verrie

“It’s a blood smear. We’re supposed to do this in pairs. And you’re my pair, by the way,” you deadpanned, grabbing your friend’s arm as he whined when you pricked his finger for some blood. You carefully placed the small drop of Joshua’s blood into the glass slide, grabbed the second slide and placed it at a 45-degree angle before your phone buzzed again, causing you to lose your focus and fail to do your task once more.

Taking a deep breath, you tried not to crash out and scream as you grabbed your phone, unlocked it, and checked your messages from the unknown number.

???: Cheol.

???: Cheol, check this out.

???: [sent 1 attachment]

???: I got sushi from that one place just outside campus. I was thinking we could go.

???: Cheooooooooooooooool

???: dude, stop ignoring me 😐

You: I’m not Cheol, and you have the wrong number.

???: There’s no way you’re not Cheol. This is literally the number he gave me.

You: You must’ve saved the wrong number then. Please stop texting me.

???: Why?

You: Uhhh, because I’m not your friend?

???: I mean, we could be :)) 

You snorted at the logic the stranger you were texting was showing. Glancing around, you continued to text the unknown number while your PI was busy with other undergrads.

You: How?

You: For all you know, I could be a 64-year-old creep.

???: You see, you wouldn’t be saying that if you were actually that old.

???: Plus, no old man would be able to text as quickly as you do.

You: Fair enough.

You: Still, you don’t know me, and you shouldn’t really be spamming a random person’s number.

???: I thought you were my friend, so 🤷

???: Anyway, new friend!

???: What are you up to?

You: I’m in a lab right now, actually.

???: As in you’re a scientist?

You: Undergrad in the Biology department.

You: How about you?

???: Now, now… It won’t be fun if I reveal everything about myself now, will it?

You: You’re so strange.

You: I’m gonna block you now. Nice meeting you, stranger.

???: WAIT WAIT

???: I’m a journalism major. I’m assuming we’re from the same uni?

You: Why would you assume that?

???: Idk, hunch.

You: Okay… I need to go. I don’t want to get in trouble with my PI.

???: Does that mean you won’t block me?

You: I’ll think about it.

You turned off your phone, shaking your head as you grabbed Joshua’s arm again. “One more time.”

“You pricked my finger in the same spot like four times! How consistent can you be?!” Joshua complained as he held his “tortured” finger, as he called it, after you had pricked him four more times during lab. The two of you were walking from the lab towards the exit of the Biology department building to grab lunch at your usual hangout spot, which was the campus cafeteria.

As you shrugged, you shook your head at your best friend and his antics. Your thoughts were too preoccupied with the stranger whom you had texted earlier, wondering what they were up to at the current moment. Deciding to pull out your phone, you checked if they had texted you, but there was nothing.

“Waiting for prince charming to message you?” Joshua peered over your shoulder, which he immediately regretted when you elbowed him.

“I don’t even know if he’s a guy or not.” You rolled your eyes as you pocketed your phone, walking ahead as your friend followed. 

Joshua grabbed your phone from your pocket with ease, unlocked it, and checked your messages. “Totally a guy. No girl would message like this.”

“How do you know?” You muttered as you snatched your phone back from your best friend, smacking him gently as you looked through the messages again. He was right. A girl would typically not text like this, and it was just pretty obvious that a guy was texting you, but you didn’t want to assume.

The two of you continued to banter until you got to the cafeteria to meet up with Wonwoo, who had to leave earlier because of a student council meeting. Once all of you had your food, you sat down by the windows and placed your trays on the table. That’s when your phone buzzed, prompting you to check, only to get disappointed when it was an email from your professor about your data analysis report for Statistics.

Wonwoo raised his eyebrow at Joshua, who just shrugged with a fond smile before digging into his food. You noticed the glance your four-eyed friend was giving you and gave up on staying quiet.

“A random number kept texting me these past three days,” you grumbled, taking a bite out of your food. Chewing and swallowing, you continued, “And I just replied to them today during lab.”

Wonwoo raised his brows, intrigued by your situation before speaking. “So… You just ignored them for three days straight?”

“...yes?” You sounded uncertain as Wonwoo hummed, thinking before shaking his head. “What? You thought of something, tell me!”

“No, nothing. I just thought it was strange that you’d ignore them rather than just block them.” He shrugged, and you blinked at his words, realising what he meant.

Right. You usually did block random numbers, but that was when they called! And this guy did not call, so you didn’t feel obligated to block him. Plus, you were pretty curious about the mysterious texter who wanted to “befriend” you.

“Do we know any journalism majors?” You suddenly blurted out, causing Joshua to look at you with a cocked eyebrow.

“Uh, Seungcheol is a journalism major with his friend—what was his name…” he muttered, trying to recall the name of Seungcheol’s friend. “I don’t remember his name, but why?”

You shook your head, trying to dismiss Joshua’s growing suspicions. “Nothing, nothing… It’s just that he said we might be from the same uni.”

Joshua groaned at that, and you knew what that sound meant. You chuckled awkwardly, knowing it was probably a bad idea to meet up with this person without getting to know them first, but hey, at least you were trying to socialise, right?

“You are not going to meet him! What if he’s some serial killer?” You rolled your eyes at your friend’s tendency to exaggerate everything, but Wonwoo seemed to agree with him. A sigh left your lips before raising your hands, as if to say you were forfeiting the idea. For now.

“You should get to know this guy first before meeting him. Stranger danger and all,” Wonwoo murmured while cutting his pork katsu into bite-sized pieces. “We don’t want you to get into unnecessary danger.”

Your eyes softened at your friend, understanding that they were only looking out for you. Taking another bite of your food, your phone buzzed once more. Expecting another email, you unlocked your phone only to see that the unknown number sent you a picture.

???: [sent 1 attachment]

???: Lunch 😋

You: Huh.

???: What?

You: We are from the same uni, after all.

???: So, my hunch proves to be correct!

???: What are you up to?

You: I'm also in the campus cafeteria, with some friends.

???: OoOoh

You: ??

???: Nothing, nothing.

???: I'd say let's meet, but that's a little too early for that 😉

You: My friends and I were actually just talking about that.

You: Stranger danger, so… what's your name?

???: Wouldn't you like to know? What's yours?

You bit your lower lip as you looked up from your phone to check any students in the surrounding vicinity who were on their phones—almost everyone. A sigh left your lips before you typed out your name and hit send.

???: Cute name

???: I'm Jeonghan. At your humble service.

You: Jeonghan, huh? You know I could just search you up in the student files on the uni website, right?

Jeonghan: But what would be the fun in that, sweets?

You: ‘sweets’?

Jeonghan: You sound sweet, so sweets 🤷🏻

Jeonghan: Anyway, let's set up some rules!

You: For what???

Jeonghan: Since we're from the same uni and all, we're bound to bump into each other.

You: The journalism department and biology department are on opposite ends of campus.

Jeonghan: We could share classes, you never know, sweets.

Jeonghan: Anyways, rules! One, you're forbidden from searching me up on the school website and vice versa. It's more fun if we don't know what we look like for now.

Jeonghan: Two, no asking around people on campus if they know who we are. That'd be cheating. 

Jeonghan: Three, we update each other on our day-to-day to get to know each other better until we're ready to meet. And wanting to meet needs to be mutual, so if one doesn't want to, we can't meet.

You: So, you want this to be like a game?

Jeonghan: Kind of? It'll be fun :)

Jeonghan: So, what do you say, sweets?

You: What if I say no?

Jeonghan: Then I will never text you again, and we will go on with our lives as strangers.

Jeonghan: But I know you're interested, so please say yes.

You: Whatever, sure.

Jeonghan: Perfect. I knew I could count on you 😗

You: Don't ever send that emoji again, or I'm blocking you.

Jeonghan: Got it 🫡

“Having fun texting the stranger?” You almost jumped out of your seat when Joshua spoke up, prompting you to smack him.

“His name’s Jeonghan.” You glanced back at your screen to check if he had sent anything else, but there was just a gif with confetti. A soft snort left your mouth at that before you shook your head. “He's strange, but I'm only a human, and humans get curious.”

Joshua rolled his eyes, finishing his lunch as he stole a fry from your tray. “Just eat your food, you've been texting the guy for the past ten minutes. We have Statistics after this.”

A groan left your lips at that, disliking Statistics out of all of your lectures for the day. You'd rather have lab all day with your strict PI rather than Statistics with your notoriously annoying professor. You finished your lunch quickly and said goodbye to Wonwoo, who had a different lecture from you and Joshua.

“Who's got you smiling like that, dude?” Seungcheol sat across from Jeonghan as the latter cleared his throat before pocketing his phone.

“No one, what are you talking about?” Jeonghan shoved a couple of fries into his mouth, pretending like he wasn't just giggling to himself like some moron after texting you. His best friend raised his eyebrows, unimpressed as he sighed.

“You were texting her, weren't you?” Seungcheol noted the way Jeonghan glanced away, neck and ears burning as he sighed. “Dude, I gave you her number so you could introduce yourself! Not that you could convince her you had the wrong number.”

“I did introduce myself, kind of…” Jeonghan muttered, looking back at Seungcheol with a pleading glance. “I made this whole thing—I'll get to know her through texting, and we'll meet each other once we're ready—”

“Or you could just stop complicating this for yourself and introduce yourself to her like a normal human being?” Seungcheol deadpanned, crossing his arms as Jeonghan groaned. Only if it were that simple.

Jeonghan didn't have the guts to approach you and talk to you as he usually would with other people. He wasn't sure why, but something was stopping him from acting like himself—maybe it was because he didn't want to give you the wrong first impression? He couldn't figure it out, but what he did want was to get to know you better, and this was one way to do it.

He was so surprised when Seungcheol mentioned that he knew you, having taken some classes together during freshman year. He was even more surprised when Seungcheol told him he had your number. That's what got him into the situation he was in—texting you without you knowing that he was just one person away.

“Seriously, Hannie… She'll like you. You're funny, and she's a simple soul, she's practical, and if you play your cards right, she might agree on a date.” Seungcheol looked at his best friend with a sympathetic smile, but Jeonghan was convinced his way was better.

And he'd go through with this plan until he was ready to actually reveal himself.

Statistics was as boring as ever, but you promised yourself you'd actually focus this semester. While writing down your notes in your notebook, you couldn't help but feel someone's gaze on you. You turned your head in the direction you could feel the gaze from, and met someone’s eyes before they hurriedly looked away. Strange.

That’s when you noticed the person he was sitting next to. Seungcheol.

You turned back to your notes, curious about the guy sitting next to the friend you had made during freshman year. They were both probably journalism majors, so maybe they knew Jeonghan. Not like you could ask—it was a part of the rules of the game your next textmate decided to make up.

When the lecture ended, you decided to walk up to Seungcheol and his friend, telling Joshua to go ahead, and that you’d catch up with him later. 

“Hey, Seungcheol…” You greeted awkwardly, not having seen him in quite some time due to your busy schedule. 

The man in front of you immediately perked up when you came up to him, greeting you back with a hug. “Hey, it’s been a while! This is my friend Jeonghan—augh…”

“He meant Jung Han. My name’s Han. Hi,” Jeonghan murmured after elbowing his friend in the rib before shaking your hand with a smile. You gave him a small one back, letting go of his hand after a beat.

“Nice to meet you, Han. I guess, uhm… I’ll see you guys around? I still have to head to the lab to check on my samples—”

“Hannie can walk you there! He has, uh, he has a class not too far from there, yeah.” Seungcheol nudged Jeonghan forward, making you blink at both of them. You weren’t really against the idea, and Jeonghan was quite the looker.

You decided and hummed, nodding. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”

The two of them looked at each other, as if they were communicating with each other telepathically, before Jeonghan smiled at you and offered his arm. “Shall we?”

The bold action caused you to snort and take his arm, telling yourself that you could get out of your comfort zone just this once.

“So, Han,” you started, and he hummed, looking down at you as the two of you walked arms linked with each other. “How’d you and Seungcheol meet each other?”

“Hmm, I think it was kindergarten. Why?” He asked back, and you just shrugged, seeming to be curious about the guy you were currently walking with. Jeonghan had this charm to him that you couldn’t place, but he seemed to be a little awkward, even when he was just walking with you.

You wanted to talk to him. You wanted to ask questions you normally wouldn’t have. Jeonghan was just that type of guy you’d want to actually get to know for some reason. Usually, you wouldn’t even be this touchy with a person you just met, putting them at arm’s length, but he just made it a bit easier to open up to. 

So, you talked. Asked questions about him like the curious researcher you were, noting everything down mentally as you listened.

When you got in front of the Biology department building, you unlinked your arm from his before smiling. “This is me… Thanks for walking me here. You really didn’t have to.”

“Nah, it was my pleasure. It was fun talking to you, swee—I mean, uhh… yeah, fun talking to you.” He scratched the back of his ear, giving you an awkward chuckle. “See you around!” 

Jeonghan gave you a salute before he turned and hurriedly walked away. You faltered, wanting to call out for him to ask for his number, but he was already out of earshot. A soft sigh left your lips before you decided to head into the building to check on your precious samples in the lab with a giggle.

“Stop fucking giggling like an evil scientist,” Joshua muttered from behind you as he smacked you with his clipboard. You frowned, rubbing the back of your head as you glared at your best friend. “So, who was the guy you had your arms linked with~?” 

You rolled your eyes, knowing Joshua would want to know about what he saw. “Nothing, Seungcheol offered him to walk me, and I agreed.”

“Just like that? You? Agree for some guy to walk you all across campus?” He raised an eyebrow, and you sighed. “What’s the guy’s name?”

“Jung Han,” you murmured, and Joshua’s eyes widened.

“Jeonghan? Like the guy you’re texting?”

“No, no—Jung Han. Two separate people. His name’s Han.” You explained, and your best friend made an ‘O’ shape with his mouth before furrowing his brows and grumbling to himself. “What?”

“I was sure Seungcheol’s friend’s name was Jeonghan, though, but eh, I must’ve misheard.” Joshua tilted his head to the side, clicking his tongue softly before dragging you into the lab room, where a few people were already conducting their research in their own workbenches. You didn’t linger on your friend’s words, focusing on the bacterial samples you had in the small lab refrigerator instead.

Twenty minutes into conducting research and writing your thesis, your phone buzzed, distracting you from your task as you glanced at the device before looking back at your laptop. You contemplated whether it was worth getting distracted, glancing around as Joshua seemed to be preoccupied with sending you random memes on Instagram. So, you decided to abandon writing your thesis to check whatever Joshua might’ve sent you before seeing a message from Jeonghan.

Jeonghan: [sent 1 attachment]

Jeonghan: The sunset’s pretty.

Jeonghan: Like you probably.

You: Are you flirting with me?

Jeonghan: uhhhhhhhhh

Jeonghan: If I am, would you let me?

You: I don’t know.

Jeonghan: wdym you don’t know? :( 

You: If you send me one more sunset pic, I’ll consider saying yes.

Jeonghan: [sent 7 attachments]

Jeonghan: Are these enough?

You stifled a giggle, covering your mouth before replying to his message. You found Jeonghan entertaining, so you indulged in whatever he was trying to do.

You: You’re weird, you know that?

Jeonghan: Yes, you’ve called me strange before, I know

You: [sent 1 attachment]

You: I’m in the lab conducting research right now.

You: Lowkey bored :// My best friend keeps sending me reels instead of helping me.

Jeonghan: That’s cute

Jeonghan: The Sanrio sticker on your laptop, I mean

Jeonghan: Who’s your fav character?

You: Cinnamoroll.

Jeonghan: Noted 😉

You: For what?

Jeonghan: That’s a surprise for the future, sweets.

You: What if I don’t like surprises? What then?

Jeonghan: Ehhh, I think that you do like surprises, you’re just trying to throw me off my game

Jeonghan: But that won’t work! Because I can foresee the future.

You: And that future is?

Jeonghan: You and me on a date :)

You: Right. I’m blocking you.

Jeonghan: NO— WAIT PLEASE

Jeonghan: I was too forward. I apologise.

Jeonghan: One more chance, I beg of you, sweets.

Jeonghan: No date. Unless you change your mind.

Jeonghan: Sweets?

You decided to leave him on read with that, wanting to cackle to yourself. Instead, you settled with a slightly off-putting giggle, prompting the people around you to send you side glances, which also happened to be your best friend. Joshua threw a pipette at you, hitting you square in the forehead, pulling you out of your weird state.

“Stop giggling to yourself like that, weirdo. You’re creeping me out.”

You flipped him off, grumbling to yourself as you dove back into your research with a soft smile on your lips when you glanced at the Cinnamoroll sticker on your laptop.

It was late when you got back home to your apartment, tiptoeing inside so as not to wake your roommate—Minghao—up. It had been a long day, and you were exhausted, so instead of scurrying to your bedroom, you crashed on the leather couch you and Hao had bought last year, deciding to invest in a good couch instead of keeping the old, ratty one that was provided by your landlord.

Your phone buzzed, surprising you. It was 1:04 AM. Why was he still up? You unlocked your device and pressed the notification.

Jeonghan: u still up?

You: Why are you up?

Jeonghan: Couldn't sleep 🤷🏻

Jeonghan: You?

You: Just got back from the lab.

You: I worked on my thesis and didn't realise it was late.

Jeonghan: Ahhhh, I see..

Jeonghan: Do you wanna play 20 questions?

You raised your eyebrow at that, sitting up and leaning against the backrest as you thought about it. Jeonghan was a complete stranger to you—but you just continued indulging him because he was interesting. You thought about the other Jeonghan—or Jung Han, as he insisted, but you couldn't really take it seriously. Probably coincidental that they had the same name.

You: What the hell, why not?

You: Who starts?

Jeonghan: You can :)

You: Were you serious about that date?

Jeonghan: Oho, straight to the hard questions, huh? I can't say I don't like it.

Jeonghan: Maybe… Why?

Jeonghan: U interested? 😉

You: Those two count as two separate questions, so I'll answer them and get two questions myself.

You: Nothing in particular, I was just wondering if you were serious or not, and no, I'm not interested. Not yet anyway.

You: What’s your favourite colour?

Jeonghan: 👀

Jeonghan: Woah, woah— backtrack, little lady

Jeonghan: wdym “not yet”??

You: I don't know you, so.

Jeonghan: Fair enough..

Jeonghan: Oh, and my favourite colour is black.

You: Hm.. why would you want to go out with me? You don't even know what I look like.

Jeonghan: Does it matter if I do?

Jeonghan: Don't count that as an actual question; it was rhetorical

Jeonghan: And to answer your question—why not? You're interesting, and I find texting you quite fun, even when you threaten to block me or text like a robot sometimes.

You: I do not text like a robot! 😡

Jeonghan: Sorry to break it to you, sweets, but you do, painfully so. But it's part of the charm that tugs me towards you 😉

You: Your turn.

Jeonghan: Right. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Jeonghan: Oh! What's your favourite movie?

You: I, uh… 27 dresses. And How to Lose a Man in 10 days. Both romcoms, yes.

Jeonghan: That's cute

Jeonghan: Will be sure to watch them and tell u what I think about them

You: What are your hobbies?

Jeonghan: Hmmm.. That’s a difficult question. But I like playing football (not the American one, I'm a little too unqualified for that), sleeping and taking care of my pet rock ^^

You: You have a pet rock?

Jeonghan: That's two questions, sweetheart, but yeah, I do.

Jeonghan: [sent 1 attachment]

Jeonghan: Its name is Doljjong :)

You: That's…

You: That’s cute.

Jeonghan: Thanks

Jeonghan: How about you? What are your hobbies?

You bit your lower lip at that, contemplating whether or not to share something so close to your heart with a stranger. Deciding not to linger on it, you typed out your answer.

You: I like to read.

Jeonghan: Just that?

You: And, uh, I guess I like to draw sometimes.

Jeonghan: Okay, okay, cool

Jeonghan: Can I ask a more personal question?

You: Uh, sure.

Jeonghan: Do you have a boyfriend?

You: No.

Jeonghan: Why not?

You: Too busy.

Jeonghan: Would you like to have one then?

You: Good night, Jeonghan.

Jeonghan: Worth a shot

Jeonghan: Night, sweets.

You sighed, chickening out before the questions got too intense, not wanting to reveal too much, too soon. Your cheeks couldn't help but warm at the incessant flirting from Jeonghan, unsure why he was so interested in your love life when he barely knew you.

“He's so weird…” You muttered to yourself as you lay back down on the couch.

“Who’s weird?” You shot back up when you heard Minghao’s voice, seeing him getting a bottle of water from the fridge.

You shook your head, dismissing his question with a wave of your hand. “Nothing, just muttering to myself.” 

That seemed to satisfy Minghao's fleeting curiosity as he padded back to his room, leaving you alone once more, your head hitting one of the throw pillows while you thought about your new contact and Jung Han.

“Seriously, you’ve been texting the guy for five days now, and you're thinking about meeting him already?”

Joshua shook his head, still disapproving of the idea of you meeting your phone pen pal. You had been texting Jeonghan for almost a week, and you enjoyed talking to him more often than you didn't. You found yourself liking his free personality, the way he seemed to just be himself through the phone, open with you as he shared little moments of his life without revealing too much. And you did the same; you gave him a piece of your peaceful life, sharing small stories about your experiences at the lab or just talking about your day-to-day, just like you agreed upon.

You found yourself truly befriending the guy who accidentally texted your number.

A groan left Joshua’s lips as he sighed. “Give it more time, get to know him better before you actually agree to something serious. I don't want you coming home crashing out because he wasn't the guy you expected him to be.” 

“What guy?” You suddenly hear a voice behind you, turning to see none other than Jeonghan Han. Your expression seemed to change when you saw him, your face a little brighter as he sat down beside you.

“Oh, uh, nothing. Just the guy I’ve been texting.” You shrugged as he rested his arm around the backrest of your chair before stealing a fry from your tray. 

You and Jeonghan had also been spending some time with each other, getting to know each other as you talked through Instagram DMs. He sent you funny memes and made sure to remind you to drink water. He was friendly and charming, but not in the same way as the Jeonghan you’ve been texting over the phone.

Jeonghan felt bad for lying to you like this, wanting to come clean, but he was in way too deep within his two personas he was showing—the strange charmer over the phone, aka the real him, and whatever this ‘Jung Han’ persona was. It was baffling how you couldn’t connect the dots. He shook it off as he glanced at you with the usual look he always sent your way—yearning and admiring. Even Joshua could notice it, your best friend clearing his throat and coughing.

“I’ll leave you two alone. I don’t feel like third-wheeling. See you during lab.” Joshua got up from his seat, giving the two of you a wave before leaving with his tray. Jeonghan chuckled awkwardly at that, while you just hummed and continued eating your food in soft silence.

“Tell me about that guy you’re texting.” Jeonghan suddenly blurted out, prompting you to pause and look at him. He seemed curious, his eyes darting around before looking back at you. 

“I… I mean, he’s nice. I like talking to him. He’s a little strange, but I guess that’s the part of his charm,” you murmured, smiling as you took a bite of your food, chewing and swallowing before continuing, “He’s asked me out about three times, but I turned him down since it’s only been five days. But we do have a few things in common.”

“Yeah? Like what?” Jeonghan’s heart seemed to clench at how enthusiastically you talked about him to him, feeling jealous of his own self for knowing more about you and not being able to voice it out. It was ridiculous.

“I know I shouldn’t want to meet up with him, but I really want to. I want to see him and talk with him about all the things I talked about. Do you… Do you get what I mean?” You fidgeted with the napkin on your tray, glancing at Jeonghan as he nodded. You didn’t seem to notice how he tensed up, his jaw clenching before he relaxed.

Jeonghan then decided to tuck a few strands of hair away from your face, making you blink and flush when he leaned in. “You like him that much?” He sounded a bit hurt, eyes softening as he continued, “What about me?”

“Wh–what about you?” You mustered out, not moving away as his fingers found your shoulder, gently touching.

“Nothing, nevermind…” He chuckled, but it sounded strained as he moved back, ruffling your hair. “I have a lecture soon, pretty, I’ll see you later, okay?”

You faltered, confused as he got up and grabbed his bag, leaving you all alone at your table, your thoughts filled with nothing but his words. What about me?

Jeonghan wanted to scream into his pillow—well, Seungcheol’s pillow. He was currently in his best friend’s dorm at Beta Sigma Tau’s fraternity house. They were supposed to be writing an article about some topic Jeonghan had already forgotten, focused on his phone instead.

“You should just tell her, man. Stop being a wimp.” His best friend turned to Jeonghan as he sighed at his whining.

“I tried, Cheol… But something in me just flaked out, and I couldn’t bring myself to break it to her. What if she hates me for it?” He sat up, hugging the pillow as he checked your messages—both on Instagram and on his number. Nothing. He wondered if you had figured it out and decided to actually block him—

Ding!

Jeonghan immediately unlocked his phone to see that you had sent him a picture.

He almost fainted on the spot.

It was you in a pretty, baby blue sundress that ended at your mid-thigh, the sleeves puffy, making you look like a modern-day princess. Your face was covered by your phone, obviously not wanting to reveal it yet, even if he knew what you looked like, but this was the first time you’d sent anything remotely involving your looks.

You: Does this dress look okay?

Jeonghan: Yes.

You: Woah, that’s a serious response.

Jeonghan: Sorry, I was just so uh

Jeonghan: Surprised, ig?

Jeonghan: But you look very pretty, sweets

Jeonghan: Are... are you going on a date, mayhaps?

You: Maybe.

You: Jk, I’m not, I just wanted to know what you thought of the dress.

Jeonghan’s heart almost dropped when he saw that first message, before you followed it up with the second one. He didn’t realise he was holding in his breath as he let it out, making Seungcheol side-eye him, but he was too focused on texting you.

Jeonghan: I think the dress is lovely

Jeonghan: Will you wear it on our first date?

You: Maybe.

Jeonghan: You and your ‘maybe’s, just say yes or no, baby

You: Pffft

You: Ask me out again.

Jeonghan: Are you fr right now?

You: If you don’t do it in the next 10 seconds

Jeonghan: Sweets, sweetheart, will you go out on a date with me?

You: Yes.

Jeonghan got up from Seungcheol’s bed, startling his best friend as he re-read your answer before screaming, “SHE SAID YES—”

“What?” Seungcheol grimaced when Jeonghan’s voice cracked as the latter started jumping around like some madman.

“She said yes, dude, I’m going out on a date with her—fuck.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, already thinking of the plethora of things he wanted to do before coming up with a whole idea of where to bring you and whatnot.

This was going to be the perfect date.

Your heart was beating out of your chest. You said yes. You said yes. To a date with Jeonghan, a stranger you just met five days ago. Usually, your instincts told you to run in the opposite direction, but this time, it was telling you not to run away. Like this was meant to happen.

The two of you had agreed that you’d see each other on Saturday, which was four days away, giving the two of you some time to prepare. Prepare for what exactly? You weren’t sure, but you definitely needed the time.

You were currently on your way home, listening to music as you managed to bump into Jeonghan. He seemed as surprised as you were; his face was slightly flushed as if he was in a rush. He murmured your name as you took your headset off.

“Hey—”

“Hi—”

The two of you said in unison as you paused and smiled with a soft giggle. Jeonghan scratched the back of his ear—something he did when he was nervous, as you noted a couple of days prior. 

