Jump Then Fall | l.anton (+18)
Genre: college au, slow burn, smut Pairing: RIIZE Anton Lee x afab!reader Warnings: mature themes, explicit sexual content (18+), did i mention slooow burn long fic? yeah. 80% slow burn, 20% smut. Notes: 21k words. Listening to Jump Then Fall by Taylor Swift. This was a reworked version of a fic I wrote for a different idol in my other blog. I decided to write it again because I (and a couple others) had grievances with the way the original fic ended. Lol. Hope you like it! Disclaimer: I do not know them, nor claim they would ever in real life behave the way they were portrayed in this fic. If you see the same fic in a different blog, for SEVENTEEN's Wonwoo, that is me. I did not plagiarize myself; otherwise, lmk.
You met Anton on one hot evening, just two weeks into your senior year of college. It was at a partyâone where youâd arrived late after a supposedly quick pre-game session with your girlfriends at Leaâs apartment turned into a full-on mini-party of its own. Youâd almost ditched the party altogether, but Mina said she had to meet this guy at the party, or sheâd regret it forever. Of course, she was exaggerating, but you went anyway.
You were the designated driver since you were the only one who didnât drink, which was because you were late even to the pre-game. Yes, youâve been told that being late is one of your many talents.
As soon as you pulled up to the driveway of the party venue, your friends rushed out of the car and into the house, leaving you behind to park. Just as you were stepping out of your car, you spotted Anton, looking tall next to the lamppost, and handsome under the yellow-orange glow of the light. He was attractiveâthe slight flush on his cheeks, his skin glowing under the lamplight, and even in simple square glasses and a plain white tee, he radiated some kind of glow that made you pause.
He was cute. And he was heading toward you.
Why though? Did he want to talk to you? Maybe get your number? Oh my god. What are you gonna do?
You stood frozen, heart pounding in your chest as Anton drew nearer. Sure, he wasnât the first guy to ever approach you, but he was really cute, and it was ridiculous how fast you were crushing on him.
Heâs coming, you told yourself, glancing around casually, trying to check if he really was coming toward you. But just as he was about three steps awayâbam! He hit the ground, limbs sprawled out in every direction.
You gasped, rushing over. âOh my God, are you okay?â
He groaned, kicked at the offending rock that had tripped him, and then dramatically flopped onto the grass as if it had betrayed him too.
You crouched beside him, waving a hand in front of his face. âExcuse me, are you alright?â
Anton blinked up at the sky, glaring like the stars were personally out to get him. Then, locking his glassy eyes on yours, he said, âHi. My asshole friends abandoned me here.â He hiccupped. âIâm kinda drunk and youâre kinda gorgeous. Would you be so kind as to help me out?â
Caught off guard by his random compliment, you chuckled. âSure. Here, let me help you up,â you said, tugging his arm, trying to haul him back to a sitting position. âYou can walk, right? You were walking just now.â
âWalkingâs overrated,â he muttered, but with your help, he managed to get back on his feet, wobbling slightly.
You told him your name. âWhatâs yours? Do you need a ride?â
He opened his mouth to speak, but someone suddenly appeared beside him, patting his chest. It was Sungchan, someone you knew. âThere you are, Anton. Weâve been looking all over for you!âÂ
âSungchan, do you know this guy?â you asked, but before Sungchan could answer, Anton tugged at your elbow.
âYes,â Anton answered like the question was for him, and then pointed a very unsteady finger at Sungchan. âHeâs a fake friend. You should never trust people who abandon you.â
Sungchan chuckled. âWhat are you talking about, man? Youâre the one who wandered off!â
Anton smirked, leaning in to whisper in your ear as if sharing a secret. âFriends who gaslight you are not real friends. Donât forget that.â
âI canât believe I ditched my girl for this,â you heard Sungchan mutter as he slung Antonâs arm over his shoulder. âOkay, that's enough from you. Whereâs that idiot stone? Eunseok!â
A second later, a man came jogging toward you. âFound him?â
âYeah, help me get him out of here,â Sungchan said, struggling to hold up Antonâs weight.
Eunseok smiled apologetically at you as they shifted Antonâs arm off your shoulder. âHe seems like a handful, but heâs a nice guy⌠well⌠sometimes.â
You stepped back, watching them as they wrangled him toward a black pickup truck. âHe doesnât seem that drunk, though,â you noted.
Eunseok chuckled. âWith this guy? What you see is not what you get. One time, he got wasted and started working on a coding project. Finished the whole thing in one sitting.â
âDidnât even remember it the next day,â Sungchan added, making a mock exploding gesture at his temple.
You couldnât help laughing, finding it both amusing and adorable that a fine man like him would have such drinking habits.
âAnyway, thanks again,â Sungchan said, flashing you a quick grin as they finished loading Anton into the truck.
âBye, gorgeous!â Anton called from the back seat, popping his head out, waving weakly. âI love you!â he added, blowing a kiss your way.
Eunseok scoffed. âYou donât even know her name.â
Antonâs head snapped toward Eunseok. âWho cares what you think, Song Eunseok? Youâre a fake friend!â
You couldnât help but laugh again, waving them off as the truck pulled away. Standing there, you found yourself thinking about Antonâstrangely intrigued by this cute, clumsy guy. But before you could dwell on it for too long, you heard Leaâs voice calling your name from inside the house.
âWhy are you still out here? Letâs go!â
You skipped toward her, linking arms as she pulled you inside. âI just met the cutest guy ever.â
Your hunt for Anton started the very next day. Living in the on-campus dorms gave you time to walk around the campus before your classes. The problem was, you didnât know where to start. Your friends could swear they were sick of you, gushing about him and retelling the story of how he called you gorgeous and basically confessed his love for you in under five minutes of meeting each other.
âI know he was drunk, Jill. But people say you become more honest when youâre drunk,â you insisted, not even trying to hide your excitement as you scanned the cafeteria for any sign of him.
âWhatâs his name anyway?â Mina asked, scowling slightly as she watched you crane your neck, practically spinning in your seat.Â
âAnton,â you replied, swooning. âI donât know his last name, but heâs friends with this guy I know from Sci-Tech, Jung Sungchan.â
Mina scoffed. âSungchanâs friend, Anton? Arenât you like neighbors?â
You stopped mid-scan, turning to her with wide eyes. âWeâre WHAT?â
As it turned out, Anton lived in the on-campus dorm too. He and Sungchan were roommates, and you only knew this because, apparently, the guy Mina just had to meet at last nightâs party was Sungchan.Â
âYouâre telling me Iâve been looking around campus for him like a lunatic when heâs been right under my nose this whole time?â you asked, clutching your pearls.
Jill snorted into her iced coffee. âYouâve been obsessed for, what? Twelve hours?â
âThirteen, but whoâs counting?â you corrected, turning to Mina. âBut wait⌠You and Sungchan?â
Mina didnât say anything. She just grabbed her cup of iced coffee and looked away with a suspiciously giddy smile on her lips.
Knowing Anton was your neighbor helped narrow down your search. For a while, you tried catching glimpses of him around the dorm. You even took slightly longer routes to campus, hoping to spot him by chance between classes or during meals. But every time, you came up emptyâno sign of him at all.
âJust where does this hot specimen hide his gorgeous self?â you grumbled. âItâs been three days.â
Lea watched you with a glimmer in her eyes. âThis is a first. Youâve had crushes before, but never hyper-fixated on one until now.â
âRight? I was just thinking the same thing,â Jill affirmed.
âThereâs no one like him,â you gushed, tilting your head dreamily. âI think he might be the one.â
Mina choked on her drink. âYouâre not serious.â
You laughed, stroking her back gently. âOf course not. Iâm just having fun, guys. Relax.â
âAnyway, why donât you just ask Sungchan?â Jill suggested, sounding like the only sane one in the group.Â
Oh. Right. Sungchan. Why didnât you think of that earlier? You paused, considering the idea. It was practical and sensible.
âDo you think thatâs weird? Just asking out of nowhere?â you asked, biting your lip.
âYouâre the one whoâs been running around campus like a headless chicken,â Mina pointed out dryly. âAsking Sungchan would be a lot less weird than that.â
You smiled at Mina, batting your eyelashes prettily. âAsk him for me.â
Mina swatted your hand away when you tried to hold her. âWeâre not talking right now. And no, I wonât tell you why.â
You grimaced. âOkay, so secretive for no reason. Well, no oneâs asking!â
Jill laughed. âJust go to Sungchan. You guys are friends. And itâs not like youâre asking for Antonâs hand in marriage. Youâre just curious.â
âAlright, alright,â you relented, standing up from the table. âIâll ask Sungchan. Iâm also gonna ask him why youâre not talking to him.â
Mina gave you a thumbs up as you left the cafeteria, heading out to start your quest. You just hoped your heart didnât explode from the anticipation before you got there.
You found Sungchan in the dance room, drinking water after practice. You strode over, determined but trying to keep it cool. He saw you coming and grinned, clearly already knowing what this was about.
âWell, well, well,â Sungchan said, putting his bottle down and crossing his arms with a smirk. âWhat brings you to my humble corner of campus today? Or should I say... who?â
You rolled your eyes but couldnât help laughing. âNo one. I was just passing by and remembered I needed to ask you what happened between you and Mina. Whyâs she mad at you?â
âUh-huh,â he smirked, leaning back on the wall. âYeah, you are not here to ask about me and Mina.â
âWhy not?â you scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. âSheâs snapping at people because of you, and sheâs so secretive about whatever it is thatâs going on between you two, so Iâm here to satisfy my curiosity.â
He shook his head, unfazed. âYou wanna know where Anton is, donât you? Donât worry, Iâve seen this so many times before. Youâre already head over heels. Itâs pretty common.â
âIs he that popular?â you asked, genuinely curious, but then you shook your head. âNo. Donât tell me. I donât care. Where can I find him?â
Sungchan chuckled in amusement. âHeâs usually holed up in the tech building, doing nerd stuff. You know, coding, hacking the mainframe, whatever those guys do.â He waved a hand in the air. âOh, and Iâm gonna tell you this only because you and I are tightâyouâre gonna need to bring a snack. Antonâs been known to forget to eat when heâs in the zone.â
You crossed your arms, half-joking but half-serious. âWhatâs that supposed to mean? Do I need to worry about him starving to death before I even get the chance to talk to him?â
âMaybe,â Sungchan said, eyes twinkling. âBut hey, if he does, Iâll make sure his last words are something romantic. Like⌠âTell her... she was... gorgeous.ââ
âOh my god, youâre so lame,â you groaned, turning to walk away, though you couldnât help laughing. âThanks!â
He called after you, still grinning. âAnytime! And hey, if you need a wingman, you know where to find me!â
Now you had a solid lead... and maybe a ridiculous wingman if things got really desperate. But most importantly, you had a plan: bump into him as casually as you can.
You spent the next few days timing your trips past the IT building. At first, it felt sillyâpretending like you were just âhappening to walk byââbut today, your patience paid off. There he was, standing just outside the doors, tapping away on his phone. Your heart fluttered the second you saw Anton, that same flush you remembered from the night before creeping up your neck.
You were about to walk over, but then a group of people spilled out from the building, laughing loudly as they passed. You turned away, worried someone might recognize you. As soon as they were far enough, you spun back to see Anton, only to find him gone.
Where did he disappear to? Maybe he went with that group of students. Or maybe he walked the other way. You had no idea.
You sighed. âNext time.â
The next time cameâseveral next times, actually. You just couldnât land the perfect opportunity! The universe was against you; you could swear with how each encounter was always interrupted by other people, unexpected circumstances, and now, even the weather!
You stared at the sky with a deadpan expression. âReally? Just tell me you donât want us together, why donât you?â you sneered at the sky, as if it would respond.
You were supposed to do your routine attempt at âbumping-into-Anton,â but the rain started pouring right when you stepped out of your building. As if that wasnât bad enough, you didnât bring an umbrella with you. You sighed, scuffing your shoe against the pavement, debating whether to make a run for it or just wait it out.
âAm I that unlucky?â you muttered to yourself.
Staring at your feet, you noticed a new pair falling into step beside you. You looked up and gasped audibly upon seeing Anton Lee standing there with an umbrella in his hand. He looked as handsome as you rememberedâneat appearance, well-kept hair, and his glasses that suited his face perfectly.
âAnton!â you exclaimed, making him glance at you.
He scanned you for a second. âIâm sorry. I donât think weâve met.â
You told him your nameâclearly and in full. âWe met at the party last Friday,â you smiled, hoping heâd remember.
âOh, I met a lot of people that night.â
âYou called me nice and gorgeous?â you offered, gouging a reaction from him, but so farânothing. âAnd, uh, you also kinda said you love me.â
Anton blinked, clearly taken aback. âI did?â You saw the confusion in his expression, followed by a flicker of embarrassment. He looked away, his jaw tensing slightly. âSorry, I must have had some to drink. I donât remember any of that,â he said, his voice softer, but there was no warmth in it. It felt more like a brush-off.
âYeah, itâs okay,â you said, waving it off casually. âYou were really drunk, so it makes sense that you forgot.â You grinned, hoping the playful tone might make the moment less embarrassing.
He seemed like an entirely different person. He was fun that night, sweet even. Was that a one-off thing?
For a moment, neither of you spoke. The sound of the rain pounding on the concrete was oddly loud. You could feel your heart hammering in your chest, not entirely sure if you should say something or just let it go.
âWell, then. I should go,â he prompted, offering a nod.
You nodded back. âOf course. It was nice seeing you.â
You watched him walk into the rain, dry and safe under his umbrella. You couldnât help but scoff. If it was the Anton youâd met that night, he would probably share his umbrella with you, make sure you were safe and dry.
