Kira

The heavy front door has barely clicked shut behind you before Jiyong presses your back against the hallway wall so hard that he nearly knocks the wind out of you. His curious, relentlessly wandering hands first cup your face before his fingers roughly slide into your hair, tugging firmly at the roots and pulling you into a wild, urgent kiss. The moment your lips meet, you taste the bitterness of the expensive alcohol you've been drinking together all night. Jiyong claims your mouth without warning, first tracing your lips sensually with his tongue before pushing deeper. A quiet growl rumbles from his throat and vibrates directly against your lips when you accept his challenge, flicking your tongue against his.

The muffled sounds from the VIP lounge of the exclusive club where you first met only a few hours ago are still echoing in your ears. Close your eyes, and you can see it all again... You were sitting there, tired of the shallow conversations around you and the men trying to hit on you with their pathetic pickup lines, when the doors to the lounge opened and Jiyong walked inside... A man with tousled hair, a half-unbuttoned shirt, and a gaze so intense that when your eyes met for the first time, you forgot how to breathe. You forgot how to breathe for the second time when he sat down beside you and politely asked if he could order you another drink. His powerful aura and charisma made it hard to tell whether you were drunk from the alcohol or from his mere presence.

Between drinks, you talked so naturally that it felt as though you'd known each other for years rather than minutes. Before leaving, you laughed as you swapped phones to save your numbers. The alcohol you consumed throughout the night only shattered the final restraints you both still had.

When Jiyong leaned toward you at the bar and whispered into your ear in a slightly slurred voice that he wanted to leave right now and take you home with him, you couldn't say no. In fact, you'd been waiting for that moment ever since the first drink you shared... and since the moment he began slowly tracing your bare thigh beneath the table. His fingers had circled over your skin, forcing you to stifle your quiet moans against the rim of your glass. The attraction between you was like a gravitational pull that simply couldn't be resisted.

And now you're here, in his territory...

Jiyong doesn't give you even a second to catch your breath. His kisses become hungrier and far more urgent. His tongue glides over your lips, which are already unbearably sensitive, and he bites them, forcing you to surrender completely, which doesn't take much effort on his part. With a quiet, drawn-out moan, you give in entirely of your own free will, and if he stopped now, you'd probably lose your mind.

Your coat falls to the floor, and Jiyong's heated palms slide from your hair, down your neck, and toward your hips. His fingers dig into your skin through the fabric of your clothes as he pulls you tightly against him. You can feel every tense muscle in his body, feeling his hardening cock pressing urgently against your stomach, desperately wanting you. You pull him closer by his shirt, and Jiyong presses his full weight against you, grinding his crotch against your lower belly as another quiet growl rises from his chest, making you moan directly into his mouth again.

“God, I think you’re going to drive me insane,” he mutters against your lips between breaths. His voice is deep and rough with uncontrollable desire. “I’ve been wondering what you taste like this entire time...And now I’m finally going to find out.”

You begin moving blindly down the hallway toward his bedroom without pulling your lips apart. Not even for a second do you separate from each other. Your mouths remain connected in a wild, wet rhythm that makes your knees weak. Jiyong bites down on your lower lip, presses his body against yours, and lets his impatient hands wander down your back to squeeze your ass firmly. In his drunken urgency, his hip slams hard into a console table, sending a set of keys crashing to the floor. The sound echoes through the space around you, but neither of you pays it any attention.

Jiyong leads you farther into his bedroom until the backs of your knees hit the edge of the enormous bed. You lose your balance and fall backward onto the soft, cool silk sheets. Jiyong immediately moves over you, trapping you between the mattress and his body. His hungry, darkened gaze nearly consumes you.

“Now I finally get to see what you're hiding under here,” he whispers hoarsely as he undoes the buttons of your blouse with jerky movements, the strained fabric quietly stretching beneath his fingers. “I want to see every single inch of the body I'm about to claim…”

His fingers slide lower toward your stomach, and when his warm palm touches your bare skin for the first time, an electric jolt shoots through your body. Your hips arch upward and a trembling moan escapes your lips. You bury your fingers in his hair and pull him back toward you. Jiyong immediately nips at the sensitive spot on your neck, lifting you slightly and unfastening your bra with one practiced movement before tossing it beside the bed. He sucks on the skin of your neck so hard that you know he'll leave a mark, one you'll have to carefully hide under makeup the next morning. Your breathing quickens and your moans fill the quiet bedroom. Jiyong’s palms travel upward again, cupping your breasts as his thumbs brush over your hardened nipples, pulling another wave of soft moans from you.

“You’re so soft, so perfect, made just for me...” he growls against your neck before lowering his mouth to your breasts, teasing one of your nipples with a gentle bite. His hands move to the zipper of your pants, unzipping them before pulling them down your thighs along with your panties. His fingers brush against your pussy, feeling the wetness waiting there. “Fuck, you’re already so wet, and I haven’t even given you all of my attention yet... What are you going to do when I’m inside you?”

His fingers slide directly between your thighs, touching your pussy for the first time as his fingertips glide over your folds, spreading your wetness over your clit. You throw your head back and dig your hands into the mattress as your trembling exhale turns into a loud, uncontrollable moan.

It's wild, drunken, sensual surrender. Jiyong kisses you and bites your sensitive nipples until he forces moan after moan from your lips. Meanwhile, your hands move to the buttons of his shirt, undoing them impatiently before pushing the fabric from his shoulders. The material slides over his skin, revealing his perfect body.

“Touch me, please,” he whispers desperately as your palm glides down his chest. “Show me how badly you want me...”

Jiyong pulls away for a moment to rid himself of his pants. He unbuckles his belt and unzips his jeans with a sharp sound, shoving them down along with his boxers and tossing them onto the floor. Now there's nothing left between you. Your fingers finally touch his hard cock. He's big, pulsing in your palm. Jiyong moans when you grip him firmly and begin stroking him in long, smooth motions. His hips instinctively press closer, thrusting into your palm.

“Fuck... That’s it, babygirl,” he breathes, closing his eyes as a satisfied smile spreads across his face. At the same time, his fingertips glide along the inside of your thigh. “Keep going. I’m so fucking ready for you... Show me what you can do before I ruin you.”

Everything melts into one heated blur. Your ragged breathing, the scent of his cologne mixed with alcohol, and the uncontrollable desire between you all blur together. After a moment, Jiyong pulls away, settles between your thighs, and fixes his gaze directly on your face. His fingers continue tracing your inner thigh before moving higher to slide two long fingers inside you. He begins stretching you slowly, preparing your body for his cock while his thumb circles your clit, creating a wave of mutual pleasure that makes your head spin.

“So wet for me,” he hisses when he feels you tightening and trembling around his fingers. “You’re milking my fingers... I want to taste you so fucking badly...”

Before you can answer, Jiyong slides down your body. His palms firmly spread your knees apart before he buries his face between your thighs. Your quiet cry of surprise disappears into the dim bedroom when you feel the warmth of his breath against your sensitive pussy.

Jiyong doesn’t wait. His tongue drags over you for the first time in one long, slow stroke directly across your pulsing clit. Your hips arch upward and your fingers desperately clutch the sheets as a sharp wave of pleasure surges through you. Jiyong growls in satisfaction at your reaction, devouring you with predatory intensity. His lips close firmly around your clit while his tongue flicks over it relentlessly, and two of his fingers push back inside you, setting a merciless pace.

“Jiyong... Oh God, Jiyong,” you moan breathlessly, intoxicated by desire and the alcohol still flowing through your veins. You feel the strength of his shoulders beneath your thighs and the persistent pressure of his mouth and tongue driving you insane. With every new stroke of his tongue, you feel the tension inside you rising closer to the breaking point.

Just as he brings you to the edge, he suddenly pulls away. He looks up at you, his lips shining with your wetness and pure triumph burning in his eyes.

“You taste incredible,” he whispers hoarsely, his voice rough with desire. “Sweet, hot, and completely mine... I want you. I want to fuck you so badly.”

You look into his eyes, trembling, turned on, and bold from the alcohol that's washed away your final restraints. “Then talk less and do more,” you breathe, even though your voice shakes with impatience and the lingering heat of his teasing.

Jiyong smiles dangerously. “Dirty girl.”

Without hesitation, he grabs your hips and pulls you directly beneath him. He spreads your knees even farther apart, settles between your thighs, and looks at you one last time to make sure you want him just as desperately as he wants you. When you impatiently roll your hips against his, he tightens his grip and thrusts into you in one sharp movement, burying himself to the hilt.

A loud, uncontrollable cry tears from your mouth and catches in your throat. His size completely overwhelms you for a moment. He's so big and hard that it feels as though he's stretching you from the inside beyond your limits. Jiyong immediately stops. The muscles across his back are tight, and he breathes heavily against your shoulder, giving you a moment to adjust to him.

“Don’t pretend you weren’t expecting this,” he growls hoarsely into your ear when he feels your pussy pulsing around him, desperate to take every inch of his cock.

The moment he notices your hips beginning to relax and you arch against him, he stops holding back and begins thrusting into you. Your eyes close in pleasure, your fingers dig into his shoulders, and all you can feel is the way he drives into you, every new thrust forcing you to gasp for breath.

“You like that?” Jiyong pants as he buries himself all the way inside you, his body slamming hard against yours. A rough moan rises from his chest while he watches you writhe helplessly beneath him with every thrust.

“Yes,” you breathe, lifting your hips to meet his thrusts. “Go faster, give me more...”

Jiyong smiles in satisfaction and immediately increases both the speed and depth of his thrusts. His pace is relentless. Every thrust fills you with his entire length, striking the sensitive spot deep inside you. The bedroom fills with the sound of your bodies slamming together in a steady rhythm, his rough moans, and your broken gasps.

“Touch yourself,” he suddenly commands, his eyes dark and focused. “I want to watch you rub your clit while I fuck you...”

Without the hesitation, your hand slides between your bodies and your trembling fingers find your sensitive clit, slick and swollen with desire. You begin rubbing yourself in rhythm with his thrusts, immediately feeling yourself approaching the edge again, tightening harder around him.

“That’s it,” Jiyong breathes with a quiet growl when he sees you writhing beneath him, your eyes squeezed shut. “Come for me... I want to feel you tighten around me when you come. I want to hear you scream my name.”

“Oh fuck, Jiyong, it feels so good…” You're in an absolute trance, your body pulsing with pure pleasure while the last traces of alcohol pleasantly blur the inhibitions you'd normally have during sex with a man you've only known for a few hours. You're so completely lost in the moment and the effort to reach your orgasm that you don't even notice someone has been standing in the half-open bedroom doorway for a while, watching what's happening on Jiyong's bed.

Jiyong, however, pauses almost imperceptibly in the middle of one deep, slower thrust, and the muscles across his back stiffen. He slowly turns his head toward the door, raising one eyebrow as a smirk appears on his lips. You're still lying beneath him, breathing heavily, and you're too far gone for it to pull you out of the moment. Your hips lift instinctively, and you don't understand why he's stopped. You want more, and his stillness is destroying you.

Then a deep, raspy voice cuts through the silence, instantly sending goosebumps across your entire body.

“You’re rushing, Jiyong. You always rush everything... Neither of you is going to enjoy it properly like that,” Seunghyun’s low voice says.

Your eyes fly open, and you tilt your head back enough to see Seunghyun’s silhouette in the dim doorway. He's leaning against the frame, wearing a loose black T-shirt and matching dark boxers. The thin fabric can no longer hide how hard he is, or how much the sight of the two of you has turned him on. Slowly, without a single hurried movement, he grips the hem of his shirt, pulls it over his head, and lets it fall to the floor. His dark eyes never leave yours for even a second. He sees you completely naked, vulnerable, and spread beneath his best friend, his gaze locked on the hand that was moving between your thighs only moments ago...

Instead of panic or shame, a wild wave of heat spreads through you. The thought that Seunghyun's been watching you like this, and that he clearly wants you, makes your heart pound even faster with desire and alcohol.

Jiyong lets out a quiet, amused laugh, watching Seunghyun before lowering his gaze to you. His grip on your hips tightens, his fingers digging into your skin as he deliberately drives into you again, slowly and deeply, right in front of Seunghyun’s eyes. A long moan escapes your lips as your body adjusts to the renewed pressure of his thrusts.

Seunghyun takes one slow step toward the bed, his presence instantly filling the room. He watches Jiyong thrusting into you as though Seunghyun isn't even there. He watches your thighs tremble, seeing how desperately you react to every thrust.

“She really is beautiful... Were you seriously planning to keep her all to yourself?”

Jiyong tightens his grip on your hips and lets out a soft laugh. “No. I just knew we’d probably wake you up and that you’d invite yourself in...”

“Can I join you?” Seunghyun asks, tearing his gaze away from Jiyong and looking down at you.

He waits for your answer before moving any closer.

“Yes...” you breathe, unable to stop your gaze from dropping to the hard outline beneath his boxer briefs. You bite your lower lip and impatiently reach toward his thigh.

Hooking his thumbs into the waistband, Seunghyun slides his boxers down his long legs and kicks them aside. Your eyes follow his every move, your breath hitching as his fully erect cock springs free. He's thick, heavy, and pulsing with anticipation, entirely bare before you now.

Seunghyun’s lips curve into a satisfied smirk as he tilts his head slightly. “Do you like what you see?”

You part your lips, but your voice catches in your throat.

Seunghyun kneels on the mattress beside your head, his long fingers gently brushing a strand of hair away from your damp forehead before his fingertips glide across your cheek.

“You're really going to let us both have you, princess?” he asks in a low, dangerous murmur.

When you nod and pull him closer, only then does his other hand slide along your inner thigh to spread your legs a little wider, giving Jiyong enough space to thrust even deeper. The new pressure makes you throw your head back and moan.

Seunghyun leans down toward you, finding your lips to silence your moans with a kiss. His tongue takes possession of your mouth with calm dominance while Jiyong moves inside you in a steady rhythm. You're trapped between the two of them, surrounded by their scent, their heat, and their presence...

When Seunghyun finally pulls away from your lips, his gaze drops toward your hips. Jiyong seems to know exactly what he wants. Slowly, they guide you into a new position together. Jiyong carefully slides out of you, making you moan quietly at the loss, as their hands turn you over onto all fours.

Your knees sink into the soft silk, your hands tremble, and your head spins pleasantly as you find yourself face-to-face with Seunghyun, who is kneeling directly in front of you. Jiyong doesn’t waste a moment behind you. He moves close, running his palms over your hips to squeeze your ass gently before his hands grip them firmly. From this new angle, he guides the tip of his cock back inside you in one deep thrust.

An helplesscry tears from your mouth. Jiyong holds you firmly, his thrusts deeper and more forceful in this position. You arch your back beneath the pressure, pushing yourself even closer to Seunghyun, who's kneeling in front of you, stroking his hard cock several times before moving closer. You lift your hazy gaze to meet his, his eyes dark, hungry, and focused entirely on you, on your eyes and your mouth.

“Princess...” Seunghyun whispers hoarsely, his deep voice driving you crazy. One hand slides into your hair, gently forcing your head back. “I want to feel your beautiful mouth around my cock... Do you want that too?”

Behind you, Jiyong thrusts even deeper with a low moan. The angle is perfect, every thrust striking your most sensitive spot with absolute precision. You feel his fingers digging into your hips, stretching you, taking you with his entire length. The sound of skin slamming against skin mixes with Jiyong’s uneven breathing, his expression far too easy to imagine even though you can't see him, because your eyes are locked only on Seunghyun.

“I do...” Your voice shakes, and your throat feels tight and completely dry. “I want your cock deep in my throat... right now.”

Seunghyun growls in satisfaction and pushes his hips closer to your face before gently tapping the tip of his cock against your lower lip. “Then open up. Open that beautiful mouth and take me... Show me how badly you want it.”

Your lips part and you exhale shakily when the smooth, wet tip of his cock touches your tongue for the first time. Salty drops of precum spread through your mouth, and you lean forward without hesitation. At first, you only circle his tip with your tongue, sucking gently and enjoying his taste. After a moment, you press your tongue against the slit at the tip before slowly beginning to take more of him into your mouth.

“Fuck,” Seunghyun breathes, his head falling back as pleasure surges through his body. “That feels so fucking good... Give me more, princess. Take me deeper...”

Seunghyun’s large palms slide into your hair, his fingers weaving through the hair, but he doesn’t pull. He only holds you firmly, controlling the depth while adjusting his hips to the pace you set by moving your head back and forth. You raise one hand and place it against his thigh to let him know if you need to breathe, feeling the muscles beneath your palm tightening and his breathing growing faster. You hollow your cheeks, sealing your lips around Seunghyun’s cock and sucking him tight as you move your head faster, taking as much of him into your mouth as you can.

Behind you, Jiyong growls in satisfaction, taking in the perfect view of both of you. His thrusts are short, sharp, and merciless, driving into your body one after another. The bed creaks beneath the weight of your passion as his heated skin slams hard against yours.

“Fuck, this is the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” Jiyong pants through his teeth, his voice rough as he begins losing control. “I can feel you tightening around me... Do you want to come that badly?”

You have no chance to answer, only moaning around Seunghyun’s cock, which makes him begin meeting your pace more eagerly. His hips move in a calm, steady rhythm that creates a torturous contrast to Jiyong’s wild thrusts. You feel him against your tongue and deep in your throat, your muscles instinctively tightening around him every time you swallow. His moans remain low and rough, but with every thrust, he loses more of his careful control.

“Princess,” Seunghyun groans again, this time completely undone by your mouth. “God... You suck me so fucking good...”

Jiyong hits your most sensitive spot every time he drives into you, sending you racing uncontrollably toward the edge. The pressure, the intensity, and the knowledge that you're filled from both sides, surrendering to two men at once, drives you insane. Every deep thrust from Jiyong rubs exactly where you need it until tears of pleasure fill your eyes.

Seunghyun’s moans grow louder and his fingers tighten in your hair as his hips move faster. “Come with me, princess,” he urges in a hoarse, desperate voice. “I want to feel your throat tighten around me when you come...”

Jiyong’s thrusts grow rougher behind you, his self-control completely shattered. His pace is deep and fast, his grip on your hips so firm that his knuckles turn white. The bedroom fills with the raw sound of skin slamming against skin and your broken breathing.

The unbearable intensity in your lower stomach, Jiyong’s relentless pace, and Seunghyun deep in your throat, his hoarse moaning finally throwing you over the edge. A violent spasm surges through your body. Only a muffled, strangled sob escapes around Seunghyun’s cock as you arch into a breathless orgasm. Your inner muscles clench wildly around Jiyong while your mouth tightens around Seunghyun, forcing both men to moan loudly at almost the exact same moment.

