shell of your ear that you could feel the slight brush of his dark hair against your temple. "and who do you think is going to believe you, y/n? the supervisors? the girls in marketing? they love me. i make their lives so easy."

he was right. it was the most humiliating part of the whole thing. if you went to anyone, you would look like the unhinged one. you would be the bitter, detached girl who couldn't handle a popular coworker offering to help her with a formatting error.

"they think you're nice." you breathed, your teeth biting down on the inside of your cheek until it throbbed. "but you're just... you just use everyone."

you expected him to pull back, expected him to get angry or play dumb. but as you finally forced your eyes up to meet his, your breath caught. jungwon was staring down at you with a look that made your entire stomach dissolve into chaos. his face wasn't sweet at all anymore. his jaw was set, his dark eyes wide and completely unblinking, tracking the frantic movement of your lips. his chest was heaving slightly, the top buttons of his shirt pulling apart just enough for your eyes to instinctively look down for a second.

he didn't look insulted. he looked violently fascinated. "you really do see right through it, don't you?" he whispered, his thumb slowly tracing a firm line across the back of your knuckles. his grip on your hand tightened, a sudden show of strength that made your pulse give a silly flutter. "everyone on this floor is so boring, to be honest. they just take whatever i give them. but you... you sit here and watch me, and you hate me so much." he leaned in until his nose almost brushed against yours, his gaze dropping to your mouth again with a hunger that felt entirely too explicit for a fluorescent lit cubicle. "you think i'm just being fake nice to be convenient. but the truth is, y/n... i've been waiting for you to look at me like this for months."

he shifted his weight, his thigh pressing firmly against the side of your knee, anchoring you into the chair. the mask was entirely gone, shattered on the desk between you, and you were left staring at the raw, calculating control underneath. and to be honest with yourself, it was the most terrifyingly attractive thing you had ever felt.

"now…" jungwon whispered, his thumb digging slightly into your wrist, right over the frantic jumping of your pulse. "are you going to fix this spreadsheet for me, or are we going to do something else?"

you refused to let him win. you refused to soften a single fraction. "i'm fixing the spreadsheet." you whispered, your voice tight and entirely thinned out, but you forced your eyes back to the monitor, desperately trying to focus on the green lines of the cells. you tried to pull your fingers out from beneath his palm, but jungwon’s grip remained firm, his fingers locked securely through yours, pinning your hand against the mouse. a breathy hum left his throat, the vibration of it traveling straight from his chest into your shoulder where his body was pressed against yours.

"then do it." he murmured, his voice dropping into that private register that made the skin on your arms prickle with a dangerous heat. "go ahead, y/n. fix it."

your left hand trembled as you reached for the keyboard, your mind racing to remember the correct shipping codes through the suffocating fog of his proximity. he was making it entirely impossible on purpose. he leaned down further, his head tilting until his lips were just a fraction of an inch away from the sensitive skin below your ear, his warm breath fanning across your neck with every shallow exhale.

"you're entering the wrong code." he whispered against your skin, his thumb shifting to press a slow, deliberate circle right over the pulse in your wrist. "look at the screen. you're messing up the formatting again because you're too busy trying to pretend i'm not here."

"i'm not pretending anything." you breathed, your teeth biting down on the inside of your cheek until you felt a sharp sting. you deleted the typo, your fingers hitting the keys with a defensive force. you weren't going to look at his collarbone. you weren't going to turn your head and let his mouth catch yours. you kept your gaze locked onto the data, your entire body stiff as iron against the solid warmth of his chest.

you clicked the save icon, the sharp sound of the mouse loud in the dead quiet of the fourteenth floor. "it's done. the data is clean. now let go of my hand, jungwon."

jungwon didn't move. he stayed exactly where he was for a long, agonizing second, his dark eyes wide and unblinking as he tracked the tight line of your jaw. you hadn't leaned into him. you hadn't given him that ruined look he was so used to consuming from the rest of the floor.

and as you finally forced your head around to glare at him, refusing to back down, you saw the exact moment his expression shifted. the mocking smile completely vanished from his lips. his jaw tightened, his dark eyes clouding over with a ravenous frustration that made your stomach dissolve into absolute chaos. he looked entirely consumed by the fact that you were still fighting him, his chest heaving slightly as his grip on your laced fingers tightened until it hurt. you were willing to choke on your own pride before you ever gave him the compliance he wanted.

"you really aren't going to give in, are you?" he whispered, his raspy voice shaking just enough to let the dark intensity underneath slip through. he leaned in until his nose brushed against yours, his gaze dropping to your parted lips with an explicit hunger that made your knees go entirely weak in the chair. "you're going to sit here and look at me like you want to kill me, even when you're completely burning up underneath my hands."

"i told you, jungwon." you whispered back, your fingers tightening around his despite yourself, your armor cracking at the seams even as you held the wall up between you.

jungwon let out another ragged breath, his thumb digging hard into your wrist as a possessive heat bloomed across his beautiful face. "we have time anyway, y/n."

he slowly released his grip, his fingers sliding away from yours with agonizing slowness, leaving your skin tingling and entirely too cold in the sudden absence of his warmth. he picked up his jacket from the divider, throwing it back over his shoulder with that effortless fluidness. he didn't say another word. he just gave you one last, unblinking look — a silent promise wrapped in a calculated package — before turning on his heel and vanishing into the darkness of the elevator lobby. you sat there for a long time, the silence of the empty office pressing heavy against your ears.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

the weekend had been a blur of suffocating self-loathing. you had spent forty eight hours pacing your apartment, scrubbing at the wrist where his thumb had dug into your pulse, trying to wash away the phantom weight of his hand. you felt physically sickened by your own body’s betrayal. that silly, pathetic flutter your heart had given when he leaned in — it felt like a stain. you had always prided yourself on being the independent one, the girl who didn't get sucked into office politics or hollow, fleeting infatuations. you were supposed to be safe because you were invisible. but jungwon had stripped that safety away in a matter of minutes, leaving you raw, exposed, and terrified of your own hidden vulnerabilities.

you knew exactly what he was doing. you kept repeating it like a prayer to keep yourself sane: he doesn't want you. he doesn't want you. he was just a predator who hated that one specific prey wouldn't run into his trap. he was a perfectionist, and your coldness was an ugly smudge on his immaculate record of floor wide adoration.

by monday morning, the internal friction had left you entirely exhausted, the dark circles under your eyes barely hidden by makeup. the bright lights of the office hit your eyes like a physical blow. it was already buzzing with the usual post weekend energy, typing and mindless small talk filling the air. you kept your head down, your shoulders hunched as you walked to your cubicle, feeling incredibly small, like a soldier walking back into a minefield with a cardboard shield.

and then, you saw him. he was standing by the central filing cabinets, completely surrounded. he was wearing a crisp, dark navy shirt today, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to reveal his pale forearms. he was currently leaning over to look at a folder held by jake from accounting, his hand resting heavily on his shoulder, squeezing it in a gesture that looked entirely supportive and friendly. but you watched the way jungwon’s eyes moved — sharp, analytical, tracking the supervisor who was walking past them. the second the supervisor glanced over, jungwon shifted his posture, offering a bright smile that made him look like the hardest working, most compliant employee on the entire payroll.

twenty minutes later, jungwon was at the reception desk. you watched, your heart hammering a painful rhythm against your ribs, as he leaned over the counter to speak to the new temp. his hand rested casually on the edge of her desk, his thumb making a slow, absentminded circle against the wood — the exact same gesture he had used on your knuckles friday night. the temp was completely flushed, her eyes wide as she nodded along to whatever he was whispering. you watched how he helped her carry a heavy box of promotional materials, his body intentionally brushing against hers as they walked through the narrow aisle. it made your stomach turn over in a violent wave of disgust and profound anxiety. he was doing it right in front of you. he didn't even care about hiding his promiscuity or his transactional nature anymore. in fact, it felt like he was putting on a performance specifically for your benefit. he was showing you how easily he could buy anyone on this floor, men and women alike, with a single smile or a well timed touch, using them up until they were empty and then moving on to the next.

you clutched your coffee mug so hard your knuckles turned white, a toxic mixture of anger and panic rising in your throat. you felt like you were suffocating under the weight of your own awareness. you were the only one who saw the rot beneath the golden boy facade, and the sheer isolation of that knowledge was driving you insane. you were terrified that if you kept watching the casual ease with which he dismantled people’s boundaries, the gravity of his control would eventually pull you under too.

"y/n." his voice came from directly behind your chair, low and entirely smooth. your entire body went rigid as iron and your breath trapped itself in your lungs. the sudden rush of adrenaline made your ears ring. jungwon stepped around the edge of your cubicle, holding a stack of laminated division charts. he didn't touch you, he didn't even lean over your desk. he stood just far away enough to keep up appearances for the rest of the floor, but his presence felt massive, completely blocking out the light.

he looked down at you, his dark eyes wide and entirely hollow of the warmth he had just been flashing at the marketing team. his face was a mask of perfect, professional indifference, but the sharp line of his jaw was tight. "the department head requested the updated logistics flow by noon." he said softly, his public voice neat and polite. but then, he paused, his gaze slowly dropping to your hands, watching the tiny, uncontrollable tremor in your fingers as you tried to set your coffee mug down. the corner of his mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly, with a quiet satisfaction.

he leaned in just an inch, his voice dropping into that private register that belonged only to the dark corners of the office. "did you have trouble sleeping over the weekend, y/n?"

the question was a psychological knife, twisting right into the center of your internal turmoil. he knew. he knew he had occupied your thoughts for forty eight hours. he was taunting you with the fact that even when he wasn't there, he was still successfully invading your space, still slowly breaking down your mental walls from the inside out.

you swallowed the bitter taste of panic, forcing your eyes up to meet his chin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking into his eyes. you drew a sharp breath, pulling your corporate wall up with every ounce of strength you had left. "i'm fine, jungwon." you whispered, your voice thinned out but completely cold, completely detached. "the logistics flow will be in the system by eleven thirty. you can check it then."

jungwon stayed perfectly still for a second, his dark eyes burning into the side of your face, analyzing the rigid posture, the tight set of your mouth, the desperate pride you were clinging to. he didn't push, he didn't need to. he just tapped the laminated charts against the edge of your divider with a quiet, hollow click. "perfect." he murmured, his raspy tone thinning back into his polite, public persona. "i'll be looking forward to seeing your work."

as he turned and walked away, immediately falling into an easy conversation with a passing manager, you let out a trembling breath, your hands shaking so badly you had to press them flat against the desk to make them stop. you were safe for now, but the suffocating realization settled deep into your chest — the game was only getting heavier, and the cost of keeping your walls up was starting to tear you apart.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

by the time the mandatory department dinner rolled around on thursday night, the tension inside your chest had turned into a living, breathing thing.

the restaurant was loud, suffocatingly warm, and thick with the heavy scent of grilled pork and cheap soju. green bottles were already multiplying across the long wooden tables like a plague. everyone was shedding their corporate skin with a sloppy speed, the supervisors shouting over the sizzle of the meat, your colleagues giggling too loudly as they mixed beer and liquor.

you sat near the end of the table, actively trying to dissolve into the background. you were drinking faster than usual. it was a stupid, dangerous mistake, but the alcohol was the only thing capable of dulling the exhausting edge of your hyper-vigilance. you just wanted to numb the looping thoughts of him, but alcohol also made your walls sluggish. and across the grill, through the rising smoke and the chaotic haze of the room, yang jungwon was putting on a masterclass.

he looked disgusting in his perfection. he had stayed sober enough to maintain his position as the table's golden savior — expertly flipping the meat for the senior manager, laughing at the supervisor’s terrible jokes, pouring drinks with a practiced tilt of his wrist. he was the perfect employee, the perfect junior colleague, distributing his easy warmth so seamlessly that the entire top end of the table was practically vibrating under his influence.

but every time he leaned back to let a manager speak, his dark eyes would cut straight through the smoke, locking onto your face. his gaze was heavy, tracking the rhythmic movement of your glass as you emptied it again and again. there was no warmth in his face when he looked at you. just that quiet, analytical hunger.

"y/n, you're being way too quiet tonight." jay from project management slid into the empty space on your left. “seriously, you're always so locked away in your cubicle." he laughed, leaning in to bump his shoulder against yours. it was a clumsy, drunken gesture, but it felt normal. "you need to hang out with us more. let me pour you another one."

"maybe i should." you giggled, the sound light and loose even to your own ears. the alcohol made you sloppy, made you want to lean into the easy comfort of someone who didn't have a hidden agenda. you picked up your small glass and held it out with both hands, giving him a bright, genuine smile. "you're right. i work too hard."

jay beamed, his eyes crinkling as he filled your glass. he let his hand linger against yours for a second too long as he set the bottle down, his arm casually settling over the back of your wooden bench, his fingers lightly brushing the fabric of your blouse. you didn't pull away. instead, you tilted your head up, laughing at a stupid joke he made about the logistics manager, completely letting your guard drop. it felt intoxicating to be normal. to prove to yourself — and to the person sitting across the grill — that you weren't trapped in his little bubble.

but across the table, the atmosphere had silently shifted. jungwon was suddenly drinking too tonight. he wasn't perfectly sober anymore. his tie was long gone, the top three buttons of his navy shirt undone, and there was a faint flush spreading across his neck and the sharp lines of his collarbone. 

it happened so fast you almost missed it. jungwon had been in the middle of nodding politely to a story the senior supervisor was telling. when you looked at him again, his entire posture was dead rigid. his jaw set so hard the muscle in his cheek twitched violently. for a terrifying second, the golden boy mask shattered completely, leaving a look of such icy malice on his face that your breath trapped itself in your throat.

he didn't make a scene. he was too smart for that. instead, he stood up smoothly, a polite, apologetic smile instantly snapping back onto his features as he addressed the supervisor. "i'll go grab a few more bottles of the premium plum wine from the front." jungwon murmured, his public voice light and accommodating. "the department head mentioned he wanted to try it."

you watched him walk away, your heart violently hammering against your ribs. you thought you were safe. you thought the distance would give you room to breathe.

but less than three minutes later, the chaotic seating arrangement of the table shifted as a group of managers left to use the restroom. when a space cleared out directly opposite you and jay, a shadow fell over the wood.

jungwon sat down. he placed three new bottles on the table with a quiet, hollow click. he didn't look at you. he focused entirely on jay, his face twisted into an expression of intense camaraderie that felt entirely too sharp to be real.

"jay." jungwon said, his voice smooth but dropping into a lower cadence that somehow cut through the noise of the restaurant. "you're taking care of our quietest team member? that's really responsible of you."

"jungwon! man, you're the best." jay cheered, completely oblivious to the danger sitting three feet away from him. he pulled his arm off your chair to reach for his glass. "i'm just telling y/n she needs to loosen up!"

"is that so?" jungwon murmured. he picked up a fresh bottle of soju, his long, pale fingers wrapping around the green glass with an unyielding grip. he leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto jay’s face. "well, if you're going to keep her company, you have to keep up with her. let me pour you a proper drink."

what followed was a brutal, quiet execution. jungwon didn't let jay breathe. using his fake nice, attentive persona like a weapon, he continuously filled jay’s glass the exact second it touched the table, egging him on with soft compliments and subtle challenges that jay’s drunken pride couldn't refuse. jungwon was pouring double shots, mixing combinations, acting like the ultimate hype man while remaining entirely sober himself.

it was horrifyingly calculated. jungwon was weaponizing the floor compliance against jay, using his popularity to entirely dismantle the guy right in front of your face. and he was doing it with a terrifying, quiet ferocity.

within twenty minutes, jay’s head dropped heavily onto his folded arms on the table, his eyes rolling shut as he muttered an incoherent string of nonsense before completely passing out cold.

the noise of the restaurant seemed to swell around your ears, the shouting and laughter of the remaining coworkers forming a thick barrier of isolation around your corner of the table. jay was asleep on your left. the manager on your right was entirely engrossed in a loud argument about quarterly logistics.

you were left completely alone with him.

jungwon slowly set his empty glass down. the bright, helpful coworker expression vanished from his face like smoke, leaving his features cold, sharp, and ravenous. he leaned forward across the low wooden table, his chest almost touching the edge, his dark eyes wide as they pinned you to your seat.

"he touches everyone, you know?" jungwon whispered, his voice dropping into that raspy, private register that made your skin prickle. "jay. he does it in the hallways too. he's very careless with his hands."

you clutched your small soju glass, your fingers shaking so badly the clear liquid sloshed over the rim. the alcohol in your system was making your head spin, making your internal turmoil twist into something heavy and desperate. "he was just... he was just being friendly. unlike you."

jungwon let out a low laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "friendly."

before you could register his movement, his leg shifted beneath the low table. his thigh pressed firmly, violently against your knee, locking your legs together under the shadow of the thick tablecloth. the sudden heat of his body against yours sent a violent jolt of adrenaline straight down your spine. you tried to pull back, but he angled his leg, anchoring you into the wooden bench so tightly you couldn't move an inch without drawing the attention of the entire table.

"you let him touch your shoulder." jungwon murmured, his gaze dropping to your mouth, his jaw setting as his voice became thick with a suffocating jealousy. he reached his hand under the table, his long fingers wrapping firmly around your wrist, his thumb digging hard into the soft skin right over your jumping pulse. "you sat here and let a sloppy, useless drunk put his hands on you. but when i touch you, y/n... you look like you're about to lose your mind."

"let go." you breathed, a panicky whisper that was completely swallowed by the roar of the restaurant. your teeth bit into your lip, your eyes darting to the supervisor just three seats away, terrified of a scene, terrified of what would happen if anyone looked down. "jungwon, stop. someone will see."

"let them look." he whispered back, his grip on your wrist tightening until it was almost a bruise, his thumb rubbing a slow circle against your skin. his face was inches from yours now, his breath warm, smelling faintly of the plum wine. "they won't see anything. they only see what i want them to see. you know that better than anyone, y/n."

he leaned in just a fraction further, his eyes tracking the chaotic, terrified rise and fall of your chest. he was entirely consumed by his own control, entirely irritated that someone else had crossed the boundary he had marked for himself.

"i told you on friday night, y/n." he murmured, his raspy voice vibrating straight through your bones as his leg pressed harder against your knee. "we have time."

the words hung in the space between your faces, heavy with the sweet, stinging scent of plum wine and the absolute certainty of his control. your mind was screaming at you to pull away, to make a scene, to slap his hand away from your wrist. but the alcohol had turned your blood to lead, making your body feel too heavy, too responsive to the solid pressure of his thigh against your knee. you were trapped between the suffocating heat of his gaze and the hidden reality of his hands beneath the table.

"hey, jungwon! y/n! what are you two whispering about over there?" the sudden voice of the senior manager cut through the noise of the restaurant like a blunt axe. the spell didn't just break, it evaporated. before your heart could even finish its next frantic thud, the shift in jungwon was instantaneous. his fingers slid off your wrist with a terrifyingly casual slowness, his leg smoothly retracting from yours under the cover of the tablecloth. by the time you managed to look up, blinking past the dizzying fog of the soju, jungwon was already leaning back in his seat. his face had instantly transformed back into the picture of polite, boyish innocence — the dark hunger wiped clean from his eyes as if it had never been there at all.

"just making sure y/n is doing okay, sir." jungwon said, his public voice smooth, light, and perfectly pitched to carry over the chatter. he offered the manager a dimpled smile. "i think the logistics data has her a bit worn out this week. i was just offering to take over her morning reports tomorrow so she can catch her breath."

"ah, look at our jungwon! always taking care of the team." the manager cheered, raising his glass in a sloppy toast. "a true asset to the department!"

you sat there, your hand still trembling against the cold wood where his fingers had just been pinned. the unadulterated fraudulence of it made you feel physically sick. he had just systematically dismantled jay, pinned you to your seat with a terrifying display of drunken jealousy, and threatened you into absolute silence. and within three seconds, he had the entire top end of the table practically singing his praises. 

to your delight, the dinner dissolved into the chaotic logistics of departure shortly after. managers were pouring into taxis, people were laughing loudly on the sidewalk, and jay was being thrown into the back of a coworker's car, still completely dead to the world.

you stood on the pavement, the cool night air hitting your flushed skin, making the alcohol hit your head in a dizzying wave. you felt completely hollowed out, your internal walls not just cracked, but entirely reduced to ash.

you're going to sit here and look at me like you want to kill me, even when you're completely burning up underneath my hands.

his words from the cubicle, mixed with the phantom weight of his hand on your knee tonight, looped through your mind like a toxic rhythm. the worst part — the absolute most humiliating, terrifying part of the entire night — was the realization that you had burned. when his hand had tightened on your wrist, when his thigh had locked yours into the bench, a hidden part of your chest had given a shameful lurch. you hated his fake nice routines, you hated how he ruined people for his own convenience, but the raw, unfiltered gravity of his attention when the mask came off was becoming completely addictive.

you were terrified of him. but you were starting to be much more terrified of yourself.

"your taxi is here, y/n." his voice came from the shadow right beside you. jungwon had his hands slid casually into his slacks pockets, his jacket slung over his shoulder. he stepped forward, opening the door of the yellow cab for you with the textbook gallantry of a good coworker. but as you moved past him, your shoulder brushing against his chest, he didn't back up. he stayed entirely too close, his eyes locking onto yours in the dim light of the street.

"get some rest tonight." he murmured, his raspy voice dropping low enough that the driver couldn't hear. his thumb slowly traced a firm line across the leather of the car door, right next to your hip. "i'll see you in the office early tomorrow. don't be late."

you slid into the backseat without a word, your fingers curling tightly into your palms as the door clicked shut between you. as the taxi pulled away into the traffic, you looked back through the rear window. jungwon was still standing on the curb, completely alone in the yellow glow of the streetlamp, watching your car disappear with a look of absolute, calculating patience.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

the hangover wasn’t just a physical ache, it was a psychological weight that made the 6:45 am sunlight feel like an interrogation. you had deliberately arrived a full hour before the rest of the department, desperate to find a moment of absolute isolation to gather the shattered pieces of your composure. the office floor was an eerie ghost town of dark computer screens and silent corridors. the only sound was the mechanical hum of the industrial printer in the copy room at the far end of the hall. you stood in front of it, watching the updated logistics charts slide smoothly into the tray, one by one.

eleven thirty? no. you were going to leave it on his desk before the clock even struck eight. you needed to reclaim some semblance of control.

the heavy glass door of the copy room clicked, making your heart skip a painful beat. you didn’t turn around immediately, your eyes freezing on the shifting reflection in the dark glass window of the courtyard outside.

jungwon stepped into the room. he didn't rush toward you. he closed the door with a slow, deliberate click, his dark eyes instantly locking onto the back of your neck. he had already shed his suit jacket, his white dress shirt crisp and immaculate, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms with casual neatness. he looked entirely rested, completely untouched by the poison of the night before.

"you're early." he murmured. his voice was already in that register. there was no marketing team here. no senior managers. just the heavy thrum of the printer and the suffocating gravity of his presence.

"i told you it would be ready." you said, your voice tighter than you intended. you reached out to grab the stack of papers from the tray, keeping your back turned to him, desperately using the documents as a shield.

you heard the slow, measured sound of his dress shoes against the linoleum. he stopped just a step behind you. he didn't touch you yet. instead, he leaned forward slightly, his shadow completely engulfing yours as he looked over your shoulder at the printer tray. the heat radiating from his chest was immense, close enough that you could feel the faint movement of his shirt fabric against your back every time he took a breath.

"the logistics flow." jungwon mused softly, his breath ghosting over the sensitive skin behind your ear, making the tiny hairs on your arms stand up. "always so efficient, y/n. always running away into your work the moment things get too heavy."

you swallowed hard, your fingers tightening around the edge of the paper tray until your knuckles turned white. "i'm just doing my job. you can take the files and go."

"is that what you want?" he asked. the question was low, quiet, and laced with a terrifying patience. he reached out, his long fingers slowly sliding into the tray right next to yours. he didn't grab the papers. instead, the side of his index finger brushed against yours, a light, almost imperceptible contact that sent an electric jolt straight down your spine.

you flinched, trying to pull your hand back, but jungwon was faster. his hand turned, his fingers trapping your wrist against the plastic edge of the tray. he didn't squeeze. he just held you there with the weight of his palm, his thumb resting directly over your pulse point, feeling the erratic thudding of your heart.

"you're still shaking." he whispered, his tone dropping into something dark and dangerously satisfied. "just like last night. did you think the morning air would make you forget how it felt?"

you refused to turn around, keeping your face fixed on the blinking light of the copy machine, but your breathing was already turning shallow. "jungwon, stop. someone will come in. the cleaning staff-"

"the cleaning staff finished thirty minutes ago." he interrupted smoothly, his voice a calm barrier that shut out the rest of the world. he took a half step closer, his chest fully pressing into your back now, the solid weight of his body anchoring you against the counter. "we have time. i told you that, didn't i?"

he slowly let go of your wrist, but before you could draw a breath of relief, his hand moved up to your shoulder. his long fingers settled over the fabric of your blouse, his thumb tracing the exact spot where jay's hand had lingered the night before. the pressure was firm, heavy, and intensely possessive, as if he were systematically erasing anyone else's touch from your skin.

"tell me, y/n." jungwon murmured, his jaw brushing against the side of your hair as he leaned in, his voice a raspy vibration that rattled through your bones. "when you were sitting across from me last night, letting him lean into your space... were you thinking about how much harder i would touch you when we were alone?"

the question hung in the warm, enclosed air of the copy room, heavy and explicit. your heart hitched, a fractured sound escaping your throat before you could stop it. you squeezed your eyes shut, hating how instantly your body reacted to the proximity, hating the dizzying rush of heat that flooded your veins despite the icy hangover. "i wasn't thinking about you." you lied, the whisper thin and trembling against the steady hum of the printer.

jungwon let out a low hum against your neck. it wasn't a laugh, it was a sound of pure, clinical amusement. he didn't call you a liar, he didn't need to. instead, his hand slid slowly down from your shoulder, his palm tracing the rigid line of your spine through the fabric of your blazer. the movement was agonizingly gradual, every millimeter of his touch deliberate, testing your resistance, feeling the way your muscles locked tight under his hands.

when his palm reached the small of your back, he paused. he leaned his weight into you just a fraction more, the solid plane of his chest flattening completely against your shoulder blades. the sheer heat of him seemed to melt straight through your corporate layers. "you're so tense." he whispered, his lips brushing the sensitive skin right below your earlobe. you shivered violently, your hands blindly gripping the edge of the printer counter behind you. "relax for me, y/n. we aren't at the table anymore. there's no senior manager to save you this time."

his other hand came up, his long fingers sliding under your chin. he didn't force you to turn around yet. he just tilted your head back slightly, exposing the vulnerable line of your throat. his thumb stroked the soft skin right over your jumping pulse, his touch agonizingly light, a stark contrast to the crushing weight of his body pressing you into the counter. "look at the glass." he murmured softly, a quiet command.

your eyes automatically opened, flickering to the dark reflection in the courtyard window directly ahead. through the dim glass, you could see the two of you — completely tangled together in the shadow of the industrial machine. your head was tilted back against his shoulder, your face flushed and eyes wide with a desperate panic. jungwon was looking at your reflection, his dark eyes hollowed of all his polite warmth, filled instead with that sharp satisfaction. he looked entirely in control. he looked like he owned the very air you were breathing.

"see that?" jungwon whispered, his thumb moving up to trace the trembling outline of your lower lip. "this is exactly how you looked in my head all weekend. desperate. trapped. completely at my mercy." he slowly turned your face toward him, forcing you to break eye contact with the reflection and look directly at his actual features. up close, the golden boy mask was entirely gone. his jaw was set, a heavy intensity clouding his eyes as his gaze dropped to your mouth. he didn't kiss you. he just hovered there, his breath hot and shallow against your lips, letting the tension build until it felt like a physical wire snapping between you.

"jungwon." you breathed, your voice a desperate plea, though even you didn't know if you were begging him to stop or begging him to finally end the torture.

"i'm listening." he murmured, his raspy voice dropping into an even lower register as his hand slid from your chin down to the collar of your blouse, his fingers lightly brushing the exposed skin of your collarbone. "tell me what you want, y/n. tell me to stop. let me hear you say it."

“c-can’t.” you said between pants, feeling too overwhelmed by his presence to remember how to breathe properly. 

“you can’t or you won’t? come on, we both know you can. this is a safe space, y/n.” jungwon spoke in a mocking tone, his fingers trailing lower until they hooked into the top edge of your camisole, pulling the silk taut against your skin. “it’s just you and me. no one is going to walk through that door and catch you admitting it.”

the condescending arrogance in his voice hit you like a bucket of ice water. he wasn't just trying to touch you, he was trying to break you. he wanted the satisfaction of hearing you completely dismantle your own walls for his ego.

you swallowed down the panic, forcing your hands flat against his chest. you didn't lean into him. instead, you locked your elbows, pushing back against the solid weight of his frame with every ounce of strength you had left. "i can't because it's pathetic." you said, your voice cracking slightly but carrying a sudden coldness. you forced your eyes up to meet his, refusing to let him see you blink. "you're pathetic, jungwon."

the mocking smile vanished from his face instantly. his dark eyes went wide, then narrowed into two dangerous, icy slits. the absolute stillness that came over him was terrifying. "what did you say?" he murmured, his voice dropping so low it was almost entirely swallowed by the hum of the printer.

"y-you heard me." you breathed, your chest heaving against his palms, your fingers curling into the crisp cotton of his shirt as you fought to keep the distance between your faces. "you spend all week playing the perfect, golden boy coworker, but you're so deeply insecure that the second someone else touches my shoulder, you have to lock me in a room just to force yourself into my head. you didn't lock this door because you're in control. you locked it because you're terrified i'll walk right past your cubicle and not play your little game."

the silence that followed was suffocating. the air in the copy room turned completely hostile. you could feel the violent thudding of his heart beneath your palms — rapid, uneven, and entirely unmasked. you had ripped the skin right off his pride, and for a split second, you saw a flash of genuine fury in his eyes.

his hand at your collar didn't loosen. it tightened, his knuckles digging hard against your collarbone as he slammed his other hand flat on the counter directly over your papers, the heavy bang echoing off the concrete walls. he leaned his entire weight forward, completely crushing your attempt to hold him back, his chest pinning your hands right against his own sternum.

"you think you know me?" jungwon rasped, his face inches from yours, his breath ragged and hot against your mouth. the polite cadence of his voice was completely gone, replaced by a gravelly edge that made your spine freeze. "you think i'm doing this because i'm insecure?"

"let go of me." you demanded, your voice rising, your thighs straining against the solid line of his legs as he anchored you into the machine. you twisted your wrist, trying to tear yourself out of his space, but he didn't give you a single inch of air.

"i told you to say the word 'stop', y/n." he whispered, his jaw setting so hard the muscle in his cheek violently pulsed. his lips brushed against yours with a bruising friction as he spoke, his grip on your waist beneath your shirt turning tight enough to leave marks. "but you didn't say it. you used your mouth to bite at me instead, because you know exactly what happens to those neat little walls of yours the second you actually let me touch you."

your breath caught, the bruising friction of his lips leaving a stinging, electric heat behind. you wanted to spit another insult directly into his face, wanted to tear at the pristine cotton of his shirt just to force his heavy frame off yours, but the sheer physical mass of him was completely overwhelming. he was breathing heavily, his chest expanding and compressing violently against your pinned hands, forcing you to feel every single furious heartbeat.

"i don't want you touching me." you choked out, your voice dropping to a whisper as you tried to wrench your waist out of his grip. you twisted your hips, a sharp effort to break his hold, but his fingers only dug deeper into your skin. his palm slid completely beneath the hem of your shirt, his bare, burning skin making direct contact with the small of your back. the unmediated warmth made you flinch, your spine arching instinctively into his touch even as your mind screamed at you to pull away. he anchored you so firmly against the metal counter that you could feel the hard line of his thigh locking your knees together.

jungwon let out a low, rough sound from the back of his throat. the territorial anger in his eyes didn't vanish, but it shifted, darkening until his pupils practically swallowed the brown of his irises. he liked the fight. he liked that you were clawing for control, because it meant you were entirely consumed by him. "then tell me to stop." he murmured, his voice dropping into that breathless cadence that sent a terrifying ache straight down your lower stomach. he leaned his head down, his lips dragging slowly along the tense line of your jaw, down to the sensitive skin right beneath your ear. "say the word, y/n. tell me you hate this. tell me you want me to let go and go back to my desk."

you bit your lip so hard the iron taste of copper flared on your tongue again. you couldn't say it. the word was physically stuck in your throat, choking you, because deep beneath the suffocating layers of your panic and your rage, the leaden weight in your veins was turning into a pulsing heat. the absolute restriction of your corporate clothes — the tight pencil skirt restricting your movement, the stiff fabric of your blouse pinned against his chest — only made the raw reality of his bare hand on your waist feel a thousand times more scandalous.

"see?" jungwon whispered, his hot breath blooming against your skin as his teeth agonizingly grazed the soft lobe of your ear.

a violent shudder racked your entire frame, and he caught it instantly. his grip on your hip shifted, his palm sliding slowly up the curve of your ribcage, his thumb tracing the spaces between your ribs with a slow pressure that made your breathing fail completely.

"your mouth says one thing," he rasped, his nose dragging across your cheek as he pulled back just enough to look at you. "but your body is begging me not to listen to you."

"i'm not... begging you for anything." you gasped out, your hands finally curling into his shirt, using the grip to try and violently shove him back. when he didn't budge, you tried to bring your knee up, a clumsy attempt to force some space between your lower bodies.

jungwon anticipated it instantly. he shifted his weight, his heavy thigh sliding higher, crowding directly between yours under the cover of your skirt and pinning your legs completely against the lower panel of the printer. the sudden, deep pressure of his leg against the most sensitive part of you sent a violent shockwave straight up your spine.

your eyes flew open, a broken gasp tearing from your throat before you could stop it, your fingers tightening into the cotton of his shirt so hard the seams strained.

jungwon froze. his dark eyes snapped back up to yours, wide and completely wild, his own breath hitching loudly in the quiet room. the mocking arrogance was entirely dead, replaced by a raw, desperate hunger that made his features look sharper, darker, and completely undone. he looked down at your parted lips, his jaw clenching so hard the muscle violently throbbed.

"y/n." he rasped, his voice breaking on your name, the sound so private and broken it made your chest ache. his hand on your ribs slid higher, his thumb lightly brushing the underside of your breast through the silk, his touch no longer calculated, but shaking with the exact same tremor he had mocked you for just minutes ago. "look what you do to me. look at what you're making me do."

your eyes past his shoulder, completely freezing on the frosted glass pane of the door. the sheer terror of a shadow appearing out there made your entire chest lock up, your lungs refusing to expand. "jungwon, the elevator." you breathed, the words a frantic stutter against his chin. "i-i heard the chime. early shifts start at seven. someone is on the floor. let go, please, someone is going to-"

he didn’t even flinch at the mention of the corridor outside. if anything, the risk only seemed to strip away the very last of his restraint. his hand beneath your shirt slid lower, his long fingers hooking directly into the waistband of your skirt. with a slow pressure, his palm slipped completely underneath the fabric, his bare skin making direct contact with the sensitive curve of your hip. you let out a strangled gasp at the sudden touch, the sound instantly muffled as he crowded his chest harder against yours, burying his face in the crook of your neck. "let them walk in." he whispered, his voice a dark vibration that rolled straight through your skin.

his lips dragged heavily along your throat, sucking lightly at the soft skin right over your pulse point until you shivered so violently your fingers lost their grip on his shirt. your knees completely gave out, your lower body turning to lead. but you didn’t fall as the solid mass of his thigh wedged deeply between yours, riding high against your crotch under the cover of your tangled skirts. he shifted his weight, the blunt, agonizingly slow friction of his leg pressing directly into the aching center of your heat.

and then, through the heavy thrum of the printer, you heard it. the distant, rhythmic click of dress shoes on the floor down the hall. someone was walking toward the supply wing. panic flared white-hot in your stomach, a chaotic rush of adrenaline that made you violently struggle against him. you shoved your palms against his hard chest, twisting your hips in a desperate effort to tear yourself away from his leg before the footsteps could get closer. "jungwon, they're coming down the corridor.” you whimpered, your voice cracking with a very real, suffocating terror. "stop, please, the lights are on, they'll see our shadows through the glass-"

instead of pulling back, jungwon grabbed both of your wrists in a single, iron grip, forcing your hands down and pinning them flat against the cold metal counter behind your hips. you were completely exposed, your back arched over the machine, your chest heaving past your open blouse as he looked down at you with ravenous eyes. his free hand slid down from your hip, his fingers disappearing entirely beneath the hem of your skirt. the fabric hitched up past your thighs as his palm moved upward, tracing the bare skin of your inner thigh with a terrifyingly deliberate speed. you tried to lock your legs together, to bite down on the heat, but his knee pushed harder between yours, forcing you open, anchoring you so tightly against the counter that you couldn’t move a single inch.

the footsteps outside grew louder, pausing just a few meters away near the central cubicles. "jungwon, please." you cried out in a breathless plea, tears of sheer panic pricking the corners of your eyes as you stared at the door, expecting the handle to turn at any second. 

he leaned down until his lips were hovering a millimeter away from yours, catching the frantic, terrified pants breaking from your mouth. his long fingers slid past the lace edge of your underwear, his knuckles brushing against your damp skin, finding the slick, embarrassingly hot reality of how ruined you already were for him. "then don't make a sound." he murmured, his jaw clenching as his fingers slowly slid inside you, making you give a helpless lurch against his hand. his dark eyes burned into yours, completely unhinged, as he whispered into your lips. "if you breathe too loud, y/n, they're going to hear you."

the words died in your throat, instantly choked out by the agonizingly deep, slow stretch of his fingers moving inside you. a sharp tremor racked your lower body, your hips lifting off the counter in a desperate reflex to escape the overwhelming intrusion. but jungwon wouldn't let you move. his iron grip on your wrists clamped down harder against the metal, the cold surface biting into your skin while his heavy thigh pinned your knees wide apart, keeping you utterly trapped against his hand.

outside, the distinct sound of a drawer opening cut through the heavy silence of the floor. a binder was pulled out, the plastic rings clicking open, just on the other side of the thin wall. tears of sheer panic spilled over your lashes, blurring your vision as you stared at the door. your mouth parted to let out a ragged sob of fear, but jungwon immediately leaned down, sealing his lips over yours to capture the sound before it could even form. the kiss was bruising and desperate, an unyielding barrier that completely swallowed your frantic pants.

beneath your skirt, his hand began to move with an agonizingly slow, rhythmic friction. each stroke was a deliberate torture, his fingers sliding deeply into your aching heat before curling slightly, deliberately targeting the sensitive walls within you. your core clenched violently around his touch, a shameful wetness coating his knuckles as your body betrayed your terror, adapting instantly to his rhythm.

jungwon let out a shuddering breath through his nose, his forehead pressing hard against yours as he kept his mouth locked over yours. you could taste the faint hint of mint and the raw heat of his desire, his jaw working against yours as his thumb found the swollen bundle of nerves at the apex of your thighs. he pressed down firmly, moving in a tight, heavy circle that sent a devastating jolt of pure pleasure straight up your spine.

you buckled against him, your fingers spasming within his tight grip, trying to claw at the counter to find some anchor. a muffled, high pitched whimper leaked into his mouth, your chest heaving violently against his sternum as the edge of an inevitable climax began to tighten in your lower stomach. you twisted your face away from his, trying to breathe, trying to beg him to stop before you lost control entirely.