âWhat a bummer,â you muttered, looking down at your feet again as you kicked your tiptoes to the floor.Â
You kept your gaze there, replaying the encounter and how awful it made you feel. You barely noticed the car that pulled over in front of you until you heard someone call out your full name.
When you looked up, you saw Anton in a car with his window rolled down. He turned to reach for something behind him before extending his umbrella out to you. It was long enough for you to reach without stepping into the rain, and you grabbed it with a confused look on your face.
âThank you,â you said.
He just nodded, lips tight. âYou can leave it to the dorm lady when youâre done with it.â
âI will!â you replied, smiling at him.
As he drove away, you waved your hand in the air, your smile getting impossibly wider as you clutched his umbrella in one hand.
âYou couldâve offered to carpool, but this is fine too,â you mumbled, grinning so wide your cheeks started to sting.
Just like that, your quest to make Anton Lee fall for you was on. You chased him aroundâwell, not really, but you seized every chance to talk to him. First, you personally delivered his umbrella to his dorm room, which surprised him because obviously, he wasnât expecting it.
When you found him at the cafeteria that day, sitting alone at a table while working on something on his laptop, you walked over with your tray and casually slid into the seat across from him.
âYou look like you could use some company. Lucky for you, I am free right now,â you beamed, and he looked up from his laptop briefly just to see who you were.
âIâm working,â he said, reverting his attention to his work.
You leaned forward with a grin. âI know how to multi-task. I can stay still, look pretty, and eat quietly while you work.â
âDo what you want,â he said, noncommittal.
As long as he didnât tell you to leave him alone, you were fine with being quiet. He was quiet too, and didnât seem to mind your presence. So you stayed, eating your lunch while on your phone and occasionally sneaking glances at him.
One time, you found him at the library sitting at a table with his headphones in, immersed in whatever he was working on in his laptop, again. You plopped down next to him, spreading your books out.
âIt appears you might need some intellectual stimulation. Iâve been told Iâm excellent company for that,â you offered, smiling your most charming smile.
Without looking away from his screen, Anton said, âPass.â
âAre you coding?â you asked, ignoring his refusal.
âIâm studying.â
âFor what?â you asked, leaning back to take a peek at his screen. âYouâre reading a book on your laptop?â
âItâs convenient.â
You grimaced. âI bet you donât know what books smell like.â
âNo, and Iâm not curious so I donât really wanna know,â he said, facing you. âCan I have some peace and quiet or do you have anything else you wanna ask me?â
âOh, of course. Sorry. Iâll just be over here being pretty and smart. Donât mind me.â
He didnât respond, just nodded slightly, continuing to work. You watched him for a bit, playfully resting your chin in your hand.
âMy man is so smart, but so grumpy too,â you muttered and Anton suddenly glanced sideways at you.
You looked away so quickly, you nearly gave yourself whiplash. Then opened a random book and buried your face in it. You could hear him sighing as you grinned into the pages of the book, hoping he didnât hear what youâd said but knowing damn well he probably did.
You were grinning when he suddenly snatched the book from your hands, flipping it over before giving it back.
âItâs upside down,â he said, fixing his gaze on his screen again.
If it wasnât for the plans you made with your friends earlier, you would have stayed in the library all day until Anton left. But alas, it was time to go when you received gazillion messages from Lea asking where you were.Â
Half-heartedly, you packed away your books and got ready to go. Anton noticed you then but didnât say anything. You tapped on the table next to his laptop, making him take off his headphones and look at you inquiringly.
âI was thinking of watching a movie this weekend. Youâre welcome to join me.â
Anton raised an eyebrow. âI donât really like movies.â
You shook your head disapprovingly. âGuess weâll have to change that about you.â
âGood luck with that,â he replied, putting his headphones back on.
Another time, you saw him at the gym when you were there with your friends. He was lifting weights, and you confidently strode over, showing off your figure in your gym outfit. You casually leaned over the machine he was using.
âWow, so youâre not just working out your brain, you work out your biceps too? Impressive,â you complimented.
âI come here to avoid conversations,â he deadpanned.
âYouâre still talking to me, so youâre not really doing a great job,â you chuckled.
Anton sighed, but again, he didnât tell you to leave. He just continued what he was doing, and you watched for a minute, smirking. You were enjoying yourself, despite his lack of reaction.
âIâll be over there if you need me,â you said, winking.
âWhy would I need you?â he asked, resting his hands for a second.
You shrugged. âYou never know when you might.â
As you walked away, your friends were waiting for you, shaking their heads, grinning in amusement, and straight up just facepalming. Mina said, âGirl, is it just me, or are you kinda embarrassing?â
You scrunched your nose cutely at her. âI am, kinda. But itâs okay. Heâll warm up to me soon.â
He didnât seem put off by your forwardness, which was all that mattered to you because it didnât seem like you were bothering him. You were resolved to continue what you were doing.
You kept âaccidentallyâ bumping into him at random spotsâby the vending machine, dorm hallways, the library aisles, or even walking to class despite being in different buildings.Â
Sometimes, you felt a little embarrassed, but you liked how fun it was to tease him and flirt with him, despite his aloof attitude. He was gonna break sooner or later, and whatever he decided to do when that happened, you were prepared to accept. You had projected about a dozen different scenarios of him confronting you, but the reality was far more unique.
âLook at us, fate keeps putting us together. Ever think the universe is trying to tell you something?â you told Anton when you coincidentallyâfor real this timeâended up in the same college seminar together.
He stared at you. âThe universe doesnât work that way.â
Unfazed, you shrugged, opening your laptop. âMaybe not, but itâs more fun to believe it does.â
Anton closed his laptop and turned his body slightly toward you. âDo you like me or something?â
âYes,â you replied without missing a beat. âWasnât it obvious? I made sure youâd get the message, though.â
He was quiet for a while, staring at you with his forehead creasing. Then he asked, âWhy?â
You shrugged, keeping your smile. âBecause I do. Hey, you confessed your feelings for me first!â
âWhen did Iââ he stopped, realization flickering on his face, and then he sighed. âI told you, I donât remember doing that.â
âItâs okay. I remember enough for the both of us,â you teased, tilting your head with an innocent smile.
Anton seemed to realize arguing wasnât going to get him anywhere. He shook his head slowly, as if accepting defeat. âYou know what? Do whatever you want, but I wonât take responsibility for your feelings.â
âYouâre not telling me to leave you alone?â you asked, raising your brows in genuine surprise.
He looked at you, baffled. âWhat?â
âYouâre not telling me to leave you alone,â you repeated, this time more matter-of-factly. âSo can I take that as a sign that I can keep following you around?â
Anton grimaced, though it was more out of exasperation than irritation. âYouâre not seriously going to follow me everywhere, are you?â
You grinned mischievously. âNo, not really. But now that you mention it, maybe I should. What do you think?â
âWell then, leaveââ
âGood afternoon, sir,â you exclaimed upon seeing the professor walk in, cutting off whatever protest Anton was about to say.
You lay sprawled on Leaâs bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, scowling. Next to you, Lea was perched on her stomach, typing away on her laptop.
âThe guyâs a tough nut to crack,â you muttered, shaking your head in frustration. âDo you think⌠heâs just not interested?â
âI thought he made that very clear with how he keeps ignoring you?â Lea replied, not looking up from her screen.
You sat up with a sigh just as Mina and Jill strolled into the room. âHeâs not really ignoring me, though,â you corrected. âMore like⌠he just lets me do whatever I want. Like he didnât care enough to say or do anything.â
âYou guys talking about Anton?â Mina asked and you nodded. âSungchan is inviting him over for movie night. Apparently, he said âyesâ.â
Your jaw dropped. âNo way? He said he didnât like movies!â
Mina shrugged, pulling out her phone and flashing you the screen. âI donât know the details, but Chan said heâs wingmanning you.â
You squealed, grabbing Lea by the arm. âDo you have a nice dress I could borrow? No! I should just go back to my dorm and get one!â
âItâs a pajama party,â Jill interrupted, sitting beside you with a bowl of ice cream in hand. âYouâre supposed to wear pajamas.â
You paused, considering. âYes, but... like, how about a cute nightgown? Those count as pajamas too, right?â
Lea shook her head. âYouâll just complain about being cold.â
You slumped back onto the bed dramatically, face-first. âFriendship is dead. It never existed.â
Later, while the smell of butter and popcorn filled the apartment, you rummaged through Leaâs closet, pulling out a cozy sweatshirt that still looked stylish enough for the movie night. âThis will have to do,â you muttered, tugging it on over your pajamas.
Lea, now in a matching set of flannel, raised an eyebrow. âYou really think Antonâs gonna notice your outfit at a pajama party?â
âI donât know. But in case he does,â you paused, checking yourself out in the mirror. âat least I look cute.â
When you got back to the living room, the usual chaos of movie night was already in full swing. Sungchan and Eunseok were bickering over what movie to watch while Sohee raided the snack stash.
Sungchan called out your name, waving you over with a mischievous grin. âLook who actually showed up,â he said, motioning to the couch.
You froze mid-step. Anton was sitting on the long couch, casually leaning back with his arms folded across his chest, looking as aloof as ever. He was wearing pajamas, which was unexpected because you didnât think heâd be the type to engage in silly activities like this one.
âHeâs real,â you whispered into Minaâs ear, eyes wide, and she stifled a laugh. To Sungchan, you said out loud, âJung Sungchan, youâre my number one favorite person in the world.â
Just as you were about to claim the spot next to Anton, Eunseok walked past and plopped down right where you were headed. Without thinking, you grabbed Eunseok by the arm. âMove!â
Eunseok blinked at you. âWhy? Whatâs going on?â
You picked up a throw pillow and hit Eunseok with it over and over again until he moved out of your way.
âWow. Youâre ruthless,â Eunseok chuckled, shaking his head but laughing anyway. âGood luck.â
âThanks,â you winked at him before turning to Anton. He watched the whole thing unfold with mild amusement, shaking his head as you settled in.
âComfortable?â he asked, raising an eyebrow.
âVery,â you grinned, inching just a little closer to him. âFancy seeing you here. I didnât think youâd really show up. And in pajamas, no less,â you said, flashing him a wide grin.
Anton glanced at his clothes briefly. âSungchan insisted,â he said flatly.
âWell, Iâm glad you came,â you said, batting your eyelashes and hoping you looked cute doing it. âItâs not every day I get to sit next to my favorite person.â
Anton raised an eyebrow, unamused. âDidnât you say Sungchan was your favorite?â
âAh, a jealous man,â you said, clicking your tongue. âItâs okay. I like them possessive.â
âIâm leaving,â he sighed, standing up at once.
You grabbed his arm and tugged him back to the couch. âYouâre no fun, did you know that?â
âWasnât trying to be,â he replied, leaning back on the couch, looking unbothered.
Determined to get some sort of reaction, you scooted closer, pretending to examine his face. âDo you always wear glasses?â you asked, feigning curiosity. âThey make you look extra smart.â
He pushed his glasses up his nose, side-eyeing you. âI am extra smart.â
You giggled, undeterred. âI bet youâre super smart, Mr. IT Genius. You could probably hack into all our phones right now.â
Anton didnât seem fazed. âIâm not that smart. And hacking is illegal.â
âWell, thatâs good. Otherwise, youâd see all the photos I took of you before,â you teased, leaning even closer so your shoulder brushed his. âFor research purposes, of course.â
This time, Anton did look at you, but only briefly. âWhat kind of research?â
âOh, just, you know,â you waved a hand vaguely, âstudying the behavior of elusive, handsome introverts.â
âSounds like stalking to me,â he replied dryly, though his lips twitched into a faint smile. Youâd almost missed it if you werenât staring right at him.
You grinned, feeling triumphant at his tiny show of amusement. âWas that a smile just now? Did I just make you smile? Does that make me your happiness and joy?â
Anton lolled his head back, sighing. âJust what is up with you?â he asked, genuinely bewildered.
Getting a real reaction from him, albeit an exasperated one, made your stomach flutter. âIâm persistent. Havenât you noticed?â
âI have,â he said, glancing sideways at you.
Before you could respond, Sungchanâs voice boomed across the room. âMovieâs starting, everyone! Grab your snacks, get cozy!â
The lights dimmed, and the opening credits began to roll. You wiggled in your seat, purposely leaning just a little closer to Anton, your head brushing against his arm.
Every now and then, youâd make little comments, trying to catch his attention. Anton remained mostly unresponsive, only glancing at you occasionally, but he didnât seem bothered either. In fact, the more you nudged him or commented, the more relaxed he seemed.
Finally, you âaccidentallyâ let your head rest on his shoulder. âOops,â you whispered, eyes still fixed on the screen. âMy bad.â
Anton sighed, but to your surprise, he didnât push you off. âYouâre really pushing your luck tonight.â
You grinned up at him, batting your lashes. âWhat can I say? I like taking my chances.â
âJust watch the movie,â he muttered, sounding annoyed but not making a move to push you away.
With a satisfied smile, you snuggled a little closer, content with your minor victory.Â
After the movie, everyone stretched and yawned. Sungchan and Sohee were already debating what to watch next, while Jill and Lea were dramatically complaining about the lackluster conclusion to the movie. You continued the night with laughter and conversations over light drinks. It was a school day, so no one was entertaining the idea of getting drunk.
You glanced at Anton, who had stayed quiet throughout the night, except for a few quips here and there. You often flirted with him in between conversations, but as usual, he couldnât even be bothered.
When the group started to pack up, you took a deep breath and turned to him. âHey, do you wanna walk back to the dorms together?â you asked, keeping your tone light and hopeful.
You were the only ones going back to the dorms, since the rest of your friends lived off-campus, and Sungchan was obviously staying over at Minaâs.
Anton stood up, gathering his things without making eye contact. âNo, thanks,â he said simply, pulling his jacket over his shoulder.