After a while, when your frantic breathing begins to calm, Seunghyun straightens above you, pulling back to let you breathe. His eyes are darker than ever, but his movements remain surprisingly gentle. One palm strokes your cheek while the other supports your shoulder to help you steady yourself after the shattering orgasm.

Jiyong remains inside you for a moment, still hard, just like Seunghyun. His hands slowly slide from your waist along the curves of your hips, his thumbs drawing soothing circles over your sweaty skin to give you time to recover. Then he grips your hips firmly, slowly pulling out of you, and with Seunghyun’s help carefully turns you over to lower you onto your back against the silk sheets. His gaze remains predatory, his lips trembling slightly, his entire body clearly ready to continue as Jiyong and Seunghyun exchange positions without a word.

Seunghyun moves between your spread thighs. Unlike Jiyong’s, his movements are slow, deliberate, and perfectly controlled. His large palms slide beneath your thighs, lifting your hips higher as his cock presses against your entrance.

“Ready for another round?” he asks in a quiet, deep voice that makes your lower stomach tighten while he continues stroking your trembling thighs in slow circles.

All you can do is nod and shift your hips closer to him. With parted lips, you watch as he slowly pushes inside you, his size filling you relentlessly, inch by inch. You feel his entire length stretching you open, claiming you all the way to the deepest part of your body. His pace is almost hypnotic, completely different from Jiyong’s but equally perfect. He gives you one deep thrust, pausing for a moment to look into your eyes before pushing a little farther than before.

“God, can you feel it too, princess? How deep I am and how completely I’m filling you?” he asks hoarsely, buried so deeply inside you that there's almost no space left between your bodies.

“Yes,” you breathe, desperately clutching the sheets beneath your fingers. “It feels so good...”

Jiyong doesn’t stay still for long, kneeling beside your hip to watch in fascination as Seunghyun drives into you with deep, slow thrusts. One hand wraps firmly around his own cock, still pulsing with the need to come, as he begins stroking himself in long, firm motions. He watches Seunghyun’s muscular body move rhythmically between your legs, drinking in the way pleasure transforms your expression.

“You’re so beautiful, so perfect... I feel like I could come right now just from looking at your face and your body...”

His other hand slides over your tight, sweaty stomach toward your clit, extremely sensitive and swollen after your first orgasm. Jiyong’s fingers begin rubbing it in perfect rhythm with Seunghyun’s deep thrusts.

“Still so sensitive...”

At the same moment, Jiyong bends low over you, his rapid breathing warming your skin. He presses his lips to yours, pushing his tongue into your mouth. Your kisses are hungry and wet while Seunghyun maintains his focused rhythm between your thighs, pushing you closer to another orgasm. Jiyong pulls back just enough for his lips to still brush yours as he whispers so quietly that only you can hear him.

“Do you like it, babygirl?”

You nod desperately, completely lost in the heated chaos. Your fingers slide into his hair, pulling him back into another hungry kiss to drown your loud sob of pleasure in his mouth.

Seunghyun watches the two of you from his position, his gaze fixed on Jiyong’s fingers and your tangled lips. The sight drives him wild, his hips moving a little faster while maintaining the depth of his thrusts, forcing you to arch your back every time he drives into you.

Jiyong presses harder against your clit, teasing you in a perfect rhythm, pushing you helplessly toward the edge. You're trapped between Seunghyun’s deep thrusts, Jiyong’s mouth, and his fingers working your clit.

“Please,” you breathe against Jiyong’s lips in an agony of pure pleasure, your hips twisting uncontrollably beneath the weight of both men. “I’m... I’m so close...”

“Not yet,” Seunghyun commands, immediately slowing down. “Hold on a little longer. We want you to enjoy this as much as we are.”

Jiyong pulls away from your mouth but doesn’t release you, taking your hand to guide your fingers directly around his cock, pulsing firmly in your palm, hard and heavy.

“Not yet,” Seunghyun commands, immediately slowing down. “Hold on a little longer. We want you to enjoy this as much as we are.”

Jiyong pulls away from your mouth but doesn’t release you, taking your hand to guide your fingers directly around his cock, pulsing firmly in your palm, hard and heavy.

“Stroke me, baby,” he whispers, his gaze fixed on your lips. “I want to feel your fingers. Make me come...”

Your hand closes firmly around the thick length of his cock. You begin stroking him smoothly and firmly up and down, skin sliding over skin slick with your combined fluids. Beneath your fingers, you feel the frantic pulse of his blood, realizing that he's racing toward his orgasm too.

“That’s it,” Jiyong breathes, his breathing quickening. “Squeeze me properly…harder...”

At that moment, Seunghyun drives into you harder, his pace quickening as his careful self-control breaks at the sight of you. His large hands roughly grip your hips so tightly that you know his fingers will leave dark bruises tomorrow. His thrusts are steady and fast, driven by a single goal.

“I'm close, princess,” Seunghyun pants, his eyes tightly closed as the muscles in his neck strain beneath the force of his pleasure. “So close, princess…”

Meanwhile, Jiyong’s fingers work your clit at a wild, slippery pace. Your body coils tight, and a new, deeper, burning wave explodes in your lower stomach. Seunghyun feels your pussy tightening around his cock, knowing you're going over the edge.

“Now,” Seunghyun growls through his teeth. “Come for us...”

A violent spasm surges through your body, your inner muscles clenching rhythmically around him as another orgasm floods you. Seunghyun lets out a hoarse cry. At the final second, he pulls out, gripping his cock to stroke it quickly until he comes with a deep, guttural moan directly across your bare stomach. Hot, thick ropes of his cum splash against your skin, pooling around your navel. Seunghyun trembles all over, gasping for breath as he looks down with dark satisfaction at the mark he's left on you.

Jiyong lets out a low, ragged moan beside you, his fingers still pressed against your swollen pussy, frozen as he focuses entirely on his own orgasm. Your grip tightens around his cock.

“Fuck...” Jiyong gasps, his back arching, and in the next second his own hot cum spills across your hand and over your breasts. White drops run over the sensitive skin of your chest, mixing with Seunghyun’s mark on your stomach, perfect proof that none of this was merely a creation of your drunken mind.

All three of you collapse into the silk sheets moments later, completely exhausted, sweaty, and breathing heavily. After a while, Seunghyun reaches toward the nightstand with a quiet exhale, taking a few tissues to gently and carefully wipe your stomach and breasts clean. Then he wraps one strong arm around your waist to pull you against his warm chest, where you can still feel the frantic beating of his heart. Jiyong immediately presses against you from the other side, wrapping one leg around you as he places a tired but unexpectedly soft kiss against your temple.

Your eyes begin closing on their own as the alcohol slowly fades, absolute exhaustion taking over. You're trapped in their embrace, surrounded by the warmth and scent of both men. Seunghyun slowly strokes your side with his large palm in a soothing rhythm while Jiyong’s fingers move gently across your bare back, drawing invisible patterns over your skin.

“Get some rest, baby,” Jiyong murmurs into the quiet bedroom, his voice completely calm and rough with sleep.

Seunghyun only hums softly in agreement, kissing your shoulder. Feeling completely safe and satisfied between their bodies, you slowly fall into a deep sleep…

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

When you open your eyes the next morning, the first thing that hits you is the sharp, cold light slipping through the curtains and directly into the penthouse bedroom. A heavy silence fills the room. Your head throbs from the leftover alcohol, your entire body sore in the most satisfying way you've ever experienced. Every muscle reminds you of the wild intensity of the night...

You turn your head to find Seunghyun is no longer in bed. The space beside you is empty, the sheets on his side cold. You remember his lips, his touch, and the way his palm moved over your side before you fell asleep, but in the morning light, all that remains is a strange sense of regret that the private bubble surrounding the three of you has burst.

Jiyong is sitting on the edge of the bed with his back turned toward you. He's completely naked, his face buried in his hands as he exhales heavily and unevenly. The atmosphere in the bedroom is thick, the alcohol gone, and with it the carefree passion of last night, leaving only the raw, cold reality.

Pure desperation races through Jiyong’s mind. You only met last night, but the conversation flowed so naturally that he'd been completely captivated long before you ever left the club. You had so much to talk about, and he liked you more than he's liked anyone in a very long time. Now that he's sober, he's paralyzed by the fear that he's lost you for good. He hates himself for being so drunk and turned on that he allowed Seunghyun to join you. The thought that last night might've been the first and final moment you would ever share completely destroys him. He has no idea how to save the situation, so instead, he closes himself off...

You reach out to touch his tense back. “Jiyong...?” Your voice is hoarse and quiet.

The moment your fingertips touch his skin, Jiyong shifts away. He straightens, avoiding your gaze, his profile hard as stone. He can't bring himself to look into your eyes, expecting to see his own failure reflected there, along with the rejection he fears so much.

“You should get dressed,” Jiyong says in a quiet, exhausted voice. He sounds irritated, but beneath the coldness, there's only helplessness.

You freeze, a painful lump forming in your throat. “What?”

“This shouldn’t have happened...” He finally turns toward you, his expression unreadable and evasive. “We were really drunk. Just... get dressed and leave... please.”

The words cut deep. You feel awful because the spark between you last night had been so intense, and now he's pushing you away because of his own guilt. It wasn’t just sex... was it? You talked for hours. You laughed together. Even leaving the club, you felt as though something real had formed between you. Despite the brutal hangover, you find the last pieces of your pride, refusing to let him see how deeply his words have hurt you.

Without a word, you climb out of bed, ignoring the ache throughout your body to gather your clothes from the floor. With trembling hands, you pull on your blouse and fasten the buttons. Jiyong remains seated on the bed, staring at the floor, giving you space to leave in silence.

When you walk through the enormous, modern living room, your steps slow beside the kitchen counter.

Seunghyun is standing there.

He's already fully dressed in a clean, perfectly fitted white shirt, leaning against the marble counter with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. Unlike Jiyong, he doesn’t hide his gaze. His deep, calm eyes immediately catch yours, following your every move, searching for any small sign that might reveal how badly you're truly feeling...

“I made breakfast...and coffee. You should eat something before you leave.”

You turn toward him while the morning hangover continues throbbing against your temples. You really need to drink and eat, you‘re incredibly hungry, but the thought of sitting here having breakfast with Seunghyun while Jiyong waits in his bedroom for you to leave doesn’t let you consider the kind offer for even a moment.

“Thank you, Seunghyun,” you breathe in a quiet but steady voice. “But I’m not hungry. I want to go home.”

Seunghyun nods in understanding, making no move to persuade you. He places his coffee on the counter and walks toward the barstool where your coat is draped over the back. You vaguely remember it lying on the hallway floor last night, exactly where Jiyong stripped it from you. Seunghyun must've picked it up this morning, bringing it into the kitchen.

He approaches you with slow, calm steps. Lifting the coat from the chair, he holds it open to help you slide your arms inside. While adjusting the collar, his hand pauses briefly near your neck, as though he wants to stroke your face, or perhaps you're only imagining it because your desperate mind is searching for any small sign that last night wasn’t a mistake, that it wasn’t something you should regret.

Still, it doesn’t change the fact that Seunghyun is treating you incredibly kindly, and if Jiyong weren't in the penthouse, you'd be grateful for both the breakfast and Seunghyun’s presence.

“Jiyong gets these nasty hangovers, especially when he starts overthinking. He gets moody and pushes everyone away. Don’t take it personally,” he says, interrupting your thoughts, his voice calming you in a strange way.

He walks you toward the door and opens it.

“Take care of yourself, princess.”

The way he addresses you sends heat to your cheeks, forcing you to lower your face into the collar of your coat. His words echo relentlessly inside your head, returning again and again, and you don’t have the strength to answer him.

You step into the mirrored elevator.

Only when the doors close and the cabin moves downward with a quiet hum does your proud mask finally fall away. Tears spill over your cheeks, the same tears you fought so hard to hold back inside the penthouse. The sight of your reflection in the mirror is miserable, your eyes tired, your hair disheveled, and your lips a raw reminder that they belonged to both of them only a few hours ago.

Jiyong’s cold words about a drunken mistake still burn in your chest. All the chemistry between you at the bar had felt so real...

Or are you genuinely that naive and stupid?

The phone you've been clutching tightly suddenly vibrates.

You flinch and look down at the screen, where a new message is waiting.

From Jiyong...

Seeing his name reminds you how you laughingly swapped phones at the club to save your numbers, promising that you absolutely had to see each other again.

Your heart pounds in your throat. With a trembling finger, you open the message, and before you can even finish reading, another notification appears beneath it.

Then another...

J: I’m sorry about this morning.

J: I fucked it up...

J: I was so fucking drunk last night... Now that I’m sober, the thought of sharing you is destroying me...

J: I want to make it right. Just you and me. Will you give me another chance? Please..

You release a deep breath, leaning your back against the cold mirror of the elevator. The heavy knot inside your chest slowly dissolves. It wasn’t rejection caused by a lack of interest, but possessive jealousy, fear, and a man’s ego that couldn’t handle waking up the next morning. His messages explain why he changed so suddenly, but they don’t erase the way he sent you away only moments ago.

Relief mixes with pain and the remains of your justified anger, and yet a faint, tired smile appears on your lips… You'll answer him when you're safely home and have had time to calm down.

You turn off the screen, sliding your phone into your coat pocket. But at that moment, your fingers touch something else inside, something that definitely wasn’t there last night...

Confused, you reach deeper to pull out a small, neatly folded piece of paper. You open it, your eyes moving over the sharp handwriting. There's a phone number written there, and beneath it:

Some sins are worth repeating. And I don’t like giving up things once I’ve had a taste of them. I’d like to see you again, this time without Jiyong. Call me.

Seunghyun

Your breath catches.

Seunghyun must've slipped the note into your coat pocket this morning when he went into the kitchen... While Jiyong was drowning in his own regret and is now asking you for a second chance at a normal beginning, Seunghyun is making it clear without hesitation or apology that he's interested in you.

The memories of last night immediately resurface, two completely different energies tearing you apart. Jiyong... wild, impulsive, and burning. His lips against your neck, his hoarse whispers, and the hunger that drove you insane.

And Seunghyun... his calm strength, firm hands, dominant kisses, and deep voice that sent goosebumps across your skin...

Both of them tasted you, both of them marked you... And you want both of them, each in a different way.

The elevator reaches the ground floor with a quiet chime, the doors opening into the spacious lobby. Beyond the glass walls, the busy morning streets of Seoul are already alive. You hide the note back inside your pocket beside the phone that vibrates again, and for the first time, you take a proper breath.

You're caught exactly in the middle.

Between two sins

And which one you eventually surrender to is now entirely up to you…

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- He can tell they're gesturing his way without even having to turn his head, hearing the words 'freak' and 'psycho' muttered in hushed voices, before the question that really cuts through him; 'how did he end with you?' It echoes through his mind as he begins his walk home, his usual confident answer feeling completely out of reach tonight. Because now he can't really remember why you like him, and it makes him feel like his world is crashing down around him, and before he can think through any of this he's running in the wrong direction. 

- You hear a gentle tap against the glass of your backdoor as you stand in the kitchen, trying to make some tea to help you study since you couldn't make yourself pay attention to your books tonight. You know the shimmering outline of your boyfriend before you even open the door, his sudden appearance a pleasant surprise from a man who so rarely does anything spontaneous. But when you pull the door open he doesn't look like himself, his eyes as sullen as ever as he stares up at you, trying to speak as he catches his breath. 

"Tell me - why do you - how did we-" Your brow furrows in confusion as you try follow his words, scanning him for injury, worried that trouble has managed to find him yet again. He stills himself for a moment, letting air fill his lungs before asking far more concisely, "Tell me you love me." It's a simple request, but it makes Sieun feel far too vulnerable, his eyes threatening to spill tears as he awaits your reply. 

"I love you Sieun." You don't hesitate, or ask for a reason, letting one hand wrap around his shoulder while the other rests against his cheek, stepping close enough to nudge his nose with yours. "You're brave and smart and kind and thoughtful, and I love you, okay?" He nods quickly, the softest hint of a smile sketching along his cheeks as he steals one quick kiss and echoes 'I love you too.' 

- With that he turns to walk away, until you grab his wrist and tug him back inside. "You're already here, you might as well help me study!" He's never been more grateful for an invitation. 

Ahn Suho

- Suho is a pretty confident guy, and usually it doesn't take much more than a text to let him know that you're thinking about him to keep any insecurities at bay. But half way through the delivery shift from hell, he feels like he might fall apart if he doesn't see your face this instance. Shitty customers have been calling him useless and stupid all night, and as rain starts soaking through his jacket as he walks back to his bike, he's just grateful he isn't too far from your place right now. 

- You're already thinking about your sweet boyfriend as you watch the rain hammer against your bedroom window, the street just below starting to form small puddles that you hope that he's managing to avoid. As if summoned by your very thought, the shape of Suho appears right in front of you, outside your window, startling you to the point of almost tripping over before you slide the window wide open with a giggle. All the laughter leaves your lungs when you take in how despondent Suho looks. He's soaked in the rain and he looks bone tired, and his lips is twitching as he tries to say something to beg for your affections. Before he manages to get out a single word, you lean halfway out of the window, grabbing the soaking collar of his jacket and dragging him closer for a deep kiss that feels endlessly warm to him in the chill of the night. His hands frame your face as he pulls you firmly against his lips, taking in every drop of affection you grant him and thanking every spirit in the sky that this is how his beloved greets him when he appears out of nowhere. 

- The second he pulls back from your lips a smile graces his face, and the words spill out, a lightness to them now that you've already helped him remember. "Tell me you love me." It's not like him to ask for reassurance, so you make sure you're looking straight in his eyes as you reply, "I love you Suho." The words are so full of affection he feels like he's hearing them for the first time again, and he can't help but cling to you as he repeats the sentiment to you, in awe of how quickly you can turn the toughest night into a memory he'll cherish forever. "Now get inside before you catch a cold, I'll grab you a towel." You barely have to gesture to him before he's throwing himself through your window, tutting and making a joke about how you'll find any excuse to undress him. 

Oh Beomseok

- It would take absolutely nothing to make Beomseok seek out reassurance from you, most of his inner monologue just a stream of doubts that you'd ever really want him. Not the way he wants you; you are the single best thing that has ever happened to him, and the only person his heart could ever belong to. He usually settles for phone calls and selfies to remind him you're there for him when you have to be apart, but after a particular cruel lecture from his father, he needs more than a phone can provide. 