"please." you mouthed against his jaw, your voice nothing more than a silent puff of air. "jungwon, they'll hear."

the rustle of papers outside paused again. the heavy sound of a sigh carried through the quiet corridor, followed by the slow, turning scrape of dress shoes. they were moving again, their footsteps pacing closer to the copy room door this time, the shadow growing larger against the frosted glass pane.

jungwon's eyes snapped open, dark and completely wild with the illicit thrill of the risk. he didn't pull his hand back. instead, his fingers drove deeper, hooking into you with a possessive speed that made your hips violently jerk against his thigh. his mouth came right back to your ear, his teeth grazing the sensitive lobe as he whispered in a ragged tone.

"hold it in." he breathed, the words a cutting command against your wet skin. "if you make a sound right now, they're going to open this door."

the shadow on the frosted glass stopped directly in front of the entrance. the silhouette was sharp, the distinct outline of a hand reaching out toward the silver handle visible through the pane. panic turned into absolute, paralyzing ice in your veins. your eyes stretched wide, staring at the shifting metal of the handle, waiting for the distinct click of the lock to draw their attention. you wanted to vanish into the floor, wanted to claw your way out of his grip, but your body was entirely failing you.

beneath your skirt, jungwon didn't give you a single second to process the terror. his thumb pressed down with a heavy force against your core, while his fingers drove into your slick heat with a sudden, relentless pace. the friction was overwhelming, a wave of pleasure fracturing your mind completely and turning the fear into something dangerously volatile.

a suffocating sob rose from your chest, your mouth opening in a silent, desperate scream for him to stop, to let you breathe, to save you from the imminent ruin. but jungwon caught your face with his free hand, his palm clamping hard over your mouth to stifle the sound before it could leave your lips. his long fingers dug into your cheeks, forcing your head back against his shoulder as he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

you buckled violently against his palm, your hips jerking upward as the intense contraction of a climax slammed into your lower stomach. it was an agonizing, silent explosion. your core clamped down ruthlessly around his moving fingers, pulsing in tight waves that had you trembling from head to toe. the sheer intensity of it made your vision go dark at the edges, your body shaking helplessly against the hard metal counter while every single muffled gasp was completely crushed into the skin of his hand.

outside, the door handle gave a sharp, sudden rattle. someone was trying to push it open, but jungwon didn't pull back. he let out a ragged groan against your collarbone, his jaw clenching so hard the bone looked sharp as his fingers curled deeply inside you, absorbing the violent spasms of your release. his dark eyes flickered to the rattling handle, a dangerous, completely unhinged intensity clouding his features as he listened to the muffled voice outside mutter an annoyed curse about the door being jammed.

the footsteps finally turned away, the heavy sound of dress shoes retreating back down the long corridor toward the main elevators.

only when the silence of the office floor returned did jungwon slowly slide his wet fingers out from beneath your skirt. his palm remained firmly over your mouth for a few seconds longer, catching the broken pants that tore from your throat as your legs turned to water. you collapsed heavily against his chest, completely ruined, with nothing but the mechanical hum of the printer to fill the space between you.

he slowly lowered his hand from your mouth, his fingers brushing lightly against your wet lips. you immediately turned your head away, drawing in a ragged breath that trembled in your chest. the silence of the copy room returned, thick and suffocating.

you tried to smooth down your skirt with shaking hands, your fingers catching on the wrinkled fabric. the reality of what had just happened — and how close you had come to being caught — settled heavily in your stomach. a sharp knot of anxiety and resentment tightened in your throat.

"let me go." you whispered, refusing to look at him as you pushed weakly against his chest. "someone else will be here soon. the department starts filling up in ten minutes."

jungwon didn't move. he stood perfectly still, his chest expanding slowly against your palms as he looked down at you. the sharp, mocking arrogance was gone, replaced by a quiet, heavy intensity that felt far more dangerous. he looked at your flushed cheeks, your swollen lips, and the way your chest was still heaving. he was breathing heavily too, his usual immaculate composure slightly frayed, his tie shifted slightly to the side.

"you're still burning up." he murmured softly, his voice dropping into that low, raspy register. he reached out, his long fingers catching your jaw and gently but firmly turning your face back toward him. "and you're still looking at the door."

"because this is insane!" you gritted out, a tear of frustration finally slipping down your cheek. "you locked me in a copy room. anyone could have walked in. you could have ruined everything."

he didn't answer right away. he just stared at you, his dark eyes tracking the tear down your cheek before his gaze dropped back to your mouth. the silence stretched between you, heavy with everything left unsaid. there was a quiet weight to his presence, an undeniable gravity that made it impossible to truly step away even though his grip on your wrists had loosened.

slowly, his hand slid from your jaw down to the open collar of your blouse. his knuckles brushed against your collarbone, making you flinch, but you didn't pull away. your body was still humming from the release, completely sensitized, and the cool air of the room against your damp skin only made his touch feel warmer.

"i didn't ruin it." he whispered, his thumb lightly tracing the center of your lower lip. his other hand settled on your hip, his fingers digging into the fabric of your skirt, pulling your lower body back flush against his thigh. "and we aren't finished."

the quiet certainty in his voice made your heart skip a beat. you glanced at the frosted glass of the door again, the terror of being seen mixing with the pulsing ache that was already rebuilding in your lower stomach.

jungwon reached down, his fingers working efficiently at the buckle of his belt. the metallic click sounded incredibly loud in the small room. he didn't make a scene, he just looked at you with a calm, dark focus that made your knees feel weak all over again. he unzipped his slacks, his thick, rigid length freeing itself against your thigh. he hooked his hand under your knee, lifting your leg slightly to anchor it against his hip, his eyes never leaving yours as he guided himself directly against your wet opening.

"quiet, y/n." he murmured, his breath hot against your face as he leaned his weight forward. "keep your eyes on me."

he sank into you slowly, a deliberate pressure that made your eyes stretch wide as he filled you completely. a choked gasp caught in your throat, your fingers instantly digging into the hard fabric of his shoulders to keep from crying out. the stretch was immense, a burning ache that immediately sent a trembling wave of heat straight to your core.

jungwon let out a low, shaky exhale against your lips, his jaw tight as he paused, letting your tight walls adjust to the thick length of his cock. he didn't move for a long moment, simply holding you pinned against the printer, his gaze locked ruthlessly onto yours. you could see the subtle fracture in his calm facade — the way his pupils were completely dilated, the rapid pulse jumping in his neck, the sheer heat radiating from his skin.

"look at me." he whispered again, his voice a gravelly thread.

you forced yourself to keep eye contact, even as a distant telephone began to ring out in the main bullpen, a stark reminder that the office was slowly coming to life. every second he stayed inside you felt like a countdown to absolute disaster.

slowly, jungwon began to move. he pulled back just far enough to tease, before driving back in with a deep thrust that tilted your hips back against the counter. the friction was agonizingly perfect, hitting the exact spot his fingers had ruined just minutes before. your back arched instinctively, a desperate, muffled whimper escaping your lips before you could stop it.

instantly, jungwon’s hand came up, his palm pressing firmly over your mouth to stifle the sound. he didn't stop his rhythm. he kept the pace slow and bruising, his hips grinding into yours with a steady desperation that left you entirely breathless. under the cover of your hitched up skirt, the wet, sliding sound of his entry felt dangerously loud in the quiet room.

“shhhh. see how easy it was? mmh?” the vibration of his low voice hummed right against your ear, the condescending edge returning but wrapped in a breathless desperation that betrayed how deeply he was actually unraveling. you shook your head against his palm, a muffled protest dying against his skin as he drove into you again, harder this time. the blunt force of his hips bottoming out against yours made your vision blur, the intense internal friction striking a cord of pure pleasure that threatened to snap your remaining restraint.

he liked the resistance, but he liked your body's compliance even more. his fingers shifted slightly on your face, his thumb digging into the soft flesh of your cheek to keep you looking directly at him while his lower body maintained that punishing rhythm. the slick friction between your thighs was getting louder with every thrust, a scandalous sound that made your face burn with a fresh wave of shame.

outside, the distinct whine of the main printer network warming up echoed through the wall. someone had just logged into their computer at a nearby cubicle. the floor was officially waking up.

jungwon noticed it too. his eyes narrowed, a dangerous thrill flashing through his gaze as he leaned in even closer, his chest completely crushing your pinned hands against his sternum. he pulled out almost completely, a cruel, agonizingly slow withdrawal that left you feeling hollow and aching, before he slammed back in all the way to the hilt.

a loud, broken gasp was completely smothered by his hand, your hips jerking helplessly against his heavy thigh as a sudden wave of heat coiled tightly in your lower stomach.

"you're shaking." he murmured against his own palm, his breath hot and damp over your mouth as his pace finally began to quicken, losing its calculated restraint. his jaw was set so hard the muscle violently pulsed, his own breathing breaking into uneven pants against your neck. "look at you. you're so tight around me. tell me how pathetic i am now, y/n."

he didn't wait for an answer, nor did he give you the room to form one. he lifted your leg a fraction higher, anchoring you ruthlessly against his hip as his thrusts became faster, deeper, and entirely unmasked. every heavy push drove you closer to another ruinous collapse, your fingers clawing uselessly at his shoulders as you fought to keep from making a single sound that would bring the office crashing down around you.

your teeth sank directly into the meat of his palm, a desperate, vicious bite to keep from screaming as another brutal thrust hit your core. jungwon let out a gravelly hiss against your ear, but he didn't pull his hand away. if anything, the sharp pain only made his grip on your face tighten, his fingers digging into your jaw with a bruising force that kept your head pinned back against the metal machine. his hips didn't slow down for a fraction of a second, they slammed into yours with an unhinged speed that had the heavy industrial printer rattling faintly beneath your lower back.

the wet, sticky friction between your thighs was unbearable, a visual and physical ruin that made your mind spin with a sickening blend of terror and intense pleasure. outside, the heavy click of a ceramic mug hitting a desk sounded just feet away from the copy room door.

"jungwon... mmmph." you tried to speak against his skin, your words muffled into an unidentifiable whine as your hips violently buckled. you were getting too close, the coiled heat in your stomach tightening into a knot so sharp it made your knees completely lose their strength. you were going to fall apart right there, right into his hands, with half the marketing team just beyond the frosted glass.

he pulled his hand down from your mouth just a millimeter, his eyes wild and dark, entirely consumed by the sight of your ruined, weeping expression. "say it." he rasped, his voice an unraveled mess as he drove himself into you to the absolute hilt, over and over. "tell me what you want me to do before someone opens this door, y/n. tell me."

"please." you choked out, your voice a pathetic whisper, your fingers tearing at the crisp fabric of his shirt as the impending wave crashed over you. "hurry... jungwon, please, they're right outside."

a low, triumphant growl tore from the back of his throat. he didn't play the mocking gentleman anymore, he just grabbed your other thigh, completely lifting you off the counter as his thrusts became deep, blind, and ruthlessly heavy. your core clenched around him in violent contractions, a silent climax shattering your posture as you buried your face into his neck, biting his collarbone to swallow the ragged scream tearing from your lungs.

jungwon gave two more desperate shoves into your pulsing heat, his whole body locking up as a low groan escaped his lips. he buried his face in your hair, his length twitching deeply inside you as he filled you completely, his chest heaving against your crushed ribs.

the silence that followed was heavy and deafening, save for the frantic synchronicity of your breathing. he kept you lifted against him for a long moment, his body trembling slightly from the sheer force of his release as his weight anchored you firmly to the edge of the metal counter. outside, the murmur of two coworkers talking about their weekend plans drifted through the drywall, their voices casual, entirely unaware of the absolute ruin taking place just inches away.

slowly, the tension began to drain from jungwon’s rigid frame. he let out a shuddering exhale against your temple, his forehead resting heavily against yours as his grip on your thighs loosened just enough to let your heels touch the floor again. your knees immediately buckled, your legs feeling like jelly, and you had to clutch the front of his shirt just to keep your balance.

"stay still." he murmured, his voice incredibly low and rough, stripped entirely of its usual smooth cadence.

he didn't pull out of you immediately. instead, his hands slid up from your thighs to your waist, his thumbs tracing the small of your back beneath your shirt as he waited for the aftershocks of your climax to finally subside. every tiny, involuntary twitch of your inner muscles made his jaw clench, a lingering heat still humming between your lower bodies.

the internal turmoil in your chest was suffocating. you felt exposed, completely unraveled, and the sharp sting of shame was already beginning to fight its way through the fading haze of pleasure. you had begged him. you had completely dismantled your own walls and given him exactly what he wanted just because you were terrified of being caught.

"let me down." you whispered, your voice raw and completely spent, your eyes fixed strictly on the silver buttons of his vest. you couldn't bring yourself to look at his face, not with the sticky reality of what you had just done settling between your thighs.

jungwon didn't argue. with a careful shift of his weight, he slid out of you. the sudden absence of his heat made you shiver, a cold drop of moisture tracing its way down your inner thigh as the fabric of your underwear snapped back into place, damp and ruined.

he stepped back just half an inch, his fingers lingering on your hips for a split second before he reached down to fix his trousers. the click of his belt buckle sounded agonizingly permanent, signaling the immediate return of the corporate world you had both just violently stepped out of. jungwon reached around you without a word, his long fingers smoothly pressing the button on the top console of the copier. the machine came alive with a loud whir, instantly printing the remaining pages of your presentation, the rhythmic thumping of the paper tray filling the tense silence between you.

it was a clean, jarring transition back to reality. you immediately smoothed down your pencil skirt, your hands still trembling so violently that you could barely straighten the hem over your knees. you tucked your blouse back into the waistband with clumsy movements, your heart still hammering against your ribs from the sheer panic of the hallway voices. the dampness between your thighs was a humiliating reminder of what had just happened, but you forced yourself to ignore it, turning your back to him to gather the freshly printed documents from the tray.

behind you, the rustle of fabric signaled jungwon fixing his tie. when you finally turned around, the wild animal from moments ago was completely gone.

he was standing by the door, adjusting the cuffs of his pristine white shirt, his expression perfectly unreadable. his jaw was no longer clenched, his breathing had completely evened out, and the immaculate, polite golden boy facade was back in place as if it had never left. if it weren't for the slight flush lingering on his neck and the faint scent of your shared heat in the small room, you could have easily convinced yourself you imagined the whole thing. he reached for the silver handle, unlocking the door with a practiced click that felt devastatingly casual.

"the quarterly reports for the marketing team are on your desk, right?" he asked, his voice returning to that smooth, pleasant tone he used during morning meetings. there was no trace of the gravelly whisper that had just ruined you against the counter.

you swallowed the thick lump of shame in your throat, clutching the stack of papers against your chest like a shield. "yes. i'll review them before the noon briefing."

"perfect. let's make sure the formatting is correct before we present to the board." he replied, giving you a polite, professional nod.

he opened the door, stepping out into the bright, bustling corridor without a single backward glance, immediately greeting a passing manager with his charming smile. you stood alone in the dim room for a second longer, your legs still shaking, forced to step right out behind him and pretend the neat little walls of your corporate life hadn't just been completely shattered.

the transition was so seamless it made your stomach turn. you stepped out into the hallway a few paces behind him, the fluorescent lights of the main floor hitting your eyes with a punishing brightness. the office was alive now. the low hum of chatter, the sharp clacking of keyboards, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as if the world hadn't completely shifted on its axis over the last twenty minutes.

you walked past the central cubicles, your thigh muscles tightening painfully with every step, a constant, physical reminder of his weight pinning you down. it was terrifying how normal everything looked. you could feel the damp silk of your underwear clinging to your skin, a secret weight, while jungwon walked a few meters ahead of you with a perfectly straight spine, smoothly dropping off a folder at the reception desk.

he didn't look back at you. not once.

when you reached your desk, you sat down a little too quickly, a small gasp catching in your throat as your sensitized skin made contact with the cold chair. you immediately pulled the stack of warm printer papers in front of you, staring blindly at the columns of numbers. your mind was a chaotic, spinning mess of internal noise. how is he doing that? you thought, your fingers trembling as you gripped your pen. how is he just sitting there?

across the small divider, you could see the top of his dark head as he settled into his own desk. he adjusted his monitor, clicked his mouse, and reached for his pen with the exact same calm precision he displayed every single morning.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

in the weeks that followed, the absolute silence between you became a far more brutal punishment than any of his condescending words in the copy room.

the facade didn't break. not that day, not the next, and not during the endless string of standard departmental meetings that dragged on through the middle of the month. jungwon went back to being the perfect golden boy of the floor. he passed you files with a polite, entirely blank nod. he answered your emails with professional efficiency. if your fingers accidentally brushed over a shared document during a briefing, his hand would retract instantly, his expression remaining so utterly detached you started to wonder if you had hallucinated the entire thing again.

but the physical memory of him refused to fade. every time you walked past that specific frosted glass door in the morning, your stomach would drop, a phantom warmth blooming low in your belly. you hated how your eyes automatically tracked him through the glass partition of his cubicle, how you caught yourself memorizing the slight roll of his sleeves or the sharp line of his jaw when he leaned over his desk.

you were drowning in the quiet, agonizing space he had put between you, constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, but jungwon simply refused to acknowledge it. your biggest fear had actually come true and you couldn’t do much about it.

until a rainy tuesday three weeks later. the rest of the team had already left for a corporate dinner you had skipped, leaving the floor dark and empty save for the steady hum of the fluorescent lights above your desk. you were typing a final report, your shoulders tense, when a shadow suddenly fell across your papers.

you snapped your head up. jungwon was standing on the other side of your partition, his trench coat slung over his arm, his briefcase already in hand. he looked exactly like he did every evening — immaculate, composed, completely out of reach.

"i'm locking up the main floor." he said, his voice carrying that pleasant cadence that had kept you at a distance for twenty one days. "are you finishing up soon, y/n?"

you swallowed hard, your fingers freezing over the keys as the sheer, suffocating weight of his presence hit you all at once. the weeks of forced indifference, the stolen glances, and the burning shame of that morning in the supply closet flared hot in your chest. "i have ten minutes left." you managed to say, forcing your voice to stay even, refusing to let him see how much his simple proximity was making your pulse race. "you don't have to wait for me."

jungwon didn't move. he stood perfectly still in the dim aisle, his dark eyes fixed on your face. for a long second, the silence stretched between you, thick with the unspoken reality of what you had done against that counter.

then, very slowly, his gaze dropped to your mouth. it was the first real break in his mask in a month. his jaw clenched, the muscle in his cheek giving a sharp pulse, and the familiar, dangerous intensity flooded his eyes, clouding the brown until they looked almost entirely black. he wasn't looking at a coworker anymore. he was looking at you the exact same way he had right before he pinned your wrists to the metal.

"ten minutes." he murmured, his voice dropping into that low register that made your spine instantly freeze. he didn't step closer, and he didn't touch you, but the territorial, heavy grip of his eyes felt like a physical weight against your skin. "i'll be by the elevators." he turned and walked away before you could breathe, his dress shoes clicking sharply against the floor, leaving you trembling in the empty office with the terrifying realization that the walls you had spent weeks building hadn't actually kept anything out.

after those agonizing ten minutes quickly passed, the elevator doors slid shut with a synchronized click, leaving the two of you entirely alone in the descending steel box.

the silence was thick, pressing heavily against your eardrums as the floor numbers ticked downward. you stood in the corner, clutching the strap of your bag with white-knuckled intensity, your eyes glued to the polished metal doors. you could feel the suffocating friction of his presence just two feet away. your mind was a chaotic, spinning mess of internal noise, replaying the dark look he had just given you across your desk. did he mean it? is he going to do something? you glanced at him from beneath your lashes, your heart hammering against your ribs.

jungwon was leaning casually against the handrail, one hand slid carelessly into his trouser pocket while the other held his briefcase. his eyes were fixed on the digital display above the door, his expression completely blank, perfectly smooth, and utterly nonchalant. the raspy voice from three minutes ago might as well have belonged to a ghost. his jaw was loose, his breathing perfectly rhythmic.

a sickening knot of realization twisted sharply in your stomach. he doesn't care. the thought hit you like a physical blow, draining the residual heat from your veins and replacing it with a hollow ache. the fierce, territorial grip of his eyes back at your cubicle hadn't been a confession or a break in his mask — it was just a reflex. a passing thought. he was just playing with you, testing to see if he still had that terrifying gravity over your body, and you had shown him your absolute ruin in a single second. you had let him see how easily he could freeze you when you had vehemently swore it could never happen, while he didn't even have the decency to let his composure slip for more than a heartbeat.

the elevator chimed, the doors sliding open to reveal the dim, echoing expanse of the underground parking garage. jungwon straightened up smoothly, stepping out onto the concrete without waiting for you. his easy strides carried him toward his sleek sedan, his coat swinging slightly with the movement. he looked so effortlessly out of your reach, a pristine corporate entity who hadn't spent the last three weeks drowning in the memory of your slick heat coating his knuckles. to him, it was just another day. it was just an empty office floor.

"drive safe, y/n." he called out over his shoulder, his voice carrying that entirely detached cadence as he unlocked his car with a distant beep. he didn't look back to see your expression. he just slid into the driver's seat, closing the door with a definitive thud that echoed through the empty garage, leaving you standing under the flickering lights, completely hollowed out by his indifference.

you didn’t move until the taillights of his car disappeared up the concrete ramp, leaving the garage in a darker quiet. the bite of the underground air finally pierced through the numbness in your chest, forcing a shaky breath from your throat. you hated him. you hated him so deeply in that moment, but more than anything, you hated the pathetic way your skin still felt too tight, still humming with a desperate, unearned adrenaline just because he had looked at your mouth.

it was a game, you reminded yourself as you unlocked your own car, your fingers stiff against the steering wheel. just a power trip. you had spent three weeks thinking you were sharing a suffocating secret, drowning in the memory of his fingers, while he had probably forgotten the exact color of the underwear he had pushed aside.

the next morning, you arrived early, your spine perfectly straight, your eyes cold. you had spent the entire night rebuilding your own walls, cementing them with the raw humiliation of his easy departure.

and jungwon made it incredibly easy for you to believe the lie.

over the next two weeks, you watched him play his part with a terrifying, flawless precision. he still was the department's golden boy, the immaculate genius every higher-up adored and every intern whispered about. you sat at your desk and watched him smile charmingly at the new girl from hr, leaning just close enough to make her blush while he explained the expense report system. you heard the rumors through the office grapevine — how he had been seen leaving a lounge downtown with a senior designer from product development last friday, his jacket slung over his arm, looking effortlessly smooth.

he still was methodical. he still was calculated. he picked them apart, charmed them, used them, and then returned to his desk on monday morning without a single hair out of place. you were nothing special to him. you were just a checkbox in his sick need for control, a momentary lapse where he wanted to see if he could break the one person who didn't look at him like he hung the moon.

so you needed to stop looking. you treated him like a piece of office furniture — functional, necessary, and completely uninteresting. when he passed you files, you didn't look at his eyes. when he emailed you, you replied with one word confirmations. you forced yourself to believe you were completely over it.

but because you were the only one who actually saw past the perfect golden armor, you were the only one who noticed the tiny, almost invisible cracks.

it started with his posture. jungwon always sat perfectly straight, but lately, whenever jay came over to your desk to laugh and linger a little too long, jungwon’s broad shoulders would turn entirely rigid behind his partition. his keyboard would go dead silent. he wouldn't turn around, he wouldn't break his perfect facade, but his pen would stop clicking, hovering over his paperwork until jay finally walked away.

then came the morning briefings. he would sit at the head of the conference table, smoothly delivering metrics to the team with his usual pleasant, charming tone. everyone was captivated. but your eyes were fixed on his hands. while his voice was perfectly steady, his thumb was repeatedly tracing the silver band of his watch — a restless motion he only did when he was deeply unsettled. and once, just once, when you leaned forward to grab a printout, his eyes flickered down to your collarbone, his jaw tightening so hard the muscle violently pulsed before he smoothly transitioned to the next slide.

on friday afternoon, right before clock out, the office was buzzing with the energy of the weekend, people packing up their bags and making loud plans. jungwon was surrounded by three girls from marketing, holding court near the elevators, offering them that effortless, dimpled smile that always made them giggle. from your desk, he looked completely unbothered, entirely back to his usual routine of being the untouchable favorite.

you quietly zipped your bag, sliding your chair back to leave through the side exit, wanting to avoid the elevator crowd entirely.

as you walked past the main copy room — the very room that still made your stomach drop every time you glanced at the frosted glass — the door suddenly clicked open a fraction of an inch.

you paused, your heart skipping a beat. jungwon was inside, dropping off a stack of recycled papers. he hadn't seen you yet. he was completely alone, away from his audience, and for a split second, the charming golden boy was entirely dead. his head was down, his chest heaving in a slow breath that looked incredibly heavy. his fingers were gripping the edge of the counter so hard his knuckles were stark white. the exact spot where he had pinned your wrists.

you took a step back, your shoes scuffing lightly against the floor. jungwon’s head snapped up. through the gap in the door, his dark eyes locked onto yours. the pleasant, fake sweet mask he had been wearing at the elevators just two minutes ago was completely shattered, replaced by a hollowed out frustration that made your breath hitch. he didn't move, and he didn't say a word. you both just stood there, the heavy silence of the copy room bleeding out into the hallway, cutting straight through the distant chatter of the office.

his eyes didn't leave yours. the unhinged intensity you thought you had imagined was right there, clouding the brown of his pupils until they looked almost black. his knuckles remained white against the counter, his broad shoulders rising and falling with that same heavy breath. it was a silent confession he couldn't take back, a glaring proof that while he was out there playing the untouchable prince, he was secretly rotting in the exact same memory that had been torturing you for weeks.

he’s losing, the realization hit your chest with a dizzying jolt. he’s pretending just as hard as i am. but then, almost as quickly as it had shattered, his mask began to piece itself back together. you could see the exact moment his calculating mind took over. his fingers slowly uncurled from the edge of the counter, his spine straightening into that familiar, impeccable posture. he let out a dismissive breath through his nose, his jaw tightening into a smooth, even line as he adjusted the cuffs of his shirt.

by the time he took a step toward the doorway, it all was gone, replaced once again by the flawless colleague. "going home?" he asked, his voice sliding effortlessly back into that casual tone that made your stomach turn. he didn't lean in, and he didn't look at your mouth. he just stepped out into the hallway, pulling the copy room door shut behind him with a definitive click.

"yes." you managed to say, your voice flat, your fingers tightening around the strap of your bag. you hated how your heart was still hammering against your ribs, how your body still reacted to his proximity even when his eyes were completely blank again.

"good. enjoy the weekend, y/n." he replied, giving you an entirely standard nod that you would see him give any other staff member.

he turned on his heel and walked right back toward the elevators, smoothly slipping back into the crowd of marketing girls who were still waiting for him. as you walked away through the side exit, your chest ached with a burning confusion. he was still that same fake, dangerous boy, completely unreachable, but you were pretty sure of what you saw. the immaculate armor had a leak, and for the first time in a month, you didn’t seem to be the only one suffocating.

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

you spent the entire weekend trapped in the memory of those three seconds. no matter how hard you tried to push it away — whether you were cleaning your apartment or staring blindly at the television — all you could see was the unraveled frustration in his eyes before his mask snapped back into place. it changed everything. you had spent weeks drowning in shame, convinced you were the only one broken by what had happened, while he just smoothly moved on to the next person. but now it seemed like his nonchalance was just as fake as his charming, dimpled smile.

by monday morning, the office atmosphere felt different, charged with a quiet, invisible current that only the two of you could feel. you sat at your desk, keeping your head down, but you didn't feel like a victim anymore. the dynamic had subtly shifted. when jungwon arrived, he was back to his usual routine — laughing politely at a manager's bad joke, offering a sweet, effortless greeting to the receptionist. but as he walked past your partition to get to his desk, you didn't look away this time. you kept your eyes fixed on your screen, perfectly still, letting your deliberate indifference hang in the air like a wall.

you heard the distinct slide of his briefcase hitting his desk, followed by a sudden silence. he didn't sit down right away.

for a long, tense minute, the only sound between your cubicles was the low hum of the air conditioner. you could feel his gaze burning through the small gap in the divider, heavy and demanding, practically begging you to look up and give him the validation he always took from you. but you didn't give him a single inch. you casually reached for your ceramic mug, took a slow sip of your coffee, and clicked on your email spreadsheet. the keys of his keyboard suddenly rattled under his fingers with a force that was just a fraction too aggressive for his usual methodical rhythm.

around eleven, jay strolled over to your desk, leaning his hip against the edge of your partition with a lazy grin. "hey, y/n. a few of us are grabbing lunch down at that new bistro by the plaza later. you should come. i'll even cover your dessert if you help me look over the Q2 projections afterwards."

you offered jay a genuine smile, leaning back in your chair. "sure, jay. that sounds really nice, actually. let me just finish up this report."

"perfect. it's a date, then." jay joked, giving you a playful wink before turning to leave.

the exact second jay's footsteps faded down the hall, the quiet clicking of jungwon's keyboard completely stopped. the silence from his cubicle was suffocating, thick with a sudden, icy hostility that made the hairs on your arms stand up.

a moment later, your inbox chimed with a new notification:

From: Yang Jungwon To: Y/N Subject: Q2 Presentation Formatting Please bring the physical drafts of the marketing presentation to the main archive room on B1. There are inconsistencies in the data layout that need to be corrected immediately before the afternoon briefing.

your heart gave a violent thud against your ribs. the archive room. that windowless, isolated space in the basement where almost no one went during the day. you stared at the text on your screen, your fingers freezing over your mouse as the internal turmoil flared white-hot in your chest all over again. he was pulling the strings, falling back on his authority because his perfect, fake sweet persona wasn't working on you. he was desperate to get you behind a closed door, desperate to find out if he still held that volatile gravity over your body.

you slowly printed out the sheets, the rhythmic thumping of the machine sounding like a countdown. you gathered the warm papers against your chest, your knees feeling slightly weak as you stood up, forced to walk toward the elevators and find out exactly how much further his flawless armor was going to crack.

the basement air hit you first — cool, damp, and smelling faintly of dust and old paper.

the heavy steel door of the archive room clicked shut behind you with an echoing thud that made your chest tighten. it was completely isolated down there, rows of high metal shelves stretching out under the harsh buzz of fluorescent tubes. you walked down the center aisle, the physical drafts clutched tightly against your chest like a shield, your heels clicking softly on the smooth concrete.

jungwon was already there. he was standing by a long metal sorting table at the back of the room, casually flipping through a thick folder. his suit jacket was off, draped neatly over the back of a nearby chair, and the sleeves of his crisp white shirt were rolled up to his elbows with that effortless precision. 

"you said there were inconsistencies." you said, your voice cutting through the silence. you kept it flat, professional, and entirely devoid of the breathy panic you knew he was used to extracting from you. you stepped up to the opposite side of the wide metal table, sliding the stack of papers across the cold surface between you.

jungwon didn't look up immediately. he slowly finished the line he was reading, tapped his pen against the table twice, and then finally raised his eyes.

the forced nonchalance in his gaze was breathtakingly thin, but he held it together. the pleasant, fake nice colleague was perfectly intact. "slide four." he murmured, his voice smooth, though it carried a quiet weight that felt incredibly heavy in the small room. "the formatting doesn't match the logistics ledger. we can't present sloppy work to the board."

"it's not sloppy." you replied smoothly, leaning your palms against the edge of the table, deliberately matching his unbothered posture. "jay reviewed the data layout with me last week. he said it was perfect."

the mention of his name hit the air like a live wire. jungwon’s fingers tightened around his pen for a fraction of a second, his knuckles turning pale before he relaxed his grip. he didn't snap, and he didn't raise his voice. instead, he leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the metal table, looking at you with a calm, analytical focus that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

"jay doesn't sign off on your department's metrics." jungwon said, his tone dropping into a slightly lower register that sent a phantom shiver down your spine. "i do. if he wants to audit your work, he can do it through the proper channels. until then, i need you to align these numbers."

"i'll fix it at my desk, then." you said, reaching out to pull the papers back toward yourself, desperate to break the suffocating gravity of his presence.

but jungwon didn't let go of his side of the papers. his hand clamped down flat on the top sheet, trapping the documents against the metal. his dark eyes locked onto yours. the silence stretched between you and you could see the faint pulse jumping in his neck, the slight tightness in his jaw.

"we have an hour before the briefing, y/n." he murmured, his voice losing just a bit of its polished edge. "do it here. i need to verify it in real time."

you swallowed hard, your internal turmoil flaring white hot. you wanted to push back, wanted to call him out on his transparent power play, but the sheer, addictive thrill of having his unmasked attention kept you rooted to the spot. without breaking eye contact, you slowly pulled your laptop out of your bag, setting it on the cold metal table.

for the next ten minutes, the only sound in the archive room was the rhythmic clicking of your keyboard. you sat on a metal stool, keeping your posture rigid. jungwon remained directly across from you, ostensibly reviewing his ledger, but you could feel his eyes tracking every minor movement of your fingers, the way your collarbone shifted when you breathed, the tension in your shoulders. it was an agonizing tug of war, a silent battle of attrition to see who would fold first.

"done." you finally said, your voice sounding a little too thin in the quiet room. you pushed the laptop an inch forward. "the metrics are aligned."

jungwon closed his folder. instead of leaning over the table to look at the screen, he walked around it. every step he took felt impossibly loud. he didn't stop until he was standing right beside your stool, so close that his thigh brushed against your shoulder. his expensive scent entirely crowded out the musty smell of the basement, sending a treacherous wave of heat straight to your lower stomach. you froze, your hands resting rigidly in your lap, refusing to look up at him.

he leaned down, planting one hand on the metal table right next to your laptop, the other resting on the back of your stool, entirely caging you in. "is this what jay taught you?" jungwon murmured, his voice a mocking rasp right next to your ear. he wasn't even looking at the screen. his gaze was fixed on the side of your neck. "because the margins are still off."

"the margins are standard." you gritted out, your fingers curling into fists in your lap to keep them from trembling. the forced proximity was destroying your composure. "he actually knows how to work with the team, jungwon. unlike some people, he doesn't just use everyone around him for a power trip."

the air in the room completely stalled. jungwon let out a slow, sharp breath that fanned across your cheek. he didn't pull away. instead, he leaned in a fraction closer, the polished golden boy facade finally cracking.

"you're trying so hard, y/n." he whispered, his voice dark and utterly devoid of his usual corporate charm. "ignoring me in the hallways. sending one word emails. letting jay buy you coffee just to see if i'll react."

"i'm not trying to do anything." you shot back, finally turning your head to glare at him. it was a mistake. his face was mere inches from yours, his dark eyes completely consumed by that familiar intensity. the memory of his hand over your mouth, his hips crushing yours against the counter, suddenly screamed in the silence between you. "i just don't care about you anymore."

"liar." the word was a soft, cruel accusation. his eyes dropped to your lips, tracking the way they parted on a shaky intake of breath. his hand shifted from the back of your stool, his long fingers lightly grazing the sensitive skin at the nape of your neck beneath your hair. "you care so much it's eating you alive.”

you wanted to shove him away. you wanted to slap him. but as his thumb brushed over your pulse point, feeling the hammering rhythm of your heart, a humiliating ache bloomed in your chest. the fight drained out of you, replaced by a suffocating yearning that you had spent an entire month trying to kill.

"then stop playing games." you whispered, your voice cracking, a raw confession slipping out before you could stop it. "stop looking at me like that if you're just going to go back upstairs and pretend i don't exist. or are you just doing all this to humiliate me and keep your ego intact?"

jungwon’s jaw locked. the muscle jumped violently beneath his skin, his eyes darkening into an absolute void as he stared down at you, the agonizing space between your lips separated by nothing but a few inches of cold basement air. the silence stretched for a long second, the harsh buzz of the lights above ringing in your ears like a warning.

"my ego." he repeated, the words tearing out of his throat in a harsh whisper. "you think my ego is intact."

his hand slid from the nape of your neck, his fingers tangling violently into the roots of your hair as he forced your head back. the movement was sharp, possessive, snapping the very last thread of your composure. he stepped right between your parted knees, the metal legs of your stool scraping loudly against the concrete as he dragged you inches closer to the edge of the table.

the solid warmth of his body pressed flush against your inner thighs, sending a blinding wave of heat straight to your center. you let out a choked gasp, your hands flying up to grip the lapels of his shirt, entirely unsure if you were trying to push him away or pull him closer.

"i haven't slept a full night in a month." he breathed against your mouth, his chest heaving against yours. the immaculate, calculating golden boy was completely gone, dissolving into someone desperate, unraveled, and entirely out of control. "i sit at my desk and watch you look right through me, and it takes every single ounce of my self control not to drag you under it and remind you exactly what you sounded like choking on my fingers."

your heart was hammering so violently it physically hurt. you stared up into his dark, ruined eyes, the resentment that had protected you for weeks crumbling into dust under the sheer weight of his confession.

"you want to know why i pretend, y/n? you want to know why i walk away?" jungwon continued, his voice dropping into a venomous growl, his thumb digging bruisingly into your jawline.

a hot tear of sheer, overwhelming frustration finally broke free, tracing down your cheek. "why?" you whispered pathetically, your walls completely dismantled.

"because if i let myself drop the act," he rasped, his gaze dropping to your mouth before flickering back up, pitch black and starving. "if i let myself actually think about how slick and ruined you were for me... how perfectly you clamped down on my cock while you begged me to hurry... i wouldn't just lock you in a copy room. i would bend you over every single desk on that floor and fuck that cold attitude right out of you until you couldn't drive home."

he didn't give you a chance to breathe, let alone answer. his mouth crashed down onto yours with a devastating force. it wasn't the teasing, mocking kiss from before. it was messy, filthy, and completely starved. his lips parted yours violently, his tongue driving deep into your mouth to swallow the broken sound that tore from your throat. he tasted like black coffee and unadulterated need.

the fight instantly drained out of your muscles. your hands, which had been clenched against his chest, completely surrendered, your fingers sliding up to fist into the crisp fabric at his shoulders. you kissed him back just as desperately, your body arching into his heat, chasing the exact friction that had been torturing your memory for weeks.

a low groan vibrated deep in his chest. he let go of your hair, wrapping both of his arms tightly around your waist and physically lifting you off the stool. the papers on the table scattered onto the concrete floor as he slammed your back down onto the cold metal surface, his heavy frame immediately settling right between your legs.

"open for me." he growled against your lips, his hand already sliding ruthlessly up your thigh, pushing your skirt out of the way. "let me see if you've been aching for it as badly as i have."

his hand didn't bother with being gentle. his long fingers dragged up your inner thigh, snagging on the lace of your underwear. he hooked two fingers under the damp fabric and shoved it aside with an almost violent tug. the cool basement air hit your exposed core for a fraction of a second before his blunt fingers pressed directly against your slick heat.

a shuddering breath tore from his lungs. he let his forehead drop against your shoulder, his chest heaving as he felt exactly how ready you were for him. "fuck." he rasped, his voice vibrating against your collarbone. he slid one thick finger deep inside you, the wet, obscene sound echoing loudly in the quiet room. "you're completely soaked. you were sitting at your desk acting like i didn't exist while you were dripping wet for me, mmh?"