Your heart sank a little, but you didnât want to let it show. âThatâs fine, heh,â you said quickly, trying to brush it off with a casual laugh. âDidnât think youâd say yes anyway.â
He paused for a moment, adjusting his jacket before looking at you with a slight frown. âI just donât think itâs a good idea,â he said, his voice firm but not unkind. âYou donât need to follow me around.â
The words stung more than you expected, even though youâd been joking about it all night. You opened your mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Instead, you just nodded, forcing a small smile. âGot it.â
Anton gave a short nod, then turned and headed for the door without a second glance. As you watched him leave, the giddiness youâd felt earlier fizzled out. You knew he wasnât trying to be cruel, but his rejection still hurt. Youâd pushed and pushed all night, and for a moment, it felt like maybe he was warming up to you. But now, it seemed like you had been wrong all along.
Mina noticed your somber expression and walked over. âYou okay?â
You plastered on a smile, shrugging nonchalantly. âYeah, Iâm fine. Iâll head back now. See you guys tomorrow?â
Your farewell was noisy, with your girls dramatically begging you to stay. There was a big smile on your lips when you exited the door, but as you headed back to your dorm, thoughts of Antonâs words stayed with you.Â
Maybe this little game of flirting wasnât as fun for him as it was for you. Maybe you were pushing too hard. It had been fun for the most part, a lighthearted chase that kept your heart racing, but now it was starting to feel tiringâdraining, even.
Your brows furrowed in frustration. âI should stopâŚâ you muttered under your breath, kicking at a stray pebble in your path. Then, with a small pout, you crossed your arms tightly over your chest. âMen ainât shit,â you grumbled, though the bitterness in your voice didnât quite match the half-hearted way you said it.
âNow, now, sweetheart,â said a greasy, slurred voice from behind you, giving you goosebumps all over. âYou donât really mean that, do you?â
How deeply distracted were you that you didnât notice the dragged-out footsteps behind you?Â
You tried to brush it off, pretend you didnât hear anything. When his steps drew closer and he called out again, you got ready to run. But heâd grabbed your arm before you could make a run for it.
Not so fast, sweetheart.â His breath reeked of alcohol. âWhatâs a pretty girl doing out here alone?â
You shot him a sharp glance, trying to ignore the knot tightening in your stomach. âSir, please get your hands off of me,â you said, trying to swat his hand away but he tightened his grip.
âIâm not so bad, am I? Câmon. I could use a little company,â he slurred and every nerve in your body screamed danger.
âLet go!â you snapped, your voice rising in panic. You stumbled back, but his grip was strong, steering you toward the wall behind you. Your back hit the concrete, the coldness of it running up your spine. His fingers dug into your shoulders, breath sour with alcohol as he leaned closer.
âDonât be scared, sweetheart,â he slurred. âI just wanna talk.â
Your pulse hammered in your ears. You glanced around at the empty street, and the dim lamplights. Panic crawled up your throat when you realized the danger you were in.
âHey!â The shout cut through the air. You snapped your head toward the sound and almost cried when you saw Anton sprinting toward you.
The drunk man froze, his head whipping in the same direction. That single second of hesitation was all you needed. You drove your knee up hardâright where it hurt.
He doubled over with a strangled groan, clutching himself. Anton skidded to a stop in front of you, wincing at the sight.
âDamn,â he blurted, still grimacing. âThat looked like it hurt.â
âAntonâŚâ you breathed, heart hammering in your chest.
He grabbed your hand, his grip firm but reassuring. âLetâs go,â he said, his voice calm but laced with urgency. âBefore he gets back up. Come on.â
You ran, pajamas flapping awkwardly as you bolted down the street. Getting harassed in oversized Pucca pajamasâreally? The ridiculousness of the situation wouldâve made you laugh if you werenât so shaken. Â
Your heart pounded as you rounded the corner, Antonâs grip tightening around yours until you were safely back inside the campus gates.
When you finally slowed down, panting, you glanced at him. âOh my god!â
Anton looked at you, still catching his breath. âI know.â
The simple acknowledgment sent a strange warmth through you. You both stood there for a moment, the adrenaline fading. You were still catching your breath, trying to process everything that had just happened.Â
âThank you,â you breathed out. âYou really saved me back there.â
âI didnât. It was all you. That guyâs family jewels are done for,â he quipped, a small smile tugging at his lips.
âIs that a joke?â you teased, pointing at his lips. âAre you laughing at your own joke?â
He looked at you, his expression shifting back to its usual deadpan. âI didnât laugh. Be more careful next time. Donât just walk by yourself, especially at night.â His voice was almost scolding, but there was an unmistakable note of concern in it.Â
You blinked up at him, feeling your heart flutter in a way that had nothing to do with the scare you just had. âYou know, I could guilt-trip you right now and say you should have said yes when I asked to walk back together.â
You expected him to sigh and ignore your teasing, like he usually would. But he didnât. Instead, he quietly took off his jacket, draped it over your shoulders, and zipped it up for you.
âIâm sorry. I didnât know youâd be walking alone when I refused,â he said, sincerely, like he really meant it.
For a while, you couldnât move, or talk, or even think coherently. Your brain was short-circuiting at the warmth and the smell of his jacket that engulfed your smaller frame.
âI didnât know your other friends werenât staying in the dorms,â he added, but you couldnât hear him over the sound of your heartbeat in your ears.
Anton noticed your dazed stare, his brows furrowing before he sighed, clearly not amused by whatever was going through your head. Without a word, he tugged the hoodie over your head, covering your face.
âGo back to your room,â he muttered, exasperated. âAnd stop being weird.â
You pulled the hood back, grinning, but he was already walking away.
âHey! Wait for me! What if he comes back?â you called, jogging after him.
This wasnât part of the plan. You were doing just fine on the sidelines of college life, navigating the highs and lows of being a student. You were content not drawing attention to yourself in places that didnât need your presence, happily enjoying the fun college functions from a distance.
Why did you have to join the student council on a whim?
âIâm so sick of this,â you muttered, hauling a large box of banners back into the storage room. Someone else could do it if only there were other hands available to help. Frustrated, you kicked the box, only to recoil in pain when it slammed against your foot. âOuch!â
âMove,â came a familiar voice. Anton brushed past you, easily lifting the box like it weighed nothing. You followed him inside, a grin creeping onto your face.
âThank you,â you said, genuine gratitude lighting up your tone.
âNext time, ask for help if you canât handle it,â he replied with a side-eye.
âThere was no one around!â you protested.
âYou didnât ask me.â
âYou were busy!â
âThen you shouldâve waited until I wasnât.â
âWhy are you mad? Itâs not even your job!â you replied, pouting. Anton sighed and walked off. You hurried after him, your shorter strides barely keeping up. When he stopped suddenly, you almost bumped into him. He turned, eyes scanning you with that unreadable expression that always made your chest feel weirdly tight.
âAre you checking me out?â you quipped, knowing how heâd reactâa scoff and a side-eye.
Anton scoffed. âAre you heading back to the dorm now?â he asked, and you nodded. âWait here,â he said before climbing up the sound box to fetch his backpack. When he came back down, he pulled out a jacket and handed it to you.
âOh, Iâm good. I have one in my bag,â you said, shaking your hands.
âForget it, then.â
âNo, waitâIâll take it!â you said quickly, snatching it before he could put it away. âMineâs not warm enough. Thanks.â
He rolled his eyes. âGo get your stuff. Weâre leaving.â
You blinked. âTogether?â
âWeâre going the same way anyway,â he muttered. âCanât have you getting in trouble again.â
âWeâre on the campus, I donât think anyone would try something like that here.â
He turned his back. âIf you donât want to, just say so.â
You smiled, not even trying to hide how giddy that made you feel. âI didnât say that.â
After what happened the other day, Anton seemed to be warming up to you for real now. Maybe he was just guilty, but at this point, it didnât matter. Youâd spontaneously combust before you pass up on the chance to spend time with him.
You rushed to grab your bag and waved goodbye to your friends before jogging back. Anton was still waiting, looking like he was second-guessing the whole thing.
âLet me just remind you that this was your idea,â you said, laughing as you caught up and laced your fingers with his. He didnât pull away. âSo stop looking at me like I forced you into this.â
He exhaled sharply, looking annoyed though his words suggested otherwise. âPut the jacket on. Itâs cold.â
âOooh, Anton Lee,â you teased, leaning closer. âTrying to get promoted to green flag?â
âIâm not a red flag,â he said monotonously.
âWhen did I say you were?â
âYou kept implying it.â
You chuckled. âYou know, they say people who insist theyâre not red flags usually are.â
âJust wear the jacket,â he said flatly. âI donât want to be responsible for your hypothermia.â
You stepped back to slip it on, unlinking your hand from hisâonly for Anton to catch it again. You blinked, caught off guard.
âWell, damn,â you teased. âDidnât think you liked me that much. But I kinda need both hands to do this.â
He froze, then released you like heâd touched something hot. That made you grimace.
âOkay, offensive. Do you hate it that much?â you said with a laugh as you zipped up the jacket. âAnd no oneâs getting hypothermia in this weather. Itâs not that cold.â
He sighed. âCan we walk quietly and pretend we donât know each other?â
âNope,â you said, looping your arm through his. âImpossible. We totally look like a couple right now.â
âWe donât.â
âYes, we do,â you sang, resting your head against his arm. The two of you walked under the soft glow of the pathway lights, Anton not pulling away from you, and you just basking in the moment.
The school festival was coming up, and you got to work with Anton for the preparationsâyou as part of the student council, and him with the IT Club. Your tasks didnât really overlap, but you were content just being in the same space as him.
While Anton worked with a clubmate on the sound system, you were assigned to decorations and logistics. You organized tables, hung streamers, and made sure everything was in its placeâall while stealing glances at Anton and his team. Even if your work kept you on opposite sides of the field, you still made a point to stroll by his area now and then, smiling whenever your eyes met. Anton would only nod to acknowledge you, but each exchange was a little jolt of happiness for you.
During a break, you found yourself near the sound booth, leaning against the wall to catch your breath. Anton was just adjusting a microphone, but in your lovestruck eyes, he looked effortlessly cool, his concentration only making him more attractive.
âDonât just stand there. Youâre making me nervous,â he said when he caught you staring.
âDo I? They say being around someone you like makes you nervous,â you shot back with a grin.
âThey lied,â he deadpanned, shaking his head. âDonât break anything.â
âGuess the only thing Iâll be breaking is your heart when I leave,â you said dramatically after hearing someone call your name across the field. âSorry, Anton. Duty calls. Try not to miss me too much.â
Anton rolled his eyes. âJust go. Donât come back.â
âPlease. Youâd notice the second I was gone,â you teased, walking away without looking back.
On the day of the festival, music drifted from the courtyard where the marching band played, and the air smelled faintly of grilled food and sugar. You stood with your friends beneath the banner that read Welcome to the 00 University Festival!, cheering as the president wrapped up his speech about the academy, community, and creativity.
âLet the festivities begin!â he declared, and the crowd broke into cheers.
From there, the day unfolded in color and sound. You tried your luck at balloon darts, lost embarrassingly fast at the ring toss, and nearly tripped through the inflatable obstacle course.
Between rounds, you made your way to the sound booth, where Anton and Wonbin were fine-tuning equipment for the performances.
âSnacks for the hardest-working people on campus,â you announced, holding up a paper bag of food and drinks.
âThanks a lot!â Wonbin said with a grin, immediately fishing out a snack. âYouâre a lifesaver.â
Anton just nodded, his eyes still on the soundboard. âAppreciate it,â he said, taking a sip from the drink you handed him.
âYou guys are killing it,â you said. âCanât wait for the party tonight.â
Wonbin chuckled. âWeâll make sure itâs a good one. You coming to dance?â
âObviously,â you said, flashing him finger guns. âWouldnât miss DJ Wonbinâs big night.â
He laughed, then gave Anton a playful nudge. âYour girl knows how to flatter.â
Antonâs forehead creased as he glanced at you. âSheâs not my girl.â
âSheâs not?â Wonbin asked, genuinely surprised.
âNot yet,â you cut in, winking at Anton before heading back into the crowd.
The hours slipped by in a whirl of noise and sunlight. You checked in on them now and thenâsometimes with more food, sometimes just to say hi. Every time, Anton looked the same: focused, calm, the corner of his mouth twitching whenever you teased him.
âWant a break?â you asked during one of your visits. âYouâve been standing here all day.â
âIâm fine,â he said without looking up. âJust want to make sure nothing crashes before the main event.â
You pulled a waffle from the paper bag and held it out. âAt least eat this. A not-so-little bird once told me you forget to eat when youâre in the zone. It was Sungchan.â
He chuckled as he accepted the stick. âThanks.â
He smiled, andâughâyou could feel yourself swooning again. âDonât get me wrong, I like the mysterious, unapproachable vibe you have going on. But you look sooo much more charming when youâre smiling like this.â
As if on cue, Antonâs face reverted to its usual deadpan, which only made you laugh harder. âDefault modeâs fine too,â you said between giggles.
He shook his head, but you caught the corner of his mouth twitch again before he turned back to the console.
âFine,â you said, stepping away with a grin. âIâll stop distracting you now.â
âThank you, that would be lovely,â he said monotonously, eyes on the monitors.
You left the booth still smiling, the music from the speakers chasing you across the field. The sun was already setting, painting everything in that golden pre-evening light. Stalls glowed under their fairy lights, the air smelled of butter and smoke, and laughter echoed from every direction.
You met up with your friends again, joining them in games and food, but your gaze kept drifting back to the sound booth. By the time the performances started, the sky had deepened into deep blue. Wonbinâs voice boomed through the mic as he hyped up the crowd, and Anton sat behind him, barely visible save for the top of his head.
The festival carried on around you until the last performance ended and the lights dimmed one by one. By then, the energy had mellowed and the crowd had thinned out significantly.