- When you get a text from Beomseok in the middle of the night, you already know what it's going to say. The words 'I'm outside' light up your lock screen as you slip out onto the little patio outside your front door, where Beomseok is waiting for you, eyes glued to the floor. You waste no time wrapping your arms tightly around his shoulders, feeling his whole weight melt against you as soft sobs escape his lips, his breath uneven against your neck. 

"I'm sorry." It breaks your heart that the first thing he says is always "I'm sorry", like his presence is such an imposition that he shouldn't bother you at all. 

"Don't be sorry Beom, I always love to see you." You try and comfort him but his body only shudders harder at the word 'love' leaving your lips, so much more than he deserves or will ever understand. But as he clings to your shirt like he's terrified you'll disappear, he lets out a small plea, almost lost between tears. 

"Tell me you love me." You know tonight must have been particularly hard on him, so you separate one hand from where it rests on his back, and bring it to cup his cheek, tilting his chin upwards until his eyes are forced to meet yours. 

"I love you Beomseok. More than anything. Always. I love you." You let the words hang in the air as he searches your gaze for any sign of dishonesty, or pity, or doubt. But he finds only warmth and devotion, the way he prays you can tell that he looks at you. He barely even notices as you silently lead him into your home and towards the sanctuary of your bedroom, so lost in your heartfelt stare that he'd follow you to the ends of the earth if it kept you looking at him. 

Park Humin (Baku) 

- Baku was stuck in an impossible position. Caught between the Union and his friends and his father, all the expectations feeling like an unrelenting weight pressing down on him. His chest felt tight every time he tried to think about his future, what he was going to do, how he was going to stop everything from falling apart around him. He knew more than anything the one person he needed to hold onto if he was going to make it through all of this; you.

- Honestly it wasn't that unusual for Humin to invite himself over to your house and just forget to tell you he was coming, the sight of his beaming smile never failing to make up for his unplanned arrival. But today he looked lost, broken, smaller than the larger than life man you fell in love with. You quickly ushered him through to your bedroom before he could think twice about bothering you, helping him settle on the edge of your bed before climbing into his lap, arms draped over his shoulders as you scanned his face for any sign of what was on his mind. 

"What's wrong, Humin?" You sighed out, voice trembling with worry as he clung to you more tightly, pulling you flush against his chest as best he could. 

"You love me right? Please. Tell me you love me." You could hear the crack in his voice as he fought back his tears, his grip on you too strong for you to lean back and see his eyes misting over. 

"Oh Humin, I love you. I love you so much." Your fingers combed through his hair as you leaned your weight into him, letting him cling to you with all his strength as you echoed the words until he could feel them slowly sinking in. 

"And you'll keep loving me, right?" He couldn't face the thought of losing you in all this mess, of losing the one thing he knew he could build a future around. 

"For as long as you'll let me." That was all it took for him to feel like he was stood on solid ground again. But that doesn't mean he's not going to keep holding you until you both fall asleep. 

Go Hyuntak (Gotak) 

- Gotak used to think he was unshakable. He knew who he was and what he was worth, and all the reasons the two of you made a perfect pair. But then his knee got injured, and he couldn't move the way he used to, and all at once his confidence was shattered alongside it. And now, freshly out of the hospital and struggling with his crutches, there was only one place he needed to go; wherever you were. 

- Thankfully the walk to your house wasn't that long, but with his knee in such a bad state every step was an agonising reminder of what he'd lost. The kind of man he couldn't be anymore. How he wasn't the athlete you fell in love with, and how he might never be again. He prayed that wasn't the only thing that mattered to you, but he knew as he closed the gap between your homes, that he'd be kidding himself if he thought he had much else to offer someone as special as you. 

- You spot him before he makes it half way up your street, the pained sounds of him forcing himself along the uneven cobbled ripping through your heart. He's so singularly focused on dragging himself to your door that he only registers the sound of your racing footsteps when you're almost in front of him, pure concern in your eyes that starts tears pricking at the corner of his. 

"Hyuntak, what are you doing?! You should be resting at home, what's wrong?" You're fussing over him and trying to take some of his weight against you as you notice the redness of his eyes and the croak in his voice as he speaks, 

"Do you still like me, even like this?" Your usually confident boyfriend is speaking more softly than you've ever heard him before, unsure and uneasy, like he doesn't think you'll give him the answer he's hoping for. 

"Of course I do." You're brushing the hair from out of his eyes and trying to get him to focus on you, but his gaze remains fixed to the cast on his leg as he speaks again, 

"Tell me you love me." 

"I love you Hyuntak. I loved you before your knee got hurt, I'll love you while it's hurting, and I'll love you when it's healed and you're feeling more like yourself. I'll love you for all of it, I swear." Now he can face looking at you, and the soft smile you only wear for him, the one that's brought him more comfort than he can ever explain to you. He softens then, letting himself rest against you, tone so much lighter as he leans closer, 

"So you weren't just dating me for my badass fighting skills?" You hum like you're considering it, before replying, 

"Actually I'm only with you for your good looks, but thankfully you're still handsome. Now come sit down before you end up even more injured!" And with that he'll follow back to yours, his usually cocky smile back over his cheeks. 

Seo Juntae

- Falling in love with you had done absolute wonders for Juntae's self-esteem. Where once he only saw a small nerdy loser when he looked in the mirror, now he sees someone worthy of respect and praise and affection, thanks to the efforts of you and his newfound friends. But sometimes one of his old bullies still crosses his path to remind him how easily he can be knocked down to size. 

- When something like that happens, and he finds himself a little bruised and his shoulders slumping more than they should, he knows he has to find you. The person that makes it all okay, that reminds him that there's so much more to him and his life than all the time he's spent being picked on. It doesn't matter where you are, Juntae knows you'll make the time and space for him, to put him back together the way you always know how to, and when he taps lightly on your front door he feels slightly better already. 

- You take in the sight of your boyfriend, hunched over, a new purple bruise blooming against his cheekbone, and immediately land your lips against his. You don't know what to say just yet, but you know that the taste of your lip balm and the feel of your lips is usually enough to stop Juntae's inner monologue from getting too dark, his hands clinging to your waist as he returns your kiss with the same gentle passion, so happy he gets to be this close to you. 

"What can I do to make this better Jun?" You ask as your forehead rests against his, careful to avoid any injured patches of skin that you make a mental note to clean up for him later. 

"Tell me you love me." The request comes out on pure instinct, Juntae knowing exactly what he needs before he can even process it, his heart hammering as you quickly grant his wish. 

"I love you Juntae. So much. You're my favourite person." He lets out a charming laugh at that and you can tell he's feeling more cheerful already, but that doesn't mean you aren't going to make the most of an afternoon cuddled up with your human teddy bear. 

Geum Seongje

- Seongje had lost a fight. Seongje never loses a fight, but today he was outnumbered, and outmatched, and he'd been lucky to get out of there without worse injuries than a few nasty bruises and a shattered ego. He felt adrift, out of his body as his feet carried him in the direction of comfort and reassurance. In the direction of you. 

- You who had always seen past Seongje's rough exterior and who challenged him and supported him and made him feel more like a person than he'd ever really felt before. You who had shown him he could be capable of more than violence, able to feel positive things and make someone's life better for being in it, rather than worse. He needed you now more than ever, even if an unkind voice in his head told him you'd be better off without a loser like him tonight. 

- You were lucky you were home alone, because Seongje didn't wait more than a second after you opened the door to pounce on you. Frantic hands grabbed at your hips as he pushed you against the nearest wall, his lips greedily latching onto yours and muffling the surprised noise you made at his intensity. You could taste the metallic sting of blood as his tongue slid between your lips, the sensation jarring enough to pull you away for just a second, long enough to take notice of the bruises on his face, and the dark need in his stare. 

"Tell me you love me." He muttered quietly between kisses along your neck, the sound getting lost in his affections. 

"Huh?" You squeaked out the noise as his teeth nipped at your throat, your fingers threading through his hair as he looked up to meet your eyes, speaking more clearly and more desperately this time. 

"Tell me you fucking love me." It would have almost been scary as his voice raised to a shout, but his commanding presence was betrayed by the slight wobble of a whimper that showed just how close to tears he really was. 

"I love you Seongje." You replied softly, steering his lips back to yours and letting your nails scrape along the hair on the nape of his neck, feeling him lean into you, body slotting flush against yours. 

"Again." He was so close that his lips brushes yours as he pleaded, leaving just long enough for you to reply before closing the gap with renewed passion. 

"I love you. I love you. I love you" You let the words echo like a symphony, his breath hitching with each verse as he let every one of his senses be filled with your presence. Burying his face against your neck and breathing in the scent of you as his tongue darted against your skin, feeling your body buck against him in response. The soft brush of your fingers through his hair was enough to dull any ache from his injuries, his sole focus now just getting as close to you as possible. 

"I love you too. And I'm sleeping over." He finally replied, his voice still sounding closer to a whine than he would have liked, but he couldn't find it in himself to care when he saw how sweetly you smiled at the words. 

Na Baekjin 

- Baekjin isn't one for grand gestures or big displays of affection when it comes to you. You feel safe, you feel like home, if he can imagine what that might feel like, he knows how you feel and he knows that he's made his feelings clear too. That should be all that there is to it...but today is testing him. 

- Union guys whose loyalty is suddenly wavering. His boss reminding him how expendable he is. A trip to drop off donations reminding him of just how untethered he's been for as long as he can remember. It's getting on top of him as he sits at his desk in the bowling alley, checking his watch and realising its too late to call you, but you're the only thing he wants right now. He tries to talk himself out of bothering you as he leaves his office and books himself a taxi. He arrives at your front door and chastises himself for being so pathetic. He walks around to the back garden, telling himself he's just going to peek through your window and then he'll leave you alone, not allowing himself to interrupt your night for his own selfish needs. He kicks himself for these unreasonable desires as he notices the faint glow of a lamp through the window, and before he can gain a better grip on himself, his knuckles tap against the glass just enough to get your attention. 

- You're half asleep to some TV show when the sound jolts you awake, cautiously peering towards the window and feeling relief wash over you as you see Baekjin's stoic expression waiting there. 

"Hello Romeo." You sigh out with a quiet laugh as you pull the window open and lean out enough to press a soft kiss to his cheek, his face barely responding as he looks at you intensely. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this late night visit?" Your tone is light and teasing as lean to the other cheek and landing a matching kiss, but when you notice the slightest gulp of his throat, you quickly still yourself and reach for his hand instead. 

"Just - tell me you love me." His voice is as nonchalant and icy as ever, but you know him well enough to sense the slight tremor that runs through it, the hollowness in the pauses that say as much as the words themselves. You nod solemnly, looking him deeply in his eyes as you speak, 

"I love you Baekjin. Forever." It's almost a command with how firmly you say it, no room for doubt or hesitation as he scans your expression for both. He thought the words would be enough to stitch up the wound that the day has inflicted upon him, but instead it has the opposite effect, his guard suddenly down enough for all the feelings to hit him at once. Thankfully he's well practiced at hopping through your window late at night, and with one swift manoeuvre he's in the room with you, clutching your form against his chest as a sob breaks free of this throat. You slowly guide him backwards until he's able rest on your bed, still wrapped around you as you echo the sweet sentiment and remind him that you're here for him, no matter what. That he'll always have a home with you. 

“What look?” He turned around still playing with the tie and you let out a sigh, walking over to him. 

“You know, the look.” You tighten the tie with a smirk, your face inches from his.

“The one where I want to take full advantage of you? Yeah, that’s just my face, Ji.” You leaned in, placing a small kiss to his cheek. “Nice tie, definitely wouldn’t mind being tied up later.” He stared at you, mouth open in disbelief. 

“The president is out there!” He stuttered, going back to the mirror. 

“Oh I know. Seem to remember him being out there a couple other times too.” Jiyong’s eyes snapped up to look at you through the mirror, wide eyed.

“Jagiya, please.” 

“Have it your way. I’m off to find my seat.” You leaned in with a small smirk, placing a perfect lip mark on his neck, just above his shirt. 

The door clicked shut behind you and Jiyong relaxed as he sat down, going over his notes for his speech. His phone dinged and he put his cards down to look at the message. 

Can’t wait to run my hands through your hair later, Oppa. 

Followed by a meme saying: I want to sit on your lap and feel you get hard underneath me. 

Jagi. 

Jiyong. 

The president is out there.

I’m aware, I’m looking at the back of his head right now. Not nearly as cute as you. 

Why do you always do this when he’s here?

Because you always look so hot when in his company? Like you’re trying to court him. 

Do I not look hot all the time? And I’m not trying to court him.

Eh. 7 or 8 most days. Solid 10 for the president though. 

You’re going to pay for that comment.

Oh I’m counting on it. 

You smile to yourself as you put your phone away, the lights fading down and you sit back in your seat. Jiyong takes the stage, his hair freshly colored in a brown shade, an attempt to hide the yellow underneath and you can’t help the way your breath catches in your throat. He always looks good, but there’s something about the way he walks out that has you coming undone. You spot it then, the way he smirks at you before addressing the crowd and your thighs rub together as your eyes lock on his for the briefest second. 

The way Jiyong could command any crowd, whether it was a group of fans or a bunch of very powerful people has always been extremely attractive to you. You’d started off as his manager, your relationship growing and changing over the many years you’d been by his side. Watching him comeback like he’d never left, and dominating the world? It was everything. So yeah, you liked to have your fun and congratulate him in your own ways. And despite the way you’d been teasing him before he went on stage, you were actually trying to wait until you got home to have your real fun with him. 

You were waiting for him backstage when the event was over, sitting against the couch cushions with a wide smile on your face. He gave you a warning glance as the team followed him inside and you sat up straight. 

“You did great, Ji.” You smiled as you stood to greet him. 

He pulled you in for a hug. One that was a beat too long to be professional and you closed your eyes, breathing in his scent before pulling back. 

“The car leaves in an hour for the station. I’ll see you then.” You smiled, nodded to the rest of his team before leaning back in. “Don’t forget what I said about that tie.” You whispered against his ear, leaning back to look him in the eye before leaving the room. 

This was not how you’d envisioned this night going, but Jiyong had been out of the spotlight since Coachella and you knew how these things went. Photos needed to be taken, he needed to make his rounds. You could still properly congratulate him once you were back in Seoul. 

You slid into the car, pulled out your phone and started checking into what everyone was saying. You were on your second rewatch of his opening comments when the door opened. You looked up as Jiyong slid in, jacket undone, tie untied and your jaw dropped. 

“You still have fifty minutes before we have to leave.” 

“Yeah, I tried a dessert and then decided I’d rather have my real dessert now.” He leaned in closer, the door closing behind him a devilish grin on his face. “I believe you said something about being tied up.”

“Here?” Your breath hitched as he removed the tie from his, his eyes never leaning yours.

“If you think I’m waiting until we’re home to tame you, you’re mistaken.” 

He moves over you in one swift movement, capturing your wrists with one hand, he ties the tie around them carefully, before attaching them to the back of the headrest. A smirk playing on his lips as he sheds off his jacket, his lips never leaving yours. 

“Tame me? I’m hardly in need of being tamed.” 

“The texts you sent me just to get a rise out of me say otherwise, Jagi.” 

His hand moves to trace the outline of your face, his breath hot on your skin. His hands trail lower, teasing you above the fabric of your dress, his fingers barely touching you as you wither beneath him. 

“Ji.” His eyes snapping to yours with a smirk on his lips.

“I think you talked enough earlier, Jagiya. Don’t you?”

He reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling the handkerchief out.  Your eyes widen as the realization hits and you He hovers over you, stuffing the fabric into your mouth and tying it behind your neck softly. His eyes never leave yours as he leans in, his lips trailing across your jawline. 

“Much better.”

 He whispers in your ear, his teeth biting your earlobe gently before his lips move back down your neck, your jaw, towards your throat. You mumble into the fabric and he lets out a low chuckle. 

“You’re such a shit, still trying to talk when I have you all tied up? I guess I’ll just have to shut you up then.” 

He looks up at you briefly before continuing his assault, his hands reach behind you, unzipping your dress, a strap falling off your shoulder. His lips mark every inch of your skin as he slides the dress off you slowly. 

His hand traced the edge of your panties before sliding them off, in one swift movement. He lowered himself, his eyes on yours, his breath hot against your skin and you wiggled against the tie. 

“I have an hour Jagi, we do this my way.” He smirked before his finger slid through your folds. You arch against his touch and he smirks, lowering your hips back down. 

“What’s the rush? We have an hour.”

 He removes his finger, popping into his mouth, licking the taste of you off his finger. He lets out a low growl, his eyes meeting yours.

“You always taste so good, Jagi.” He breathes before his head lowers, between your thighs. 

His tongue licks a strip from your folds to your clit, circling it in slow, careful movements like he has all the time in the world. Your cries are muffled by the handkerchief and your hands wrestle against the seatbelt. His eyes meet you through hooded lashes as his tongue moves in an agonizingly slow rhythm against your clit. 

He slides a finger into you, stretching you before adding a second, his fingers pumping in and out of you slowly, his tongue circling you lazily and you gasp with each touch. Your head falls back against your arms as the waves of your orgasm wash over you. Your walls pulsing against his fingers. 

He groans, his tongue moving quicker, his fingers curling just right, helping you through your first orgasm. You’re still withering beneath him as he begins to move faster. Setting a relentless pace as he works you to a second orgasm and then a third. Your breath catches in your throat as you finally free yourself from the handkerchief. 

“Ji please.” You pant and his eyes snap towards you. 

“Please, what, Jagi?” 

“I need you.” You whisper, your arms pulling at the tie. 

He moves, undoing his pants and hovering over you, he unties you gently, the handkerchief falling to your neck. His lips capture yours roughly and you moan at the taste of yourself on his lips, your tongue massaging against his as he sinks into you. 

“God, Jagi you’re so tight.” He groans as he moves against you. 

Your hands claw at his back, your moans filling the silence of the car with each thrust. It didn’t take long before your fourth orgasm washes over you. He follows after you with one final deep thrust, his release hot inside of you as your hands move to his hair, tangling in the ends as you shake beneath him. 

“Fuck. Ji.” You breathe your head falling into his neck. 

A knock at the window breaks you both from the spell and Jiyong freezes, his grip on your waist tight as he shifts. 

“Yeah?” 

“We leave in five.” Jaeho’s voice booms from outside the window.

“We’ll be ready.” Jaeho knocks again, leaving you both alone in the silence of the car. 