You spoke up first, your expression full of wonder. “Where were you headed from?”

“Oh–uh, from Cheol’s place. We were supposed to do this one article, but I forgot the topic.” He chuckled, standing there as he put his hands in his pockets awkwardly. “I’m guessing you were going home from the lab?”

“Bingo.” You did finger guns, also pocketing your hands into your jacket. Your thoughts lingered on that moment you had in the cafeteria earlier that day, but you didn’t bother mentioning it.

Jeonghan seemed to hesitate, but spoke up after a beat, “Do you want to come over to my place?”

He blurted out, prompting you to pause. You checked your watch before looking at him apologetically. “I’m sorry, but I’m running late. My roommate wants me to eat dinner with him and his friends. We’re having Chinese. Maybe next time, though?”

“Oh—uh, yeah, sure…” Jeonghan smiled, hiding his disappointment and understanding that you had prior plans. That’s when he remembered about the party that was going to be hosted at Seungcheol’s fraternity.

“Hey, wait,” he managed to grab your wrist before you could leave. “There’s a party at Cheol—I mean Seungcheol’s fraternity this Friday.”

You blinked at him, pursing your lips slightly before cracking a soft smile. “I’m not really the partying type, Han.”

“I–I know! But we don’t have to stay downstairs. I’m sure Seungcheol won’t mind if we stay in his room. We could play Uno, or something.” He rubbed his neck, looking at you hopefully. 

You thought about it for a second before sighing softly and nodding, “Yeah, I’ll go. Just don’t leave me alone there, alright? I’m sacrificing my precious Friday lab plans for this.” You joked as Jeonghan let go of your wrist, letting you leave as he found himself groaning when you were out of earshot.

You, on the other hand, were groaning for another reason. Not only were you sacrificing your precious time at the lab, but you were also juggling between two guys at this point! You felt guilty, but at the same time, it wouldn’t hurt to go, right? You were going there as his friend.

Shaking your head, you decided to stop thinking about it as you headed back to your apartment so you could eat with Minghao, Jun, and Soonyoung.

“I’m home!” You shouted from the front door as you slipped your shoes off, padding over to the kitchen to see Minghao cooking, while Jun and Soonyoung were trying to beat your record in Mario Kart in the living room. You could smell the aroma of the food Hao was cooking, going over to the stove before grabbing a spoon from one of the drawers and trying the soup. 

Your roommate smacked your hand before you could grab another bite of the meat. “It’s not done yet, you impatient—”

Soonyoung, who called your name from the couch, cut Minghao off from cursing you out, and you smiled innocently at him before heading over to where your roommate’s friend was. “I beat your record! Give me the crown!”

“Oh yeah? Watch me beat your record—” You were about to grab the console from him when your phone buzzed. It was Jeonghan. An involuntary smile formed on your lips as you sat down on the armchair, not too far from the couch, before unlocking your phone. Soonyoung looked at Minghao, who just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Jeonghan: [sent 1 attachment]

Jeonghan: I miss you, sweets

You: Are you in the bath, Jeonghan?

Jeonghan: Uhhhhhh

Jeonghan: Yes?

You: I—Okay…

You: Also, you can’t miss me.

Jeonghan: Why not?

You: We haven’t met yet?

Jeonghan: I can miss my future girl, yk

You: Bold of you to assume I’ll be your future girl.

Jeonghan: You already agreed to go out with me.

Jeonghan: No take-backsies

You: Yeah, yeah. I know.

You: Have you planned out the date or…?

Jeonghan: Ofc I have, sweetheart

Jeonghan: Don’t worry your pretty little head abt it

You: If you say so.

You: I trust you.

You then contemplated whether or not to tell him about the party he Han invited you to. Shrugging, you decided to tell him, not thinking much of it. 

You: Also… There’s this party I’m going to.

Jeonghan: Oh?

Jeonghan: My sweet geek is going to a party?

You: I am, yes. Surprising.

You: A friend invited me, so.

You: Would you like to come?

Three dots appeared and disappeared as Jeonghan typed, making you feel anxious. Was it a good idea to invite him when you were supposed to hang out with the person who invited you? You shook your head, focusing when Jeonghan finally replied to your message.

Jeonghan: Sorry, sweets, but I’ll be busy this Friday ://

Jeonghan: As much as I wanna meet you faster, I’d rather see you during our date, having fun instead of getting wasted

You: Valid point.

Jeonghan: I do hope you have fun with your friend though :))

You: I mean… we’re probably going to his friend’s room and play Uno or something since I’m not a party person.

Jeonghan: So your friend is a him. 

Jeonghan: Cool.

You: Jeonghan, it’s not like that.

Jeonghan: 🙁

You: Jeonghan, you can’t be serious.

Jeonghan: MY FUTURE GIRL IS ALREADY CHEATING ON ME 🙁

You: I AM NOT.

Jeonghan: Gotcha

Jeonghan: You agreed that you’re my future girl 😍

You: I’m literally gonna block you.

Jeonghan: No you won’t <3

You sighed and shook your head, unable to stop yourself from smiling as Soonyoung gently nudged you with his foot. “Yah, why are you smiling like that? It’s creeping me out—Hao, why is she smiling like that?”

“She’s got a boyfriend.” Minghao rolled his eyes as you glared at your roommate. “Tell me I'm wrong.”

“He's not my boyfriend!” You argued, huffing softly as your roommate scoffed out a laugh.

“Right, and you don’t text him almost every day when you have free time.” He deadpanned, causing you to groan and threaten to throw a pillow at him before he sent you a glare back. “Plus, you bought that new dress when we went out, which means that you’re probably going to meet him soon—I’m presuming Saturday?”

“I—” You sputtered before clenching your jaw, kind of expecting this from Minghao. He just knew things, forces of the universe or whatever. Before you could even linger on the fact that he knew about your date, Soonyoung and Jun were tackling each other over the last pocky stick.

When dinner was ready and served on the table, the four of you dug in, but not before you took a picture of it and sent it to Jeonghan Han’s DMs.

You: [yourusername sent a photo]

You: Dinner with the goofs :)) 

Hannie 🩷: Have a good dinner, pretty :) 

You: thank you, Hannie :3

You: Have you had dinner yet?

Hannie 🩷: Yeah, I just got out of the shower and made some ramyeon

You: I’d say you should have more than just convenience store ramyeon, but we are broke college students.

Hannie 🩷: Exactly, pretty

You: What time should I come to the frat house?

Hannie 🩷: Oh! I’ll just pick you up from your place, if that’s okay with u

You: Yeah, I don’t mind :)) 

Hannie 🩷: Perfect :)) I’ll pick you up at 8, since the party starts at 9

You: Alright, I've got to go, my roommate is glaring at me.

You turned off your phone before you could see Jeonghan’s reply, and avoided eye contact with Minghao before he spoke up again. “Who did you send the picture to?”

“Han from Journalism…” You grumbled, and your roommate’s eyebrow cocked in confusion.

“You mean Yoon Jeonghan?” He asked, and you shot him a puzzled look. “That’s the only Han I know from Journalism. You know, Seungcheol’s friend?”

That made you pause. Jeonghan. Han. Seungcheol. Cheol. Cogs turned in your brain until everything clicked. Han was Jeonghan. You agreed to go on a date with the same person who asked you if you wanted to go to a party with him. That’s why he declined your invitation.

You groaned at not being able to realise it sooner, but you didn’t want to do anything about it for now. Jeonghan must’ve had his reasons to keep this from you, so you let it be for the time being. 

You got up from your seat, Jun perking up and furrowing his brows slightly. “Did Hao say something wrong?”

“Oh—no, I just figured something out,” you murmured, tilting your head slightly as you muttered to yourself. Before Soonyoung could add anything, your roommate shushed him.

“Leave her be, she probably figured something out about Jeonghan.”

You decided to call Joshua about this about three hours later. It was late—11:09 pm—and you couldn’t sleep. You were wearing a face mask, typing along on your laptop, when your best friend answered your call, also in the middle of his skin care routine.

“Jesus Christ, I thought you were a ghost,” he muttered, and you rolled your eyes at his eccentric comparison. “What is this about? You said it was important, but you just seemed bothered by something.”

“Jeonghan is Han,” you mumbled, and your best friend made a face, not being able to understand you.

“What? Can you repeat that? You literally mumbled it, and I’m not Superman, by the way.” He sassed, putting on his moisturiser. “Jeonghan is who?”

“He’s Han! Like—Like Han, Seungcheol’s friend!” 

You explained everything to Joshua, filling him in on everything, and by the time you were done with your rambling, your best friend was done with his skincare routine, and you were removing your sheet mask.

“That’s a lot to unpack, pipsqueak.” He sighed, shaking his head as he sat down on his office chair, propping his phone up against something while probably opening his laptop to write his thesis, just like you. “What do you wanna do about it?”

“I don’t know! I mean, I like him, but which one is the real him, you know?” You groaned softly as you buried your face into your hands without realising what you had just said.

“Wait, go back. What did you say?”

“Which one’s the real him–?” You looked at your phone screen, confused.

“No, dumbass, the other thing.”

“That I liked—oh. Oh.” You finally got what he meant, realising that you liked Jeonghan. 

You weren’t sure which version of him you liked more, but you liked him all the same. It made you realise that in the past few days, you’ve known Jeonghan as Seungcheol’s friend and as your phone pen pal, you’ve liked talking to both versions of him. The awkward dork side and the more flirty side of him.

“So, what are you gonna do about it?” Joshua repeated himself, looking at you with a knowing smile.

“I’m gonna go to that party and tell him how I feel?” You sounded unsure, feeling your insecurities grow. Jeonghan knew what you looked like all this time, but you still felt like you weren’t going to be enough for him. You also felt a bit betrayed at the fact that he knew who you were, but you didn’t know who he was—not fully anyway. But that didn’t really matter right now, your priorities set on the fact that you’d confront him during your date and not during the party, not wanting to ruin your chances with Jeonghan by cornering him.

Joshua noticed your conflicted expression and sighed. “You’re going to spiral if you overthink this, pips. And damn right you’re gonna tell him how you feel. If you get cold feet, you have to buy me those Prada sunglasses I told you about for my birthday.”

“Dude, your birthday just happened!” You whined, knowing there was no getting out of this. Not unless you wanted a dent in your bank account anyway.

Sometimes you felt like you called the wrong person when asking for advice, but Joshua was always real with you, and so was Wonwoo. But you didn’t want to impede the latter with your love life problems when all he did was game when he had the time with his busy schedule as both a biology and engineering major. It was surprising that he had time to get lunch with you and Joshua every time.

You continued to talk to Joshua until you finally decided to head to bed, bidding your best friend goodnight and ending the call. A soft sigh left your lips as you took a quick picture of your desk and sent it to Jeonghan’s phone number.

You: [sent 2 attachments]

You: Shit.

You: That second picture wasn’t supposed to get sent.

Jeonghan: Fuck, sweets

You: DON’T LOOK AT IT??

Jeonghan: YOU LITERALLY SENT IT??

Jeonghan: You look hot, though

You: I—thank you.

Jeonghan: Is it weird to admit that I got hard?

You didn’t reply to that, as you wanted to scream your lungs out into your pillow, but it was late, and Minghao would smother you with said pillow if you didn’t shut up. You were experimenting—it was supposed to be something you kept in your gallery and then deleted when you looked too hard at it. 

It was you, after your shower, posing a little too riskily for the camera, on your knees in front of your full-length mirror, wearing nothing but a tank top with thin straps, and shorts that were a little too short for your liking. Your face was covered by your phone, but it was obvious that it was meant to be for Jeonghan. You were just too much of a wuss to send it to him now that you knew who he was.

You looked back at your messages, groaning at the fact that you couldn’t turn back time and be more careful with sending pictures from your gallery.

You: That’s rather a bold statement.

Jeonghan: Okay, good you’re back

Jeonghan: Thought you died from embarrassment

Jeonghan: Though there’s really no point in being embarrassed, pretty girl

Jeonghan: [sent 1 attachment]

Oh, fuck. It was a picture of Jeonghan—wearing his sweats and a loose t-shirt that rode up from the position he was lying in. Bulge prominent in his pants.

You: Is that a current pic?

Jeonghan: Yeah

Jeonghan: I don’t send shit like this to anyone else, pretty

You: Do you really think I’m that hot…?

Jeonghan: Don’t do that

You: Do what?

Jeonghan: Belittle yourself. You’re pretty, hot and everything I could ever want, sweetheart.

You: Stop—

Jeonghan: You got me hard for fucks sake

Jeonghan: Do you want me to send myself jerking off just to prove it to you?

You: …

Jeonghan: Too far?

You: Send it.

Jeonghan’s breath hitched when he saw the message. Send it. Fuck. Were you really serious? He bit his lower lip as he palmed himself while looking at the picture you had sent, feeling like some creep for planning to jerk off to such a pretty photo of you. But he’d rather be sure as he typed on his phone with one hand.

Jeonghan: U srs?

You: Yes? Why wouldn’t I be?

Jeonghan: Idk, ppl usually don’t ask for dick pics, let alone someone jerking off…

You: You offered, I accepted it. Now send it, coward.

Jeonghan: You’re so mean to your boyfriend 🙁

You: Future boyfriend***

Jeonghan: I’ll take it

Jeonghan: Brb

Jeonghan shimmied his sweatpants and boxers down, freeing his throbbing cock as he hissed softly at the cold air hitting his sensitive tip. He bit his lower lip as he opened the camera app, his cheeks flushed behind it as he hit record. 

He touched his cock, stroking it gently as he rubbed the leaking precum all over his thick girth, grunting and whining softly as he imagined it was you and your pretty mouth sucking him off. Jeonghan groaned out your name as he closed his eyes before they fluttered open once more, so he could focus on recording himself fucking his fist, imagining your breasts that almost spilt out of your tank top and the short shorts that probably barely covered your ass.

“Fuck—” He grunted, feeling himself get closer as he teased his tip, but ended the recording before he could cum, just so he could edge himself. He quickly wiped his hand with a tissue from his nightstand before nervously sending the video to you.

Jeonghan: [sent 1 attachment]

Jeonghan: There—

You: Holy fuck.

Jeonghan: ?

You: Nothing…

Jeonghan: Sweets, I just sent myself jerking off to you, speak up

You: It's embarrassing!

Jeonghan: More than me sending a video of myself?

You: …

You: I'm soaked

You: Like, I didn't know I could secrete so much slick

Jeonghan: Abandoning the punctuation marks, that's a sign

You: Aren't you gonna ask me for anything?

Jeonghan: Not unless you're comfortable with it, sweets

You: [sent 1 attachment]

Jeonghan physically groaned, seeing the picture that you'd sent—bent over, your ass facing the mirror as you took the picture from your bed. He could see the cute posters and knick-knacks you had in your room, but he was zeroed in on your panty-covered mound, slick coating your inner thighs and your panties were soaked.

Jeonghan could feel his cock twitching, and more precum leaked out of his tip. A strangled grunt left his lips as he went back to stroking himself, and making sure he reached his release with the sight of you.

Jeonghan: so fucking pretyy 

Jeonghan: gnna bust a nut

You: Jeonghan, I wish you were here…

That was what unravelled him, a choked-out moan leaving his lips as spurts of hot cum shot out of his shaft, coating his lower abdomen and his hands. He embarrassingly snapped a quick photo of it before sending it to you in a post-nut haze.

Jeonghan: [sent 1 attachment]

You: Is that because of me?

Jeonghan: yws

You: ??

Jeonghan: Sorry, yes, I was typing with one hand

Jeonghan: Did you really mean it?

You: Yeah… I'm soaking wet, and I don't know what to do.

Jeonghan: fuck.

Jeonghan: Call me.

You bit your lower lip as you read his message over and over. Call him. Your stomach fluttered at hearing his voice through the phone, even if you knew what he sounded like, but this would confirm everything.

You hastily slipped off your panties, getting comfortable in your bed as you dialled Jeonghan’s phone number. He answered almost immediately, sounding strained and breathless.

“H–hello…?” You murmured, your phone pinched between your cheek and shoulder as you worked on teasing yourself, rubbing your inner thighs with one hand and tweaking your nipples with your other.

“Fuck… you sound so pretty.” Jeonghan's voice sent a jolt to your clit. It was him. Your theories were confirmed, but all you could do was whimper softly when you brushed your fingers against your slippery clit.

“Jeonghan—” You mewled, earning a soft groan from him as you teased yourself. “Need help…”

“I know, baby, I know… What are you doing?” He rasped out, hearing him shift on his bed. 

“Teasing myself,” you mumbled, and Jeonghan hummed, listening along with your soft gasps when you rubbed your clit. “Rubbing my clit—”

Another soft grunt left Jeonghan’s lips as you started hearing soft fap fap sounds coming from the other side of the call. “Okay, baby, keep teasing your cute little clit, spread your slick…” 

“Okay—hngh…” You mewled, eyes rolling back as you teased and rubbed yourself, your hole fluttering around nothing. “ I feel so empty, Jeonghan—”

“Fuck—put… put your fingers in, fuck yourself with two, scissor yourself, baby. Imagine they're my fingers trying to stretch you out for my cock.”

You whimpered at the command, doing as he said as you inserted two fingers into your sopping cunt, your toes curling as you started pumping your digits in and out and scissoring yourself as he told you to. You imagined him being in your room, talking you through it like he was now, touching you and whispering into your ear. 

“Curl your fingers up for me, sweetheart. Come on, it’ll feel good, I promise,” he cooed, and you listened, curling your fingers up to that spongy spot inside you. Your legs trembled, and you gasped, wanting to squeeze your thighs together as you continued to fuck yourself with your fingers. The heel of your palm grazed against your clit, making you whine as you felt the knot in your lower belly forming.

“I'm close, Jeonghannie—” You whimpered out, while Jeonghan grunted over the other side of the line, the slick sounds of him stroking his cock getting faster and a bit louder. It made you imagine the video he had sent—how big and pretty his dick looked, how he moaned out your name. It was dizzying.

“Keep doing what you're doing, baby, you're doing so well for me,” he murmured, praising you as you got closer to your orgasm. “This really wasn't the way I was expecting us to do this, but fuck, this is hot. You're hot.”

You flushed, mewling his name once more before the band in your stomach snapped, and you let out a whiny moan as your walls convulsed around your fingers, coating them with your release. Your legs trembled as you panted, your vision blurry.

“Baby, you still there?” Jeonghan crooned, and you let out a soft “uh-huh”, still recovering from the intense release you had just gone through.

“I… holy shit—” you gasped as you pulled your fingers out of your slick hole, feeling how soaked you were everywhere; you probably ruined your sheets from coming so hard just now. “I—I think I soaked through my sheets.”

“Fuck, don't say that when I'm not there—” Jeonghan sounded whiny, hearing his pout through the phone as you giggled tiredly.

“It's… It's nice to finally hear your voice,” you murmured, your eyes softening as you closed your trembling legs. Jeonghan hummed, shifting in his bed as he put his sweats back on. You moved to the less ruined side of your bed before grabbing some clean panties from your wardrobe and putting them on.

Feeling slightly awkward, you were unsure of what to say to him now that you were done getting off. “Uhm…”

“Sweetheart, you sound tense. Is it awkward to put a voice to the text message?” Jeonghan chuckled, and you let out a soft huff in reply. “As I said earlier, I… I didn't expect to do it like this.”

“Do what?”

“Have phone sex? I'm more of a hands-on person.” He admitted blatantly, causing you to inhale sharply as you imagined Jeonghan’s hands all over you. He caught on to the silence on your end, a soft chuckle leaving him as you trembled at the sound.

“Now, now… Pump your brakes, little lady. We'll get to that point. Let me buy you dinner first.” He teased, and you whined, rolling your eyes but smiling either way. 

You fiddled with the hem of your shirt, listening to his soft breathing before speaking up, “I'll see you Saturday?”

“Yeah, pretty. I'll pick you up, hm?”

“Mhm… goodnight, Jeonghan.”

“Goodnight, sweets.”

After that, you hung up, still trembling, but not because of your orgasm, but because of the excitement of seeing Jeonghan on Saturday and the dread of seeing him on Friday, pretending that you hadn't had phone sex with him. You groaned, the post-orgasm haze wearing off as your logical thinking came back. 

Friday came faster than you’d expected. You were pacing around your living room like a worrywart while Minghao and Joshua played old maid. You were wearing a baby blue blouse and a white denim mini skirt with white sneakers, wanting to somehow look pretty to the party you were going to without overdressing or looking like a hooker.

Joshua groaned when you kept walking back and forth, having had enough of your worrying. “Dude, stop worrying. You'll confront him about it when you're ready.”

“What if he figures out I know?! What if I blurt it out or something—”

“You're worrying about the stupidest of things, you know that?” Minghao deadpanned, drawing a card from Joshua as the latter groaned when he lost. “The two of you are fucking idiots.”

“Hey—” you were about to argue, but the doorbell rang, prompting you to pad over to the front door and check the peephole to see Jeonghan. Unlocking and opening the door, you greeted him with a smile and a quick hug.

“Hi,” you squeaked, earning a raised eyebrow from him as you grabbed your purse and keys. “I'm leaving!” 

You called out to your friends, and they bid you goodbye. “Don't get her near alcohol, she's a lightweight!”

Joshua warned Jeonghan, and you groaned, flipping your best friend off as you closed the door and started walking. Jeonghan offered his arm, and you gladly took it with a soft laugh.

“You look pretty,” Jeonghan murmured, his eyes softening as you flushed under his gaze. Was he always this handsome up close? Your heart couldn't help but flutter, and your body heated up a bit. 

You could handle this. Maybe.

The two of you got to the frat house about fifteen minutes later, entering the loud establishment—music boomed from the speakers, and the place was packed with drunk college students, dancing and shouting at each other to hear what the other was saying. Jeonghan led you up the stairs, opening the door to what seemed like Seungcheol’s room.

“He lives in the dorm by himself?” You looked around, surprised to see only one bed, the rest of the vast space filled with a beanbag and a small couch, along with a desk in the corner by the windows.

“I mean, we used to live together before I decided to move out. And since he's the chapter president, he gets to have a dorm to himself.” 

Jeonghan shrugged, humming uncommittally as he sat down on the bed, patting the free space beside him, causing you to gulp. Act natural. 

You sat down beside him, pretending like the brush of his knee against yours didn't just ignite your skin on fire. He was acting fine, so you should too, right? You technically didn't know Jeonghan was Jeonghan, after all. Your hands were on your lap, and you sat there as Jeonghan looked around the room to see what the two of you could do while the party got crazier downstairs, the music getting louder, and students got rowdier.

“Do you have anything we can do—”

“We can play Uno if you want—”

The two of you said in unison, looking at each other before bursting into soft laughter, and that seemed to break the ice almost immediately. You nodded at the idea of a game of Uno.

“What does the winner get?” You asked, and Jeonghan looked up as if he thought hard about it.

“Hmm, how about a kiss on the cheek?” He offered, and you squinted your eyes at him playfully before he added, “And snacks.”

“You drive a good bargain, Han…” You murmured, touching your chin as you thought about it, humming and making a face that made him laugh.

“I'll take it. The winner gets a kiss on the cheek and snacks!”

At the start of the game, you seemed to have been taking the lead, managing to get to one card first before Jeonghan just smirked and shook his head.

“You underestimate my skills, sweetheart,” he cooed, the nickname sending a jolt down your spine as the memories of last night came flooding back before it got cut short when Jeonghan placed a wild draw four card on the deck. 

You groaned, pouting slightly as you picked four cards from the deck, not having any colour Jeonghan had announced as he placed a blue eight. You picked another card, managing to place a red eight as he clicked his tongue. Your body froze when he shook his head again, placing a red skip card before a red draw two card, which caused you to retaliate with a yellow draw two card, and he clicked his tongue again.

“You sure you wanna play this game, pretty girl?” He tutted, and you looked at him with growing dread as he placed a blue draw two card, forcing you to pick up six cards, leaving him with five cards and you with ten.

Both of you went back and forth until you managed to get three cards left while Jeonghan had two. You bit your lower lip as you looked at your cards—a blue four and a red draw two card. The deck currently had a red eight card, and you were thinking whether or not to place the draw two card or to just pick another card from the deck.

Deciding to take a risk, you place the draw two card, glancing at his reaction. He kept a straight face before sighing. “Sometimes, I wonder if the forces are working against me.”

“Uno, Jeonghan. Your move.”

He picked out the first card from the deck before pausing and glancing at you. You held your breath as he picked out the two cards, having nothing to place in retaliation. He had five cards while you had one. Not like you could place the one you had, so you had to pick another card. A yellow stop card. You wanted to groan, but kept it in as you watched Jeonghan’s moves.

“Sorry, sweetheart.” He looked at you with a pensive expression before he apologised, making you look at him confusedly.

“Huh–?” That’s when he placed two wild draw four cards, two wild cards and a blue reverse card, ending the game with your loss.

You just lost.

You lost Uno—the only card game you were probably good at—to Jeonghan.

“A kiss on the cheek is owed to me, my lady,” he teased, grinning as you groaned, rolling your eyes before leaning in and kissing his cheek. Jeonghan hummed at the action, and you couldn’t help but linger in his vicinity as you looked at him up close.

Jeonghan seemed to notice how you were looking at him, and his grin softened to a soft smile. “Careful, sweetheart, I might think you have a thing for me.”

That made you reel back with a flush to your cheeks, hitting his shoulder as he snorted out a laugh. That’s when he stood up, confusing you before he motioned towards one of Seungcheol’s drawers.

“He keeps his snacks here. We can eat them since he’s probably just hoarding them for when he feels like it.” He took out a bag of chips and a box of strawberry pocky. You grabbed the pocky and opened it, while Jeonghan continued to snoop in Seungcheol’s drawer before whistling lowly.

You looked at him with a quizzical brow, and he took out what looked like a blunt of weed. “Is that—”

“Sure looks like it…” Jeonghan murmured, glancing around the room before finding a lighter. “Wanna smoke it with me?”

The question hung in the air as you looked at Jeonghan. He seemed chill about the whole thing, probably had smoked weed before, but you never tried to in your four years of uni. He sat back down on the bed, leaning against the headboard, tilting his head to the side before offering you the blunt.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t smoked weed before.” 

“I haven’t.” You admitted, and Jeonghan’s eyes softened. “But I’d like to try.”

Jeonghan lit the blunt soon after your approval, taking a drag out of it and handing it to you to try. You awkwardly held the blunt between your fingers, taking a drag before you started to cough, handing the weed back to him as he patted your back while you tried to recover from the burn down your throat. 

“I—fuck, I underestimated the strength of it. Sorry,” Jeonghan apologised softly, still rubbing your back. “How about I shotgun you? It’ll be easier on you, but the effect will be weaker, so…”

“Y-yeah, I think that’ll be better.” You nodded, looking at him with teary eyes after practically coughing your lungs out. “How do we do it?” 

You asked, and he glanced away awkwardly before patting his lap. “You’ll have to get close, sweetheart. I will be exhaling smoke into your mouth after all.”

Ah. That made sense. Something in your stomach flipped as you looked at his lap before back at his face, and you made your way to straddle him, slightly hovering. 