"jungwon-" you whimpered, your hips jerking instinctively upward to chase his hand. the humiliation of being so easily exposed was entirely drowned out by the blinding relief of finally having him touch you again.

"we have twenty minutes until the briefing." he muttered, his dark eyes snapping back up to yours, feral and unyielding. "i'm going to ruin you so badly you won't be able to look at that projector screen without shaking." he didn't waste another second. his free hand dropped to his waist, the sharp clink of his belt buckle sounding like a starting gun. he tore his zipper down, freeing his erect cock before gripping your hips with bruising force. he dragged you to the very edge of the sorting table, your lower half completely suspended off the metal as you instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist to anchor yourself.

he didn't tease. he just lined himself up, gripped your thighs tightly, and sank into you with one deep, ruthless thrust that buried him to the absolute hilt. a loud, broken scream tore from your throat, but he swallowed it instantly, his mouth crashing back down onto yours. the stretch was agonizingly perfect. the contrast of the freezing metal table biting into your shoulder blades and the burning heat of him completely filling you made your mind entirely short circuit.

he broke the kiss just to catch his breath, his jaw clenched so tight the bone looked sharp enough to cut. "fuck, y/n." he groaned, his head falling back as his hips locked against yours for a second, absorbing the suffocating grip of your inner walls. "you're so tight."

and then he started to move. there was no methodical pacing, no calculated restraint. he fucked you with a frantic, punishing desperation, his hips pulling back only to slam into you with a heavy, wet slap that echoed obscenely off the metal shelves. the heavy sorting table actually rattled under his weight, every brutal thrust driving you backward, forcing your hands to claw helplessly at the ruined fabric of his shirt.

"jungwon, p-please. it's too fast." you choked out, your vision blurring with white hot tears as the friction immediately dialed up to an unbearable intensity. your core was already so sensitized from weeks of yearning that every time he bottomed out inside of you, a violent tremor shot straight through your stomach.

"it's not fast enough." he growled, his hand sliding up to grip your throat — not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to assert his absolute control, his thumb resting heavily over your racing pulse. he stared down at you, his immaculate hair falling messily over his forehead, his dark eyes tracking every single expression that crossed your ruined face. "let go for me. fall apart right here, before we have to go back upstairs and pretend."

you couldn't hold on even if you tried. the ticking clock, the danger of the basement door, and the overwhelming reality of him finally taking what you both wanted completely shattered your restraint. your nails dug into his forearms, a high, desperate whine leaving your lips as your internal walls began to violently contract.

"that's it." he rasped, his pace turning blind and relentless as he felt your climax begin to milk him. "take it. take all of it."

you completely broke, a ragged sob tearing from your chest as the climax rippled through you, your core clamping down on his rigid length in relentless waves. jungwon let out a deep, guttural groan, his control instantly snapping as he gave one final brutal shove before burying his face in your neck, spilling hotly deep inside you as his entire body locked up against yours.

the absolute silence of the basement returned with a deafening weight, broken only by the frantic synch of your breathing.

he stayed buried deep inside you for a heavy moment, his chest heaving against you, his pulse hammering a violent rhythm against your neck where his face was still buried. the heat radiating from his skin was staggering, a stark contrast to the freezing metal table biting into your spine. inside you, the last of his frantic twitches subsided, leaving behind a pulsing warmth that made your head spin with a sickening cocktail of euphoria and crashing panic.

ten minutes. your mind violently jolted back to the clock. we have ten minutes.

slowly, the rigid tension began to bleed out of jungwon’s frame. he let out a shuddering exhale against your skin, his forehead coming to rest heavily against your shoulder. when he finally pulled back, the physical separation felt brutal. he slid out of you with a wet friction that made your inner muscles helplessly twitch, a drop of moisture immediately coming down your inner thigh just like the first time.

the transition back to reality was instant, cold, and utterly terrifying again.

jungwon didn't say a word. he stepped back just half an inch, his long fingers lingering on your hip for a fraction of a second before he reached down to fix his clothes. you watched him through blurred vision as he pulled his sleeves back down, buttoning his cuffs with steady movements. his hair was messy, a few dark strands falling over his eyes, and a telltale flush covered his cheeks, but his expression was already shutting down. the feral man who had just pinned you to a metal table was being buried alive once again, brick by brick, right before your eyes.

"fix your skirt." he murmured, his voice incredibly low, still carrying a rough edge that he was clearly trying to smooth over. he didn't look at your face. he was looking at his watch. "we have less than ten minutes to get to the conference room."

the casual nonchalance of his tone made your stomach violently turn. you scrambled off the table, your legs shaking so violently that your heels nearly buckled the moment they hit the concrete floor. you immediately turned your back to him, your hands trembling as you tucked your blouse back into your waistband, smoothing down the wrinkled fabric of your skirt with silly, panicked movements. the sticky reality of what he had just left inside you was a burning weight between your thighs, but you obliged yourself to not think about it, desperately trying to swallow the thick lump of shame and yearning clogging your throat.

he's doing it again, you thought, your chest aching with a raw, suffocating turmoil. he just used me to vent a month of frustration, and now he's putting the mask back on.

when you forced yourself to turn around, the illusion was almost perfect. jungwon had donned his jacket, straightened his collar, and run a hand through his hair to guide it back into its immaculate style. once more, you could have convinced yourself it all had been a hallucination.

he picked up the scattered presentation slides from the floor, tapping the edge of the papers against the table to align them perfectly. "the data layout looks completely standard now." he said, his voice sliding effortlessly back into that tone he used for the board of directors. he extended the stack of papers toward you, his hand perfectly steady. "make sure you hand these to the department head as soon as we walk in."

you took the papers, your fingers brushing against his for a fraction of a second. you expected him to pull away, expected the ice — but his fingers tightened subtly over yours, pinning the pages between you for one agonizing heartbeat.

his eyes locked onto yours, pitch black and harboring a quiet promise that completely contradicted his polite posture. i'm not finished with you, his gaze whispered, loud and clear, before he smoothly let go.

"let's go." jungwon said, offering you a polite nod as he turned toward the heavy steel door. "we can't be late for the briefing."

he pushed the door open, stepping out into the hallway without a single backward glance. you stood alone in the dim archive room for one second longer, trying to steady your breath, before you stepped right out behind him — forced to walk into a crowded elevator and pretend your entire world hadn't just been ruined in the basement. 

⋆.˚˖࿔ ࣪

the briefing passed in a blinding blur. you sat three chairs down from him at the long mahogany table, your knees locked tightly together, trying to focus on the projector screen while the slow warmth of what he had left inside you cooled against your thighs. jungwon was flawless. he pointed at the data slides with his silver pen, spoke in that bright, capable way the executives loved, and didn't look at you a single time.

that afternoon was the first brick laid in a structure that would systematically hollow you out over the next four weeks. the basement hadn't been a momentary break in his mask. instead, it became the blueprint for a toxic, unspoken routine that established itself entirely through the company’s internal server. neither of you ever spoke a word about it out loud. there were no late night texts, no lingering looks, and absolutely no acknowledgment of the ruin you shared. jungwon kept the boundary line thick and visible, and you, out of a desperate, clawing need to save your own pride, matched his stride.

you learned to read the language of his casual invitations. it always started with a generic email notification flashing on your monitor. the subject lines were always pristine, completely invisible to anyone else — archival cross-reference, logistics ledger review, updated q3 formatting. but the timing was calculated with a terrifying precision. it was always 7:15 am, before the front desk receptionist clocked in, or 8:30 pm, when the main floor lights auto dimmed and the cleaning crew was still three levels above.

the locations shifted, but the suffocating friction remained the same. a vacant corporate lounge on the 14th floor, a narrow, windowless supply vault behind the server racks, the deep corner of a private office after the heavy blinds were twisted shut against the city. 

and every single time, the pattern was a torturous loop. you would walk into the designated room with your jaw clenched, your heart hammering an angry rhythm against your ribs, determined to prove you were just as detached as he was. jungwon would be waiting, looking immaculate, his expression completely blank as he gave you some casual instruction. you would pretend you didn't care. he would pretend he didn't care.

then, the air would stall. the forced nonchalance would burn away into that unhinged intensity, and he would drag you against a desk or pin you against a wall. he was filthy in the dark, using a venomous rasp to whisper things that made your blood boil with a sickening mix of shame and desperate desire. he would take everything your body pathetically yearned for, running the clock down to the absolute last second.

and the exact heartbeat his release was over, the ice returned.

he would slide out of you, fix his trousers, and adjust his silk tie in the mirror without saying a single word. by the time you stepped back out into the hallway, he would already be five paces ahead of you, his hands slid carelessly into his pockets, ready to greet a manager with a charming nod.

that was the part that was slowly driving you insane — the terrifying precision of his dual reality, and the rotting hurt it left in your chest.

during the day, you had to sit at your desk and watch him play the department's golden boy. you watched him lean over the reception desk, giving the new girls that fake sweet look that made them stammer. you heard all the gossip about who he did or did not fuck. to the rest of the world, he was pristine. you were nothing special to him, just a hidden variable in his daily schedule, a convenient way to vent his corporate frustration because you were the only one who didn't look at him like that.

you wanted to scream at him. you wanted to slap the casual, empty smile right off his face in the morning briefings. you wanted to ask him if you were just a tool, if he even remembered your name when he wasn't burying his face in your neck. but the rules of the game you had both entered meant you couldn't say a single word. to voice the hurt would mean admitting that his effortless shifts between the office prince and the private monster were breaking you. it would mean admitting that while he was just having a casual, physical release, you were drowning in him. if you showed a single crack in your composure, he would win. he would see your ruin, give you that polite, standard nod, and walk away entirely. so you swallowed the pain until it tasted like battery acid, cementing your face into the same blank indifference he wore so well.

by the end of the month, your internal mess had stretched your nerves to a breaking point. the careless act was getting heavier, the unspoken friction between your cubicles turning into an icy wall that made the entire floor feel unsafe.

it was a thursday evening, the clock creeping just past 8:45 pm. the department was dead silent, the only sound the steady drumming of rain against the floor to ceiling glass windows.

your monitor flashed white in the darkened space:

From: Yang Jungwon To: Y/N Subject: Late Invoice Discrepancy Please bring the physical Q3 budget folders to the archive room immediately for verification.

your fingers shook against the mouse. there was no discrepancy. he was just stressed from the executive board meeting he had endured that afternoon, and he wanted to use you to burn it off.

you slowly stood up, gathering the heavy folders against your chest like a shield. your knees felt weak, your blood running thick with that familiar adrenaline as you walked down the darkened hallway toward the archive room.

through the glass partition, you could see his silhouette. jungwon had his jacket off, his white shirt slightly loosened at the collar, his hands slid deep into his trouser pockets. he looked completely composed, a picture of solitary corporate elegance. you pushed the heavy door open, stepping into the room. the quiet click of the latch closing behind you sounded like a definitive thud in the silence.

jungwon didn't turn around. he let the quiet stretch between you, the casual indifference of his posture practically mocking the storm raging in your chest.

"close the door, y/n." he murmured smoothly, his side profile showing the faint, dangerous ghost of a smirk. "and lock it."

you didn't move. the plastic folders were cold against your chest, a brittle barrier between your hammering ribs and the quiet expanse of the room. your thumb hovered near the edge of the first tab, freezing. for a whole month, your hand would have already reached backward, blindly finding the lock, twisting it shut without a second thought because the pathetic craving inside you always won. but tonight, the ache in your throat felt heavier than any other ache. 

"i said," jungwon murmured, his tone dropping just a fraction, the smooth corporate tone beginning to fray at the edges as he slowly turned his head to look at you. "lock the door."

he was waiting for you to fold. he was waiting for the familiar routine to click into place — the cold glances, the sudden slam against the wall, the filthy whispers that would temporarily numb the hollow feeling in your chest. he looked so infuriatingly untouched, standing there with his sleeves rolled up, entirely confident that you would slide right into your designated role in his schedule.

"no." you said. the word was small, barely a whisper against the relentless drumming of the rain outside, but it felt like a gunshot in the dead silence of the room.

jungwon’s brows twitched, his head turning fully toward you now. his hands stayed in his pockets, his posture still maintaining that unbothered stance, but his dark eyes sharpened, tracking the slight tremor in your shoulders. "what?"

"i'm not locking it." you said, your voice growing steadier, though the raw edge of it was impossible to hide now. you walked forward, but you didn't stop close to him. you slammed the folders down on the edge of the table, the loud smack echoing off the metal shelves. "the metrics are on page twelve. if there's a discrepancy, find it yourself. i'm leaving."

you turned on your heel, your chest burning, ready to walk out before the humiliation of your own tears could fully expose you. but jungwon was faster. the casual nonchalance vanished in a heartbeat. his hand shot out of his pocket, his fingers wrapping around your wrist with a bruising grip that violently pulled you back into his space. the expensive scent of his cologne crowded your senses instantly, a suffocating reminder of every single desk, wall, and floor he had claimed you on over the last four weeks.

"what is this?" he growled, his voice dropping into that venomous rasp, his face mere inches from yours. his pupils were blown, the feral, starving frustration finally breaking through his mask. "you don't get to just walk out, y/n. you received the email. you came down here. don't start playing games now."

"i'm not playing games, jungwon!" you choked out, the resentment finally fracturing your voice as you tried to violently wrenched your wrist from his grip. he didn't budge. his fingers only tightened, pinning you against his chest until you could feel the furious thudding of his own heart. "i'm done. i can't do this anymore."

"can't do what?" he muttered, his gaze dropping to your mouth, his breathing turning shallow and ragged as he leaned in closer. his hips subtly pressed forward, trying to force your body into the familiar, addictive submission it always succumbed to. "you want this just as badly as i do. you're shaking right now. let me lock the door and-"

"no!" a hot tear finally spilled over your eyelashes, tracing a humiliating path down your cheek, and the sight of it made jungwon instantly freeze. your chest heaved, the walls you had spent a month building completely crumbling into dust right in front of him. "i can't keep pretending. i can't watch you smile at the interns in the morning, listen to them talk about who you went home with on friday, and then come down here in the dark just so you can use me to burn off your stress."

jungwon’s jaw locked, the muscle pulsing violently under his skin. his grip on your wrist didn't slacken, but he stopped pushing into you, his dark eyes staring down at your face with a jarring intensity that looked almost like panic.

"it's ruining me." you whispered, your voice cracking completely, the raw truth tasting like ash on your tongue. "you get to slide right back into your perfect little suit and walk away like nothing happened, and i'm left sitting at my desk feeling entirely hollowed out. if it's just a casual release for you, fine. find someone else. because it's breaking me, and i'm not going to let you do it anymore."

the silence that followed was suffocating, heavy with the weight of the rules you had just permanently shattered. jungwon didn't move. he didn't give you a polite nod, and he didn't let go of your wrist. he just stared at you, his chest heaving. for a fraction of a second, he looked genuinely caught off guard, but then, the tension in his jaw completely vanished. the momentary panic in his dark eyes melted away, replaced by a calculating amusement that made your stomach violently drop.

jungwon let out a low, breathless chuckle. he didn't pull you in aggressively. instead, his grip on your wrist softened, his thumb slowly stroking over the hammering rhythm of your pulse.

"ruining you." he repeated, the words rolling off his tongue with a terrifyingly casual drawl. his gaze dropped from your tear stained eyes down to your chest, watching the way you were desperately trying to catch your breath. "you're acting like i'm dragging you down here against your will, y/n. but we both know that's a lie."

"jungwon-" you tried to step back, but his hand slid smoothly from your wrist to your hip, his long fingers completely encompassing the curve of your waist, holding you in place with effortless dominance.

"you hate that i smile at the interns? you hate that i don't look at you in the boardroom?" he murmured, leaning in until his lips were hovering just an inch from your ear. his suffocating scent wrapped around you like a vice. "that's just your pride talking, because your body tells a completely different story. you say this is breaking you, but you're shaking so hard you can barely stand. i haven't even touched you properly yet, and you're already completely soaked for me, aren't you?"

a hot, humiliating flush spread across your neck. you wanted to deny it, wanted to push him and scream that he was wrong, but your core was already pulsing with that familiar heat, reacting to the sheer proximity of his body just like a trained animal.

"i'm just giving you exactly what you need." he whispered nonchalantly, his free hand reaching up to casually brush a stray lock of hair behind your ear. "because we both know you sit at that desk all day, completely distracted, crossing your legs trying to chase the friction. you need me to pull you into these dark rooms. you need me to use you like this, because nobody else is ever going to fuck you the way i do."

he took a deliberate step back, creating a cold space between you. he slid his hands back into his trouser pockets, his expression returning to that flawless, untouchable corporate mask. "so go." jungwon said smoothly, gesturing toward the heavy metal door with a slight tilt of his head. "walk out, go home. but when you're lying in bed tonight, completely unsatisfied, touching yourself to the memory of what i did to you on this exact desk last tuesday... don't send me an email tomorrow begging me to fix it. because if you walk out that door right now, i'm never touching you again."

the silence in the archive room became deafening. you stared at him, fresh tears stinging your eyes, your mind screaming at you to run. he was so utterly callous. he was stripping away every last ounce of your dignity, reducing all your emotional bleeding into a basic, pathetic physical craving. he was gaslighting you, offering you an out that he fully knew you were entirely too weak to take.

because he was right. the thought of going home, of the cold sheets, of never feeling his heavy frame press you into a desk or hearing that venomous rasp against your neck ever again, felt physically agonizing. the addiction was already too deep in your veins. you couldn't survive the withdrawal.

a pathetic sound caught in your throat. the fight completely drained out of your muscles, the resentment suffocated by that blinding, toxic yearning.

you didn't say a word. you just turned around, your legs feeling extremely weak, and walked toward the door. you didn't open the handle. instead, your trembling fingers reached out, blindly finding the deadbolt, and twisted it until the familiar click echoed through the quiet room.

behind you, jungwon let out a dark, satisfied sigh.

"good girl." he murmured, the sharp metallic sound of his belt buckle clicking open signaling the absolute end of your resistance. "now get over here and hike that skirt up."

For alphas, they are known to have short-temper, a high tendency to claim their respective territories and the list goes on. It doesn't help that most of the alphas are males. But, that doesn't mean female alphas doesn't exist. And that's how you come about—one of the few, extremely rare female alpha, was born into this world.

Safe to say, your parents were extremely disappointed when they heard the results after your check-up. They have the old, traditional mindset that females shouldn't be born as alphas or even, betas. They should be born as omegas—the perfect role for them as it allows them to get pregnant, carrying the alpha's child and being able to carry on the legacy as well. At first, your parents tried to force you to learn and adapt the ways of an omega but you were stubborn, refusing to budge an inch.

It didn't help that your older brother: Nishimura Ni-ki, a famous model that every brands fight to get their hands on, was hellbent on protecting and defending you from your parents' antics. However, the amount of power and influence your parents had was way higher than your brother.

This resulted in you being one of their pawns and there was nothing Riki could do to save you from them. At that time, he was only seventeen while you're fifteen. The last thing he remembered was you screaming at the top of your lungs, struggling to free yourself from your father's grip while you were being dragged away. The way you begged your brother to save you, to free you constantly haunts him, even till this day.

"Good morning, Ma'am."

Your staff greeted you, bowing at ninety-degrees sharp as you walked past them, ignoring their greetings. It wasn't because of any petty reasons. No, you were borderline fuming. The last thing you want is for you to unleash your pent-up anger on someone who clearly doesn't deserve it. You headed to your office, slamming the door shut behind you, startling the living lights out of your employees. But they were smart enough to pretend they heard nothing.

Bam!

You slammed your hands down on your desk, causing your keyboard and the other things to momentarily shoot up from their respective spots. You were busy drowning in your anger that you didn't registered someone entering your office, without permission or bothering to knock.

"Did something happened between you and that husband of yours again?"

You raised your head, unamused with your personal assistant's question. Remaining where you are, your eyes tracked his movements as he stopped before you, placing your standard to-go cup of coffee on your table. Scowling, you snatched it up, stabbing the straw through the small hole and sipped from it.

"What else is there, Choi Beomgyu? I swear, I hate him so much I just want to—" You paused, wildly waving your free hand about, imagining yourself choking your said husband.

As someone who had seen you at your worst and best, Beomgyu was unfazed. He merely hummed, sipping from his respective cup of coffee, "Well, that's not what you told me a few days ago. When you mentioned how and I quote 'good-looking in his uniform'—"

"One more word and I'll fire you," you threatened, pointing your left index finger at him.

Your assistant smirked; smug. "Yeah right. If you fire me, who's going to tolerate that temper of yours? Your husband?"

"Choi Beomgyu!"

After that, the two of you had just finished your meeting with the board. The meeting is scheduled on a monthly basis—a simple check-in on how the business is doing. At least, that's what they want you to think.

You knew the board disliked you ever since you took over the company. It's due to one simple reason—you're a woman.

To them, having to listen to someone of the opposite gender hurts their ego and pride. It's already hard for you to deal with your husband at home and having to watch your back at work.

Clearing your throat, you leaned back in your seat with your left leg elegantly crossed over your right leg. You rested your chin on the palm of your left hand, eyes jumping from one face to another. Beomgyu sat on your right while the rest of the seats were filled with members of the board. You can tell from their eyes that they wished it was anyone else but you sitting in that seat right now. The thought nearly made you smirked.

"So, now that today's meeting has ended, does anyone else have anything else to share? If not, we're done for the day," you said, opening the floor to them.

As expected, one of them raised his hands and you nodded, giving him permission to speak.

"Ma'am, while we acknowledge the… effort you've put into the company, perhaps certain decisions require a more experienced hand. One with, say… deeper understanding of the history."

The words he chose were carefully measured, but the unspoken meaning wasn't lost on everyone. He wasn't questioning the decision—he was questioning you. And it's directly toy our face. You remained calm, merely arching an eyebrow in response. Another board member took this as a chance to add in, being the brainless fool they are.

"And of course, we really do appreciate your… boldness. But boldness and recklessness are separated by a very thin line."

A few chuckled under their breath, not bothering to conceal it. You kept your chin resting on your palm, expression unreadable. Beomgyu squirmed uncomfortable beside you, clearly sensing the hostility and how the air shifted.

"So what you're really saying," you replied smoothly, voice calm but laced with steel, "is that numbers and profits don't matter. The growth we've seen in the past quarter doesn't matter. Why? It's because I'm the one leading the company."

A ripple of unease passed across the table. Some pointedly avoided your gaze, having the audacity to look guilty. Some smirked to themselves, as if to think she finally admitted the truth. A man at the far end scoffed, leaning back in his chair.

"Don't twist our words, Ma'am. We're merely suggesting that perhaps your methods don't align with the traditions this company was built on."

Traditions.

A pretty word they loved to hide behind. But when in reality, it was nothing more than just a mere excuse to allow them to have and taste power. To let them conquer and no one else should touch them. You couldn't helped but let out an amused snort. The sound immediately gathering everyone's attentions. You slowly uncrossed your legs, leaning forward with both elbows resting on the table, eyes sharp as they cut through everyone like a blade.

If looks could kill, they would've been dead on the spot.

"Let me make this crystal clear. If you have a problem with my leadership, that's your burden to carry. Not mine. I was placed in this position because I was the most capable and not because of your approval. And as long as I'm here, the only thing that matters are results—something I've constantly delivered. The rest of you, on the other hand, chose to sit back and enjoy the show while waiting for me to show the first sign of weakness."

The man who had spoken first shifted in his seat, his smugness faltering under your sharp gaze. You tilted your head slightly, letting a small, knowing smile curve your lips.

"And if you're truly desperate for 'tradition', perhaps you should remember one of the oldest traditions in business: adapt or get left behind. Now tell me, gentlemen—do you really want to risk being the ones slowing the company down, especially when your salaries allows you to live your luxurious lives to the fullest?"

Your assistant smirked from his seat, clearly enjoying the way with how the board aren't able to reply.

"Good," you said, rising to your full height with effortless grace. Beomgyu was quick to stand as well, holding his iPad tightly in his left hand. "Then unless someone here has the courage to admit they're against the company's success, this meeting is over. Have a good day, gentlemen."

And just like that, you walked out, heels clicking against the floor as you left them in stunned, furious silence.

~

"Hello, this is your pilot speaking. We've officially touched down at Incheon International Airport. The weather for today seems to be fantastic, not too hot and not too cold. Temperature's ranging from twenty-five to twenty-nine degrees. To foreigners, welcome to Seoul and I hope you enjoy your time here. To the people of Seoul welcome home."

The plane came to a stop as the airport staff get to work on latching the transportable door to the plane while getting the luggage out. In the cockpit, two pilots remained where they were. They did a quick but detailed check on the plane's systems, ensuring everything isn't out of place or anywhere in the danger zone before stepping out, once all of the passengers have alighted the plane. Jay couldn't help but snort at how some of the air stewardess' faces fell when they noticed the silver, glowing wedding ring snugly wrapped around his friend's ring finger.

Jungwon glanced at his fellow co-pilot and friend from the corner of his eyes, bemused. The two were the last to alight from the plane, their respective luggage being dragged behind them. "What's so funny, hyung?"

"Thought I've gotten used to seeing you crushing every woman's dreams of marrying you, but turns out I'm wrong. Their reactions are priceless," he wheezed, reaching out to comfortingly rest his hand on the younger's left shoulder.

Jungwon rolled his eyes, "The hell are you talking about, hyung? You know our marriage isn't like that."

Jay hums, a knowing look glimmered in his eyes, "is it, though? But whatever, I'm just jealous that you get to marry the Nishimura (Name)."

Jungwon chose to remain silent, lips sealed shut as they smoothly passed through customs without any difficulties. They had finished their final leg of the day and are free for one week before they have to fly again. Being a pilot means spending most of your times traveling around the world. It was also his dream since young. To him, the thought of being able to fly to different countries—exploring their cultures and witnessing how different people lived different lives, it's an life-changing experience. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

However, his family doesn't have the same view as him. Jungwon comes from the Yang family—a family lined up with promising and talented doctors. His parents are the owners of a major chain of hospitals, with a promising group of staff that are able to perform feats that were deemed impossible.

Jungwon was supposed to follow his father's footsteps—taking over the business when his father retire. But, he didn't want that. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life wearing the white coat, conducting surgeries after surgeries and spending the rest of his life on solid ground.

He wants to be free, to be able to do whatever he wants without anyone holding him back.

The pilot returned to his shared apartment with you. It was only four in the afternoon, which means you won't be home until three to four hours later. This means Jungwon has the whole house to himself for the time being. The thought of that was enough to put his mind at ease. He made quick work of his uniform, tossing them into his laundry basket that was placed beside yours before stepping into the bathroom to take a much-needed shower.

Once he was done, he stepped out shirtless with a pair of comfortable, gray sweatpants and a towel draped around his broad shoulders. Jungwon didn't bother wearing a shirt, heading to the kitchen while drying his hair. Only for him to pause at the sight of you returning home.

"You're back early," he commented, leaning against the wall.

"Shut up, I'm not in the mood," you retorted, dumping your bag on the couch as you stormed to the kitchen, nearly ripping the fridge's door off with how aggressive you were.

Jungwon rolled his eyes, "You're always not in the mood. Makes me wonder how did you even become the CEO of your own company."

You froze, looking at him over your shoulder as you poured yourself a glass of water. "Excuse me? Yang Jungwon, I dare you to say it again."

He didn't backed down, didn't flinched when you fully turned to face him with the nastiest scowl on your face he had seen. "What? Are you deaf or something? I said, makes me wonder how did you even become the CEO of your own company."

He sneered, words dripping with disdain and continued, "Omegas like you shouldn't even be allowed to run your own business—"

You slammed the glass down on the kitchen counter with a harsh, abrupt force. It gave a sharp crack before bursting apart with a violent crash, water exploding across the surface. You didn't cared that your hand was bleeding and how the floor was getting soaked. You were too furious to care about the lingering, numbing pain.

"Yang Jungwon, may I remind you that I am where I am now because of my hard work and dedication. Unlike you, I didn't have to kiss my way up."

This time, it was Jungwon's turn to narrow his eyes, jaw tightening. "What are you talking about?"

You returned the sneer with equal amount of pettiness, "you know damn well what I'm referring to. I bet it's thanks to your parents' influence that lets you become a pilot. Must be nice to have a family who supports you."

Jungwon's eyes darkened and you smelled it before you sensed it. The way he lost control of his pheromones. It was feral, raw and impossible to ignore. The kitchen thickened with the scent—musky and wild, laced with something sharp that clawed at your lungs. It was the kind of presence that can make someone's instincts go on high alert, causing invisible alarm bells to ring. Most would have cowered on the spot, tail hidden between their legs and bowed their heads—a form of submission.

But, you weren't like them.

Your gaze never wavered. You met his eyes head-on, steady and unyielding—a silent challenge sparked between the two of you. Jungwon sighed, regaining control of himself and calmed down. His pheromones were gone, vanishing into thin air as he pushed himself off the wall, ready to walk away but he paused, turning his head towards you.

"You know, you're awfully brave for an omega. But you should think twice before you speak, unless you're asking to be punished," he said and left you alone in the kitchen without waiting for your response.

~

It has been three days since that brief and intense argument with Jungwon. Both of you simply refused to speak to one another, acting like two immature children, despite how you're literally two mature, grown adults.

You had told (more like ranted) to Beomgyu about how infuriating, how annoying and how tiring it is to deal with him for the past one hour or so. The two of you are on the way to a work event—to attend a fashion show that your company had taken part in. After all, it was only right for the owner herself to make an appearance.

"..I just don't get it. Would it kill him to serve his duty as my husband just for a single fucking day?" You spat, furiously tapping your finger on the armrest of your seat as you watched everything moved past you in a blur.

Beomgyu sat beside you, humming while his fingers flew across his screen at lightning speed. You turned to him, snatched his phone out of his grip, much to his dismay.

"Hey, give that back!" He exclaimed, reaching forward with the intention of taking back what rightfully belonged to him.

You merely moved away, raising your hand behind you, "Nuh uh, as my personal assistant, it's your job to listen to your boss when she's talking to you."

Beomgyu scoffed, "Please, I'm not getting paid enough to listen to you whining about your marriage problems. I already have enough to deal with."

Smack!

"Ow! What was that for!?" He yelped, rubbing his upper left arm—the very same spot that you had smacked him at.

"That was for disrespecting your boss," you retorted, finally handing him his phone when the car came to a stop, arriving at your destination.

Beomgyu muttered something inaudible under his breath as he got out, walking around the car to open the door for you. You accepted his hand, allowing him to help you out of the vehicle as you wrapped your hand around his right arm. Blinding cameras flashes greeted you the moment you were out, nearly making you see white with how bright it was, despite how you had gotten used to it. Your assistant, on the other hand, made a strangled sound at the back of his throat, caught off-guard with the flashes.

Plastering a professional smile on your face, you leaned closer to him so you can whisper to him, "Please smile for the cameras or I'll kick you in the balls."

"…Isn't this work abuse?"

After having your pictures taken, you were guided to the venue where the event was held. Or more specifically, where you have to spend the next hour or so mingling about in the crowd as you talk to different guests and celebrities who were invited. Everyone's eyes were on you the moment you entered, making your grip tightened on Beomgyu's arm. The way he lets out a pained, startled hiss went unnoticed by you.

"Well, look who it is! Nishimura (Name) has blessed us peasants with her royal presence!" A familiar voice caught your attention. A voice that instantly made your shoulders sagged with relief.

A young woman dressed in a black, glimmering dress approached you with a wide, friendly smile on her face. She opened her arms and you accepted her hug offer, allowing yourself to be embraced by her. You were the first to pull away, hands resting on her shoulders as your eyes scanned from head to toe.

"Hey Karina, good to see you. How was Europe?" You asked, laughing at the way she rolled her eyes, not bothering to hide her frustration.

"Ugh, don't remind me about that. It was a pain in the ass. Imagine having to spend two weeks in a foreign country where their staple food is bread, bread and bread," she bemoaned, acting as if she's about to faint.

"I see you're still the drama queen you are," Beomgyu commented, approaching the two of you with three glasses of cocktail held in his hands.

Karina accepted one of the glass with a playful scowl, "I see you're still employed," she paused to turn to you, "if you need another assistant, I'm available."

"Yah! Don't steal my job," Beomgyu protested, his eyes widening as he handed you a glass of cocktail, to which you accepted it while laughing at your friends' antics.

Karina and Beomgyu go a long way back. The three of you have known each other since college, despite taking different majors. It was thanks to some common modules that you took that made you befriended one another. The three of you are glued to the hip but despite that, they were clueless about your secondary gender, assuming that you're an omega. There were times when you secretly envied Karina, as she too, is also a female alpha. Unlike you, she didn't have to hide.

Beomgyu's a beta—something that shocked you and Karina but he wasn't upset about it. He had even made some jokes, about how he didn't have to deal with Karina 'stinking up the whole place when she's in rut', leading to her delivering a well-deserved smack to his poor shoulder.

"As much as I wish to keep talking, I need to walk around and talk to other people," you sighed, reluctantly pulling yourself away from the conversation.

Karina whined, hands grabbing onto your wrist—a poor attempt to stop you, "Are you sure you need to?"

You flashed her a what you hoped was an reassuring smile, nodding as you gently pried her hand away from your wrist, "I'm sure. Gyu can stay with you. I can handle this myself."

Your assistant arched an eyebrow but nodded, "If you say so, boss. But let me know if if you need help."

You hummed before turning to walk away. Being a CEO means you have to maintain your current business relationships and at the same time, build new relationships too. It's all part of survival—one of the basics you had learnt and how your company was able to survive and reached where it was today.

"Excuse me, you must be Yang (Name), right?" An unfamiliar male voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

You looked over your shoulder, to see an unfamiliar man wearing a customized Prada suit. Still, you didn't want to come off as rude—not in a place like this where one wrong move means it's the end of your career. Which was why you plastered on a fake, professional smile as the man stopped before you, leaving some distance between the two of you.

"Hello, and you are…?" Your voice trailed off, unsure of how to address him.

"Ah, I'm Minjae. I'm here on behalf of my father's company. Here's my business card, if you're keen to collaborate in the future," he introduced himself, reaching into his breast pocket of his suit to pull out his name card that contains his contact information and hands it to you.

You accepted it with a thankful smile on your face, bowing slightly. "Thank you. I'm sorry but I didn't bring my card with me."

Minjae laughed, waving off your words with his hand. "It's fine, don't worry about it," he paused, shoving his free hand into the pocket of his pants, "I've heard a lot about your company. People say you're difficult to impress, but I think they are wrong."

You returned the smile but it doesn't reach your eyes. "Well, I'd like to believe professionalism isn't the same as being difficult, Mr MInjae."

He chuckled in, leaning in as if he's about to tell you a secret. "Of course. Still, you seem…different in person. Warmer and more…human." His gaze lingered, eyes scanning your features in a way that had your shoulders stiffening.

You shifted slightly, taking a step back but Minjae was quick to follow, closing the distance by stepping forward. “You know,” he continued, voice dropping low, “it must be exhausting, holding up such a perfect image all the time. Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

"Thanks for your concern, but I can manage on my own," you replied, tightening your grip around your own glass of half-empty cocktail.

He smirked, amused by your reaction, and leaned closer still—close enough for his cologne to mix with the faint tang of his pheromones. “You don’t have to hide it with me. I can tell there’s more to you than the CEO mask. I can almost…” He tilted his head, his nose brushing dangerously close to your hairline, “…catch your real scent.”

"…(Name)?"

Your body went as still as statue at his voice. The practiced smile you wore slipped. The voice was painfully familiar, one you haven't heard in years but one you could recognized in a heartbeat. You turned, body moving on autopilot mode and there he stood. Nishimura Riki, your older brother. He was older, taller and sharper now. Unlike before, he was dressed in designer clothes from head to toe—a sign he had achieved his dream.

For a split second, the memories came rushing back—the way he stood there, watching without lifting a single finger, the way he remained silent when you needed him most and the way he watched as you were dragged away by your parents. That was the last time you had seen him. And now, here he was, at an event, calling out to you as if those years of abandonment and silence didn't exist in the first place.

Your brother's eyes flickered between you and Minjae, only for them to narrow when he noticed how close the man was to you. Riki closed the distance with six large strides, shoving himself in between the two of you. He protectively stood before you, shielding you from Minjae's view.

"I'll suggest for you to walk away and leave my sister alone," he snarled, losing control of his pheromones for a split second. But it was enough for the people nearby to pause in whatever they were doing, subtly listening in on the conversation.

Minjae scoffed, stepping back—no doubt intimidated by your brother. He didn't spared you a second glance and walked away, leaving you with yoru brother.

Your grip on your glass tightened. The professional facade you wore wavered, threatening to crack at any moment. Every instinct screamed at you to keep walking, to pretend you didn't hear him. But his eyes—your brother's eyes—were pleading, begging you to stay. You nearly laughed out loud at the irony. At how the tables had turned. You snapped back to reality, tearing your eyes away from him and turned, ready to walk away but Riki was faster. All it took was six large strides to close the distance.

He grabbed your wrist, his fingers touching, "Wait, please," he begged, voice cracking at the end.

You couldn't turn to face him. Or maybe, you didn't want to. You squeezed your eyes shut, pointedly looking ahead. "…Riki, let go," you demanded, your voice soft but audible enough for his ears, fully aware of how some people were watching.

"No, I'm not making the same mistake again," he insisted, his grip tightening slightly, enough to elicit a pained hiss from you.

"Oh, really? That's what you think this is? Just another mistake?" You barked out, spinning around to fully face him. Your cocktail spilt from the glass but you ignored it, focused on your brother.

Riki faltered. "No, I—"

You did a quick scan of your surroundings, sighing and grabbed his wrist with your free hand, tugging him forward. "Come with me."

He tripped over his feet as he matched your pace. "Wait, where are we going?"

"Somewhere quiet so no one can see me beating the shit out of you."

You ended up dragging him to the open-aired garden located behind. Thankfully, there weren't anyone around as most were enjoying their time in the part. Most except the two of you, that is. You released your grip on Riki's wrist once you were certain no one's able to eavesdrops on your conversation. Your previous glass of cocktail was returned to a passing waiter and now your hands are free. Crossing your arms, you cocked your head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

"Well? Start talking, I don't have all day for this," you snapped, tapping your left foot impatiently on the ground.

Riki scratched the back of his head. "..I'm sorry for everything. I really am."

You scoffed, "That's it? After all those years, that's all you have to say for yourself? You think one lousy apology is going to fix anything? To make up for what you had done?"

His hands curled into fists, the familiar restlessness he always carried visible in the way his shoulders shifted. “I know I should’ve done more. I should’ve protected you. I should’ve—”

“You should’ve been my brother!” you snapped, the words tearing out of you before you could stop them. Your voice cracked, but you didn’t let it falter. “Do you know how pathetic it felt, begging you over and over to say something, to stand up for me? And every time, you just—” you laughed bitterly, “you pushed me away like I was a burden.”

Riki's jaw tightened, guilt flickered across his face. "I thought if I distanced myself, they won't keep targeting you anymore."

You shook your head, feeling your anger rising. "You weren't protecting me, Riki. You were protecting yourself. And you left me alone in the house with them while you get to walk away and live your life, forgetting about me completely."

His lips opened then closed. Like he wants to say something but he didn't know what to say. Like words had failed him.