He groans as his head hits the back of the seat, sliding into his pants. He carefully helps you back into your dress as you sit up against the seat. 

The front door opens just as you finish smoothing out your hair and you lean on Jiyong’s shoulder as the car takes off to the station. 

“Rest up, Jagi. I’m not finished with you yet.” He whispers in your ear as his arm moves around your shoulder, holding you still with a smirk. 

You look up at him with a sly smile, leaning into place a small, sweet kiss to his cheek. “Don’t change when we get on that train. I still haven’t had my fun yet.” You whisper. 

He lets out a laugh, leaning against the backseat and pulls you in closer, his lips brushing your hair.  “We’ll see who’s in charge when we get home, Jagi.”

— YEON SIEUN

You and Sieun hadn’t specifically wanted your relationship to be a secret. You just both knew the value of privacy, and let’s say that none of your friends really understood that concept just yet.

────✯────

“Mi-rae, I’m not sure this was a good idea—”

“Shh, they’ll hear you!”

The girl, named Mi-are, quickly pressed a finger to her friend So-hee’s lips, as the latter winced in pain at the uncomfortable position she was in. Mi-rae seemed unable to make fun of her anymore, her attention immediately returning to the scene before her—her best friend, you, and the boy you swore you didn’t see very often, standing in front of her high school and talking too quietly for her to hear—much to her dismay.

“Mi-rae,” So-hee’s small voice chimed in again, breathless. “You’re crushing my spleen—”

“You don’t even know where your spleen is.” Her friend retorted, without bothering to take her eyes off the two lovebirds you and Sieun made.

So-hee grunted but didn't waste time opening her mouth again, knowing it was pointless, and instead tried to find a more comfortable position. However, her movement was once again interrupted by her friend's sudden grip on her arm. 

"You're making too much noise," she scolded in a shriek-whisper. "They'll notice us if you keep going!"

"Who cares, we shouldn't even be spying on them, this is wrong," protested So-hee, frowning as she struggled against her friend.

Their little quarrel ended as quickly as it began though, when Mi-rae suddenly gasped, grabbing So-hee and pulling her close—pointing at something with her eyes wide as if a monster had just sprung from the bushes where they were hiding. So-hee turned her head and couldn't suppress a gasp of surprise at the sight before her.

You, their best friend, the one who swore to tell them everything, were kissing Sieun with a smile far too serene for it to be the first time. Your friends had to stifle their screams; they'd been right all along, so you really had been dating the bookworm all this time. Before So-hee could protest or stop her, Mi-rae leaped out of the bushes, startling both you and Sieun, and pointed an accusing finger at you. 

“I KNEW IT!” She shouted to no one in particular, clearly gloating over her discovery. “I CALLED IT FROM THE START, I KNEW YOU TWO WERE HIDING SOMETHING—”

The girl’s cries were cut short by her friend’s hand, which clamped over her mouth, transforming her joyful shouts into muffled sounds against So-hee’s palm. So-hee, though giving you a rueful look, seemed just as pleased with the situation she had stumbled upon.

“Sorry about that,” So-hee smiled, holding her friend firmly, who was struggling against her surprisingly strong grip. “You guys look cute together. Such a shame our best friend here didn’t think of telling us about you sooner though, Sieun. Well, we’re still happy for both of you.”

Mi-rae, finally freeing herself from her friend’s hand, added very seriously.

“We’ll kill you if you hurt her.”

“But we know you won’t.” So-hee added, a sweet smile playing on her lips as she tried to close her friend's mouth again.

“I’ll be watching you closely, bookworm.”

Mi-rae said again before being forcibly pulled away from your two confused, and yours somewhat amused, stares by So-hee, who was reprimanding her for her immature behavior and words—to which Mi-rae reacted as dramatically as possible. A silence fell between you and your boyfriend for a few seconds before Sieun finally spoke, deadpan, his gaze still fixed on the path your friends had taken.

“Your friends are weird.”

“They mean well.” You retorted, a smirk on your lips. “And they’re fun.”

Sieun rolled his eyes as if he thought otherwise and you just laughed.

“I’m kinda glad it came out though.”

Your laughter died down as you turned to your boyfriend, seeing a sincere glint in his eyes.

“I don’t like having to hide, especially with you.”

You smiled, meeting his gaze.

“Then, since my friends figured them out themselves, I guess yours are next hm?”

“Absolutely not.” Sieun instantly refused, giving you a glare as you burst out laughing, leaning in closer to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

“Oh, Suho’s gonna be so insufferable once he finds out—”

“Don’t you dare.”

You smiled at your boyfriend and simply kissed him again—a real kiss this time, slow and tender. Your eyes met as you pulled apart, just inches apart.

“I love you, Sieun-a.”

And you knew he loved you too, just as much. 

— AHN SUHO

Bold of you to assume this man would ever accept the idea of hiding his relationship with you from anyone. But imagining he bent to your wish, because he just loves you that much.

────✯────

“I’m not in love with him.”

“Girl, please. We know.”

“I’m not!”

If there was one thing that was pointless, it was arguing with Mi-rae when she had a strong opinion on something. And the one that kept coming up in every conversation these past few days was your attraction to Ahn Suho—your ‘best friend’ who picked you up every day after school despite his incredibly busy schedule, always waiting for you at the school gates, leaning against his bike, a sly smile on his lips as if it were his default expression. You could protest all you wanted, swear that no, you weren’t in love with him—which was more than a lie considering you’d been devouring each other’s lips behind closed doors for over a month now—but Mi-rae wouldn’t budge. And even So-hee, supposedly the wise one of the trio, couldn’t find anything wrong with it. “You two are practically attached by the hip. I might not make a fuss about it like her, but I agree with Mi-rae”.

It wasn’t that you were ashamed of Suho—it was impossible to be ashamed of him in any way—but you could more than do without the endless teasing you knew admitting your feelings for the guy would unleash on you. Mostly by Mi-rae—but definitely also by So-hee. And besides, as silly and weird as it seemed, you couldn’t help but like the secretive aspect of the relationship. Which was anything but the case for your boyfriend; but you’d managed to convince him so far.

When the last bell finally rang, you were heading towards the school exit when, as usual, your gaze caught the familiar shape of your boyfriend's, patiently waiting, leaning against his bike, smirking like he owned the place. The second your eyes met his, it was as if you could sense he was up to something. But of course, surrounded by your two friends who scrutinized your every move as soon as you entered a perimeter of at least a hundred meters around Suho, you showed nothing and simply smiled at your friend, as usual.

“Hey Suho.” You said, stopping a reasonable distance from him as he straightened up to face you and your friends.

“Hey.” He replied, a smile on his lips. “How are you guys doing?”

“Fine.” So-hee smiled.

“Suffering.” Mi-rae groaned.

Suho raised an eyebrow at that, smirking at your friend’s dramatics while you side-eyed her, silently ordering her to shut up—which she obviously did not.

“Oh? Why’s that?” Your boyfriend asked, smiling as if he already knew what it was—and had been waiting for this forever.

“I’m stuck watching the slowest slow-burn of the history of romance, that’s why.” Mi-rae dramatically sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as Suho’s grin only widened. You opened your mouth to intervene, ready to call out your best friend’s antics with an exasperated sigh, when Suho beat you to it.

“Oh yeah? I can help with that.”

And before you could protest, your boyfriend grabbed your arm, pulled you in, and kissed you like he’d been dying to do in front of your friends—deep, unapologetic, and so obviously in love. Your eyes widened, but before you could react, your boyfriend's lips left yours, and a triumphant cry escaped your best friend's throat, nearly bursting your eardrums.

While your friend was shouting herself hoarse with ‘I knew it!’ and ‘This is the best day of my life!’—cries that So-hee, though her sly smile betrayed her true feelings, quickly stifled—you glared at your boyfriend, who was smiling at you as if he were having the time of his life, and he probably was.

“Sorry, baby.” The boy grinned, wrapping an arm around you and pulling you to his side. “I've been wanting to do that for too long.”

You rolled your eyes and elbowed him in return, a blow to which he had the presence of mind to feign pain despite his broad smile. But despite your murderous glare, you couldn't stop the faint blush from creeping onto your cheeks. You might be teased by your friends for life, but you no longer had to hide from anyone.

And although you wouldn't admit it, being claimed this way by your boyfriend in front of your whole school wasn't unpleasant. 

— OH BEOMSEOK

I beg of you don’t ever ask this man to have a secret relationship, he will think you’re ashamed of him and not take it well.

────✯────

You weren't ashamed of your boyfriend, of course not.

You were simply... afraid. You didn't want your relationship to become a barrier between you and your friends, for them to neglect you, thinking you'd neglect them for your boyfriend. You knew it didn't make sense, but you couldn't help it. Your mind and your dark thoughts had always been stronger than your reason, even when they risked hurting the people you loved

 "Hey, wake up you sloth."

A tap on your head snapped you back to reality, blinking your thoughts away rapidly. Mi-rae was watching you, a smirk playing on her lips as if she were already preparing her next tease.

"Dreaming of your boyfriend, perhaps?"

She smirked widely.

"He's not my boyfriend…”

But even you didn't seem convinced as she spoke those words, your gaze lowered as you couldn't meet your best friend's.

"Mi-rae, stop teasing her." So-hee intervened, scolding Mi-rae gently yet sternly as she noticed your head bowed.

The latter remained silent, overwhelmed by the sudden tension between you while you drifted back into your thoughts. Although he said nothing, he didn't dare, you knew Beomseok was suffering from this whole ‘secret relationship’ situation. You hated it, but what else could you do?

When you left school with your friends, your thoughts were still on the same subject. And the more you thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Yes, you were scared, but did that really justify hurting Beomseok and potentially your relationship itself? 

Lifting your head after Mi-rae's numerous elbows to your ribs—making you groan in pain—you saw your boyfriend standing a few feet before you. You frowned at the sight of him; it wasn't like him to come see you after class, but you quickly approached him without asking any questions.

"Hey!" Beomseok smiled at you softly, clearly trying to keep his distance as he caught sight of your friends walking beside you. Your heart sank a little more at the faint pain he hid in his eyes.

"Hey." You answered in return.

The four of you stood there in silence before So-hee cleared her throat and grabbed Mi-rae by the arms, pretending to have somewhere else to be to leave the two of you alone.

"Wait."

Your voice cut your friends off mid-sentence, stopping abruptly and turning back to you as you met their gazes, your lips pressed together, before turning to your boyfriend. With a movement you intended to be confident, but which was more nervous than anything else, you took his hand and turned to face your friends, chest puffed out.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you… Beomseok is my boyfriend.”

You kept your eyes fixed on your friends' wide-eyed stares, unwilling to meet your boyfriend's surprised and confused gaze. You didn't really have a choice, though, when he tightened his grip on your hand—and when you finally turned your head, you met sparkling eyes and the brightest smile you'd ever seen on him.

Deaf to the shouts of joy and triumph from your friends—who’d just been proved to be right all along—, your world shrank to your boyfriend's radiant expression as he smiled at you as if you were the only thing deserving of it.

"Thank you." He mouthed, lacing his fingers with yours.

And you simply smiled back, pressing your lips to his—finally free of the weight of fear on your heart. 

— PARK HUMIN

I feel like he’d relatively accept the idea, then either completely forget about it within a day or simply couldn’t keep his hands off you for a second. His middle name is PDA, so I hope you didn’t actually expect him to keep this a secret.

────✯────

“That would fit you soo well!” Mi-rae smirked, pushing a shiny and hairy pink hat onto your head as you rolled your eyes.“See? Perfect!”

“Haha, very funny.” You retorted, placing the shiny hat back on its shelf. “We’re here to shop, not mock me all day long.”

You turned to So-hee, who was smiling at your banter, her hands instantly raising at your deadpan gaze.

“I’m not going to play mediator between the two of you every time.” She smirked as you rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile at the corners of your lips.

That same smile vanished quickly, however, at the sound of an exaggerated—and all too recognizable—hiccup of surprise not far behind you. Before you even turned around, you knew who it was; Baku, your boyfriend, having most likely already forgotten the conversation you’d had again the day before. “If you want to see me when I’m with my Mi-rae and So-hee, just pretend we’re friends, I don’t want them to tease me to death”. Your boyfriend had pouted at the news—pouted, this grown ass man—before forgetting about it the second your lips collided with his. But now, standing in this store, you knew it was over.

And you were immediately proven right when a weight slammed against you, strong arms wrapping around your waist as your boyfriend's familiar laughter echoed in your ears.

“What are you doing here, baby? I can’t believe it!”

You didn’t even need to turn around to picture the shocked and gleeful looks on your two friends’ faces as your so-called best friend called you ‘baby’.

“Baku.” You groaned. “We talked about this.”

As if suddenly remembering the past few weeks you spent carefully explaining to him what he could and couldn’t do with you in front of your friends, your boyfriend clapped his hand over his mouth, taking a step back, eyes wide.

“Shit! Was it—oh, I’m so sorry, bab—uh, friend. Comrade. Buddy.” 

You rolled your eyes as you heard Mi-rae's laughter behind you at your boyfriend's dramatic outburst.

"It's too late now, dumbass."

You sighed, though you weren't really mad at him. Baku's smile widened at those words, and he chuckled as he pulled you back into his arms, trapping you in yet another one of his breathtaking hugs. While So-hee and Mi-rae continued to giggle and smirk at the news, your boyfriend took advantage of the embrace to whisper in your ear.

"To be a hundred percent honest, I'm kinda glad I forgot.” His warm breath tickled the shell of your ear. “I don't want to hide you from people, you're my girlfriend."

You couldn't help but smirk at his words, smiling and returning his hug despite yourself.

"Of course you are."

And after a short silence, still enveloped in his warmth, you added quietly.

“I’m glad too.”

You could swear you’d never seen Baku smile like that.

— GO HYUNTAK

Genuinely offended if you ask him to keep a ‘friendly vibe’ with you in front of your friends, because just what the fuck do you mean?

────✯────

You still remembered the look on your boyfriend’s face when you asked him.

“What?”

You could have sworn his eyes were going to pop out of his head—and in any other situation, you surely would have laughed. But instead, you winced, as if bracing for something, and tried to explain yourself in a jumble of words and nervous hand gestures.

“It’d be just for a while, just enough time for me to tell them—”

“Why can’t you just tell them now?” Your boyfriend retorted, his brows furrowed and his voice tight. “You don’t want them to know you’re happy or what?”

You couldn't find a single thing to say to that. After that mini-argument, and a good fifteen minutes Gotak spent calming down in the bathroom, he came back out, exhaling softly as he approached you.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll act as your friend, tell them as you wish. But I’m not waiting more than a week.”

You hurriedly nodded and wrapped your arms around him, kissing his cheek repeatedly before promising to break the news in no time. But here’s the thing: five days had passed, and your boyfriend was seriously starting to lose patience. Every time he saw you during that grace period, he’d ask if you’d finally told them. And every time, the answer was the same: “It’s not the right time just yet” ; “Soon, I promise”, and even—on one occasion—you dared to say, “I forgot”. That last one made him give you the silent treatment for the rest of the evening, accompanied by sarcastic remarks like, “Don’t worry about your boyfriend. Oh, you remember you have one, right?”. You knew it was mean, but you couldn't help finding the situation comically ridiculous.

And just to tease him one last time, you decided to play a prank on your boyfriend. You were out with your friends, smiling and chatting away as usual, when you spotted your boyfriend down the street. It wasn't a coincidence—you’d asked him to meet you there—but he didn't know you wouldn't be alone. You turned to your friends and winked before calling out to him.

“Hey, Gotak!”

Your boyfriend turned toward you, his smile fading slightly when he saw your friends—not that he disliked them, but their presence meant he couldn't go out with you the way he wanted: holding your hand and kissing you whenever he pleased. Poor guy—trying so hard to please you. You felt a twinge of guilt but reassured yourself knowing his ordeal would soon be over.

“Hey.” Your boyfriend greeted you all, shoving his hands into his pockets as if physically restraining himself from touching you however he liked. “How are you guys doing?”

“Good.” Mi-rae smirked; she was clearly the most excited about this little prank of yours. “Happy to see my best friend’s buddy.”

Yeah, she wasn't exactly subtle—and she was totally up for stirring the pot. You could have sworn you saw your boyfriend’s jaw clench, but he maintained a fairly neutral expression and nodded without a word—probably because he would have said things he’d regret if he actually spoke.

“Yeah, it’s a pleasure.” So-hee chimed in, grinning too—though in a much less mischievous way.

You couldn't help but glance back and forth between your friends and your boyfriend, holding back a grin at the sight.

“Well, since we’re all here, we could hang out together, right?”

You smiled as your boyfriend’s head whipped towards you, eyes wide probably meaning something like ‘what the fuck are you doing?’—because he really didn’t want to hang out if he couldn’t even put his hand on your waist. You blatantly ignored him, turning to your friends who nodded in agreement, exchanging a smile.

“Should we go then?” You smirked, starting to walk away and grabbing Gotak’s arm before he could stop you.

You weren't expecting much, but the speed at which your boyfriend gave up seemed remarkable to you. After only a few steps accompanied by more sarcasm and ragebait from Mi-rae, Gotak frowned, grabbed your arm and pulled you in for a rough kiss that left both you and your friends speechless for about two seconds. Then your boyfriend pulled away, grinning triumphantly as if proud of himself, only for his smile to fade as he saw Mi-rae bursting out laughing.

“Told you!” She grinned widely towards So-hee who grumbled, searching her pockets. “Told you he’d kiss her!”

Your boyfriend's eyes only widened at the sight of the money So-hee gave to Mi-rae, beaming.

“Wait—you knew? You bet on us?” He exclaimed.

“Not really.” Mi-rae smirked. “We bet on how long it’d take for you to snap and kiss your girlfriend in front of us. For the rest, relationship and all, we been knew.” 

Gotak frowned in confusion before turning to you suddenly, giving you an accusatory look as you laughed.

“Sorry, I just wanted to mess with you.” You smiled, almost shyly in case he’d actually be upset.

“I should just dump you, you know?”

Gotak groaned in answer, gritting his teeth as your friends behind you were bickering—Mi-rae counting her earned money and So-hee regretting ever trying to win against her. You smiled at your boyfriend’s words, leaning in to kiss his cheeks.

“But you love me.”

And though he didn’t actually answer anything more than an unintelligible grumble, you knew he did. Still, you better treat him like royalty for a while—he did not like this prank.