“Inhale when I exhale into your mouth.” Jeonghan took another puff out of the blunt, taking your chin between his index finger and thumb, prying your mouth agape before blowing the smoke into your mouth. You did as he said and inhaled, taking in the smoke as you felt the weed affecting you already due to its potency.

With a couple of more exchanges, and you could feel yourself getting high, sitting snugly on Jeonghan’s lap while he talked about something random from his childhood, while you fed him pocky. The two of you had probably gone through half of the blunt before Jeonghan decided to place it down on the ashtray he had found earlier. His hands found your hips, and you didn’t mind the touch one bit as you fed him another pocky stick.

“Play the pocky game with me,” he murmured, his eyes half-lidded as you hummed and agreed without a second thought. You placed one end of the long pocky stick between his teeth while you started biting the other end, getting closer and closer to his lips. 

When your noses bumped against each other, and you were about to take the last bite, Jeonghan took the rest of the pocky stick into his mouth before stealing a kiss from you, prompting you to gasp. He didn’t seem to be sorry as he bumped his nose against yours.

“Was that okay?” Jeonghan whispered, and you nodded gently, already leaning in for more as his grip on your hips tightened. “Tell me, baby.”

“Yeah, Hannie, I liked it…” You murmured back before pressing another kiss to his lips, forgetting all about the pocky as your hands travelled to the back of his head and you tangled your fingers in his hair.

A groan left Jeonghan’s lips as he kissed you back, his hands roaming around your waist down to your thighs, pushing your skirt higher. “Fuck, is this okay?”

He muttered against your lips, fiddling with the hem of your mini skirt, his eyes searching your face for any hint of disapproval. There was none, and you only tugged gently on his hair.

“Touch me, Jeonghan…” you murmured, and a soft noise left him as you said his name. He was too high to realise, and too focused on pushing your skirt up to your hips to care.

When you ground yourself against him, he panted, his dick stirring in his sweatpants as he watched your panty-clad cunt grind against his growing erection. A curse left Jeonghan’s lips when you ducked your head down, kissing his neck as he guided your hips.

“Just like that, sweetheart, mnh…” He grunted as he saw the wet patch forming against his pants, and your panties were probably soaked from the stimulation. He leaned his head back against the headboard, dizzy with pleasure and the weed working through his system. “I want to fuck you so bad, but I can't—”

He choked out, and you whined. “Why not?”

Jeonghan's hazed brain cleared for a moment, knowing that he didn't want this to happen this way—not when you didn't know who he was yet. Not when he was pretending to be someone else.

“Jeonghan, please…” You nosed his jaw, and that's when he realised that you were calling him by his name.

“I– how did you—” He faltered, groaning when you ground down against him once more, his grip on your hips tightening once more to halt your movements. “Baby, tell me.”

“Minghao told me… I kind of confirmed it when we called that night.”

Jeonghan grunted, moving your head from his neck as he made you look at him. “You're… you're not mad?”

“Why would I be?” You murmured, a puzzled expression forming on your face. “You probably had your reasons, and I'm not going to get mad over you hiding your identity. I'm more mad at myself that I didn't figure it out sooner.”

You pouted, moving your hands from Jeonghan’s hair to his face, caressing gently. “Can you fuck me now?”

A choked-out noise came out of him as he faltered and got flustered by your blunt request. He shook his head in disbelief before shifting slightly to sit better against the headboard. 

“You're something else, sweets…” He muttered, stealing a quick kiss from your lips as his hands travelled to the gusset of your panties and tugged them to the side to see your glistening slit. His cock throbbed at the sight, wanting nothing more than to be inside your sweet cunt.

Jeonghan opened the nightstand drawer to grab the box of condoms Seungcheol usually kept, seeing that there were two condoms left. He gently lifted you so he could shimmy his sweats and boxers down to his mid thigh, his cock leaking and hard.

You watched as he clumsily opened the condom and put it on himself. Once he was done, he tossed the empty foil and tugged you closer, positioning you above his aching dick. He paused as his tip teased your entrance, looking up at you with half-lidded eyes.

“You sure you want—” Jeonghan cut himself off when you sank down on his shaft without warning, a moan leaving his lips as your wet heat clamped around him snugly. 

He watched as your thighs trembled when he bottomed out, your hips pressed against his as he raised you up and gently slammed you down, causing you to make such sweet noises that had him immediately addicted.

“Jeonghannie—” you whined, riding him slowly as he guided you, rolling your hips just right as his tip nudged against spots you wouldn't be able to reach with your fingers. “S'good—”

You looked down at him as he seemed to be focused on watching his cock disappear into your warm cunt, a groan leaving him before looking up at your face. You looked so fucked out, and Jeonghan loved it, his hips starting to meet your downward motions, thrusting up into you.

“You're perfect, sweets… everything I ever wanted—fuck, you're squeezing me so tight. You like that? Being everything I want?” He panted as he pressed soft kisses to your jaw and neck, slamming you down harder on his cock as he fucked you faster, not being able to help himself.

You felt wrecked, getting fucked so good by the same person you’d texted for over a week in his best friend’s dorm room. It was something out of a fantasy, and you couldn’t help but whimper when Jeonghan’s thumb found your clit, rubbing tight circles around the nub as he tried to lead you to your first orgasm.

“Jeonghan, fuck, I’m gonna cum—” You squeaked, feeling how your cunt got slipperier and the knot in your abdomen got tighter. 

Jeonghan only grunted at that, his assault on your bundle of nerves not stopping as he kept thrusting up into your tightness. “Cum for me then, milk my cock for what it’s worth, hm? Come on—”

You cried out when his hips snapped just right, his tip kissing your cervix as your orgasm came crashing down on you like a wave. Your thighs trembled, but you continued to bounce on Jeonghan’s cock until he blew his spend into the condom he was wearing.

“Too hot…” You grumbled, tossing your blouse onto the foot of the bed, leaving yourself in your black lace bra. Jeonghan also shed himself of his hoodie and t-shirt, revealing his lean body. He pulled out of you as he tossed the condom into the box before grabbing another one. You were surprised how quickly he got hard again, not expecting it at all.

Jeonghan flipped the two of you over, so that he was on top of you this time, kicking off his pants while undoing your skirt to toss it into the small pile of clothes that you had made on the floor. Your bra and panties joined the pile soon after, leaving both of you naked. You panted softly as he ground his cock against your slippery folds, his cockhead nudging your pudgy clit before he pushed into your wet hole once more. His grinds were slow and lazy, but Jeonghan filled you up just right as he took one of your legs and hooked it over his shoulder, managing to hit deeper spots from this position.

A soft grunt left him as he watched you mewl and whimper under him, your arm covering your eyes as your breasts bounced back and forth with each thrust. “You look so pretty,” he murmured, moving your arm and pinning it above your head, seeing your eyes glazed with tears as he cooed.

“Why are you crying, baby? Is it too much—” He almost sounded panicked, and you shook your head, not wanting him to stop.

“No–no, it feels so good, Hannie, I just—fuck, it feels so good—” You whined as your back arched off the bed, and Jeonghan couldn’t help but lean down and press soft kisses to the valley of your breasts, worshipping your body as he continued to fuck you slowly.

Jeonghan relished the way your pussy clamped around his thick shaft, sucking him in and milking him with your gummy walls. Soon, his hips started to move a bit faster, feeling his release building up with each second of being inside your needy cunt.

“I’m gonna cum,” he rasped out, his pelvis rubbing against your clit with every rock of his hips as your velvet walls continued to spasm around him with increasing vigour, signalling that you were close as well. 

It didn't take long for the two of you to reach your orgasms, with yours hitting you first and triggering Jeonghan’s as the two of you moaned softly.

“One more time, Hannie—” You keened out a whine when he pulled out, noticing how sweat sheened from his skin. He was softly panting, still holding your leg over his shoulder as he pressed a gentle kiss to your calf.

“Can't… We don't have any condoms left—” He crooked out, but you only tugged him closer when he threw the used-up condom into the box once more. His cock was still half-hard, and you were aching for more. Jeonghan murmured your name softly, chiding you when you angled your hips, so that your entrance would nudge against his bare tip. “We can't—”

“Hannie, please… I'm on birth control, I just need you inside me one more time, please.”

You begged, and Jeonghan was weak for you. He probably always had been, even when you didn't know him back then. He sighed, praying that his stamina would last one more time. “One more time, and we're done. I'm not gonna last much longer…”

He admitted, and you just nodded. He didn't have to last long, you just wanted to feel him—feel what it was like to have him raw and creaming your pussy instead of a condom. Jeonghan clenched his jaw as he pushed his tip into your bare hole and hissed softly at how wet and snug you felt without any barriers.

“Oh, fuck… I'm definitely not gonna last—” He grunted, filling you up with ease from how slick your walls and inner thighs were. “Fuckfuckfuck—”

Jeonghan groaned, his pace hasty as he drove his cock into your spasming cunt, gripping and sucking him in like a vice. His cock molded your insides, his cockhead abusing your cervix with each thrust as you squealed. 

You could feel your release building up once more, the heat in your abdomen unbearable as you clamped down on Jeonghan’s shaft, the band snapping and releasing hot slick around his length. The pleasure felt like hot lava against your skin, burning you as your back arched off the bed, making a mess out of Seungcheol’s sheets. Your pussy milked him, a milky ring forming around the base of his cock, and Jeonghan couldn’t hold it in anymore.

A guttural groan left his lips as his hips stuttered, movements stilling as he came inside you in hot spurts. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head, not being able to hold in your keen whine as he filled you up to the brim until both of your mixed releases were leaking out of your used cunt to your ass down to the already messy sheets.

Once Jeonghan recovered, he pressed a soft kiss to your throat, pulling out as he watched his cum and your juices leak out of you before pushing it back in with his fingers. The action made you whimper, but you let him do what he wanted, watching him with lidded eyes.

“We made such a mess…” He grumbled with a soft chuckle, “Cheol’s gonna kill me for fucking you on his bed.”

“Future us’s problem,” you murmured, groaning deliciously at the ache of your body as Jeonghan grabbed some tissues to clean you up before crashing on top of you. “You’re heavy—”

You complained, but Jeonghan was out like a light, his breathing heavy and rhythmic as you sighed with a soft smile, drifting to take a nap as well.

At about 3 in the morning, you could hear banging outside the door. Jeonghan stirred first as he groaned, grabbing his pants from the floor before tossing his t-shirt for you to wear. You put it on, along with your panties, and when Jeonghan saw that you were fully covered, he opened the door to see a disgruntled Seungcheol.

The disgruntlement immediately switched from shock to disbelief at the sight of his bedsheets. “Dude.”

“Cut me some slack, you invited me to this party. Plus, I didn’t expect we’d fuck…” Jeonghan murmured, sheepish as he glanced at you with a soft smile and a wink that made you flush in embarrassment.

“You smoked my weed!” Seungcheol hissed, groaning as he looked around his room, noticing the half-eaten snacks, the almost-smoked blunt and the messy sheets you were currently sitting on. “Man, I was saving that pocky…”

He sulked as you looked at him apologetically. “Sorry, Seungcheol.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s his—” He pointed at his best friend with a glare before rubbing his face. “I’m crashing at Mingyu’s. I’m not going to sleep in my room for the next week. It reeks of sex and weed in here.”

Seungcheol grumbled as he grabbed a few clothes from his drawer and opened the window before muttering something along the lines of “unbelievable” and “fucking in my room”. He closed the door after himself, leaving you and Jeonghan alone once more. 

You pressed your lips into a thin line, stifling your giggles as Jeonghan covered his hand with his fist. “We should clean his room and head back.”

Jeonghan nodded at that, and you put your skirt on, still wearing his t-shirt, while he put on his hoodie before the two of you started tidying up his best friend’s room. Once you were finished, you held your blouse in your hand, leaving the room with a ‘sorry’ note with it.

Walking back to your apartment, you and Jeonghan had your arms linked together, giggling and talking about random shit. When you got to the bottom of your apartment building, he unlinked your arms, but didn’t let go of your hand just yet. 

“I’ll see you later for our date?” He asked, looking at you hopefully, and when you nodded, he sighed in relief. You cocked an eyebrow at that before he spoke up again. “I thought you wouldn’t want…”

“Jeonghan, I just had the best sex of my life. I think I’d want to still go on a date with you.”

“Just because I’m sexy? Or because you actually want to date me?” He pouted, teasing you as you rolled your eyes.

“Can’t it be both?” You compromised as Jeonghan hummed and pursed his lips, pretending to think about it before nodding.

He pulled you closer, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your lips before pulling away. “Both is good, sweets. I’ll see you later.”

You smiled softly, letting go of his hand before waving him goodbye and heading up to your apartment, still wearing his t-shirt.

“That’s one hell of a fashion statement.” Minghao deadpanned as you jumped once you closed the front door. You turned around to see your roommate, your two best friends, and Jun in the living room, visibly waiting for you.

“What does it say?” You entertained Hao’s sarcastic remark as you tossed your blouse into your room before coming back to where they were.

“It says, ‘I was clearly laid, ask me about it because I’ll definitely brag’. It’s quite obvious.” Joshua chimed in, watching as you grabbed a pillow and tossed it at his face. Your best friend let out an ‘oomph’ sound before throwing the pillow back at you.

You huffed at them, irked at the fact that they were all gathered in your apartment. “What are you guys doing here anyway? I get Hao, he’s my roommate, but you three? Wonwoo, how’d you get dragged into this?”

Wonwoo shrugged, pointing at Joshua, “He told me what happened, and as your friend, I came for support. So, are you going to tell us what happened during the party or what?”

“This is my sex life we’re talking about.”

“And? You’ve shared worse stuff, pipsqueak. Spill the tea.” Joshua seemed the most interested in the gossip, while Minghao just sat there, looking unbothered when he was lowkey listening. Jun and Wonwoo were too busy fussing over a game on the latter’s phone, but they were tuning in as well.

You sighed, sitting down on the free armchair by the sofa, before you started telling them about what had happened during the party. Deciding to leave out the three rounds of sex, Joshua was awestruck, Minghao was subtly judging, but at the same time, he was happy for you, while Jun and Wonwoo were still busy with the game on their phones.

“Now, get the fuck out of my apartment. I need to get some sleep before my date.” You pointed at the door, and Joshua whined but dragged your Wonwoo and Jun out of your apartment, but not before Wonwoo could say something.

“I hope he doesn’t break your heart, or he has four guys to deal with.” Your best friend offered you a smile before closing the door. You smiled at the thought of your friends beating up Jeonghan if he ever fucked up, and it warmed your heart, thankful to have such good friends.

After 6 hours of sleep, you woke up around 9 am, your phone buzzing being the reason why you woke up. You checked the notifications bar, seeing Jeonghan’s name on top.

Jeonghan: Good morning :)) 

Jeonghan: Can you come downstairs? I have something for you, sweets.

You: How are you downstairs???

You: We literally saw each other six hours ago.

You: I’m still in my pyjamas.

Jeonghan: Perfect. Could I come up then?

You: Yeah, I’ll open the door for you.

You got up from your bed with a soft grunt, looking at yourself in the mirror as you felt the soreness between your legs. A soft sigh left your lips when your intercom rang, prompting you to rush towards it and open the door for Jeonghan downstairs.

When he finally got upstairs, you opened the front door, seeing him holding two cups of what seemed like coffee and tea in one hand and breakfast from your favourite bakery. “Surprise?”

“You didn’t have to—” Your eyes softened as you let him in, closing the door as he took his shoes off after handing you the bag with your favourite pastries from the bakery. “How’d you know I liked these?”

“Well, uh…” He trailed off, his cheeks dusting pink as he strided towards your couch, looking around your space a little better. “I might’ve had a crush on you before the whole wrong number ordeal.”

You blinked at him, surprise filling you as you connected the dots further—the way he seemed to be awkward and nervous around you during the first few meetings when he was pretending to be Han and his flirty behaviour over text.

“No way—” You shook your head, sitting down beside him, surprise evident in your tone. “We didn’t even know each other back then!”

“Well, you didn’t know me, I knew you. We took Statistics together last year, too.” Jeonghan scratched his cheek awkwardly when you continued to look at him with an astonished expression. “I didn’t know Cheol knew you until a few weeks ago, and that was when I gained the guts to ask him for your number and message you, pretending that I had the wrong number.”

The explanation baffled you, but it made sense at the same time before you scoffed out a laugh.

“Jeonghan.”

“Mmm?”

“You couldn’t have made it any harder for yourself.” You snorted, and he groaned before laughing softly along with you. “Like, seriously. You could’ve walked up to me and talked to me.”

“It wasn’t that simple!” He covered his face, embarrassed, but he kept smiling, a little glad that you found the situation humorous. Jeonghan sighed softly when you finally stopped giggling, shaking his head at how cute you were before noting that it was quite quiet in your apartment.

“Is your roommate not home?” He asked as you hummed, taking a bite out of the pastry in the bag.

“Minghao usually goes to the gym before going for a three-hour nature walk around the campus park. He also takes his time to meditate by the lake, so he’ll be gone for a while. Why?”

Jeonghan just shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee as he watched you enjoy your food. He could get used to seeing you like this—dishevelled after sleep, face bare and hair sticking out from multiple ends. It was cute, and he’d been dreaming of this day.

You noticed his soft gaze on you, making you feel a little self-conscious. “Is there something on my face?”

“Huh-? No, no! I just… I’ve been kind of dreaming of this day, he murmured, smiling softly.

You tilted your head to the side, puzzled, before Jeonghan continued. “You know, uh, seeing you like this—dishevelled and whatnot. Just you.”

You swallowed the food in your mouth, blinking at him. “So, my usual grouchy morning self?”

“Yes.” He nodded, leaning back against the sofa.

“You’re even weirder in person, you know that?” You grumbled but cracked a soft smile. “I can’t say I hate it. Being my boyfriend and all.”

Jeonghan blinked at the words you just said, causing you to look at him with a confused expression once more. “What?”

“Say that thing again.”

“I can’t say I hate it..?” You furrowed your eyebrows, unsure, before Jeonghan shook his head and made a circular motion with his hand as if telling you to rewind.

“No, the other thing.”

“Being my boyfrien—oh.” Your cheeks flushed, looking down at your lap as you tried not to explode on the spot for saying that. “Is… Is that okay?”

“Is— Is being your boyfriend okay? Are you hearing yourself?” Jeonghan huffed softly before grabbing your shoulders and shaking you, “Of course, it’s okay. More than okay, actually—perfect, more so.”

You grabbed his arms and stopped him from shaking you, “Okay, okay—I get it!”

Jeonghan let you go and sat back down on the couch, grabbing his coffee from the coffee table before taking a long swig from it, and placing it back down as you finished your food. Once you were done, you crumpled the paper bag, and he wiped off the leftover crumbs from the corner of your lips.

“So…” You started, curious about what he had planned for today’s date, “What are we going to do today?”

Jeonghan only smiled, winking at you as he leaned back, “That’s a secret you’ll have to unfold later, sweets. I’m not fond of ruining surprises.”

A groan left your lips, too impatient, but knowing Jeonghan, he’d stay true to his word and not reveal anything until the date. You pouted slightly before taking a sip of your tea, humming at the hot beverage filling your system.

“Not even one hint?”

“No. Not a chance, sweetheart. Stop trying to ruin your surprise.” He squinted at you before flicking your forehead, prompting you to retaliate, but he didn’t let you as he grabbed your wrists.

“What if I don’t like surprises?” You argued and tried to tug yourself away from his grasp, and he rolled his eyes, keeping you close.

“Not my problem, sweets, you’re not getting any spoilers.”

Even with your insistence on having Jeonghan give you at least one hint, he only gave you one, very vague hint, which went somewhere along the lines of “you’ll love it” and “it’s something you really like”.

That hint didn’t really help, since he asked you to wear something casual yet pretty, so you were stuck between a white sundress adorned with tiny pink flowers or a loose V-neck sweater and jeans. 

Deciding on the former, you put on the dress, matching it with your white shoes, before heading back out to the living room, where Jeonghan was waiting. He was scrolling through his phone when he glanced up and saw you standing there, your hands behind your back as you awkwardly rocked back and forth.

“Stop staring like that—” You huffed, feeling awkward as he gaped at you before snapping out of it.

“Sorry—fuck… I, uh… You look pretty.” He got up from the sofa, walking over to you and grabbing your waist. “Like, really pretty.”

Jeonghan leaned down, nosing your cheek. “Wondering if we should go on that date right now or—ow, okay, okay, sorry.”

He snickered when you smacked him, grinning as he pressed a soft kiss to your lips. That's when you heard a groan behind you, prompting you to turn around and see Minghao with squinting eyes.

“The two of you better not fuck on the couch,” He muttered accusingly before heading to his room, leaving you and Jeonghan alone once more. A giggle left your lips before you patted his chest.

“Let's go on that date, shall we, my lady?” He offered his arm for you to grab, and you smiled as you took it before heading out the door.

The two of you walked to one of your favourite bookstores near campus, which you hadn’t expected for your first date with him. “Bookstore date?”

“That’s not all, sweets.” Jeonghan grinned, opening the door for you as he let you enter the establishment. “I decided to ask the staff… And they let me rent the place out for two hours.”

Your eyes widened at his words, surprised at the fact that Jeonghan managed to rent the bookstore for a whole two hours. When you entered, you saw Kimmy—one of the workers in the store—by the register, winking and giving you a thumbs-up before waving a small green flag she held by the counter to promote books with green-flag men.

A soft giggle left your lips as Jeonghan led you to the small reading nook the owners of the store had agreed to make for you since you came by so often, and it was far from the main hall of the bookstore itself, so you had some privacy. The table you had there was set with a candle, and some food—takeout from your favourite Chinese joint that you frequented with Joshua.

“You thought of everything for this date, haven’t you?” You looked at him with a fond smile, and he hummed before grabbing a baby blue bag from behind one of the chairs.

“That’s not all. Sit down and open it.” He pulled the chair back for you, prompting you to giggle once more as you sat down comfortably and pulled out what seemed like a cinammoroll plush keyring. You glanced up at him with a slightly ajar mouth before he added, “Oh, there’s also an envelope, open it.”

Without another word, you grabbed the envelope and opened it to read, “Here’s my card. You have ten minutes to look around the store and five minutes to grab the books you want. Winky face, your boyfriend.” You looked at him, dumbfounded as he only chuckled.

“We’ll do it after we eat, it’s better to eat Chinese when it’s still hot.”

The two of you ate and conversed, giggling about the stupidest things as you reminisced about the things that happened a couple of hours prior. Jeonghan seemed to notice your flushed expression, grinning slightly. “You’re thinking about what happened last night, did you?”

“Shut up—” You squeaked, stealing a dumpling from his container, and he let you as he leaned his chin on his palm, looking enamoured by the sight of you. Feeling flustered, you took a sip of your drink before clearing your throat. “I’m full, so let’s do that thing, hm? I have a few books I’ve been eyeing, and I know the layout of this building like the back of my hand.”

“I’m going to be broke, aren’t I?” Jeonghan sighed with a soft laugh when you nodded, taking one last bite of his food before getting up and taking your outstretched hand, excited for whatever activity you had planned.

After the timer ended, you managed to snag about 8 books, two of which were textbooks, which made Jeonghan raise an eyebrow at you, but books were expensive as fuck, so if you had the chance to monopolise someone else’s money, you’d use it. The other six paperbacks were romance novels, with genres ranging from romantasy to standard romcom tropes.

“You sure like romance novels, huh?” He teased, looking through one of the books’ synopses, curious about the contents of the paperback, and opening a page where the main characters were having rough sex. Jeonghan whistled softly as Kimmy snatched the book from him, rang it up and put it in the paper bag. You thanked her as you waved goodbye while your boyfriend held the bag with your haul. “Are you sure you’ll manage to read all of these? Six novels are a lot, you know?”

You snorted out a laugh, shaking your head. “It’s the weekend, Jeonghan. I have a whole Sunday free, and my Mondays usually consist of theoretical science that I can miss because the professor sends video versions of the lecture anyway. I’ll manage to binge these in a day.”

That’s when you noticed Jeonghan’s slight pout, prompting you to raise your eyebrow at him before he sighed dramatically.

“Why are you pouting?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he drawled, still pouting. “My girlfriend would rather spend time with books for the whole weekend instead of her boyfriend—” You smacked him, cutting him off as he stifled his chuckles. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I mean, I could kick Minghao out for the day, and we can hang out in the living room without him side-eyeing us.” You shrugged, not thinking much of it, as the two of you walked towards the cafe, where you bought your tea from and bought some drinks before heading to the park to sit down by the small pond.

“How are you enjoying our little date so far, sweets?” Jeonghan asked, looking at you with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. You shrugged, causing him to gently nudge you. “Come on, tell me.”

“Honestly?” You looked at him with a soft yet happy smile, “It’s the best date I’ve been on in a while. You’ve outdone yourself, boyfriend.”

Jeonghan grinned, clearly happy with the praise, before he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to your cheek, surprising you. “Perfect. How many boyfriend points do I get?”

“Boyfriend points?” You raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah, like… If I get enough of them, I get a prize or something.” He shrugged, making you blink at him.

“Jeonghan, we are not doing that. What are you, a toddler?” You snorted, and he made a face which you almost smacked him for again, but refrained. “We are not doing that.”

“Worth a shot.”

After your date, Jeonghan walked you back home and gave you a goodbye kiss that made you feel like you were on clouds. You felt all giddy, and you were giggling to yourself on the way up to your apartment.

Once you entered the apartment, you saw Minghao lounging around in the living room, watching something on the TV. He glanced at you before sighing, “How was the date?”

“Perfect,” you chirped, still smiling, which made your cheeks hurt. “I think he’s actually not real from how perfect the date went.”

“I’m sure you’re itching to tell someone the details, so spill.”

“You’re the best roommate ever, do I ever tell you that?” You sat down beside him after placing your paper bag with your new books on the dining table. 

“I’ve been told once or twice, yes.” He rolled his eyes, but Minghao was genuinely interested, wanting to know how your day with Jeonghan went.

“Okay, so…”

After talking about your date with Minghao and Facetiming Joshua and Wonwoo in the process, you managed to get some good night’s sleep. You couldn’t kick Minghao out for the day, so you had to cancel your plans with Jeonghan, but the two of you called for about three hours before you had to end the call because you needed food in your system.

While you prepared dinner, you found yourself texting your boyfriend, sharing memes or just talking about random messages.

Jeonghan: Whatcha cooking, good looking?

You: Just some cream pasta.

You: Reading was quite slow today. I only read 50% of the first book.

Jeonghan: That’s still a lot, sweets

Jeonghan: It’d take me about 3 days to get halfway through a book :/

Jeonghan: So, be proud of yourself for reading so much in one day

You: If you say so 🤷

You: Anyway, what are YOU up to?

Jeonghan: I’m playing video games with Cheol

Jeonghan: Kinda boring ngl

Jeonghan: Would rather talk with you ;)

You: Pfft, okay.

You: Play your silly video games with him.

You: And apologise about the weed.

Jeonghan: Just the weed?

You: And the pocky.

You: I don’t regret the sex, you know.

Jeonghan: Oh, I know ;)

Jeonghan: I’d so do it again even if we weren’t high

You: You’re evil.

Jeonghan: You like me so 🤷

You: Fair enough.

Jeonghan: I gtg

Jeonghan: Text you later?

You: If I don’t get immersed in reading, then yes.