"I don't accept your apology. You don't deserve forgiveness from me, not when you came waltzing back into my life, like nothing happened."

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. "Just… go back to your world, Riki. And leave me to mine. We're already strangers and it's best to keep it this way."

And just like that, you walked away without waiting for his response, leaving your older brother there, in the shadows where he had chosen to stay the entire time.

~

You regrouped with Karina and Beomgyu as it was time for everyone to take their seats, due to the fashion show about to begin.

They frowned when they saw your expression, knowing something had happened the moment you left their sides. But before they could say anything, you silenced them by shaking your head, not wanting to talk about it in public, where anyone and everyone can hear. All of you took your respective seats by the runway. Karina had to sit at the front with her boss while you and Beomgyu sat at a few seats down the first row.

The lights dimmed, a hush falling over the audience as the first beats of music pulsed through the venue. You elegantly crossed your right leg over your left leg, back straight—giving the impression that you were calm, cool and collected, despite how you had shouted at Riki a few minutes ago.

The spotlight shifted, illuminating the first model striding down the runway in the upcoming season's most anticipated pieces. The audience shifted into soft murmurs of approval, flashes from cameras scattered across the catwalk. You couldn't help but leaned forward slightly, the faintest trace of satisfaction curled in your chest. This is your world—where you rightfully belonged, where you can breathe freely without anyone watching your every movement.

And then your breath hitched.

The next model to appear was none other than your brother. From where you sat, as the audience, you were finally able to understand why Riki was one of the most sought models in the industry. It was the way he carried himself, with full confidence. It's the type of confidence that demands people to look at him, to have their eyes focused on him—like he's the main attraction of the show. It was the way he walked—like he owns the runway.

You went still when his eyes landed on your face for a split moment as he stopped at the end of the runway. You were the first to break eye contact, unaware of how your action made your brother's heart ached as he walked back, disappearing to the backstage. The rest of the event past in a blur of an eye and soon, it was time for you to head home. You didn't say anything, resting your head against the window while Beomgyu drove you back. You thought he won't say anything but you were wrong.

"..Did you talked to him?" He asked, voice soft and laced with concern.

"Depends on who you're referring to," you dryly replied.

Beomgyu sighed. "You know who I'm talking about. Your brother."

You visibly flinched, like the words were poison. You parted your lips, wanting to protest or lie but one look from him tells you otherwise. "He's the one who approached me first. He told me he wanted to apologize for not keeping in contact and is asking for forgiveness."

You let out a bitter laugh under your breath at the end of your sentence. You could feel the way your friend and personal assistant eyeing you with concern. Beomgyu knew about your rocky relationship with Riki. But there wasn't much he could do, not when he was considered an outsider and doesn't hold the Nishimura name.

It didn't took you long to reach home and you paused when you saw Jungwon seated on the couch, his laptop resting on his lap. He wasn't dressed in his pilot uniform, now dressed like he had been home for a few hours. He wore a comfortable, grey long-sleeves shirt with a pair of black sweatpants. There was a pair of rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. You were able to see he was typing an email, due to his glasses reflecting his laptop screen.

"What happened to your flight?" You asked, removing your high heels, groaning at how you were finally able to touch solid ground as you padded, barefooted to plop yourself down on the other, empty couch.

"It got cancelled and moved to next week," he answered, eyes never leaving the screen.

You hummed, not bothering to voice out your response as you remained seated—

"…What's that smell on you?" Jungwon asked, voice unusually cold and laced with something else. Something you couldn't quite put your finger on.

"What are you talking about?" You answered, bemused.

Snap!

It seems like your response had rubbed him the wrong way. Your husband closed his laptop with a loud, resounding snap that echoed in the living room. Setting his laptop aside, he got up and slowly approached you. Jungwon stopped until he was standing before you, between your parted legs. Your breath caught when he leaned down, resting one hand on the left of your head while the other rested on the armrest—blocking off any possible exits.

With how close he was, you were able to get a whiff of his pheromones—woody mixed with faint vanilla and… baby lotion? You blinked, taken aback by the unexpected discovery. But you didn't get a chance to bring it up, not when Jungwon was looking at you like… that. Like he was actually looking at you.

"Don't play dumb with me," he murmured, voice lowering an octave and oh, you've never heard him speak in such a low tone before. Just hearing it made your heart skips a beat. You were tempted to close your thighs and rubbed them together for some form of friction—but you couldn't. Not with him standing in between your legs.

His eyes trailed painfully slow down your neck, lingering longer than usual on where your scent gland was located before it went up to your lips and then last but not least, your eyes. "You reek of it."

You frowned. "Reek of what? Stop talking in riddles."

Jungwon's jaw clenched, eyes narrowing into slits. You could tell the alpha residing in him was slowly stirring to life and he's fighting against it. For now. "Someone else. Someone else who's not me, managed to lay their hands on you," he spat, venom evident in his tone.

The tension in the air thickened and you could smell his pheromones being unconsciously released into the air. It invaded your senses, just enough to make you feel light-headed and for heat to start pooling in your stomach. You were sure if you're an omega, you'll already be leaking and dripping over the couch. You dryly swallowed, trying to ignore how your body was all tingling and fuzzy.

"I was at a event. People brushed past me. It happens," you explained, trying to maintain an even tone. But the way your husband's eyes darkened tells you he doesn't believe it.

"You expect me to believe this—" His hand flexed against the armrest, knuckles turning white and you swore you saw the muscles in his arms moved, "is from someone who was just brushing past?"

You parted your lips but he was faster. He leaned in closer, ducking his head to brush his nose against the outline of your jaw. You couldn't help the gasp that left your lips when he audibly inhaled your scent. "It's too strong," he growled, "too deliberate. Like he was too close."

You went still, heartbeat pounding in your ears.

"And I don't like it."

Out of pure instinct and habit, you stood your ground and flashed him your signature smirk—taunting, coy and sly. "And what are you planning to do about it?"

Instead of answering verbally, your husband chose to reply via actions. His hand moved, gripping your chin, tilting your head in just the correct angle for him to crash his lips against yours in a intense, fiery kiss. You gasped, taken aback as Jungwon pressed you further into the couch until you had to tilt your head back, with how pushy he was. Your husband rested his right knee on the couch, eliciting another gasp from you when he moved his knee closer to your clothed core.

"You piss me off so much. Walking around like you own everything," he growled against your lips, his hands now moving like they have a mind on its own, struggling to get rid of your clothes.

"But I do and that includes you," you retorted and flames of anger ignited in his narrowed eyes.

In one smooth, fluid movement, Jungwon flipped you over and forced you down to your knees.

Your mind spun, unable to comprehend that a few seconds ago, you were seated on the couch. He gripped onto your chin, nails borderline digging into your skin with his thumb resting on your bottom lip. He tugged it down, smirking in approval at how you let him do what he pleased. Your husband stretched out his long legs, leaning further back into the couch with his free hand resting on the couch.

"Since you like to act bratty and smart, why not put that mouth of yours to good use, hm?" He cocked his head to the side, lifting an eyebrow—challenging you to take the leap of faith.

You paused, looking up at him with your hands clenched in fists, resting on your lap. You didn't expect him to snap but something about the way he looked, the way he sat and the tone he used made your stomach tighten. Your ears turned red when you realized that your panties were already wet. And you can only pray that Jungwon won't be able to notice. You felt him moving his hand up, tracing your face and then—

He tugged you closer, until your face was squashed against his cock. You were able to feel the outline of it, hanging thick and heavy between his legs. The thought of him filling you up, splitting you into half made you clenched down on nothing and your panties were sticking onto your damp pussy, like it's your second skin.

Your eyes darted up, to see him waiting with an expectant look on his face. Ignoring how your face was heating up, you raised your trembling hands, about to pull the zipper down when he tugged at your hair, drawing a pained yelp from you.

"Ah ah, I didn't say anything about using hands, did I?" He clicked his tongue.

You were almost tempted to tell him off, to say something snarky but the look in his eyes made you think twice. Hence, you dropped your hands, leaning forward and used your mouth to nip onto the edge of the zipper. Your eyes flickered up, seeing how he didn't stopped you as he watched, gaze unblinking and unwavering.

You slowly moved your head down, the soft sound of the zipper coming undone being the only thing heard in the spacious living room. You subtly gulped when you saw the visible bludge, his cock poking against the restraints of his boxers. There was even a dark stain on it.

"Go on, take it off," Jungwon commanded in a soft, firm tone and it was only right for you to obey.

This time, you were given permission to use your hands. He lifted his hips off the couch, aiding you in removing his boxers and pants, leaving them to pool around his ankles, not bothering to toss it aside. You were immediately greeted with his hardened cock standing upright. The tip had already turned a ferocious shade of red.

You decided to test the water first by giving kitten licks to the mushroom tip, causing Jungwon to sharply inhale at the mere contact. He tightened his grip in your hair, nails digging into the couch as he fight against the urge to rock into your mouth.

"Shit, your mouth," he groaned, tilting his head back to expose his neck. You had to tear your eyes away from how his Adam's Apple bobbed up and down.

Filled with newfound determination to make him crumble, you took him whole without stopping. Warm, salty tears prickled the corners of your eyes as you fought to adjust to the grith and size of his cock. But you were rewarded with him gasping and choking out your name. His thigh muscles flexed and unflexed. You made a gagging sound when you felt him hitting the depths of your throat, the vibration making him let out a low moan, causing goosebumps to form.

"Wonder how the public will react if they see you like this. On your knees and sucking your husband's cock, like the desperate whore you are," he sneered, tilting your head back slightly, chuckling at how your eyes had turned glassy with a singular tear droplet trickling down your cheek.

Jungwon used his thumb to rub it away—the action so sweet despite your current situation. However, it ended as fast as it started. He tugged you closer, spreading his legs further apart until he feels the faint burning from his thighs muscles. He couldn't take it anymore, fucking into your mouth as he greedily chased after his incoming climax. You had no choice but to sit prettily on the floor, slackening your jaw as much as possible and wary to not let your teeth accidentally graze against him.

The usual quiet living room was filled with the lewd sounds of his cock sliding in and out of your mouth—almost as if he's actually fucking your pussy. Just thinking about it made you whimpered, the sound muffled and sending a wave of vibrations that made him moaned.

"You're gonna let me cum in your mouth, don't you?" He groaned, his thrusts growing sloppier as every second passed, feeling the invisible rubber band threatening to snap into half.

You subtly nodded your head, tilting your head up to look at him with teary, doe eyes and Jungwon swore, spilling down your throat. He pulls out with a soft 'pop', forcing you to open your mouth and smirked, satisfied when you had swallowed his cum without wasting a drop. He gently patted your left cheek, treating you like you're his pet.

"Good girl, guess you've found another usage of your mouth," he croons, pulling his boxers and pants up while tucking his now soft cock back into his boxers. Jungwon ran a hand through his hair as he rose to his full height.

Your hand shot out before your mind could think, grabbing onto his wrist. He looked down at you—still kneeling on the carpeted floor. "Yes?"

"W-What about me?" You stammered, swallowing your pride and dignity.

Your husband blinked twice and laughed. Leaning down, he cupped your chin with one hand, tilting your head up to look him in the eyes. "If you really think I'm gonna help you, you're wrong. Do it yourself."

And just like that, your annoying, infuriating and good-looking husband retreated to his room, leaving you in the living room, desperate for some form of release for your pent-up state. You had to wobble your way back to your own room on trembling legs. And if you spend the next one hour or so fingering yourself even though it can't be compared against the real thing, then that's only for you and your room to know.

~

"What's up with you?"

"Huh?" Jungwon blinked, snapping back to reality when his fellow co-pilot asked.

They were already in the cockpit of the plane, ready to embark on their first and only leg of the day. Normally, Jungwon would prefer to spend a few days in another country but this time, he chose to take a flight back to Seoul instead. The pair have completed their required check of the plane's systems, ensuring everything was in top condition and are now waiting for passengers to board the plane. If Jungwon listened closely, he can hear the crew greeting them one by one while giving them directions to their seats.

"You've been spacing out lately. Please don't do that when we're flying later," his friend and co-pilot pointed out in a half-joking tone, an attempt to lighten the mood.

The younger rolled his eyes as he leaned back into his seat. "I won't, don't worry hyung. I'm just…" He paused, hesitating on how to finish his sentence and that got Jay's attention.

"Just what?"

Jungwon lets out a long, heavy sigh as he ran a hand through his blond hair. "..There's something weird about (Name)."

Jay arched an eyebrow, faint curiosity seen in his eyes. "Oh? What kind of weird are we talking about here? Does it involve the bedroom?"

His cheeks turned red as he shoots the older a glare. "No, it doesn't, get your mind out of the gutter. But seriously, we've been married and lived under the same roof for a while now but I realized she's never been in heat."

Silence.

"Isn't she an omega?" Jay questioned and Jungwon nodded without hesitation, chewing on his bottom lip while he's deep in thought.

"Yea, she is. But I don't get it. The way she acts is more of an alpha rather than an omega," he replied, thinking back to the way you stood your ground, never bowing or showing any signs of submissions to him and that only intrigued him further.

Jay hummed, glancing at a screen to see that the door had been slammed shut—a sign that all of the passengers had boarded and are ready for take-off. The two immediately got to work, pressing on buttons and moved the plane down the runway.

"I won't think too much if I were you. Right now, I need you to focus," the older commented, slipping on the headphone that has a mic connected to it, hovering near his mouth.

Jungwon rolled his eyes as he does the same. "Yes mom."

"Don't call me that!"

~

While Jungwon was about to embark on his flight, you have spent the past two to three hours coped up in your office.

Being the CEO of a company means you have countless reports to read through, documents to sign and approve and many, many unnecessary meetings to attend. As it was a new month, the monthly meeting with the board will be happening in an hour from now, after lunch. But with the way piles of papers kept appearing on your desk, you knew you won't have the time to head out to grab a bite.

"I knew you'll still be here."

Beomgyu deadpanned, barging into your office without bothering to knock. You didn't have the time or luxury to even retort, eyes glued to your monitor as your fingers flew across your keyboard at lightning speed. He dumped a takeaway plastic container right in front of you, ignoring the annoyed glare you thrown his way.

"Gyu, seriously?" You practically hissed like a cat.

Your assistant was unfazed, plopping down in the chair opposite of you and pulled out a container for himself. "What? I'm feeding you so stop looking at me like you wanna kill me. Now eat, before I shove food down your throat."

He threatens, a dangerous glint in his eyes. His words made you remembered how he had done something similar, back when you were in college. That made you gulped, fearing for your life for a moment and you obediently dug into your food, feeling the flavors exploding in your mouth with every bite you took. The two of you ate in silence until Beomgyu broke it by him awkwardly clearing his throat.

"By the way, your brother texted me."

You choked on your food at his words, repeatedly whacking your chest with your closed fist. Beomgyu cursed, rushing to your side and patted your back while aiding you to stop choking on your food. He handed you a plastic bottle of water, to which you gulped it down without hesitation. Coughing, you wiped your mouth with some pieces of tissue papers.

"What did he text you for?" You asked, wincing at how hoarse your voice sounds.

Beomgyu swallowed his mouthful of food. "..He wants to talk to you, (Name)."

You sighed, about to say something but he cuts you off. "No, I know what you want to say. I get it, you have every right to be mad at him but look, give him a chance, please? There's no harm in hearing him out."

"But—"

He shots you a pointed look and that's enough for your shoulders to slump in defeat. "…Fine, I'll hear him out."

"Great!" His face lit up and the drastic change of his behavior gives you whiplash.

Once you were done with lunch, it was time for you to head to the meeting room. You and Beomgyu were the first to arrive and while waiting for the board, you chose to scroll through your phone, only for you to freeze when you see a message from Jungwon. It wasn't rare for him to text you but you weren't sure why your heart stopped beating when you saw his name in your notification. You clicked on it and the text was sent a few hours ago. You can only assumed he had sent it before he flew off.

Jungwon: We need to talk when I'm back. It's important and it's about you.

You nearly dropped your phone when you read the message. It was simple and straight to the point. You couldn't help but wonder just what he wants to discuss and how it was related to you. Putting your phone away, you tapped your fingers on the table as you bit down on your bottom lip.

Unless.. No, it couldn't be. He doesn't know about my secondary gender yet.

The board chose that time to enter as they take their respective seats and soon, the meeting begins. But you couldn't find it in yourself to listen to a single word of what the speaker was saying. About fifteen minutes into the meeting, you were starting to sweat. You were also starting to grow restless, unable to stop fidgeting in your seat—a rare occurrence for you as you're perfectly capable of sitting still while pretending that you're paying attention to the meeting.

"…Before we continue, Ma'am, do you have anything to add?" One of the board turned to you, apparently taking note of your current state.

Everyone's eyes were on you. Normally, you were able to keep your cool and reply smoothly but today, something was wrong. Your mind wasn't working as it should be. Your body was tingling all over, mind spinning slightly and your clothes were starting to stick to you. Your breathing was ragged and haphazard, fingers curled into tight fists with your nails digging into your palms.

The board however, were mildly amused with your dilemma. "Ma'am, is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Your face's unusually red."

They asked, faux politeness laced in their tone. You snarled before you could control yourself.

Silence.

The meeting room went silent and everyone went still, not even the sound of breathing was heard. The board shared a quick look among themselves and invisible alarm bells rang off in your mind. You knew they were up to something when one of them begin speaking, clearing his throat.

"Ma'am, forgive us if this is a rude question: are you an alpha?"

Your throat tightened. Every instinct screamed at you to keep your facade up, to continue playing the act, the role you were forced into. Because once the truth is out, there is no going back. The damage done to you, your hard-earned reputation and the future of your company will be washed down the drain in a blink of an eye.

You forced out a sharp laugh, cocking your head to the side as if the words hadn't made your stomach churned in anxiousness. "What kind of question is that? Are you questioning your boss?"

But the edge in your voice betrayed you. To make matters worse, it was your body that was betraying you—heat prickled beneath your skin, your pulse racing as the telltale haze of rut was beginning to cloud your mind. You could feel it pressing against your control and if this were to drag on any longer, you feared you might lose control of yourself, right in front of the board.

And you knew they have been waiting for a chance to overthrow you. Right now, you were practically giving them a rare opportunity that's served on a silver plate.

"I'm clearly not—" The words caught, your breath coming out even more uneven than it already is. The weight of the board's gaze pinned you down onto your seat, like a pack of hungry wolves, waiting to pounce on you.

Before the silence could begin again, Beomgyu pushed his chair back with deliberate force, the scrape against the marbled, polished floor resonated among the walls. "That's enough."

The board members flinched at his tone, their murmurs dying instantly. He straightened himself, his expression calm but his eyes were dark, holding an unspoken warning that none of them have the courage to go against or disobey. "We'll continue when the boss is in a better condition. The meeting is over."

He didn't wait for a response, already guiding you out of the suffocating room with a gentle grip on your arm. The heavy doors shut behind you, muffling the whispers that immediately erupted the moment you stood up. Beomgyu managed to bring you back to your office and your composure shattered. Your chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, hands trembling as you clutched at your blazer.

"Gyu—I—I can't," your voice cracked, panic clawing at the edges of your heart, voice and mind. The rut was coming too fast, and the humiliation of it happening now, when you're at work, made your vision blur and head spin.

Cursing, Beomgyu steadied you while gently forcing you to sit down on the couch. He knelt before you, hands firmly resting on your shoulders. "Hey, hey, look at me. Breathe with me. You're not alone in this. You got me, alright?"

You frantically shook your head, eyes looking at the floor. "They know. They're going to use this against me—Fuck, I can't—I can't breathe—"

"I know," he said quickly, tightening his grip just enough to anchor you but not to hurt you. He will never hurt you. His eyes did a quick, calculative scan of your office and then he swore under his breath. There was only one person who could help you through this, even if you hated the thought.

He pulled out his phone with his right hand while his other hand continued resting on your shoulder, punching in a familiar string of numbers—numbers that belong to someone you have never contacted before.

The caller immediately picked up on the second ring.

"Riki, it's your sister. She needs you. Now."

It only takes the model approximately fifteen minutes for him to reach the office. He stormed into the room, slamming the door open with intense force that it banged against the wall that startled Beomgyu. His usual cool composure was nowhere to be seen. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on your seated, trembling figure on the couch. The next thing he knew, your brother was immediately by your side.

"(Name)," he murmured, crouching low, his voice edged with something akin to urgency. "Hey, your rut's starting, isn't it?"

Beomgyu, who was silent the entire time, blinked in disbelief. "Wait, hold on. What do you mean by her rut's starting? That doesn't make any sense. She's an omega and omegas can't—"

Riki shot him a sharp glare that's efficient in silencing him. "That's because she's not an omega."

The words dropped like a bomb. He froze, mouth opening and closing, like he wants to say something but he doesn't know what to say. Beomgyu looked down at you, taking note of how you were trembling like a fallen leaf, how you're trying to regain your composure.

"Then, is she—"

Riki nodded and that was all Beomgyu needed to know. "But, why didn't she tell me?"

The younger sighed, moving to carry his sister in his arms, letting you buried your face in his chest as you inhaled his scent to calm you down. "Because it's safer this way. I'm taking her home."

He didn't wait for the man's reply, already leaving the office as he headed to the car park, where his car was parked and where no one was able to see him and your current, vulnerable state.

By the time you reached home, you were tempted to rip your clothes off. Just the mere feeling of the fabric touching your skin is enough to give you the irk. Your rut was pressing down harder, your thoughts blending into instincts, shredding your usual self control to scraps. You pressed the heel of your left palm against your temples, groaning as you attempted to block out the heat that has been crawling under your skin for the past few hours. But your efforts prove to be futile.

"Sis, stay with me," Riki said firmly, placing you down on the couch. Your pheromones flared wildly, flooding the spacious living room with a sharp, dominant tang that made even he himself shift uneasily.

Riki could feel his pheromones acting up as well, out of pure instinct. But he didn't want a repeat of last time. He didn't want you to be alone again. He's grateful to Beomgyu for contacting him but this was as far as his assistance could go. Which was why he pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts list before tapping on a certain contact.

The line rang once, twice and then it's connected.

"Jungwon," Riki's voice was low and urgent, eyes never leaving your figure as you clawed at your own blazer, ready to tear it off your body. "It's your wife. She's in rut and she needs you, now."

There was a pause on the other line, followed by what sounded like an announcement in the background. Then Jungwon's voice came through, clipped and cut through. "I just landed."

Riki heaved out a sigh of relief, comfortingly rubbing circles on your back as you cling onto him like he's your lifeline. "Good, now get your stupid ass here before she loses it. And hurry, you don't have much time left."

~

The wheels of the plane barely kissed the runway when Jungwon's phone started buzzing in his pocket. He didn't think much of it, that was until he checked the Caller ID. Frowning, he answered it, remaining seated while waiitng for the plane door to be opened from the other end.

"Hello? Riki?"

"Jungwon, it's your wife. She's in rut and she needs you, now."

Hearing those words was enough to make his world flipped upside down. Right now, the pilot's currently stuck in the immigration. He kept checking his watch and then his phone, to see if there was any update from Riki. But all he got was silence. He tip-toed, checking the line of people ahead of him to see and then, he acted without thinking. He pushed his way through, ignoring the startled, offended gasps thrown his way as he bumped shoulders into the people around him.

He knew he wasn't acting professional but thankfully, he wasn't wearing his uniform so no one knows he's a pilot. He shoved his passport to the officer, ignoring how his hands trembled when the officer stamped and returned it to him. Jungwon was already sprinting down the concourse, weaving past the crowd as he headed to the pick-up point and practically leapt into the first cab he sees, slamming the door shut.

Jungwon gave the driver his address, hands curled into fists as they rested on his knees. "Drive, now."

When he reached home, he was greeted with your pheromones. It was so sharp, intense and heavy that it nearly knocked him off his feet. He could practically taste your pent-up frustrations and desperation and how you had been holding them back, for who knows how long.

"(Name)!" He called out your name, stopping a few feet before you. He scrunched his nose as every step he takes, your raging pheromones merely grew stronger in return.

Riki was crouched by the sofa, trying and failing to restrain you as you writhed, hands clawing at your own skin as though trying to tear the fire out of yourself. Sweat dampened your hair, your eyes blown wide and glassy, lips parted in broken, delirious gasps.

"She's about to be in her rut. Hyung, I trust you with her," Riki said, voice rough and strained.

Jungwon felt his chest tightened. You were already well past the point of reason—your actual rut had already started and had already engulfed you completely. He moved without hesitation, closing the distance in five large strides as Riki moved away. Woody warmth laced with vanilla filled the air—steady and grounding as it fights against your own scent.

The effect was instant. You stopped struggling, your frantic gasps caught in your throat as you raised your head, revealing your silted, hazy eyes. "J-Jungwon.." You called out, voice borderling trembling and fuck, the way you said his name made his breath hitched.

Riki's eyes flickered between the two of you before awkwardly clearing his throat. "I'll leave you to it. Just.. remember to use protection or else I'll kill you." The model patted the pilot's shoulder before scurrying out, not wanting to spend another second breathing in the same, suffocated air any longer.

He wasn't sure who was the one that closed the remaining distance but your mouths met in the middle, in a ferocious, intense and filthy kiss. Although, it can't be considered as a kiss, not when the both of you are fighting for dominance, trying to turn the tide to your advantage.

Jungwon wasted no time in sweeping you into his arms, carrying you bridal-style as he brought you to the bedroom, swallowing your startled gasp. You cling onto him, thighs subtly rubbing together to get some sort of friction at how he was able to carry you easily, like you weighed nothing.

He tossed you onto the neatly-made bed, tugging his knotted tie free with one hand and climbed over you. He grabbed your wrists, pulling them over his head and wrapped the fabric around your wrists, tying them into a tight knot. It's not tight enough to hurt but it's tight enough for you to know that you shouldn't disobey him.

He made quick work of your clothes, flinging your clothes over his shoulder until you're bare beneath him. You whimpered when he shoved his clothed knee in between your legs. A low groan was heard from Jungwon as you shamelessly grinded down on him, soaking the fabric of his pants wet with your slick.

"Look at you, pathetic little thing, grinding down on me and soaking my pants. Who'll have thought the confident and well put together (Name)'s just a needy little slut for her husband," he croons, voice dripping with faux sweetness.

Jungwon clicked his tongue when you attempted to hide your face. He reached out, cupping your face with his left hand with his thumb resting on your bottom lip. He gently tugged it down, satisfaction curling around the edges of his heart when you obeyed—parting your lips in pure submission.

And then, he spits into your opened mouth.

"Swallow it," he demanded in a firm, soft tone. Jungwon watched with pure fascination at how you obliged, your throat bobbed up and down as you swallowed. He tapped your cheek with his index finger and you opened your mouth. He tilted your head side to side, humming with approval written all over his face.

"Good girl," he purrs, noting the way your body shivered at his praise.

You mewled, tears prickling the corners of your eyes. "W-Wonie.." You called out his name, not even aware that you had used one of his nicknames instead of his full name. He chose to let it slide, knowing you're saying things due to your current state.

"Yes, baby? C'mon, use your words and tell me what you need," he coaxes, his free hand moving like it has a mind on its own, sliding his hand underneath the obstacle of your clothes. He's able to feel how hot your skin feels the moment his palm came into contact.

“W-wan’ more..” you begged, doe eyes full of pleading and want. You just wanted to feel his thick cock slide in and out of your velvety walls, filling you up—why does he have to be so difficult, damn it?

A low chuckle reverberates deeply in his chest at the view of how fucked out you already are simply by a few feather-light touches from his ice-cold fingertips against your warm skin, reminding him how he practically has you all wrapped around his finger without even trying. Jungwon’s calloused palms crawl their way up to the swell dip between where your breasts lay, fingers tapping against the heated skin provocatively, eliciting a sigh of frustration from the capsule of your pillowy lips.

“Come on..” you roll your teary eyes in annoyance, already fed up with his mean antics and to just get it over with.

“So bossy, where are you manners, missy?” He dramatically raises an eyebrow, forehead sightly wrinkling as a knowing grin etches across his stupidly attractive face that you wanted to rip off so badly.

“I think you need to be reminded who’s in control here,” his voice was laced with disappointment and amusement by your brattiness, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. You were about to murmur out a complaint when his fingertips finally caressed your nipples, immediately hardening at the soft brush to them.

“See?” Jungwon said matter of factly, as he began to proceed with his excruciating but pleasureful torture of twisting and pinching at your sensitive nub, whines and moans leaving the tip of your tongue as you writhe and spasm underneath him—red imprints appearing on your wrists by the tight bondage.

"F-Fuck you," you stammered through your snarky remark, flinching as he gave a mean, light pinch to your hardened nubs. You squirmed about on the sheets but there isn't anywhere for you to run or hide from him, not when your tied down.

"Yea? I'm sure you'll want that," he sniggered, shuffling down the bed to support his weight until he's situated between your legs. You attempted to close them, cheeks turning red with embarrassment at how Jungwon was looking at your dripping, throbbing pussy.

He lets out a low, breathy chuckle. "Are you sure you're an alpha? With how you're dripping like a faucet, I'll think you're an omega."

"You—ngh!" You snarled, your pheromones flaring up for a moment, only for it to die down when you felt a wet, rough muscle delivering a slow, fat stripe up your cunt. Your legs instinctively shot out, nearly kicking him in the face if Jungwon didn't held you down by your hips.

He rested his thumb on your clit, gently pressing down on it before rubbing it in slow, lazy circles. You swore you could feel his nose directly poking at your leaking hole as he gave kitten licks to your pussy, which flutters at every lick. The bedroom was filled with the lewd sounds of him eating you out and your moans that sounds nothing more than music to his ears.

"Fuck, should've done this a long time ago if I knew you taste this good," he groans, voice muffled with how he buried his face in between your legs. Every word he spoke sends vibrations down your body, drawing breathless whimpers from your bruised, swollen lips.

"Hah, t-too much," you moaned, struggling against the bondage. If your hands were free, you could have easily pushed him away but it wasn't, leaving you no choice but to take what your annoying husband is giving you.

You weren't even aware that Jungwon had released his grip on your hips or how you started grinding against his skillful mouth, back arching off the bed with your head tilted backwards, exposing your unmarked scent glands and the clean, unblemished skin of your neck. You panted, feeling a imaginary rubber-band slowly being stretched past its limit as Jungwon worked his magic on your pussy.

"G-Gonna cum, fuck," you moaned and then—

He pulled away.

You couldn't hold back the pure needy whine that left your lips at the loss of his slimy muscle that was pressed adjacent to your creamy walls. Your body twitched and convulsed in displeasure as the coil lies deep in your stomach gradually fades away, with every second that passes.

"N-No!" You protested, desperate for any type of release as your hips jerked upwards. Your throbbing, drenched cunt glistened and shines due to the sheer amount of slick dousing the dirtied, stained bedsheets, mixed with his spit—creating a filthy combination.

Jungwon barks out a low, mean laugh. His eyes twinkled in a dark, twisted satisfaction. "Needy little thing, aren't you? Not satisfied with my tongue?"

His words made you whined out loud, your pussy clenching down on nothing but thin air as a thick glob of slick trickled down your core. While you were too busy squirming and begging for his mercy, you weren't aware of how he had hopped off the bed, how he had headed to the bedside drawer, opening and closing it once he found what he was looking for. Fat, salty and warm tears droplets rolled down your cheeks as you sobbed, annoyed and aroused at his rough treatment—

Bzzt, bzzt.

And then, you heard a faint buzzing sound.

The pink vibrator that you swore you had hidden it well enough to avoid curious eyes and prying hands was now held in your husband's hand, standing tall and proud too. You stared at it for a moment, eyes darting between his face and the toy. Your mind immediately connects the dots, knowing what his intention was.

You hurriedly shook your head, squirming away as you moved up the bed but there wasn't much room for you to run to. "W-Wait, don't—"

Jungwon ignores your weak protests, now sitting on the edge of the bed. Grabbing you by your ankles, he tugged you towards him, eliciting a squeak from you. Jungwon hovers the vibrator directly over your dripping clit, drawing a loud, whorish moan from you—something you never thought you're capable of, as it vibrates against your swollen nubs.

He grinned, watching as you spasmed about. You attempted to close your legs but he was faster. Jungwon hooked his left leg over yours, firmly locking it against the edge of the bed. He pressed the vibrator more firmly against your clit, cooing at how you were reduced to a moaning, squirming and flustered mess.

"Fuck, if only you can see yourself right now," he breathed out in awe, drawing invisible horizontal lines on your bare ankle. "Imagine how the board will react if they were to see their boss like this," he paused, increasing the speed. His action made you cried out loud, the vibrator nearly entering your gaping pussy.

"Moaning and crying like an omega in heat, desperate to cum," he sneers, emphasizing on the words and kept increasing the speed until it reached the max.

"J-Jungwon—c-can't!" You whimpered, thrashing your head side to side when you felt the familiar feeling coming back. But this time, it was much more intense.

"Yes, you can. You wanna cum, don't you?" He coaxes, sounding like a siren as he hypnotize you to do his bidding and obey his words.

"P-Please!" You wailed, looking at him with your doe-like, hazy and clouded with lust eyes.

"Then cum," he demanded and you whined, blabbering words that sounded like 'thank you' and some curse words as you greedily and shamelessly rocked against the vibrator. Just when you were about to tip over the edge and all you needed was one final push—

Jungwon pulled the vibrator away.

You swore you have never felt this frustrated before. You raised your head, mustering the remaining strength you have left in your already pliant body to glare at your smirking, attractive husband. But the effect wasn't as effective as it would be, not with how you were sniffling and sobbing. Jungwon cocked his head to the side, acting all innocent and coy. He tossed the dirtied, soaked vibrator that's covered in your slick to the side.

"I did say cum but would you rather cum on that shitty pathetic excuse of a toy or," he grins, tilting your chin up to face him, "would you rather cum on my cock?"

Hearing the last two words was enough to make you nod your head at lightning speed. It's a miracle that you didn't dislocate your head from your neck. Jungwon chuckled, not bothering to fully undress himself as he only tucked down his pants and boxers, low enough to reveal his already hardened and neglected cock. It stood tall and proud, upright against his shirt, leaving a stain of precum on the pristine, white clean shirt.

Jungwon pushed you back, moving to his knees. He didn't bother grabbing the condom nor did you bother reminding him. All you could think about now was how you want to be filled on his cock. You watched, biting down on your bottom lip as he aligned himself against your entrance—

But, he didn't push in.

Instead, he rubbed his tip along your folds, collecting your slick as a lubricant. "Don't even need lube when you're fucking dripping all over my cock," he groaned.

"W-Wonie, please.. just.." Your voice trailed off, squirming as you attempted to move down so he could slide in but he clicked his tongue, raising his eyebrow—a silent and unspoken warning. You have no choice but to stay still, pouting and huffing your cheeks.

"Please what? Use your words, darling."

The sudden usage of the pet name makes your mind spins. "Please.. just fuck me already."

As much as Jungwon wants to keep teasing and edging you, he was reaching his limits. The moment you opened your mouth, about to retort with something was when he chose to enter in a solo plunge. Your overstimulated pussy reflexively squeezed around him at the painful but delicious stretch, earning an approved snarl that rumbled deep from his chest.

Your mouth dropped open, forming a silent 'O' shape at how you were being split apart. You swore you could feel his cock hitting the entrance to your womb. You mewled out loud at how his tip was pressing against that one spongy spot that's located against your delicate walls. Jungwon, on the other hand, felt like he was in heaven with how your gummy, velvety walls were clinging onto him with a vice-like grip, not wanting to let him go.

"Shit, you're so fuckin' tight," he groaned, ducking his head and bury it in the crook of your neck. His lips hovered right over your scent glands, causing goosebumps to form. One audible inhale from him and your sweet, aroused scent washes over him. It's so strong that he nearly cum right there and then.

Jungwon moved his hands, resting them on your hips to stabilize himself, starting off at a harsh, unrelenting and unforgiving pace. A breathless but loud moan was ripped from the back of your throat—needy, carnal and downright erotic. Your pussy was comically stretched wide around his member to accommodate the unusually large, girth size. The coil in your stomach enlarges as every second passed, by how heavenly full you felt, as he slides in and out of your soaked core.

As your wrists were still bound above your head, you could only lay beneath him, taking what he's willing to give you. His hips aggressively snapped against yours, balls slapping against your ass cheeks with every deep, harsh thrust from him. Jungwon grits his teeth, feeling them grinding down at how you tightened around him when he hits that one spongy spot, making you let out a gasp.

He wasted no time in using the newfound information to his advantage—changing the angle a little and threw your right leg over his broad, sturdy shoulders. The bedroom was now filled with the loud sounds of skin slapping against skin. You were certain that you could be heard all the way from the living room or the kitchen too.

"Look at you, taking me so well. It's like you're made for me, don't you?" He groaned, eyes trailing down to how your pussy lips are spread apart and how you easily take him in with no form of resistance. He smirked when he saw a ring of white, thick liquid forming at the base of his cock.

"Ngh, J-Jungwon—hah, please, moremoremore," you chanted, your rut taking over your mind, words and senses as you demand for more from your husband. And who was Jungwon to say no to his pretty, submissive wife?

With a growl, he threw your left leg over his shoulders as well, practically bending you into half. "You want more? What, this not enough for you? Maybe you should quit your job and stay at home, so I can fuck you anytime I want."

He lets out a breathless chuckle when you mewled at his crude words, cheeks red. "You like that, don't you? I'll have you spread out on any surface in the house—the dining table, the kitchen counter, anywhere I want. You'll let me eat this sweet little pussy of yours anytime I want, won't you?" Jungwon's left hand trailed down to give a mean pinch to your clit, laughing at how you visibly twitched at the sudden sensation.

"Jungwon!"

You whimpered, eyes rolling to the back of your head as his cock kept hitting the same spot, over and over again until you were seeing stars. "G-Gonna cum, p-please."

At first, you hesitated—having been denied your much-needed orgasm twice but unlike before, Jungwon didn't pulled out. Instead, his thrusts were growing sloppier and more erratic as he chases after his incoming climax. His hand moved to fondle with your poor, red and overstimulated clit, drawing high-pitched, hoarse moans from you.

"Then cum for me."

At his words, you cum with his name spilling from your lips, smooth like water. Jungwon was quick to follow suit, delivering one final, sharp and hard thrust that buries himself deep to the hilt as he spills thick and hot semen while painting your creamy walls white. He looked down when he felt something wet landing on his shirt, only for him to realize that you had actually squirted. The thought of him making you squirt made his cock twitched, even when he's still inside you.

You, on the other hand, was already long gone. You laid on the stained sheets, body twitching violently in aftershocks—blissfully unaware of the thoughts running through your husband's mind. The only form of warning you got was him flipping you over until you're awkwardly forced onto your hands and knees. You squeaked, knees trembling as you struggled to support your body weight.

"Jungwon—hngh!" You protested, but the words died down in your throat when he rocked his hips against yours.

He leaned down, mouth grazing against the shell of your left ear. You shivered when you felt him spreading your pussy lips apart from underneath. "If you think we're done here, then you're wrong. We're only done when I have you screaming my name until your voice's gone."

~

It has been one week ever since you had your rut.

One week for you to recover and regain your strength. One week was enough for things to change between you and Jungwon. This time, you were able to tolerate being in the same room as him. An prime example would be the first day after your rut was over, was when you woke up to his presence behind you. You looked over your shoulder, going still to see his sleeping face. This is the first time the two of you have slept on the same bed ever since you got married.