— SEO JUNTAE

He’ll do it if it pleases you, with a smile on his face too, but really the idea doesn’t sit that right with him. He’s got that possessive side and he wants people to know you’re together—or he might believe you don’t actually want him (also his friends would be so protective of him and quick to advise him to get away from you).

────✯────

“What do you mean she doesn’t want her friends to know?”

Gotak’s frown made Juntae wince as he rushed to explain and defend you.

“She doesn’t mean it that way.” He retorted instantly, waving his hands in dismissal. “She just needs time to announce it—”

“And why’s that?” Gotak snapped, frowning. “Sounds weird to me.”

Juntae couldn’t find the words to convince him when Sieun, usually the quiet one when it came to relationships—or just talking in general—, spoke up.

“Maybe she doesn’t mean it that way.” He started calmly, his gaze piercing through Juntae’s. “But I do agree with Gotak. If she hides you away from the people she cares about, you should stop seeing her. You deserve better Juntae.”

The boy was quiet, his head going down a bit. He knew they were right, but he also believed you weren’t like that. You just wanted to announce it yourself, in whatever way that took time. You weren't using him or ashamed of him, he was sure of that. But it did make him think.

When you called out to him this evening on the street, where you had planned to go on a date together, Juntae swallowed his saliva and blew softly, as if to give himself courage. When you got to his level, you smiled and kissed him before ranting about your day. He listened to you, he always did. But when the discussion died down—when the night got quieter and only the sounds of distant cars remained—he finally found it in himself to speak up. And once he called out your name, there wasn't any backing down now anyway.

“I don’t want to be weird, or make you uncomfortable, but… The thing is, you’ve told me you wanted to keep our relationship a secret to your friends for a while. And I don’t mind, I swear I don’t, but my friends have been wondering.. so I did too.”

He paused, thinking on how to explain what came next—preferably without mentioning anything about the manipulator allegations you earned from Gotak.

“Why do you want it to be a secret?" He finally managed. "From your friends at least, because you didn't mind me telling my friends. I don’t want to pressure you or anything, I’m just trying to understand—”

The boy you liked continued speaking, but your brain had already shut down a few sentences ago. He looked so cute, communicating his feelings with you while making sure that communication wouldn’t hurt you or lead to any misunderstanding. As Juntae seemed to get lost in his words, you gently placed your hand on his, cutting him off mid-rant.

“Juntae.” You spoke softly, smiling. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that request would hurt you so much.”

You could see your boyfriend’s mouth open as he rushed to reassure you, but you cut him off. 

“To be honest, I’ve been a coward. I only wanted to hide this relationship from my friends to dodge their endless teasing, but I realized how stupid I am because this doesn’t matter. But you do.”

Your boyfriend was left speechless, looking at you with wide eyes that seemed teary but you pretended not to notice.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, I did. And I apologize.” You smiled reassuringly, your hand going to cup your boyfriend’s cheek before a small chuckle escaped you. “I’m also sort of glad to hear your friends were questionning me. They seem like great people who genuinely care. You deserve that.”

You caressed away the single tear that fell down your boyfriend's cheek with your thumb and he then nodded, sniffing once.

“Yeah.” He laughed with you. “They are. You should meet them.”

“They don’t hate me yet?” You grinned and Juntae chuckled again.

“They’ll love you. But I love you more.”

You smiled, your heart warming at his words before sharing a tender kiss—both of your minds at ease and your hearts in sync.

— NA BAEKJIN

Understands and will more or less agree with the idea of a secret relationship—as long as it doesn’t cross a line. He likes the idea that it might protect you from any danger tied to the Union, but oh the second someone is trying to flirt with you, there’s no hiding no more.

────✯────

“Hey!”

You turned around in the same movement as your two best friends and frowned at the sight of a boy. Not that the three of you hated men—you mostly didn’t—but seeing that grin on the guy’s face already hinted at the conversation to come.

“You.” The boy continued as he finally stopped in front of the three of you, his gaze fixed on yours. “You’re cute, can I have your number?”

You didn’t need to see it to imagine the huge eye roll Mi-rae must have made, but you couldn’t smile at the thought, too focused on politely turning the boy down.

“Sorry, I’m not interested.”

You said simply—because mentioning a boyfriend in front of your girl friends wasn’t an option just yet. You were about to turn away when the boy’s hand flew up to grab your wrist.

“Wait—”

He didn’t have time to continue before So-hee yanked your wrist from the man’s grasp, and Mi-rae physically pushed him away, frowning.

“Hey, she said no.” Your friend stated firmly, standing protectively between you and the boy.

He couldn’t help but smirk, which only fueled your anger, before he started again.

“Chill, I’m just asking, she didn’t even mention a boyfriend or something—”

Before one or two of your friends could go full beast on the dumbass, a second male voice chimed in, making you raise your eyebrows in surprise and recognition.

“She doesn’t need to.”

Baekjin stepped in, positioning himself between the man and Mi-rae—his voice calm but chilling.

“And you’re not ‘just talking’ if you touch her.”

The boy smirked again, trying to defuse the situation with a smile you desperately wanted to punch away—but your boyfriend got there first. His fist struck the boy’s face in one sharp, precise punch—with just enough force to knock him out.

Silence returned to the street, and Baekjin turned back to you and your friends, his gaze meeting yours. He took a step forward, but Mi-rae and So-hee positioned themselves in front of you, their brows furrowed and ready to fight despite your boyfriend’s display of strength. Baekjin stopped instantly, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes before you finally regained your composure. 

“Wait, it’s fine—”

You stepped between your two friends to get closer to your boyfriend, turning around to face them.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

Mi-rae and So-hee frowned at the sentence, keeping quiet as Baekjin’s gaze fixed on you. They remained silent but didn’t move when you took his hand in yours.

There was no need for further words—the protectiveness with which Baekjin took the creep out was enough.

— GEUM SEONGJE

This is genuinely funny if you even think this man will want anything to do with you secretly. You’re his and he’s not letting you hide it from no one.

────✯────

“What is it?”

Your boyfriend stood in front of you, hands in his pockets, clearly annoyed you pulled him out of his game for that discussion. You fidgeted, trying to find the right words but eventually just blurted it out.

“You know my friends, Mi-rae and So-hee? I thought.. if you could.. not act as a boyfriend with me when they’re here…?”

There was silence. Firstly because Seongje needed time to get in his head what you’d just asked him, secondly because he just stared at you in pure disbelief once he did understand. Then, before you could explain yourself, he wheezed. Grinning with his teeth and looking down in laughter type of wheeze. You froze for a second before forcing a small chuckle with him, still a little perplexed.

“What’s so funny..?”

“You.” Your boyfriend answered after he calmed down. “You’re very funny. That was a joke right? Hilarious.”

You stood before him, silent.

“It wasn’t?” Your boyfriend continued, shrugging. “Well then, you have your answer.”

“..uh?” You tried again—maybe you had misunderstood.

“It’s a no.” Seongje repeated, putting an end to all your doubts.

You opened your mouth but no words came out for several seconds. You wanted to protest but what to say? Your boyfriend was more than stubborn.

“Would you consider—”

“Hey.” Seongje cuts you off, taking a step closer to you. “Am I not your boyfriend? Are you ashamed of me?”

You quickly shook your head. No, of course you weren't.

“No, I—”

“Then are you planning on cheating on me?”

You frowned.

“What? No! I wouldn’t even—”

“Fine.” Your boyfriend cuts you off one last time. “No need for secrecy with anyone then right?”

You wanted to protest, but the words died in your mouth, and you simply nodded, defeated. Seongje grinned at that and gave you a quick kiss before walking back to his game. And if it wasn't obvious enough, the second you came home from school with your friends, Seongje made sure to call out to you and shamelessly pulled you into a deep and possessive kiss, just in case.

Don't worry though, after convincing Mi-rae and So-hee that he didn't mean you any harm and that you were certainly safer being his girlfriend than before, you'll get your share of teasing too. 

It had first started when you had attended a BigBang concert in your early twenties — you had been a huge fan of the band and your parents had got you tickets that year as a Christmas present. The concert had been perfect, everything you could have wished for and more but what you didn't expect was what had happened afterwards. You had been taking a quick smoke break outside the arena before you caught your train back to your area of the city when a familiar face had leaned against the wall next to you. Seunghyun, with his handsome face and incredibly aloof demeanor had said nothing at first but the second you spoke to him, the two of you hit it off. One thing led to another and before you knew it you were back in his hotel room, tangled in his sheets.

That's how it had started and that's how it continued each time he visited Japan. It had never been anything serious; two people hooking up whenever they had a chance to see each other, nothing more. But, then it all stopped. Seunghyun's 'scandal' broke and he had hid himself away. The texts from him stopped, all communication had ended. It had hurt more than you thought it would but not because you were in love with him, no. Maybe, over the years you had developed some kind of feelings for him but you were mostly concerned about him. Despite the relationship you two had mostly being about sex, you confided in each other, spilled your deepest, darkest secrets. That was how you had learned how much of an anxious, emotional person he was. You just hoped that he had someone with him through those difficult times.

It had been ten years since he had last stepped foot in Japan. Ten years since you had a text off him but that all changed.

Seunghyun Hey, this is Seunghyun. Hope this is still the right number but… you still in Japan? You Oh, long time, no see. But, yeah, it's still me. Still in Japan. Seunghyun Heading there for a fan meet next week. Want to meet up?

The nerves were running through you like wildfire. It had been ten long years since you had seen him. For all you knew, your connection could've changed. The fire that had always been there before might have died out. Ten years was a long time, feelings and thoughts changed — people changed and you definitely weren't the same person you had been a decade ago. Neither was he. It was a reunion you never thought would happen again. You had resigned yourself to never seeing him again but now you were five minutes away from being face to face with the guy who had consumed your thoughts all those years ago.

Seunghyun had invited you to the Gucci event he was attending. He hadn't told you much just to dress nice so you had picked out your nicest outfit, making sure you could look your best. You never attended events like these. You were one of those people who would much prefer to stay inside away from the crowds and people. But, he had asked you and how could you refuse.

The air felt like it had been punched from your lungs the second you laid your eyes on him. He looked incredible. His hair styled perfectly, dressed in all black and that damn leather jacket. No words had been spoken between you two yet and he was already driving you insane. Time had been good to him. If anything, you thought he looked the most handsome he ever had.

"Hi," he laughed awkwardly, giving you a small wave as he approached. "You look… great."

"Oh, thank you," you couldn't help the blush on your cheeks from appearing. "So, do you. I can't believe its been so long."

"I'm sorry," he frowned. "I swear I wanted to reach out sooner but… I wasn't in a good place and I couldn't drag you down with me."

You shook your head, reaching your hand out to rest on his forearm. "Hey, it's okay. You're here now and that's what matters. You're doing good now, yeah?"

"Yeah, really good."

"I'm glad."

"So, want to come look at some really expensive jewelry with me so I don't go bored out of my mind?" He held his arm out for you which you gladly took.

"Lead the way."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── 

The electricity between you was still there. Each time you felt his hand on your lower back guiding you or when he leaned in to whisper in your ear in that deep, gentle voice of his, you felt the sparks. It was making you dizzy. In the past decade you had been with a few other guys but none of them made you feel the way Seunghyun did when he touched you. It was purely innocent too so you could only imagine how it would feel if he ever touched you again like he used to.

At one point, at the end of the event when Seunghyun had said goodbye to people, he had noticed you tense up when he placed his hand on your back. He tilted his head to the side, concern lacing his voice. "Everything okay?"

You hummed, nodding your head. "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine."

"You sure, you seem really tense…" He eyed you suspiciously, the high tone of your voice piquing his interest.

"Just… cold in here."

"Cold, huh?"

"Yep."

"And that's why your cheeks are flushed?" He teased, leaning in a little closer to whisper in your ear.

You didn't speak, you couldn't. The feeling of his hot breath against your ear sent shivers down your spine. He knew, of course he did. That smirk on his face gave it all away. And, to top it all off, he decided to tease you even more by snaking his arm around your waist, his hand resting firmly against you. With no words, he guided you through the halls of the venue until he found the empty bathrooms. There was no hesitation in his movements when he pulled you into one of the stalls. He crowded into you, pressing you up against the stall wall.

"Now," he started, voice low. "Are you going to tell me the truth? What's wrong?"

"You already know. Don't make me say it."

"I want to it hear it."

"You're driving me crazy!" You blurted out. "Showing up looking like… that. I didn't know what to expect after all this time but, my God, Seunghyun, you're driving me insane."

"Good answer," he gave you no time to answer, his lips crashing against yours. His hand came up to tangle in your hair, tugging your head back so he could deepen the kiss. His tongue tangled with yours, lips moving furiously as he tasted you again after all this time. He pulled away for a second, lips ghosting over yours, speaking breathlessly. "For the record, the feeling is very mutual."

His hand guided one of yours to the prominent bulge straining against his pants. When you rubbed your palm against him, he groaned, his lips finding yours once again. It was like you couldn't get enough of each other. The tension, the desire of the last decade finally coming to a head. You pulled your head back from him, sinking down to your knees. Quickly, you unbuckled his belt, tugging his pants down his legs. He let out a hiss as the cold air hit him, his cock hard and aching. You wasted no time wrapping your hand around his length, your thumb swiping over the head of his cock gathering the precum using it to glide your hand around him smoother.

"Fuck," Seunghyun huffed, his head falling back against the stall. "Forgot how good it feels to have you touchin' me like that."

"It's about to get even better," you smirked. Seunghyun watched with hooded eyes as you leaned forward, your tongue licking a long stripe on the underside of his cock from bottom to top. Your tongue swirled around the tip, moaning as you tasted him. The second your lips wrapped around him, Seunghyun felt like he was in heaven. He watched your every move as you took him in your mouth. What you couldn't fit in, you pumped with your hand, setting a steady rhythm. Seunghyun couldn't help but roll his hips against your face. You felt his fingers tangling in your hair, twitching with the urge to pull you even deeper. He watched the way your cheeks hollowed out with every slide, his hips beginning to thrust to match your rhythm.

"Holy fuck," he rasped, his voice a deep, guttural groan. His control was failing, he was struggling to hold back. "Don't stop."

He finally lost it when you took him deep into the back of your throat, choking around him. He grit his teeth, holding your head in place as he took control. His hips snapped against your face driving himself deep into your mouth with each lunge. He couldn't tear his eyes away from you. The way you were drooling, the tears at the corners of your eyes as he hit the back of your throat. It was all too much.

With all the strength he could muster, he pulled himself from your mouth with a pop, gasping heaving breaths. No words were spoken as he hauled you up, spinning you around so you were facing the wall. He kicked your feet apart, spreading your legs for him. It took him all of five seconds to pull your dress up, pull your panties to the side and position himself. He dragged his cock through your wet folds, moaning at the sensation. "So wet for me."

"Always," you gasped, trying to push back against him but he held your hips firmly still. "Please, Seunghyun. Just fuck me."

"Since you asked so nicely."

In one smooth thrust, he pushed himself inside you to the hilt, his hips flush against your ass. He let out a long, deep groan, stilling for a moment. You moaned at the feeling of him inside you after so long. He was so big, so deep. You had almost forgotten what it felt like to feel so full. He pulled his hips back almost all the way out before thrust back in heavily. Your hands rested against the wall, head hanging as he fucked you slow and hard.

"Missed this, missed you," he mumbled, his voice strained. He picked up the pace, his thrusts becoming quicker — short, sharp bursts that had your body jolting with each thrust. "Gonna fuck you until I'm the only damn thing you can think about."

One of his hands slid up your back, moving to wrap around your throat, hosting you up so your back was flush against his chest. His lips found your neck, kissing a trail of kisses along your and down your shoulder. "Look at you, takin' me so good. Such a good girl, aren't you? Always were."

"Don't stop, please," you begged. "I'm so close."

Those words were his final undoing. His hand that had been around your neck slid down between your legs, his thumb finding your clit, pressing down in rough circles. "Come on, baby. Cum for me, let me feel you."

The whispered words in your ear, the way his cock was driving into you was sending you crazy. Your nails dug into his forearm, your body tensing as your orgasm hit you. You cried out his name, your walls tightening around him. He didn't relent, his cock still pounding into you hard and fast. Three more thrusts and he stilled inside you, a muffled groan of your name against your shoulder as he spilled himself inside you.

Your body went limp against him, the only sounds filling the empty bathroom were your heavy breaths as you both came back down to Earth. He pulled out of you, helping you straighten out your clothes, pulling his own pants back up. He leaned against the wall, hand raking through his hair as he looked over at you, smiling crookedly. "Wasn't exactly planning on fucking you in a bathroom the first time we saw each other again. Wanted to make it special."

"…so romantic," you teased, smiling back at him.

"Yeah, yeah," he blushed. "Was planning on asking you out to dinner and everything."

"Well, you still can."

"Yeah?"

"Ask me," you said softly, stepping forward to smooth out the leather jacket that had been driving you crazy all time.

"Want to go for dinner?" He asked, tucking your hair behind your ear, looking at you nervously as if your answer would be no.

"I'd love to."

It took you about three minutes to shut everything down and gather your belongings before stepping into the darkening evening.

Your muscles were sore, screaming one thing only: home.

You were about to round the corner when a familiar silhouette caught your attention. He was leaning against a flickering street lamp, face hidden by the cloak of night.

Lanky, muscular and his face hidden behind a rising cloud of smoke that kept emitting from the orange gleaming butt of the cigarette he never bothered to finish.

The second you caught up to him, smiling widely, he had already turned, leading the way. With a lazy flick of his wrist he tossed the half finished cigarette aside, burying his hands in the depth of his jacket pockets.

He was always one for silence— at least with you, but you didn't believe in quiet walks. By the time you had reached a nearby park, you had already chewed Seongje's ear off with your tireless conversation, the excitement of meeting your boyfriend just always making you so bubbly.

"My least favorite part of our interactions.", you pouted when Seongje came to a halt, signaling his retreat. He turned his head, no sign of curiousity in those dark eyes, but no irritation either. "Having to part ways with you.", you added, feigning a sad expression.

Seongje just scoffed at that, nodding along before turning on his heels, stealing off to who knows where.

You turned yourself, fussiness bubbling in your stomach at the boy dressed in black and white who was already waiting for you on a bench near the river. Walking slowly to keep yourself from literally skipping towards him, you approached, face already strain from your unyielding smile.

When you had arrived, standing behind the backrest, you threw your arms in the air, bringing them down to wrap against Baekjin's sly shoulders from behind. The cold of his leather jacket barely startled you despite the chill breeze dancing around your limbs.