Jeonghan: Okay, love u

You reread the message, trying to make sure you weren’t seeing things before turning as red as a tomato. He didn’t mean it like that, right? He meant it as a goodbye and not an actual ‘I love you’? You screamed into your hands, confused and flustered as hell.

On Jeonghan’s end, he was also screaming into his hands after sending you that last message, Seungcheol, looking at him with an ‘Are you fucking serious right now?’ expression. “Dude, you’re overreacting. It was just a text.”

“You don’t get it, Cheolie…” Jeonghan groaned as his best friend was more focused on the game he was playing rather than Jeonghan’s insistent whining. “I said ‘love you’ and not ‘I love you’ because I’m a fucking coward. And I wanna say it to her face, not over text.”

“Then do that?” Seungcheol paused his game, sighing softly.

Jeonghan only groaned, throwing his phone on his bed before rubbing his face from slight frustration. He wanted to do it so badly, but he felt like he’d be pushing it. “It’s too early for me to do it! I don’t wanna scare her off.”

He grumbled, and his best friend could hear his pout without even looking at him. “When did you become such a loser, Hannie?” 

Seungcheol teased, and Jeonghan glared at him, throwing a pillow at his friend.

“Shut up.”

A few days passed, and everything between you and Jeonghan was going smoothly, going on quick cafe dates in between classes, sharing lunch with your friends, or just spending time together in general. 

You were getting used to the whole boyfriend/girlfriend ordeal, not being used to having someone in your space besides your roommate. But you found yourself enjoying it more than you expected, liking the comfort of having someone to lean on for once. It felt lighter to have someone who could carry your burdens with you and vice versa.

It was a Friday afternoon, you had finished most of your lab work early and decided that Minghao had to go for the day because you wanted Jeonghan to stay over, and he just gave you an obvious look that meant ‘I know what you’re planning to do and I’m letting it slide’.

You were huddled up in a blanket, cuddling with Jeonghan on top of you while you played with his hair with one hand and read a book with the other, occasionally moving your hand from your boyfriend’s hair to flip a page. 

A soft grunt left your lips an hour into reading, prompting Jeonghan to move his head from your chest. “What is it?”

“Nothing… I mean, not nothing, I just don’t wanna move at the moment,” you grumbled softly as your cheeks burned. You didn’t want to ask him for it. No way.

“Do you need to pee or something—”

“No, no! It’s just…” You trailed off, your cheeks and ears dusting red as you tried to spit it out. “There’s a sex scene I don’t really get.”

“Ah,” Jeonghan murmured, causing you to flush further from embarrassment, before he tutted softly, “Well, that can’t do, can it? What’s the scene? Read it for me, baby.”

“O–oh, uh, okay…” You cleared your throat. “Harlan angled my hips, spreading my legs wide, teasing his cock against my slit before pushing in—”

“Okay, I got the gist of it, geez. I forgot most of those romance books of yours are in first person,” he grumbled before taking the book from you and placing it down on the coffee table before shifting slightly between your legs. “That’s just simple missionary, sweetheart. Why are you so confused?”

“Because there’s more, Hannie. Let me finish, will you?” You huffed, grabbing the book once more, and he chuckled before nodding. 

You cleared your throat again and continued, “Pushing in with one easy thrust, my pussy squelched from how wet he’d gotten me. I whined, trembling like a leaf as I pawed my enemy’s chest—”

“They’re enemies?” Jeonghan cut you off, gasping dramatically as you rolled your eyes and continued reading.

“—looking up at him so fucked out and dazed. He pumped his shaft into me a couple of times before flipping me around to my stomach without pulling out, burying my face into the pillows of my bed. He grabbed my hips up and started fucking me harder while muttering the lewdest things into my ear.”

You finished reading the part of the page, Jeonghan’s eyes half-lidded as he licked his lips. “I got the gist of it. You wanna…?”

Your thighs clenched around his hips, signalling him that you indeed wanted it. A soft groan left his lips as he slipped off the blanket from your bodies, his hands starting to roam along your hips and waist, pushing up the t-shirt you were wearing to reveal your bare breasts. He expected it, since the two of you were home, but he still enjoyed the sight. 

A whine left your lips when he leaned down, latching his mouth onto one of your nipples, suckling and gently biting while he rubbed your other nipple with his thumb, switching between them so neither would feel neglected. Jeonghan continued his ministrations until you were panting and your nipples were wet, coated with his spit and aching with pleasure.

“Gonna fuck you better than what that dumb book described, mmkay?” Jeonghan crooned against your neck, yanking your shorts and panties down your legs, and throwing them on the floor. His hand ghosted over your wet slit, teasing you as he spread your pussy lips open, watching as your tight hole clenched around nothing and gushed with slick that drooled down to the leather of the couch.

“Hannie, please…”

“Hmm? What is it, pretty baby?” He cooed. “You need to be patient. I wanna take my sweet time with your sweet little cunt this time.”

“But–but, you were gonna show me—”

Jeonghan shushed you softly. “I said I’m going to fuck you better than what was described in your book. So, be a good girl and take what I give you, hm?”

You moaned at that, nodding as he touched you with reverent caresses, whispering sweet nothings into your ear before pushing two fingers into your wet heat, scissoring your sopping cunt as it squelched lewdly at his movements. Jeonghan stretched your inner walls, feeling them snugly flutter and wrap around his digits. His palm grazed your clit just right, pulling soft whines out of you as your thighs tightened around his hips.

Once he was satisfied playing with your sweet pussy, he pulled his fingers out before shoving them into his mouth and let out a groan. When he finished sucking off your juices from them, he smiled at you. “So sweet…”

Jeonghan didn’t waste any more time, shoving his sweatpants down, freeing his heavy, leaking cock. He looked at you, begging and reaching out for him, so he decided against looking for condoms, and it wasn’t like he had any with him to begin with.

Lubricating himself with your slick, his cockhead nudged against your bundle of nerves a couple of times, causing your legs to tremble and twitch before Jeonghan finally lined himself up against your entrance. Due to how slippery your hole was, he easily slipped in, a guttural groan leaving his lips as he felt your raw cunt around his cock once more.

“Fuck, fuck—you feel so good… Your pussy is sucking my dick in so good, sweets.”

“Hannie—Jeonghan, fuck—I, I, hngh—”

You whined out, grasping the material of the oversized hoodie he was wearing before he quickly shed it, so that he could feel your nails against his skin. You nailed his upper back, causing Jeonghan to hiss in both pleasure and pain from the sharp sting. He then started gently rocking his hips into you, each deep thrust knocking the air out of your lungs. 

Your boyfriend’s eyes darted down to where the two of you were connected, and the sound of his cock bullying into your cunt was enough to make him grit his teeth and think of basketball statistics to prevent himself from coming way too quickly inside your spasming hole.

Jeonghan groaned your name softly, peppering soft kisses all over your neck and jaw before he flipped you onto your stomach without pulling out, just like what you had read in your book. Something about him easily manhandling you made your stomach flutter and your walls to squeeze around his dick as he pulled your hips up towards him, your ass up, while your face got buried in the throw pillows.

“This is what you wanted, right, baby? Getting fucked from behind like a pretty little thing in heat—” Jeonghan grunted softly as he grabbed the globes of your ass, the fat dimpling under his grip as he spread your cheeks apart to watch how his thick length filled you up. 

You could feel how his dick twitched inside you when he saw the messy white ring forming around the base of his cock, his thrusts getting slightly sloppier and harder as he licked his lips. Your moans were muffled but still loud enough to spur Jeonghan on and made him drive his cock deeper into you—hitting spots you couldn’t reach yourself. The way his tip grazed against your cervix made you squeal and push yourself back against him, your back arching slightly from pleasure.

One of Jeonghan’s hands let go of your ass cheek, moving down between your legs to rub on your neglected clit, making you keen out a whine and your hole to clench around him tightly. Your toes curled as the heat in your gut expanded and licked at your tingling nerves.

“Jeonghan—I’m… I think I’m gonna—”

“Let go, baby, let go for me.” 

You whined at that, letting go as you let your orgasm crash through you, making your back arch further as you pushed yourself closer to him, as Jeonghan’s hips stuttered when your velvet walls milked him for his cum.

A choked grunt left his lips as he stilled his motions, burying himself deep inside you as he spilt hot, thick spurts of cum into your messy cunt. Air was knocked out of your lungs as you recovered slowly, hearing your heartbeat in your ears as your vision was slightly blurred from the overwhelming pleasure.

You whined in protest at the loss of Jeonghan’s cock when he pulled out. Turning your head, you saw him panting softly, watching your leaking hole as he pushed his cum back into your used cunt. That was when he tugged you, turning you around as both of you were leaning against your heels. He caressed your cheek and kissed you softly, leading you to sit on his lap as he leaned back against the couch until he was lying down, before pulling away.

“Sit on my face.”

The request caught you off guard, unsure about sitting on his face after he had just come inside you. But he seemed set on you sitting on his face, gently yanking your hips, causing you to grind on his abs accidentally. Your sensitive clit grazed his skin, and Jeonghan moaned at the mess you were making on his abdomen.

“A–are you sure-? I don’t—”

“I’m sure, sweets, ride my face. Let me clean that cute little pussy up.” His grip on your hips gently tightened before letting go, so that you could crawl over and hover your dripping cunt over his face. Before you could even stabilise yourself, Jeonghan pulled you down, his mouth latching onto your sensitive cunt immediately. He didn’t care about your mixed juices, only wanting you and your sweet wetness.

A moan left Jeonghan’s lips as he lapped you up, tongue flat against your slit as he messily made out with your cunt. You grasped onto his hair, tugging and gripping for support as you started to grind yourself against him, his nose nudging against your clit just right, your release building up faster than the last as soft mewls left your lips as your boyfriend cleaned you up. His grip on your ass tightened, eating your pussy out with increasing vigour as he felt you clench around his tongue.

Your orgasm hit you like a wave, toes curling as you wailed in pleasure, your eyes fluttering closed as your hips stuttered against his face. Once Jeonghan was done with drinking up your juices, he easily lifted you from his face, shifting you onto his lap before pressing a chaste kiss to your lips.

“I guess we broke the rule about fucking on the couch.”

The two of you went over to your room after the situation on the couch. Jeonghan was peacefully napping on your bed while you were silently admiring your boyfriend, playing with some strands of his hair. Noticing your sketchbook on your desk, you decided to grab it along with your pencil and eraser before you started to sketch.

Before you knew it, you had a sketch of Jeonghan with some details, smiling to yourself, and not noticing him stirring awake.

“Whatcha smiling about?” He rasped, his voice groggy after his nap. “Are you drawing?”

He seemed curious, so you showed him the sketch. Jeonghan’s eyes softened at the sight, in awe of the piece of art you had done in such a short time. “You’re talented, sweets.”

“Thank you… It’s something I took from my mother.” You smiled as you flipped through the pages, showing him more sketches, mostly of him, which surprised Jeonghan, but he was secretly very pleased.

After giving him a glimpse of your sketchbook, you closed it before placing it on your nightstand and huddling close to him. 

Jeonghan pressed a soft kiss to your shoulder, happy in your arms. “I love you.”

The confession was soft, but full of meaning, and you couldn’t help but hug him tighter, pressing a soft kiss to his temple.

“I love you too, Hannie.”

“No take-backs. You love me.”

You could feel his grin against your skin, which made you roll your eyes before giggling.

“I do.”

FIN~

Taglist: @joshujin @wonushy @imissmyseventeen @bramos91

You looked at your co-anchor in disgust. 

“I am going on a date. What you are doing is none of my business.” 

“Oh, that’s not very kind of you to say, now is it y/n?” 

You scowled at the man sitting next to you, the stylists still trying to perfect his hair and stop it from falling down into his eyes too much as it would end up a disturbance during the show. 

“I don’t need to be nice to you just because we fucked, okay?” you wheezed out, hoping to any god that would listen that the stylist couldn’t hear or just didn’t care enough to listen. You could barely deal with the fact that the man you spent every single early morning with had made you scream out his name as you came on his dick last night. Other people in the office knowing about this happening however, that would somehow be even worse. 

‘Never sleep with your coworkers,’ they had said when you had first started your brand new job at the morning news. 

‘Especially ones like him,’ they had said and pointed toward a tall man, laughing with one of the makeup artists. Flirting, with one of the makeup artists, you soon realized. That was what he was best at you discovered within days at your new job. 

Within a week of his cute and innocently flirty comments, you had sworn to yourself never to fall for it. Honestly, it wasn’t as if he even meant anything personal with the way he just naturally made everyone crush on him a little bit by simply chatting away with that damned beautiful face of his. 

You had kept that vow of yours for almost an entire year… all the way up until last night. 

“One minute left!” the director called out, and you tried to snap back into reality as you read over your cue cards once more. Your efforts were soon lost on you though, because Jeonghan, that absolute menace, had now bent closer to you than before, the stylist having left you two to your lonesome when the director had called out the time left until you were going live. 

“You don’t wanna reconsider that date? I think I could be a lot more fun than some random guy you found on the street,” he whispered into your ear, his hot breath sending shivers down your spine as his words sent your brain right back to him whispering into your ear as he had you moaning and bent over this very desk just hours ago. 

“I told you coming in for this late-night meeting could be fun,” he had whispered with a smug tone before sucking yet another mark into your neck, his dick twitching inside you as you clenched and moaned at his words. The set was empty and dark, all except for the low light coming from a lamp left for you two to turn off when you left. The rest of the staff had gone home and left you two to rehearse the last-minute change in the scripts for tomorrow’s show. 

“Fuck you,” you had panted out, breathless and experiencing too much pleasure to say much else. 

Jeonghan had scoffed breathlessly at your attempt at contempt even in this situation. Your tight was skirt pushed up to reveal your dripping core and bare ass while your blouse was unbuttoned and your tits were falling out from your bra as he bounced you back and forth on his erection. “You say that, but I think you like me fucking you more.”

You wanted to hit him, but instead, you just pushed yourself back against his cock harder. 

“F-fuck, harder Jeonghan,” you whimpered out, needing that last push over the edge from him, feeling so close to your orgasm you couldn’t dare argue against his mocking words. 

“What was that sweetheart?”

He grabbed your face with the hand not currently holding both of your hands behind your back as he slammed his hips into yours, making a rough slapping sound each time your skin met his. Gently but with a stern motion, he turned your face around to look at him. 

“Use that pretty little mouth to tell me what you want again, properly this time.”

You moaned when his hips snapped up with even more force, making your pussy drip juices down your thighs. 

“Please, I need you to fuck me harder, please Jeonghan,” you begged, your voice a whine as he sped up at your words.

“That’s my girl,” he cooed at you, letting your face go and pressing your body down onto the cold and shiny desk in front of you. You would have to wipe it clean before you left unless you wanted the staff to find an imprint of your damp tits pressed against the blank surface in the morning. You made a mental note of that before your mind was snapped right back into your current activity where your coworker’s hand had just found its way around your body and landed on your clit. 

He began circling your clit in perfect circle movements, precise and with the perfect amount of pressure. Suddenly it was interrupted and you whined at the loss of his fingers before a light smack sent a jolt of arousal through your entire body, the pleasure from the slight sting on your clit had you seeing stars. 

When you moaned loudly, his fingers came back to continue the gentle and precise rubbing he had been doing just a moment ago. The circles on your sensitive clit soothed the delicious pain and the way his strokes continued to fill you up just right made the pleasure build until it was almost unbearable. 

You were all but screaming in pleasure as he continued snapping his hips against your ass at a brutal pace. You were dripping and clenching around his throbbing cock, your hands still held firm behind your back, and the grunts of pleasure coming from behind you were the very last drop of stimulation you needed. Your orgasm came crashing over you, making you see a white blinding light, a pleasure so intense you couldn’t remember a single other person making you come that hard ever before in your entire life. 

All that was in the past now though, you thought. Determined not to ever again repeat the worst mistake of your life. You had to stay strong and you would be moving on from it, even though it might’ve actually been the best sex you’ve had in your entire life…

It didn’t matter though, because it would never happen again. 

“Ten seconds!” 

“Just shut up, last night was a mistake, you should give up because it’s never happening again,” you wheezed back at him, a bit flustered when you looked back at him, meeting his gaze and noticing that his face was only inches away from yours now. If you wanted to, you could close the gap and kiss him before the red light telling you that you were live would have time to turn on… 

No, you reprimanded yourself, you didn’t want to. Did you want to?

“3…” 

“Why don’t you just come home with me after work? Cancel the date,” Jeonghan whispered yet again, a small smirk on his face as he watched you attempt to scowl at him but was interrupted when he placed his warm hand on your thigh. His movements feather light and soft against the thin stockings you had on. 

You shushed him, not wanting to bring any attention to how his hand was gently sliding up your thigh, sending goosebumps shooting from where his addictive touch was on your skin. 

“2…”

“I’ll make it worth your time.”

Your breath caught in your throat as his words sent your mind spiraling, and his touch slid up to the hem of your panties, teasing you and sending a rush of desire toward your core. 

What if you agreed? Would it really be too bad to have him one more time? 

You begged your brain to shut up, you needed it to be quiet. You weren’t supposed to find him attractive, you weren’t supposed to feel flustered any time he stared at you a bit too long when you were getting ready for the show, and you certainly were not supposed to want the man to fuck your brains out over and over again until you couldn’t speak or stand anymore. 

“1…” 

This time Jeonghan said nothing more to convince you. He knew the effect he had on everyone, including you, and chuckled slightly as he pulled back his entire body from you.

You had to stop a wince from escaping your lips at the loss of his closeness and his touch. The whole thing was too much for you to handle. 

“And we’re live!” 

The director’s voice and the bright red light turning on had you looking like a deer in headlights. You were canceling that date and coming home with your menace of a co-anchor today, you thought, feeling resigned and flustered as you tried to collect yourself when you heard the cheery voice of Jeonghan charming his way into the general publics’ hearts, even after having turned you on in front of the entire office at 7 am. 

“I’m Jeonghan and beside me, we have your lovely y/n, and you’re watching today’s news. We hope you’re having an equally enjoyable morning at home as we are in the studio.”

You could kill the man, you thought as you tried your best to not scowl at the man live on national television. 

.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・.

Reblogging and commenting is highly appreciated!! Hearing what you thought is what makes writing and being here overall so much fun! Ty and ily 💕

Without saying a word, he took your hand, holding it for just a second longer than necessary before his lips curved into a faint smirk. "You're too nice to me," he teased lightly, though his voice was quieter than usual.

"You deserve it," you replied simply, squeezing his hand.

Jeonghan tilted his head slightly, leaning just enough so that your faces were closer. His voice dropped lower, almost conspiratorial. "You're the main character of my life," he murmured, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

The confession hung in the air, delicate and fragile, but he didn't give you the chance to respond. Instead, he gently tugged you by the wrist, leading you toward a nearby hallway where the noise of the set faded into the background.

He pushed open the door to an empty dressing room and pulled you inside, your lips quirked into a small grin as you cast a glance over your shoulder. There, just outside the hallway, you caught sight of Hye-soo, her expression a mixture of irritation and disbelief as she watched Jeonghan whisk you away, before he shut the door softly behind you. 

The satisfaction was instant, your grin widening as you turned your attention back to Jeonghan. His eyes searched yours, an unspoken question lingering in their depths.

"Someone's jealous," you whispered, a playful lilt in your tone.

"Let her be," Jeonghan replied, his gaze dropping briefly to where your hand still rested against his arm. "I only care about you."

Jeonghan caught your lips into a deep, deep kiss. His hands finding your waist, kissing you hungrily like he's never before. You gladly let him, kissing back with precision, catching up with his desperate kisses.

Four months ago, the welcoming party was an elaborate spectacle where actors who are casted and crews, glittering lights and clinking glasses, an unspoken contest of charisma and charm playing out in every corner of the opulent ballroom. Jeonghan stood near the director, his expression schooled into polite interest as Hye-soo's melodic laughter rang out beside him. She had been holding court all evening, effortlessly drawing attention to herself, her hand resting possessively on Jeonghan's arm like it was her rightful place.

But Jeonghan barely noticed her.

From the moment you stepped into the room, late enough to make an entrance but not so late as to be rude, his attention was a prisoner to your presence. You hadn't done anything dramatic—there was no sweeping motion or grand gesture. It was simply the way you carried yourself. The flow of your dress, the way it seemed to move with you like an extension of your being. The quiet confidence in your steps, your head held high but your smile understated, as if you knew you didn't need to demand attention; it came to you on its own.

It wasn't just beauty—though you had that in spades. It was something deeper, more magnetic. A natural ease, the kind of charisma that didn't shout for recognition but instead whispered for it, softly and irresistibly.

Jeonghan felt it before he could stop himself—the tightening of his chest, the way his eyes betrayed him by seeking you out even as Hye-soo leaned closer, brushing her arm against his as she spoke. He forced a polite laugh, nodding at whatever she was saying, but his focus was across the room.

And you, as if sensing his gaze, looked up.

Your eyes met his, and for a brief moment, the noise of the ballroom faded into nothingness. You didn't smile right away; you just held his gaze, the faintest quirk of your lips following as though you knew exactly what you were doing to him. It was infuriating, how effortlessly you dismantled his composure with nothing but a look.

Hye-soo's hand on his arm tightened, her laugh becoming just a touch louder as if trying to pull him back. But Jeonghan's thoughts were already elsewhere, his mind circling a question that had been nagging him since the cast list was announced.

Why were you the second lead?

You had everything—beauty that could silence a room, talent that elevated every scene you touched, and a presence so commanding it didn't just complement a story; it shaped it. He'd even asked the director about it once, in a moment of unguarded curiosity.

"She's too perfect," the director had said, a bemused smile on his face. "We needed someone who could challenge stereotypes. Beauty isn't everything, and we're trying to show that. It's about balance, Jeonghan. She's our second lead because she'll redefine what it means to be one."

At the time, Jeonghan had accepted the explanation. It even made sense—logically. But now, watching you glide through the room like you owned it, he couldn't shake the thought that the story needed you at its heart.

As the evening wore on, his fascination deepened. He wasn't the only one who noticed you, of course. By the time he'd taken a sip of his champagne, you were already surrounded. First, a well-known photographer approached, gesturing animatedly as you listened with that soft, knowing smile of yours. Then a manager from a major modeling agency joined the conversation, their posture deferential despite their stature in the industry.

You handled it all with ease, laughing lightly here, tilting your head thoughtfully there, your charisma weaving a web that no one seemed able to resist. Jeonghan felt something strange stir within him—a mixture of pride, admiration, and something heavier, something unfamiliar.

"You should go talk to her," the director said suddenly, his voice breaking through Jeonghan's thoughts.

Jeonghan blinked, glancing at the older man. "What?"

"You've been staring all night," the director said with a chuckle, clapping him on the shoulder. "Might as well make an introduction."

Before Jeonghan could protest, the director was already leading him across the room. Hye-soo followed, her expression tight as she trailed behind, her earlier ease replaced with something sharper.

When they reached you, the director spoke your name warmly, introducing Jeonghan with a familiarity that suggested he'd been waiting for this moment. You turned to face Jeonghan fully, and for the second time that night, his world narrowed to just you.

"It's nice to finally meet you," you said, your voice smooth and melodic, the kind that lingered in the air even after the words had faded.

Jeonghan opened his mouth to respond, but for a brief, embarrassing moment, nothing came out. You smiled at that, a real smile this time, not the polite ones you'd been giving all evening. It was a little crooked, a little playful, and it hit him harder than he wanted to admit.

"Likewise," he managed, his voice quieter than intended.

Hye-soo stepped forward then, her smile a touch too bright, her hand reaching out to touch your arm as she offered some polite compliment. You accepted it graciously, your demeanor unchanging, but Jeonghan saw the way your eyes flickered—sharp, assessing, taking in every detail of her performance.

He didn't know what passed between you in that silent exchange, but when your gaze shifted back to him, something about your expression had changed. It was softer, more amused, like you'd already decided he wasn't worth sharing.

And for the first time that night, Jeonghan smiled—a real one, small and almost shy, but real. Because for reasons he couldn't yet explain, he wanted nothing more than to be worthy of the attention you'd just given him.

The door to the dressing room clicked shut behind you, the muffled chaos of the set fading into a distant hum. Jeonghan's gaze was dark and focused, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something more raw, more consuming. You barely had time to catch your breath before his hands found your waist, pulling you flush against him as his lips claimed yours with a fervor that sent your head spinning.

It was a whirlwind—a blur of heat and longing. His fingers slid under the fabric of your top, skimming the bare skin beneath, his touch both electrifying and soothing. You gasped against his lips, your arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, anchoring yourself to him as your knees threatened to give out. Jeonghan was gorgeous, unbearably so, and in moments like these, he felt almost unreal.

Your heart pounded wildly, each beat echoing in your ears. It was impossible to reconcile this moment with the doubts you'd carried when you first met him. Back then, you thought he'd barely notice you, that someone like Jeonghan—dazzling, untouchable—would never look at you twice. Yet here you were, his hands roaming your body like he couldn't get enough, his lips moving against yours like you were the air he needed to breathe.

You broke away for a moment, your chest heaving as you tried to steady yourself. But Jeonghan didn't let you get far. His hands tightened around your waist, pulling you back as his lips hovered over yours, the soft warmth of his breath brushing against your skin.

"I can't let her lips stay on mine too long," he murmured, his voice low and rough, a stark contrast to the teasing words. His nose brushed against yours as he leaned in closer, his lips grazing yours lightly before retreating just enough to make you ache for more.

A soft laugh escaped your lips, your fingers threading through his hair as you tilted his face toward yours. "I'll wash them off for you, my love," you whispered, your voice thick with both playfulness and desire. The words barely had time to settle between you before you captured his lips again, pulling him into a kiss that was deeper, hungrier, more desperate than before.

Your tongues tangled in a rhythm that felt instinctual, a dance of passion and unspoken words. His hands roamed freely, tracing the curve of your spine, brushing against the sensitive skin of your waist, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. You shivered under his touch, your body pressing closer to his as if proximity alone could satisfy the yearning that consumed you.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" Jeonghan whispered against your lips, his voice trembling just enough to reveal the depth of his emotions. His hands found your hips, gripping them firmly as his forehead pressed against yours. "You drive me insane."

A blush crept up your neck, heat pooling in your chest as you tried to catch your breath. "I could say the same about you," you replied, your voice breathless but steady, your eyes searching his. "You're impossible."

He smirked, that familiar glint of mischief returning to his gaze. "Impossible, huh?" His lips brushed the corner of your mouth, his hands slipping to the small of your back, pulling you impossibly closer. "You're the one who walked into my life and flipped everything upside down."

You wanted to respond, to tease him back, but the intensity in his eyes silenced you. It was a look that made your chest tighten, a look that spoke of feelings too complex to put into words. So instead, you kissed him again, pouring everything you couldn't say into the way your lips moved against his, the way your hands clung to him like he was your lifeline.

Minutes passed, maybe hours—it was impossible to tell. All you knew was the warmth of his touch, the softness of his lips, the way his presence consumed every inch of your awareness. For a fleeting moment, nothing else mattered. Not the set outside, not the chaos of your lives, not even the knowledge that this would complicate everything.

In this room, in his arms, it was just the two of you. And that was enough.