Students began gathering leftover props and decorations. âI canât believe how well everything turned out,â you muttered, tossing a pile of streamers into a trash bag.
Wonbin, stacking equipment nearby, glanced your way. âYeah, it was a success. Thanks for all your help today.â
âOf course! It was so much fun being a part of it,â you replied with a smile. Across the field, you caught sight of Anton winding up cables. Even now, with the day done, he still looked fresh and handsome in the night light. The sight of him made you smile wider.
The student council president clapped his hands, calling everyoneâs attention. âThatâs a wrap, people. And before we call it a night, I am delighted to announce that we will be going on a weekend escapade after this. A little break for an entire week of working and pulling off such a wonderful festival this year.â
Cheers rose from the group, and your heart skipped at the thought of spending more time with everyoneâespecially with Anton. This time, not for duties and work, but for fun!
âGlad to see everyoneâs up for it!â the president said, smiling. âFor now, letâs pack up what we can tonight, make sure nothing gets left behind, and then weâll head to the after-party.â
You worked alongside the others, packing what needed to be stored away. The rest, thankfully, would be handled by the university staff in the morning. When everything was finally in order, people started drifting offâsome heading back to their dorms, others already on their way to the off-campus after-party.
It was a big shift from the organized funfest of the festival to a freer, more unfiltered mayhem. The living room was packed with students, and the atmosphere smelled of alcohol, vape, and perfumes mixed with the faintest hint of sweat. Colorful lights danced across the walls and over the swaying crowd.
âLetâs grab some drinks!â Mina yelled over the music, dragging the group toward the makeshift bar. You followed, adrenaline kicking in as you poured whatever mix of alcohol and soda the jocks had concocted.
Cup in hand, you scanned the room until your gaze landed on Anton. He was standing in a corner, one hand in his pocket, a drink in the other, watching the chaos with an amused expression. The strobe lights caught in his hair, and even in a plain white t-shirt, he somehow stood out.
Without thinking, you weaved through the crowd. âWow, youâre here,â you said, genuinely surprised to see him.
âNot willingly,â he said, raising his cup in greeting.
âWanna join the madness?â you asked, gesturing toward the dance floor, where a large group of students swayed, lost in the music and alcohol. Mina and Sungchan were there too, hands on each other like no one else was in the room.
âPass,â he said, not even giving it a thought.
âKnew youâd say that,â you mumbled, grinning into your cup.
Across the room, Mina waved at you, and you lifted your drink in return. âThey look so in love, itâs annoying,â you said, though your smile was soft, not bitter.
Anton followed your gaze, his expression unreadable. âDoesnât look like love to me.â
You turned to him, surprised. âWhat? You canât see it? They canât even keep their hands off each other.â
He shrugged. âCould be the alcohol. You donât need love for that.â
You studied him. There was no judgment in his voice but you could tell that he was a cynic. âYou donât believe in love, do you?â
âLoveâs overrated,â he said simply, taking a slow sip.
You just nodded, acknowledging his admittance and respecting his opinions. âAre you sure you should be drinking? You canât handle your liquor.â
He tilted his cup toward you. âThis is soda. Iâm not drinking. Canât afford to make dumb mistakes.â
You caught the edge in his tone. âLike calling some stranger gorgeous and confessing your love for them?â you said, half teasing, half testing the waters.
âExactly that.â
You felt a pang in your chest. Whether it was because he called your first meeting a âmistakeâ or not, youâre not really sure. But it totally killed the vibe.Â
âWell, good luck with that.â You tapped your cup against his. âEnjoy the party.â
You turned to leave, but his hand caught yours, fingers curling just enough to stop you. The contact was light, but you could feel his hesitation when he released your hand.
âWhere are you running off to?â he asked, clearing his throat and looking away.
You let out a short laugh. âIâm gonna go have some real fun. Dancing, drinking, maybe some games because Iâm quite good at them,â you smiled, motioning to the party around you. âItâs a party after all.â
He nodded, and under the flash of blue and red and green lights, you couldnât quite tell what expression he was wearing when he said, âHave fun, then.â
âI will,â you said with a smile, before melting back into the crowd.
You didnât see him for the rest of the night, and you didnât try looking. You just let the music take over, losing yourself in the blur of laughter and lights, and trying not to think about how disappointing it felt that heâd called your first meeting a mistake.
Early Saturday morning, you gathered at the school plaza with other members of the festival working group. You were set to leave at 9 am, and despite the hangover you somehow made it on timeânot without a splitting headache that the others seemed to share.
âAlright?â asked Anton, appearing beside you with a scowl when he noticed you pressing your fingers to your temples.
âOh, hi,â you greeted, forcing a grin before wincing. âUgh. My head is killing me.â
âAnd whose fault is that?â he said with a smirk.
Before you could come up with something clever, Wonbin appeared, holding a small plastic bag with a packet of medicine in it. âHere,â he said, offering one to you. âItâll help with the hangover.â
You groaned dramatically. âThanks a lot, Wonbin. Youâre a literal angel.â
The tips of his ears turned red. âThatâsâuhâitâs not much.â
âNo, really. Youâre glowing. Your beauty is blinding,â you said, squinting up at him as if to shield your eyes. âA literal angel,â you added, making Wonbin laugh bashfully.
Anton scoffed. âTake the medicine before you pass out.â
âOh, right.â You popped a pill into your mouth, then struggled to twist the cap off the water bottle. Just as Wonbin reached out to help, Anton grabbed it from your hand and opened it with an easy twist.
âThanks,â you said, raising the bottle in salute before turning back to Wonbin. âAnd thank you, my angel.â
Soon, the rest of the group arrived, ready for the trip. Since the university didnât sponsor the outing, everyone had chipped in for expenses and carpooled in whoeverâs car had room.
Without giving it much thought, you headed straight to Antonâs car, making yourself comfortable in the shotgun like you belonged there.
He didnât seem to mind, though he did glance your way. âI thought you were riding with Wonbin.â
âOh, weâre not that close. And he didnât invite me,â you said, buckling your seatbelt. âBesides, Iâd rather ride you.â
The words left your mouth before you could stop them. His hand froze mid-air, and silence filled the car, you could swear you could hear crickets in your own head.
âWith you!â you blurted, mortified. âI meantâIâd rather ride with you.â
Anton blinked, then nodded coolly. âYeah. I know.â
You laughed awkwardly and turned toward the window, silently begging for the ground to swallow you whole. When the other cars began pulling out of the parking lot, you noticed Anton still hadnât started his engine.
âAre we waiting for someone?â you asked.
âThere he is,â he said, nodding toward Sohee jogging toward the car with a backpack.
Sohee jumped into the backseat, slightly out of breath. âWow. Thanks for not leaving me behind.â
âI almost did,â Anton muttered, finally starting the engine.
You sank a little in your seat, grateful for the distractionâand even more grateful you didnât have to say another word.
The car ride was filled with laughter as Sohee took charge of the music, blasting upbeat tracks that made it impossible not to move. He sang along, his voice rising above the catchy beats, and every now and then, he added exaggerated dance moves from the passenger seat, making you and Anton laugh.
âThe festival was epic,â Sohee said after a while. âBut you know what wouldâve made it more legendary? A water balloon launcher. Next year, Iâm bringing one.â
Anton rolled his eyes but smiled faintly. âYouâd just end up hitting someone with that.â
âSo what? As long as you make memories, right?â
You laughed and reached for the iced coffee in the cup holder, holding it out for Anton as he drove. He took a sip without hesitation, not even a glance at your direction as he was focused on the road.
Soheeâs jaw dropped. âOh my god. Why donât you two just kiss in front of me, then?â
Antonâs brows furrowed. âWhy would we do that?â
âRight?â you blurted, snorting as you turned to Sohee. âDidnât know you were kinky like that, Sohee,â you teased, narrowing your eyes playfully at him.
Sohee groaned. âYou know thatâs not what I meant!â
âWell, youâre being dirty,â you said, turning back to Anton. âI was just being nice. Driving is no easy task.â
âRight, just being nice,â Sohee mocked. âWhen did he stop complaining about you invading his space?â
âOh, heâs never complained about that,â you said easily.
Sohee gasped dramatically, hand flying over his mouth. âEver?â he asked, eyes wide.
âNot that I remember,â you said, peering at him in the backseat. âAnd I remember every single interaction we had,â you added proudly.
âBut he doesnât like it when people are in his space,â said Sohee, pointing at Anton with a surprised expression. âHe hates it.â
You glanced at Anton, but he didnât take his eyes off the road. âEnough, dude. Youâre gonna make her think Iâm enjoying this.â
Sohee grinned. âArenât you? I mean, who wouldnât want a hot girl following him around, handing him drinks?â
Anton snickered. âWhat hot girl are you even talking about?â
You gasped, but before you could say anything, Sohee exclaimed, âDude, are you blind? Sheâs right there! 1-800-hot-n-fun.â
That made you laugh, just as Sohee leaned between your seats, finger gun pressed to your temple. âExcuse me, maâam. Youâre under arrest for being ten out of ten and too hot to handle.â
You both burst out laughing, and even Antonâs lips curved into a reluctant smile. âSettle down before I kick you two out,â he chided.
Sohee leaned back with a grin, sighing. âIs it weird that Iâm more invested in your relationship than you are?â
You pointed at him. âShut up. No oneâs more invested in our relationship than I am.â
As the miles rolled by, the countryside unfolded around you, with fields of wildflowers swaying in the breeze. At some point, you had to stop at a gasoline station because Sohee needed to use the restroom.
âHow about you?â Anton asked, just as Sohee had left the car.
You shook your head. âIâm good,â you replied, glancing at him. He was scrolling through his phone and only hummed at your response.
You watched him for a momentâhandsome, as always, with that charisma that seemed to come so naturally to him. You didnât mean to stare, but your gaze lingered on his mouth longer than it should have. There was that faint, almost-smile he always hadâlike he was always on the verge of actually letting it show. It made you wonder what itâd take to coax a real one out of him.
But more importantly, you wondered if his lips were as soft as they appear to be.
âYou know,â you said, voice light but teasing, âyou have really pretty lips.â
Anton paused, glancing at you and blinking like he wasnât sure he heard you right. His eyes flicked to your mouth, then back to his phone, brushing you off as usual. âThanks.â
âCan you tie a cherry stem into a knot with your tongue?â you asked, leaning a little closer with an innocent smile on your lips.Â
You knew exactly what you were doingâthe teasing tone, the loaded question. It was playful, sultry, but in a way that you could brush off if he didnât bite. You fully expected his usual indifferent response.
Then again, there was the possibility that maybe heâd pick up your hints this time, and maybe heâd do something about the tension that was building up between you right at this moment. Maybeâ
âI donât think anyone can,â he answered flatly, brows furrowed like he genuinely and seriously thought about the question.
You threw your hands up dramatically. âOh my god. What was I expecting?â you scoffed, shaking your head and looking away.
Anton remained quiet, so you glanced back at him. His jaw was clenched tightly, and somehow it felt as though youâd said something you shouldnât have.Â
You swallowed, unsure whether to laugh it off or hold your breath. âWhat?â you asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.
He didnât answer. Instead, he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned toward you. Before you could process what was happening, his hand was already cupping the back of your head, and then his lips were on yours.
You were momentarily stunned, grappling with the sensation of his lips pressing against yours and the racing thoughts in your head. His fingers tightened slightly, tilting your head at just the right angle to kiss you deeper. It was firm, yet slow, like heâd been thinking about it for much longer than youâd realized. You closed your eyes as you melted into him, kissing him back and feeling the warmth spread through your chest. Your heart raced in its cageâso wildly that you swore Anton could feel it echoing in his own.
When he pulled back, he was wearing a rare smirk on his lips and a triumphant glint in his eyes.
âSo?â He asked, voice low like he meant for only you to hear it. âCan I?â
It took you a second to catch up. âHuh?â
Antonâs lips curved into a full smirk this time. âCan I tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue?â
You blinked at him, speechlessâthen let out a helpless laugh. âY-yeah,â you stammered, flustered and still catching your breath. âAbsolutely. Youâre amazing. Basically a pro. Heh.â
You were still reelingâtrying and failing to act normalâwhen Sohee climbed back into the car, completely oblivious to what had just happened. He noticed something, though, because his eyes darted between you and Anton suspiciously.
âWhat?â you asked, forcing a casual tone that probably wasnât fooling anyone.
He shrugged slowly. âI feel like Iâm missing something.â
âAgain with your nonsense,â Anton replied, casually driving away after dismissing Soheeâs suspicion like it was nothing.
Sohee didnât press, and it was only you who could see the smirk on Antonâs lips, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. It was infuriating, but also oddly disarming. You could still feel the press of his lips on yours, and it took everything in you not to touch your mouth, just to check if it had really happened.
You arrived at the villa, its stone walls glowing warmly under the afternoon sun, half-hidden behind tall trees. There was a welcoming warmth to it, and you hoped it was as comfortable as it looked.
âWow, this place is massive,â Sohee commented dramatically as he stepped out of the car, looking up at the villa as if it were a five-star resort.
A girl with long hair and a bright smile appeared on the porch. âHey, guys! You made it!â she called, waving.
âClaire?â Sohee blurted, surprised.
âSohee!â she exclaimed, running to Sohee for a quick hug.
You caught Anton stiffen beside you, his expression shifting so subtly that you mightâve missed it if you werenât already watching him.
âWhat are you doing here?â Sohee asked, pulling away.
Before she could answer, the student council president emerged. âYouâve arrived! Perfect. Have you met Claire?â he said, smiling. âSheâs been kind enough to offer her familyâs villa for the weekend.â
âOh, I know these guys. We go way back,â Claire said, gesturing between Sohee and Anton.