Baekjin barely reacted to your hug, just a hardly noticeable tug at the corner of his lips indicating the hint of a smile.

The walk in the dim streetlights was peaceful as usual, your conversation never sounding louder than the crunch of the soft gravel beneath your shoes. "How was your day?", he asked first, genuinely wanting to know if you had a pleasant day. You continued strolling around like that, listening to his detailless half answers to your vague questions until eventually you stood before your apartment complex.

As always, your heart sank a little at the sight. Already?

Saying goodbye seemed to grow more difficult day by day, you had noticed, lingering a little longer than you used to before.

As you slipped inside, hurrying up the steps, you entered the apartment without bothering to turn on the lights or shut the door, making a beeline for the nearest window to rip it open. The cold air tangled your hair at once but you didn't mind in the moment cause as usually Baekjin still stood glued to the spot, waiting for the sight of you waving him goodbye, retreating only when he knew that you had arrived safe and sound. With a rare but genuine smile he had reserved for you only, he left then, leaving you to trace his figure until it had vanished out of your sight.

The next day, something happened that rarely occurred. Someone who knew Baekjin stopped you on your way to campus, only you didn't know him— and he wasn't friendly either.

The shortcut through the alley had never caused you any trouble, no, it was the opposite even, saving you a whole seven minutes to get sooner to class. Today would mark the day you'd stop using it.

Your music was all but blaring out of your headphones, probably one octave from being labeled a disorderly conduct but you didn't care, the volume helping you to keep up your speed as you hurried along.

A sharp pain in your nose erupted, leaving it pulsing as you took a few steps backwards in surprise. Had you just walked into a pole?, you wondered, but looking up you were met with a rather human sight. A boy about your age maybe a year older stood before you, hands buried in a hideous track zip-up as he grinned down at you. Assuming he needed help— a rather ridiculous thought in retrospect — you took out an earpiece, halting your music in the matter.

"Yeah?", you asked after a minute of tense silence.  A sudden laugh beside you almost made you jump in shock as you began to register that there was more than just one guy with you. You'd been lying had you denied that your heart fluttered a little at the sight of the metal pipes they had their hands wrapped around.

Reluctantly, you took another step backwards, suppressing the urge to squirm as you were met with yet another body. "What the fuck?", you exclaimed, succeeding to mark the slight tremble in your voice with a hint of irritation.

"I need you to pass something along to Baekjin.", the one right before you spat, apparently a code word for his friends to hit their pipes against the concrete floor.

The show of imitation raised something different than the assumed fear in you. Trying to assault you in the middle of the day and making you run late to uni? White hot anger flared under your skin.

Automatically, your feet carried you forwards, arm raised before your brain could calculate the possible outcomes. Your acrylics raked across his face, leaving white streaks that turned red in an instant.

The guy before you cursed something incoherently rude before grabbing your wrist, surely bursting some capillaries along your pulsing skin where he was pressing down on. You winced in pain.

You had to compliment his strength with a kick to between his legs but before you could do so much as raise your foot, a whistle tore through the racket, leaving the guys around you to hold their breaths.

The hold around your wrist faltered and as did his expression. You didn’t have to follow his gaze to assume who stood behind you.

"Tell me, instead.”, he proposed. That familiar tone in his voice making the corners of your mouth switch up. “I'll make sure it reaches Baekjin."

Three of them managed to run before Seongje had mad it their turn to get beaten up. You watched with a careless expression as Seongje dropped the last one on the concrete, his sneakers leaving an ugly print on the part of the assiliant’s face where he was pressing it on.

Your eyes flicked to your phone screen. It was too late to go to class anyways, your teacher wouldn’t let anyone in who arrived tardier than five minutes.

You cursed, pointing a look at Seongje as he started approaching you with a newly lit cigarette dangling in between his teeth.

"And what's with you?”, he jut his chin towards you. “Don't you at least know how to throw a punch?"

You scoffed.

“I clawed at his face.”

He sized you up with an irritated gaze. “Yeah, so good it almost left a scratch.”

As your day went on, you bullied the memory of the incident into the back of your head, slowly forgetting what had just occurred a few hours ago, concentration swapping between your friends’ stories, class topics and new projects you had to plan for extracurriculars.

So when you waved your friends goodbye, heading out of campus, you were dumbfounded as to why your boyfriend was awaiting you, one hand in the blazer of his own school uniform.

A nervousness spread across your stomach as you tried to tally all possible anniversaries you could’ve missed. Had something special happened on this day a year ago?

Before you could come up with anything, something shifted on your back. At the sudden lack of heaviness, your back straightened automatically.

Baekjin didn’t even acknowledge your thank you as he held your backpack in his hand, instead walking on while you trailed beside him. You didn’t put much thought behind it, enjoying the chilly quietness of the approaching evening.

When he finally decided to break the silence, you were on the entrance to the shortcut that had recently fallen out of your affection.

He came to a sudden halt, stalling your walk as well hence you had to stop abruptly to not walk into him. He carefully tangled his fingers around your wrist, bringing it up slowly.

You couldn’t bring yourself to look at the display of fingerprints etched into your skin.

"What happened here?", he asked, something different than curiosity painting his voice. Whatever lie you’d press through your teeth would be hard to swallow. You didn’t realise because your longsleeved shirt was covering half your palms but as Baekjin pushed the material up your arm, he revealed a collection of colorful red bruises. They’d turn violent soon.

You just shrugged, half-heartedly, eager to change the topic quickly. "I just fell.", you lied, aware of the way his jaw clenched at your deception. With that you turned, aiming to change the direction of your walk, but Baekjin stood rooted, already heading for the other way.

You called out his name.

“Let’s walk a different path, okay?”

Baekjin huffed but he stopped. “For what reason?”

“None.”, you lied. “It’s just shady is all. Makes my skin crawl. I usually don’t take it.”

“Never?” His head snapped to yours and you squirmed under his pointy gaze.

“I know what happened this morning.”

Seongje.

You exhaled. He wouldn’t blame himself, would he?

“I know. I know I was lucky Seongje was around randomly-“, you started but your boyfriend cut you off.

“It wasn’t random.” Your interest perked at that and you looked at him.

"You're tracking my phone?" The conclusion had just popped into your head and you craved that he’d deny the accusation but it seemed he had no intention of doing that.

“I told you to be careful so often.”, he started but you had to cut him off this time.

"I'm still stuck on the fact that you're tracking my phone. How do I undo it?" You palmed you phone, unlocking it to look for any unusual sight but you came up empty handed.

"You can't undo it.”, he let you know. “And you won't have to worry about it either once we go our separate ways."

Your head threatened to explode with the new flood of information, creating a pressure that simulated a rubber band pressing at your skull.

"I can't even take you to the place I spent half of my day at, because I'm worried that you'll get hurt.”, he continued.

You noticed now what was off about him. Something you couldn’t pinpoint earlier when he had picked you up. It was his voice.

There was no hint of warmth in it. No affection that only you could hear, no, he sounded cold, void.

And then came the sentence that had your blood run cold.

“You're a liability."

—-

His words left you aching. Like on impulse, you turned on your heels and rushed home, as if you could escape the conversation fast enough, his words would never meet you— and that meant he never said them, right? It made sense in your head.

As you entered your home, you made a beeline for the window, opening it fast enough that you could catch a glimpse of Baekjin lurking in his usual spot before leaving.

You hoped that it was a bad dream, a misunderstanding at large.

And since Baekjin knew you well enough to understand your thinking, he sent Seongje the next day, just to confirm.

"He can't even come here himself and tell me to my face?” Your voice was one more word away from breaking.

"Is it because I can't fight? Tell him that I'll learn. Tell him, Seongje, please I-" The hint of tears caressed your cheeks, inviting the cold air of the afternoon to come and wrap around the wet spots.

Seongje threw his head into his neck. “It’s over. Just accept it.”

——

You hadn’t seen either after that. No one picked you up after your shift, your evenings had filled with a calm that didn’t match the easiness there had been before. It was frustrating.

A few days ago you had all you could ask for and now you’d found yourself in a stretch of time that left you too numb to even respond to your friends’ text half of the time.

The first few days, you were shattered but you tried to undo it, only to find that he had deleted all traces of contact. His number was gone, call history swiped. You never bothered to remember it by heart and there was no piece of paper with his digits scribbled on top either.

It took a few weeks of spilled tears and comforting sleepovers at your friends’ places but eventually, you got used to the idea of never hearing from him again. You told yourself that there was no future awaiting you if he was involved.

Slowly, you got your spark back, started to smile back at costumers, even raised your hands a few times in class again, startling the teachers that had almost forgotten your name with the vague occurrence.

Just as your life had clawed itself out of stop-motion, you were bound to fall back.

The footsteps that sounded behind you had your hands ache from the grip on your keys. The metal dug into your palm but you were too focused on listening to the approaching guys behind you to pay heed to your broken skin.

Your pluse spiked as one of them crept into your peripheral, halting you in your steps as he came to stop right in front of you.

“Are you kidding me?”, you simply cussed out, the sheer ridiculousness of them not having learnt their lessons making irritation creep up your spine.

“What do you want now?”, you pressed through gritted teeth, a loose boulder two steps before you whispering its invitation for you to grab it and test its heaviness.

“I was hoping for a conversation without your guard dog around.”, he explained to you, matter-of-factly.

It was too late for this. You opened your mouth to tell him that you weren’t together anymore, but closed it instead. İt wasn’t your best idea to just out yourself as alone when you had a bunch of guys corner you in a dark alley.

To add to the horror, you realised while looking around that the area you had stumbled into didn’t seem familiar to you. in your haze You had walked into the opposite direction.

“This time I don’t need you to talk to him.”

Whatever innuendo he had laced with his assertion you didn’t need to find out.

Quickly, you side stepped him and lunged for the brick. Like you had presumed, it was heavy in your hand, fine grains of stone trickling down your palm.

You barely let him turn to you before you tightened your grip and brought the massive boulder down to his temple.

Easier said than done. He didn’t go limp like they do in the movies, instead he cried out, held one hand to the pulsing spot and grabbed your hair. Your scalp screamed in white hot pain, so you kicked against his shin to loosen his grip. It worked and he stumbled backwards.

The fight broke loose. You earned a blow or two but managed to give them back something similar in taste. By the time you were done, your breath was laggy and your skin was pulsing. You touched more skin than you had anticipated, wincing whenever someone grabbed you.

With your last hit, the brick sliced into two pieces, falling out of your hold and colliding into chunky crumbs as it hit the floor.

You could barely catch your breath before one of them lunged at you again.

With your limbs worn out, you simply turned your head to lessen the impact, anticipating the next blow. It never came.

You looked up to find the guy frozen before you, his eyes locked onto something while his friends exchanged a frantic look.

Who-

You recognised the voice first.

“What suddenly you can fight?”, Seongje asked, a trademark cockiness coating his words.

The guys before you scurried together before quickly limping away.

Seongje’s gaze fell on you.

You turned on your heels, quickening your steps.

“You don’t miss me?”, he teased.

“I hoped I’d never have to see you again.”, you retorted, irritation hot under your skin as you listened to his footsteps follow you.

“Well, unlucky for you,”, he started, struggling to talk around what you assumed what a cigarette. “You kind of stepped into our operation area.”

You stopped in your tracks, earning a sound of surprise from Seongje as he sidestepped you to avoid a clash.

Before you stood a garage and next to decorated with a huge neon sign, a bowling place. This is where he works?

Before your next thoughts could start to form, you saw him. Your stomach dropped at the sight.

His gaze was already fixed on you, hands in his jacket pockets as he took in your appearance.

You stood rooted, unable to move as he closed the distance to you in a few strides.

You shivered visibly, unsure whether it was weather related. You did forget your windbreaker at work. Baekjin’s eyebrow quivered slightly as he noticed, too.

“You look cold.”, he stated, moving to slide off his jacket but you took a step back. “Don’t.”

He huffed but nodded, moving his hand towards your face instead.

As you turned your head to the side to avoid his touch, your tongue darted towards a wet spot along the inner corner of your mouth. An unpleasant copper taste spread on your tongue. Did he want to wipe the blood off your lips?

Annoyed, you huffed. “You don’t get to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act like you care about me.” You didn’t dare to raise your voice, fearing that it might trigger you to sob. And once you’ve started, it wouldn’t stop until you were asleep from exhaustion.

“My grades are better because my new tutor is smart and I don’t have to blush whenever he looks at me. And I get home way sooner because no one’s taking me on dates when it’s too dark to see. And I finally have time for my friends again.” You knew it was unfair to put the blame on him, but you had to admit, it made everything so easy. Memories flooded your mind, pictures of non-answered phone calls because he was busy drowned out the memories of him apologising through actions and keeping up promises to make up.

Late nights of him draping his jacket over your shoulders because you shivered in your sleep and him not paying attention to the cinema screen because he was busy admiring your reactions to the scenes all slipped your mind.

You let yourself forget the good times. Easy as that.

"I'm not your liability anymore. You chose to stay away, so stay away."

You turned, ignoring the sting in your heart as you tried to ignore the tiny twitch in his expression. You didn’t dare to acknowledge what it was.

Hurt.

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the economy hasn’t exactly been a girl’s best friend lately. you wouldn't necessarily classify yourself as materialistic, but you appreciated the finer, nicer things in life—just like anyone else with taste. but there's a specific, universal type of misery reserved for the moment you realize you've run out of absolutely everything all at once. it's never just the mascara; it's a domino effect that claims your whole vanity.

which is how you ended up standing under the harsh, buzzing fluorescent lights of the local drugstore, clutching a small, sad pile of essentials: shampoo, mascara, lip liner, and lotion. the checkout line was agonizingly long, snaking past the impulse-buy racks, and by the time you finally reached the cashier, you were already exhausted. then came the real killer. the total flashed on the screen, and your stomach dropped. inflation was genuinely getting disrespectful at this point. you stared down at the counter, a wave of defeat washing over you as you began the grim mental calculus of which product was going to be sacrificed to the drugstore gods this time.

“uhm, can you remove this one please?” you muttered to the cashier, your voice laced with quiet embarrassment as you pushed the bottle of lotion aside.

before the cashier could even scan it out, a heavily tattooed hand slid into your field of vision, firmly pushing the bottle back toward your pile.

“keep it. and add these, too,” a deep voice commanded from right behind you. a cascade of items clattered onto the conveyor belt next to your stuff: two energy drinks and a pack of mint gum.

you blinked, looking up in sheer confusion, only to find yourself staring at a guy who looked like he’d walked straight out of a mood board. he had messy purple hair, wore an oversized vintage varsity jacket, and ink peeked out from under his sleeves and up his neck. but what really arrested your attention was his face. he was breathtakingly handsome. honestly, even if he didn't have a dime to his name, he could probably still pay his rent with that face card alone. it was almost unfair.

“no, really, it’s fine. i don't need it,” you stammered, trying to push the lotion back out of the equation. you weren't about to be a charity case for a random pretty boy.

“nah,” he insisted, a lazy, confident grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “a señorita needs her beauty products.”

behind him, a collective, irritated sigh rippled through the long queue. people were actively glaring at the two of you for holding up the line, so to avoid causing a scene, you finally backed off and let him have his way. the cashier, clearly checked out and wanting to speed things along, mindlessly shoved everything—your toiletries and his snacks—into the exact same plastic bag. you couldn't help but wonder if he'd engineered that on purpose, using the shared bag as a tactical excuse to keep talking to you.

not that you were entirely complaining. getting this kind of tattention from someone that attractive felt like a little piece of divine intervention, or maybe just the universe finally paying you back for a bad week.

he tapped his card against the reader with a casual beep, grabbed the heavy bag, and turned to walk out. you followed him through the automatic sliding doors into the cool evening air.

“thanks, but it really wasn’t necessary,” you said, catching up to his long strides. you noticed the subtle way his chest expanded, your gratitude immediately feeding right into his ego. “how can i pay you back?”

he stopped in his tracks and turned to face you. for a solid, quiet second, he just stared at you, his brow furrowing slightly as if he were concentrating incredibly hard. it looked like he was forming his very first thought of the day.

“give me your number,” he finally said, a slow, smug smirk spreading across his face.

you let out a soft, skeptical laugh. “i mean, i don’t want to disappoint you, but i’m not really interested in dating anyone right now.” yes, he was devastatingly hot, but he practically radiated a lack of trustworthiness. then again, maybe that was just your own deeply ingrained trust issues doing the talking. “plus, i don’t even know you.”

“oh, yeah. true,” he said, shifting his weight and clearing his throat to fix his demeanor. “i’m thanos.”

you raised an eyebrow, your expression blanking into utter bewilderment. thanos? like the marvel villain who wiped out half the universe? was this guy seriously messing with you right now?

“you’re not funny,” you said, the warmth fading as irritation took over. you were tired, you had a headache, and you just wanted your mascara so you could go home.

“what?!” he asked, looking genuinely offended before bursting into a chuckle. “that’s my stage name. i’m a rapper. you can google me later, i promise.”

a rapper. well, that certainly explained the casual spending and the zero-hesitation card tap. out of a lingering sense of respect for the fact that he just saved you from a dry-skin crisis, you decided to play along and gave him your actual name.

his eyes lit up a little. “cool. now, about that number?” he insisted, pulling out a sleek, expensive phone and hovering his thumb over the keypad.

you sighed, realizing he wasn't going to let this go easily. besides, he did just buy your whole routine. you gave in, rattling off the digits while he typed them in with a satisfied expression. when he finished, he tapped a few more times, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“what did you save me as?” you asked, catching the smirk.

he turned the screen toward you. typed in clean letters next to your number was: sugar baby.

you groaned, letting out a half-amused, half-exasperated laugh. “seriously? why?”

“because,” he laughed, sliding the phone back into his jacke

t pocket with a wink. “i paid for your things, didn't i? rules are rules.”

you shook your head, fighting back a smile as you took the drugstore bag from his hand. “would you have done that for anyone else in that line?” you asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

“nah,” he said instantly, his dark eyes locking onto yours with total certainty.

you didn't believe him for a second—a guy who looked like that definitely had a habit of being a knight in shining armor for pretty girls—but it was a smooth answer nonetheless.

“right. well, i gotta go,” you said, adjusting the bag in your grip and taking a step backward.

“you want a ride? i can drop you off,” he offered, gesturing vaguely toward the parking lot where a nice car was undoubtedly sitting.

“nah, i live super near. thanks though,” you said, offering him one last genuine smile.

“suit yourself. check your phone later,” he called out. you parted ways, walking into the night with a full skincare routine and a very dangerous new contact in your phone.