The two of you stepped out of the dressing room, the air between you still charged with the remnants of your stolen moment. Jeonghan's hair was slightly tousled, his lips swollen and redder than usual, while your soft pink lipstick was now smudged, leaving just enough evidence for the curious stares around the set. The whispers were immediate.

It didn't take long for someone to notice, and of course, it had to be Hye-soo. Her eyes darted between you and Jeonghan, narrowing with an intensity that made her look like she was plotting to leap and attack you. She clenched her jaw, her entire body radiating frustration. You, however, were perfectly unbothered.

Pausing mid-step, you turned to Jeonghan and tugged him gently by the arm, making him face you. With the utmost care (and an intentional touch of theatrics), you reached up to fix his disheveled hair.

"You're such a mess," you said playfully, brushing his bangs into place.

Jeonghan smirked, leaning down to your level as if he couldn't resist getting closer. "And whose fault is that?" he teased, swiping his thumb over your lips to clean up the smudged lipstick. The gesture was tender, but there was a flicker of something mischievous in his eyes as he added, "If you're trying to make a statement, you're doing a phenomenal job."

You glanced over your shoulder, catching sight of Hye-soo, who looked seconds away from exploading. "Putting on a show?" Jeonghan whispered, his hands finding your waist like it was second nature.

"Maybe," you replied with a sly smile, purposefully glancing in Hye-soo's direction. The minute your gaze met hers, her expression darkened, and she stormed out of the studio with a huff loud enough to make the crew turn and stare.

Jeonghan chuckled lowly, watching her retreat. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

You shrugged nonchalantly, turning back to him with a lighthearted grin. "Honestly? This isn't even about her anymore. It's about us." You punctuated your words with a quick kiss to his cheek, then pulled away before he could pull you back in.

Just as Jeonghan opened his mouth to respond, the unmistakable sound of someone clearing their throat cut through the air. The two of you turned, and there stood the director, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowing in disapproval.

"Woah," Jeonghan said, feigning surprise as he chuckled nervously. "How long have you been standing there, sir?"

"Long enough," the director replied, visibly irritated. "You two shouldn't be doing this in the middle of the studio. Get a room, will you?"

You suppressed a laugh, but Jeonghan, ever the troublemaker, grinned and replied, "We already did."

Your elbow jabbed him sharply in the stomach before he could elaborate further. "Ow!" he yelped, doubling over slightly, though he was still smirking.

The director pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly like a parent scolding unruly children. "Do you two have any idea how much trouble this could cause for the production? I can already see the headlines: 'Male lead Yoon Jeonghan and second lead Y/N caught in scandalous affair!'" His tone was exasperated, though slightly melodramatic.

That was the final straw—you burst out laughing, the sound bright and carefree, echoing through the studio. Jeonghan froze, his gaze softening as he watched you. His irritation melted away entirely, replaced by a warmth that made him forget anyone else existed.

Your laughter was infectious, and even the director blinked, momentarily disarmed. The entire crew, who had paused to watch the scene unfold, also seemed captivated. It wasn't just Jeonghan who adored you—you had the entire set under your spell.

Jeonghan caught the lingering stares from some of the staff and cast members, their admiration for you clear as day. His expression darkened almost comically, his gaze sweeping the room as if to warn everyone, Back off—she's mine.

Finally regaining his composure, the director shook his head. "You're impossible," he muttered. "If this blows up, I'm blaming you two."

Smiling sweetly, you clasped your hands together like a picture of innocence. "We'll make sure that never happens, our best director-nim," you said, your voice as soothing as a lullaby. Somehow, even the director, who moments ago had been fuming, softened under your charm.

Jeonghan leaned in, muttering under his breath just loud enough for you to hear, "You could get away with murder if you wanted to."

You bit back a grin, glancing at him out of the corner of your eye. "Only if you're my partner in crime."

The air outside the studio felt heavy, the crisp breeze doing little to soothe your frayed nerves. You excused yourself from Jeonghan and the director, feigning the need for a breath of fresh air when, in truth, you were looking for her—Hye-soo. She'd been haunting your thoughts ever since the shoot began, her presence always a bitter reminder of the tangled history you shared. You weren't sure what you expected from this conversation, but you had to try. You always had to try.

You found her near the corner of the lot, scrolling on her phone with an air of detachment. Her perfectly styled hair caught the golden light, making her look like the picture-perfect heroine she was cast to be. The sight of her still brought a pang of nostalgia, even after everything. For a moment, you hesitated. Was this worth it? Would she even listen?

"Hye-soo," you called out, your voice steady but soft.

She turned, her expression cool and guarded the moment she saw you. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone sharp enough to cut.

"I just want to talk," you replied, taking a cautious step forward. "Can we please—can we try to fix this? Whatever happened between us, I—"

"Fix this?" she scoffed, lowering her phone to give you her full attention. Her eyes blazed with an anger you hadn't expected. "You think you can fix this? After everything?"

"I've been trying to," you said, your voice trembling slightly. "I've tried to reach out to you, to explain—"

"To explain what? That you're not guilty of anything? That you didn't go behind my back and let people pit us against each other?" She laughed bitterly. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't something you can just apologize for."

Your chest tightened, the weight of her words settling like a stone. "I never wanted any of that. I hated the comparisons, the rumors—it wasn't my fault. You were my best friend, Hye-soo. I didn't ask for any of this."

"And yet, here you are," she snapped, crossing her arms. "The second lead, with Jeonghan wrapped around your finger. Isn't that enough for you?"

Her words stung, but you held your ground. "This isn't about him. It's about us—about how we used to be. Don't you miss that?"

Hye-soo's expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of something soft and familiar crossing her face before it hardened again. "If you want to make it up to me," she said coldly, "then break up with him."

Her demand hit you like a slap. You stared at her, stunned, your heart racing as your blood began to boil. "That's not fair, and you know it," you said, your voice low and trembling with emotion.

"Fair?" she echoed, taking a step closer. "Nothing about this has ever been fair. You were handed everything—"

"I earned it!" you shot back, cutting her off. "You think my life has been easy? That I didn't work for every single thing I have? You know that's not true."

She glared at you, her jaw tightening before she turned on her heel and walked away without another word. You stood there, your chest heaving, your emotions swirling in a chaotic storm.

The memory of her retreating figure lingered as you stared into the distance, your hands balled into fists at your sides. The bitterness between you two hadn't always existed. Once upon a time, Hye-soo was your everything.

The flashback crept in like an unwelcome guest, bringing with it the bittersweet memory of your early days in the industry.

Back then, Hye-soo had been your anchor, your partner-in-crime. You two had been inseparable, bonded over sneaking snacks during strict diets and whispering secrets late into the night. She was the person you looked up to, admired, maybe even loved in a way that you didn't fully understand at the time.

She had always been magnetic—bright, charming, and full of life. It was impossible not to be drawn to her. And for a while, things had been perfect. Until the comparisons started.

It wasn't your fault. At least, that's what you told yourself. You couldn't control how the managers and producers favored you, how they praised your acting skills and visuals. But the more they built you up, the more they tore her down.

At first, Hye-soo acted like it didn't bother her. She'd laugh it off, telling you it was fine, that she didn't care. But you knew her too well. You saw the cracks in her facade, the way her smile didn't quite reach her eyes anymore.

You tried to confront her, to assure her that you didn't want the comparisons either, but the rumors had already started. Whispers about you sleeping with managers and producers to secure your roles spread like wildfire. It was cruel, baseless, and you hated every second of it. But the damage was done.

Hye-soo began pulling away, her warmth replaced by icy indifference. And then, when this project came along, you both fought for the spot. You knew she wanted the role for Jeonghan's sake—her feelings for him were no secret. But no amount of her family's wealth or influence could erase the connection you and Jeonghan had. Even as the second lead, you'd won a part of him that she never could.

The sound of footsteps snapped you back to the present. Turning, you saw Jeonghan approaching, his expression unreadable. He must have seen Hye-soo leaving—or rather, storming away.

He stopped in front of you, his gaze searching your face for answers. "Are you okay?"

You nodded, though the tightness in your chest said otherwise. "She doesn't want to talk."

Jeonghan's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't press. Instead, he reached out, his hand brushing against your arm in silent comfort.

"I told you this would happen," you admitted quietly, your voice trembling. "That being with me would make everything worse."

Jeonghan shook his head, his gaze softening. "It's not your fault. None of this is."

For a moment, the weight of everything—the past, the present, the impossible tangle of emotions—felt a little lighter. With Jeonghan by your side, you felt a flicker of hope.

"She said I should break up with you," you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper.

"And?" Jeonghan asked, his lips curving into a faint smile.

You looked at him, your heart aching with the intensity of how much you loved him. "That's not an option."

Jeonghan's smile deepened, and there was a warmth in his eyes that made the air around you feel a little less suffocating. He took a small step closer, his presence grounding you in a way you couldn't fully explain. "Good. Because she's not the one you need to be worrying about right now."

You let out a shaky breath, glancing down at the ground for a moment, trying to gather yourself. It was hard to look at Jeonghan without feeling both a sense of relief and a twinge of guilt. Hye-soo's words kept echoing in your mind—If you want to make it up to me, break up with him—but you had already made your choice.

Looking back up at him, you smiled faintly. "I don't know what I expected, honestly. She's changed. We've changed. I never thought it would come to this."

Jeonghan's fingers brushed against your cheek, his touch so gentle that it almost felt like a promise. "Sometimes people change, but that doesn't mean you have to. You're not the person she's trying to make you out to be. Don't let her take away your peace."

His words were like a balm for the wound Hye-soo had left. You swallowed, feeling the weight on your chest slowly lift. Jeonghan was right—this wasn't your fault. But the pain of losing Hye-soo, of watching the bond you once shared with her unravel, still cut deeply.

"It's just... hard, you know? I never wanted to lose her." You looked up at him, your voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't think I can keep pretending that everything's okay when it's not."

Jeonghan's eyes softened even further, and he placed both hands on your shoulders, steadying you. "You don't have to pretend with me. And you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You've got me, always."

For a moment, there was silence between you two. The weight of the past few months—the rumors, the lies, the rivalry, the betrayal—hung thick in the air, but Jeonghan's presence made it feel bearable. He wasn't just standing by you; he was anchoring you, in a way only he could.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked quietly, his gaze not leaving yours. "The rumors, the truth... whatever you need to say, I'm here."

You swallowed again; your throat tight with the emotions you'd kept hidden for so long. "I don't want to drag you into it... but it feels like everything I've worked for has been overshadowed by rumors that I can't control. I've done everything by the book, Jeonghan. I've worked so hard to get here, and now it feels like everyone's just waiting for me to fall."

Jeonghan shook his head, his hands gently cupping your face as he forced you to meet his gaze. "Listen to me. I know who you are. I know what you've been through. And I know how much you've sacrificed to get to this point. Don't let anyone's words—especially hers—make you doubt that. You're not alone in this. I'm not going anywhere."

Tears welled in your eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you let them fall. You didn't care. Not anymore. Not when Jeonghan was holding you like this, as if you mattered more than anything else in the world.

"I just... I feel like everything's falling apart," you whispered, your voice breaking. "Hye-soo, the rumors, even my own family. I don't know who to trust anymore."

Jeonghan's thumb gently wiped away a tear, his expression soft but unwavering. "You trust me. And I trust you."

You leaned into his touch, closing your eyes as the weight of everything seemed to melt away, if only for a moment. His words were like a quiet promise, a reassurance that despite all the chaos around you, there was one thing you could count on—him.

You finally opened your eyes again, meeting his gaze with renewed resolve. "I'm sorry, Jeonghan. For everything."

He smiled, the corners of his lips curving up in that familiar, reassuring way. "There's nothing to apologize for. We're in this together. You don't have to face it alone."

For a long moment, you simply stood there, enveloped in his warmth, the world outside fading away. Hye-soo, the rumors, the industry—they all seemed distant now. Because right here, in this moment, you had Jeonghan. And that was all that mattered.

A few days later, you found yourself once again in the studio, the weight of the past still lingering, but a quiet sense of peace settling within you. Jeonghan had been right there by your side every step of the way, offering unwavering support when things felt impossible.

The shoot was going smoother now, though the tension with Hye-soo was still palpable. She avoided you at every turn, and the coldness between you two lingered in the air like an unspoken challenge. But you no longer cared.

As you prepared for the next scene, Jeonghan leaned in close, his lips brushing your ear. "You're amazing, you know that?"

You turned to face him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "You really think so?"

"I know so," he said softly, his fingers brushing against your hand. "Don't ever forget that."

The connection between you two was undeniable. And in that moment, as you shared a quiet, knowing smile, you realized that everything else could fall away—but this, this bond, was something that would never break.

The sound of bustling voices fades as you and Jeonghan slip away from the chaos of the shoot, finding yourselves in a secluded, dimly lit lounge area. The atmosphere is heavy with the weight of unsaid words, the quiet hum of the room pressing down on you both. You're sitting close on the couch, but the space between you seems like miles. The room smells faintly of leather and wood, the faint scent of cologne lingering in the air from where Jeonghan leans in a little too close.

You both start talking about the shoot, trying to keep things light, but the tension is palpable. It's as if every word you speak makes the air thicker, more suffocating. You catch him glancing at your lips a few too many times, but each time you meet his gaze, you notice how his eyes darken, his pupils dilating just a little. The subtle but undeniable spark between you two has always been there. Today, it's dangerously close to setting everything on fire.

You reach for your glass of water, your hand brushing against his as you both move at the same time. It's subtle. An innocent touch. But the moment your skin makes contact with his, everything changes.

His fingers freeze for a split second, the warmth from his hand making your skin burn. You pull away instinctively, but the damage has already been done. The soft touch, the heat from his hand, lingers on your skin like an invisible brand. You swear you can still feel it even though the touch is long gone. Your heart skips a beat, your breath catching slightly in your throat as you glance up to meet his gaze.

His hand is still hovering near where you touched. His chest rises and falls in shallow breaths, as if trying to regain control of the situation. His lips part slightly as if he's about to say something, but no words come out. Instead, there's just a sharp, silent acknowledgment in his eyes.

The tension between you two is unbearable now.

Jeonghan shifts slightly in his seat, and his gaze flicks down to your lips for a fraction of a second. It's as if he can't help it. He swallows hard, his jaw tightening. It's clear he's fighting something—fighting the urge to pull you in, to kiss you, to close the space between you that feels too far apart.

You don't move, frozen in the moment, feeling your body heat up in ways you hadn't expected. His breath hitches as he leans just a little closer, his body language unmistakable. You can't ignore it any longer. The undeniable pull between you two has taken on a life of its own, and you're both powerless to resist it.

"Jeonghan..." You whisper his name like it's a question, but it comes out more like an invitation.

His breath catches again, his lips barely an inch from your ear. You feel the heat of his body close to yours, the warmth radiating off him, as he leans in even further, his breath hot against your skin. His lips graze the shell of your ear as he whispers softly, "Do you feel it too?" His voice is low, barely a whisper, but it sends a thrill through you.

You don't answer him with words. Instead, you let your body answer for you, shifting slightly toward him, tilting your head back just enough to give him the opening he's been waiting for.

Jeonghan's lips brush against your neck, soft at first, but with a slow, deliberate pressure that sends shivers down your spine. He's testing the waters, sensing the way your body reacts to his touch, and it's driving you crazy. 

He grabs the glass of water you were holding, placing it back on the table without pulling away from you or your body.

His hand moves from the edge of the couch where it had been resting, coming to rest on your thigh. He doesn't move it at first, just leaves it there, the pressure of his hand causing your skin to burn beneath the fabric. It's a gentle touch, but you feel it deep in your core, your body reacting almost involuntarily.

You shift slightly, your breath quickening as you feel him slowly inch his hand further up your thigh, his fingers brushing the sensitive skin there. Every small movement from him feels like an invitation, and you can't resist anymore. You lean forward just slightly, your lips finding his in a kiss that's soft at first but quickly grows deeper, more desperate.

His hand slides from your thigh to your waist, pulling you closer as he kisses you harder. You can taste the urgency on his lips, the need that's been building for far too long now.

His other hand moves to the back of your neck, threading through your hair and gently pulling your head back, exposing your throat to him. His lips follow, trailing soft kisses down your neck, before they return to your lips in another searing kiss.

You can feel his heart beating against your chest, and you can't help but want more, the desire building between you two like a slow burn that's finally breaking through.

Jeonghan's lips pull away from yours for a brief moment, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "Are you sure?" he asks, his voice rough with desire. It's a question, but his eyes already tell you he's certain of the answer. He doesn't need to hear the words; he can see it in your eyes, the way you're looking at him, the way you're holding him closer.

You nod, your fingers gripping his shirt as you pull him back toward you. Your lips meet again, this time more fiercely, more urgently. You're both hungry for each other, the restraint that had held you back now gone.

Jeonghan's hands are everywhere—on your back, your hips, your legs. His touch is both gentle and possessive, as if he wants to savor every inch of you but also claim you as his own. You can't help but respond to his every move, every touch, your body betraying you as you lean into him, giving him more of yourself.

His lips find their way back to your neck, trailing kisses along your jaw and down to your collarbone. The way his lips feel against your skin, the pressure of his touch, sends waves of pleasure through you. His hand moves lower, resting on your waist before slipping under your shirt, his fingers brushing against your bare skin.

You gasp as his hand moves higher up to the inner of your thighs, and you spread your legs open, his touch insistent but slow, savoring every moment. His lips return to yours, and the kiss deepens, filled with the hunger and need that you've both been holding back for far too long.

He moves your skirt up, now feeling the wetness of your underwear. You muffled in between kisses, with Jeonghan swallowing your every moans. He pulled the fabric off your legs and buried his fingers deep into your cunt, his thumb running circles on your clit. 

You shivered under his touch, his fingers working to stretch your already soaked cunt. He fucked your pussy with his fingers well that you were squirming under his touch, sounds escaping from your lips louder. 

Jeonghan had to shut you up with him kissing your lips. Once you reached your high, cumming all over his fingers, he unbuttons his pants down and you can see the tip of his cock glimmering with precum. "I'm going to put it in, stay quiet this time."

You swallowed hard before nodding. He placed his cock on your clit, giving it a few rubbing before slowly inserting it fully in your cunt. "F- fuck..." He grunted, his head spinning because the way he slid in you almost too easily was too hard to miss. You covered your mouth, not risking being caught by someone again like the last time.

"J- Just put it in," you muffled out, but Jeonghan didn't listen. 

"Can't have you begging me to stop later," he whispered, his fingers stretching you out, making it impossible to hold out your moans. Jeonghan just had to kiss your sounds—as much as he wants to hear you make those sounds of pleasure, he just can't. Well, not at a public space like this. It's possible that someone will eventually step in.

As he pulled his fingers out, he pulls his pants down just enough for his cock to be freed. It was long, and hard as ever. Jeonghan places the tip of his cock on your clit, rubbing it in your pussy before entering you fully. 

You moaned, with Jeonghan trying to quiet you down. "Shhh... Damn it."

"I- W- wait," you muffled, your cunt twitching on his cock. "I can't." Jeonghan replied, moving his hips in slow thrusts. "Your walls are swallowing me whole. You're awesome."

His hips moved a little faster this time. You were breathless. Jeonghan has you pinned down on the couch, fucking you now roughly while you hold back the sounds from coming out of your mouth. 

The sound of skin slapping, your pussy squirming and squelching when you meet his hard thrusts, and muffled moans filling the room. When your walls started to tighten around his dick, that's when he lets out grunts.

Jeonghan thrusted in your cunt, burying himself inside you like never before. He was fighting hard to meet his highs, and yours too. 

You cum all over his dick before him, but that wasn't enough for him to pull away. He ran circles on your clit, his tongue all over your neck as he finally reaches his own high. 

Cumming, he lifted your shirt as he took his hot load on your stomach. Your cunt glistened with your own fluids.

"You're amazing," Jeonghan says as he looked at the quivering mess underneath him. Your hair disheveled, cheeks all red looking so pretty like that.

You pushed him before straddling on his lap. "Let me take care of you," you muttered, kissing him immediately right afterwards, leaving him no room to respond.

Him already hard cock springs up again and leaks with precum as you fucked him with your soft thighs. His cock twitching as you rocked your hips back in forth. Rubbing yourself on his cock, hips shaking as you overstimulate yourself above him. 

And that's when you finally entered him. Your eyes rolling to the back of your head as Jeonghan looked at you with awe.

He lifted your shirt, unclipped your bra as he finds your nipples, kissing and nipping on the sensitive skin there, making you let out a moan. He didn't stop you this time. Who cares if you get caught.

You finally bounced on him, making Jeonghan pant breathlessly. His eyes focused on the way your tits were bouncing before him so sinfully—he loved how you took control over him. Especially when he knew you wouldn't do something like this in a public space.

Jeonghan kissed your lips as you grind yourself further into his cock, reaching the depths of heaven. Jeonghan held your hips in place before cumming inside you, the mix of your cum and his blending perfectly as it coated your walls. 

Your head fell down on Jeonghan's shoulder. Catching your breath as he clips your bra back, cleaning your messy body. His fingers moving to the soft of your hair as if to soothe you off. 

"You did well," he whispered, planting a kiss on your cheek. He didn't let you pull away from his cock just yet. He wanted to feel your warmth covering his cock. Just by the feeling of your gummy, hot pussy made him hard again, and your tried to squirm away, but Jeonghan didn't let you.

He rocked your hips slowly as he grunted with lust. Moaning as he felt you pussy twitching. "J- Jeonghan... Wait..." You called out, finding his shoulder to bite into his shoulder as he moves you a little faster now.

"Last... one..." He muttered; his breathing heavy as he slides in your cunt a little rougher. 

With a few more pounds and squirms, he finally cums in you again, with you passing out on his arms right after you squirted three times on his cock.

The room was heavy with the aftermath of passion, the air thick with warmth and the lingering scent of Jeonghan's cologne mixed with your own. Your body was draped against him, utterly spent, your breathing shallow as you rested in his arms. His hands traced lazy patterns along your bare back, his touch possessive, yet oddly tender. You felt the faint thrum of his heartbeat against your cheek, steady and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.

Jeonghan, finally contended, ran his fingers through your hair, lulling you deeper to sleep as he uses your pussy to warm his cock. 

You barely registered his quiet chuckle, the sound sending a faint shiver down your spine. Your mind was hazy, the weight of exhaustion pulling you under. You were vaguely aware of his body still connected to yours, his warmth anchoring you as your consciousness started to slip away.

"Good girl," he whispered, his voice low and laced with something darker, something triumphant. He brushed a strand of hair from your face, tucking it behind your ear as he studied you with an intensity that made your skin prickle, even in your half-dazed state.

You stirred faintly, murmuring something incoherent, but Jeonghan only smiled. "Shh," he cooed softly, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "You've worked so hard, my love. Rest now."

And you did, succumbing to the pull of sleep, blissfully unaware of the way his gaze shifted, how his expression turned from soft affection to something far more sinister.

The soft click of a door opening pulled Jeonghan's attention, though he didn't move. He didn't need to. He knew exactly who it was.

"Good job, Hyesoo," he called out casually, his voice smooth and unbothered. His fingers skimmed along your bare skin one last time before resting on your hip, his touch possessive as he glanced up.

Hyesoo stepped into the room, her face a carefully constructed mask of indifference. In her hands was a camera, and she held it out to him silently. Jeonghan smirked, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he took it, already eager to see the results.

"She's full of my scent," he murmured, his voice low and almost reverent as his gaze shifted back to your sleeping form. His pupils dilated as he took in every detail of you—the flush on your cheeks, the marks he'd left on your skin, the way your body was still connected to his, as if even in unconsciousness, you belonged to him. "I'll save this picture in my head forever."

Hyesoo said nothing, her jaw tightening slightly as she turned away. She didn't need to watch him replay the footage; she already knew what was there. She had filmed it herself, after all. Jeonghan's obsession was no secret to her—it never had been. And yet, she stayed by his side, playing her role in his elaborate scheme.

Jeonghan leaned back against the couch, his free hand absently brushing over your arm as he scrolled through the clips. Each one was a masterpiece to him, a testament to his control, his possession of you. He watched them over and over, his expression shifting between adoration and something far darker.

"You're mine," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. The words were both a promise and a declaration, one he had ensured would be true no matter what.

Jeonghan's smirk deepened as he reviewed the footage one last time before setting the camera aside. Everything had gone exactly as he had planned.

From the moment he saw you, he had known you were meant to be his. But he also knew you wouldn't come to him willingly, not at first. So, he orchestrated everything—down to the finest detail.

Hyesoo had been a key player, pretending to be your friend, earning your trust only to betray it when the time was right. The rumors about you? All planted. The whispers about your connections to the higher-ups, the way people started to question your integrity—it had all been his doing. He needed you vulnerable, isolated, desperate enough to turn to him.

And it had worked. Every step, every move, had brought you closer to this moment. To him.

Even your role as the second lead in the film had been a calculated choice. He had pushed for it, knowing it would keep you close, knowing it would force you to rely on him as the chaos of the industry swirled around you.

"You really are perfect," he murmured, his fingers brushing over your cheek. "Even better than I imagined."

Hyesoo shifted uncomfortably in the corner of the room, her arms crossed as she avoided his gaze. She had agreed to help him, but even she hadn't anticipated the extent of his obsession. Watching it unfold, seeing the lengths he was willing to go—it made her stomach twist.

But she stayed silent. She always did.

Jeonghan glanced up at her, his smile sharp. "You've done well, Hyesoo," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Don't think I've forgotten how valuable you've been to me."

Hyesoo's jaw tightened, but she nodded, her expression betraying nothing. She knew better than to challenge him. Not when he held all the power.

As you slept peacefully in his arms, Jeonghan allowed himself a moment of indulgence. He had won. Everything he had ever wanted was now his.

And he wasn't about to let you go.

Not now. Not ever.

a/n: thank you for reading. the plot isnt plotting cause like.. wtf did i just do? i shouldve just put a smut with no actual plot lmao. anyhow i hope reader likes it ! lmk if i missed a few waqrnings or what i should add on the tags/genre. ty ! LY! ᓚᘏᗢ

also, huge thank you for @ririesna who requested for this fanfic idea (actor x actor). without her req, i wouldnt be able to post anything at all. im open for requests, if you want to leave some, i will be posting.

He grabbed you by your throat, whispering filthy words into your ear when—

That's when you heard a low whistle behind you, making you slam your laptop shut to turn around and see your best friend. You sighed in relief, glaring at him as you opened your laptop again.

“Mingyu— I swear to god, if you sneak up on me like that again, I will throw a brick at you.” You checked whether the doc was saved, and thankfully, it was.

“Firstly, hi, secondly, you shouldn't be writing literal porn on your laptop with full brightness where anyone can see it.” He deadpanned, sitting across from you before taking out his books and tablet from his bag.

“It's erotica, smartass, and my laptop isn't on full brightness! You just have stupidly good eyes,” you muttered, crossing your arms and leaning back on your seat. “Plus, you interrupted me during the best part, and now I forgot what I was supposed to write!”

“He grabbed you by your throat, whispering—”

You cut Mingyu off when he tried to quote the line you wrote, shoving the marshmallows you had on hand, usually craving something sweet or salty when writing. Today it was marshmallows.