When she turned to you, her smile widened. âHi! You areâŚ?â
You shook her hand, matching her brightness as best as you could. You told her your name. âNice to meet you.â
âCome on in! Everyoneâs waiting.â
As the president led you inside, you caught Claire looping her arm through Antonâs. He didnât pull away. Something sharp twisted in your chest before you could stop it. Jealousy, it seems.
Sohee leaned close, whispering, âThatâs Antonâs ex.â
You glanced at them againâClaire laughing softly, Anton saying nothing, his face unreadable.Â
The first order of business in the villa was rest, and then dinner. You hadnât planned on helping out in the kitchen, but when you noticed only a few had volunteered, you reluctantly joined in. A mistake, you realized. From where you stood, you had a clear view of the living room where Anton sat with Claire and a few other people. She looked far too comfortable beside him, her laughter ringing out over the murmur of conversations. Your chest tightened at the sight.
Itâs fine. Heâs allowed to have a past, you told yourself, slicing the watermelon a little too forcefully. But did she have to sit that close? Exes shouldnât be that friendly. And did she have to appear nowâright after he and I finallyâ
âHey, focus!â Wonbinâs voice cut through your thoughts. âYouâre gonna cut yourself.â
You blinked down at the board, realizing youâd nearly nicked your finger. âOh, shit.â
âWhy are you so distracted?â Wonbin teased, tossing a look toward the living room before grinning. âRelax. Heâs yours. Iâm sure of it.â
You let out a dry laugh. âNot with his ex clinging to him like that.â
âI donât know⌠heâs heading this way,â Wonbin said, smirking. âSo I think Iâm right.â
Before you could respond, Anton appeared beside you. The kitchen suddenly felt smaller. âWhat are you doing?â he asked, eyes on your half-cut watermelon. He gently nudged you aside, his arm brushing yours as he took the knife from your hand.
âWhat do you think?â you said, pouting as you stepped aside but stayed close.
He sliced the fruit with ease. âI think youâre trying to get my attention. Getting hurt and all,â he replied, making your jaw drop. He laughed at your expression. âArenât you?â
âI wasnât hurt,â you told him, rolling your eyes although your heart was fluttering at the sight of his smile. âAnd even if I did want your attention, I donât need to hurt myself to get it.â
Anton nodded slightly. âYouâre right. You donât need to. Thatâs one of your many talents.â
You grabbed a paring knife, pretending to focus on the pears. âSohee told me Claire was your ex.â
âShe is,â he said simply. âFreshman year.â
You stopped the urge to roll your eyes, raising a brow instead. âSo you did believe in love.â
âJust because I had girlfriends before doesnât mean I believe in love.âÂ
âWhat nonsense,â you scoffed. âYou know, people who claim they donât believe in love are usually the worst hopeless romantics.â
âWhoever said that was lying,â he said, cutting another piece and slipping it between your lips, his fingers brushing your mouth lightly.
You chewed slowly, feeling a blush creep up your neck. Antonâs gaze lingered on your lips. Normally, youâd make fun of him for it, but after what happened in the car, you couldnât bring yourself to tease him.
He cleared his throat, looking away and resuming his task. You glanced around, suddenly self-conscious, and grabbed a slice of watermelon just to do something with your hands.
âItâs very sweet. Try it,â you said, offering the slice to him.
Without looking, Anton leaned sideways to you and took a bite of the fruit. You instantly regretted that because now you were the one staring at his lips, recalling the vivid imagery of earlierâs kiss.
âAnton!â a voice called out from the living room, snapping you out of your imaginations. It was Claire and she didnât have anything to say, just waving at Anton with a smile.
You glanced at Anton, who didnât even bother to show a reaction, let alone respond. âDoes it bother you that sheâs here?â you asked, your voice softer now, more curious than playful.
He paused, his gaze finally meeting yours. âNo, it doesnât bother me.â
âSo youâre unbothered?â
âIâm unbothered.â
You tilted your head, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. âYou know, people who say theyâre unbothered tend to be... well, very bothered.â
Anton let out a small, resigned laugh, finally setting the knife down. His gaze softened as he turned to face you fully. âAgain with your odd wisdom.â He raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing but warm. âWhatâs next? People who claim to have allergies arenât actually allergic?â
âOh, I wouldnât go that far,â you shot back, laughing. âAllergies are backed by science. But being bothered when youâre in the same room as your ex? Thatâs a little harder to prove. Just like not believing in love.â
âYouâre too smart for your own good,â he said, flicking your forehead, which made you grimace.
âAlright, no flirting in the kitchen,â said one of your friends, nudging you aside as she passed by carrying a steaming pot. âYou two bring these to the patio.â
After the preparations, you moved to the backyard just as the evening settled into a cool, dusky warmth. The smell of barbecue was permeating in the air, rich and smoky. The large grill crackled and popped as steaks, skewers, and vegetables sizzled under Soheeâs watchfulâalbeit playfulâeye.Â
You sat at one of the long picnic tables on the patio, nursing a cold drink and watching the light from the grill flicker across the faces of your friends. Anton sat beside you, quietly observing the scene while Claireâwho had rejoined the groupâchatted animatedly with some others across the table. You were trying not to feel too aware of her presence, but it was impossible not to glance her way now and then.
âHey, are you going to give me a hand, or are you just going to sit there looking cute?â Sohee called to you with a playful wink.
You snorted, setting your drink down and getting up. âYou know, you canât use that line for everything.â
Sohee shook his head, grinning widely. âItâs not a line. You just happen to look cute all the time. Now, get over here and help me with the skewers.â
Anton chuckled beside you, and you gave him a teasing glance as you headed toward the grill. âHow about helping him in my stead?â
âIâll pass,â Anton replied, grinning.
You pouted, feigning a tantrum as you walked away. Sohee handed you a plate of marinated vegetables to arrange into skewers. âSo, howâs it going over there with Mr. Grumpy Sunshine?â Sohee asked in a low voice, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he leaned closer.
You raised an eyebrow at him. âWhat do you mean?â
Sohee nudged you with his elbow. âOh, no, donât play dumb with me, woman. I saw how you and Anton were looking at each other earlier. Youâre practically making out with your eyes.â
You rolled your eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at your lips. âOkay, you win. You are more invested in our relationship than I am.â
Sohee chuckled. âIâve known the guy for ages. Heâs not usually this present. Normally, heâs off in his own world, but now, itâs like he actually pays attention when youâre around.â
âLiar. He doesnât even look at me if he can help it.â
âTrue, but that was before, no?â he said, giving you a knowing grin. âYou two have gotten closer lately.â
You opened your mouth to respond, but were interrupted when Anton appeared at your side, casually grabbing one of the skewers you had just finished assembling. âHey!â you exclaimed, laughing. âYouâre supposed to cook them first.â
Anton raised an eyebrow, popping a piece of bell pepper into his mouth. âItâs good raw.â
Sohee gasped dramatically. âItâs what?â
Anton flicked his forehead, hard. âGet your mind out of the gutter.â
You winced at the reddened spot on Soheeâs forehead, but the latter was just grinning at you and wiggling his eyebrows knowingly. You playfully swatted his arm with the back of your hand.
âSo dirty-minded, go away,â you scolded, though you were grinning.
Anton smiled softly, and for a moment, the noise of the group around you faded. His gaze held yours, and you felt that familiar warmth spread through your chest again.
Sohee cleared his throat loudly, breaking the moment. âOkay, lovebirds, enough with the eyes! Weâve got mouths to feed.â
Soon, the platters piled high with grilled meats, skewers, and sides. The plates clinked as people passed around dishes, and conversations overlapped in the comfortable atmosphere of friends enjoying a good meal.
You found a spot next to Anton again, your plate full, though you were more focused on the way his knee brushed against yours under the table. Each little touch felt like a secret between the two of you, unnoticed by everyone else.
Prez pointed his fork at you and Anton, grinning. âYou two are awfully close for two people who arenât dating.â
You froze mid-bite, nearly choking as the table turned its attention toward you. Anton calmly sipped his drink, completely unfazed. âWeâre just eating, Prez,â he said, but his hand landing gently on your thigh under the table contradicted his statement.
âYeah, and sitting suspiciously close while doing it,â Sohee quipped, wiggling his eyebrows. You gave him a look that said, âYouâre dead when I catch you.â
Thankfully, the subject shifted to talks about K-pop groups who performed in this yearâs festival and the previous years, too. The evening carried on, full of laughter, good food, drunk anecdotes, and the soft glow of lanterns that lit up the patio as night fell.
You couldnât remember the last time you felt this light, this content, as the warmth of the barbecue wrapped around you like a comfortable blanket, and the buzz of alcohol numbed the cold air hitting your skin.
âYou alright?â Anton asked, placing a hand over your back while you were resting your head on the table.
Everyone had gone back inside, save for a few others who continued their drinking by the poolside. You and Anton were the only ones left at the table, mainly because you were too tired to move and he didnât want to leave you there in case you fell asleep.
You sat up and stared at him. âMy god, youâre so handsome. I could kiss you.â
Anton chuckled. âI think youâre drunk.â
âIâm not drunk. I never get drunk!â you snorted, staring at your index finger. âActually, I do, sometimes⌠Anyway!â You took a deep breath and tucked your hair behind your ears. âTruth is, I think about kissing you even when Iâm not drunk.â
âYou do?â he asked, amused.
You stood up and stepped closer to him. He remained in his seat, looking up at you with soft eyes. You wobbled a bit, but Anton caught your arms firmly, keeping you steady. You held his face with your hands, squeezing his cheeks slightly. âDonât dodge this, okay?â
âSo, what happened?â Wonbin asked the very next morning after you told him about last night.
You exhaled through your nose, pouting. âKnowing him, he probably dodged it. I donât know. I think I passed out before I could kiss him.â
Wonbin laughed, head lolling back and one hand hitting the steering wheel in great amusement. You shot him a glare and said, âOh, so you think thatâs funny, do you?â
He stopped, cleared his throat and muttered, âSorry.â He fixed his eyes on the road, but he couldnât hide his grin. âI shouldnât judge other peopleâs drinking habits.â
You scowled, turning to the road ahead as you crossed your arms over your chest. âRemind me why Iâm riding with you right now?â
âBecause Anton and Sohee already left for the hike,â he replied, and that just made you scowl harder.
âRight,â you muttered. âNow Iâm sure I made a fool of myself last night, because why would Anton leave without me?â
Prez had a hike planned for the day. This town was known for its clear river winding through the mountain, so everyone agreed to go when the subject was brought up last night. You were woken by Wonbinâs knocks on your door that morning, half-asleep and battling a splitting headache. Long story short, now youâre on your way to the hike with him.
By the time you reached the foot of the mountain, the others were already gathered for the guideâs briefing. Your eyes automatically searched for Anton and found him near the front beside Sohee and Claire. They looked like theyâd been there for a while.
The guide called for attention, and as the group responded, Anton turned, scanning the crowd. His gaze stopped when it found yours. There was a flicker of surprise on his face, then recognition. He patted Sohee on the back, saying something to him before jogging toward you.
âThere you are,â he said with a small smile. âI heard you werenât coming.â
âFrom whom?â you asked.Â
âClaire said she heard you mention skipping out. I figured youâd want to sleep in after last night.â
You pouted. âAnd you didnât think to check with me?â
Anton shrugged. âDidnât want to wake you. You seemed⌠pretty drunk last night.â
Heat rushed to your face as flashes of last night came backâyour attempt to kiss him among them. The annoyance you were feeling suddenly dissipated. You groaned quietly, hiding your face with one hand.
âAre you embarrassed?â he asked, chuckling lightly as he ducked to peek at your face. âThatâs new,â he teased, pushing your hair aside.
You elbowed him lightly. âShut up.â
He chuckled, then took your bag and slung it over his shoulder without asking. âIâll carry it,â he said simply.
âWow, I think youâve fallen in love with me,â you quipped, grinning playfully at him.
âNo. I just donât wanna hear you whining about how heavy this is halfway up the trail,â he said flatly, taking his hat off and placing it on your head.
The hike started out smoothly, with the morning sun filtering through the trees. Your group moved at a comfortable pace, chattering as you climbed higher toward the mountainâs scenic river. Claire, somehow always managing to walk beside Anton, led the conversation as if the rest of you werenât there.
âAre you alright?â Wonbin asked quietly, his voice pulling you from your thoughts. He flashed you a knowing smirk, catching the direction of your gaze.
âIâm fine. Just⌠taking in the view,â you replied quietly, pretending to look around.
âBet you hate that view, huh?â Wonbin chuckled. âSave your energy. Thereâs still the climb up to the ridge,â he added, pointing ahead to a steeper incline.
You felt a light touch on your backâAntonâs hand, guiding you over a rock. You caught him giving Wonbin a look, which disappeared as soon as he met your gaze.
âCome on. Letâs catch up to Sohee,â he said, nudging you gently to the front.
As the group made its way up, the conversation turned to old hiking trips. Claire, of course, slipped right into it again, laughing as she talked about a time she and Anton had hiked a similar trail.
âAnton was such a show-off back then. He used to be so energetic and silly,â she said with a laugh, nudging him. âYou remember that, right?â
Her voice carried a hint of nostalgia, but Anton barely reacted. He gave a polite nod, keeping his eyes on the trail ahead. âI was younger. Probably didnât know better.â
Claire smiled at his response, but there was something about the way she looked at him, like she was waiting for him to say more. It twisted something in your chest.
âYeah, when youâre younger, you make stupid decisions,â Sohee said loudly, flashing a grin that didnât quite reach his eyes. âTotally get you, man. Iâve got one or two Iâd erase if I could.â
You didnât know the details, but you caught the insinuation, and it somehow comforted you a little to know that Sohee wasnât fond of Antonâs ex.