HEADCANONS

he treats you like absolute royalty. his favorite thing to do is brag about how much money he drops on u to his producer friends, completely funding your luxury lifestyle just because he can.

your allowances are scheduled like a clock. every single month, a massive deposit hits your account with a note that just says "for my senorita," and he gets genuinely offended if u don't spend it all.

he loves taking you on private shopping sprees where he literally tells the designer staff to bring out the rarest, most expensive bags from the back room just to watch u pick your favorite colors.

your wardrobe is entirely funded by him. if u mention u like a new collection that just dropped on the runway, the entire line is delivered to your apartment the next morning before u even wake up.

he gets u a private penthouse in the city and covers the rent, bills, and interior design completely, telling u that his princess deserves nothing less than a mansion in the sky.

his texts are short and straight to the bag. you'll randomly get a "check your account" or "the driver is outside with your jewelry" text while he's busy in the studio.

he loves showing u off in the VIP section at his clubs. he makes sure u have the best seat, the most expensive champagne flowing, and that everyone knows you're the most expensive girl in the room.

if u ever buy something yourself, he gets annoyed. he’ll check his black card statement, notice u didn't use it, and text u immediately like, "what am i paying u for? use my money, stop playing."

he assigns a 24/7 personal driver and private security detail to u. you don't lift a finger or touch a door handle; you're driven everywhere in a luxury tinted SUV.

he loves buying u custom, iced-out jewelry. he’ll design a diamond-encrusted bracelet or necklace just for u, making sure it shines completely under the club lights.

whenever you're bored, he’ll just wire u extra cash "for the vibes" so u can go get your nails done, go to the spa, or hit up luxury boutiques with your friends.

he behaves like a total boastful menace about u. if anyone asks about your designer clothes, he’ll smirk and say, "yeah, thanos bought that. only the best for my girl."

he has zero concept of limits when it comes to u. u casually say u want a new watch, and he buys u a custom diamond-flooded piece that costs more than a sports car.

he loves it when u look expensive. he’ll sit back on his studio couch, smoking and grinning, just watching u walk in wearing the designer heels and clothes he paid for.

your spa days are entirely on his tab. every single week, u have unlimited access to the most exclusive wellness centers for full-body treatments and massages.

he loves wrapping his heavy, luxury designer coats around your shoulders when you're leaving the club together, making sure the paparazzi see how well-dressed you are.

he will literally fund any project or business you want to start just to see u succeed, cutting a massive check without even looking at the business plan.

during late-night studio sessions, he orders the most expensive catering in the city just for u, making sure your favorite luxury meals are waiting for u on his desk.

he loves the aesthetic of you holding stacks of his cash. he’ll literally hand u a thick bundle of hundred-dollar bills just to take a blurry, aesthetic photo of u for his private feed.

whenever u thank him for the princess treatment, he just chuckles, pulls u into a brief hug, and says, "don't worry about it, princess. your only job is looking beautiful and letting thanos handle the rest."

NSFW

he connects your financial allowance directly to how well u perform for him, telling u exactly how he wants to be taken care of.

he frequently sends boxes of explicit, high-end designer lingerie to your house with notes that say: “wear this to the studio tonight, and don't put anything else on under it.”

if u visit him at his corporate office or studio, he locks the heavy doors immediately, pulls u onto his mahogany desk, and takes u right there while his unreleased tracks are playing in the background.

his talk in bed is incredibly dirty and money-focused. he loves growling stuff like, "look at u, getting this wet for my money, such a good little sugar baby," to drive u insane.

he gets a massive thrill from overstimulating u. he’ll buy u expensive wireless toys and control them from across the VIP booth, watching u squirm while he talks business with his managers.

he loves rough, possessive handling. he’ll grip your waist until his knuckles turn white, forcing u to look at yourself in his bedroom's floor-to-ceiling mirrors while he hammers into u from behind.

he has a heavy biting fetish when he loses his composure. he will leave deep, dark marks along your collarbone and chest so everyone knows exactly whose wealth is keeping u.

he loves making u give him head under his desk while he’s on important industry calls, clenching his jaw and gripping your hair tightly as u swallow him while he tries to keep his voice steady.

he has insane stamina and a high drive, especially on drugs. he’ll come back to your place at 4 a.m. after a show, completely high on adrenaline, rip your clothes off, and demand your immediate attention.

his kisses are deep, wet, and completely bruising. he loves sticking his tongue down your throat, completely muffling your loud moans while his massive hands trace your bare skin.

he is incredibly cocky about how wet u get for him. he’ll slide his fingers into your underwear, feel how soaked u are, and smirk, "damn, you're practically leaking just from thinking about my black card."

he loves taking risks in public. he’ll pull u onto his lap in the back of his luxury SUV with the tinted glass up, pulling your underwear to the side and driving into u while the driver navigates heavy traffic.

he specifically buys high-friction satin and silk sheets for his bed because he loves the sound of your bare skin sliding against the fabric when things get sweaty and intense.

he loves choking u just a bit—pressing his thumb firmly against your windpipe to make your throat tighten around his name while he drives his entire length deep inside u.

he gets turned on when u mess up his expensive clothes. he loves it when u get your juices and precum all over his designer baggy jorts or luxury boxers while playing with him under the desk.

if u ever try to tease him or walk away when he’s fully hard, he will grab u by your hair, yank u right back onto his lap, and whisper, "you think this is a game? fix this right now."

he loves rubbing his thick, leaking tip all over your clit and opening without actually inserting himself, driving u to the absolute edge until u are literally begging him to fuck u.

he loves pinning both your wrists over your head with just one of his massive hands, completely dominating your movement while he thrusts into u at a hard, unforgiving pace.

you had been in this relationship for a really long time, but you would be lying if you said you were happy. for a while, you just were not emotionally ready to admit to yourself that it was abusive. it was so far from the love story you had always dreamed of having. you felt like you were nothing but a body to your boyfriend. the worst part was that he would not even take no for an answer most of the time. you honestly did not know if that feeling was worse than the times he actually hurt you physically.

luckily, you had a safe space. that safe space was your friend subong, or thanos, which is what his fanbase called him. he was a really famous rapper, but he always made time for you no matter how busy he got. that was the main reason your boyfriend hated him and was always against you hanging out with him.

one day, thanos invited you to one of his concerts. you were sitting in the crowd with semi, chatting and having fun, before you suddenly realized your phone screen was about to go dark.

"hey, semi. do you have a charger? my phone is about to die," you told her, looking at the low battery sign.

she opened her purse and started digging through it, but she could not find anything. "i don't think so, no. but don't worry, i will send you all the videos i take anyway," she replied.

you just nodded your head. you did not want to tell her that it was not about the videos at all. it was about your boyfriend, because you shared your live location with him, and you knew what would happen if it stopped updating.

the concert ended up being amazing, and you had so much fun watching thanos perform. after the show finished, the venue started to get empty. security let you and semi go backstage, where you met up with thanos and namgyu. all of you stood around talking and laughing. thanos was being a total goofball, making funny faces and cracking jokes to celebrate a good show.

"you guys liked the energy tonight?" thanos asked, wiping some sweat from his forehead with a goofy grin.

"you were okay," namgyu joked, making everyone laugh.

after hanging out for a while, it was finally time to go home. since you all lived near each other, thanos offered to drive everyone back. he dropped off semi and namgyu first, and you were the last one left in the car. he pulled up to your building, and you said goodbye before walking inside.

you walked up the stairs to your apartment, feeling the dread sink back into your stomach. you did not even have time to knock or unlock the door before your boyfriend ripped it open. he grabbed your arm and pulled you inside roughly, slamming the door shut behind you.

"why was your location off?" he yelled right in your face, his eyes full of anger.

"my phone died!" you said back, trying to pull away from his grip.

"you have been out with that stupid rapper again, haven't you?" he screamed, getting closer to you.

"it was just a concert with semi and namgyu too! let go of me!" you tried to fight back, arguing with him, but he just gripped your arm even harder. it hurt so bad that tears sprang to your eyes.

"ouch! stop! you are hurting me!" you cried out.

at your words, he let go of your arm so suddenly and with so much force that you lost your balance. you fell hard onto the floor, scraping your knee and elbow against the ground. you stayed down there, crying silently as the pain throbbed through your body.

he just stood over you, looking down with disgust, and started saying horrible, hurtful things. "did you guys fuck? did you slutty bitch suck that stupid rapper's dick tonight?"

"no!" you sobbed, shaking your head. "no, we didn't!"

"do you really think he would ever care about a pathetic bitch like you?" he sneered.

the fight kept going, with him screaming more insults while you just sobbed on the floor. finally, you couldn't take it anymore. you scrambled to your feet, scrambled for the door, and just ran away.

"get back here!" the man screamed after you into the hallway.

the loud noise made some of the neighbors open their doors to see what was happening, but you didn't care. you just ran down the stairs as fast as you could, tears blurring your vision.

once you got outside, you realized you had nowhere to go and your phone was still completely dead. you walked quickly until you found a twenty-four-hour gas station. you went inside, your voice trembling as you asked the cashier if they could lend you a charger for a minute. the cashier looked at your messy face and handed you a cord.

you plugged it in, and as soon as the screen lighted up, your hands started shaking. you did not know who to call. you tried calling semi first, but it went straight to voicemail.

"hi, this is semi, please leave a message," her recorded voice said.

you hung up. your finger hovered over namgyu's contact name... but you shook your head. no, you couldn't call him. so, you dialed thanos.

it took a few long rings before he finally picked up. you could hear a lot of loud music and noise in the background on his end.

"yes, y/n! miss me already?" thanos said into the phone, his voice loud and cheerful.

you were not in the mood for jokes at all. you could barely breathe. "are you free?" you whispered.

"yeah, i was just about to hop into the shower, why? what's up?" he asked, his tone getting a bit more serious when he heard your voice.

hearing his familiar voice made all your walls break down, and you just started crying loudly right there in the store. the cashier stopped what they were doing and just stared at you with pity.

"wait, where are you right now?" thanos asked quickly, the background noise suddenly cutting out as he walked into a quiet room.

you managed to choke out the name of the gas station. about twenty minutes later, a car pulled up, and you were sitting outside on the curb. thanos hopped out of the car and rushed over to you.

the moment he reached you, you immediately started crying into his arms. he held you tight, but you couldn't even speak. you did not know what to say or where to even begin explaining the nightmare you just went through. seeing that you couldn't talk, he did not push you. he just sat down right next to you on the dirty curb, keeping you close.

you pulled your legs up and hugged your knees to your chest to try and stop shaking. when you did that, the sleeve of your top slid up, and that was when he noticed a dark bruise already forming on your wrist.

he reached out and grabbed your arm to look closer. you whined out loud from the sharp pain, trying to pull back.

thanos looked furious. his face completely changed. "who did this to you?" he asked, his voice deep and angry.

you just looked down at the ground, unable to meet his eyes.

"that bastard," thanos muttered, his jaw clenching. he started to stand up like he was going to go find your boyfriend right then and there.

you quickly reached out and pulled him back by his clothes. "fuck him," you cried softly. "do you really want to get in trouble because of him? please don't go."

thanos looked at you, sighed, and sat back down.

"can you just drive me to semi's place?" you asked him, wiping your eyes. "she didn't pick up my call earlier."

"yeah, maybe because she is fucking asleep right now," thanos said, shaking his head gently. "you are staying the night at my place."

"no," you countered, feeling self-conscious. "you probably have guests over anyway."

"if by guests you mean bitches, then you are wrong. thanos doesn't get as much play as you think," he joked, trying to make you smile.

he helped you up and walked you to his car. the drive to his apartment was quiet and calm. when you got there, he unlocked the door and stepped inside, turning on the lights.

"sorry for the mess," he said, kicking a stray shoe out of the way.

"it's okay," you murmured, walking over to sit down on his couch.

he walked away into his bedroom for a minute and came back holding some clothes. he handed you a hoodie from his local tour merch and a pair of oversized sweatpants.

"here. if you don't like these, you can go into my closet and pick something else out, but i think you look good in anything," he said with a shrug.

you actually let out a small chuckle through your leftover tears.

"damn, if i knew glazing you would make you laugh, i would have done it way sooner," he smiled, looking relieved to see you smile.

"can i have a blanket?" you asked, looking around the living room.

thanos raised an eyebrow. "for what?"

"uhm, so i can sleep on the couch," you answered simply.

"nah, you are sleeping on my bed," he said immediately. "i will just go spend the night at namgyu's place. besides, this couch completely sucks, man."

"no, stay. please," you said softly, not wanting to be left alone after everything that happened.

thanos looked at your tired eyes and nodded. "ok. i'll stay."

you went to the bathroom to wash your face and change into his clothes. when you came out wearing his giant hoodie with absolutely no makeup on, he just cracked a few more silly jokes and gave you sweet compliments to make you feel comfortable.

later that night, you both got into his bed. it felt a little bit awkward at first, the space between you feeling huge as you both lay flat on your backs and stared up at the dark ceiling.

the silence stretched out until he finally spoke up. "how long?" he asked quietly.

you turned your head to look at him in the dark. "hm?"

"that son of a bitch," thanos said, his voice dropping low. "when did he start hurting you?"

you looked away from him, staring back up at the ceiling as a heavy feeling settled in your chest. "i don't know," you whispered.

you turned your body away from him, rolling onto your side to face the wall, closing your eyes so you wouldn't have to think about it anymore.

despite thanos being known as pretty problematic in the music industry and how stupid he could act sometimes in publique, he was a really good friend to you. he cared so much about the people close to him, and he always made sure everyone was safe, especially you and semi, who he always called his senoritas. plus, you could not deny how good looking he actually was in real life. he was very good looking, which made total sense why so many girls online were always thirsting over him. but right now, under his roof, you just felt safe.

behind you, you heard the mattress shift. thanos didn't say a single word, knowing that words probably wouldn't help right now anyway. instead, he just moved closer until you could feel the warmth radiating off his chest against your freezing back.

slowly, carefully, he slid one large arm under your head to support you, and brought his other arm around your waist. he pulled you backward gently, bridging the distance between you until your back was pressed right against his chest. it wasn't a rushed movement; he did it with so much caution, like he was afraid you might break if he held you too tight.

when his hand reached up to the back of your head, his fingers began to softly stroke through your hair. his touch was incredibly light, his fingers running through the tangled strands over and over in a slow, rhythmic motion that felt so grounding.

"i've got you," he murmured against the back of your neck, his voice a low, rough whisper that cut through the silence of the room. "you're safe now. just breathe, senorita."

the moment his hand brushed against your scalp and you felt the solid weight of him protecting you from the rest of the world, something inside you completely broke. all the tension you had been holding in your muscles for months, all the fear and the constant survival mode you had been living in, just melted away.

you turned around in his embrace, burying your face directly into his chest. your hands came up to clutch at his shirt, gripping the fabric tight like it was the only thing keeping you anchored to the earth. you completely melted into his arms, letting yourself become small and vulnerable in a way you hadn't allowed yourself to be in a very long time.

thanos just tightened his grip around you, tucking his chin over the top of your head. he kept up the slow, soothing stroke of his hand through your hair, his thumb occasionally brushing comfortingly against the side of your neck. he didn't care that your tears were completely soaking into his shirt. he just held you through the worst of it, rocking you slightly in the dark as you cried out all the sadness and pain you had been keeping locked away.

wrapped up in his scent and his quiet warmth, the terrifying memory of your apartment began to fade into the background. it was heartbreaking because of everything you had lost and suffered through to get to this point, but as you listened to the steady, calm beat of his heart right under your cheek, you realized that for the first time in a very long time, you were actually allowed to just be safe.

the next morning, a loud, heavy banging on the front door shook the whole apartment. the noise was so intense it echoed through the walls, waking both of you up with a hard start. you sat up in bed, your heart hammering wildly against your ribs, panic instantly flooding your chest. you knew that knock. it was him. your ex.

"no, please," you whispered, your voice shaking as you grabbed thanos by his arm. "don't open it. he'll just go away if we ignore him."

thanos looked at the door, his face instantly hardening into a serious expression you rarely saw on him. he gently patted your hand to calm you down. "get back into the room and close the door," he told you, his voice calm but strict.

you scrambled back under the covers, pulling them up, but you left the bedroom door cracked just enough to hear.

thanos walked over to the front door and ripped it open. "hey, man," he said, leaning against the frame like he didn't have a single care in the world.

"where the fuck is y/n?" your ex spat, his voice full of pure rage.

"i don't know, man. i dropped her off at your place yesterday," thanos replied smoothly, his tone completely flat.

out of nowhere, your ex lunged forward and grabbed thanos tightly by the collar of his shirt, pushing him back. instead of getting mad, thanos just let out a low chuckle, looking down at the hands on his chest.

"move on, man," thanos said, his eyes turning cold. "she's in better hands now anyway."

that was the breaking point. your ex swung at him, and they started fighting right there in the hallway, loud thuds and cursing filling the air. you hid in the bedroom, covering your ears, but the fight didn't last long. within a couple of minutes, the loud voice of the building security cut through the noise. the guard pulled them apart, immediately recognizing who thanos was, and started apologizing to him for the disturbance while dragging your angry ex down the hall.

thanos walked back into the apartment, fixing his shirt. you ran out of the bedroom immediately, looking at him with wide, worried eyes.

"are you okay?" you asked, your voice trembling.

thanos just rolled his shoulders and scoffed. "duh. he is weak as shit. he just thinks hitting women makes him tougher. dumbass."

living with thanos over the next few days started to make you realize how a real man was actually supposed to act. he was extremely charming and so good looking, even just walking around in baggy sweatpants with messy morning hair. you had always thought he was just a player—which, to be fair, he definitely was with his lifestyle—but now you were realizing that he could be an incredibly good and mature person when he wanted to be.

one afternoon, you were sitting together on the couch, and the vibe got a little sensual and quiet. you found your eyes wandering over the dark ink of his tattoos. your fingers traced the air above his arm, wondering exactly where the patterns ended under his clothes, and a sudden thought hit you. you realized you wanted someone just like him. or maybe... you just wanted him.

for the past few nights, you had practically been sleeping in the same bed because you kept having severe panic attacks whenever it was time for sleep. your ex had made intimacy feel so hard and disgusting for you that the dark bedroom terrified you, but thanos never pushed you. he just held you until you breathed normally again.

a few days later, semi and namgyu came over to hang out. the four of you sat around the living room, smoking, eating takeout, and talking shit about the music industry to distract you.