Your legs are intertwined underneath the sheets and one quick glance down your body tells you that you were dressed in one of Jungwon's shirt. The article of clothing was so big it completely engulfs your body, the hem reaching your thighs as it keeps slipping off your right shoulder.

You weren't sure why but you couldn't tear your eyes away from his face, shamelessly drinking in his features. With how close you are, you could literally see how long his eyelashes are—something most women envies. In a trance, you reached out to cup his right cheek with your right hand, breath hitching at how smooth his skin feels underneath your palm—

"What are you doing?"

You flinched, jerking your hand back but Jungwon was faster. He grabbed your wrist in a gentle grip as he stares at you with half-opened eyes. His voice was lower than usual, slightly rough around the edge, enough for you to squirm about, flustered.

"N-Nothing," you stuttered, internally cursing yourself when he chuckled. Not breaking eye contact, he pulled your wrist towards his lips, turning it to press a kiss on your palm.

Your face heats up, a sound that's a mixture of a squeak and a squawk left your lips at the sudden display of affection. You could feel him smirking against your palm, amused with your reaction.

"Y-You—!" You stammered, your mind lagging.

"I what? Cat got your tongue?" He interrupts, a devilish glint in his cat-like eyes. "You weren't this shy yesterday night."

At this point, you were certain your face had turned as red as a tomato and out of reflex, you grabbed the pillow underneath your head and threw it at him. And since this is Jungwon, he's able to knock your pathetic excuse of a weapon out of your hand before you even get the chance to throw it. He laughed at your reaction, pulling you closer so he could bury his face in the crook of your neck. You automatically stiffened up when he brushed his lips against your scent glands.

"You know, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I won't judge," he murmured, hands sliding underneath the shirt to draw circles on your hips.

You knew what he was referring to, despite how vague he was. "..No, I need to tell you—"

Knock knock.

The two of you went silent when you heard someone knocking on the locked door.

"Uh, hello? Are you two still alive? God, I can fucking smell the stench from here. You're gross," Riki's voice was heard from the other side of the door.

The moment you heard him, you shot up from the bed, attempting to throw on some clothes, only to get tugged back by Jungwon. You squeaked when your back hits a firm chest. "Don't make a sound," he murmured, sending goosebumps down your spine when he teasingly planted kisses down the expanse of your hickey-covered and marked skin.

"W-Wonie, he's outside—ngh," you harshly whispered, only to whimper when he bit down on a spot that made your mind blanks out.

Your husband hummed, forcing himself to pull away even though you tried to tug him back. "C'mon, you should get dressed and talk to Riki. He's been worried about you."

You averted your eyes upon hearing the last sentence but obliged nonetheless, getting out of bed with trembling legs. It's embarrassing with how you had to hold onto the wall to stabilize yourself. Seeing this, Jungwon snickered and you sent him a glare over your shoulder.

Knock knock knock.

"I swear, if you're still fucking, I'm gonna—"

"Oh my god, can you just wait in the living room!?" You cut him off, ears turning red as well.

Riki didn't replied but you managed to hear him mumbling something along the lines of how he's going to kill Jungwon as he walks away until you were greeted with silence again.

"So, I take it it went well?" Riki asked, jumping straight to the point as he leaned back, making himself comfortable on the couch with his arms crossed and his annoying long legs stretched out, like he owns the house.

You sat beside your husband, who merely shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we're able to tolerate one another now without having the urge to throw hands. So that's that."

You resist the urge to facepalm at his words. Your brother arched an eyebrow. His eyes flickered between the two of you, trailing down and he grimaced when he saw how you failed to hide the hickies on your neck. "Oh yea, for sure. I can tell there's a huge mosquito here too."

"Ni-ki! Why are you even here?" You hissed, attempting to change the topic.

Your brother's eyes lingered on your face longer than usual before he sighed, running a hand through his blond hair with a rather grim and solemn look on his face. "..I'm here because I think Jungwoonie deserves to know the truth."

You went still, feeling your husband's curious eyes moving to your direction for a moment.

"What do you mean? I only know she's not an omega but she's actually a alpha," the pilot pointed out, furrowing his eyebrows.

Riki nodded, "You're right about that. But there's more to that. And I know my sister will rather not bring it up, which is why I'm here, so she can tell you about it."

You narrowed your eyes, realizing this was his plan the entire time. "Ni-ki, you—"

"(Name), please. Just tell him," your brother begs you, his voice softening as he looks at you pleadingly. You were hit with a flashback of how he had looked at you the same way, back when the two of you were young.

You dug your nails into your palms, bitting down on your bottom lip. "..Fine, but this will take a while."

Jungwon nodded, "It's fine. I have time."

You inhaled, taking a deep breath and begin explaining.

~

You were nine when you realized something about you was different. You were unique and you're in another league, as compared to the other kids in your class. Your fellow classmates had started presenting—delicate little omegas praised for their softness, precocious betas encouraged for their balance.

You, on the other hand? You were restless, sharper.

Your instincts didn’t crave protection—they screamed dominance. You already knew what the results would be and the same can be applied for your parents. However, you could tell they were in denial, not wanting to accept the truth. Not wanting to accept the sheer fact that their daughter will be given a different fate, different than what they have planned for her.

But when the test results confirmed their worst fears and greatest nightmares—Alpha, your parents' faces went rigid and void of emotions. Just that one, single word was enough to turn their pride into something cold, ruthless and clinical.

"Alphas are reckless. They are unrefined and unfit for the image of our company. It will be a disgrace when the public finds out you're an alpha once the company's been handed to you," your mother had said, her voice clipped as she smoothed the wrinkles on her skirt.

Your father didn't disagreed. Instead, he simply ordered the doctor to change your medical record, to erase all signs of the results and to provide a fake version instead. To prove that you're an omega. The moment you got home, it was drills after drills.

They hired and assigned you many different instructors—lower your gaze, soften your tone and keeping your pheromones sealed tight until your glands ached. Every form of instinct you had was crushed under the heavy weight of rules, punishments and constant reminders of what you should be and must become, no matter what.

To make matters worse, Riki had witnessed it all. He had seen the way you cried yourself to sleep at night after hours of 'training', how you had clawed at your palms until they bled just to maintain your soft-spoken, delicate composure. Just for you to become someone you're not.

"O-Oppa, please.. help me.." You begged through your tears. Your small, trembling hands gripped onto the edge of his pants as you looked at him with your child-like, wide and teary eyes.

"Help me, Oppa. I.. I don't want to do this anymore.. It hurts…" You sniffled, weakly tugging at your older brother's clothes, hoping he will be able to help and to protect you from your parents.

Instead, you were roughly shoved backwards. You landed on the floor, watching from where you sat as Riki didn't spared you a second glance—like you're not worth his time as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

~

Your throat was burning and you were fighting the urge to break down right there and then when you finished recalling. You didn't dare to look in Jungwon's or Riki's direction, forcing a watery, bitter and broken smile on your face.

"They forced me to play the role of a perfect omega. To be soft-spoken and submissive—when everything about me is the exact opposite of what they wanted. I tolerated their torture until I was in college, where I met Karina and Beomgyu. That was also when I decided to move out and stay on my own, freeing myself from the prison I was thrown into. And Riki…"

You paused, raising your head slightly to look at your brother, who had nothing but pure shame and remorse written all over his face. "He didn't contact me after the day he pushed me away. The next thing I knew, he was already on the plane, flying to another country."

Jungwon narrowed his eyes. There was anger and something else you couldn't name, burning in those eyes. "So all this time.. you were alone?"

You let out a long, heavy sigh. "I was."

Riki's jaw tightened as he finally looked at you, but when he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than you had expected. "You think I didn't care. That I had abandoned you," he paused, letting out a shaky breath as he stared at the ground, "but that's not the truth."

~

Riki was twelve when he first realized just how brutal, heartless and cruel your so-called 'trainings' was. He had came home from school, walking past a room with the door not fully closed, allowing him to have a sneak peak inside.

Only for him to stop on the spot when he saw his precious younger sister, who was only ten at that time, curled into a small ball on the marbled, polished floor. Seething with rage, he had barged into the room without hesitation, protectively standing before his sister as he snarled, hissed and threatened to sink his fangs into the instructor.

"She's just a kid! Leave her alone!"

The instructor was frightened, fleeing from the room without bothering to put up a fight and Riki brought you to your room, hugging you close to his chest as he noses at your scent glands, scenting you to calm you down. That night, he had sneaked into your room when your parents were asleep, giving you food to eat that he had made in the kitchen. He knew you haven't had a proper meal for a while, considering how you are always spending most of your life 'training'.

Ever since that day, your brother took it upon himself to be by your side—he took your place, letting him be punished instead of you, argued with tutors and even fought with some of the people who dared to mock you. It was only a matter of time when his father demanded to see him in his office.

The room was dark, lit only by the amber glow of a desk lamp. The man didn't bothered raising his voice—he didn't need to. For his words were cold and loud enough to demand nothing but pure obedience.

"Do you want to throw your future away for her, Ni-Ki?"

He had stood still, fists tightly clenched as his shoulders trembled with rage. "She's my sister. You have no rights to—"

"No rights? I should be saying that to you. Now listen carefully, this is how it's going to go," his father cuts him off, leaning back in his seat with the faintest smile on his face, "if you're going to keep meddling and keep protecting her, you can kiss goodbye to your modeling career. I know you've worked hard to earn an internship with Prada. I'm sure the last thing you want is for them to revoke their contract with you, all because you couldn't stop poking your nose into someone else's business."

At that point, Riki was already eighteen. He stared at the man who he can't believe is his father, his own flesh and blood. "…You'll do that, all just for her to live a fake life?"

The other barked out a dark, humorless laugh. "Son, you don't know the harsh reality of the outside world. But, I never expect you to understand it. So, what will you choose?"

Riki felt nothing but pure fury burning in his chest. As much as he wished to do something, anything, he was too powerless to defy the weight of those words. Hence, he wordlessly nodded his head and the older man grinned in approval. He remembered entering your room late at night, seeing you fast asleep with dried tearstains on your cheeks. All he felt was nothing but regret, threatening to swallow him whole.

Which was why three days later, he had booked a flight and flew out of Seoul, unable to face you in the eyes anymore.

~

Riki swallowed hard, his eyes glossing with something dangerously close to regret. You were stunned as you have never seen him acting like this before—openly showing his feelings to you and what he had gone through on his end, without you knowing.

"I never wanted to abandon you. So, when I heard you started your own company, I was really proud of you. I told the people around me that that's my younger sister right there, that she built her own empire with nothing but her own blood, sweat and tears. I wanted to reach out to you," he paused, letting out a choked laugh. Just hearing the sound was enough to make your eyes teared up.

"Gods, I really did wanted to but I was scared. What if you don't want to see me anymore? What if you had pushed me out of your life, not wanting to talk to me forever? When I was invited to attend the event, I had a feeling you would be there. And, it turns out I was right."

He sniffled, not bothering to wipe away the singular tear droplet that trickled down his face. "It really killed me. Watching you suffer when I couldn't do anything and having to live with the rest of my life, knowing you had thought I didn't care about you."

Your nails dug crescent-shaped wounds in your palms but you couldn't stop the tremor in your chest. Everything Riki said—his point of view, the memories spilling out—it had cracked the walls you spent your entire life building. You had told yourself that he didn't care, that he had abandoned you and chose to live his own life, cutting ties with you. Back then, it was way easier to hate him as compared to now. Now that the truth was finally out, he was placed in the same position as you.

Your throat burned as the first sob tore free. You pressed your hand over your mouth but it was futile. Your vision blurred, shoulders shaking as the weight of everything came crashing down. Before you could think twice, you stumbled forward, throwing yourself at Riki as you wrapped your arms around his figure.

"O-Oppa—I thought you didn't care about me anymore. I'm so—"

"No, don't apologize. You shouldn't be saying that to someone like me," he cuts you off, voice muffled as he clutched onto you tightly, as if he's afraid that you might slipped from his grasp for the second time.

For a long moment, the two of you just held each other—siblings who had once been torn apart by fear and control, clinging together like you could bridge the lost years in a single embrace.

After that, Riki spent the next few hours catching up with you while you updated one another about your life. If you were to tell your younger self that you will find yourself chatting and laughing with your brother, you were certain that your younger self would have scoffed, calling you insane about how easily you had forgiven him. Eventually, it was time for Riki to take his leave and he hovered by the door after slipping on his shoes.

"You should talk to Jungwon," he murmured, hands shoved into his pockets.

"..There's nothing to talk about," you muttered, fiddling with your fingers as you avoided eye contact with him.

Your brother chuckled, reaching out to ruffle your hair, drawing a squeak from you as you light-heartedly whacked his shoulder. "Sure sis, if you say so. But seriously, talk to him and besides, I think he had already won you over with all of…that." He pointed at your neck and you scowled, shooing him out of the door while ignoring his laughter.

Once he was finally gone, you headed to Jungwon's private office, knocking and only entering once you were granted permission. There your husband sat, by the desk with a pair of glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. He glanced up, only to do a double take when he realized it was you and straightened himself in his seat.

"Did Riki left already?" He asks, leaning back in his seat as you stopped on the other end of the table.

"Yea, he said that we need to talk," you mumbled.

Jungwon sighed, gesturing for you to move towards him with two fingers. You gulped, walking around the corner and when you got close enough, he pulled you over. You would have made a complete fool of yourself if he didn't steadied you in the nick of time, allowing you to straddle his lap. Your hands awkwardly landed on his broad shoulders.

"Jungwon—"

"Shh, let me speak, princess. I'm not mad at you for hiding the truth from me. I feel bad for being harsh to you when we got married," he paused, resting his warm hands on your hips as he looks at you with a soft, loving smile on his face—something you never thought you'll be able to see.

"I remembered being furious when I was told I'll be marrying a woman who I've never met before. Which was why at first, I tried to push you away, to see whether you'll be able to listen to me. But, you didn't. Instead, you stood your ground and fought back. You looked at me, eye to eye and time and time again, you never fail to impress me with your courage. I know you had gone through horrible times during your childhood and the last thing you wanted was for an arranged marriage with a stranger."

He inhaled and then exhaled, leaning forward to rest his face against your stomach. You flinched, wanting to pull away but was stopped when he silently tightened his grip.

"You know, I actually respected you when I went to did some research. To see you managing to come this far with nothing but your own effort, that makes me see you in a different light. When Riki called me, telling me about how you needed me, I felt my world turned upside down. I had to shove my way through lines of people, forcing my way through immigration, just to get to you."

You were rendered speechless, listening to what he said. Jungwon raised his head, pulling you closer and closer until your practically breathing in one another's air.

"I thought I had lost you before I even had the chance to get to know the real you," he whispered, his hand lifting to cradle the back of your head. His thumb drew small circles on your cheek, grounding you in the current moment. "Seeing you like that… it broke something in me and I never want to feel that, ever again."

Your breath hitched in your throat, emotion swelling so thick that you almost choked on nothing but thin air. All the years of restraint and hiding—they were beginning to loosen, just a little, under his utmost sincerity and heartfelt words.

"Jungwon…" You breathed out, your voice barely above a whisper.

That was all it took. His lips was pressed against yours, in such a sweet, gentle kiss that you thought it was a dream for a moment. You melted into him instantly, fingers curled into his shirt as you clung onto him like an anchor. The kiss deepened but unlike before, there was no usage of tongues. Unlike the previous kisses you shared when you were entangled between the sheets, this was full of unspoken promises—of safety, of acceptance and most importantly, a love that goes beyond duty.

When you finally pulled apart, foreheads resting against one another, Jungwon was the first to break the silence.

"I got you. Today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life. And that, is a promise I intend to keep, until my final breath."

a/n: i needed a needy jungwon fic…. also holy frick yall i haven’t written smut in months and i feel like ive lost all my talent 🤬 im not sure why i had so much difficulty writing this fic but ts better be fixed for next time…anyways hope yall enjoy :3

—

you barely put the car in park before the front door of the house swings open like someone kicked it.

jungwon stumbles out, supported on each side by two of his friends, sunghoon and niki, grinning like he just saw god.

or, apparently, you.

"THERE she is," he says way too loudly, pointing at you with a wobbling hand. "that's my girl."

you choke. his friends choke. jungwon doesn't notice, to busy admiring your form as you slam your car door shut in mild frustration.

you had your whole night planned out, your room was cleaned, all class work completed, no responsibilities to uphold. you made dinner and planned to rot on your couch and binge watch a new series you had started till you inevitably passed out.

however, that plan was soon ruined when your phone blew up with messages and calls from sunghoon and niki who begged you to come pick up your childhood best friend, a very drunk jungwon.

you walk up the driveway, jaw tight, hoodie half-zipped, t-shirt (his) hanging off one shoulder, hair messy from being ripped out of the couches warm embrace.

you are not in the mood.

but jungwon? jungwon looks like he just found heaven wearing shorts and crocs.

he breaks free from his friends with the grace of a baby deer and practically lunges at you.

"woah—jungwon—" you start, but he's already wrapping both arms around your waist and pulling you against him like you might vanish.

his face buries into your neck instantly. not your shoulder—your neck.

and he breathes. deep. your body shudders as you feel his warm breath fan across the sensitive area, knees trembling slightly as you position your hands to pull him away.

"fuck..." he mumbles, voice muffled against your skin, "why do you smell this good? it's like... illegal. i should report you."

you blink. "you're actually insane."

he nuzzles closer. actually nuzzles. his nose drags from your jaw to the base of your neck like he's trying to memorize you by scent.

"you smell like... warm," he continues, drunk and poetic. "and sweet. and... fuck, i can't even explain it." another inhale, "you smell like i wanna bite you."

your knees almost give out. this was..new.

you grab his shoulders to steady him, but he freezes when your hands touch him. slowly, his fingers slide down your sides until they find your waist again.

his grip tightens.

"your skin is so soft," he says suddenly, like it's a crime you haven't been arrested for. he rubs a thumb against the sliver of skin where your shirt rides up. "right here... it's so warm. feels nice."

"jungwon—" you hiss, glancing at his friends, who are watching with the expressions of people witnessing a car crash.

"what?" he lifts his head, blinking up at you all innocent and tipsy. "'m just appreciating. you're soft. it's distracting."

he leans in again, brushing his lips against your jaw by accident. or drunk aimlessness. you can't tell.

your breath catches.

jungwon smiles, slow and lazy. "i can feel your pulse. right here." his fingers tap your waist. "you always get like this when i'm close. it's cute."

you shove him lightly because you're seconds from combusting. jungwon was always touchy, but his usual touch which was innocent was replaced by something much darker.

"get in the damn car."

"only if you keep touching me," he says, grabbing your hand and placing it on his chest like you're claiming him. his heart is pounding in his chest, almost as if it was going to escape him.

"jesus," you mutter, trying to pull away.

he doesn't let you. of fucking course.

instead he laces your fingers together, squeezes once, and says, soft and drunk and devastating: "i missed you tonight."

before you can respond, he leans forward and rests his forehead on yours—actually presses it there—and whispers, "your skin... your smell... you're making me crazy."

your heart is in your throat.

"jungwon," you murmur, "get in the car."

he grins like he won.

"okaaay," he sings, finally letting you guide him toward the passenger seat—but not without trailing his fingers slowly down your arm the whole way. like he's memorizing the shape of you by touch.

"you feel pretty too," he mumbles, his eyes dragging across your face. "not just look. feel."

you open the door and he plops into the seat. you lean across him to buckle the belt.

mistake.

your hair brushes his cheek and he shivers. actually shivers.

his hands lift—slow, clumsy—and settle on your hips.

"don't do that," he whispers, voice suddenly rough. "don't get this close unless you want me to think things."

you freeze, breath caught, inches from his mouth and you can't help but let your eyes dart down.

"think what?" you whisper back before you can stop yourself.

he smirks. even drunk, the boy knows exactly what he's doing.

"things i shouldn't say unless you kiss me first."

your entire body lights on fire. you rip yourself away from him and slam the door closed as you begin to feel your face burning.

through the window, jungwon watches you with a dreamy smile, cheeks flushed, fingers tapping the spot on his chest where your hand had been.

the second the door shuts, jungwon sprawls back in the seat like he owns it—like he owns you.

he's slouched comfortably, legs spread wide, hand already draped over the console like an invitation. or a trap.

"you drive slow when you're mad," he says as you pull out of the driveway. almost like he's studying you. like he enjoys it.

"i'm not mad," you lie. you were fuming. not only were you mad because your plans were thrown out the window, but now you had a cocky shit-faced bastard sitting in your passenger seat who wouldn't stop looking at you like you were his entire world.

"you're adorable when you lie," he counters immediately.

your jaw clenches, you shit your eyes momentarily to calm yourself down.

and that's when his hand finds your thigh.

not tentative. not testing. claiming.

his palm lands high—too high—and squeezes with purpose, fingers spreading over the soft inside of your leg like he's done this before in his head.

"jungwon—"

"shhh," he says, leaning back, eyes half-lidded. "your thigh feels good. let me enjoy it."

you inhale sharply.

he smirks—slow, knowing.

"see?" he murmurs. "i knew you'd sound like that."

his thumb drags up the inside of your thigh, higher, deliberate, slow enough to make you sweat but not enough to cross a line. he's hovering in the worst possible place.

"confident tonight, aren't you," you mutter.

"i'm always confident around you," he says simply. "i just pretend i'm not so i don't scare you."

your pulse stutters at his sudden confession.

his hand squeezes again—firm, warm, the kind of grip that makes your breath hitch.

"eyes on the road," he adds, voice dropping. "unless you want me to take over."

you almost choke. "take over what?"

jungwon laughs—low, husky, intoxicated in the way men get when they're turned on and fearless. "whatever you'll let me."

your grip on the wheel tightens. he notices, of course he notices.

"god, you're tense," he says softly, leaning closer until his breath ghosts over your cheek. "do i make you nervous?"

"no."

he grins. "another lie."

his thumb begins rubbing slow circles into your inner thigh, dangerously close to where you're warmest.

"stop messing with me, jungwon." you snap, the flush on your cheeks only getting darker.

"i'd rather mess with you than leave you alone," he murmurs. "you know how long i've wanted my hands here?"

your stomach drops at his words, swallowing harshly and controlling the urge to snap your head to the side to see his facial expression.

he tips his head, studying your reaction like a man savoring his favorite dessert.

"keep driving," he orders, voice low and wicked. "i'm not done touching you."

you open your mouth to argue—but his hand slides higher, fingers brushing the seam of your shorts.

your breath breaks. audibly.

jungwon smirks. "that's the sound i wanted."

"jungwon, seriously—"

"relax," he says, squeezing once—slow, firm, deliberate enough to send heat up your spine. "if i wanted to really touch you, you'd know."

you swallow hard, whatever that means.

jungwon leans in—close enough that his lips graze your ear when he speaks.

"you smell good," he whispers. "so fucking good. i noticed it the second you pulled up."

his nose trails down your jaw—not touching, just close enough to burn.

"sweet," he says softly.

"warm." another inhale.

"like you'd taste even better."

you shiver and he feels it.

"yeah," he murmurs, voice dropping to something darker. "bet you taste unreal."

your thighs tense up, big mistake. jungwon notices instantly.

"ohhh... she liked that," he purrs. he squeezes again, fingers pressing in just right. "you're so obvious, baby."

you nearly jerk the wheel. "don't call me that."

"why?" he asks. "you clench up every time i say it. you like when i talk like that, right baby?"

you're sweating bullets at this point, wishing that you lived much closer so you could get out of this car. jungwon on the other hand, he's thriving.

"stop," you whisper.

"make me."

you look at him and he's staring right back, eyes blown, full mouth curved into the cockiest, laziest grin you've ever seen on him.

his voice drops to a whisper that ruins you: "pull over."

"no."

"pull over," he repeats, calmer, warmer, dead serious. "or i'm going to keep touching you until you do."

your breath catches. his hand on your thigh slides half an inch higher—barely anything, but enough to make your heart slam against your ribs.

"last chance," he murmurs, his voice now hazy and clouded. "pull over, sweetheart."

and the way he says it—low, confident, hungry— makes your whole body go hot.

your hands are tight on the steering wheel. ten and two. eyes glued on the road. jaw clenched.

you can do this. you can get him home. you can ignore the way he's been touching you for the last ten minutes—his fingers drift higher on your thigh.

okay maybe you can't.

"jungwon," you say through a breath that's definitely not steady, "keep your hand still."

"my hand is where it is," he murmurs, sounding way too innocent for someone whose fingertips are now brushing the hem of your short sleep shorts.

"jungwon," you warn again.

he laughs softly and leans his head back against the seat, eyes sliding over to you with a lazy, drunk, confident smirk.

"you keep saying my name like that," he says, voice low, "i'm gonna think you like it."

your throat goes tight. you press your foot on the gas, just a little. just enough to get home faster.

but jungwon doesn't care about your plan. he drags his fingers up another inch—slow, deliberate, like he's giving you time to react.

you do. you choke on air.

"stop," you whisper.

"you don't sound like you want me to." you don't.

you squeeze the wheel. you try to focus on the street signs. you tell yourself you can hold it together for five more minutes.

his hand slides higher. higher and higher.

your hips jerk right when you feel his fingers graze your panty clad core and the car swerves. "fuck— jungwon!"

he hums, pleased. "you're shaking."

"because you— you're distracting me—"

"good." he squeezes the inside of your thigh, firm, almost possessive. "then pay attention."

you feel heat pool low in your stomach. your heartbeat snaps into something fast and stupid. he's drunk but he's too confident, too controlled. his thumb strokes slow circles against the soft skin there, dangerous and knowing.

"jungwon, i swear—"

"pull over."

you blink. "what?"

"pull over," he repeats, quieter this time, leaning in until his lips almost brush your cheek. "before i make you."

your breath stops. you're not even sure if he means with his touch or with your own reaction to it, but either way—you can't keep driving like this.

especially not when he drags his fingers up again, grazing the very edge of your inner thigh, so close it's practically illegal.

"jungwon—"

"pull over, pretty girl."

your stomach drops. you pull over.

the car rolls to a shaky stop, and the second it's in park he exhales sharply—like he's been holding himself back, too.

"good," he murmurs, turning his head toward you slowly. "that's better."

"you're drunk," you manage, your mouth parting when you see how predatorial his expression had become.

"yeah," he agrees, leaning closer, voice dropping into something dark and warm, "but i still know what i want."

his hand moves again. purposeful. slow. claiming.

"and right now," he whispers, breath brushing your ear, "i want to touch you so fucking bad."

your entire body lights up. heat floods your face, your chest, your stomach. you can't move. can't breathe. can't think.

his mouth hovers right by your jaw.

"you don't even know," he murmurs, "how hard it's been all night saying how good you smell and not being able to actually taste you."

your pulse stutters.

he laughs, drunk and bold and sinfully confident. "bet you taste even better."

the car is silent except for both of you breathing too hard. your hands are still on the wheel like you're afraid to move. jungwon's hand is still on your thigh like he owns it.

he looks at you. really looks. and then he shifts closer across the seat, slow like he's stalking you.

"come here," he murmurs, his legs spreading as if he was expecting you to climb over the console and situate yourself in his lap.

you freeze. "jungwon—"

"i'm serious." he nods at you lazily, eyes hooded, pupils blown wide from alcohol and whatever the hell you're doing to him. "c'mere for a second."

your voice wavers. "why?"

he lets out a low, drunk laugh. "you know why."

his hand moves higher again, and your breath just stops.

"jungwon, don't—"

"i want a taste," he says, plain and shameless.

your stomach drops straight through the floor.

"wha— what?"

he leans in until your noses almost touch. his breath is hot, alcohol-sweet, desperate.

"let me put my mouth on you. i can't promise i won't ever ask again but just this once" he whispers, eyes flicking down to your lips, then lower—way lower—before dragging back up again. "please."

your thighs clench involuntarily, and he notices. his smirk is slow and devastating, you can see his eyes lingering.

"yeah," he murmurs, "you want it too."

you shake your head because you're supposed to, because someone has to be the adult. "you're drunk—"

"i'm drunk," he agrees, "i'm not dead. i know exactly what i want."

his hand squeezes your thigh, harder this time—enough to make your breath stutter. enough to make everything inside you tighten.

"let me taste you," he says again, softer, dirtier. "just once."

you swallow. hard, "y-you said you can't promise it'll be the only time..."

his eyes darken instantly.

"yeah," he admits, brushing his thumb along the inside of your thigh like he's mapping out exactly where he wants to put his mouth. "because if i get one taste?"

he leans in closer, lips ghosting your jaw, your cheek, your neck—hovering but not touching.

"...i'm not stopping."

your breath catches. his mouth gets dangerously close to your skin, and he whispers it again—more desperate this time.

"please. lemme have you."

your body goes hot all the way through.

"i'll be good," he murmurs, already lowering his head like he's imagining the exact angle. "i'll make you feel so good, pretty. just— just let me taste you."

your knees actually go weak even though you're sitting. you don't answer immediately, your mind racing  as you finally realize what your oh-so innocent best friend was asking from you.

and jungwon notices—he fucking feels your hesitation—so he gets even bolder. he brings his free hand up, fingertips brushing under your chin, tilting your face toward him.

his voice is low, raspy, hungry. "say yes," he whispers. "please. i've been thinking about your body forever ."

your heart slams into your ribs. you're drowning. absolutely drowning.

and then—just to ruin you completely—he whispers the final blow against your cheek: "i swear, baby... you give me one taste and you won't walk straight tomorrow."

his words are still hanging in the air — you won't walk straight tomorrow — when you finally find your voice again.

barely.

"jungwon... no." you whisper it. weak. breathless. not convincing at all.

he hears the word, but he hears everything underneath it too. so he doesn't move. he just looks up at you from where he's leaning into your neck, eyes dark and glossy, mouth parted like he's two seconds from losing his mind.

"no?" he repeats softly.

you nod, almost as if you were convincing yourself more than him. "we're not doing this. you're drunk."

he presses his lips together in a slow, almost pouty line... then drags his hand up your thigh again like he's testing how much of that no is real.

"you're saying no..." he murmurs, fingers sliding higher, "but you're shaking so bad right now."

you grab his wrist—finally, some resistance—but your grip is nothing. he could move your hand whenever he wants.

he kind of likes that.

"stop," you say, but your voice cracks like a goddamn glass.

jungwon lifts his head. his eyes are hazy, heavy-lidded, but his expression is so intense it makes your stomach twist.

"don't push me away."

"jung—"

he leans forward suddenly, forehead touching yours, breath warm and uneven against your lips. "please don't push me away."

the shift in him almost knocks the air from your lungs. he's still drunk, still bold, but now there's this raw, aching need layered under every word.

"jungwon, you're not thinking straight—"

"i'm thinking about you," he shoots back instantly, nearly desperate. "i'm thinking about how fucking good you smell. it's driving me insane."

your fingers loosen around his wrist without meaning to.

he notices. he always notices. he slides his hand higher. too high. hot against your inner thigh.

you gasp. "jungwon—!"

that does it.

he groans—actually groans—like the sound rips straight out of his chest.

"don't do that," he whispers, sounding almost pained. "don't say my name like that if you want me to stop."

you try to pull back, but he follows. his mouth chases your skin. his breath hits your jaw, your cheek, your neck. he still doesn't touch you with his lips... but he is so, so close it's torture.

"i said no," you manage.

"and i heard you," he murmurs, voice rough, "but god, baby... the way you're breathing right now? you're killing me."

your thighs squeeze together.

jungwon sees. jungwon reacts.

he lets out the quietest, filthiest little laugh—low, breathless, hungry.

"you're trying so hard to be good," he whispers, fingers pushing higher until he's a hair away from where you're burning. "but you want me. you want me."

"i don't—"

"yeah?" he cuts you off, tilting his head so his lips graze the shell of your ear without touching. "then why are you clenching your thighs like that?"

heat surges through you, molten and humiliating.

you shove at his chest—not hard, not enough to move him but just enough to pretend like you're resisting.

he catches your hand. interlaces his fingers with yours. holds it against his chest so you can feel how fast his heart is beating.

"don't push me away," he whispers again, voice cracking now. needier. "please. i've wanted you for so fucking long."

your breath stutters.

his other hand leaves your thigh for a moment—just a moment—to grab your waist and pull you closer across the center console. not rough. not gentle. just drunk and desperate.

you land half on his lap, half in his arms.

his mouth falls open. his voice goes wrecked.

"fuck... you feel so good," he breathes, burying his face against your throat. "please, baby. please just let me taste you."

you swallow a moan. you actually swallow a moan.

he hears the sound anyway, muffled as it is and that's when jungwon truly loses it.

he fists the fabric of your shirt. pulls you in tighter, like he's afraid you'll evaporate if he loosens his grip.

his lips hover over your neck—trembling, hungry, one second from crossing the line.

"i'm begging you," he whispers, voice raw. "just one taste. just one. i swear..."

he laughs weakly against your skin, breath shaky. "...i swear i'll lose my fucking mind if you don't let me."

he tugs at you again and the moment you land fully on his lap, something in jungwon snaps. his hands grip at you, pushing you around till you're forced to straddle his lap. his hands fumble slightly, pressing the lever at the side of the seat so you were practically laying against him causing you to yelp in surprise.

you feel it. your breath catches as he presses his face to your neck again—only this time, he doesn't stop at hovering.

he kisses you. soft at first. warm. barely-there. then deeper. slower. hungrier. a low, desperate sound rumbles out of him—almost a whine, almost a groan—like he's been holding this in for years and the dam finally cracked.

"jung—won—" your voice fractures, fingers clutching his shoulders.

but he's gone. completely gone.

he drags his mouth along your pulse point, lips open, breath shaking like he can't believe you're real. each kiss is wetter, hotter, more desperate than the last.

your whole body lights up.

"fuck..." he whispers against your skin, voice breaking. "you taste— you taste so good already, i can't— i can't stop—"

your heart stutters.

his hands grip your waist, not exactly gentle, pulling you closer, pulling you into him like he's starving.

then his mouth opens wider— his tongue grazes your neck.

you gasp, your eyes squeezing tight when you feel his thick bulge press into you in combination to his tongue laving at your neck.

he moans. outright moans into your skin, a needy, ruined sound that makes your legs weak even though you're sitting.

that's when you realize he's truly not stopping.

he's trembling. he's breathing too fast.

his eyes flutter open and they're glossy, blown wide, dark with something feral and desperate.

"jungwon— stop—" you stammer, pushing at his chest.

he doesn't even hear you.

he keeps kissing lower, toward your collarbone, his lips hot and messy and hungry.

"please," he whispers into your skin like he's praying. "please let me— let me taste you properly..."

your thighs instinctively press together, a small groan escaping his mouth when he feels your core press into him.

he makes a broken sound, hands sliding from your waist back to your thighs.

"don't do that," he whines, fingers pressing into the soft inside of your thighs. "don't close them— please— please—"

you push at him harder. "jungwon, stop— we can't— you're drunk—"

he lifts his head finally, but only to look at you, eyes shining, lips swollen from kissing your neck.

he looks wrecked. ruined. desperate in a way you've never seen.

"i'll be careful," he says, voice cracking. "i'll be so good— i swear— just... just let me in."

his hand slides up your thigh again and you grab his wrist instantly, panting. he whines—actually whines, the sound high and breathless.

"don't," he pleads, leaning forward as if he's chasing your mouth now. "please, don't stop me— i've wanted you for so fucking long— i can't— god, i can't think straight—"

you try to shift off his lap, but he tightens his grip on your thigh, head dropping back into the crook of your neck like he's clinging to you.

"just— just let me taste you," he whispers again, voice hoarse, completely gone. "i want you so bad— i need... i need your thighs open for me, please—"

your breath punches out of your lungs. you shove him one more time—harder this time—and you manage to pull yourself off his lap just enough to break his mouth away from your skin.

jungwon actually gasps.

he chases after you instinctively, fingers flexing like he's reaching for you without thinking.

his voice comes out broken.

"baby— please— don't—"

you hold him back by the shoulders, panting, heart racing. he looks up at you with glassy eyes, flush high on his cheeks, chest rising and falling like he just ran miles.

"come back," he whispers, voice raw. "i'll beg— i'll fucking beg if you want— just come back. i just need one taste. one. please— please— i'm losing my fucking mind—"

your stomach lurches. your thighs press tight again and jungwon notices, he feels it.

his head falls forward, forehead against your collarbone, breath shaking.

"please," he whispers one last time, voice crumbling. "just let me have you. i swear i'll be gentle. i swear i'll make it so good for you... just open your thighs for me, baby, i'm begging—"

you keep him at arm's length, palms against his shoulders, chest heaving, heart in your throat.

jungwon looks destroyed.

hair messy, lips swollen, eyes glassy and blown wide with something deeper than lust—something raw. something that's been living under his skin for a very long time.

his breath shudders as he tries to lean forward again, but you hold him there.

"jungwon," you whisper, "just—stop for a second."

he shakes his head instantly. violently. "i can't."

his voice splits open on the last word. "i can't stop. i can't—" he drags in a breath, shoulders trembling. "you don't understand what you're doing to me."

you swallow hard. "you're drunk—"

"i'm drunk and i'm honest," he snaps, voice cracking. "i can't lie right now even if i wanted to."

you freeze and that hits harder than it should.

his hands lift—slow, shaking—and hover near your waist but don't grab. he's bracing himself on the seat, gripping the upholstery like he needs something to anchor him.

then he looks at you.

really looks.

"i've wanted you for so fucking long."

your breath catches. his chest rises sharply, like saying it hurt.

"you don't get it," he whispers, voice soft and rough and absolutely ruined. "you walk around looking so— so soft. so pretty. so fucking... touchable."

your stomach flips.

"and you don't even realize it," he goes on, words tumbling out with no control now. "you don't know how crazy you make me."

your hands loosen on his shoulders—just a little.

he sees. he swallows hard and keeps going.

"every time you sit next to me," he breathes, "i stare at your thighs and think about putting my mouth on them. every single time." heat shoots through you so fast you almost choke on it.

"jungwon—"

"i know," he whispers, "i know i shouldn't say this. i know i'm drunk. but i— i can't hold it in anymore."

his voice wavers. his eyes flick down your body for a split second—slow enough to feel like a touch.

"you always look so fucking soft." his jaw tightens, breath shaking. "so perfect. so sweet."

your pulse stutters.

he laughs once—quiet, broken, shameful. "i think about tasting you every night. how you would squeeze my head in-between your thighs and how they would shake and the noises you'd make." he's panting at this point, his eyes squeezing shut.

your knees actually go weak.

"don't—" you try, but the word falls apart halfway.

jungwon lifts a hand again, hesitates, then rests it gently—gently—on your knee. so different from the desperate grabbing earlier. softer. more honest.

"you have no clue what you do to me," he whispers. "i look at you and i just— i want you. i want every part of you."

his eyes rise back to yours, glossy and bare and unguarded.

"i want the sounds you'd make," he breathes. "i want the way you'd taste on my tongue. i want your thighs around my head. i want all of it. i've wanted it for so fucking long."

your hands slip off his shoulders completely. you don't know when your breath left your lungs but it still hasn't come back.

jungwon bites his lip. hard. like he's trying to stop more from spilling out. but it doesn't work.

his voice drops to a whisper that hits you like a punch: "i don't just want your body."

you blink.

his words tremble. "i want you."

you feel your heart drop into your stomach.