After another fifteen minutes of steady climbing, you reached the ridge, overlooking the crystal-clear river that sparkled in the distance. Everyone took a breath, the beauty of the view silencing the group momentarily.
Some of the group gathered for a shot, while others wandered around. You stayed back, preferring to enjoy the quiet for once. You glanced at Anton beside you, who seemed quieter than usual, lost in his thoughts. You wondered if it was Claire getting to him, or if he was just being his typical reserved self.
The hike continued around the river, with a playful challenge thrown in along the way. One of the guys dared anyone to balance on two fallen logs that stretched across a small stream.
âCome on, whoâs got the best balance?â he called out, clapping his hands together. âItâs a rite of passage for this hike!â
Prez raised his hands in surrender. âIâll pass. I like my bones unbroken.â
The guy turned to you with a teasing grin. âHow about you? You look like youâve got decent balance.â
You smirked. âOh, Iâve got more than decent balance.â
Sohee jumped in before you could step back. âPerfect. You and me, letâs go. Loser treats everyone to ice cream later.â
âMe against you?â You scoffed, taking off your jacket and tying it around your hips. âFine. You asked for this. Donât cry when you lose.â
You darted forward, arms out for balance. The log wobbled beneath your feet, but you found your rhythm quickly. Sohee was on the other log next to you, his footsteps thudding against the wood as he tried to catch up.
You were almost across when you caught sight of Anton a few feet awayâwith Claire. She was standing close, her hand resting on his arm as she told some story. You faltered, your focus slipping for a second.
Sohee jumped off the log just a second before you, throwing his arms up dramatically.
âAnd thatâs a win for Sohee!â one of your companions announced, loud enough for the whole forest to hear. Cheers followed, and soon everyone was chanting, âIce cream! Ice cream!â
You jumped off a moment later, breathless, still reeling from what you saw but forcing a smile for the crowd. âFine. Ice creamâs on me,â you declared, feigning defeat.
The group erupted into cheers again and started back up the trail. You glanced at where Anton was only to find him already making his way toward you.
âWater?â he offered, holding out a bottle. âDonât want to have to carry you all the way back.â
You rolled your eyes, knowing he was only trying to downplay his concern for you. âThanks.â You took the bottle, appreciating the gesture but still feeling frustrated.Â
âDid you really just lose to Sohee?â he asked, not mockingly, more like he genuinely couldnât believe it. âThat guyâs slow and has terrible balance.â
You scoffed just as you finished taking a sip. âWere you even watching?â you asked, unable to mask the displeasure in your tone.
Anton blinked, brows lifting slightly. âHonestly? No. I didnât even know what was going on until everyone started cheering.â
You stared at him, incredulous. âWow,â you said under your breath.
âWhat?â he asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
âNothing.â You forced a smile that didnât reach your eyes, capped the tumbler, and started walking ahead.
He trailed behind, still trying to make sense of your sudden mood shift. You didnât bother explaining. Why should you? Heâd been busy entertaining Claire. Clearly, that was more interesting.
The rest of the hike went by in silenceâat least between the two of you. You laughed when someone cracked a joke, helped pass water bottles around, anything to look normal. But Anton never left your side and your sight, and it only made it harder to ignore the tightness in your chest.
It was right on time for lunch. Sandwiches and juice boxes were passed around, the group scattering across the grass in small clusters. Anton sat beside you, peeling open the wrapper of a sandwich and holding it out. âHere.â
You glanced at it, then at him, before shaking your head. âIâm not hungry.â
Right on cue, Sohee plopped down in front of you and held up an identical sandwich. âYou want one? I grabbed extras.â
âThanks,â you said, taking it without hesitation.
Anton didnât say anything, but you caught the faint crease between his brows. He offered a juice box, but you ignored it. When Wonbin joined your circle and offered you a juice box, you took it, smiling as if nothing was wrong.
You bit into your sandwich, pretending not to hear the sigh Anton let out beside you.
âGood, right?â Sohee said, unwrapping his own sandwich. âWe passed by this small rustic cafe on our way here. Thatâs where we got these from.â
âYeah, itâs good,â you replied, smiling faintly.
Anton tapped his juice box against yours. âWanna trade? You like the grape one, right?â he asked.
Across from you, Wonbin was eating quietly. You held out your juice box. âWould you trade with me? I got apple. Yours looks like grape.â
âSure,â he said, swapping drinks with a smile.
Thatâs when Sohee frowned slightly, glancing between you and Anton. âAre you guys fighting or something?â
Wonbin smacked his chest lightly. âDude.â He gave him a pointed look. âRead the room.â Then he grabbed Sohee by the arm and dragged him toward the others.
You kept your eyes on your sandwich, pretending to be far too engrossed in unwrapping the rest of it. Anton didnât say anything, but you could feel his gaze on you. You didnât want to look long enough to see what expression he was wearing.
At some point after lunch, while everyone was lounging around or taking pictures of nature, Sohee managed to talk you into looking for wild berries. The guide mentioned there were plenty of them around, so it sounded like a harmless adventure.Â
You walked with Sohee, Wonbin, and a few others, but Anton decided to sit this one out, mumbling something about someone (you) not wanting him there. That was fine because it gives you time to think things through without him hovering around.
You wandered deeper into the trees with a few others. Sohee was practically bouncing from one patch of greenery to the next, exclaiming every time he found a small cluster of berries.
âLook, these are the good ones! I told you I had an eye for this!â he boasted, holding up a handful of bright red berries.
âOkay, Berry Master,â you teased, bending down to pluck a few yourself. But as you reached for another low-hanging cluster, you misjudged your footing on a slippery rock. The moss-covered surface gave way under your shoe, and before you could catch yourself, you stumbled forward, scraping your hand against a sharp branch. A sharp sting shot through your palm, and you hissed in pain, clutching your hand.
âAre you alright?â Wonbin was quick to notice, walking over to check on you.
You waved him off with a sheepish smile, trying not to make a big deal of it. âYeah, I just slipped on a rock. Itâs not that bad.â
Sohee, always the dramatic one, rushed over too. âWhoa, are you bleeding? Should we get you back? Do we need a first aid kit? A stretcher?â
You rolled your eyes but couldnât help laughing. âIâm fine. I just need to wash it off,â you said, inspecting the cut. It wasnât deep, but a small trickle of blood appeared.
Wonbin offered you his handkerchief to wrap around your hand for now. âHere, itâs not good enough, but it should help until we get back.â
âThanks,â you muttered, feeling a bit more embarrassed than hurt.
You went back to the riverbank and the sight of Anton sitting alone by the water came into view. He was gazing at the stream, elbows on his knees, the sunlight flickering across his face. He looked so calm it annoyed you a littleâlike he hadnât spent the whole morning confusing you.
When he saw you returning, his eyes immediately dropped to your hand, the makeshift bandage catching his attention. Without a word, he stood up and walked over to you, his brows furrowed slightly.
âWhat happened?â he asked, concern etched across his face.
âOh, I just slipped. Itâs nothing, really. Just a scratch,â you said quickly, forcing a shrug even though your palm still stung.
Anton didnât look convinced. Without asking, he took your hand, carefully peeling back the cloth to look at the cut. His touch was soft but firm, and you felt your heart skip a beat as he inspected the wound.
âYou should clean this properly,â he said, his voice low, a hint of concern in his tone.
âI will, itâs justââ you started, but he was already pulling you toward the riverâs edge.
He crouched down by the water, motioning for you to follow. âCome here, rinse it off.â
You knelt beside him, dipping your hand into the cool water. The sting intensified for a moment before the fresh stream washed the dirt and blood away, leaving the cut cleaner. As if on cue, the guide appeared with a small first-aid kit, handing it to Anton. He opened it without a word, cleaning the wound with a steady hand before pressing on a Band-Aid.
âThere,â he murmured. âHowâs that?â
âBetter, thanks.â You glanced at your hand, grateful, but Antonâs next words caught you off guard.
âYou said you donât need to hurt yourself to get my attention?â he asked with an almost teasing glint in his eyes.
You blinked, torn between amusement and disbelief. âI didnât do this on purpose! And you werenât even there when it happened.â
Antonâs lips curved faintly. âYou came back with a wound. That got my attention.â
You scoffed, shaking your head. âI didnât ask for you to clean it up or worry about me.â
His brows furrowed. âYou donât want me to?â he asked gently.
âWhatâWell⌠I.. I do!â you stammered, caught off guard by the softness in his tone. âBut if youâre just going to hold it against me, then no thanks. I can take care of myself.â
Anton huffed a laugh, though it lacked humor. âAs if you need to. There are plenty of people whoâd line up to do that for you.â He nodded subtly toward Wonbin, who was chatting animatedly with the others nearby. âPark Wonbin, for example.â
A spark of irritation shot through you. âGod, I hope youâre saying that because youâre jealous.â
Antonâs scoff came out a little too loud, and he quickly cleared his throat. âWhy would I be jealous?â
âExactly,â you muttered, pushing yourself to your feet, frustrated. âYou donât like me enough to get jealous of other guys.â
He frowned. âI donât?â
âNo, you donât,â you said, crossing your arms, looking anywhere but him.
Anton tilted his head, studying you. âFine. Letâs hear it. What did I do?â
That made you glance back at him. âWhat?â
âYouâre upset about something I did. What is it?â
You laughed dryly. âSee? If you actually liked me enough, youâd know the answer to that.â You turned and started walking away.
Anton rose too, exhaling in defeat. âCome on, thatâs not fair.â
You glanced back just long enough to stick your tongue out before turning away again.
He could only sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched you walk off. Despite the faint crease between his brows, a small, helpless smile tugged at his lips. âLetâs go back together later, okay?â he called after you, but you didnât glance back.
Soon, your little respite by the river was over, and you were making your way back down to the foot of the mountain. Anton caught up to you at the parking lot, stepping in front of you before you could reach Wonbinâs car.
âGet in my car,â he said simply.
If someone ever asked what your toxic trait was, itâd be your inability to let go of a grudge. âDonât tell me what to do,â you shot back.
âIâm not telling you what to do,â Anton replied, unbothered. âIâm asking you to come with me. Not withâŚâ He glanced toward Wonbin, who was laughing at something Sohee said a few feet away. ââŚsomeone else.â
You scoffed, arms crossing instinctively. âDid you hear me complain when you came here with your ex instead of me?â
Anton fell quiet for a second longer than expected. You raised an eyebrow, making him chuckle.
âSo thatâs what this is about?â he asked, looking far too pleased with himself. It was infuriating how close you were to folding just because of that smile.Â
âCome on,â he said, tone softening. âYou donât have to worry about her.â
âOh, Iâm not,â you denied quickly, huffing. âWhy would I be worried? Iâm a ten. Too hot to handle.â
Anton chuckled, stepping closer until his hand found your waist. âDonât hang out with Sohee too much. Youâre starting to sound like him.â
You froze as his thumb brushed your damp forehead, wiping away sweat like it was something heâd habitually done for you. You could still feel the warmth of his touch long after he pulled away.
âCome on,â he murmured, already walking toward his car. âLetâs go back.â
And just like that, you followed with your grudge still half-intact, and your heart nowhere near calm.
The ride back to the university had been a blur. Exhaustion from the hike caught up to you, so you were asleep most of the trip. You vaguely remembered the sound of Soheeâs singing and the muffled conversations between him and Anton that filled the car.
When you woke, the sun had dipped low in the sky. Your head rested against the window, and the scent of Antonâs hoodie filling your senses. Your heart raced at the idea that he had placed it over you himself.
The car was already pulling into the university parking lot, the journey back seemingly much shorter than expectedâprobably because youâd slept through most of it.
âSlept well?â Anton asked, glancing at you with a smile. You smiled back and nodded in response.
Sohee groaned dramatically in the backseat, stretching his arms. âLongest drive of my life.â
âYou mean longest ride,â you sniggered, handing Anton his hoodie. âYou werenât the one driving.â
âDifferent lexicon, same meaning.â
Outside, the cool air met your skin. Anton came around with both your bags in hand. Sohee bade you a quick goodbye before running somewhere, something about a forgotten AirPod he needed to retrieve. You didnât mind, as it gave you a chance to walk with Anton toward the dorms, together.
âI guess thatâs the end of our little trip,â you said.
âYeah,â he replied, glancing your way. âIt was fun.â
You couldnât recall every detail of the trip, but you knew you and Anton were closer now than before. You could still feel the warmth each time he attended to you, his concern, his subtle displays of jealousy, and although it had been a silly joke, the kiss that sent you reeling in bliss.
At the dorm entrance, he paused, turning to you with a small flicker of worry on his face. âHowâs your hand?â
âThis? Oh, itâs perfectly fine,â you said, showing him your hand. âYou did a good job fixing me up.â
Antonâs mouth twitched, not quite a smile, but close enough. He still held your bag as you walked down the hall, and you didnât bother asking for it back.
âSo, what are you doing today?â you asked, just to fill the silence.Â
He shrugged. âAssignment. Maybe game after.â
âSounds exciting.â
âItâs not.â
You laughed, nudging his arm. âNeed help?â
âDo you know how to code?â
âNo, but I could hand you snacks while you work,â you offered.
He huffed out a small laugh. âNo, thanks. I donât eat and work at the same time.â
âWhy not?â you asked, genuinely curious. âDonât tell me youâre bad at multi-tasking?â
He shrugged. âIâm not. Food just makes it hard to concentrate on the more important task.â
You hummed. âFair enough.â
You reached your door but didnât open it right away. Letting him leave felt⌠anticlimactic. After everything that happened over the weekend, this sudden normalcy felt too unfinished.