"i swear, that producer thinks he's a genius just because he discovered how to use a basic synth," namgyu said, rolling his eyes as he took a bite of food.

"right? and his fashion sense is even worse than his beats," semi laughed, leaning back on the cushions.

as the night went on, everyone started drinking. you found yourself drinking a lot, swallowing cup after cup because you just wanted to forget everything that had happened.

semi noticed and gently tried to pull the bottle away from you. "hey, y/n, maybe slow down a bit? you're going pretty fast."

namgyu, trying to lighten the heavy mood, cracked a quick joke. "hey, let her be, she's trying to forget her problems, and honestly, with the way this week went, i'd want to forget my own name too."

but after that, a quiet chill fell over the room. semi gave namgyu a look, and they both realized the atmosphere had gotten kind of bad and heavy. sensing that you needed rest, they both decided it was time to leave. "we're gonna head out, okay? take care of her, thanos," semi whispered before they closed the door.

you were left sitting on the couch, half-asleep and completely blurred from the alcohol. thanos walked over and gently shook your shoulder to try and wake you up. he didn't lift you up completely, knowing you preferred to stand, but he held your waist to guide you to the bedroom because you were having a really hard time walking straight.

he laid you down on the soft mattress, but as he went to pull away to give you space, your hands reached up and tightly held his arms.

"no, stay. please," you mumbled, your vision swimming as you looked up at him.

thanos paused, looking down at you. "i'm not going anywhere," he said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

you looked into each other's eyes in the dim light. your eyes were kind of red from the alcohol and the tiredness, and so were his, but there was a deep, unsaid sadness swimming in them. you couldn't take the distance anymore. moving purely on instinct, you leaned up and tried to connect your lips to his.

thanos hesitated for a split second, his breath catching in his throat because he knew you were drunk. but looking at your face, he couldn't resist. he leaned down and ended up kissing you back. as your lips met, you couldn't help but think about how incredibly soft his lips were, despite the sharp taste of alcohol lingering between both of you.

the kiss grew deeper, and your hands started to slowly roam over the warm skin of his body, and his hands did the same to yours. but his movements were completely different from how he usually was. for the very first time in his life, thanos the rapper was actually scared of touching a girl. the usually cocky, confident guy was holding you so delicately, seeing you not as an option, but as something precious that he absolutely had to protect.

the kiss grew deeper, the initial hesitation melting away into a heavy, intoxicating heat. the combination of the alcohol rushing through your veins and the months of buried tension made the air between you feel completely electric. your body felt so warm, and all you wanted was to slide closer, to feel the solid weight of his chest and the safety of his presence.

as his lips moved against yours, a soft, breathless whimper escaped your throat. thanos shuddered slightly against your mouth at the sound, the reality of the situation sinking in—this was his friend, the person he had been protecting, and the vulnerability of the moment hit him hard. despite his focus on keeping you safe, the physical reaction was immediate. the shift in the dark room made it clear how much he wanted you too, the soft grey fabric of his sweatpants leaving little to imagination.

you shifted on the mattress, your thighs brushing against his as you tried to close every single inch of distance between you. he wasn't moving with the usual detachment of a casual hookup; instead, the way you leaned into him brought out a fierce, protective masculinity in him that he usually kept hidden behind jokes.

"subong... i'm so hot," you whispered against his lips, your breath uneven.

he let out a low, rough breath, his dark eyes looking down at you in the dim light. "you're drunk as fuck," he murmured, though his hand remained securely cupped against the side of your face.

frustrated by the layers between you, you reached down to pull the hem of your shirt over your head, but your clumsy, alcohol-slowed fingers got tangled in the fabric. "help me," you whined softly, looking up at him.

a low chuckle vibrated in his chest. "alright, hold on," he whispered, his large hands guiding the cotton up and off your arms.

when the shirt was gone, it revealed your bra. thanos paused for a long, quiet second, his gaze lingering over your skin. he had seen plenty of women, but he had never been this close to your semi-naked body, and the familiarity of who you were made it feel entirely different, almost sacred.

"you must be hot too," you murmured, your hands reaching for the edge of his top. "take it off."

he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor. his chest was broad and toned, but your eyes immediately followed the dark, intricate lines of his tattoos. your eyes traced the ink where it started near his hands, winding all the way up his arm, crossing his shoulder, and disappearing behind the back of his ear. it was completely mesmerizing up close.

"see something you like?" he asked, a familiar but softer smirk playing on his lips.

you met his eyes, and the playful expression on his face faded into something incredibly intense. "come here," he murmured.

he leaned down, his lips leaving yours to press soft, warm kisses along your jawline before moving down to the sensitive skin of your neck. a shiver ran through you as his hands slid around to your back, his fingers hovering right at the clasp of your bra.

he leaned up slightly, his breath warm against your ear. "can i?" he whispered, waiting for your approval.

"mhm," you breathed out.

with a quick, practiced movement, he unclipped it and slid the straps off your shoulders. his mouth followed the path of his hands, kissing down your collarbone until he reached your breast. you lay back against the pillows, your fingers sliding across the smooth, tattooed skin of his back as his tongue swirled against you, sending a sharp wave of heat straight down to your core.

he kept kissing his way down your stomach, but the sudden intensity made you gasp, your hands tightening on his shoulders as you instinctively pulled back a fraction.

thanos stopped instantly, propping himself up on his elbows to look down at your face. "what? did i do something wrong?" he asked, his voice full of immediate concern. "should i stop?"

"no," you whispered, reaching up to cup his face. "kiss me. please."

a soft, relieved smile touched his lips, and he leaned back up to capture your mouth again. while the kiss deepened, you reached down to pull at the waistband of his sweatpants. understanding your touch, he shifted his weight and helped you kick them off without breaking the kiss, leaving him in nothing but his boxers.

he leaned in close, his voice deep and reassuring against your skin. "i'll treat you so good," he murmured, the promise sounding heavy and real in the quiet room.

he reached down to gently slide your bottoms off, and you followed his movements, your hand reaching inside his boxers to find him. your fingers wrapped around his hard length, sliding up and down in a slow stroke.

thanos let out a deep, heavy moan right into your mouth—a low, raspy sound that sent a jolt through you. it was the kind of raw, deep tone you had never heard in his music, entirely private and meant only for you. you kept your eyes on his face, avoiding looking down because it felt different doing this with a friend, but the heat between you had already gone too far to turn back.

he leaned over you, his breathing heavy as he looked down at your face. "do you really want to do this?" he whispered, checking one last time.

"yes. please," you replied.

"wait," he muttered. he reached over to the nightstand, opening the drawer to grab a condom.

as he rolled it on, you caught a quick glimpse of him in the dim light, realizing exactly why his reputation preceded him. he positioned himself over you, his knees framing your hips, his hands planting firmly on either side of your head.

he guided himself to your center and slowly inserted just the tip, pausing to let you adjust before pulling back out slightly. he did it a second time, testing your reaction, his eyes locked onto yours to make sure you were okay. on the third thrust, he slid all the way in, filling you completely.

a loud, tangled mess of moans filled the bedroom from both sides. the rhythm was slow, deeply romantic, and heavy with skin-on-skin friction. every time he moved inside you, his tattooed arms flexed against the mattress, keeping his weight from crushing you while still holding you completely captive beneath him.

the slow, heavy rhythm of his hips didn’t change, keeping the pace deliberate and deep. every time he pushed back into you, he let out a low, shaky breath against your neck, his lips brushing over your skin like he was trying to soothe the very heat he was causing. it was so different from the rough, careless way you had been treated before. subong was holding you like you were made of glass, his large hands anchoring your waist, lifting you just enough to meet him.

"you okay?" he panted, his forehead resting against yours for a second. his eyes were dark and completely focused on you, checking for any sign of discomfort. "tell me if it’s too much."

"it's perfect," you gasped out, your fingers digging into the muscles of his back, tracing the smooth ridges of the ink on his skin. "don't stop."

hearing that made something shift in him. his grip on your hips tightened, and his thrusts became a little faster, a little harder, but still incredibly gentle. the friction was intense, sending waves of pure electricity through your stomach that made your bak curl against the sheets. the room was completely silent except for the soft sound of skin meeting skin, your breathless hitches, and the deep, raspy groans that kept breaking from his throat.

you locked your legs around his waist to pull him even closer, wanting to get rid of any remaining space between you. the feeling of him filling you so completely, combined with the lingering fuzziness of the alcohol, made everything feel like a warm, blurry dream. for the first time, intimacy didn't feel like a chore or something you were forcing yourself to endure; it felt beautiful, safe, and entirely yours.

as the tension built to a tight coil in your lower stomach, you threw your head back against the pillow, a loud, uninhibited moan slipping past your lips. subong watched your face, his jaw clenching as he swallowed another deep groan. he shifted his weight onto one hand, using the other to grab your hand and lock his fingers with yours, pressing your knuckles down against the mattress.

"look at me," he whispered, his voice rough and commanding but dripping with affection.

you forced your heavy eyelids open, meeting his gaze in the dim light. his face was flushed, his purple hair messy, and the sheer vulnerability in his eyes almost made you cry. he looked down at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the entire world.

with one final, deep push, his body went rigid. he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his breath hot and ragged against your skin as he came, his chest heaving against yours. the sudden wave of intense pleasure hit you right after, your body tightening around him as you let out a soft cry, completely melting into the mattress under his weight.

for a long time, neither of you moved. the heavy silence returned to the bedroom, broken only by the sound of both of you trying to catch your breath. subong stayed buried inside you for a moment, slowly rocking his hips to ease the aftershocks, before he carefully pulled out and discarded the condom.

he didn't leave the bed or pull away to go to his side. instead, he immediately collapsed right back down next to you, pulling the heavy blanket up over both of your naked, sweaty bodies. he rolled onto his side and hooked his leg over yours, pulling you into his chest just like he had the night before.

his hand found its way back to your hair, his fingers slowly stroking the strands away from your damp face. you rested your cheek against his chest, listening to the rapid, loud thumping of his heart gradually slow down to a steady beat.

"i've got you, senorita," he murmured into the dark, his voice sleepy and thick. "go to sleep."

Of course you’d end up living in the same damn apartment building as him.

He looked over in your direction. Your hiding place wasn’t really hiding you and he spotted you immediately, raising a brow at the way you had your head peering over your friend's shoulder, ducking down again the second his eyes landed on you. Seunghyun rolled his eyes, a scoff leaving his mouth before he turned and walked off towards the elevator.

“Okay, you have to tell me what the hell that was about!” Your friend said, kicking your front door open to finally place the heavy box they had been holding.

“I hope the wine and glasses were in that box because oof.”

“Who says we need glasses?”

The night was spent on the floor, eating pizza and drinking wine while you told your friend the whole story about Seunghyun. The questions came pouring out (“how did you not know this was his apartment building?” “It wasn’t last time I saw him!"), the chiding that you’d never told them (“can’t believe you hid your hot sneaky link from me, what the hell?) and the apology that now you were living in sheer awkwardness that one of your former flings was now your neighbour. Life really liked to throw the hard stuff your way but you could make it work. It was easy to avoid someone forever, right? Like, how hard could it really be?

Turns out it was very hard. It was a few days later when you next saw him. You had stepped outside your apartment, heading out to the store to pick up some groceries at the same time he walked out of his. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw you, an eyebrow lifting.

“Stalking me?” He questioned, hands shoved in his jacket pockets.

You scoffed. “You wish.”

“Yeah, right,” he rolled his eyes. So, he was still bitter about the way you had ended things. That seemed fair but at the same time it really bothered you. You were never anything serious, it wasn’t like you had hurt his feelings, walked out on him like you were in some committed relationship.

“Look, I don’t want to talk to you, you don’t want to talk to me, so let’s just go about our lives without ever talking again.”

“Fine by me.”

He jabbed the button to the elevator with his finger. You let out a deep sigh — guess you’d have to take the stairs. One last look at him and you pushed the door open to the stairway, disappearing and hoping that you never had to speak to him again.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The no speaking rule you had put in place between the two of you was going well. Even if you saw each other in the hallway, it would be a quick glance, an eye roll and you’d move on. As the weeks progressed, the eye rolls seemed to lessen. It even got to a point where you could share the elevator — no words shared between you, both standing at opposite ends of the small metal box but it was civil, if that was even the right word to use. The awkward tension was always still there, lingering whenever the two of you were in the same proximity as each other but for the most part it was bearable. Seunghyun could just be a footnote in your life, someone you had shared a brief encounter with that you wouldn’t remember ten years from now. That was all he was.

Today had been a particularly shitty day. It had been pouring out and, unfortunately, you had forgotten your umbrella so you had turned up to work completely drenched. No matter how much you had tried to dry yourself in the bathroom with the hand dryer, you were still dripping like a wet dog. Then, came the biggest blow. As you sat down at your desk, your boss walked over, asking you to step into their office. A ten minute conversation ensued where you were informed you had been let go — the company was cutting back and needed to lay some people off. You were one of those people. The trudge back to your desk to collect your belongings was mortifying, the pitying looks from your now former co-workers made you want to fall through the Earth. Thankfully, knowing it was raining, you caught a cab home but when you got to your front door, you realised you had lost your keys. You rested your forehead against your front door for a moment, willing yourself not to cry before you slid down the wall, sitting there. You’d have to call someone eventually, someone to let you in and change the locks. But, for now, you couldn’t bring yourself to do it. So what if you had to sleep outside in the hallway for one night. It wasn’t like it was the worst thing to happen to you all day.

A loud sigh caught your attention, your eyes flicking up to see Seunghyun looking over at you from his door. He must have just got back from his own job — probably the recording studio. He seemed to think for a moment before he thought against his better judgement and finally spoke.

“What’re you doing?” He asked.

“…I had a really bad day and I’d rather not do this right now. I lost my job, lost my keys, I’d rather not lose my sanity to you,” you sighed, leaning your head back against the wall.

Seunghyun stood there silent for a few moments, sighing once again before he nodded his head in the direction of his apartment. “Come on, you can’t sit out here all night.”

Reluctantly, you got to your feet, following him inside. You were right, this was a different apartment from when you had first met him. He had moved. It seemed like the world was playing games with you with the fact that you had chosen the exact same building to move into. It wasn’t like you could complain right now. He was being… kind. He was letting you into his apartment, extending an olive branch. You wouldn’t admit it out loud but you were thankful.

“Coffee, two sugars and milk?” He asked, drawing your attention back to him.

“You remembered?” You asked, the shock lacing your voice. It wasn’t like it was a very hard way to have your coffee but he had remembered. That made you want to smile but you refused. Not today. Today you were going to bask in your misery, maybe tomorrow you could smile.

He shrugged, playing it off like it was nothing. “It’s what you had every morning.”

Once the coffee was done, he brought it over to you where you had made yourself comfortable on his couch. Your eyes were looking out over the big window panes that lined the wall of his apartment, the Seoul skyline beautifully visible. He had a balcony — you were jealous. To sit out on a balcony, bask in the air and forget life for a bit, that was a dream. With a polite thank you, you took the coffee from him.

Seunghyun sat down in a chair to the side of you, his own mug in his hands. “Have you called anyone about your locks yet?”

“No,” you shook your head. “Wanted to throw a pity party today and deal with it tomorrow.”

“You were going to sleep in the hallway?”

“Yeah.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying his best not to make a snide comment but he could see the hurt, the way the day had taken its toll on you and he couldn't bring himself to do it. “You can stay on the couch tonight. If you want or whatever.”

And, that was the turning point of your relationship.

From then on, the silence turned into civil conversations when you ran into each other. You didn’t stand so far apart from each other in the elevator, he even brought you coffee a couple of mornings as you headed out for your various job interviews. It was strange to be friends. Not in a bad way, it was kind of nice. You had always known he was a good person but now there was no sex involved, you were really getting to know him. The way he liked to goof around and tell jokes, how he always made it his mission to make the people around him smile even at his own expense sometimes. He was… kind, sweet and you’d often find yourself looking forward to the mornings when you ran into him.

Each day that passed, the conversations grew. You learned more about him, the type of person he was. You told him stories about your life, the recent interviews you had. When you were having a bad day, it seemed like seeing him became the one beacon of light that you looked for. It was dangerous the way your heart had started to beat a little faster whenever he smiled at you. Whenever his shoulder accidentally brushed against you, your stomach flipped, aching to feel his touch again.

You were never meant to like him.

But, here you were, pining for the man you had thrown to the side months ago.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

“I did it!” You grinned at Seunghyun as he opened his front door, your smile infectious. “I got the job!”

“I knew you would,” he beamed at you. Before he had time to react, you had thrown your arms around him in a hug, the first time you had initiated any contact. Seunghyun had been the first person you had wanted to tell. The second you had got the phone call from the company telling you that they were hiring you, you had dashed out of your apartment straight across to his.

He didn’t hesitate in wrapping his arms around your body, holding you against him. His nose brushed against your hair, his hands firm on you as he held you. The frantic beat of your heart making you dizzy. Being this close to him was making you want to throw all caution to the wind. But, you weren’t sure how he felt. Maybe he didn’t have any feelings towards you anymore. Maybe friendship was all he wanted.

As you pulled back, you met his eyes then your gaze flicked down to his lips. You couldn’t help, couldn’t stop yourself as you leaned in and kissed him. He stood frozen in place for a second before his hand found the small of your back pressing your body flush against him. His free hand came up to cup your cheek, tilting your head back so he could deepen the kiss. It was magical, everything you could have ever wanted and more. But, after a few moments, he seemed to find himself again, taking a step back and putting some distance between you.

“…what are we doing here?” He asked cautiously.

“I… don’t know,” you admitted, wrapping your arms around yourself like a shield.

“You ended things with me because you wanted something more serious. Threw me to the side like nothing without letting me say my piece because if you had, you would’ve known that’s what I wanted to, too. I resented you for that,” he frowned. It didn’t look right on that beautiful face of his.

“What?”

“I liked you. But, you didn’t give me a chance…so why should I now?”

You chewed your bottom lip, eyes moving to look at the ground as you gathered your thoughts. He was right to be guarded. You hadn’t let him say his piece that day, you had just decided yourself but maybe if you had, things would have been different. “I’m sorry. I was careless with your feelings but… I like you, Seunghyun. I like what we have now. You’ve become the best part of my day and if you give me a chance, I’ll prove to you that what happened last time won’t happen again.”

“Fuck it,” he mumbled to himself, taking one long stride and claiming your lips with his again. That was as good of a confirmation as any that he believed you.

Maybe it would crash and burn again but this time, something felt different. Feelings were involved, you had built something different.

It would work out. You knew it.