"i watch you all the time," he says, voice unsteady. "the way you talk, the way you laugh, the way you get mad. fuck— the way you walk into a room like you don't even know everyone looks at you."

your throat tightens.

"i look at you like you're mine," he admits, breath catching. "even though you're not. even though you probably never will be."

your chest actually hurts. his voice cracks completely: "i just... i want you so bad it makes me sick."

you stare at him—soft hair falling in his eyes, cheeks flushed, lips parted, breathing too fast, hands trembling as he reaches for you again.

this time he manages to touch you. a shaky palm against your waist.

"baby," he whispers, sounding like he's breaking. "say something. please."

you open your mouth to say something—anything—to ground him, but jungwon is already leaning back in, chasing your lips like he physically can't stop himself. his breath trembles against your skin, warm and desperate, and his fingers curl harder around your waist like he thinks you'll disappear if he loosens even a little.

"w-wait—jungwon, slow down, i'm tryna—"

"don't—" he cuts you off on a ragged whisper, nose brushing your cheek as he tries to kiss you again. "don't pull away from me. please. just—just let me have you."

his voice cracks. actually cracks.

his eyes are glossy, pupils blown wide, cheeks flushed that soft rose-pink that always gives him away. he looks ruined already, like you've been doing something to him instead of just sitting here trying to breathe.

"jungwon," you murmur, trying to steady him with a hand on his chest, "you're not thinking straight—"

"i am," he insists, shaking his head, lips brushing yours because he can't stop leaning forward. "god, i am, i promise—i've been thinking straight for months and it's always the same thing. you. you on top of me. you using me however you want."

your fingers twitch.

his eyes flick down, immediately catching the movement like a starving animal catching scent of food.

"see?" he whispers. "you want me too. i can feel it."

you try to speak but he's already going again—mouth grazing the corner of yours, breath shaky, almost panting because he's so wound up it's pathetic.

pathetic and so, so pretty.

his grip slides lower, fingers pressing into your hips, guiding you closer like instinct is taking over. "just— just let me be good for you," he begs, voice cracking again. "you d-don't even need to do anything. you don't have to take care of me. just—" his forehead drops to your jaw, hot, needy breath fanning your throat. "please use me."

you swallow. hard.

"jungwon..."

he makes a sound. a broken whine into your neck that makes your spine stiffen.

"i'll do anything," he says, voice thready, trembling, "anything you want. you can put me wherever you want me and i'll stay there. i'll listen. i'll be quiet— or i won't, if you like hearing me beg. i'll be whatever you want. just... don't tell me no right now."

your heart kicks painfully.

his arms wrap fully around your waist now, pulling you against him like he's bracing for impact—like if you reject him he'll completely collapse.

"jungwon, you need to breathe—"

"i don't need to breathe," he whispers, voice turning low, hungry, unhinged. "i just need you. i just want your thighs around my head, i want your voice in my ears, i want—"

"jungwon."

he freezes, but only for a heartbeat. then he lifts his head. he looks at you like you're oxygen and he's drowning. his lips part, his breathing shaky, pupils blown like he's seconds from losing the last bit of control he has.

"please," he whispers, leaning in again, mouth barely brushing yours, begging in every possible way a person can beg. "just let me taste you. let me be your mouth. i'll do everything. i'll be good—so good for you, i swear."

his thumbs stroke your hips desperately.

"just say yes."

your breath stutters, just once, but it's enough.

jungwon feels it like a shockwave. his whole body tenses beneath your hands, head lifting from your neck, eyes snapping up to your face like he heard a door unlock.

"...what was that?" he whispers, voice low, raw, hopeful in a way that makes your stomach flip. "do it again. please."

you swallow, but it's loud in the quiet room. too loud.

his fingers tighten instantly—reactive, instinctive—digging into your hips in a bruising, claiming way that doesn't match the sweet, shy café owner you know. this is the version of him that lives underneath: needy, starved, a little feral.

"jungwon," you breathe, barely getting the word out, "you need to calm down—"

"i can't," he cuts in, voice breaking. "not when you sound like that. not when you're this close. i've wanted you for so long i—" he chokes on the rest, leaning in until his forehead presses into your cheek. "just tell me i'm not imagining this. tell me you want me too."

you try to pull back. big mistake.

he lets out a sound—somewhere between a whimper and a groan—and his grip snaps tight around your waist, dragging you right back into his lap like he can't bear a centimeter between you.

"don't go," he pleads, breath shaking. "please don't go, don't do that—i'll be good, i swear, i'll—i'll stay right here, i'll keep my hands where you want them, just don't pull away again—"

"i wasn't leaving." your voice is barely a whisper.

jungwon freezes. absolutely still.

then his head lifts slowly, eyes glossy and blown wide as he searches your face like he's scared he misheard.

"...you weren't?" he breathes.

you shake your head once. and that's it.

whatever thin thread of control he had snaps.

a broken sound slips out of him as he surges up, kissing you again—messier this time, hungrier, like he's trying to pour every bottled-up year of wanting into a single touch. his hands travel up your sides, hesitating only long enough to make sure you're not pulling away, before gripping the back of your shirt like he's terrified you'll disappear.

you gasp, fingers instinctively grabbing his shoulders for balance.

he feels it. he feels you holding onto him and it destroys him.

"please," he whispers into your mouth, hot and trembling. "just—say it. say i can have you. say you'll let me—" his breath catches, a shiver running through him as he presses his forehead to yours, "—let me show you how good i can be for you."

your pulse kicks. your thighs tighten around his.

his eyes drop instantly, pupils dilating so hard they practically swallow the brown.

"god," he murmurs, "you're killing me."

he kisses you again, slower this time, more certain, one hand sliding to your waist with careful reverence—as if he knows this is the final moment, the tipping point, the part where you either shove him away or—

you take his jaw in your hand.

not rough. not gentle. just decisive.

jungwon's breath punches out of him. his eyes flutter, lips parting like he's about to beg again, but no sound comes out.

you look at him. really look at him.

flushed cheeks. swollen lips. eyes glassy with desperation. every inch of him trembling under your touch, waiting for permission like a prayer.

"jungwon..." you murmur, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth, "you want me that bad?"

he nods so fast it's almost frantic.

"i'll do anything," he whispers. "anything you want. just—let me. let me have you. let me be yours. tell me yes and i'll—" his voice cracks again, "...i'll make you feel so good."

your chest rises. falls. slow. then—you lean in, brushing your lips against his ear.

"okay," you breathe.

jungwon goes completely still. then he shudders—full-body, uncontrollable, like he's been hit by lightning.

"o-okay?" he repeats, voice breaking, knees trembling beneath you.

"yes."

and just like that—he loses it.

his hands fly to your waist, his breath hits your neck, a desperate, wrecked sound escaping him as he finally—finally—lets himself touch you the way he's always wanted.

you feel his mouth opening against your skin, right at the spot he's been dying to taste. his hands find themselves gripping at you feverishly, gripping your thighs, your waist, your butt.

"so good..s-so good," he almost murmurs to himself as begins to rock his hips, using his grip on your butt to push against him.

you couldn't help but let a whimper escape you when you feel the outline of him thrust against your clit, letting him move you around.

his grip on your butt is a vice. not rough, exactly, but firm, utterly non-negotiable. he pulls you in so tight you can feel the strained trembling of his muscles, crushing your slick core against the insistent, painful heat of his pants.

"oh god," he whimpers, the sound raw and shaky against your neck. he drags his mouth along your pulse point, leaving a wet trail. "you like that?" his voice is thick, full of drunken wonder and possessive triumph.

you try to answer, but the words are swallowed by a choked whimper. he groans, a needy, ruined sound, taking it as consent, and then he moves.

he doesn't bother with the console. he scrambles up, grabbing your hips, and pushes you over the barrier with reckless, sloppy urgency. you land in a trembling, messy heap across the drivers seat, your legs falling open, shorts pushed up and offering him everything.

he's not gentle. he just needs access.

jungwon is half-kneeling, half-sprawled over the console, his face right between your thighs. he looks absolutely destroyed: sweat beading on his temples, hair clinging to his forehead, his pupils wide and black.

"i knew it," he whispers, breath shaky and hot. he reaches out a trembling hand, his fingers spreading wide over your inner thigh, right near your heat.

his grip is firm, claiming, pressing in just enough to bruise later. "you're so warm right here. you're shaking, pretty girl."

he nudges your shorts crotch to the side with his nose, whimpering when the fabric resists, until your damp, exposed core is right in his line of sight. "mine," he declares, the word a slurred, drunken promise.

he leans down, and you gasp as his tongue, thick and wet, sloops right over the thin, damp fabric of your underwear. he doesn't care about the fabric, he just needs the taste. it's messy, sloppy, and overwhelming.

"fuck, you taste so good," he hisses, pulling back an inch, his eyes dark and glazed. he looks absolutely starved. "sweet. like i knew you would be. i need to see it."

he fumbles at the waistband of your shorts, shoving them down hard until they bunch up around your knees. he's not careful. he just needs you bare.

he settles right between your thighs, pulling your knees wider with his needy hands. he takes a moment just to look—his eyes tracing the wetness, the flush, the vulnerable, beautiful mess you are.

"open your legs for me, sweetheart," he orders, his voice a raw, low rasp. he doesn't wait for you to comply, his hands squeeze your inner thighs, forcing you wide open. "i want to see how much i ruined you."

then he's there. his mouth clamps down, and the feeling is instant, consuming. his tongue is relentless, moving with a desperate, sloppy urgency that is entirely focused on your pleasure. he's not trying to be sophisticated, he's a drunk man finally tasting the obsession he's held for years.

you cry out loud, a sharp, uncontrolled sound that hits the ceiling of the car. he groans, a thick, muffled sound of pure satisfaction against your slick skin. his hands slide down, gripping the back of your thighs and squeezing, pulling you tighter onto his mouth, forcing your legs to tremble.

"say my name, baby," he begs, the words vibrating against your core as he licks harder, faster. "say you love how sloppy i am for you. i'm right here. i'm yours. you can use my mouth however you want. whenever you want."

he pushes deeper, his breath hot and uneven, panting in the short gaps between desperate licks. he's completely focused on driving you higher, his movements aggressive and needy.

"you're so wet," he whispers against your skin in disbelief, "you're soaking my mouth. i'm drinking you. god, you're making me so fucking messy."

you're trembling violently, your fingers digging into the seat, your hips involuntarily thrusting down onto him. he anchors you with his strong hands on your thighs, pushing you back up every time you try to pull away, forcing you to take his tongue.

he speeds up again, mercilessly, his tongue pushing, flicking, sucking with a rhythmic intensity that brings that familiar pit in your stomach to rise.

"just for me," he murmurs, his words barely audible over the loud, wet sounds he's making with his mouth full of pussy. "cum for me, pretty girl. i want to drown in you."

he gives you a final, deep, punishing drag, and you completely shatter. your back arches, your body going rigid as a shaking moan is torn from your throat.

he doesn't stop. he holds you there, letting you tremble against his mouth, his arms tight around your thighs, ensuring you feel every last ripple of the climax.

when you finally settle, panting and wrecked, he keeps his face buried in your lap for a long, heavy moment, simply tasting his victory.

he lifts his head. his mouth is wet, his lips swollen, his eyes dark with a feral mix of lust and possessive adoration. you almost came again at just the site of him.

he smiles—slow, lazy, utterly ruined—and his fingers slide down, reaching for the waistband of his open jeans.

jungwon lifts his head, his face flushed and wet, his eyes shining with feverish anticipation. he's breathing hard, his lips swollen and glistening. the messiness of his desire is plastered all over him.

"you said yes," he whispers, voice thick and ragged. he lets out a pathetic little choke of anticipation. "what do you want? tell me. i'll do it right now."

his hands, still firm on your inner thighs, tighten as you look at him. he's exposed, kneeling between your spread legs, panting, completely at your mercy.

you lean forward, placing a hand on the back of his neck, running your fingers roughly through his damp hair. not knowing what was coming over you, you pull him closer.

jungwon instantly melts into the touch, a low, needy whine escaping his chest. he presses his face against the inside of your thigh, his breath shuddering.

"god," he mumbles into your skin. "that's it. you're touching me. don't stop."

you use the leverage on his hair to tilt his head, forcing him to look up at you again.

"you said i could use you," you whisper, the authority in your voice making his eyes widen. "i'm still wet, jungwon. and you're hard." your eyes dart down, his cock straining against his pants.

he swallows hard, his breath catching. "yeah. take it. take me."

he fumbles with the rest of his jeans, peeling them down just enough to expose the thick, rigid length straining against his boxers. he doesn't take his eyes off yours, searching for approval. he's so desperate for your gaze he can barely breathe.

"you're going to touch yourself," you say, your voice low and commanding.

jungwon freezes, a shock of confused, thrilled desperation hitting his face. "w-what? on your lap?"

you shake your head, using the hand still on his neck to push his head lower, his damp hair brushing against your inner thigh.

"no. you're gonna watch me. and you're going to obey."

he lets out a broken, pathetic sound, his whole body trembling. he's confused, aroused, and absolutely ruined by the instruction. "i—i can't look away. i won't."

"i'm not telling you to look away, im telling you to watch."

you press your hand down on the nape of his neck, demanding his stillness. you push yourself closer to him, now sharing the passenger seat with him as half of your body lays against the console while your legs over his lap.

his erection is now pressing firmly against his boxers, right near your hip, a hot, agonizing distraction.

you reach down and slide your hand down your aching core, fingers moving slowly and deliberately towards your still-sensitive cunt, making sure he sees every agonizing movement.

jungwon lets out a loud, strangled gasp. his eyes are fixed on your fingers, wide and glossy. he's panting, his lips parted, unable to move a muscle. "do you like watching me, jungwon?" you ask, your voice soft and challenging.

he shakes his head violently, a deep, frustrated groan rumbling in his throat. "i hate it. i hate that i can only watch. please—"

you ignore the plea. you slide your fingers home. the movement is slow, wet, and direct.

jungwon cries out, a raw, needy sound of agony and pleasure. he squeezes his eyes shut, his hands flying up to grip the back of the passenger seat, his knuckles white. his entire body is shaking.

"don't look away," you command, your voice hard. "i told you to watch me. i want you to see how easy it is for me to get off when you're begging like this."

his eyes snap open, dark and tortured, fixed on your hand. he's breathing in shallow, panicked gasps.

you start to move your hand. slow, focused, relentless. you look down to see him rubbing himself through his boxers, grinning when you see the large wet spot.

seeing your face jungwon takes it as permission to touch himself, freeing himself of the restraints of spandex and allowing his hand to grip himself all while watching your fingers disappear into your cunt.

you watch mesmerized, the moonlight peaking through the window and directly on to the sweaty and whiny mess that was jungwon. your tongue darts out instinctively as you watch him fuck his fist, his thick cock pink as cum dribbles from his tip.

jungwon is completely undone. he starts to make frantic, whiny noises, choked little sounds of desperation that he can't control.

"fuck, fuck, you're so dirty," he manages, his voice thick with tears and lust. "stop—please—i can't—"

you increase the speed, your focus absolute, riding the high, needy energy radiating off him. "you said you'd do anything," you remind him, moving your hips slightly to grind against the top of his head. "now beg me to stop. beg me to let you take over."

he lets out a broken, anguished sob, his composure completely gone. he doesn't know whether to grab you or run. he's completely helpless.

"i'm begging you!" he cries, the sound pathetic and raw. "please, i can't watch, i need to touch you—let me, please—i'll be good, i'll be quiet, just let me use my hands, i'm gonna explode—"

he's panting, shaking, tears streaming down his face as he watches you bring yourself to the brink again. he's utterly destroyed by his own subservience.

you use his breakdown as fuel, focusing entirely on your own pleasure, riding the intensity until the tremors start again.

just as you feel the your high approaching, you snap your head back and issue a final command, your voice rough with impending orgasm. "now, jungwon!"

he lets out a final, agonizing moan, arching his back violently against the seat, his hips slamming forward, eyes rolling back as he loses himself completely, spilling hot, messy release right against his boxer briefs.

you watch his flushed face, streaks of cum painting his hoodie and fist and you wish you could take a picture and have it engraved into you.

the car is silent except for the frantic, ruined sound of both of your gasping breaths. he collapses, his forehead hitting your inner thigh, trembling uncontrollably. he's spent, ruined, and completely gone.

"fuck," he whispers, his voice thick with tears and the sheer, overwhelming mess of his release. "i love you. i love that you did that to me."

his sudden words had you gasping, a deep flush covering you and you couldn't help but murmur the words back as you watched him jitter.

the intensity broke slowly, like a fever finally receding. jungwon slumped against you, his breathing ragged but evening out. the desperation was gone, replaced by bone-deep exhaustion.

he didn't lift his head, just shifted until his cheek was resting against your collarbone, his arms settling around your waist in a loose, purely comforting hold. he was a heavy, dead weight in your lap.

"i'm so sleepy," he mumbled into your shirt, the words muffled and childish.

you ran a gentle hand over the damp hair at the back of his head. "i know. let's go home."

he sighed, a deep, shuddering sound of pure relief. "stay right here."

you didn't respond with words, just kept running your fingers through his hair. he closed his eyes, his breathing growing slow and even against your skin.

you swallow harshly as you begin to peel his grip off of you, attempting to retreat back to the drivers seat so you could drive back home.

after successfully doing so, you hazily pull up your shorts and start the car, glancing at jungwons sleeping form. a soft smile gracing your lips before a pit in your stomach begins to grow.

just as you were about to pull out from the side of the road, your eyes catch a figure sitting 10 feet away from your car on a bench. mouth agape and body tilted, the elderly man seemed completely and utterly shocked at whatever he had witnessed.

well fuck.

The lamp on your nightstand cast a warm, half-orange glow across the room, the kind of light that made everything feel softer and sleepier than it actually was.

You were sprawled on your stomach, knees bent, feet kicking lazily in the air while your highlighter scratched across the pages of your notebook.

Music played low through your earbuds, another practice test. another set of formulas you kept rereading because your brain refused to focus.

It was 9:57 p.m.

You hadn't heard from Jungwon since he texted at eight saying he'd just clocked out.

No "on my way", no meme, no nothing.

Not that it surprised you. he did this sometimes—disappeared into his own world after work, especially on nights when the shift ran long.

A sharp buzz cut through the music.

You paused, pulling one earbud out. the doorbell rang again, impatient.

You sighed, rolling off the bed and tugging down the hem of your oversized sleep shirt.

The pajama shorts rode up your thighs as you slid your feet into fuzzy slippers. "coming" you muttered to yourself, already knowing who it was.

When you opened the door, Jungwon was leaning against the frame like he belonged there.

Gray sweatpants hung low on his hips, black t-shirt slightly damp at the collar from his possible shower. his cheeks were flushed, the tips of his ears redder than usual.

That familiar sweet-sharp scent of alcohol hit you before he even moved.

He smiled—slow, a little crooked, the one that always made your stomach flip even when you were pissed.

"Hi, baby" he said, voice low and warm, already stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

His hand came up gently, palms cupping your cheeks like you were something delicate.

Before you could say anything, he tilted your face up and kissed you. not soft. not careful. the kind of kiss that tasted like decisions he'd made without you.

His body pressed forward, guiding you back until your shoulders met the wall with a quiet thud. one of his hands slid down to your waist, fingers slipping under the hem of your shirt just enough to brush warm skin.

You turned your head, breaking the kiss with a small push against his chest.

"Jungwon… you reek of alcohol" you complained, wrinkling your nose. the sharp, fruity alcohol clung to him even after the shower. "how much did you drink?"

He let out a soft laugh, forehead resting against yours. he didn't pull back. his breath fanned across your lips, warm and sweet.

"Not that much" he murmured. "just enough."

You slipped out from between him and the wall, closing the front door behind him with a click.

The apartment felt smaller with him in it—his presence always did that. you crossed your arms, leaning against the back of your couch.

"I thought you said you were tired after work. that you were just gonna go home and crash."

"I was." he shrugged, kicking off his shoes by the door. his eyes never left you. "then i started thinking about you. and once i start, i can't really stop."

He moved closer again, no concept of personal space tonight.

His fingers found the edge of your shorts, tracing the fabric like it was distracting him. you could see the glaze in his eyes, that hazy focus he got whenever the drinks hit just right.

He always got like this—needy, single-minded, like the entire world narrowed down to whatever part of you he could touch.

"Won, we talked about this" you said, voice quieter now. there was frustration there, but it was already mixing with something warmer, something that made you hate yourself a little. "i told you it bothers me when you show up like this. you said you'd slow down."

He hummed, not really agreeing or disagreeing.

Instead he wrapped his arms around your waist from behind when you tried to step away, chin hooking over your shoulder. his chest pressed against your back, solid and still radiating shower heat.

"I know" he whispered against your neck. "and i'm sorry. my phone died on the way here anyway. couldn't even text you i was coming."

His lips brushed your skin—light, almost innocent, except for the way his hand slowly slid up your stomach under your shirt. "missed you too much tonight. work was fucking long. all i kept thinking about was coming here… seeing you like this."

You exhaled sharply, trying to ignore how good his voice sounded when it dropped like that. "that's not fair. you can't just ignore what i say because you're drunk and horny."

"I'm not drunk" he protested softly, but the way he nuzzled into your neck said otherwise. "just… had a couple. enough to know i needed to see my girl."

His fingers traced lazy circles on your skin, suggestive but not demanding. not yet. "you're studying late again?"

You nodded, glancing toward your bedroom door. the orange lamp was still glowing in there like a beacon. "yeah. practice tests. i've got that big entrance exam coming up."

He made a sympathetic noise, but you could tell half his brain wasn't really listening.

The other half was busy pressing closer, hips shifting against you in a way that felt too intentional. his grip tightened just a fraction.

"You work so hard" he murmured. "proud of you. come here."

He turned you in his arms again, backing you gently toward the couch.

You let him—because saying no to Jungwon when he was like this was harder than it should've been.

He dropped down first, pulling you into his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. his hands settled on your thighs, thumbs stroking the bare skin just under the hem of your shorts.

"Jungwon" you started, trying to keep your tone steady. "i'm serious. this thing with you drinking after work… it's getting old. i worry about you. and then you show up like this and it feels like you don't even hear me.”

He looked up at you, dark eyes softer now, almost pleading in that cat-like way he had. one hand came up to tuck your hair behind your ear.

"I do hear you" he said quietly. "i'm trying, baby. today was just… rough. needed something to take the edge off. but i'm here now. with you. that's what matters, right?"

You wanted to argue. you wanted to push him off and tell him that no, that wasn't what mattered—that his habit was starting to scare you a little, that the smell of beer on his breath made your chest tight.

But he was looking at you like you were the only thing that existed tonight. his fingers kept moving, slow and soothing on your thighs, and his other hand rested possessively at the small of your back.

"You're annoying" you muttered, but there was no real heat left in it.

He grinned, that playful, slightly tipsy smile breaking through. "yeah? still letting me stay though."

You rolled your eyes, but your hands had already found his shoulders, fingers curling into the soft fabric of his shirt.

He smelled like beer and his usual clean soap, a stupidly intoxicating mix. when he leaned in again, slower this time, you didn't stop him.

The kiss was deeper, lazier. his tongue brushed yours and you tasted the faint sweetness of the alcohol he'd had. it should've turned you off.

It didn't.

When he pulled back, his lips were shiny, breathing a little heavier.

"Missed this" he whispered. "missed you all fucking day."

You sat there in his lap, heart beating too fast, part of you was still annoyed—really annoyed—that he'd done it again.

That he'd brushed off your concerns with that soft voice and those gentle hands like he always did. but another, louder part was already melting into him, letting his warmth chase away the lonely quiet of your apartment.

"Stay the night?" he asked, voice low against your ear. his fingers slipped just a little higher on your thighs, teasing the line where skin met fabric.

Not pushing, just… reminding you he was here. solid. needy. yours.

You sighed, pressing your forehead to his.

"Yeah" you said finally. "but we're talking about this tomorrow. for real."

"Mhm" he hummed, already kissing the corner of your mouth. "tomorrow."

You knew he probably wouldn't bring it up first.

He never did.

But right now, with his hands on you and his attention wrapped completely around you like this, it was hard to care as much as you should.

You stayed in his lap for a long minute, the weight of his hands on your thighs keeping you anchored.

The beer on his breath mixed with the scent of his skin, was annoyingly comforting.

Eventually you shifted, pressing your palms to his chest to create a little space.

"You want something to eat?" you asked, voice still soft. "i have ramyeon or i can make you toast or something. you probably haven't eaten since work."

Jungwon shook his head slowly, eyes half-lidded as his fingers traced lazy lines up and down the sides of your thighs. his touch stayed light, but it was constant, like he couldn't help himself.

"Not hungry"he murmured. "no appetite right now." his hands slid higher, slipping under the hem of your sleep shorts to squeeze the soft skin there. "just want you."

You let out a quiet breath, trying not to react too obviously. he leaned in closer, lips brushing the shell of your ear.

"I want to do it" he whispered, low and rough, the words warm against your skin.

Your stomach tightened. you sighed, half-frustrated, half-something else entirely.

"Jungwon… the last time we did it here, Mrs. Park from next door literally banged on the wall. she complained about the 'noise' for like three days after."

He let out a soft, amused chuckle against your neck, the sound vibrating through you. his fingers kept stroking your thighs, thumbs pressing in slow circles.

"Mrs. Park?" he smirked, pulling back just enough to meet your eyes. "she's probably pissed because she hasn't had dick in decades."

You smacked his chest lightly, trying not to laugh. "you're awful."

"What? it's true." his grin was playful, a little mean in that tipsy way. "but fine. if you're worried, you can bury your face in the pillows this time. or i can cover your mouth for you." his voice dropped lower. "i don't mind. i like when you're loud, but i can be good."

You exhaled sharply, shifting in his lap. the way he said it so casually, so confident, made heat crawl up your neck.

"Stop..." you said, trying to hold onto the frustration that was quickly slipping away. "showing up drunk and looking for sex every time you miss me. it's not fair, Won. i told you it bothers me."

His expression softened immediately.

The playful smirk faded into something gentler, almost vulnerable. he wrapped both arms around your waist and pulled you closer until your chest pressed against his.

One hand rubbed slow circles on your back under your shirt, the other resting high on your thigh again, fingers brushing dangerously close to the edge of your shorts.

"Baby" he murmured right against your ear, voice low and soothing. "that's not what this is. i would never come here just for that. you know me better than that."

He kissed the spot just below your ear, soft and lingering. "i haven't seen you since yesterday. all day at work i kept thinking about you. how quiet it gets when you're not around. i just… i need you. need your attention. need you to look at me like this."

His hand on your back slipped higher, tracing your spine with gentle fingertips.

The touch was intimate, almost tender. you felt yourself leaning into him without meaning to.

"I miss my girl" he continued, murmuring softly, lips brushing your skin with every word. "not just your body. i miss your voice, the way you laugh at my stupid jokes, the way you get all focused when you're studying. i just want to be close to you tonight. is that so bad?"

You swallowed hard. the guilt crept in even though you knew you weren't the one who'd been drinking. his voice was so convincing, so sweet and a little sad, that the anger you'd felt earlier started dissolving.

"I know you’re trying to study" he added, still stroking your back in that slow, hypnotic rhythm. "i can help you. i'll be your tutor for the night. we can go over your notes together." he smiled against your neck.

"And in return… you just have to kiss me. a lot. non-stop, actually."

You let out a breathy laugh despite yourself. "that's not really a fair trade."

"It is" he insisted, pulling back to look at you with those dark, slightly glassy eyes. his hand squeezed your thigh gently. "because i'm a really good tutor. and i'm very motivated tonight."

You could feel the tension humming between you—the way his body stayed warm and solid under yours, the way he kept touching you like he needed the contact to breathe.

Part of you still knew this was the same pattern: he drank, he got needy, he showed up, he smoothed over your worries with that soft voice and those careful hands.

But right now, with him looking at you like you were the only thing that mattered in his entire day, it was hard to push him away.

"Jungwon…" you started, but it came out weaker than you wanted.

He kissed the corner of your mouth, then your jaw, then back to your ear.

"Just let me stay close to you" he whispered. "please, baby. i'll behave..."

His fingers traced higher on your thigh again, teasing but not crossing any lines yet.

You knew you'd probably regret not pushing harder on the drinking thing tomorrow. but tonight? tonight it was getting harder and harder to remember why you were supposed to be mad.

You finally gave in with a small nod. "fine. but we're actually studying for a bit first"

Jungwon's eyes lit up like you'd just promised him the world.

He followed you down the short hallway to your bedroom, his hand resting low on your back the entire way, fingers occasionally slipping under the hem of your sleep shirt to brush bare skin.

You moved quickly, pulling the curtains shut tight, then pushed some notebooks aside to make room on the bed.

You climbed onto the mattress first, settling with your back against the headboard and pulling your laptop onto your thighs.

Jungwon dropped down right beside you, close enough that his thigh pressed against yours and his arm draped behind your shoulders.

"So" he said, voice low and interested, tilting his head toward the screen. "what's this for?"

"It's for my extracurricular p.e academy" you explained, opening the slideshow. "we have to do a very basic presentation on bones and muscles. how they work together, common injuries, basic anatomy stuff."

Jungwon nodded, genuinely attentive even with the alcohol haze in his eyes. "that's actually cool. i admire the hell out of you for still grinding like this when vacation's basically here. most people would've checked out already."

You shrugged, a little embarrassed by the praise. "the presentation itself is pretty much done. i just need to memorize the flow and not sound like a robot when i'm up there."

"Easy" he said confidently, scooting even closer until his chin almost rested on your shoulder. "i got you. let's go through it."

For the next twenty minutes or so, he actually helped. he listened while you ran through the main sections, then started quizzing you gently on the bone groups—nothing too intense, just the basics. "carpals… tarsals… what about the femur again?"

His voice was calm and patient, the same tone he used when he was completely focused on something he cared about. every time you got one right, his hand would reward you with a slow stroke down your arm or a gentle squeeze on your thigh.

But after a while the boredom crept in. you leaned your head back against the headboard and let out an exaggerated groan.

"Ughhh, it's so easy on paper but it feels boring as fuck when i have to say it out loud" you complained sarcastically, rubbing your temples. "i think i'm getting a stress headache just looking at these slides."

Jungwon watched you for a second, then reached over and gently closed the laptop.

He set it on the nightstand without a word, his movements smooth and deliberate. the sudden lack of the screen's blue light made the orange lamp feel even more intimate, softer.

"You look stressed" he murmured, turning toward you fully. one hand came up to cup the side of your neck, thumb brushing your jaw. "way too tense for this late at night."

You sighed, the sound heavier than you meant it to be. "maybe because someone showed up tipsy and keeps distracting me…"

He laughed quietly, the sound warm and a little raspy. without warning, he dipped his head and buried his face in the crook of your neck.

His lips brushed the sensitive skin there once, teasing, before he opened his mouth and started sucking—slow, deliberate pulls that sent little sparks down your spine.

You could feel the faint scrape of his teeth, the wet heat of his tongue as he worked on a spot that would definitely leave a mark tomorrow.

Your hand flew to his hair, fingers threading through the soft dark strands. you didn't pull, just held on, gripping lightly as your breathing changed.

"Jungwon…" you breathed.

He hummed against your neck, sucking a little harder before switching to a new spot just below the first. his free hand slid up your thigh again, higher this time, fingertips slipping under the edge of your pajama shorts but stopping just short of anything more.

"When Mrs. Park starts banging on the wall" you managed, voice shaky with a mix of amusement and heat, "you're the one explaining the noise. not me."

Jungwon pulled back just enough to look at you, lips shiny and curved into a lazy smirk.

His eyes were darker now, pupils blown wide. "don't worry about her" he whispered, voice low and rough. "i'll keep you quiet."

The way he said it hit you right in the gut. you literally felt your stomach flip, a deep warmth pooling low in your belly as your thighs pressed together on instinct.

The casual promise in his tone made your whole body react, a sharp throb of anticipation that made you shift on the sheets.

He noticed, of course. he always noticed.

"Yeah?" he asked softly, reading your face like a book. his hand on your thigh squeezed, thumb stroking dangerously close to where you were starting to ache. "you like that idea?"

You didn't answer right away, just tightened your grip in his hair. he took it as encouragement and leaned back in, kissing and sucking down the side of your neck while his other hand slipped under your sleep shirt.

His palm was warm against your stomach, sliding up slowly until his fingers brushed the underside of your bra. he didn't go further, just traced the edge, teasing.

The room felt smaller.

His damp hair, the flush still visible on his ears and cheeks, the way his gray sweatpants were starting to look tighter. you could feel how hard he was against your leg, but he wasn't rushing. he was savoring this, drawing it out on purpose.

"You're so pretty when you're trying to focus" he murmured against your collarbone, pressing a wet kiss there. "but i like you better like this… all soft and needy for me."

"I'm not needy" you protested weakly, even as your back arched a little into his touch.

Jungwon chuckled, the sound vibrating against your skin. "sure you're not."

His fingers kept exploring—light, feather-soft touches that promised more but never quite delivered. he nipped at your neck again, then soothed the spot with his tongue. "but you're letting me mark you up anyway. and you're not stopping me."

You tugged his hair gently, pulling him up so you could look at him.

His lips were red, eyes glassy with want and alcohol, but the way he stared at you felt heavier than just the beer. like he really had been thinking about you all day.

Like being here, touching you, was the only thing that mattered.

Still, that small knot of frustration lingered in your chest.

"You always do this" you said quietly, the words slipping out before you could hold them back. "drink, then show up, then make me forget why i was annoyed."

Jungwon's expression softened again. he leaned in and kissed you properly this time—slow, deep. when he pulled away, his forehead rested against yours.

"I know" he whispered. "i'm sorry, baby. i just… needed you tonight. all of you." his hand stroked your side soothingly. "let me make you feel good. we can go slow. i'll keep you quiet." he smiled against your lips.

"Whatever you need."

Your heart hammered.

His fingers kept moving—tracing your ribs, your hip, the waistband of your shorts—building that slow, aching tension without ever crossing the line you hadn't given him permission for yet.

The apartment was quiet except for your shared breathing and the faint city noise outside the closed curtains. Mrs. Park was probably already in bed.

Your notes were forgotten. the only thing that existed right now was Jungwon's warm body pressed against yours, his mouth on your neck, and the heavy promise of what he wanted to do to you.

He kissed you again, slower this time, like he had all night.

And you let him.

You pulled away from his mouth just long enough to stand up, legs a little unsteady. his eyes on you.

Jungwon seated on the edge of the bed, watching you with that heavy, half-lidded gaze as you crossed the room and clicked the bedroom door shut.

The soft snick of the lock felt louder than it should have.

You turned around and walked straight to him and swung a leg over his lap, straddling him properly.

The second your bodies aligned, his hands found your waist, pulling you down against him as your mouths crashed together again.

This kiss was different—deeper, messier, hungry.

His lips were soft but insistent, parting yours instantly so his tongue could slide in, hot and tasting faintly of alcohol. he kissed like he'd been thinking about it for hours: slow, filthy strokes of tongue, gentle sucks on your bottom lip, then deeper again, tilting his head to get a better angle.

Wet sounds filled the quiet room—soft clicks and low hums as saliva slicked between your mouths.

You could feel him breathing harder through his nose, his chest rising against yours while his hands roamed your waist, hips, and up your back under your shirt, fingertips pressing into bare skin like he needed to memorize every inch.

You gripped his hair tighter, almost desperately now, tugging the soft strands as you rolled your hips once against the hardness growing beneath you.

Jungwon let out a quiet, needy sound into your mouth, something between a whine and a groan, his fingers digging harder into your hips.

After what felt like forever—tongues tangled, lips swollen, breaths shared—you finally broke the kiss, a thin string of saliva connecting you for a second before it broke.

Without asking, your hands dropped to the waistband of his sweatpants, tugging them down impatiently along with his boxers just enough to free him.

Jungwon let out a breathy laugh, forehead resting against yours. "thought you didn't want to do this while i'm tipsy."

"Shut up before i change my mind" you muttered, voice already hoarse.

He didn't argue. in one smooth motion he reached back and yanked his black t-shirt over his head, tossing it somewhere on the floor.

You pushed his pants and boxers lower, eyes dropping shamelessly to drink him in—his toned chest and abs, the sharp V-lines disappearing downward, and his cock, hard and flushed, resting heavy against his lower stomach.

You leaned in and bit down on his collarbone, not too hard but enough to make him hiss and whine softly under you, hips twitching up.

"Fuck—baby…"

Jungwon's hands moved with surprising gentleness despite the hunger in his eyes. he helped you out of your sleep shirt, then unhooked your bra with practiced fingers, sliding the straps down your arms.

His gaze softened with that familiar warmth as he looked at you—real affection mixed with raw want. he hooked his thumbs into your pajama shorts, pulling it down your legs.

When the fabric caught at your knees, he helped ease them the rest of the way off.

His eyes caught on your panties. a small, genuine smile broke through the lust.

"Are those new?" he asked, voice low and amused. "never seen you wear ones with little pinky bows before. if this was my early christmas present, i'm fucking lucky."

You huffed a laugh and turned around in his lap instead of answering, settling back against his chest.

You braced your feet on the cool floor, your ass nestled directly over his cock, grinding slowly back against him in a slow, teasing roll.

The position let you feel every inch of him—hot, hard, and throbbing—pressed between your cheeks while you moved.

Jungwon groaned quietly, the sound turning into a soft whine as his hands returned to your waist. his long, pretty fingers stroked up and down your sides and back, caressing your skin with reverence.

He didn't grab or rush. he just touched—tracing your spine, squeezing your hips, running his palms over the curve of your ass while you kept that lazy, sensual grind going.

Every roll of your hips made his cock slide against your wetness, coating him.

"You're so beautiful..." he whispered against your shoulder, pressing open-mouthed kisses there. "look at you…"

The grinding stretched on, slow and torturous.

Your breathing grew heavier, the slick sounds of skin against skin filling the room.

Jungwon's hands never stopped moving—gentle on your waist, occasionally brushing higher to cup your breasts lightly, thumbs grazing your nipples without fully focusing there yet. he was letting you set the pace, even as his cock twitched and leaked against you.

After several long minutes, his voice came out rough near your ear.

"You ready, baby?"

You turned your head just enough to look back at him, flashing a playful, wicked little smile. Jungwon let out a soft laugh, the sound melting into another needy whine as you shifted.

He reached between you, fingers carefully sliding your panties to the side without taking them off. the head of his cock nudged against your entrance, slipping easily through your folds. he groaned low.

"Baby… you're so creamy already" he murmured, voice thick with want. "all this for me?"

His hands settled firmly on your waist. you took a slow breath and began sinking down onto him, inch by inch, the stretch burning so good.

Both of you moaned quietly—his a soft, broken whine, yours more breathy—as you took him all the way until your ass was flush against his lap.

He filled you completely, pressing right against that spot that made your toes curl against the cold floor.

"Easy"Jungwon whispered, kissing your shoulder. "don't hurt yourself, okay? go slow."

You started moving—lifting up and sinking back down in steady, deep strokes, still facing away from him.

The angle was perfect; every downward motion dragged him against every sensitive part inside you. Jungwon wrapped his arms around your body, pulling your back flush against his chest.