âDo you wanna come in for a bit?â you asked, glancing at him.Â
He blinked, a little surprised. âWhy?â
âSo we can hang out some more.â You flashed a smile. âYou can get started on that assignment. And I can sit around and try my best not to distract you.â
He studied you for a second, like he knew exactly what you were doing but wasnât going to call you out on it. Then he shrugged and said, âSure.â
You opened the door and stepped inside, the cool air from your room greeting you as you flicked the lights on. Bed, desk, couch, a small fridge and just enough space for two people who probably shouldnât be alone together, but are anyway.
âMake yourself at home,â you said, grabbing a couple of sodas from the mini-fridge. âJuice, water, soda?â
âSodaâs fine.â He sank into the couch, legs stretched out, watching as you handed him a can. The faint hiss when he opened it filled the quiet space.
He opened his laptop and began working, and you couldnât help but take a minute to just⌠watch him. The subtle shift of his focus, the way his fingers moved over the keyboardâit was distracting in a way you werenât expecting, and oddly attractive. You sat on the floor next to him, chips in hand, close enough that your shoulder brushed against his knee.
âWhy are you down there?â he asked.
âDidnât wanna get crumbs on the bed.â
âYou couldâve just sat beside me.â
You shook your head. âDonât get me wrong, I would love that, but I promised Iâd be quiet, so⌠yeah.â
âThatâd be a first,â he murmured.
For a while, the quiet felt niceâhim typing, you scrolling on your phone and giggling at memes. You didnât think youâd actually manage to keep your promise not to talk, but you did. Mostly.
âSo,â you said after a while, âHow did you like the trip?â
He shot you a quick glance over his laptop. âIt was okay.â
âThatâs it?â you asked, brows furrowing. âJust âokayâ? Not fun? Relaxing? Boring? Total waste of time?â
He leaned back on the couch, taking a break from typing and flexing his fingers. âIt was nice and fun. Except for the part where I had to take care of a clumsy girl who hurts herself looking for berries.â
âIt was an accident!â
âWhat about the time you got drunk and tried to kiss me?â he teased.
You froze, searching for a comeback. âI was drunk, so technically that was an accident too.â
He laughed softly. âLiar. You think about kissing me even when youâre sober.â
You gasped, scandalized. âExcuse me?!â
âYour words not mine,â he said, shrugging. âYouâre too honest for your own good.â
Oddly enough, the teasing glint in his eyes and the smirk on his lips were more endearing than annoying. âDidnât think you can be annoying, but people has a way of surprising you, I guess,â you complained, though you didnât really mean it.
Anton didnât say anything, he just grinned and leaned back, studying you like he was waiting for something you werenât saying. You were still pouting, glaring at his smiling face and trying hard not to fold.
âWhat are you looking at?â you asked when he continued to just stare at you.
He closed his laptop and placed it on the table. âCome here,â he said, patting his lap.
You didnât even think about it. You just movedâone knee on the couch, your hand finding his shoulder as you settled onto his lap. His hand snaked around your waist, the other resting on your thigh like this closeness was something the two of you do on the daily and not at all out of the ordinary.
He stared at you for a while, that small smile still playing on his lips. All of a sudden, his attention seemed too much, making you shy to the point that you couldnât look him in the eyes anymore, so you looked away. Anton chuckled under his breath, making you glance back at him.
âWhat?â you snapped, trying your best not to sound nervous.
âNothing,â he said, voice low. âYouâre fidgety.â
âIâm not,â you denied, fidgeting even more. You looked down at your fingers on his chest. âDonât you have an assignment to do?â
âHow can I when you wonât stop talking?â
âIâll leave you alone then,â you said, even though you hadnât moved an inch away.Â
You gasped when his arm around your waist tightened slightly. That just made him laugh again and say, âYou didnât strike me as someone whoâd be nervous sitting on her crushâs lap.â
You scoffed, rolling your eyes. âWow, youâre a vain one arenât you?â
Anton tilted his head, puzzled. âAm I wrong? You do have a crush on me, though.â
You sighed, feigning defeat, with your shoulders sagging for added effect. âFine. Itâs my fault. I was the one who inflated your ego by following you around and showing you how much I like you.â
Antonâs laughter filled your ears again just before you felt his hand cupping your cheek. His thumb brushed along your jaw and your breath hitched in your throat. The teasing grin on his lips softened and that made your pulse race.Â
Without a word, he pressed a quick kiss on your lips. Then another. And another. You fully expected a fourth one to come, but it didnât. Instead, Anton looked into your eyes, intently, as if asking for something he already knew the answer to.Â
You stayed still, your fingers curling in the fabric of his hoodie. And then Anton leaned in again, as if he was giving you a chance to stop him. You didnât. You met him halfway, and the kiss landed softly. This time, it was longer, firmer, and definitely sweeter.
His hand slid from your cheek to the back of your neck, tilting your head for the right angle. You arched into him, kissing him back with the same amount of fervor. When you opened your mouth, he responded immediately, a low, quiet sound escaping him as his hands tightened around your waist, pulling you flush against him.Â
You gasped when his teeth grazed your lower lip, the sensation sending a shock of warmth through your body. His arms tightened around you, holding you steady, as though he could sense how much you were melting into him.
You kept going until it wasnât just a kiss anymore. It was something more, something primal, and hotâvery hot. Your fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more of him, and he obliged, his lips moving against yours with more urgency, more need.
When you pulled back to breathe, you just stared at himâwide-eyed, breathless, a little dazed. Antonâs smile was small but unmistakably content as his thumb traced the outline of your face.
âWow,â you said before your brain could stop you. âThat was so much better than the one in the car.â
He raised an eyebrow, and you realized a second too late what youâd just said. âI meanâuh, not that that one was bad! Justâthis oneâs⌠better.â
He laughed softly, the sound low and warm, before reaching for his laptop.You blinked, watching in disbelief as he balanced it on his knee, his other hand still resting casually at the small of your back.
Heâs not seriously going back to his assignment, is he? you thought, jaw dropping a little. But apparently, he was.
You tried to slip off his lap, but he caught your leg before you could move far, holding you there without looking up from his screen. So you stayedâperched sideways on the armrest, your legs resting across his lap, your brain spiraling while he typed like nothing happened.
For the next hour, the room stayed quiet. He worked while you scrolled aimlessly on your phone, pretending you werenât replaying the kiss over and over again in your head, wondering what it meant, what came next, and if he could hear how loud your heart still was.
In the days that followed, everything between you and Anton felt different. The teasing was still there, but now it came with proximity and tenderness. Before, it had always been you who initiated any kind of physical touch in publicâholding his hand, a playful nudge, resting your head on his shoulder when you were tired. But now, it was him, too.Â
Like the way heâd touch your arm when he walked by, or how heâd casually rest his hand on the back of your chair when you sat together. It was mostly just small simple gestures, but enough to send your heart doing cartwheels every time. Sure, he still maintained his aloof attitude, but his actions spoke louder than his words.
One afternoon, you were sitting together in a corner booth at a cafĂŠ with iced coffee, open laptops, and you pretending to study. Every so often, heâd glance up from his screen, meet your gaze, and flash you that rare, charming smile that made you melt just a little.
âYouâve been smiling a lot lately,â you teased, narrowing your eyes at him.
He didnât look up. âI always smile.â
âNo, you donât. But lately, youâve been smiling because of me.â
âYou think too highly of yourself,â Anton said, eyes narrowed in amusement. âI smile for a lot of people.â
âOh? Do you kiss a lot of people too?â you shot back, leaning forward and watching as a faint flush touched his ears.
He shook his head, still smiling but retreating behind his usual mask of aloofness. âThat was a fluke. And I didnât kiss you, you kissed me.â
You gasped dramatically. âYou filthy little liar!â
He chuckled and shoved your half-empty cup toward you. âFinish it, or youâll complain about all the ice melting away later.â
Over time, you learned that Anton wasnât the type to outwardly fawn over anyone, but these little moments showed how much he paid attention. You wanted to impress him, so you drained your cup in one go, even though you were already full. He chuckled softly, giving you a look that said he saw right through you.
It wasnât all just the proximity and teasing, though. Youâd started noticing how you both went out of your way for each other. Heâd grab an extra coffee to give to you on the way to your morning class. You saved him a strangely good cookie from lunch. Heâd remind you of deadlines you pretended to forget. And youâd hang out at the IT library to keep him company when heâs working late on an assignment. All these gestures kept piling up.
âIs that a scrunchie?â you asked one time during a cafe run, eyeing the yellow lace scrunchie around his pulse.
âHmh?â He glanced at his wrist. âOh. Yeah, itâs a backup. You keep losing yours when we go out.â
âAw. Youâre so in love with me and I totally understand. I meanââ With flair, you flicked your hair out of your shoulder. âJust look at me.â
âDonât push it,â he warned, taking the scrunchie from his wrist and handing it to you. âFix your hair. I donât want it in my pasta.â
You took it with a teasing grin. âThanks. But you could have gotten those plain black hair ties though. That way, I wouldnât feel too bad for losing them.â
âI thought it would look good on you,â he mumbled but you heard him just fine.
Out of habit, you wouldâve teased himâasked if heâs falling for you. But the way he looked away with the tiniest hint of shyness, the red tint on his ears, and the slight furrow of his browsâeverything added up. You didnât have to ask.Â
But you kept it playful because thatâs what you knew how to do. âAre you falling in love with me, Anton Lee?â you teased one lazy afternoon, batting your eyes like it was a joke.
Anton scoffed, leaning back in his chair with an air of indifference. âIâm not falling in love with anyone,â he denied smoothly.
âMaybe not.â You tied the scrunchie into your hair with a grin. âBut you definitely like me.â
Right on cue, the server came overâa middle-aged woman with kind eyes, the type who probably handed out unsolicited but warm advice with every dish. âYou two look adorable together,â she said, beaming at both of you. âHow long have you been dating?â
âWeâre not dating,â you replied immediately, returning her smile. âItâs just me. I like him a lot, and heâs⌠well, heâs just putting up with my antics.â You scrunched your nose playfully, expecting her to laugh and move along.
Instead, she paused, head tilted. âIsnât that what dating is?â
You stared after her, blinking. âSorry?â
She didnât say anything, and just laughed as she walked away with her tray.You turned to Anton, waiting for him to correct the misunderstanding like always. But he just stared back at you, lips quirking into an amused smile.Â
This wasnât the first time someone mistook you for a couple. Youâd lost count of how many times people asked things like, âWhen did you start dating?â And every time, you laughed it off, always the first to deny it, brushing away the idea with a joke.
Not because you didnât want it⌠God, you wanted it! But the thought of making Anton uncomfortable, of pushing something he hadnât acknowledged? You didnât want that.
Anton, meanwhile, never denied it. Never confirmed it either. He just kept floating over that maddening middle ground that kept you guessing.
After dinner, you walked back to campus with your arm wrapped tightly around his, humming a song youâd been obsessed with lately. Your head swayed with each stepâcarefreeâuntil Anton suddenly slowed, then stopped.
âWhy do you keep telling everyone weâre not dating?â he asked, making you glance up at him.
âBecause weâre not?â you replied, brows knitting.
He scoffed, shaking his head as he resumed walking. âFor someone whoâs supposedly head over heels for me, you sure hate it when people think weâre a couple.â
âI donât hate it. I actually like it!â you insisted, clinging tighter. âIâm denying it for your sake. I donât want you to feel uncomfortable.â
âUncomfortable?â he echoed, glancing at you again.
You hesitated, struggling to line up your thoughts. âI just⌠didnât want to assume you were okay with it. I didnât want to make things weird by pushing something you havenât even said you wanted.â
âWhy worry so much about what I feel when Iâve never made a big deal out of it?â
His tone was casual, almost indifferent, but the way he said it suggested something far more profound. You opened your mouth to respond, but nothing came out. His actions and his words were confusing, and you didnât want to make your own conclusions.
Anton let out a soft sigh, moving a step ahead of you, his hands slipping into his pockets as he walked on.
âHey, wait up!â you called, jogging after him, completely missing the subtle, satisfied smile playing on his lips.
You were in your dorm room again. This had become routineâyour little bubble. Some days you sat across from each other, other days you lay together on your bed, sharing peaceful silence. Tonight, Anton sat comfortably on the couch, legs crossed, leaning against the backrest. He looked relaxed as he talked about his plans for the future.
It was a very Anton sort of conversation. He had been so open about his future, talking about post-college job prospects and what he planned to do with his IT degree. You listened, thoroughly intrigued by how calm and composed he was about the life waiting beyond college.
âWhat about you?â he asked suddenly.
The question caught you off-guard. It shouldnât haveâgiven the direction of the conversation, it was inevitable that heâd ask about your future too. It hadnât sunk in yet, but youâre a senior now, and you knew that you would soon be graduating. And you still had no idea where to begin with the career you wanted so badly.
âWhat do you wanna do?â he repeated, tilting his head in that way he did whenever he realized you were drifting.
And drifting you were. Your eyes had begun tracing the shape of his mouth without permissionâthe subtle movements of his lips with each word, the way they pressed together when he paused to think. At this point, it was a habit. You barely registered the question because you were too busy studying him.
âHey?â he prompted again.
You blinked, your gaze snapping back to his eyes, but the words tumbled out before you could think. âI so badly want to kiss you right now. Thatâs what I wanna do.â
Anton sighed, like he was already used to you blurting impulsive things. You cackled. His non-reaction is only comical to you now.
You pushed yourself to your feet, still grinning. âNever mind, then.â
You turned to leave, but before you could even take a full step, a firm tug pulled you backwardâand suddenly you were in his lap. You got a brief glimpse of him swiftly taking his glasses off and tossing them aside before his lips crashed into yoursâall in a span of two seconds.Â
You froze in delight, then kissed him back with just as much urgency. Before it could deepen though, he pulled away, hands clutching your shoulders.
âThere. Happy?â he muttered, feigning indifference. But he wasnât fooling you. Not even close.