“Shut up, will you? We're still in a public library, and I'd rather not flaunt around that I write these types of things out here—”

You hissed before seeing Minghao arrive, looking at the two of you with a slightly judgmental look before taking out his stuff and placing it on the table. “I'm not gonna even ask this time.”

“She's writing her stuff again—ow-!” Mingyu rubbed his bicep with a pout after having swallowed the marshmallows you shoved into his mouth just a moment prior.

“Her fanfiction?” Hao bluntly called it as it was, making you cringe. “There's nothing wrong with writing literary fiction in a library. Unless she's writing smut again. Then that's just pure public indecency.”

You groaned into your hands, having had enough of your friends, and decided to change the topic. “Where's Seokmin? Wasn't he supposed to meet us here because he had some news?”

“He said he's gonna run late. Project thing.” Mingyu checked his phone, reading Seokmin's last message. “You'd know that if you read the group chat instead of writing your po—”

You shoved another handful of marshmallows into your best friend's mouth.

Seokmin got to the library about thirty minutes later, panting as if he had run a marathon.

“Guys–! Hey, sorry I couldn’t get here sooner, there was an emergency meeting on my project due Wednesday… Anyway, I have come bearing news!” He dramatically announces himself, raising his hands grandiosely. It made you groan, making him cock an eyebrow at you. “What’s wrong with Little Miss Writer?”

“Spit it out already, Seokmin, before I decide to throw this thesaurus at you.” You threatened, causing the man in front of you to flinch slightly.

“Okay, okay, jeez.. So, Seungcheol is throwing a party this Thursday, and Mingyu, being a part of his fraternity, is invited, and because we're friends with Mingyu, we're also invited!”

You really contemplated throwing the thesaurus at your second best friend. It was truly tempting.

“Uhh, is that it?” Minghao murmured, not even looking up from his notebook as he took notes and sipped on his tea from his tumbler.

“Oh, no, there's also the fact that Jeonghan told me to tell you—” he pointed at you. “—that your parents and his parents are going to have their yearly spring grill this Friday. And that you're obligated to come, and that Jeonghan's your ride.”

You've got to be kidding. You gaped at Seokmin as if he grew two heads, your mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. There was no way in hell that you were going to endure a three-hour ride back home to your parents' place in Jeonghan's car!

“And why are you the one telling me this, and not him?” You hissed, eyes squinting at Seokmin as he put his hands up in defense.

“Hey, hey—calm down, I'm just the messenger. Literally. And I don't know, maybe because we're best friends?”

Mingyu patted your shoulder in support, knowing what type of history you had with Jeonghan. Both your parents were good friends, which kept you and Jeonghan in constant proximity. During birthday parties, family grills, or just typical celebrations involving scholarly achievements. Your parents expected you and Jeonghan to get along, but it was a miss—you hated each other's guts. You weren't sure where it had started, but from a certain moment when you were ten, and Jeonghan was twelve, you started despising each other.

Everything was a challenge—and Jeonghan teased you for every little thing. The way you dressed, the way you had your hair styled, even the way you spoke! The teasing didn't leave until now, but instead of immature name-calling or calling your fashion sense “weird”, it was commenting on whom you had dated or crude jokes involving your love life. But it was never in public—never in front of other people anyway. Just when it was the two of you, when he caught you somewhere like the library or the campus park.

So to speak, it was going to be insufferable with him.

“Why did he even offer to be my ride?” You groaned, slamming your laptop shut as you started packing your stuff, confusing Seokmin.

“Where are you going? I just got here—” he whined.

“I'm gonna go find that sleazy jerk, and give him a piece of my mind,” you grumbled, shoving your books into your messenger bag with a huff before storming out of the library with the purpose to find Jeonghan.

“She's gonna go off on him again, isn't she?” Minghao deadpanned, and Mingyu sighed, hopeless.

Heading towards the fraternity house Jeonghan lived in was easy. Mingyu lived there as well, so you managed to remember the route out of habit. You entered the establishment, politely saying “hi” to the guys that greeted you as you beelined towards Jeonghan's room.

About to knock, you suddenly heard something that made your skin crawl. Moaning. You scoffed, rolling your eyes before knocking at the door anyway, disrupting whatever activities Jeonghan was doing with whomever he was with in his room. When the door didn't open, you pounded harder on the wooden entrance, a soft curse being heard along with some shuffling.

“I swear to god, Cheol—” Jeonghan muttered as the door swung open, confusion painting his expression for a brief second when he saw you. Confusion turned into that shit-eating grin you hated before he spoke up. “Oh? What brought you to my doorstep, angel?”

You scoffed at the nickname, always having hated it when he called you that. It wasn't because it was bad or anything, but because of what it symbolised. Angels—purity and divinity. But in your case, he used it to flaunt the fact that you were a prude. It pissed you off.

“I'm here because you told Seokmin that you were my ride for this Friday's grill.” You dug your forefinger into his chest before adding. “Which you are not, by the way. I have my own car, and I can drive home just fine.”

“Oh, really?” Jeonghan looked down at your finger that was pressing against his right pec. “From what I heard, your car was at the mechanic's since you swerved off the street and hit a pole last month.”

Your eyes widened, trying to think of a logical explanation as to how he knew about that. The only people who knew were your parents and friends, and even with Seokmin's loose tongue, he wouldn't just blabber it to Jeonghan, of all people.

Jeonghan seemed to notice your cogs turning in your brain as he chuckled. “I talked to your mom—she called me, by the way. She told me that you'd probably need a ride after checking up on me. She also told me that you should call her. What's that about?”

Goddammit, your mom. You should've known she'd call him after you'd ignored her calls for the past few days. It wasn't on purpose, not really. You were just tired from all the schoolwork and projects you had due, so you didn't want to talk to anyone for the rest of the week. A sigh left your lips as you dropped your finger from his chest.

“It's none of your business, for one, and for two, you're not driving me home. I can take the bus—”

“And afford to get late and have everyone look at you like you did something terrible? Right.” Jeonghan scoffed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. “It's not gonna kill you to go on a three-hour road trip with me back home.”

“Oh, yes, it will! You're insufferable—” you gritted the words out from how pissed off you were at the fact that you didn't really have a choice. You were going to have to suffer three horrible hours (with toilet breaks, probably) with Jeonghan. You wanted to bash your head in and die.

“Please, your exes were insufferable. I'm just a mild inconvenience in your day-to-day.” He shrugged as if he didn't just admit that he was an asshole towards you on purpose. The mention of your exes made your eye twitch, and you didn't want to be reminded of the horrible choices you had made in the past.

Before you could snark out another comment, a girl called out for Jeonghan, making him chuckle once more when you made a disgusted expression. “Duty calls, angel. See you Friday morning.”

“Wait what—”

He slammed the door before you could ask why in the morning. You had classes, and you couldn’t just skip. Deciding it was useless to knock on his door again, you started walking back to your apartment, grumbling and muttering to yourself, not paying attention to where you were going, and you bumped into someone. 

“I’m sorry,” you murmured, rubbing your forehead as you looked up and saw Seungcheol—one of Jeonghan’s closest friends and Mingyu’s hyung. You blinked in slight surprise to have bumped into him, expecting him to be in his own dorm and not outside. “Seungcheol?”

He looked down at you, finally realising who he had bumped into, and said your name softly with a smile. “Hey. What’s got you in this part of campus? Were you looking for Mingyu?”

“Oh! Uhm, no.. I just had a question for Jeonghan, nothing too important.” You shrugged as you made small talk with your senior, rubbing your neck awkwardly. 

You’d always liked Seungcheol—but not in the way you’d expect, no—you didn’t have a crush on the guy, but he was nice to look at and had a nice ass, but there was just no way you’d crush on him. He was nice to talk to from time to time, since he was quite down to earth, and you’d have things in common with him, and he’d defend you from Jeonghan’s shitty antics—okay, maybe you did have a small crush on him. It was hard not to.

At the mention of Jeonghan’s name, Seungcheol raised his eyebrow. “Jeonghan? What’d he do now?”

“Nothing! Really, it’s just that my car broke down a couple of weeks ago and is at the mechanic’s, so I have to ride with Jeonghan back home this Friday since he has a car.” You explained your situation, and the man in front of you listened intently as he gently grabbed your shoulder, catching your attention.

“I mean… if you want, I could give you a ride back home. I’m not doing anything this Friday.” He offered, and you buffered. Like full-on bluescreened. Seungcheol? Drive you back home? For three hours? That seemed like a wet dream—okay, no. But it was still something, especially coming from someone like him. You weren’t close to him at all, so there was no point in his offering such a favour, but he was still doing it.

You shook your head, smiling softly, thankful for his offer. “Oh–I, uhm.. I couldn’t possibly. It’s fine—”

“I insist, I won’t mind driving you—”

“She said no, Cheol. Can’t you get the hint?”

You spun around to see Jeonghan standing behind you, his hair slightly damp, wearing an oversized black tee with his jersey over it, along with loose-fitting black sweatpants. You hadn’t expected him to come out of his dorm after what you heard earlier, expecting him to still be busy with whoever he was screwing. Seungcheol’s brows furrowed as his best friend butted into your conversation. You could sense the tension, and you did not want to be in the middle of it.

“Jeonghan.” You said through gritted teeth. “What are you doing?”

“Getting your ass out of trouble. Cheol, go inside. One of the guys is causing trouble in the living area again.” He casually mentioned, causing his friend to look at you apologetically before heading into the frat house. “You mind telling me why my best friend was offering you a ride back home?”

Jeonghan asked, his expression unreadable, but there was a hint of frustration in his eyes. Was he pissed? You weren’t sure. When you didn’t answer, he took a step closer and muttered your name. “Answer the question.”

“I told him you were going to give me a ride. Why do you care if Seungcheol drives me there, anyway?” You frowned, looking up at him with growing animosity. It was none of Jeonghan’s business, after all.

“Because, angel, I told your mom that I’d be the one driving you, remember? So, Cheol can’t drive your stubborn little ass. Plus, who’d know what he’d do to you in those three hours.”

He fake shuddered, and your face flushed at the meaning of his sentence. Jeonghan noticed immediately, letting out a snort. “Do you have a crush on him, angel? Is that it? You’d let him hit in those three hours back home in his car?”

“What– no! What the fuck, Jeonghan?” You denied all too quickly, making him laugh harder, your embarrassment growing by the second. The last thing you wanted was for Jeonghan to know that you had a crush on his best friend. It was increasingly getting harder to breathe, and you had to leave. Before you could embarrass yourself further. So, you just shoved Jeonghan before rushing the other way, running towards your apartment.

“Oh my god, he said that?” Mingyu muttered over the phone as the two of you Facetimed in the evening. You were settled in your pyjamas—a comfy oversized college tee that Mingyu had given you during your freshman year, and shorts—and drinking your favourite tea, while typing frustratingly on your laptop, trying to focus on writing your fic. But it was hard when everything was bringing you back to your earlier conversation with Jeonghan.

“To be fair, do you have a crush on Seungcheol hyung?” he asked, curiosity lingering in his tone while he ate chips in bed, looking at your deep frown. “Because you know that Cheol hyung is a bit of a…”

“Fuckboy?” You continued for your best friend, your tone deadpanned. “I know that, Gyu. But he’s been nothing but nice to me since I met him, and it’s not hard not to crush on the guy, okay? Plus, he’s got a nice ass…”

Mingyu groaned your name, rolling his eyes. Of course, you’d mention Cheol’s ass. “Anyway, if you’re really into him, then why not make a move on him?”

“Because he’s a fuckboy? And one of your friends?” You glanced at your screen to look at your best friend with an “isn’t it obvious why” look.

“I mean, yeah, sure, he’s my friend, but that doesn’t really stop you from making a move on him, you know? It’d be worse if he decided to hurt you. And I know Cheol hyung enough that he wouldn’t mess with my bestie, or he’d be getting two fists and a foot up his ass.”

“Foot?” You look at him incredulously, letting out a soft chuckle. “Who’s foot?”

“Hao’s, duh. His skinny arms wouldn’t be able to retain proper damage.”

“He’s a literal martial artist, bro—” You snorted out a laugh, feeling a bit better than earlier. Mingyu had always had your back when you were upset, and you were thankful to have such a good friend like him.

“Anyway, I say go for it. It’s high time you got some good dick. Other than the dick you write about.” He joked, and you glared at him. “Hey, don’t end the call yet—I still have something to say.”

“Which is?” You grabbed your phone from where you had it propped up, looking at your best friend unamused.

“Go to the party this Thursday, I’ll be there, and maybe you can make your move on Cheol hyung there. If it doesn’t work out, we can always go back to my room and play Uno with Seok and Hao.”

It wasn’t much of a bad idea. You weren’t really a party person and would rather pack your stuff before your weekend trip, but Mingyu was right. If it didn’t work out, you could always hang out with your friends. Plus, it would be nice to dress up and let loose for once.

“Fine, I’ll go. But you need to help me with what to wear.”

“Already thinking, sweetcheeks. I gotta go, see you tomorrow before class, though?” He shifted in his bed, yawning. It was late, and you were only halfway through your fic because you ended up ranting about what Jeonghan had spat out earlier. You only hummed noncommittally before hanging up.

Closing your laptop, you decided to finish your already-cold tea before deciding to brew another cup. Waiting for the hot water to boil in your electric kettle, you bit your lower lip as you scrolled through Seungcheol’s Instagram, looking through his pictures. That’s when you saw a post, in collaboration with Jeonghan, a picture of them both wearing medals—Jeonghan for winning first place in relay swimming, while Seungcheol was holding a trophy from their win in the college football playoffs. Your kettle startled you when it finished heating the water, making you double-click on your screen. When you looked back down at your phone, you froze.

You had just liked the post.

Shit, shit, shit. Undo, undo— 

But it had been too late.

Jeonghan was playing video games with Seungcheol when his phone buzzed with a notification. When he was about to ignore it, he read your username and that you had liked a post. That piqued his interest as he muttered on the mic that he was leaving the game, a series of whines coming out of his headphones before he left the voice channel and logged out of the game.

Unlocking his phone, he opened the social media app to check which post you had initially liked, a scoff escaping him when he saw it was the one he had collaborated on with Seungcheol. He decided to text you, just to tease and check if you were still up.

Jeonghan: Are you stalking him on social media now?

You: What?? Wtf are you talking about

Jeonghan: Don’t play dumb, angel. I saw that you liked the post.

Fuck. So, Jeonghan did see the notification, after all. You had prayed that he wouldn’t, alas, your prayers had not been answered this time around. Gritting your teeth, you thought of what to reply, contemplating between playing dumb and just ignoring his text. Instead, you decided to be bold for once, not wanting him to step all over you once more.

You: So what if I did?

Jeonghan: Nothing, just proves my point in you having a crush on him. 🤷

You: I don’t have a crush on him. 

Jeonghan: You SO do. You wouldn’t have run away earlier like that if you didn’t.

Jeonghan: It’s not worth it, you know.

You frowned at that, confused by his message. What did he mean by “not worth it”? You contemplated replying, wanting to ask him what he meant, but deep down inside, you kind of knew what he meant. But that didn’t stop you from being stubborn.

You: What’s not worth it??

Jeonghan: Seungcheol.

You: Why do you care all of a sudden?

Jeonghan: I don’t. I’m just saying, don’t waste your time on him.

You: It’s none of your business who I waste my time on or not.

You: Good night.

You turned off your phone after that, sighing in frustration at the fact that you had to talk to Jeonghan again. Over text this time, but it was still talking to him. You regretted giving him your number last semester because of a shared econ project you had to do with him.

That’s when your phone buzzed, and the caller ID appeared—your mom. You answered, greeting her noncommittally. “Hey, Mom…”

THURSDAY, 5:38 PM

Thursday came quicker than you realised, and you were getting ready for the party with Mingyu in your room, choosing from the plethora of clothes you had, while you did your makeup.

“Gyu, have you chosen something yet? I’m almost done with my makeup..!” You called out from your bathroom, curling your eyelashes. Mingyu just grunted in response, looking between a cherry red cocktail dress and a baby pink short a-line dress. He’s gotta give it to you, you had style if you wanted it, but you usually decided to wear sweaters and dress pants instead, giving off a more academic look. 

“I think this red one will fit you.” He picked it up from the bed, handing it to you as you hummed and glanced at it. “I think Seungcheol will appreciate it.” Mingyu nudged you playfully, making you roll your eyes and swat him.

“The last time I wore this dress, I got cat-called twice on the street when I was out on girls’ night with Jihyo and Nayeon.”

“Even better! I think this black cardigan will… You know. Make you feel like you.” He handed you your long wool cardigan that fell to mid-thigh, making you feel more comfortable in the dress you planned to wear, since it was quite short and it’d keep you warm during the chilly March nights.

“Now, go get dressed! Minghao’s already waiting outside, and I’m sure he’ll ditch us if we don’t come out in the next fifteen minutes.”

Getting to the frat house was as easy as ever, thankfully, by deciding to wear flats instead of heels. Mingyu managed to find cute doll flats from Jihyo at the last minute, knocking on her door frantically and saying it was a fashion emergency (overkill on his part, but it worked).

The frat house was packed with people from various sororities and other groups, already drinking and mingling with each other. Entering the establishment, you saw a few familiar faces, some of whom were colleagues from other classes or just acquaintances of your friends. Mingyu led you to the kitchen while Hao and Seokmin got lost in the crowd, catching up with their friends (Soonyoung and Jun, if you remembered correctly). 

“Do you want anything to drink? Should I make you a Mingyu special, eh?” he grinned, but you only shook your head.

“I'll stick with soda, Gyu.. I don't wanna end up on someone else's bed.” You snorted, joking as your best friend shrugged, and poured you a cup with coke.

That's when someone walked into the kitchen—laughing, albeit a little too loudly for your liking. Seungcheol.

You felt his gaze fall on you, blinking as if he'd seen something mesmerising. Your body felt hot, instinctively pulling the skirt of your dress down as he walked over to greet you with the call of your name.

“Hey, you made it-!” He gave you a side hug, then stuck to your side as he nodded to Mingyu. “You look really pretty…” he complimented, something only you could hear as his breath brushed over your ear, making your skin tingle.

“Thanks.. you, uhm.. you look good too,” you complimented him back, making him grin as he stole you from Mingyu. You looked back at your best friend, who gave you only a thumbs-up and mouthed “good luck”.

Seungcheol brought you over to his friend group—you recognised a few people, thankfully, as you knew them from the football team. Soonyoung—the energetic one—seemed to notice you first, greeting you enthusiastically as you sat down on the couch with Seungcheol pulling you to his lap, surprising you at first, but you settled in easily. The rest of his friend group—Joshua, Wonwoo, and Chan—greeted you as well.

“So, how do you two know each other?” Joshua asked first, seemingly curious about the nature of your relationship with Cheol. You fiddled with your fingers, struggling to speak up before the man you were sitting with answered for you.

“We know each other through a mutual friend. Mingyu. Right, sweets?” He leaned his chin on your shoulder, playing with your cardigan as you hummed, body stiffening. You weren't used to this type of attention, but you couldn't lie—you liked it. A little too much. It was like the scenarios you wrote on your laptop. Maybe it could be an inspiration for later.

“Yeah—I, uh, Cheol and I met through Gyu when he joined the fraternity…” It was the truth, but you couldn't admit the fact that the first time you met Seungcheol was as embarrassing as the time you slipped over nothing at the public pool and fell into the water. 

It was freshman year, you and Mingyu were shuffling through extracurricular activities and clubs you could join when Seungcheol came over and greeted the two of you.

“Hey, Mingyu, who's the pretty girl?” He smiled, pretty dimples appearing. You were awestruck.

“Pretty?” Another voice scoffed. You could recognise that voice anywhere as you snapped out of your trance. Jeonghan.

“Please, she's as pretty as a mule.” He snorted, causing you to grit your teeth, Mingyu holding your hand to hold you back. Who knew what you were capable of doing to Jeonghan if he didn't?

“Hannie, don't be mean.. I'm Seungcheol, and you are?” He asked you, and you managed to focus on ‘dimples’ as you called him in your head before introducing yourself. “Pretty..”

Seungcheol murmured with a smile, causing your face to flush, making Jeonghan scoff. “Cheol, stop flattering her, she'll start writing your name with hearts if you do.”

That was it.

You tugged away from Mingyu’s grasp before he could tighten it, and you jumped Jeonghan like some feral cat, cursing him out and yanking his hair while he tried to pry you off him.

“Yeah, she was as cute as when I met her.” Seungcheol only mentioned, not bothering to tell the whole story, as his grip on your waist tightened slightly. It was a silent comfort, and you were thankful.

You chatted with his friends for a while, smiling and laughing as Soonyoung entertained you most of the time, but you couldn't help but feel someone staring at you from afar. It felt distinctive enough for you to distract you from the conversation. When Soonyoung got busy chatting with somebody else, you looked around before your eyes met the very eyes you've learned to hate over the years—Jeonghan. Why the hell was he staring at you?

You kept brief eye contact before breaking it off first when Seungcheol tapped your hip, bringing your attention to him. “Wanna head up to my room?”

The question made your body tingle with both anxiety and excitement. You weren't sure what to do, so you just nodded before you could overthink. You could do this. You wrote about shit like this before, you could apply it in real life too, right?

Getting up from your seat, Seungcheol stretched before taking your hand into his, leading you through the crowds of drunk college students towards his room. On the way there, the two of you shared jokes, giggling and chuckling before he finally kissed you.

It wasn't a short, sweet kiss either—it was filled with passion, his tongue easily slipping past your lips, a soft moan leaving your lips as he smiled against the kiss. He had you pressed against the wall in the empty hallway, with most of the people either downstairs or outside, so there were only a few people busy talking or making out to bother paying attention to you or Seungcheol.

“I've been wanting to do this for a while now…” Seungcheol murmured against your lips, sighing softly as he hooked your leg over his hip, pressing himself closer to you. He grasped your face with one hand, cradling your cheek as if he were going to lose you if he didn't hold on.

You whined softly against him when he gently ground against you, your hands fisting the material of his shirt as he slipped his tongue into your mouth once more. Heat pooled between your legs, and you felt your panties starting to stick to your folds as Seungcheol kept on with his lazy grinds. 

He rubbed the underside of your thigh, moving dangerously high to the hem of your dress to grope your ass, when his phone suddenly started ringing in his pocket. Cursing softly, he moved away from you and pulled out his phone from his pocket, a soft whine leaving your lips at the loss of contact. It made him chuckle before stealing a soft kiss from you, and checking the caller.

“Give me a second, it's Coach..” He murmured, answering the call. “Hello?” He moved away towards a more secluded spot in the hallway, but not far enough for your field of view.

During that little moment, your thoughts were scrambled all over the place. You had just made out with Seungcheol. Your freshman crush, Seungcheol. It was silly to think about, but it made butterflies flutter in your stomach anyway. When he finished his conversation, he came back to you with a slightly disappointed yet hopeful expression.

“I need to go for a bit. There was an emergency, and the coach needs me as team captain. It won't take long, I'm sure, so do you think you could wait for me here..?”

You were still a bit out of it, but managed to answer back. “H-huh—oh! Yeah, yeah, of course.. I–I can wait…”

“Perfect. See you in a bit, pretty.” He pecked your lips one last time before running off and leaving you dazed. You just leaned against the wall, a small smile creeping up to your lips.

About thirty minutes passed, and you started to get bored and worried. You didn't have Seungcheol's number, so there was no way you could contact him unless you asked Mingyu, but you were sure he'd get curious as to why you weren't with Seungcheol.

“He's not coming back, you know.”

You jumped at the sound of Jeonghan's voice, startled by his sudden appearance. He stood there, his expression unreadable as he kept his hands in his pockets. You scowled at his words, unsure of what he meant.

“What do you mean?” You queried, and in front of you just shook his head.

“He's not gonna come back to you, angel. I told you not to waste your time on him.” He reminded you of his warning two nights ago, frustration bubbling in your chest at the accusation about Seungcheol not coming back.

You crossed your arms, posture defiant and defensive as you spoke up, confidence not wavering. “How are you so sure? His coach called him—”

A scoff left his lips, cutting you off, and muttering something along the lines of “of course, he did”. That made you frown in confusion as Jeonghan sighed, running his fingers through his black locks before shaking his head.

“Angel, it's a ruse to get him out of situations. I know him well enough to know he didn't bother telling one of his asshole friends not to call yet. He's downstairs drinking.”

You clenched your jaw at that, your head spinning with thoughts. You knew what you were getting into when trying to pursue Seungcheol, but he was so kind to you that you hadn't expected to get played. You didn't want to believe it.

“I don't believe you, he–he wouldn't just...” You trailed off, unable to defend Seungcheol as he defended you against Jeonghan. Because deep down, you knew what Seungcheol was like. You were just in denial because he was so nice to you. “You're lying.”

“Believe me or don't, angel, I know my truth. Go downstairs, do it. I'd love to watch Seungcheol pale up when he sees you so heartbroken.”

“Shut up, Jeonghan, you're such an asshole—” You pushed him out of the way, rushing down the hallway before he yanked you back, causing you to collide with his chest.

“Let go of me, jerk-!” You tried tugging your wrist away from his grip, but it only tightened, not enough to hurt, but to keep you in place. You could see his eyes darkened, his jaw clenched as he seemed to think about something. His expression soon lightened, a mischievous grin growing on his lips.

“I'll take you downstairs.”

“What—” you were cut off with your own yelp as Jeonghan picked you up over his shoulder, carrying you like a sack of potatoes, supporting your weight like it was nothing. “Jeonghan, put me down!”

“Stop worrying your pretty little head, my arm covers your ass,” he stated lazily as he walked down the stairs with you wriggling and hitting his back, but he still wouldn't let you go. He only put you down once the two of you were in the kitchen, where Mingyu, Minghao, and Seokmin were nursing their drinks while talking. Seokmin noticed you first, calling out your name.

“Hey, I thought you were with Seungcheol. What happened?” He asked, glancing at Jeonghan, who was right behind you, giving your friends a lazy wave.

“Cheol ditched her. I warned her about him, but she didn't listen, so take care of her before she breaks down like a baby, hm? See you around, angel.” Jeonghan saluted and clicked his tongue before turning around and getting lost in the crowd.

“What did he mean Seungcheol ditched you? I thought the two of you were hitting it off earlier? Wasn't he going to take you to his room?” Mingyu shot out the questions like a machine gun, but you were still reliving the fact that Seungcheol, in fact, did ditch you. 

You had seen a glimpse of him getting touchy with another girl by the windows as you were carried by Jeonghan, and it made you want to storm up to him and slap him, but you refrained, since it was better not to stir up unnecessary drama. Especially when he was friends with Mingyu.

“I–I don't know what happened. It happened all too quickly, if I'm being honest, and I currently need a drink.” You grabbed a cup and poured some vodka into it, but Mingyu snatched it away from you.

“Ah, ah… You can’t handle your alcohol well, and I sure as hell will not be carrying your ass back home. You can have a beer, but not hard liquor.” He chided, handing you a bottle of beer from the fridge. He was just looking out for you since you couldn’t handle your alcohol intake well, and if you started, you wouldn’t stop until you were projectile vomiting. The memory of an experience in the past made you shudder as you sipped on your beer and stuck to your friends for the rest of the night. 