One arm banded across your stomach, the other hand moving up to knead and tease your breasts, rolling your nipples between his fingers exactly how you liked.

"Touch me more" you breathed, voice shaky. "i want your hands all over me."

He obeyed instantly, like he'd been waiting for permission. one hand stayed on your chest, pinching and soothing, while the other slid down between your legs, fingers finding your clit with practiced ease.

His hips rocked up to meet yours, not thrusting hard but matching your rhythm so every movement hit deeper.

"That's it" he murmured, lips against your neck. "just like that, baby. you feel so good… so fucking tight and warm around me."

He kept talking in that low, quiet way—mostly soft instructions, mixed with those pretty little whines every time you clenched around him.

"You're doing so well… look at you taking all of me." his fingers circled your clit faster, the other hand squeezing your breast as he sucked another mark into your shoulder.

The position kept you completely full, every roll and bounce stimulating you from the inside while his hands worked your body from the outside.

Sweat was already starting to slick your skin where you pressed together. Jungwon's breathing was ragged against your ear, but he never rushed.

He just held you close, fucking you deep and steady, giving you everything you asked for while finally getting what he'd been craving since he showed up at your door.

The bedroom felt alive with sound.

Wet, filthy noises filled the air every time you sank down onto him — the slick, creamy sounds of your pussy taking every inch of Jungwon's cock.

You were soaked, embarrassingly so, and the way he stretched you left no room for anything else.

Each roll of your hips made an obscene squelch as he rubbed against your walls, the head of his dick kissing deep, right up against your cervix.

You leaned forward slowly, hands bracing on his thighs, chasing a deeper angle. the change made him slide against a new spot that had your toes curling against the cold floor.

Jungwon groaned, low and needy. his hands slid up your arms, fingers wrapping around your wrists for a moment before he tugged you back hard against him.

The sudden pull forced you down fully onto his cock, burying him to the hilt in one smooth motion.

"Ah—fuck" you moaned, biting your lip hard to try and stay quiet. it didn't work. the sound slipped out anyway, needy and broken.

"Shhh, baby… i know" Jungwon whispered right against your ear, voice sweet and raspy, laced with a whine. "you're taking me so deep like this. feel so fucking good squeezing around me."

He rocked up into you, grinding rather than thrusting, letting you feel every thick inch.

Your head falling back against his shoulder. "right there—… don't stop."

Jungwon let out a soft, pretty whine, the sound vibrating against your back. "yeah? you like it when i'm this deep?"

He kissed the side of your neck, sucking lightly while his hips kept that steady, filthy rhythm. "you're doing so well for me... but we're just getting started, okay? hold on for me."

The slap of skin on skin grew louder, wetter.

Every time your ass met his lap it made a messy sound, your arousal coating his cock and dripping down onto his balls. you tried to keep riding him properly, but your legs started burning, movements turning sloppy and desperate.

Jungwon noticed immediately.

Without warning, he wrapped an arm around your waist and lifted you off him carefully but quickly.

You whimpered at the emptiness, but he was already guiding you down onto the bed on your back.

He settled between your spread legs, hovering over you. his larger frame covered yours as he caught both your wrists in one of his big hands and pinned them above your head against the mattress.

He looked down at you, eyes dark and glassy from the lust, but still so full of that soft affection that was so distinctly him.

"Gonna take care of you like this now" he murmured.

He reached down with his free hand, rubbing the swollen head of his cock against your clit in slow circles, teasing until you squirmed.

Then he lined himself up and pushed back inside in one smooth thrust, burying himself completely. the new angle made you arch off the bed with a choked moan.

Jungwon started fucking you again — fast and deep, hips snapping forward with precision. each thrust punched the air out of your lungs and made the wet sounds even louder in the quiet room.

He watched your face the entire time, eyes drinking in the way your brows furrowed and your lips parted with every stroke.

"… Look at you" he breathed, voice breaking into another whine as he drove deeper. "so pretty when you're getting fucked like this."

You moaned louder than you meant to. he quickly slipped two fingers from his free hand into your mouth, pressing down on your tongue gently.

"Suck." he whispered, voice sweet even as he kept pounding into you. "stay quiet for me, baby. just for a little longer.",

You obeyed, sucking on his fingers while he fucked you harder, the bed starting to creak softly beneath you. his whines grew a little louder, more frequent — those needy, breathy sounds that always slipped out when he felt really good.

He was trying to be quiet too, but the way your pussy clenched around him made it impossible.

After a few minutes he released your wrists, leaning down until his chest pressed flush against yours.

He buried his face in your neck, still thrusting deep and steady, now with more force. the new closeness let him grind against your clit with every stroke.

"Feels too good" he whined softly into your skin, voice yearning and desperate. "you're so warm… so tight. i can't get enough of you."

His hands roamed your body lovingly — stroking your sides, cupping your breasts, thumbs brushing over your nipples. never rough, always affectionate even while he fucked you senseless.

You couldn't help it. your arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as pleasure shot through you. your nails dragged down his back without meaning to, leaving red lines across his skin.

Jungwon moaned loudly into your neck — a broken, needy sound that made your stomach flip.

"Shit—baby" he gasped, hips stuttering for a second before he recovered, fucking you even deeper. "scratch me more if you need to… i like it. want to feel you."

You moaned directly into his ear, lips brushing the shell as your nails dug in again.

He whined again, louder this time, hips snapping harder. "yeah? right here?" he angled his hips and thrust up sharply, making sure the head of his cock dragged against that spot inside you.

"Love hearing you like this. love being inside you… like this is exactly where i belong."

The room was filled with everything — the wet slap of his hips meeting yours, the creak of the bed, your muffled moans and his pretty whines, the sound of his cock sliding in and out of your creamy pussy.

Sweat slicked between your bodies. his hair stuck to his forehead, ears still red from the alcohol and exertion.

He kept talking between gasps and soft moans, voice low and intimate.

You dragged your nails down his back again, moaning his name against his ear. Jungwon shuddered, letting out another long, whiny groan as he buried himself to the hilt and stayed there for a moment, grinding slow and deep.

"Don't stop" you begged breathlessly. "please, Won…"

"I won't" he promised, kissing your neck, your jaw, anywhere he could reach while still moving inside you. "not until you're shaking. not until you can't think about anything but me."

His hands never stopped caressing you— gentle strokes over your ribs, your waist, your breasts, like he was worshipping you even while he fucked you raw.

The contrast between his sweet touches and the way his cock kept stretching you open made your head spin.

Jungwon's whines mixed with your moans as he kept that steady, deep rhythm.

Jungwon's moans were getting prettier, more unguarded. those soft, breathy whines that slipped out every time he bottomed out inside you — cute little sounds that made your stomach tighten even more.

He readjusted carefully, pushing your thighs up until your knees were pressed to your chest, folding you neatly beneath him.

The new angle made everything feel impossibly tighter. your pussy clenched hard around his cock, squeezing him like it never wanted to let go.

"Fuck… baby" he whined low, the sound almost like a sweet complaint, filthy and needy at the same time. "you're gripping me so fucking tight."

He kept his voice hushed but raw, hips rolling steadily as he fucked you in this folded position. every thrust dragged against that perfect spot, the wet squelching sounds even louder now because of how soaked you were.

His cock bullied its way in and out, creamy arousal coating him completely and dripping down your ass onto the sheets.

You held your own legs against your chest, arms wrapped around your thighs to keep them open for him. the position left you completely exposed, helpless to do anything but take every deep stroke.

"Ah—Won… it's too much" you gasped, voice breaking. "feels so deep… i can't—"

"You can" he murmured, voice soft and raspy, that signature Jungwon tone — gentle even while he was buried balls-deep inside you. "you're doing so good for me." he groaned again, a pretty, whiny sound that vibrated against your skin as he leaned closer.

He was driving you right to the edge. yhat familiar pressure built low in your belly — the tight, heavy ache that made your toes curl and your thighs tremble.

It felt like you needed to go to the bathroom and like the pleasure was about to explode at the same time. your whole lower body tightened, clit throbbing, walls fluttering wildly around his cock.

Jungwon noticed immediately. his dark eyes flicked up to your face, reading every twitch and moan.

"Yeah? you're close, aren't you?" he whispered, picking up the pace.

His hips snapped faster, still deep but more insistent now, chasing your orgasm. "come on, baby. let go for me."

"I'm— fuck, Won, i'm gonna—" your voice cracked into a sharp, needy cry as the orgasm crashed over you. you couldn't hold it back.

A broken moan tore from your throat as you squirted hard, soaking his cock, his pelvis, and the sheets beneath you.

Your body shook, pussy clenching rhythmically around him while waves of intense pleasure rolled through you.

Jungwon pulled out quickly but gently, replacing his cock with two fingers that kept rubbing your clit in fast, tight circles. "that's it… good girl. keep going, let it all out" he cooed softly, voice full of sweet encouragement while prolonging your orgasm.

You kept gushing, thighs trembling violently as another smaller spurt left you.

He stroked himself between your spread legs, hand flying over his slick cock. his breathing grew ragged, pretty whines turning into desperate little sounds.

"Baby— i'm close too" he gasped.

When he came, it was with a gorgeous, broken moan — that signature soft, slightly husky voice cracking into a high, needy whine that melted into a deep, satisfied groan. "ahh—shit… mmh—"

The sound was divine, the kind of moan that made your core clench even after your orgasm.

Thick, warm ropes of cum landed across your stomach and lower chest, some even reaching the underside of your breasts.

He kept stroking himself through it, milking every drop while watching the mess he made on your skin.

For a moment the room was just heavy breathing and the faint wet sounds of his hand slowing on his cock.

But Jungwon didn't collapse on top of you. he stayed present, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to your forehead, then your cheek, then your lips.

"You did so well" he whispered, voice soft and full of affection. "so fucking beautiful when you cum like that. i love watching you lose it for me."

He brushed damp strands of hair away from your face, eyes warm despite the alcohol still lingering in his system. "you okay, baby? that was a lot."

You nodded weakly, still catching your breath. "yeah… really good."

He smiled that cat-like smile and carefully climbed off the bed. "stay right there. don't move."

Jungwon walked over to your dresser, completely comfortable being with his dick out, and grabbed a couple of clean cloths from the drawer.

He came back and sat on the edge of the bed, gently wiping his cum off your stomach and chest with slow, tender strokes.

"Does that feel okay?" he asked quietly.

"It's fine" you murmured, watching him through half-lidded eyes.

When you were mostly clean, he leaned down and kissed your stomach softly. "want me to carry you to the bathroom?"

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. Jungwon pulled his boxers and gray sweatpants back on but left his shirt off, the faint red lines from your nails visible across his back and shoulders.

He slid his arms under you effortlessly —one under your knees, the other behind your back— and lifted you princess-style like you weighed nothing.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, burying your face in his shoulder as he carried you to the bathroom. the cool air of the hallway made you shiver slightly against his warm chest.

He set you down gently on the toilet, making sure you were stable before stepping back a little.

"i'll go change the sheets while you're in here" he said, voice low and intimate, like he was sharing a secret. "where are the extra ones again?"

"Bottom drawer of the big dresser" you answered, sighing as you finally relaxed enough to pee. the relief was immediate after how intense everything had been.

"Got it." he leaned down and kissed the top of your head. "take your time, baby. i'll have everything ready when you come out."

While he was gone, you finished up and stood on slightly shaky legs. you turned to the mirror and froze, eyes widening.

Your neck and shoulders were covered in marks.

Dark hickeys bloomed across your skin — some light pink, others deep red and purplish. there were clear bite marks mixed in, especially near your collarbones.

It looked like you'd been attacked by a very affectionate vampire.

You didn't scream or panic, but your mouth fell open in genuine surprise. "holy shit…" you whispered to your reflection, turning your head to see the damage from different angles. there was no way you'd be able to hide all of these tomorrow.

Jungwon's voice floated from the bedroom. "everything okay in there?"

"Yeah" you called back, still staring at the constellation of love bites. "just… realizing how fucked my neck looks right now."

He laughed softly, the sound warm.

You could hear him shaking out fresh sheets. "sorry, baby. i got a little carried away. but you looked so pretty with my mouth on you… couldn't help it."

You shook your head, a reluctant smile forming as you washed your hands. when you walked back into the bedroom, the bed was already made with clean sheets, the old ones stuffed in your laundry hamper.

Jungwon stood there shirtless, sweatpants hanging low on his hips, looking ridiculously soft after everything you'd just done.

He opened his arms for you. "come here."

You walked straight into them. he hugged you close, one hand rubbing slow circles on your bare back while the other stroked your hair.

"You were amazing tonight" he murmured against your temple.

"I needed you so bad… thank you for letting me come over even though i showed up tipsy again." his voice dropped a little, almost shy. "i know you don't like it. i'll try to be better tomorrow, okay? but right now i just wanna hold you.”

You pressed your cheek to his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowing down.

The faint smell of beer was still there, mixed with sweat and his usual scent. the mix of annoyance and affection you always felt toward him swirled in your chest, but the gentle way he touched you, the sweet words, the way he took care of everything without being asked —made it hard to stay mad.

"You're lucky you're cute when you whine" you muttered.

Jungwon chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. he tilted your chin up and kissed you softly, no hunger this time, just warmth.

"Stay with me tonight?" he asked, even though you were already in your own apartment. "i'll make sure you're okay in the morning. we can even go over your presentation again if you want… after i make you breakfast or something."

You rolled your eyes but nodded, letting him pull you back toward the freshly made bed.

The city outside was quiet. and despite the marks on your neck and the lingering frustration about his drinking, you let him wrap himself around you under the clean sheets — because no matter how many times this pattern repeated, Jungwon's version of "i missed you" always hit different.

Soft, pale morning light slipped through the gaps in your curtains, painting the room in gentle hues of cream and gold.

It was still early — the kind of quiet morning where the city outside hadn't fully woken up yet. you had been lost in a hazy, warm dream, something fuzzy and pleasant that involved sunlight and laughter, when a persistent pressure low in your belly started pulling you back to consciousness.

At first, you thought it was just the need to pee. your eyes fluttered open slowly, lashes heavy with sleep, a small tired groan escaping your lips as you shifted under the sheets.

You had fallen asleep completely naked last night, too exhausted and satisfied to bother with clothes after Jungwon changed the sheets.

The fabric felt cool against your bare skin, and for a second you just lay there, blinking at the ceiling.

The pressure didn't fade. if anything, it grew warmer, wetter, more focused.

Then you felt it — the slow, deliberate drag of a hot tongue between your folds.

Your breath hitched sharply.

"Jungwon…?—" The name came out breathy, half-moan, half-question.

He was settled comfortably between your spread thighs like he'd been there for a while, your legs draped lazily over his shoulders.

His hands gripped the soft flesh of your thighs, holding you open while his face was buried in your pussy. his tongue moved in slow, filthy strokes— licking from your entrance all the way up to your clit before swirling around it with obscene patience.

The wet, slick sounds of his mouth filled the quiet bedroom immediately.

He hummed against you, the vibration shooting straight through your core.

"Morning, baby" he murmured, voice still raspy from sleep and last night's drinking, that signature soft, slightly husky tone that always hit you right in the chest.

He gave your clit a slow, wet suck before pulling back just enough to speak, lips glistening. "couldn't help it. you looked so peaceful… but your pussy was already a little wet. had to taste you."

"Fuck— what are you doing?" you moaned, hips twitching involuntarily as his tongue dove back in, licking deeper, more messily. "Won… it's too early for this—"

He chuckled softly against your folds, the sound turning into a needy little whine as he buried his tongue inside you, fucking it in and out slowly.

"Waking you up the right way" he answered, words muffled and dirty. "you're my favorite breakfast. so sweet and warm right after sleeping… fuck, you're getting creamy again already."

Your hand flew down instinctively, fingers threading through his soft dark hair. the sensitivity from last night's marathon made every single touch feel electric.

Your clit was swollen and tender, and every flick of his tongue sent sharp sparks of overwhelming pleasure shooting up your spine.

"Jungwon—shit, i feel like i'm gonna soak everything" you gasped, back arching slightly off the mattress. "we just changed the sheets last night… i don't have more backups right now—"

"Don't worry about it" he whispered, sucking gently on your clit before lapping at it faster. his tongue was relentless, sloppy and eager, coating his chin and lips in your arousal. "i'll take care of the mess. i always do. just let me eat you, baby. please?"

The plea in his voice — soft, almost whiny — made your stomach flutter. he was being so filthy with his mouth but still so sweet, eyes closed in bliss as he devoured you like he'd been starving for it.

The room quickly filled with wet, pornographic sounds: the constant slick slide of his tongue, the soft suction of his lips around your clit, your own shaky moans growing louder despite your best efforts to stay quiet.

Your back curved sharply off the bed as he hit a particularly sensitive spot. "ah—Jungwon!" your grip in his hair tightened, not pulling him away but holding on for dear life.

"It's too much… my clit's so sensitive from last night—fuck, slow down—"

But he didn't slow down. if anything, he pressed his face deeper, nose brushing against your mound as he licked and sucked with renewed hunger.

Long, lewd strokes of his tongue mixed with quick flicks that made your thighs tremble around his head. you could feel yourself getting wetter, that creamy arousal leaking out of you and onto his tongue.

"You're so fucking pretty when you're like this" he groaned against you, voice vibrating deliciously.

He pulled back for a breath, eyes looking up at you with that hazy, adoring gaze — pupils blown wide, ears still slightly pink. "all sleepy and red… moaning my name like that. makes me so hard, baby."

You whimpered, legs shaking as he dove back in. the overstimulation was intense. every single touch felt like too much and not enough at the same time.

Your free hand moved to your chest, squeezing one of your breasts, pinching your nipple as another broken moan left you.

"Won… please, i can't— it's too intense' you begged, voice cracking.

Your hips rolled against his mouth despite your words, chasing the pleasure even as it bordered on overwhelming. "i'm gonna cum too fast if you keep doing that—"

"Good" he whined softly, the sound so pretty and desperate. "want you to cum on my tongue. want to feel you gush for me again." he slid two long fingers into your soaked entrance without warning, curling them instantly against your g-spot while his tongue attacked your clit in tight, fast circles.

The wet squelching sounds grew louder, filthier.

His fingers pumped steadily, perfectly in sync with his mouth. you were dripping down his hand, creamy arousal coating his fingers.

"Jungwon—oh my god" you moaned loudly, head falling back against the pillow. your back arched completely off the bed, thighs clamping around his head as the pressure built impossibly fast. "like that—fuck, don't stop—"

He moaned into your pussy, the vibrations pushing you closer. "that's it, baby. let go. you're squeezing my fingers so tight… so perfect. cum for me. please, i need it."

Your hand tightened in his hair, the other still groping your breast, rolling your nipple between your fingers.

The combination of his tongue on your oversensitive clit and his fingers hitting that perfect spot inside you was devastating. you felt that familiar overwhelming rush — the tight, heavy pressure that made you feel like you were about to burst.

"I'm— fuck, Won, i'm gonna—"

He sucked harder on your clit, fingers curling faster, and that was all it took.

Your orgasm hit you like a wave, violent and all-consuming.

A sharp, pornographic moan tore from your throat as your pussy clenched rhythmically around his fingers, gushing wetly against his tongue.

Your entire body shook, back lifted high off the mattress, thighs trembling uncontrollably around his head. he didn't stop — he kept licking and sucking gently, prolonging every aftershock while moaning sweetly against your folds, drinking down everything you gave him.

"Fuck… so good" he whispered, voice hoarse and satisfied. "taste so fucking good when you cum."

You were still panting, body twitching with sensitivity, when he finally slowed down. but he didn't pull away completely.

He kept his fingers buried inside you, giving lazy thrusts while his tongue gave soft, soothing licks around your clit, careful not to overwhelm you too much now.

"Look at you" he murmured lovingly, pressing a kiss to your inner thigh. "all flushed and pretty in the morning light. my beautiful girl."

You let out a breathless laugh mixed with a whimper, eyes half-closed as you tried to catch your breath.

The sensitivity made every small movement of his fingers feel electric.

"Jungwon… you're insane" you managed, voice shaky. "waking me up like this…"

He smiled against your skin, that playful, cat-like grin you loved and hated at the same time.

"Couldn’t resist. you were right there, naked and warm… smelled like sex and me. had to have a taste." he curled his fingers again gently, watching your face.

Jungwon was completely lost in you — whining softly, hips subtly grinding against the mattress for his own relief while he focused entirely on making you fall apart again.

And you let him.

Jungwon didn't hesitate for even a second. he moaned sweetly, loud and pretty, as he pressed his mouth closer and licked every drop left you gave him.

You were left panting hard, chest rising and falling rapidly, legs trembling as they slipped off his shoulders. your body felt boneless, warm and buzzing with leftover pleasure.

For a long moment you just lay there with your eyes half-closed, trying to catch your breath.

"Jungwon…" you breathed out shakily. "get up here… please."

He pressed one final, soft kiss to your clit before crawling up your body, leaving a trail of gentle kisses along your stomach and between your breasts.

When his face hovered above yours, his lips were shiny and swollen, chin glistening with your release. that familiar cat-like smile spread across his face — satisfied, a little proud, and ridiculously soft all at once.

"You okay, baby?" he asked quietly, voice still raspy and sweet. he brushed damp strands of hair away from your forehead with gentle fingers.

You nodded, still breathing unevenly. "yeah… just… intense. good intense."

Jungwon leaned down and kissed you slowly, letting you taste yourself on his tongue.

The kiss was lazy and deep, full of morning tenderness. when he pulled back, he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the clean cloth he'd left there from last night.

He sat back on his heels between your legs and began wiping you carefully, his touch feather-light and loving.

"You're so fucking pretty right now" he murmured, eyes tracing your flushed cheeks, your messy hair, the way your chest still heaved.

His free hand stroked your waist in slow, soothing circles, thumb brushing the curve of your hip. "all glowing and soft… i could eat you out every morning like this."

You let out a breathless laugh, covering your face with one arm. "you're shameless."

"Only for you." he smiled wider, cleaning your folds "look at that — the sheets are completely dry this time. i swallowed every drop, see? no mess for you to worry about.”

You peeked out from under your arm and glanced down. he was right. thanks to how eagerly he'd devoured your orgasm, the fresh sheets he'd changed last night were still spotless.

The realization made you shake your head with a tired but fond smile.

Jungwon tossed the cloth aside and leaned down again, pressing a kiss to your stomach before sitting up fully. he looked genuinely energized, eyes bright despite the faint hangover haze he probably had. that was typical Jungwon— once he got his fix of you, he could run on pure affection for hours.

"I'm gonna make breakfast" he announced happily, already climbing off the bed. "you rest a little more. i'll call you when it's ready."

He walked over to your closet like he owned the place, pulling out one of the oversized white t-shirts he'd left at your apartment weeks ago.

He slipped it on, the fabric stretching nicely across his shoulders and chest, but kept the same gray sweatpants from yesterday hanging low on his hips. Barefoot, hair still messy from your fingers pulling on it, he looked stupidly domestic and hot at the same time.

You watched him with a small smile as he padded out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him. the faint sound of him moving around your kitchen soon followed — cabinets opening, the fridge humming.

It took you a couple of minutes to gather the strength to move.

Your legs still felt a little shaky when you finally sat up. you swung them over the edge of the bed and stood up slowly, stretching your arms above your head with a quiet groan.

The marks on your body pulled slightly as you moved, reminding you of everything from last night.

You made your way to the bathroom, still completely naked. the moment you stepped in front of the mirror, you paused.

"Jesus Christ…" you whispered.

The hickeys and bite marks looked even more obvious in the daylight.

Your neck was a canvas of pink, red, and purplish spots. several dark ones sat right under your jaw and along your collarbones, joined by clear teeth marks on your shoulders. you turned slightly, eyes widening at the full extent.

There was no way you could hide all of them with just a hoodie.

You sighed deeply, running your fingers over one particularly dark mark. part of you wanted to be annoyed — he always got carried away when he drank — but another part felt a stupid flutter at the possessiveness behind them.

Still, the frustration lingered. this was becoming a pattern.

Shaking your head, you turned on the shower and stepped under the warm spray. the water felt amazing against your sore muscles.

You took your time, washing your body carefully, letting the steam fill the small bathroom while your mind wandered. Jungwon's laughter floated faintly from the kitchen, along with the smell of something cooking — probably eggs and toast, knowing him.

By the time you stepped out and wrapped a towel around yourself, you felt a little more awake.

You wiped the condensation off the mirror again and stared at the marks one last time, tracing one with your fingertip.

"You're lucky i like you" you muttered to yourself with a small, reluctant smile.

You dried off and threw on comfortable clothes — loose shorts and a thin long-sleeved shirt that at least covered most of your neck and shoulders.

When you finally walked into the kitchen, Jungwon was plating food at the small counter. he looked up immediately, that bright, boyish smile spreading across his face the second he saw you.

"There she is" he said warmly, voice full of affection. "how do you feel? come eat while it's hot."

He'd made simple breakfast — scrambled eggs with cheese, toast with butter, and some fruit he'd cut up. two glasses of orange juice sat ready.

He pulled you into a gentle back hug before you could sit down, pressing a kiss to the side of your head.

"You smell nice" he murmured. "did you shower? sorry about all the marks by the way… i got a bit excited."

You leaned back against his chest for a moment, letting yourself enjoy the warmth before the usual mid-morning reality settled in.

"Yeah… i saw them" you replied quietly. "there's a lot this time, Won."

He hummed softly, squeezing your waist. "i know. i'll be more careful next time." but the way he said it sounded more like a hopeful promise than a guarantee.

You sat down together at the small table in your kitchen. Jungwon watched you take the first bite with that attentive, cat-like focus he always had when it came to you. the food was good — simple but comforting.

The quiet morning felt peaceful, but that familiar knot of worry about his drinking habits was already starting to creep back in.

For now, though, you let yourself enjoy the domestic moment: Jungwon in your apartment, barefoot in your kitchen, looking at you like you hung the moon.

Even if you knew this perfect morning came right after another night of him showing up drunk probably.

You were sitting at the small kitchen table, still a little sleepy but genuinely hungry after the morning activities.

The scrambled eggs were fluffy and cheesy, the toast perfectly buttered, and the cut fruit was sweet and cold. you ate like a little kid — cheeks slightly puffed, taking big bites and humming happily with each one, one foot swinging lightly under the table.

It was one of those unconscious habits you had when you felt comfortable.

Jungwon stood by the counter for a second, arms crossed over his chest, watching you with the softest, most fond smile on his face. his eyes curved into those pretty crescents, the same ones that made your stomach flip every single time.

"Look at you" he murmured, voice warm and amused. "eating like that makes me want to cook for you every day."

He was about to pull out the chair and sit across from you when the sharp sound of the doorbell cut through the peaceful morning.

Ding-dong.

Your fork paused halfway to your mouth. you already knew.

The sigh that left you was heavy and knowing. Jungwon's expression shifted too — he glanced at you, reading the look on your face instantly.

He knew exactly what was coming.

"I got it" he said quietly, before you could even speak.

He ran a quick hand through his hair, somehow making it look even better despite the messy night and morning you'd both had.

The white t-shirt hugged his shoulders nicely, and those gray sweatpants still hung low on his hips. he looked annoyingly put-together for someone who had been nose-deep inside you less than an hour ago.

Jungwon walked to the door and opened it with a light, polite smile.

Mrs. Park was standing there in all her glory.

She clearly hadn't bothered getting ready. her bleached blonde hair was frizzy and unkempt, dark roots showing at the scalp.

She wore an old robe over pajamas, arms crossed tightly under her chest. at 47, the years showed in the deep lines around her mouth and the permanent scowl etched into her face. she looked exactly like the type of neighbor who lived for this kind of confrontation.

"Good morning" Jungwon said calmly, keeping that polite smile. "is there a problem, ma'am?"

Mrs. Park didn't even bother with pleasantries. her eyes narrowed immediately.

"Your bed is literally pushed against my wall" she started, voice sharp and accusatory.

"I heard everything. every single sound. the moaning, the bed creaking, the filthy talking… all of it. at eight in the morning! have some respect, for God's sake. this is not a love hotel."

Jungwon's ears turned a light shade of red, but he kept his composure. he rubbed the back of his neck, looking appropriately sheepish.

"I'm really sorry" he said sincerely. "we didn't mean to disturb you. it won't happen again."

Mrs. Park scoffed. "sorry? i've had to listen to this nonsense multiple times now. last night too! the walls are thin, you know. i could hear her moaning your name like some cheap porn actress. disgusting."

Jungwon apologized again, softer this time. "i understand. we'll be more careful. really. sorry for the inconvenience."

The woman's face twisted "if this keeps happening, i'm actually going to file a formal complaint with the building management. i'm not joking. find somewhere else to do your little activities."

Jungwon nodded quickly, not giving her any more fuel. "understood. thank you for letting us know."

Before Mrs. Park could keep ranting, he gently closed the door, cutting her off mid-sentence.

The second the door clicked shut, he let out a long breath and turned around.

You were still at the table, mouth full of eggs and toast, staring at him with raised eyebrows. you swallowed quickly and pointed your fork at him.

"Told you." you said, voice muffled but smug.

Jungwon leaned against the door for a second, then walked back to the table with a playful smirk. he dropped into the chair across from you, stealing a piece of toast from your plate.

"If you say that one more time" he warned teasingly, eyes sparkling with mischief, "i'm gonna make Mrs. Park have a real reason to complain. right here. right now."

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped. "you're actually insane. she literally just threatened to file a complaint and you're already joking about it."

He shrugged, biting into the stolen toast. "what do you want me to do? cry about it?" his foot nudged yours under the table. "besides… you weren't exactly quiet either, baby."

You kicked his leg lightly. "because you're way too needy. you woke me up with your face between my legs when i was still sensitive from last night. and then you kept going even when i said it was too much."

Jungwon leaned forward on his elbows, chin resting on his hand, watching you with that intense, cat-like focus. his voice dropped a little, low and teasing.

"Yeah… and i could do it again right now" he said smoothly. "even if you tell me you're sore. even if you say you don't want it. i know exactly how to touch you until you're begging for more. until you're dripping again and forgetting all about Mrs. Park."

You felt heat crawl up your neck — the same neck currently covered in his marks. you pointed your fork at him again.

"See? needy. you literally cannot go more than a few hours without touching me."

He grinned, unashamed. "guilty. but can you blame me?" his hand reached across the table, fingers brushing over your knuckles. "you're my girlfriend. my pretty, smart, hard-working girl who lives alone and lets me come over even when i show up tipsy. of course i'm obsessed with you."

There it was again — that soft manipulation wrapped in genuine-sounding affection.

It always made the frustration in your chest twist uncomfortably. You looked down at your plate, pushing the eggs around with your fork.

"You know it bothers me when you drink and then come looking for sex" you said quietly, the theme creeping back in. "and now the neighbor is threatening to complain because you can't keep it down when you're horny."

Jungwon's expression softened. he stood up and walked around the table, crouching beside your chair so he could look up at you properly.

His hands rested on your thighs, thumbs stroking gently.

"I know" he murmured. "i'm sorry. i really am. last night i just… missed you too much. work was long, my head was killing me, and the only thing that makes sense when i drink is wanting to be with you." he pressed a kiss to your knee. "i'll try to be quieter next time. and… i'll try to drink less. okay?"

You stared at him. he looked sincere — those big dark eyes, the slight pout, the way his hands kept caressing your legs like he needed the contact.

It was hard to stay mad when he got like this.

"You always say that" you whispered.

"I mean it this time." he stood up and leaned down to kiss your forehead, then your cheek, then the corner of your mouth. "eat your breakfast, baby. it's getting cold."

You sighed but went back to eating. Jungwon sat beside you now instead of across, one arm draped over the back of your chair, fingers playing with the ends of your hair while he ate with his other hand.

The domesticity of it was almost too much. he looked so comfortable in your apartment, like he belonged here.

After a few minutes of quiet eating, he spoke again, voice lighter.

"Mrs. Park really needs to get laid, huh? she sounded jealous as hell."

You almost choked on your orange juice. "Jungwon!"

"What? it's true" he laughed, that pretty, bright laugh that always made you weak. "she was mad she could hear us having good sex and she's probably getting none."

You smacked his arm, but you were smiling despite yourself. "you're going to get us evicted."

"Nah. i'll charm the building manager if it comes to that." he leaned in and kissed your neck — right on one of the darker hickeys — making you shiver. "or i can just fuck you against the wall that's not connected to her apartment next time."

"Needy and horny again already" you muttered, rolling your eyes.

Jungwon hummed, nuzzling closer. "always. especially when you're wearing my shirt and have my marks all over you." his hand slid higher on your thigh, teasing the hem of your shorts. "still sensitive?"

"Yes" you warned, but your voice wasn't very convincing.

He smiled against your skin. "i could make it feel good anyway… slow and careful. until you're the one making noise again."

You pushed his face away gently, laughing. "finish your breakfast, you animal."

He grinned victoriously and went back to eating, but his hand stayed possessively on your thigh the entire time, thumb drawing lazy circles.

The morning light kept pouring in, warm and soft, while Mrs. Park's threats lingered somewhere in the back of your mind.

Jungwon was still here — affectionate, playful, a little manipulative, and completely wrapped up in you. And even though the frustration about his drinking was still simmering underneath, you let yourself enjoy this version of him for a little longer.

The needy, sweet, impossible boy who made mornings feel this good.

The plates were nearly empty now, just a few crumbs and a smear of egg left behind.

You leaned back in your chair, letting out a satisfied little sigh as you wiped your mouth with a napkin. the food had actually been really good — simple but warm, exactly what you needed after the intense start to the day.

"That was actually delicious" you said softly, smiling at him. "thank you for making breakfast. you didn't have to."

Jungwon's face lit up with that bright, boyish grin that made his eyes curve into pretty crescents. he cracked his knuckles once, stretching his fingers, then pushed his chair back.

"Glad you liked it" he replied, voice warm. "i'll go shower real quick. i still smell like last night… and this morning." he winked at you playfully as he stood up.

You got up too, stretching your arms high above your head with a soft groan. your muscles were still a little sore in the best way.

Instead of heading back to the bedroom, you wandered over to the living room and perched yourself on the wide armrest of the sofa, one leg dangling while the other stayed planted on the cushion.

You watched him move around, enjoying the casual domesticity of it all.

Jungwon was halfway to the bathroom when he paused.

He turned around and walked straight toward you instead, that familiar glint in his eyes. he stopped right in front of you, stepping between your spread legs like it was the most natural thing in the world.

One of his hands came up to cup your cheek gently, thumb brushing across your skin with surprising tenderness.

His other hand settled high on your thigh, fingers stroking slow, lazy circles on the bare skin just under the hem of your shorts.

"I love you" he said quietly, voice low and sincere. his dark eyes locked onto yours, intense and soft all at once. "so fucking much. you know that, right?"

You let out a small huff, half-amused, half-exasperated, but your cheeks warmed anyway. your hand came up to rest on his wrist, not pulling him away, just holding him there.

"I love you too, Won" you murmured. "but calm down a little… we just ate."

Jungwon let out one short, bright laugh — that pretty sound that always made your chest feel lighter.

He leaned in closer, forehead almost touching yours, his breath warm against your skin. the hand on your cheek slid back slightly, fingers threading into your hair while the one on your thigh squeezed gently, possessively.

"Say it again" he whispered, lips brushing your cheek in a soft kiss. "tell me how much you love me."

You squirmed a little on the armrest, complaining under your breath even as you tilted your head to give him better access. "Jungwon… you're so annoying sometimes."

But your voice came out quieter, softer, almost breathy. your fingers tightened around his wrist as you looked up at him through your lashes, eyes a little wider, shoulders relaxing under his touch.

"I love you… a lot. more than i probably should, considering how much trouble you give me."

The words came out gentle and yielding, almost like you were giving him exactly what he wanted without being able to stop yourself.

Your free hand rested on his chest, not pushing him away but tracing small patterns over the white t-shirt.

Jungwon's reaction was immediate.

His breath hitched. that needy glint in his eyes sharpened as he pressed closer, hips shifting forward until he was flush between your legs.

A soft, pretty whine escaped his throat — low and desperate.

"Baby… you can't say it like that" he murmured, voice already rougher. he kissed your cheek again, then the corner of your mouth, then down to your jaw.

"So sweet and soft for me… makes me want to keep you here all day."

His hand on your thigh slid higher, fingertips slipping under the edge of your shorts, stroking the warm skin there. not demanding yet, but clearly hungry.

You could already feel him starting to get hard against your inner thigh through the gray sweatpants.

"Won…" you complained weakly, but you didn’t move away. your fingers curled into his shirt instead, holding onto him. "you literally just said you were going to shower."

"I will" he promised, but he made no move to leave.

Instead, he nuzzled into your neck, lips brushing over one of the many marks he'd left the night before. "just… five more minutes. let me hold you like this."

He sounded so needy already — that slight whine in his voice, the way his hands kept moving on you like he couldn't stop touching.

One moment he was caressing your cheek lovingly, the next his fingers were squeezing your thigh like he wanted to pull you even closer.

You sighed, tilting your head to the side as he kissed along your marked neck. "you're impossible. Mrs. Park just threatened us and you're already trying to start something again."

Jungwon chuckled against your skin, the sound vibrating pleasantly. "she can threaten whatever she wants. right now i just want my girlfriend to keep telling me she loves me while i touch her."

He pulled back just enough to look at you again, eyes half-lidded. "c'mon, baby. one more time. tell me."

You bit your lip, trying to fight the smile threatening to break through. your voice came out even softer this time, almost shy, eyes dropping to his lips before flicking back up to his.

"I love you, Jungwon" you whispered, sounding small and sweet and completely wrapped around his finger. "i love you even when you drive me crazy… even when you show up drunk and needy… even when you leave marks all over me."

A full-body shiver ran through him.

He let out a low, needy groan and pressed his forehead to yours, hips rolling forward once, slowly, grinding against you just enough for you to feel how hard he was getting.

"Shit… you're gonna kill me saying it like that" he whined, voice cracking slightly in that pretty way it always did when he got desperate.

"I love you too. so much it's stupid. i can't even think straight when i'm around you."

His hand left your cheek to slide down your side, gripping your waist as he kissed you properly — deep, slow, and hungry.

His tongue brushed yours, tasting like orange juice. when he pulled back, his breathing was already heavier.

"You're still sensitive, right?" he asked, almost hopeful, fingers tracing the edge of your shorts again. "i could be really gentle… just use my mouth again or my fingers. i just want to make you feel good."

You laughed breathlessly, pushing lightly at his chest even as your legs parted a little more around him.

"Go shower. i'm still recovering from this morning."

Jungwon pouted — actually pouted — but there was a playful spark in his eyes.

He stole one last kiss, then another, before finally stepping back with visible reluctance. His sweatpants did nothing to hide how affected he was.

"Fine" he sighed dramatically, but he was smiling. "but when i get out… you're sitting on my lap while we watch something. deal?"

You rolled your eyes fondly. "deal. now go before i change my mind and make you wash the dishes too."

He laughed and finally headed toward the bathroom, glancing back at you one last time with that needy look that always made your heart do stupid things.

The warmth in your chest battled with that familiar knot of worry — about his drinking, about how easily he could melt your frustration with sweet words and gentle hands, about how much you let him get away with.

Still… mornings like this with Jungwon were dangerously addictive.