You pouted, still breathless, reaching up to fix the slightly crooked collar of his shirt. âI donât really wanna talk about careers right now.â
âOkay,â he said, shrugging. âThen letâs talk about us.â
âUs?â you echoed, trying to sound casual, though your pulse had quickened.
He nodded. There was a gentleness on his face that sent butterflies raging in your stomach. âYeah. Us. Me, you, and what we want this relationship to be.â
The room felt still, his words hanging in the air between you. You couldnât stop staring at himâat the softness in his dark eyes, the subtle parting of his lips like something else was on the tip of his tongue. Like he was teetering on the edge of a feeling heâd kept quiet for far too long.
Your heartbeat was loud, pounding against your ribs, drowning every thought except him. His closeness was intoxicating, and his lips so inviting. He was looking at you with an intensity that was making it hard to breathe. You stared back, and something, somehow, seemed to have snapped between you.
Anton grabbed your face and pressed his lips onto yoursâsoftly, languidly, like heâd been deprived of it for so long that he wanted to savor every second of it. You kissed him back, closing your eyes.Â
You could feel every touch. The way his hands slid up your back, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. The way his lips moved with a passion that seemed to match the pounding of your heart. It was overwhelming, how the heat was engulfing you from head to toe.
You pulled back for a moment, just enough to catch your breath, but your forehead stayed pressed against his. His breath was warm against your lips, and his eyesâhalf-lidded and dark with desireâlocked onto yours. He didnât say anything, but he looked at you like you were the only person in the world that mattered right now.
âKiss me like that again and Iâm gonna take it as your confession of love,â you whispered.
Anton rolled his eyesâand kissed you again, just as intently.
You gasped when he pulled away. âIs that⌠is that your confession of love?â
âYou can be a little dense sometimes,â he sighed.
Before you could react, his hand slid behind your neck again, guiding you into another kiss. This time, it was deeper, hungrier. His lips molded against yours, his grip on you tightening as though he couldnât bear to let you go. You moaned softly into his mouth, the sound swallowed by the kiss as he tilted his head, changing the angle to kiss you even harder.
You felt dizzy, lightheadedâcompletely consumed by him. His lips, his touch, his scentâall of it was too much, yet not enough at the same time. You wanted more of him, more of this.
Your hips bucked forward, slamming onto his crotch where you found out that he too was being spurred further into the pit of desire. The contact made Anton grunt, nipping your lower lip and wrapping strong arms around your waist.Â
Breathless, you pulled away, staring into his eyes and wondering if this was actually happening. Anton lifted you by your thighs and moved from the couch to the bed in a heartbeat. There, he carefully laid you down, running gentle fingers through your hair.
âAntonâŚâ you whispered, unsure of what you were going to say, but needing to break the silence.
He pressed a thumb on your lip, shushing you softly before kissing you again. This time, he abandoned your lips too quickly, moving his kisses down to your jaw and up to your earlobe. The tickling sensation spread through your nerves, intensified by his hand slipping under your shirt to palm your breast. You moaned out, arching toward his touchâyour quiet way of asking for more.
Antonâs lips left your ear, trailing to your neck down to your collarbone. His hands were busy with the buttons of your shirt, all while you were angling your neck to give him better access of your skin.
He pulled back once he was done with the buttons, marveling at the sight of your body, and letting out a sharp exhale before lifting the hem of his shirt and tossing it across the room.
âI can do a lot more without those,â he said, gesturing at your set of underwear.
While you were fiddling with the hook of your bra, Anton dived down to kiss your belly, sucking with an intensity that you knew would leave tiny bruises on your skin. He was moving upwards, grabbing a boob as he peppered his path with kisses and then taking his mouth to meet your nipple. As if by his design, he sucked your nipple and pressed his fingers on your sex at the same time.
The moan you let out was throaty, spurred on by the ministrations of his mouth and his fingers. He rubbed tentative circles on your cunt, trying to find your clit based on your reactions. When he did find it, your mouth parted open as you took a sharp intake of breath, and the confidence on Antonâs face made you want him even more than you already did.
âOh, I see,â he grinned, licking a stripe on your neck. âThatâs the spot, isnât it?â
You bit your lower lip, trying not to lose your mind with just this. âSince when did you talk like thiâagh!â
âShh, youâre distracting me,â he said after pushing a finger in your cunt that had you gasping. He watched you writhe underneath him, going absolutely insane with just a finger. When he pushed another one inside, you were close to crying, whimpering, and clenching around his fingers.
âAnton pleaseâŚâ you whined, forehead creased and lips downturnedâdesperate, needy. âPlease.â
âCome on. Say it properly. I canât give you what you want unless you tell me what it is.â
You threw your head back and sobbed before meeting his gaze again to say, âFuck me, Anton. I need you to fuck me really really good.â
Anton groaned softly, clenching his jaw as he pulled his fingers out of your pussy. He shimmied out of his sweatpants and positioned himself between your legs, watching you with half-lidded eyes.
He licked his fingers and used them to palm his erection. Your breath hitched at the sight, chest heaving up and down as you waited patiently for him to do what he came to do. He lowered himself, placing his hands beside your head as he prodded your entrance with his cock.
âYou sure about this?â Anton asked, caressing your face.
âArenât you?â you shot back, brows furrowing.
That made him chuckle. âYou and your sharp tongue.â
He kissed you again, just as he pushed inside you with one messy stroke. The gasp you let out was gutturalâone of surprise, pain, and pleasure, mostly pleasure. The nerves all over your body were rejoicing, feeling both relief and a delightful pain as your cunt stretched exquisitely.
âDamn, look at you,â he drawled, leaning lower to give your open mouth a sloppy kiss. âI didnât know you could get any prettier. If I did, I would have done this a long time ago.â
âMove, Anton,â you managed to rasp out, not even trying to hide the desperation in your voice. âPlease, move. Please, please, please, please!â
He did as you asked, moving languidly as he practiced the clench. That didnât take long. In no time, he was rocking inside you over and over in a rhythm that made you lose your mind. You writhed and whimpered, urging Anton to keep going.
When it looked like you couldnât take any more, he paused for a bit, squeezing your skin as he whispered sweet nothings in your ear. Then he lifted your leg over his shoulder and rammed deeply into you, grunting at how tightly you clung onto his manhood.
âFuck,â he groaned, pausing to take a break. You reached to wipe the sweat forming on his forehead and saw the expression on his faceâsomething between pained and delighted. âWeâre not done yet,â he said, hovering over you and ravishing your neck before picking up where he left off.
You kept at it, moving in sync with each other, getting lost in a blur of passion and desire. Your mind was clouded, thinking about nothing except the building pleasure and satisfaction. You rose to meet his thrusts, clawing at his back, moaning and whining for more. And Anton was more than willing to give you what you want, driving himself further into you, kissing you wherever his mouth could reach. All while you desperately chased a high that was almost within reach.
âOh, Anton,â you cried out, eyes rolling back just before the pulsating release engulfed you with euphoria.
âDamn it,â Anton murmured, his thrusts becoming sloppy and unsteady as he chased his own climax, driven further into a high by your fucked-out face.
Then you both laid there, breathless, staring at the ceiling with nothing but the sound of your ragged breathing to break the silence. You turned on your side, moving towards him and resting your head on his arm. His hands found a spot on your waist, thumb absentmindedly tracing small circles on your skin.
âIs this the part where I ask if I could be your boyfriend?â he asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
You giggled, nudging his shoulder. âWeâre way past that now. But Iâd still say yes, if it makes you feel better.â
He hesitated, eyes flicking briefly away. âBut⌠I donât believe in love. Is that okay?â
You rolled your eyes at him, not annoyed, just amused. âItâs okay.â
âItâs overrated,â he added, like it was a fact heâd researched.
âYes, youâve mentioned,â you xteased.
Anton shifted onto his side to face you properly, his eyes gleaming with affection and fondness. Those eyes were directed at youâa rare look he saved only for you. âIâm not good at this,â he admitted quietly. âAnd I donât know what to call⌠us. But I know I canât stand the idea of not being yours.â
Your heart flipped. You leaned in and kissed his cheek. âItâs fine, Anton. If you want me like I want you, it doesnât matter what we call it.â
âOkay, baby,â he murmured with a smile, fingers brushing your hair off your shoulder. His thumb traced along your neck, his expression changing into guilt. âI may or may not have left someâŚâ he paused, â...marks.â
You jolted upright, smacking his chest. âAnton Lee!â
He just lay there smirking, propped up on an elbow, eyebrows doing a very irritating wiggle.
âThe girls are gonna see that and know we had sex!â
He shrugged. âTheyâll probably just say something like, âAbout damn timeâ.â
You glared half-heartedly. âYouâre annoying.â
You hopped out of bed and made a beeline for the bathroom. Anton followed behind you, draping an arm around your shoulder and then kissing the side of your head.
âIâm sorry. I wonât do it again,â he said, chuckling lightly.
âNo, do it again,â you said sheepishly, looking away. âJust⌠not where people can see it.â
You peeked at Antonâs face and saw him sporting a massive grin. âIâll keep that in mind.â
From the start of your official relationship, things shifted dramatically. Anton was a completely different person from his usual aloof self. He was all over youâholding your hand, lying on your lap, hugging you from behindâanything as long as he was touching you.
Your dorm room remained the prime spot for these moments. Heâd drape himself over you lazily, stealing kisses whenever you least expected it. The guy who once seemed indifferent now craved your touch like he was making up for lost time.
And in public, it was no different. Anton would always reach for you without looking because he knew youâd be there. Heâd lace your fingers together, or rest a hand on your thigh like it was instinct.
It was so instinctive that one afternoon, he accidentally grabbed Sungchan insteadâhis palm settling on Sungchanâs knee while his eyes stayed glued to his phone. Sungchan, immediately recognizing his chance to mess with his friend, leaned his head on Antonâs shoulder, pretending to cuddle closer.
Still blissfully unaware, Anton absentmindedly reached up and cupped Sungchan's cheek, thumb stroking like a lovesick boyfriend.
âMan, I didnât know you were this clingy,â Sungchan sighed, leaning in.
Anton blinked, his brain catching up, and when the realization hit, he let out a horrified gasp, yanking his hand so quickly like heâd been burned. âSungchan, what the fâ!â He scrambled across the couch as if distance would erase the moment.
Across the room, you were in stitches laughing with the rest of your friends, watching the whole thing unfold.
âBabe,â Anton called out to you, almost desperately as he fled toward you for safety. The sudden shift into an affectionate voice had everyone cringing.
âI could never get used to this,â Eunseok groaned, burying his face in his hands.
âI hate it when they call each other that,â Sohee added with a mock shiver. âLike, okay, youâre in love and Iâm lonely. We get it.â
Anton ignored them, wrapping his arms around you like a child seeking comfort. âI missed you,â he mumbled dramatically into your shoulder, drawing another round of groans.
You tapped his forehead. âI was literally five steps away.â
âThatâs five steps too far,â he countered, burying his face into the crook of your neck while everyone pretended to gag.
Moments like this had become normal nowâAnton letting people see just how much he liked you, even if he still tried to cling to his âtoo cool to careâ persona. It was adorable.Â
Despite the teasing, you liked this new side of him. It felt good knowing Anton was willing to show both you and your friends a part of himself that not everyone got to see. Your relationship had leveled up, and it was evident not just in the way he acted but in the ease you felt together now
âCan we go back to when the only simp in this friend group was her?â Jill complained, pointing at you. âAntonâs giving me the creeps.â
Feigning offense, you planted your hands on your hips. âWow, okay. Sue me for being drop-dead gorgeous and having a boyfriend who is, unfortunately for you all, obsessed with me.â
âDonât listen to them, babe. Jealous friends are fake friends,â said Anton, covering your ears and kissing the side of your head.
Anton had a patience that made it easy to handle your boundless energy. When youâd burst into a room excited, full of chatter, he would always listen with a soft smile, never overwhelmed by your liveliness. He never tried nor needed to match itâhe balanced it.
Anton knew how to take care of you, too. When your stress bubbled over, heâd pull you into his arms, resting his chin on top of your head, whispering words of comfort so softly they barely broke the silence. Youâd feel the stress melt away in those moments, reassured just by being close to him.
And you understood him just as well. You knew when he was getting tired, even when he tried to hide it behind his usual stoic demeanor. Like when heâd sit a little closer than usual or his fingers would linger on your arm. Thatâs when youâd instinctively dial it back, protect him in the way he protected you. You were attuned to his subtle cues, an understanding between the two of you that others rarely noticed.
âRemember when we were in that seminar, and you asked me if I liked you?â you had asked randomly one day.
Anton laughed, a soft sound that felt like a warm hug. âHow could I forget? That was when I started falling for you.â
âReally?â you asked, eyes widening at his revelation. Anton rolled his eyes as if he regretted telling you that. âNo, but seriously?â
âYes. You were so confident then. You looked me in the eye and said exactly what you felt. I felt my heart skip a beat for the first time that day.â
âNo way!â You swatted his chest, grinning. âSo why pretend you didnât care for so long?â
Anton scratched the back of his neck. âI mightâve enjoyed watching you chase me.â
You gasped, scandalized, and he only smirked. âWhat were you going to say that day, anyway?â
âOh!â You sat up, remembering. âI was gonna ask if you were about to tell me to leave you alone before the professor walked in.â
He stared at you, then smiled sheepishly. âYeah, no. I think youâve figured out the answer.â
You giggled and climbed right back into his arms, looping yours around his torso and meeting his gaze. âI love you so much.â
âLoveâs overrated,â he replied instantly, chuckling. Then, softer, forehead resting against yours, he added, âBut love was worth a try with you.â
[fin]
well this was fucking cute or whatever đđ (god when is it my turn)


