Jeonghan watched you from afar, pissed off at Seungcheol for leaving you hanging like that. Why? He wasn’t sure, and he sure as hell didn’t like it. So, he decided to take it into his own hands after the party was over, at about 3 AM. He watched as Mingyu whined while carrying you, hearing something about it being Seokmin’s turn to bring you back to your apartment, but the latter wasn’t listening.

“Cheol.” He murmured, standing with his hands in his pants pockets, while Seungcheol was busy cleaning up the number of beer bottles and cups lying around in the room. “We need to talk about something—no, someone.”

His best friend perked up, raising his eyebrow. “About who?” He asked, and Jeonghan mentioned your name, trying to coax a reaction from him. Seungcheol just chuckled awkwardly, scratching his neck. “Ah, her..? What about her?”

“You left her in the upstairs hallway,” Jeonghan stated bluntly, causing Seungcheol to wince. “Why? You never lose interest that easily.”

“You were watching us?” Seungcheol frowned, gently setting the plastic bag of trash down. 

“Answer my question, Cheol. Why did you leave her there?” Jeonghan’s expression remained calm, but there was a hint of sharpness in his tone now.

“Man, I don’t know… I got a call from Coach and—”

“Oh, cut the bullshit, Seungcheol. You wanted to humiliate her, didn’t you? Give her a taste of what it could be like between you before cutting her off. Is that it?” Jeonghan’s eyes darkened slightly as he continued to grill his best friend for answers. Seungcheol scoffed softly, crossing his arms at the accusation.

“Dude, I don’t get why you’re getting worked up over it. I thought you didn’t like her?” 

“I don’t, but that doesn’t mean you get to have the right to hurt her like that. Aren’t you Mingyu’s friend? Think about how hurting his best friend will affect your friendship with him, both out and in the field.” Jeonghan shoved past him, but paused for a second to say one more thing. “The only asshole in her life should be me. Apologise to her, Cheol. I won’t say this again.”

“You’re so heavy,” Mingyu grunted as he adjusted you on his back, mindlessly complaining. You weren’t really all that heavy, but the guy liked to complain, after having been the same guy who always carried you back to your apartment room after parties. Note to himself: let you hole up in your room next time, or keep you company on self-care nights. “How the hell did you get drunk off beer?”

“She’s a lightweight, dude, plus she was chugging those beer bottles. It’s like she wanted to get drunk. I mean, I don’t blame her after what Seungcheol did to her.” Seokmin spoke up, walking in front of Mingyu beside Minghao. “Why’d you tell her to go for it anyway? We all know what a notorious fuckboy Seungcheol is.”

“I dunno, man… I thought she’d soften him up. He was nice around her—hell, he defended her from Jeonghan when his bullshit got too harsh. I just… Nevermind. It’s useless crying over spilt milk. But Seungcheol hyung better apologise, or I’m punching him square in the jaw.” Mingyu sighed as you groaned against his shoulder, cheek pressed as you muttered something in your sleep. “Anyway, Jeonghan has been acting strange lately.”

“You noticed that, too, huh? It’s probably because of the trip tomorrow. Speaking of which, has she packed her stuff?” Minghao chimed in, raising his eyebrow. That made Mingyu curse, realising that he had distracted you from packing your stuff earlier that day to get ready for the party. Noticing the pained expression on Mingyu’s face, Minghao shook his head. “We better sober her up then. You know how much she hates other people organising her shit for her.”

“I know.”

Getting to your apartment was a breeze. Sobering you up, however? Not as easy as it sounded. Mingyu had plopped you onto the couch, stirring you up from your alcohol induced nap, cheeks still flushed as you groaned. “What the fuck, dude..?”

“Here, drink some water.” Minghao handed you two bottles of ice-cold water from your fridge, confusion painting your scrunched face. “One is for drinking, one is for your forehead. Sober up, you have shit to pack.”

“Huh—OH SHIT.” You shot up from where you were sitting, still a bit woozy from the alcohol, but you immediately realised that you had to finish packing your bags for your weekend trip back home. “Shit, shit, shit…”

“We’ll help you. You should stay put and sober up properly. Brief clarity isn’t going to help you right now.” Hao sat you back down on the couch before finding the half-packed luggage under your bed. “What haven’t you got packed in here, jesus christ…” He muttered, seeing the multitude of clothes, necessities, and some of your favourite books for inspiration, packed.

“I think the only stuff missing is my toothbrush and skincare products. I need to wash my face…” You groaned after chugging the bottled water. Standing up from the couch, you headed towards your bathroom, wincing at how terrible you looked. Did you cry? You sure hoped not, but the evidence of slight mascara streaks made it likely. You turned the water on, splashing your face with the lukewarm liquid before grabbing your cleanser and washing your face.

After getting your face cleaned, you felt a little more refreshed, packing the products into your toiletry bag before heading back out to the main living area, where the guys had settled down for a round of Uno on your coffee table. You placed the small bag in your luggage, then finally closed it and set it by the door.

“Wanna join us? We’re totally crushing Gyu.” Seokmin snickered as Mingyu flipped him off.

“Nah… I think I’m gonna crash. You guys staying over or..?” You asked, and they nodded. Silently thankful, you bid them good night, headed to your room to change, and went to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

FRIDAY, 6:30 AM

You woke up from your alarm blaring in your ear, a groan leaving your lips as you turned it off, giving yourself a measly five minutes to take a small nap before Mingyu busted in, shaking you awake. “Jeonghan’s already waiting for you downstairs.”

“What?” That jolted you awake as you looked at your clock—6:30 AM. Why the hell was he under your apartment so early? You groaned, getting up from your warm cocoon, and went to get ready. You tried to ignore the pounding headache as you brushed your teeth, grabbed your towel, and took a quick shower before getting dressed in something comfortable for the 3-hour ride ahead. You’d get changed at a gas station later, right now, your number one priority being comfort.

Grabbing your backpack and luggage, Mingyu helped you down while Seokmin and Minghao followed as moral support. The three of them hugged you tightly, bidding you their goodbyes before handing you over to Jeonghan.

“You'd better feed her on the way there, Yoon. She gets cranky when she doesn’t snack.” Mingyu warned him, only for you to elbow your best friend on the side, causing him to grunt.

“He doesn’t need to know that,” you muttered, going over to the trunk of Jeonghan’s car and placing your luggage beside his before slamming the thing shut without a second thought. Not your car, not your problem.

“She seems cranky now. Though who am I to know how she acts—oh, right, I’ve known her since we were kids. But thanks anyway, Mingyu.” Jeonghan grinned, heading over to the driver’s seat and entering his car. Before you could enter the backseat, Jeonghan locked it. “Ah, ah, angel. You’re sitting up front with me. I need a co-captain while driving.”

If there was a god out there, you wished it’d struck you down with lightning because there was just no way. You tugged at the handle of the backseat door, and it wouldn’t budge, causing you to groan. Insufferable. Absolutely insufferable.

Giving up on getting into the backseat, you walked over to the passenger-side door and opened it. Before you could enter, however, you heard someone call your name. The voice froze you, blood roaring in your ears as you turned to see Seungcheol.

“Seungcheol,” you murmured, tone flat as he jogged up to you with what seemed like a guilty expression. You didn’t want to hear it, but you kept still, foot already half in the car.

“I… I wanted to apologise. For last night. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging like that, I swear.”

“No, no. It’s fine. I should’ve known, really. Actually, Jeonghan here already warned me, but I didn’t listen. So, I learnt my lesson, so thank you, but no thank you, Seungcheol. Get your dick wet somewhere else.”

You slammed the door of Jeonghan’s car after you entered, the man in the driver’s seat jumping slightly. “Could you not slam my car door like that? I’m still paying for it, you know?”

“Just drive, Jeonghan.”

The drive back home was quiet, Jeonghan occasionally putting music on to set the mood, but other than that, he didn’t bother you as much as you’d expected him to. You were still a bit hungover, snacking on something sour to reduce your nausea, while also itching to finish writing your fic that you had been putting off since Tuesday.

“Do you wanna stop by the gas station? I can see you’re running out of snacks, and I’d rather not have you cranky like Mingyu warned.” Jeonghan glanced at you before focusing back on the road ahead. You hummed noncommittally, looking out the window. “Humming isn’t an answer, angel.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever… I need to get changed anyway.” You pulled back the hood of your hoodie, rubbing your face as you got rid of the sleep that was trying to take you. Jeonghan had the urge to mess with your hair, but he refrained, not wanting to swerve off the street in case you did something. He turned towards an exit, driving to a gas station not far from the highway you were on.

While getting gas, you changed into some jeans and a loose-fitting shirt, put on a grey cardigan over it, and did minimal makeup before heading back to where Jeonghan was. He seemed to have been waiting for you, leaning against the car, fiddling with his car keys before whistling lowly. “You dressed up for me or something?”

“What—no? I just wanted to look presentable for later. We are going to a family grill, remember?” You crossed your arms, looking at him as if he had forgotten. He didn’t, since he was already wearing a pair of dark faded jeans and a loose t-shirt with your college’s logo. Jeonghan pushed himself off the car before heading towards the gas station, confusion evident in your expression.

“Come on, you were running out of snacks, right? Let’s go buy more.” He pocketed his keys, waiting for you to follow. When you did, he grinned in victory, making you roll your eyes at him.

You picked out your snacks, grabbing the ones you liked the most before heading to the counter to pay. Jeonghan caught your attention by calling out your name. You turned around and saw him hold out two drinks before mouthing, “Which one do you want?” to you. You just looked at him with a “Why the fuck are you asking me about that?” before turning back around to smile at the older lady manning the counter. He sighed and grabbed both of the drinks before jogging over to you, bumping into you on purpose when you were about to pay.

“What the hell are you doing?” You muttered, tone hushed as you glared at him.

“I’m paying.” He shrugged, smiling at the older lady as he handed her his card. The lady seemed enamoured by the sight in front of her before speaking.

“What a cute couple you two are! A road trip, I’m guessing?” She asked, and before you could correct her about your relationship status with Jeonghan, he chimed in quicker than you, chuckling and nodding.

“Visiting our family, actually. We have a family grill in the afternoon, don’t we, babe?”

Oh, this motherfucker—

You were going to curse him out, but refrained. Instead, you smiled and hummed, bumping closer to him as you snaked your arm around his waist. That caused Jeonghan’s expression to falter for a millisecond before gaining his composure. If you were going to play this game, then you were going to play it good. 

The older lady just cooed at the two of you, scanning your items before Jeonghan suddenly grabbed a pack of condoms, causing your face to burn, as the lady murmured something along the lines of “young love” and rang the rest of your items. 

You were going to kill him before you could even get back home. You grabbed your snacks in a hurry, thanking and bidding the old lady a nice day, and entered the car, muttering curses.

“Why the fuck did you buy condoms?” You asked incredulously as you put on your seatbelt.

“I mean, you never know.” He shrugged, hiding the condoms in the glove compartment before driving off. The thought of Jeonghan having sex in his car made you cringe and gag, making him roll his eyes. “Chill out, I don’t have sex in my car.”

“I don’t need to know that!”

You got to your house roughly around noon, and your mother greeted you the moment Jeonghan parked his car. “You’re home! Come in, come in, your parents and sister are already in the backyard getting everything set for the grill.”

“Mom, we need to unpack.” You reminded your excitable mother, sighing with a smile. When you were about to head to get your luggage from the trunk, Jeonghan gently shoved you out of the way and grabbed his stuff first, making you scoff and roll your eyes at his antics. Taking your luggage and backpack from his car, you headed into your house and carried your stuff up to your room, Jeonghan following suit. Turning to look back at him, you raised your eyebrow in confusion. “Why are you following me up?”

“Uh… I don’t know what to tell you, angel, but we’re sharing your room.” Jeonghan stated as if it were something out of the ordinary.

“No, we’re not? Since when and why?” You questioned, dropping your luggage the moment you got to the top of the stairs, crossing your arms as he sighed and scratched his neck. You needed answers. Now.

“My parents turned my room into their personal gym last year, and the guest bedroom turned into some kind of storage unit after the last time we visited for the holidays. So, I’m staying over at your house and sleeping in your room, since, uh, the last time I checked, you guys don’t have any spare rooms.”

“Sleep in the living room?” You made a face as you stated the most logical answer known to man. “I’m not sharing my room with you.”

“Why? You scared you’ll get man-cooties?” He grinned at his own childish joke, making you groan and roll your eyes. 

“We’re not done talking about this—Moom!” You called out for your mother, moving past Jeonghan and gently shoving his shoulder as you walked to the living room, which led to your backyard. “Mom, why is Jeonghan staying over at our place? His parents literally live beside us—”

“Be nice to him, honey, you can’t just make him sleep on the couch, can you?” Your mother looked at you as she handed your younger brother the tray with sausages and other meats. 

“Hand those to your father, don’t you, Tommy? Thank you.” She ruffled her son’s hair before turning back to you and cooing your name when she saw the frown evident in your face. “Honey, he’s staying over because the Yoons are having a part of their house renovated right now. Plus, it’s just for the weekend. You’ll survive sharing a room with your childhood friend—”

“He’s not my friend, Mom. He’s tormented me ever since we were in kindergarten.” Your scowl deepened, arms still crossed as you tried to figure out any other solution. “He could get a motel—”

“He’s staying, and that’s final. Be nice to our guest, he’s a family friend, which makes him your friend too.” Your mother used that strict tone you couldn’t really defy, even if you tried. What she said was final, and you were stuck with Jeonghan for the rest of the weekend. 

You rushed back upstairs, where your enemy seemed to have gotten himself comfortable in your room. 

“Get off my bed. You’re taking the sofa.” You muttered as you pointed at your sofa. When he didn’t listen, you gritted your teeth and used force by grabbing his arm and trying to get him off the bed. It backfired on you, as Jeonghan grabbed you instead and pulled you into the bed with him, making you yelp. “Jeonghan–! What– what the fuck are you doing—”

“Shut up… I’m gonna take a nap.” He muttered tiredly, closing his eyes as he kept you close on his chest. “I drove for three and a half hours with your annoying ass, let me sleep in a comfortable space, will you?”

You grunted, wriggling as you tried to break free from his grasp, but he was holding onto you closely. You only managed to break free when your brother—Tommy—barged in with a bag of candy before rushing out, screaming, “Hannie and big sis are snuggling!”, and Jeonghan pushed you off onto the floor before your mom and his mom could come in and see what was happening. He cleared his throat and left the room to ‘help’ with the grill.

“What the hell was that…” you muttered as you pushed your hair out from your face. “Fucking weirdo.”

Thankfully, Jeonghan left you alone for the rest of the afternoon, leaving you to hole up in your room in peace, while they prepared the whole cookout. That gave you time to finally work on your fic without any disruptions. Humming softly to yourself, you let yourself type and let the words come to you.

“Tell me you want this,” his voice rumbles from behind you, hands fervently roaming around your hips and waist. He nipped on the shell of your ear as his cock nudged against your entrance—

“Whatcha typing so passionately about, angel?”

You closed your laptop, whipping your head to see Jeonghan leaning against the doorframe of your room with his arms crossed, a grin painted on his lips. A low noise left your throat before you spoke up. 

“My thesis,” you snarked, causing him to look at you with an amused expression.

“Really, now?” He cocked an eyebrow, intrigued by your defensive behaviour. His interest was piqued, you were sure of it, from that mischievous glint in his eye. “I’ve never seen someone so… into their thesis writing.”

“What do you want?” You looked at him with an exasperated manner, not wanting to deal with him when you were in the middle of a trance with your writing—in the zone, if you will. You couldn’t afford to lose that focus because of an asshat like Jeonghan.

“Oh, nothing~ just wanted to check up on my favourite little angel.” He winked, causing your face to scrunch as he chuckled before waving it off. “Your mom asked us to go grocery shopping; she needs corn cobs for the grill and forgot to buy’em.”

“Can’t you go alone or something?” You really just wanted to be left alone, but you know your mother will start with her whole shtick again. So, you sighed, hiding your laptop back into your bag before passing Jeonghan.

You got into the car, grumbling to yourself as you put on your seatbelt, Jeonghan following suit as he settled into the driver's seat. He turned on the ignition before handing you the aux. “Turn something on.”

Raising your eyebrow at him, you took the aux and plugged it into your phone, scrolling through your playlist and hitting play. Jeonghan hummed along to the tune, tapping his fingers along the steering wheel as he drove out of the driveway and to the grocery store.

“We heading to Kim’s?” You asked, and Jeonghan just nodded, still humming the song. 

That gave you the time to glance at him—a sharp jawline, straight nose, pretty almond eyes that were covered by his hair most of the time. Was he always that pretty? You weren’t sure, as he noticed you staring. “What? Enjoying the view?”

He grinned as you suddenly snapped out of it, turning your head to face the window. You could feel the blood rising to your neck and ears, embarrassment evident and in its true form. What the hell were you thinking? Jeonghan and pretty were not supposed to be in the same thought process. Were you having a stroke or something?

Once you got to the store, you immediately headed towards the produce section, and wasted no time, while Jeonghan decided to fuck around and grab about two beer bottles, sour candy, and condoms again.

“Jeonghan, put those back. Why do you need another pack of condoms?” You muttered the last part as you followed him to the register. Mrs. Kim was there and greeted the two of you with a warm smile, noting the products on the register’s conveyor belt.

“Dating?” She asked, and you shook your head immediately, side-eyeing Jeonghan for making the store owner question your relationship with him. You packed your stuff into separate bags before heading out of the parking lot. 

“For a guy who’s got no one to fuck around in our town, you sure are stacking up on condoms,” you commented briefly as you placed the groceries in the backseat.

“Hey, you can never have too many condoms. Plus, who knows, I might land someone.” 

His lips ticked up to a grin as you groaned, disgusted at how sleazy he could be. By the time the two of you got back home, the sun was slowly setting, and you pushed the groceries into Jeonghan’s arms before heading back up to your room to finish the part of your fic you were writing. You typed hastily, biting your lip as the climax of the scene hit.

“Fuck—you feel so good, sweetheart. I–I’m gonna cum. Gonna cum inside.. Would you like that, hm? Breed this little pussy to the brim?” Your lover groaned roughly into your ear, causing you to moan—

You were cut off by your mother calling your name from downstairs. A stifled groan left your lips as you looked between your slightly ajar door and your laptop. “Coming!”

Tossing your laptop on your bed, you scrambled downstairs to the kitchen, where your mother was calling you from. “There you are! We’re starting soon, so get your speaker; we want some ambience!”

“You called me downstairs to make me go upstairs?” You blinked at your mother, who just hummed as she got the utensils from one of the drawers. You wanted to groan, but complied instead, heading up the stairs.

That’s when you felt the air shift. You looked at your door—you had left it open. But that wasn’t what alerted you; it was the familiar noise of your laptop’s touchpad clicking. You carefully walked into view, and that’s when you saw him.

Jeonghan. Holding your laptop in his arms. Scrolling through what was probably your fanfiction. When he saw you, he let out a low whistle, his expression seemingly amused and impressed.

“Is this the thesis you were writing about, angel? ‘Cause this is not really gonna fly in the academic field—”

You bolted towards him, snatching your laptop immediately as you slammed it shut, panting like you’ve run a marathon. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”

“Well, we sleep in the same room for one, and for two, I was going to grab my charger when I saw your pretty little laptop was out in the open, so I couldn’t help but snoop. I gotta say, angel, I didn’t expect this from you,” he teased, and you couldn’t help but fume. “Little Miss Prude isn’t much of a prude, after all.”

“It’s none of your business what I do with my free time, Jeonghan—”

“But,” he tutted gently, tapping his chin. “It would be pretty damn bad if someone heard about this, no? I mean, what if your mom saw what you write? Hmm, what if I posted this on the campus website?”

He taunted, and your eyes went wide. “You wouldn’t.”

“You’re questioning me, angel?” 

Shit. You were absolutely fucked because Jeonghan totally would do something about it. No one besides Mingyu, Hao, and Seokmin knew you wrote what you wrote, and it wasn’t even that bad. But who knew what Jeonghan had read while you were gone?

“I liked this part, ahem, fuck—you feel so good, sweetheart—” You covered his mouth before he could quote the part you had just written any further, seething and cursing your past self for not turning your laptop off.

“What do you want?” You hissed, keeping your hand on his mouth for a moment longer before letting go and backing up from his space. Jeonghan hummed, pretending to think as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Spit it out already..!”

He shrugged, his smile mischievous and conniving as he let you brew in your thoughts. The bastard knew he had you cornered. “Hmm, you can agree to become my girlfriend for the next two weeks, and I won’t tell anyone about your little secret.”

“Excuse me, what-?” You sputtered, unsure if you had heard his request correctly.

“You heard me, angel. Pretend to be my girlfriend for the next two weeks, and I won’t tell anyone that you write smut about your favourite characters, and your self-insert, or was it called an x reader? That’s what the file was called, if I remember correctly.” He pondered, and you were baffled.

“Why?”

“Why what?” Jeonghan looked at you with a quizzical look as if he hadn’t just asked you for the most ridiculous thing ever.

“Why me?” You crossed your arms as he rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Because you’re the most believable one and my only choice-?”

“Uh, then why don’t you just get, I don’t know… A real girlfriend?” You stated the obvious, and he groaned.

“Listen—if I wanted a girlfriend, I would’ve had one by now, but I don’t. Plus, that’s too much work.” He murmured, looking away as if he were feeling… awkward? You couldn’t tell from the way he quickly looked back at you with that smirk of his, giving you whiplash from how easily he could hide his true feelings. “Anyway, you don’t have much of a choice, you know? You either agree, or I post your fanfics to the campus website.”

“You don’t even have access to my laptop—”

“You think I haven’t sent those files to myself?”

You had to find the nearest bridge and jump off it, because what the hell. Why the hell did this happen to you of all people? Couldn’t god have chosen any other poor soul but you and your fanfiction-loving soul?

A groan left your lips before asking one last question. “Why do you want me to be your fake girlfriend, or–or whatever you’re asking me to be?”

“Because, my sweet darling angel, my mom wouldn’t stop asking me if I had someone in the past three months, and I, uh… kind of lied, and told her that we were a thing like a month ago.”

“You WHAT—” You suddenly grabbed Jeonghan by the collar of his shirt, bringing him closer to you, catching him off guard. “Tell me you’re lying. Or—or that this is some sort of sick joke, because I swear to motherfucking god, Yoon Jeonghan, I will strangle you.”

“Unfortunately, angel, it’s not a joke, and I have never lied to you, so. That’s also the reason why I’m sleeping in your room, and why your mom called me to drive the two of us back here, and whatnot.” He listed off the things that had happened in his hand while your grip on his collar just tightened. Then it clicked.

“Is that why my mom has been calling me a lot these past few weeks? Because she thought—oh my god, kill me now.”

You let go of him to grasp at your hair, freaking out as you paced. Was this the reason why your mother seemed so cheery yet hopeful on the phone a few days back? Was she hoping you’d tell her all about your budding new relationship with the man you hated your whole life? That brought you back to your conversation with her.

That’s when your phone buzzed, and the caller ID appeared—your mom. You answered, greeting her noncommittally. “Hey, Mom…”

“Hey, honey, how’s my baby doing? Why haven’t you been answering my calls? Dad and I have been worried since your car accident and—”

“Mom, I’m fine… I–I’ve just been busy, you know?” You held your phone against your shoulder and cheek as you stirred your tea before getting comfortable in your armchair. “What’s up, though? Is Tommy doing okay?”

Your mother hummed against the other line, seeming to be snacking on something—a habit you picked up on because of her. “Mmm, he’s fine, he misses his big sis though.. Any exciting news you wanna share with me, hun?” 

She sounded excited, which confused you. You hadn’t had any news for her since your accident besides your crush on Seungcheol, but she doesn’t have to know about that. 

“What do you mean?”

“I dunno, boys, maybe? Any new guys in your life?” She tried to hint, but you weren’t getting where she was going with it.

“Uhhh… no? There are no new guys. Unless you count Mingyu—”

“Nevermind, keep your secrets, then..” She giggled, leaving you even more confused, but changed the topic soon after.

You groaned, contemplating either pulling your or Jeonghan’s hair out for placing you into his stupid mess. He just stood there, watching you pace around.

“Stop overthinking it, angel. Just go with the flow with me, alright? Let me handle all the talking.” He grabbed your shoulder to stop you from pacing, but you only glared at him, causing him to let you go and raise his hands in defense. “Can you trust me on this?”

“I’ve never trusted you ever since you pushed me off the swing in kindergarten.” You deadpanned, crossing your arms, causing him to chuckle.

“Trust me this time, okay? We can shake on it.” He held out his hand to you, waiting for you to shake it.

“I’m not shaking the hand you use to jerk off with.”

The two of you did, in fact, shake on it, immediately deciding to set boundaries while your parents were busy talking amongst themselves. The two of you excused yourselves to your room to have some “alone time”, as Jeonghan called it, and you had to step on his toes under the table before leaving.

“So,” you started as you turned on your laptop, and made a new google doc named ‘Rules for fake dating my stupid enemy’, making Jeonghan snort at the silly title. “Boundaries.”

“Mm, I don’t have any.” He shrugged, looking at you with that annoying smile of his as you frowned at him. “What? We’re supposed to be dating, so we better act like it, no?”

“Well, if you don’t have any boundaries, I do. And number one is no sex.”

He just seemed to hum at that. “But we do need to kiss, you know? And be touchy with each other, and—”

“Jeonghan, no sex doesn’t mean no kissing or whatever dating bullshit we need to do. That’s my only no when it comes to this fake relationship.”

“So, you’re not disgusted with kissing me?” He asked smugly, and you groaned. He was going to be insufferable during your time fake dating, and you knew it. You only typed out your one rule, plus a few more.

Rules for fake dating my stupid enemy:

#1: No sex (which counts oral, fingering, and ANAL btw);

#2: No being too touchy unless we really have to be;

#3: No falling in love.

Jeonghan raised his eyebrow at the last rule. “No falling in love? Angel, sorry to break it to you, but I’m not gonna fall for you and amazing porn writing abilities—”

“It’s erotica! And it’s a precaution. I know how stuff like these go, so shut up.” You gently shove him, then hit the print button on your laptop. Getting up from the floor, you placed your laptop on your bed and grabbed the piece of paper and a pen. “Sign here.”

“Really?” He cocked his eyebrow at you as he grabbed the pen and paper from your grasp and signed it before handing it back to you. 

“You make it as if this were some contract or something.” He snickered as you signed it before placing it somewhere hidden. “Whatcha hiding it for?”

“Uh, so no one finds it? You’re not the only one who likes snooping around in my stuff.” You squinted at him accusingly.

“Why print it, then?” He tilted his head, his expression painted with slight confusion. “Isn’t that just a waste of paper?”

“It makes more things official! Stop starting stupid arguments—”

“Aw, our first argument as a couple—oomph! What was that for?” Jeonghan grunted when you threw a pillow at his face. A grin managed to find his lips when you rolled your eyes at him. When he was about to say something, you heard both your moms calling for the two of you downstairs.

“Ready to be touchy with me, angel?” He offered his hand, his grin turning into a somewhat soft smile.

“As ready as I’ll ever be… I guess.” 