You stayed perched on the armrest of the sofa for a long moment, fingers absently brushing over your lips where he'd kissed you.

They still felt warm, slightly swollen. your skin tingled everywhere he'd touched — your cheek, your thigh, the back of your neck.

You let out a long, heavy sigh and dragged a hand down your face.

God, he's exhausting.

You were still sensitive from this morning.

Your clit felt puffy and tender, your insides a little sore in that deep, used way that made every shift of your thighs noticeable. part of you wanted to just sit here, scroll on your phone, and let your body recover.

But another, louder part — the one that always lost when it came to Jungwon — was already buzzing with leftover heat.

You glanced toward the closed bathroom door. the faint sound of water running reached your ears.

"Fuck it" you muttered under your breath.

You stood up and walked down the short hallway.

The moment you opened the bathroom door, a wave of warm, humid air hit you, thick with steam and the clean scent of your body wash.

Jungwon was behind the shower curtain, the silhouette of his body visible through the semi-transparent fabric.

"You almost done?" you asked, voice casual even though your pulse was already picking up.

The curtain slid open a few inches. Jungwon peeked out, water streaming down his face and dark hair.

It was plastered to his forehead, droplets clinging to his lashes. He smiled — that bright, cat-like smile that made his eyes curve — completely unbothered by the fact that he was naked and half-hard already.

"Not yet" he answered, voice slightly raised over the sound of the water. "why?"

You didn't reply with words.

Instead, you held his gaze and slowly reached for the hem of your shirt.

Jungwon's eyes followed every movement as you pulled it over your head, revealing your bare chest.

You hooked your thumbs into your shorts and panties together, sliding them down your legs at a deliberately slow pace, stepping out of them one foot at a time.

A low, surprised sound escaped his throat — something between a groan and a whine.

"Baby…" His eyes roamed shamelessly over your body, taking in every curve, every mark he'd left on your neck and shoulders last night. the hunger in his gaze was instant.

You stepped into the shower with him, closing the curtain behind you.

Warm water immediately cascaded over your skin, soaking you in seconds. you moved closer until your bodies were almost touching, sliding your hands up his wet chest and over his shoulders.

Your palms explored the smooth planes of his back, tracing the faint red lines your nails had left there earlier. your faces were inches apart, water running down both of you.

Jungwon's cock was fully hard now, pressing hot and heavy against your stomach.

"You told me to calm down" he murmured, voice low and teasing, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "and here you are, stripping for me and getting all needy in the shower."

"I'm not needy" you protested, even as your hands kept roaming his body. "don't bother me."

But even as the words left your mouth, you were already leaning in.

Your lips met his in a slow, deep kiss that quickly turned hungry. the water made everything slick — your tongues sliding together, lips wet and warm.

You could taste the faint trace of breakfast and the clean mint of his toothpaste. Jungwon's arms wrapped around you tightly, pulling you flush against his chest as he kissed you back with obvious want, one hand sliding down to grip your ass.

When you finally broke the kiss, breathing heavier, you looked up at him with dark eyes.

"This time" you said, voice dropping, "i want you to fuck me hard enough that i don't want any more intimacy for the rest of the day."

Jungwon's breath hitched. his pupils blew wide.

You turned around before he could respond, bracing your hands on the shower wall. you bent forward slightly, arching your back and pushing your ass back toward him, water streaming down your spine.

He didn't need to be told twice.

His hands caressed your sides first — slow, appreciative strokes from your waist to your hips. then you felt the blunt head of his cock nudge against your entrance, sliding through your folds once, twice, coating himself in your wetness.

"Fuck, you're already so creamy" he groaned.

He pushed inside in one smooth, firm thrust, burying himself to the hilt.

Your pussy was still sensitive from earlier, so the sudden stretch pulled a broken, high moan out of you. your fingers tightened hard around the shower fixture, knuckles turning white.

"Shit— Jungwon…"

"You okay?" he asked immediately, voice tight with restraint even as his hips pressed flush against your ass. "if you want me to stop, just say it."

"Don't stop" you breathed, pushing back against him. "just… fuck me."

That was all the permission he needed.

Jungwon gripped your hips tighter and started thrusting— deep, hard strokes that made the wet slap of skin against skin echo loudly in the small shower.

The sound was filthy, unmistakable, mixing with the rush of water. he groaned low in his throat, that pretty, needy sound you loved.

"God, baby… you're so fucking wet and tight" he panted, snapping his hips harder. "listen to how wet you are. i can hear it every time i push in."

Each thrust rocked you forward, your breasts swaying with the force.

The water made everything slicker, louder. Jungwon's pace was relentless but controlled — deep enough to hit that perfect spot inside you with every stroke, hard enough that your moans kept spilling out uncontrollably.

Your grip on the fixture tightened as pleasure mixed with the slight ache of overstimulation. it felt overwhelming in the best way — too much and not enough.

"Harder" you gasped, voice shaky. "you said you could make me want it even when i'm sensitive…"

Jungwon let out a soft whine and obeyed, fucking you harder.

The sound of his hips slapping against your ass grew wetter, sharper.

One of his hands slid around to your front, fingers finding your clit and rubbing tight circles while he kept pounding into you from behind.

"Like this?" he asked, voice raspy and sweet even as he railed you. "tell me how it feels, baby. i love hearing you."

"So deep— fuck, Won…" you moaned brokenly, forehead pressing against the cool tile. "you're hitting everything."

He groaned, leaning forward to press his chest against your back, lips brushing your ear as he kept thrusting.

"You feel so good… so fucking good. i can't get enough of you." his fingers kept working your clit, never faltering. "even when you're sore you're still this wet for me."

The steam, the heat, the constant stream of water, and the way he filled you so completely had your head spinning.

Every hard thrust made your sensitive walls flutter around him, creamy arousal coating his cock and dripping down your thighs, washed away instantly by the shower.

Jungwon's free hand gripped your waist harder, pulling you back onto him with every snap of his hips. his moans were getting prettier — those soft, whiny sounds mixed with low groans every time you clenched around him.

"Tell me again" he panted against your neck, sucking lightly on one of the marks he'd left yesterday. "tell me you love me while i'm fucking you like this."

You could barely form words, but you tried anyway, voice shaky and submissive.

"I love you… fuck— i love you, Jungwon."

He whined loudly, hips stuttering for a second before he recovered and fucked you even deeper.

"Again" he begged, voice cracking beautifully. "please, baby."

The shower continued to rain down on both of you as Jungwon kept that punishing, delicious rhythm — hard, deep, and relentless, just like you'd asked.

Your moans mixed with his pretty sounds, the wet slap of skin, and the constant rush of water. your body trembled under the intensity, still sensitive but chasing more.

And Jungwon gave it to you without hesitation.

Jungwon's hips snapped against your ass with deep, forceful thrusts, the loud wet slap of skin echoing off the tiles with every stroke.

Your creamy arousal made everything obscenely slick — you could literally hear how wet you were every time he buried himself to the hilt.

"Fuck, baby… you're dripping down my cock" he groaned, voice husky and needy.

One hand gripped your hip hard while the other kept rubbing your clit in tight, fast circles. "you're squeezing me so tight."

You moaned brokenly, forehead pressed against the cool tile, fingers white-knuckled around the shower fixture.

Every hard thrust sent sparks shooting through your overstimulated body. it hurt so good — that perfect mix of soreness and pleasure that only Jungwon could pull out of you.

"Won— ahh, shit— right there" you gasped, pushing back to meet his thrusts. "faster… please."

Jungwon whined loudly, the pretty sound vibrating against your back as he leaned over you.

He fucked you deeper, faster, the head of his cock dragging perfectly against that sensitive spot inside you with every stroke. "i love you so much. love being inside you like this. you feel so warm and wet— fuck, i can't get enough."

The steam made everything feel closer, more intense. water streamed down your joined bodies, mixing with sweat. Jungwon's moans were getting louder, less controlled — those sweet, whiny sounds that always drove you crazy.

But you needed more than this position. you needed to see him.

"Wait—" you breathed, voice shaky. "turn me around."

Jungwon slowed instantly, pulling out carefully.

He helped you turn, hands gentle on your waist despite how hard he was breathing. the second you faced him, he cupped your cheeks and kissed you deeply, tongue sliding against yours in a messy, desperate kiss. water cascaded over your faces as you both melted into it.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

Jungwon grabbed the back of your thighs and lifted you effortlessly, pressing your back against the tiled wall. you wrapped your legs around his waist, ankles locking behind his back.

He lined himself up and pushed back inside in one smooth thrust, burying himself completely.

"Oh my god—" you moaned loudly against his mouth, nails digging into his shoulders.

"Fuck, baby… this is better" he panted, forehead pressed to yours.

His dark eyes were half-lidded, glassy with lust and affection. "i want to see your face when you cum."

He started moving again — deep, rolling thrusts that ground his pelvis against your clit with every stroke.

The new angle made him feel even bigger, pressing right against that perfect spot inside you. your bodies were flush together, skin sliding against wet skin, hearts pounding in sync.

Jungwon's moans were right in your ear now, soft and needy.

"I love you" he whispered between thrusts, voice cracking. "love you so much it hurts sometimes. you're everything to me." he kissed you again, slower this time, almost reverent, even as his hips kept that steady, deep rhythm.

"I'm yours—" you gasped, fingers threading through his wet hair. "only yours, Won. i love you… fuck, i love you so much."

He whined loudly, hips stuttering before he recovered and fucked you harder, deeper.

The sound of your bodies meeting was loud and wet, echoing in the shower. your moans mixed with his — raw, unrestrained, needy.

"You're getting tighter" he groaned, burying his face in your neck, sucking on one of the dark marks he'd left yesterday. "gonna cum for me, baby? want you to cum all over my cock while i'm inside you."

You nodded frantically, legs tightening around his waist.

The pressure was building fast again, that overwhelming heat coiling low in your belly.

Every thrust, every grind against your clit, every sweet word in your ear pushed you closer.

"Close— i'm so close, Won" you moaned, voice breaking. your nails dragged down his back, leaving fresh red lines.

"Me too" he panted, voice whiny and desperate. "look at me, baby. please— wanna see you."

You forced your eyes open, meeting his gaze. his hair was soaked, water dripping from his lashes, cheeks flushed.

He looked beautiful — needy, loving, completely lost in you. he kept one arm under your thigh for support while his other hand reached between you, thumb rubbing your clit in perfect circles.

"Cum with me" he begged softly, hips snapping harder. "please, baby. let me feel you. i need it."

The intimacy of it — his eyes locked on yours, bodies pressed so close, water falling around you like a curtain — pushed you over the edge.

"Jungwon—!" your orgasm hit hard, walls clenching rhythmically around his cock as intense pleasure crashed through you. you moaned loudly, shamelessly, thighs shaking around his waist as you came.

The feeling of you pulsing around him sent Jungwon over right after.

His hips stuttered, burying himself as deep as possible as he came with a gorgeous, broken moan — that signature soft, husky voice cracking into pretty whines.

"Fuck— baby, i'm cumming— ahh, shit—" he groaned long and deep, hips grinding into you as thick, warm spurts filled you up.

His face buried in your neck, body trembling against yours while he rode out every wave, moaning sweetly the entire time.

For a long moment, the only sounds were the running water and your heavy breathing. Jungwon held you close, still buried inside you, arms wrapped tightly around your body like he never wanted to let go.

He was the first to move, pressing soft, lazy kisses along your neck and jaw until he reached your lips. the kiss was slow and gentle now, full of affection.

"You okay?" he whispered against your mouth, voice hoarse. "wasn't too hard?"

You shook your head, smiling tiredly. "it was perfect… intense, but perfect."

He smiled back — that soft, cat-like smile — and carefully lowered your legs until your feet touched the floor.

He stayed close, holding you steady when your legs wobbled. without a word, he reached for your body wash, squeezing some into his hands.

"Let me take care of you" he murmured.

He lathered the soap between his palms and started washing you with gentle, loving touches.

His hands glided over your shoulders, down your arms, across your chest.

He was extra careful around your breasts and between your legs, cleaning you with soft strokes while pressing occasional kisses to your wet skin.

He tilted your chin up and kissed you again — slow, deep, and full of quiet love. when he pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, water still raining down on both of you.

"I really do love you" he said quietly. "not just when i'm tipsy. all the time. even when you're mad at me for drinking… even when Mrs. Park threatens us." He gave you a small, sheepish smile. "i know i mess up sometimes. but you're the best part of my day."

You swallowed hard, emotions swirling in your chest.

"I love you too" you whispered back, hugging him tighter. "just… try to be careful, okay?"

"I will" he promised, kissing the top of your head. he held you for a long time after that, just hugging you under the spray, hands rubbing slow circles on your back.

Eventually he turned off the water and grabbed your biggest towel, wrapping it around you first before drying himself.

He helped you out of the shower, still supporting you when your legs felt shaky. in the steamy bathroom, he dried your hair gently with another towel, then your body, pressing soft kisses wherever he touched.

The morning had been intense — loud, needy, intimate, and messy in the best way. and even with everything still unsaid about his habits, Jungwon's care made it hard to regret any of it.

At least for now.

꒰ ♡ ꒱

jungwon wasn't broke.

definitely not. just well-off enough to not need government funds to pay for university, which he understood was already a large privilege. his parents both worked, but not enough to the point he developed personality issues from neglect. so yes, jungwon was a pretty standard guy you'd meet from a predominantly-white area. middle-middle class in a nice, quiet sunny neighborhood, fancy dinners maybe twice a month, enough funds to pay off 5 monthly subscriptions...

he shook his head. "why do i suddenly care so much about my social class?" he mumbled to himself, now standing in front of a large gate.

eyeing the elaborate exterior, he glances briefly at the buzzer and considers making the awkward call to speak with somebody from inside the house to be let in, whether it be a cleaner, accountant, or even the owner of the house himself; the father of his ridiculously rich girlfriend.

jungwon groans. he hates this part. miri's parents weren't mean or unkind, or snobby or stuck-up at all--just intimidating. miri's father could probably pay off the chief of police to lock jungwon up forever on fabricated counts of sexual harassment for even looking at his daughter.

"he would never do that. obviously." he says to himself, slapping himself a little for thinking so negatively.

"jungwon?" he suddenly hears come over the intercom and he flinches. "um, yes? hi?" he says, looking into what he hopes is the receiver.

"what are you doing? you look stupid."

the boy rolls his eyes. "may i be allowed inside, your majesty?" he grumbles.

"ew. i don't like your majesty. sounds dumb." the voice over the intercom says.

"you are so entitled. may i be allowed inside, princess?"

the voice over the intercom lets out a satisfied hmph. "sure." it states, and the large gates fluidly open, with no creakiness or scraping.

the sight beyond them was a large estate, with a grand door and balcony above it. a maybach paired with a luxury cadillac parked parallel along the looped driveway, along with another sleek car he couldn't identify. the grass surrounding it was freshly mowed, and in the air hung a sense of money.

jungwon began the trek up to the property, trying his hardest not show how absolutely floored he is each time he sees it in case miri was somehow watching him through a hidden security camera with a smug grin.

you could not let her know you were impressed. that rich daddy's girl ego would inflate to the point she stops viewing you as an actual human being.

miri wasn't like, actually evil. she totally felt bad for regular people and war or whatever. and a couple times, she's offered to pay for somebody else's items. she definitely realizes she's better more privileged than most, and was capable of expressing kindness and genuine empathy. it wasn't like she was blinded by riches. figuratively.

jungwon finally reaches the huge entrance and raises his hand to press the fancy buzzer, but gets interrupted when the door is heard unlocking and flung open a second later. standing there with a couple rollers still in her hair, is mireille, looking as unimpressed as always. she looks at jungwon.

"yes?" she says.

"hello to you too, your highness." jungwon says sarcastically, finding the nerve within him to push past her shoulder and let himself in.

"hey!" she exclaims from behind him, and he looks back at her. "did i say you could come in? what if the plan was that i come out?"

"you still have rollers in your hair." jungwon casually points out. "i doubt you'd leave the house with those."

the girl grunts. "yeah, okay." she says, stomping past him and reaching a staircase. "follow," she calls out to him. jungwon obliges, knowing the way to her room by now.

miri ascends up the sleek stairs, looking behind with a stern face to check if jungwon was right behind. "don't slip." she says. "someone just came and electropolished it, as dad quotes. whatever that means."

"means they used an electric current and a chemical bath to dissolve impurities instead of scrubbing with soap and water." the boy replies, having heard of the procedure once.

"huh. that sounds more complicated than it should be," miri quips.

"that's the most down to earth thing you've said in a while. good job. that is more complicated than it should be."

“thanks. i’m glad you can relate to me now.” she throws, to which jungwon holds back from his sudden urge to bite down on her exposed shoulder from behind.

just so deliciously arrogant.

instead he scoffs, crossing the last step and being led down a large hallway with precious paintings and pictures adorned on the wall.

it was always interesting heading down this hall. various family pictures were hung, including photographs of miri's father meeting CEO's, shaking hands after a business deal, portraits of her mother in jewelry and a photoshoot from when she modeled a set for prada.

miri's portraits were cute, too.

“don’t.” her voice warns when they pass a framed photograph of her at 7 years old, smiling with wide crooked teeth. the boy snorts, always having loved that one. “c’mon, you just look like a cute little kid before the world’s evils got to you.”

“you’re the evilest thing that’s happened to me.” she retorted, to the boy’s amusement,

the door to miri’s bedroom is giant. jungwon’s no stranger to her extravagant loft; and he takes in the familiar scene once he’s let in.

white walls with pink accents, a victoria’s secret throw blanket hung over a chair, a burberry scarf hanging off a doorknob although it was a particularly hot spring, an opened louboutin box in the corner, a stack of cartier bracelets on her dresser, chanel make-up… god, it was just…

“so stereotypical.”

“uh-huh.” miri deadpans, crossing her arms.

“you’re just so stereotypical.” he acknowledges.

“yeah, sure i am.” the girl says, kicking off her slippers and lazily walking to her bed. she slowly unraveled the curlers from her hair, letting it bounce free. she looks up at him, unamused.

"i'm serious." he says.

“how stereotypical is it that someone has custom silk pillowcases from thailand with their initial on them?” she says, holding up a lush pillow with an “m” sewn into the corner. “i’m sure you could probably find like, a lighter at the gas station with a “j” on it if you feel left out, won.”

miri plucks the last roller out of her hair.

“that’s exactly what i meant, princess.” jungwon draws out.

he walks over to her, stopping in front of her where she sat at the edge of the frame. his eyebrow cocks up.

miri bats her long lashes at him. “i don’t know what you mean. i guess you’re happy with superstore pillowcases. sounds a lot more stereotypical to me.” she taunts.

“did tiktok tell you about the dior lip oil?” he asks, nudging his head in the direction of where she shamefully had about 7 shades of the same product on her dresser. “did you see a video about that miu miu skirt you’ll wear once and never again? and that awfully expensive, glorified health-promoting “water” bottle when we know you like chugging straight vodka?”

“you’re so well-off but you have no clue what you’re doing. one watch of mean girls and you believe regina george is exactly who you were born to be. you think you have this niche vibe, this.. outstanding aura to you, but really, you are just another spoiled brat who thinks custom silk pillows with your stupid initial on them are the norm.” he smirks.

“…”

slap!

yeah, he sort of expected that one. he holds his cheek, a playful glint in his eye. “ow.”

miri stands up, glaring at him face-to-face. “you think i’m a brat?” she asks, looking as pissed-off a rich girl could get.

“i know you’re one, pretty.”

“ugh! where do you get the nerve?!” she says, grabbing his collar. “in my opinion, i think i’m chic. i think i’m cute, and i love my items, and cherry vodka tastes fucking amazing.” she snaps, letting go of him.

"and, you're only calling me regina because i also wear a necklace with my initial on it.” she accuses, referencing an expensive diamond pendant usually found hung around her neck. “so what? like it’s an insult?”

jungwon calmly puts his hand on the top of her head, shoving downwards so she plops back down onto her bed. she’s about to look up and haphazardly curse at him before she finds herself being pushed down again; this time, her back against the bed.

hovering over her she sees jungwon, as he carefully fixes her neckline.

“quiet, princess. here. i’m just being honest.” he says, dipping down and kissing her forehead.

“ugh!” miri grunts, shoving him off her and sitting back up. “you’re ruining my curls, and that was just downright mean for no reason.”

“and if you check, there’s water in there.” she scorns, still offended about the water bottle comment.

jungwon raises his hands. “hey, i’m not judging. it’s kind of hot how much of an animal you get when it comes to drinking.” he smirks. “stereotypical uni girl.”

“i am NOT stereotypical! there’s things about me that are special!” the girl snaps.

“enlighten me.”

“i was adopted, first of all. so that’s something, right?”

“hmm.." the boy pretends to think. "you were adopted at 3 weeks. no real struggle. try again.” jungwon votes out, much to miri’s annoyance.

“hey! being adopted IS different! that’s like, being saved.”

“very much so. i’m glad you’re here.”

the thoughtful statement doesn’t dim miri’s attitude. “you’re just mad. you’re just mad so that's why you’re calling me boring.”

jungwon frowns at that. “i never called you boring. you’re lots of fun.”

“hmph.” she turns her head, blonde curls bouncing alongside her face. she decides to quit sitting around and get into bed, to exercise her irritability.

miri’s been faced the other way for a good 7 seconds before she’s adjusted back to her back with one push of jungwon’s hand. again, he finds himself hovering over her.

“what do YOU want.” she scorns, clearly bitter at the allegations.

jungwon lightly holds her chin in place so she looks up at him and without any warning, gives her a slight smack on the cheek.

miri gasps, completely appalled at his nerve. “oh, you—”

“shush.” he asserts, hand back on her jaw.

“answer me, mireille. do you think you’re special?” he asks.

“like, yeah?” she replies, in a matter-of-fact tone; still pissed at the contact.

jungwon’s hand slowly shifts to rest wrapped lightly around her throat.

“really?”

“yeah.” she deadpans.

“are you better than everyone else? do you believe that?” he asks, applying just enough gentle pressure to make her uncomfortable.

she's not full-on struggling; just enough so her answer comes out a little strained. "of course. i have e-everything."

"are you better than me?" he asks.

"yes." miri drops. "you're a—" she starts, before she feels his fingertips dig into the side of her neck and the wind slowly leave her lungs.

the boy slowly applies pressure, watching as miri starts to struggle.

her eyes begin to prick with tears, and she literally cannot bring herself to process jungwon’s nerve right now.

"whatever you were going to call me, it definitely wasn't humble." jungwon jokes. "tell me. if you're better than me, would you ever beg me for anything? like fully, beg?" he asks curiously, before partially relieving the tension.

"absolutely not." she immediately growls, feeling her anger begin to build up with how recklessly he was treating her.

"what the hell was that for?! i'm precious. what makes you think you can sit there and handle me like i'm an animal, you piece of shit! i should've never let you come over!" she spits, her voice ringing out in prissy annoyance.

"well, you are precious. i think everybody is." jungwon responds, his knee coming up to nuzzle in between her legs, to her surprise.

she tries to deny ignore the shock from the sudden movement, but fails to go against her body.

"y-yeah, so do you think people deserved to get treated like this?" she asks, blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

"i wouldn't treat just anyone like this. you're a different type of precious." he says, his words ending breathlessly as he comes down to the side of her neck. a slow smile forms on his face before he latches onto the tender skin and sucks deeply into a spot; intending to leave a quick bruise.

miri tries not to let out a noise at the contact. she upkeeps her defiant attitude at jungwon's previous abuse.

"oh, fuck off. you act like i'm the evilest person you know!"

jungwon chuckles at that, the vibration tickling at her neck as he responds. kissing its lateral, he responds "you are. i feel like the minions would follow you."

the boy raises his head back up, smiling down at her. "minions! ransack the entirety of this gucci store and kill whoever tries to stop you!" he jokes.

miri scoffs at that, likely offended. "you are totally wrong. gucci is so tacky. i would never shop there." she scorns. "you don't even know me!"

"aww. what else is tacky in your book?" the boy coos, tilting his head in curiousity.

the girl's eyes light up a little at that. "oh, you want to know?"

"mmm-hm." jungwon draws out.

"let me think for a second." she says, a tad excited about this rare occasion where jungwon actually cares about her brand input.

"well, for starters, i think LV sucks. i wouldn't ever wear anything with the monogram on it. it’s just absolutely the worst thing ever. everybody overuses the print and it looks so.. overdone."

"huh. is that so?" the boy asks, his hand slowly coming down to rest on her hip, which she fails to notice.

"yes. i also think, other than the glasses, versace can be-" miri’s about to start, before she feels a fingertip ghost over her waistband, as one skillfully slips an inch under her panties to caress the stretch of skin over her hipbone.

"c-can be, tacky as well." she continues on, denying to acknowledge the intimate touch.

"really? is it the loud designs?" he asks as if he were genuinely interested.

"oh, yes. definitely those. i don't like how bright the o-orange.. can be.." miri curses herself once she feels jungwon's two fingers, with no hesitation, slip completely under her waistband and test out an experimental swipe across her sex.

"huh." the boy says, giving her a coy look. "tell me more. i'm soo~ interested."

it was obvious he didn't give a fuck, but miri didn't really have it in her to accuse him of being apathetic, due to this newfound fluster. so she continued.

"balenciaga is also really terrible. i don’t like the .. dumb rebrand.”

"oh, i can agree with you on that one." jungwon states, slowly bringing himself to fully dip his hand down into her panties, collecting slick and spreading it across her cunt. "i think it's gotten really corny as of recently."

jungwon begins to rub slow circles with two of his fingers, eyes never leaving her defiant face. he hits a sweet spot located just below the bud of her clit and focuses on absentmindedly playing with it while intently waiting for her to continue.

the motion feels heavenly, much to the girl’s dismay.

"u-uh.. only good thing you've agreed on.." miri mumbles, shutting her eyes to avoid jungwon's intense gaze. she feels her face heating up and she gets even more annoyed, mad that her biology doesn't go against the feeling. she feels herself beginning to sop with wetness, and nearly dies of embarrassment. how dare her body let jungwon know she enjoys this?

"you're not an easy one to agree with.” he drops. “do you like this?" a finger nudges at her entrance, tracing through the surrounding folds.

"no." the girl says primly, tone raising at the end.

“really?”

“nope. i don’t.” miri lies arrogantly.

"oh. i'm sorry then, honey." he says, slowly pulling his fingers out of her panties with a sly look.

“…”

"stop." miri immediately commands, too fast as she cringes to herself. "keep them there. n-now."

"i thought you didn't like this."

"it was manageable. keep going, you're pissing me off. and i'm not done talking." she says through gritted teeth, trying to uphold her weakening authority.

“interesting. ask me kinder." he responds to her with a lilt in his voice, as to which all of miri's previous submissiveness fades and replaces with stark irritance.

ugh.

she hates being told that. she'd rather just not than "ask for it nicer."

annoyed at the deal-breaking words, the girl scoffs.

"fuck you, no. get off of me." she spits, through narrowed eyes.

it always amused jungwon how stubborn she was. she couldn't let herself be even a little less stuck-up for things to works out in her favour.

"okay, if you say so." he complies, pulling out his fingers and sticking them into his mouth, sucking them dry while maintaining eye contact.

miri tries to ignore the feeling in her stomach at the scene, but fails miserably. still, she's got to be annoyingly rebellious.

with heavy breaths she looks up at him, getting more and more mad. she said she wasn't ever going to beg for anything, especially not something as damning as this, but it was a little hard to be normal when the stickiness in her panties were making her uncomfortable. jungwon looked down at her, taking in her knitted eyebrows and slight pout for a couple of seconds, before grabbing her by her cheeks with one hand.

mirir's eyes widen at the bruising grip. she's about to start, before jungwon begins poking fun at her that mutes her words effectively.

with her face still grabbed and her lips between his fingers, jungwon mocks, "my name is miri," squeezing after each word to mimick her talking, "and i'm a spoiled, inconvenient prissy brat who wants to be handled like the slut i am but i just won't admit it." he says, letting go of her face with a slight push to the side.

“what the..”

miri's pissed.

"you motherfucker!" she exclaims, trying to sit up to do who-knows-what before a hand is back on her throat, pinning her down. his other hand presses down on the top of her crotch, on the jelly of skin.

“eep!” escapes the girl, as jungwon pushes down on the soft pouch. unlucky for her, that was a sensitive spot.

"hey! d-don't do that! it makes me feel like i need to pee," she whines, trying to wrestle him off.

a smile spreads across his face. "cute." he says, his fingers eagerly making their way back to her wet clit. this time, rubbing it into herself as he aims to spread her slick as much as he can.

miri shuts her eyes tight, face scrunched into something she hopes is annoyance. it feels delicious, she has to admit. “you can’t—”

"i know you like this. if you won't say it, your body betrays you, pretty girl." he smirks, digits slowly prodding at her entrance. he slowly strokes her folds, letting his fingers play with the wetness as traces back and forth up her slit, trying it out with 2 to 3 fingers at a time and nudging experimentally at the opening with his fingertip.

the girl feels herself begin to grow needy at jungwon beating around the bush, letting just a couple centimeters of him press shallowly into the void of her hole. miri curses at herself for the need to speak up.

"just do it," she mumbles, to which he quirks his head up. "what was that?"

"i said, just fucking do it." she mutters a little louder.

"just do what?" he asks, feigning ignorance in the obvious way possible. he's trying to get on her nerves; which wasn't hard to do.

the girl grows frustrated, flushed face and twisted expression proving her feelings.

"finger me!" miri yells, louder and harsher than she expected. looking at him with wide eyes after her whiny outbreak, jungwon can only bite his lip with an amused look. "sure." he obliges, and sticks two of his thick fingers as far as he can inside of her, without much warning.

"a-ah!" miri moans; head tilting back as the sudden fullness inside of her stretches out her inviting walls, and this feeling began to blossom in her lower stomach. it felt like pure bliss; and she swallows once, coming down from the short high.

jungwon watches this with hooded eyes, and agrees he couldn't name a hotter scene. despite being stuck-up, she was hot. and his.

her walls squelched around his fingers, and when she finally opens her eyes and makes such a sultry, expecting face, he swallows hard and finally picks up the pace; pumping in and out of her at a relaxed speed.

miri breathes in through her nose, trying not to let her eyebrows squeeze together too much at the feeling and risk giving jungwon the most porn-inspired look she could; to which she failed. he was pretty good.

"in all honesty, pretty, i think LV heels would look nice on you. the monogram might not be as tacky on heels.” he speaks, with a lazy smile. miri is in no mood to continue the shallow conversation, her focus having been shifted to a completely different problem at hand.

“…”

“speed up.” she commands, probing him to ditch the slow pace.

jungwon raises an eyebrow. “but this is nice.”

“this is boring.” she groans, now looking at him with urgency.

“patience.”

the girl groans, mad at all the teasing she’s endured so far.

“you know i don’t like this! stop being so gentle and laaame!” miri whines, with entitlement.

jungwon lets out a breath, looking smug.

“you know, for someone with this pink, pretty image they’ve created for themselves, you drink a lottt of rough liquor, and want to get fucked exactly like it, too.” he says. “it’s interesting.”

for the nth time, miri heats up at the accusations. “o-of course not! all i said was to pick it up a little, loser. and stop shaming me for drinking! it’s only at parties!” she defends.

“i’m not shaming you. none of your shallow friends drink quite like how you do. it’s not in spoiled-blonde-highlights-girl code.” he recalls, grinning at the time miri was so shitfaced she’d jumped into a pool with all her clothes on—embarrassing enough for her.

“i’d rather be drunk than be with such a boring person.” she snaps, and of course, with no warning, jungwon smacks her across the face; immediately covering her mouth so she doesn’t start with the whining.

he gives her a mild, miffed look.

“we get it. you’re a slut. if you’re so insistent, take it.” he growls, his fingers slamming into her once, then twice, then at a pace so rough, it causes her to bow off her bed, the tiniest amount.

“mmfgh!” miri loudly moans through his hand. the needy feeling is replaced by this deep, constant hit of pleasure as his speed increases; while his knuckles could now slightly bruise her pelvis. he takes his hand off her mouth and lowers his head down to press a hard kiss to her lips, biting her lower lip as the force of his mouth pushes the back of her head deeper into her initialed pillows.

jungwon maintains his harsh pace, fucking his fingers into her small frame. he’s pulled her panties down to her thighs, allowing for the recoil of his hand to span further for the impact on her entrance to be delivered with more force. miri feels her body slump and her tensed muscles fade away; at jungwon’s mercy for her hole to be as stretched out as much as he wanted.

the girl begins to see stars, her vision going slack at how brutal jungwon’s speed is.

“ah! aah h-haah, j-jungwon, wait.” she warns, now beginning to feel pain each time he roughly slams into her.

the speed he was going at, which she deliciously enjoyed, was becoming a bit too much for poor miri.

“s-slow..” she starts, to which jungwon hears her formulate, then stops completely.

the girl gets a little worried that he was withdrawing completely; but instead, he gives her a coy smile and immediately lowers himself down to inbetween her legs, spreading them apart and diving down into her wet cunt.

0 warning.

miri gasps as jungwon’s tongue lays flat on her clit and he begins to suck at her sweetly, letting his saliva mix with her slick. his fingers resume at pumping in and out of her, as he skillfully eats her out.

miri’s hands fly to tug on his hair, moaning loudly. she closes her eyes tightly, mumbling a quick “fuck,” under her breath. she knew she was a lightweight; with all the talk she talks, she was going to finish fast, with this combo.

getting eaten out was always a weakness. you couldn’t get a girl to come faster.

jungwon licks fast stripes across her cunt, all at such a fast pace it felt like he was devouring her whole. his head bobbed up and down as he ate, and at each time his nose bumped her clit, it elicit a sharp spark of pleasure to course throughout her nervous system.

miri had no idea where jungwon learned to do this; and she doesn’t want to know, in case she starts seething of jealousy. all she knows was that he was skillfully licking through her folds and the warm, wet texture of his tongue gliding across her pussy felt better than anything she could think of in the moment.

he alternates between sucking + licking, all while his fingers work themselves through her sex.

he finally comes up for a little air, also to take a glance at miri’s blown-out state.

“you’re very sweet. i’ll give you that.” the boy says, shooting her a wink and diving right back down to eat.

it isn’t until a couple seconds later, of consistent sucking, when she feels jungwon spit on her already-soaking cunt the familiar tension begins to build up in her stomach; and fast. her knees try to close, thighs pressing into jungwon’s head.

“jungwon, w-wait, i’m going to..” she whines, to which the boy doesn’t slow or pick up his speed, just continues to suck eagerly and nudge his face further into between his legs, willing to suffocate himself for miri.

the girl involuntary grinds into his face, matching the pace of his tongue and fingers.

it was only so long she could last, with the sexiest boy she knew buried knuckle-deep in her, lapping up her wetness.

she feels the last bit of strain build up, and her breathing begin to stutter before finally, with a loud yelp, she crashes.

the sensation is nearly too much, and as miri eagerly tries to come down from her paralyzing high, through loud moans, she soon discovers jungwon has no means of stopping.

the realization has her haphazardly clawing at his hair, his teeth grazing her oversensitive bud.

“a-agh! ngh, jungwon, s-stop,” she whines, weakly trying to push his head off as each lick of his tongue to her overstimulated clit sends her reeling.

jungwon buries himself into her, letting out low vibrations she feels way too much.

“j-jungwon, too m-much… jungwon..! mmfg!” the sensitive girl lewds, and the boy continues to work; ignoring her pleas.

miri starts to see white, the overstimulation overwhelming her senses to the point it’s nearly untakeable. jungwon fucks her through it all, and sucks down hard on the nub below her cunt.

this elicits a loud gasp, and vicious pleasure to such a sensitive area; so much so it felt like punishment.

miri abandons all morals, all anything, and whines loudly, words becoming a jumbled mess.

“p-please jungwon, nggf, please, p-please jungwon!”

“s-stop, i-i’m sorry, h-haah, please, w-wonnie, p-please!” miri nearly sobs, pushing his head.

jungwon nearly stops in his tracks at the name, but continues the wet assault with his tongue.

“oh m-my, agh!” the girl cries, trying not to let herself go numb. with a small voice and low effort, she asks one more time.

“p-please?”

to which jungwon finally listens to, said with such a tender voice. he comes back up with such a smug grin, you wanted to punch him.

the soft look in his eyes indicated he was proud, though.

“good girl. that’s a good girl, mireille.” he says gently, looking at her with interest. slick covered his mouth, and he sported an amused grin. if miri wasn’t so out of breath, she would’ve choked him, but instead, she gives him the most defiant look she could muster.

the boy smiles at her, pressing a kiss to her lips. “took it like a princess.”

“sh..shut, the fuck up.” the girl breathes out, chest heaving.

jungwon pulls her decorated panties back up with care, and ignores the harsh comment.

although he chose not to rub it in her face, to save her ego just a little bit, miri could beg. she could beg pretty damn well, to jungwon’s newfound knowledge, and it was so, so darned cute.

he pushes her hair back with one dominant hand, licking his teeth as he stares into her eyes with a sweet look.

2. Has a massive noona kink. He gets hard just hearing you call yourself that. "I’m older than you, I should know better…” and he’s like, "yeah, but you don’t. That’s what makes it so fun.”

3. Teasing touches all the time. His hand on your thigh under the table, thumb rubbing tiny circles. Leans in too close when speaking, brushing lips against your ear like it's nothing. Whispers, “Are you getting nervous again? You’re so easy to read, noona.”

4. Calls you “noona” in the filthiest tone. When you’re whimpering, trembling, begging. he murmurs it like a reward and a taunt. “You sound so pretty, noona. This is what you needed, huh?”

5. He's a pervert, full stop. The kind who steals your panties, keeps voice recordings of you moaning, takes photos of your expressions when you're lost in pleasure, especially your flushed, tear-streaked face.

“Don’t hide your face. Let me see you. You’re so cute when you fall apart for me, noona.”

6. Degrading praise. “So dumb on my cock, huh? Is that what you like? Being ruined by someone younger than you?” But he kisses your tears away after, always holds you close afterward. It’s twisted and tender all at once.

7. Loves corrupting you. You're innocent, not clueless, but you've never done much. And that just turns him on more. He loves being your first for everything; first orgasm from someone else's fingers, first time on your knees, first time tied up.

8. Brings toys. Vibrators, silk ties, plugs. and he teaches you how to use them, patient but smug. “We’ll go slow, don’t worry. But by the end of the night, you’ll be begging me to fuck you stupid with this.”

9. Power play is constant. You’re older, but he’s always in control. Pushes you on the bed, makes you repeat what you want. "Say it. Say ‘please make me cum, wonie...’ and when you do,

"Good girl.”

10. Dirty talking kink. Whispering to you during phone calls, voice notes, or while you’re out in public. “I want you to think about my fingers while you sit there acting all professional, noona. Are you wet just from my voice?”

11. Aftercare prince. He knows he goes too far sometimes, so afterwards.. he cuddles you like you’re fragile glass. Runs his fingers through your hair, tells you how pretty and good you were for him, makes you drink water, kisses your wrists and cheeks like a sweet boyfriend.

12. “You’re older, but I’m the one teaching you?” He’ll say this while you're squirming under him, moaning helplessly as he thrusts into you like he owns you. "How embarrassing for you, noona." He says it with a smile that makes your stomach twist.