You took his hand as the two of you headed downstairs for dinner by the grill. The two of you linked your pinkies together, your brain internally screaming and cringing at the fact that you’re supposedly dating the same guy you’ve despised since you were in diapers, but life fucks you over in multiple ways.

Tommy was the first to notice, pointing it out to your mom as you sat closer to Jeonghan than you had earlier, practically “snuggling” him. Jeonghan seemed to notice how naturally you fit next to him, clearing his throat as he put his arm over you to sell the lie better whilst talking to your father.

The sun had set by then, and fairy lights and a few lamps in the backyard lit up the space where you were dining. You caught up with your mom and Jeonghan’s mother, laughing softly as fond memories of the past few months came to mind.

“Oh, and Mingyu and Hao drenched Seokmin when they found out that it was he who tossed the water balloons at them in the middle of February. It was hilarious, though the three of them got sick, and I was alone for my lectures—”

“Babe, I was there for most of your lectures, remember?” Jeonghan butted in suddenly, reminding you of the timeline he had set for your relationship. Right. The two of you were supposedly dating by then. “Stop making Auntie think I’ve been neglecting you.”

He nosed your hairline and pressed a soft kiss to your temple, which made you tense up before forcing yourself to relax. This was fine. You could do this—you wrote about stuff like this, so why were you freaking out?

“Please, call me mom, the two of you are bound to get married one day!” Your mom cooed at the affectionate gesture happening before her and Jeonghan’s mom. You almost choked on your spit when you heard her words.

“Mom.” You murmured through gritted teeth, giving her a look as she shook her head.

“Oh, no, it’s fine, angel.. I don’t mind planning to marry you,” he murmured into your ear, but enough for both moms to hear, making them look excited. The feeling of Jeonghan’s breath so close almost overwhelmed you, but you sucked it up. 

For your dignity. For your creative freedom.

“Jeonghan, isn’t that a little too early for our relationship?” You tried to lessen the excitement in your parents’ eyes, but he just hummed, shaking his head as he figured out what you were trying to do.

“Mmm, I mean, maybe… but you never know, do you?” He whispered, voice lower as he smiled against your temple. You shivered at that, pretending it didn't affect you as much as it truly did. 

After dinner finished, you and Jeonghan were in charge of washing the dishes—with you washing and rinsing, and him drying them and putting them on the rack. The two of you stayed quiet for the remainder of washing until you accidentally splashed him with water.

“Yah—” he muttered, glancing at you before back at his white shirt. He gently dropped the rag he was holding onto the counter before splashing you with the soapy water as well, causing you to gasp. You immediately retaliated, splashing him with more water, and it became a small war between the two of you until Jeonghan grabbed your wrist to make you stop, gently squealing when he splashed you one last time.

He leaned in close, a seemingly fond smile on his lips, and pecked your cheek near the corner of your mouth, causing your breath to hitch and gently drop the sponge into the sink.

When you were about to kick him in the shin, he gently tightened his grip before tilting his head to the side, signalling you to glance to the doorway—your moms were peering over. Of course.

You cleared your throat, tugging your wrist away from Jeonghan as you walked past both your mothers, excusing yourself, and leaving Jeonghan to fend for himself. He just chuckled before calling out your name and following you.

“Babee, wait for me!” He whined, pouting as he saw you close the door to the bathroom and lock it.

“Fuck off, Jeonghan.” You spoke through the door as you looked at yourself in the bathroom mirror, groaning at how soaked you were.

While you were taking your time in the bathroom, Jeonghan waited by the bathroom door, grinning to himself for some reason as he decided to text Mingyu about what you liked.

Jeonghan: hey :)

Mingyu: ????

Mingyu: Why are u texting me??

Mingyu: did you do something to my bestie 😡😡😡

Jeonghan rolled his eyes at your best friend's protective nature before typing out a response, still waiting for you to come out of the bathroom.

Jeonghan: Chill, I've done nothing. I just have a question.

Mingyu: uhhhh about what?

Jeonghan: What flowers does she like?

Mingyu: …

Mingyu: what

Mingyu: what do you need that for???

Mingyu: leave her alone or istg 

Mingyu: you may be my hyung, but I will fight you

Jeonghan snorted at the spam of messages Mingyu sent, shaking his head. This was going to be fun.

Jeonghan: I said chill out, I just need a list of things she likes. An olive branch of sorts while I'm on this weekend trip with her 🤷🏻

Mingyu: you're being suspicious

Mingyu: I will find out what you're plotting

Mingyu: … I'll send the list later.

He grinned in victory, humming to himself softly as he sent a last message.

Jeonghan: Thanks ☺️

Mingyu: 🤨 I'll be watching you 🫵

He pocketed his phone at that, heading to your room to get changed into something less… wet.

You had decided to take a quick shower, drying yourself as you wrapped the towel around your upper body. Unlocking the bathroom door, you expected to see Jeonghan waiting, but surprisingly, he was nowhere to be seen.

Sighing in relief, you tiptoed into your room, closing the door before turning around to see a half-naked Jeonghan in the middle of putting on his shirt. You froze, eyes widening as you clutched your towel. Unable to let out a scream, you only squeaked, standing there like a petrified hamster.

“You're acting as if you've never seen a shirtless man before, angel.” He raised his eyebrow as he finished getting dressed.

You’ve seen shirtless men multitudes of times before—hell, you’ve seen most of your friends shirtless, but you’ve never seen Jeonghan shirtless before. Not even during pool parties. He’s always worn a rashguard or a t-shirt of some sort. 

He gave you a once-over, his brows still raised as he whistled. “You getting ready for me, sweetheart? I thought the rules said “no sex” specifically?”

You clutched your towel tighter, giving him a disgusted look. “Get out of my room, creep—”

“Creep? You wound me. You’re the one who entered the room in nothing but a towel, and you’re calling me the creep.” He scoffed, muttering softly before he pursed his lips and crossed his arms.

“Jeonghan, get out!” 

He raised his hands in defeat at that, moving towards the door to leave, but not until giving you one last look, which made you grab a throw pillow from your couch before throwing it at his face.

Once he had finally left and shut the door, you let yourself relax and get dressed for bed. You grabbed a slightly ratty oversized t-shirt—one of Mingyu’s old jerseys from his high school years—and some shorts from your luggage. When you finished getting dressed, you went over to your vanity to do your skincare.

After twenty minutes, Jeonghan knocked. “Can I come in now?”

You groaned inwardly; you knew that if you didn’t let him in, your mom would question the fact that the two of you were dating. What girlfriend doesn’t want her boyfriend’s proximity? A fake one, probably, but your family didn’t know that. You sighed as you said goodbye to your twenty minutes of peace and opened the door to let Jeonghan back in. 

He immediately plopped into your bed, which caused you to clench your jaw. “Uh, did you forget that you’re supposed to be sleeping on the couch?”

“But the couch is so uncomfortable, plus, we’re supposed to sleep on the same bed since we’re dating, remember?” He sprawled himself and got comfortable, reaching for you with a teasing grin. “Come on, baby, come cuddle with your boyfriend.”

Your eye twitched, contemplating murder by pillow suffocation, but you held in your urges as you shuddered when you got into the bed with him, his arms wrapping around you like a claw machine capturing its prize. “See? Not that bad.”

“I will kick you off the bed once you fall asleep,” you grumbled as you tried to get comfortable and fall asleep. Jeonghan just hummed at the threat, instinctively nosing the crown of your head as he himself tried to fall asleep.

Since when did you sleep with someone in your bed—

Wait. Jeonghan.

You clenched your jaw as you wriggled around, trying to get out of his grasp, only for him to tighten his hold on you and let out a strained noise.

“Stop... stop moving,” he muttered tiredly, another strained grunt leaving his lips.

“Let go of me, then—” you grumbled, as you continued to move before freezing suddenly.

Jeonghan cursed under his breath as you realised the hard poking feeling against your lower back. You clenched your jaw before speaking up. “What... what is that?”

“What do you think, angel?” His voice was as strained as yours, but there was a hint of a teasing tone. You shrieked, scrambling off the bed as you glared at him. He rubbed the sleep off his eyes as he sighed.

 “It's natural, you know. Plus, you were rubbing yourself all over me—”

“I was not rubbing myself against you!” You hissed as you hugged yourself, cold from the morning air and the loss of his body heat. 

You could feel your nipples pebbling, and Jeonghan was shamelessly gawking, his sleepy eyes staring at your chest. A scoff left your lips as you crossed your arms against your chest, trying to cover yourself.

“Come back to bed, you're cold, and it's too early to start arguing, we both know it.” He reasoned with you, patting the empty space you had left.

“I'm not getting in bed with you while you have a hard-on!” Your scowl deepened, and he rolled his eyes.

“It's down now, you turned me off when you started shrieking like a freak.” Jeonghan patted the space once more. “Come back to bed, now.”

“I'm sleeping on the couch.”

You were about to head to your sofa when he grabbed your wrist, tugging you back into bed with him as you squealed. He kept you trapped against his chest, not letting you move an inch as he made you lie on top of him.

“Stop moving, or you'll give me another hard-on,” he threatened, and that settled you down. He grinned as you huffed, clenching your jaw as you pressed your cheek against his chest. “Go back to sleep.”

“Fuck you.”

“I mean gladly, but your rules prevent me from doing that.” He chuckled when you managed to get your arms free and hit him. “Just go back to sleep, angel, stop trying to fight me so early in the morning.”

You could hear snickering. You furrowed your brows sleepily as you started to wake up once more, opening your eyes as you saw your mother and younger brother, Tommy, tugging your mom as she took a picture of you on top of Jeonghan.

“Mom–?” You muttered groggily as she cooed at you. You grumbled something incoherent as she giggled at how dishevelled you looked.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. You seem to have a little drool there, hm?”

Jeonghan stirred at the commotion, his grip tightening on you before opening his eyes with his face lightly scrunched. “Wha–what’s going on..?”

“Oop, they’re waking up, let’s go before they start yelling at us, hun,” your mom murmured as she ushered your younger brother out of your room and closed the door.

“What the fuck was that..?” Jeonghan muttered as he looked at you, his eyes half-open. You were about to shrug when you realised what position you were in and how close he was, before you shuffled off him, falling from your bed in the process.

“Why the hell are you sleeping on my bed?!” You hissed at him as you brought the blanket along, wrapping yourself like a burrito in it, leaving Jeonghan blanketless. “You were supposed to be sleeping on the couch, remember?”

“Angel, I think you’re experiencing short-term memory loss, because from my standpoint, you were drooling against my chest, and sleeping peacefully a moment ago. And we agreed we’d sleep on the same bed because we’re together, hm?”

Right. The fucking fake dating deal from yesterday. You had hoped it was just a nightmare within a nightmare, that Jeonghan didn’t actually read your work and… and had a boner because of you just a few hours ago. Closing your eyes and looking up at your ceiling with a sigh, you tried to recollect your scrambled thoughts.

Fake dating your enemy for two weeks. The rules. Good god, why do these things happen to you?

“I suggest we go downstairs together—” Jeonghan sat up, rubbing his eyes before you cut him off by grabbing him and pushing him out of your room.

“No, get out, I need to make a call.” You gave him a quick fake smile before slamming the door in front of his face. Scrambling to grab your phone, you immediately Facetimed Mingyu. 

He answered after four rings, a groan leaving him as he was enveloped by sheets. “The fuck do you want? It’s like 8:30 on a Saturday…”

“I need to talk to you about something very important, and you can’t tell anyone, I mean anyone, not even Hao or Seokmin.”

“Uhhh… okay? What is it?” He rubbed the sleep away from his face as he looked at the screen with a scrunched expression. “Are you dating Jeonghan or something?”

That made you freeze. How the hell did he know? Did Jeonghan say something to him before you could? I mean, he couldn’t have just announced that you were his girlfriend, right—

Scratch that. Yoon Jeonghan totally would do that if he wanted to.

 You shook it off mentally before schooling your expression and cleared your throat. Your silence caught Mingyu’s attention, making him open his eyes wider as he connected the mental dots in his head.

“You’re dating Jeonghan?!” He practically screamed, seeing him sit up as he rubbed the remnants of sleep from his face once more over the screen. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me… Was that why he texted me last night?”

“He what?” You furrowed your brows at your best friend’s words as his lips turned into a thin line, a tell when he was trying to hide something. “Yah, Kim Mingyu, spill.”

He groaned, running his fingers through his bedhead, looking exasperated as hell. “He texted me to ask about the things you liked. I thought it was suspicious, but he said it was “an olive branch of sorts.” And now you’re calling me. You’re gone for one day, sweetcheeks. What the hell happened?”

“Well—er, we just.. Uhm..” You faltered, unsure of how to explain it to him. Mingyu was your best friend—he’d read you like a book if you lied. He’s been there through thick and thin, so there was no point in hiding this from him, right? Scratching your neck, you bit your lower lip and opened your mouth to speak before a loud knock came to your door.

“Babe, your mom is calling us. Is your call going to take longer? Breakfast is already on the table.” You could hear Jeonghan’s voice through the other side of the door, making you look at your confused best friend before looking back at the door.

“Give me a second, Hannie, I’ll be right there!” You called out before turning back to your best friend. “We just decided to date, you know? Look past our differences and whatnot—”

“Since when? And Hannie? Since when do you call him ‘Hannie’?” 

“Since forever, we don’t do nicknames in public—anyway, I gotta go, I’ll talk to you later, okay? Byeee—” Before Mingyu could finish saying your name, you ended the call, sighing as you got up from your bed and opened the door with an exasperated expression. Jeonghan had his head cocked to the side, amused at the look on your face as he spoke up.

“Hannie, huh?” You groaned at the teasing tone, punching his chest without holding back, which caused him to double over. “Okay, fair enough.”

He coughed, rubbing his chest as he followed you downstairs. You were greeted by the delicious smell of various breakfast foods, and the table was full of them. You muttered a quick good morning to both your mother and father before sitting down beside Jeonghan, not because you wanted to, but because it’d be suspicious if you didn’t. You ignored your fake boyfriend’s advances to make conversation, grumbling soft one-word answers as you ate your food.

“Baby..” He murmured into your ear, low enough for your parents not to hear. “Are you testing my patience? Do you want me to announce that you write filthy smut in front of Tommy? Hmm?”

You were sure that Jeonghan was the devil reincarnated, because he was pretty but fucking evil when he wanted to be. And he was currently exploiting his knowledge of your writings against you, using them to get what he wanted, the bastard. So, you just hummed in response, clenching your jaw as you turned your head to face him, his nose gently brushing against yours. 

Jeonghan’s breath hitched slightly, not expecting you to do something so bold in front of your parents, but he played along—this was his game, after all. He glanced down at your lips before looking back up at your eyes, seeing the fiery defiance in them. Leaning in closer, he pecked your lips.

“Morning, pretty girl.. Stop being mad at me?” He murmured, and you grunted softly, looking away to take a bite of your pancakes, licking the syrup from your lips.

You had expected the kiss to happen, but you still weren’t prepared. This was pretend. This was pretend—you repeated to yourself as you took a breath. You were just pretending, so why did it still make your heart thump out of your chest as if you had just run away from a serial killer?

Glancing up at your parents, you noticed both your parents seeming to hold their breaths until a whiny groan left Tommy.

“Eww! Hannie and big sis kissed! They’re spreading cooties!” That seemed to cut the tension growing in the dining room, causing you to snort.

“Since you’re so against cooties, Tommy, I’ll kiss you too!” You got up from your seat, your younger brother screeching as he ran away from you and your kisses. You easily caught him, holding him as you pressed kisses all over his cheeks and spreading your “cooties” all over him.

Jeonghan looked enamoured at the sight, finding himself cracking a soft smile before looking away and clearing his throat. That didn’t escape your mother’s keen eye, but she didn’t comment on it.

After breakfast, Jeonghan went to wash up, leaving you in your room to deal with your thoughts. Running your fingers through your hair, you decided to whip up a quick fic, working on your works in progress, little by little. You typed on your keyboard, ignoring the incessant vibration of your phone, notifications blaring from the group chat.

You groaned when you saw your name being spammed by Mingyu.

You: ???

Gyu: finally. I’ve spammed you like 20 times.

Hao: Yeah, and you spammed the rest of us 20 times, too. What is this about anyway??

Gyu: nothing, I just need her to answer her DMs 😑

Seok: you never spam the gc for that though????

You: I’m busy writing my fic, just call me dumbass.

Gyu: 🖕

You sighed, pressing your DMs to see what Mingyu had texted you, only for him to call you. Rolling your eyes, you answered the Facetime call, propping your phone on a plant on your windowsill by your bed. “What’s up?”

“What’s up? What’s up with the fact that you’re dating Jeonghan! You need to explain yourself. Now.”

Of course, Mingyu will want a follow-up to your earlier conversation. He never lets topics like this go unless he knows the whole story. You let out another sigh before speaking up.

“There’s nothing to explain, Gyu…” There totally is so, SO much to explain. “I’ve.. I’ve actually been dating Jeonghan for about uh.. A month now?”

“You’ve been what? I—how? And you decided to tell me now? I—wow, I just—wow,” he muttered as he shook his head. “I don’t know how you’ve hidden this for a whole month from me—us, actually, but as your numero uno, and closest best friend, I’ll keep it a secret from Hao and Seok. Until the two of you go public, that is.”

You felt guilty lying to Mingyu about this, but you had to keep your end of the bargain with Jeonghan. He’d keep your secret on the fanfiction writing, while you stay his girlfriend for the next two weeks. That meant selling the lie. Even to your closest friends.

Jeonghan soon entered the room after his shower, a towel wrapped around his waist and a smaller one in his hand to dry his damp hair. Mingyu could see him in the background as you pretended to pay no mind to it. You schooled your expression as you turned your head to interact with your fake boyfriend. “How was your shower, Hannie?”

“Eh, could’ve been better with you—oomph… Okay, fair.” He chuckled as you threw a plushie at him, hitting him straight in the face again as you glared at him. “Is that Mingyu?”

“Yeah.. uh, hey man..” Mingyu called out from the phone, looking at you with an incredulous look on his face. He was talking to you with his face now—best friend code. 

‘Why the fuck is he changing in your room?’ His face clearly said, and you shrugged as if it didn’t bother you. You could see Jeonghan shuffling around in your peripheral vision, rummaging in his luggage for clothes, before you turned your head to look at him.

“Hannie, can you go get changed in the bathroom, please? Gyu and I have some stuff to talk about.” You tried not to linger your gaze along the expanse of his back before looking back at your phone with a slight flush on your cheeks. That made Mingyu squint, but not say anything just yet.

“Mmm... Call me once you’re done, okay?” He grabbed his stuff, but not before walking over to you, giving you a forehead kiss, and looking at Mingyu after he pulled away. “Mingyu, don’t forget to send me that list.” He winked and left the room. You managed to let out the breath you were gently holding before Mingyu spoke up.

“What the fuck was that?” 

“What was what?” You mumbled, trying to calm your racing heart down from that stupid forehead kiss. Your cheeks were tinted with pink, and Mingyu could clearly see how flustered you were.

“That! You’re acting as if you’ve been hit by Cupid’s motherfucking arrow and acting all flustered for Jeonghan of all people! It’s… It’s baffling!”

God, you hated this. You hated how you looked like what Mingyu just described, and for your enemy of all people. You wanted to groan and complain to your best friend about it, but you had to keep him out of the loop if you wanted this whole thing to work.

Mingyu was just concerned about your change of heart for Jeonghan, and you got it, you really did. If he were in the same situation as you, you’d also question the fact that he was dating someone he clearly didn’t like. You despised Jeonghan, and now you were just… Dating him? For a month at that, and managed to keep it a secret until now? It surely didn’t make sense to him, but he was your best friend, and as long as you were safe and actually happy, he’d support you.

He sighed before asking something important that you had expected him to ask. “How did it happen?”

“It, er.. It started during that one econ project last semester,” you started, and saw Mingyu’s eyes go wide in slight realisation. “I gave him my number so that we could work on it, and we started talking, and I realised he wasn’t that bad. He made me laugh, and he took me out on one date. And the rest is history.” 

You were lying through your teeth, but it went smoothly enough for Mingyu not to seem suspicious, but he still frowned. 

The truth was that you absolutely hated working with Jeonghan during that project, having done most of it without his help, and just reading from the notes you’d given him on the day of the presentation. He was a leech, and your hatred for him grew even more back then, but it was a good cover for your ruse, and it made sense within the timeline.

Of course, it did. You were a writer, after all; you could make a story work no matter the circumstance of the meet-cute. 

Mingyu seemed convinced, but then another question rose to his throat that he wanted to voice out. 

Your crush on Seungcheol.

You cursed in your head for being so obvious about your crush on Jeonghan’s best friend, and now it was biting you in the ass.

“It was a ruse,” you grumbled, glancing away from your phone screen. “Seungcheol was in on it. That’s why he ditched me. And that’s also why Jeonghan was with me when I came back downstairs that night.”

It hurt to lie like this, when the truth was that night crushed you, and you drank your feelings away, and now you had to dismiss those feelings so that he’d believe you were in a relationship with Jeonghan. Mingyu hummed at that, his brows still furrowed, but he seemed to have given up on interrogating you.

“I–okay, I believe you. But you didn’t have to do all of that just to hide your relationship with him, you know? We would’ve understood… kind of. I still find Jeonghan strange. Just.. just stay safe, okay? I’m here to talk if you need to.”

You just nodded slowly, taking a small breath before checking the time and cursing. “I gotta go, Gyu, I promised Tommy I’d go to the mall with him today with Jeonghan.”

“Alright, keep me updated.” He teased, making you roll your eyes at how quickly he was to switch up between serious and playful. “And use condoms—”

“Mingyu!” You hissed, glaring at your best friend as he cackled and bid his goodbyes. You let out a deep sigh, relief washing over you that it was partially over. You would still have to explain everything to Minghao and Seokmin—the latter being easier to convince than the former.

Jeonghan knocked and entered your room about five minutes after your call with Mingyu, fully dressed and with his hair dried. He seemed to be smug about something, but you were too drained to ask.

“You’re paying for my therapy.” You deadpanned, and he snorted as he grabbed his wallet from his bag. “You don’t know how hard it is to lie to my best friend.”

“He seemed to buy the whole 'we fell in love during our shared project together' thing, so I must say… your writing skills are paying off.” 

“You eavesdropped?” You looked at him, mouth slightly agape, before scoffing at his audacity.

Jeonghan shrugged, not seeming to care about how you thought of him at the moment, and gave you a once-over instead. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head at how you looked.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to the mall wearing pyjamas. As much as I love embarrassing you in public, that won’t do while we’re dating, angel.” He tutted, and you huffed at his words.

“I was going to get ready—get out.” You got off your bed, grabbing clothes from your luggage before opening the door for Jeonghan to leave, but he only stayed in his spot by your sofa.

“Sweets, I’m your boyfriend. I supposedly have seen your body before, so just get dressed in front of me. It’ll take off suspicion from your parents that you keep kicking me out of your room.” He stated bluntly, crossing his arms as he tried to convince you not to kick him out, but you shook your head. 

You needed your privacy, and he was your fake boyfriend. Jeonghan’s never seen you in your underwear before, and you’re hoping he never has to. “Jeonghan, I mean it. Get out.”

“I’ll close my eyes and turn around. Scout’s honour.” He put his hand over his chest.

“You were never a scout.” You deadpanned, but sighed, knowing he wouldn’t back down from this, and closed the door. “Fine.. you better not peek, or I’m smothering you with my pillow.”

“Trust me, angel, I’m an asshole, not a pervert.” 

He turned around and closed his eyes, giving you the privacy to get dressed with him in the room. You waved your hands around like a lunatic to check if he wasn’t truly looking before quickly removing your pyjamas and putting on new underwear and a bra before putting on your outfit—it was a simple sundress, adorned with a small flower pattern embroidered near the hem. You brushed your hair and put on some lip gloss before looking at yourself in the mirror.

“We can go,” you murmured, causing Jeonghan to turn back around and open his eyes. You were tempted to give him a twirl, but you reminded yourself that this was your enemy, and that you shouldn’t be getting comfortable around him. 

You didn’t notice how Jeonghan’s expression seemed to harden at the sight of you looking so… pretty. What the hell was going on with him? You shouldn’t be invoking such a reaction out of him, yet you were. 

He schooled his expression before grinning. “Trying to impress someone, angel?”

A scoff left your lips before he watched you grab your purse from the hanging rack on your door. “Let’s just go, smartass.”

Jeonghan followed you down to where your six-year-old brother was waiting for the two of you, watching some show on TV. When the kid looked away from the big screen, his eyes widened, and he ran up to the two of you. “Are we going to the mall now? Are we, are we?”

He asked excitedly, and Jeonghan watched as you picked your younger brother up into your arms, resting him on your hip. You called out to your mother, letting her know that you were leaving, Jeonghan following you out of the house and to his car.

Unlocking the car for you, Jeonghan continued to watch you silently from the driver’s seat, his expression unreadable as you tended to Tommy, buckling the rowdy kid up in the backseat before entering the passenger seat. 

You glanced at him before speaking up. “Uh.. you good?”

“Huh?” He snapped out of his thoughts before, giving you a curt nod, mentally cursing to himself for being so occupied with whatever he was dealing with, not noticing that he was acting stranger than usual. “Yeah.. Yeah, I’m fine.”

He grumbled, pulling out of the driveway, focusing on the road instead of his lingering thoughts about how pretty you looked or how concerned you seemed for him. It didn’t matter. You hated him, and he hated you. Right?

Getting to the mall, Jeonghan managed to find a parking spot closest to the entrance, with Tommy cheering softly at the small victory of not needing to look for the car later. You giggled at your younger brother’s antics and unbuckled your belt to get your brother out of the backseat. Before you could do that, however, Jeonghan stopped you.

“Let me,” he just murmured, getting out of the car first and running over towards the backseat door, and opened it to get Tommy out before opening the door for you. He held out his hand for you to take, and you reluctantly took it, huffing at his behaviour.

“What is this?” You muttered to him, and he shrugged with a small smile—something rare in his eyes as you squinted at him. “What are you planning, Yoon Jeonghan?”

“Mmm, nothing. I just wanted to be nice to my girlfriend.” He closed the door after you got out, still holding your hand as he held out his other to your brother. Tommy gladly took his hand, and the three of you headed into the mall.

While the three of you window shopped, there were a few things that caught Tommy’s eye, making you note them down on your phone or take a picture of them when the younger kid wasn’t looking. Jeonghan seemed to notice, curious about it, he decided to ask against his own will.

“Why are you writing down everything he pays attention to?”

“Huh-? Oh, uh, his birthday is soon, and I wanna kind of spoil him, y’know? You only turn seven once, plus Mom and Dad won’t be able to stop me from spoiling my cutest little brother.” You watched your brother play in the kids’ area with a fond smile, Jeonghan letting out an ‘ah’ sound. 

When Tommy got bored with the kids’ area, he walked over to where you and Jeonghan were sitting and tugged at the hem of your dress. “Can we please get ice cream? Pretty please, big sis?”

When he gave you those puppy-dog eyes and a pout, you chuckled; it reminded you of a younger version of Mingyu. You got up from the bench, stretching your arms before offering your hand for your younger brother to hold.

“Sure, Tommy, anything for my favourite soon to be seven year old.” The kid cheered as he took your hand into his and Jeonghan’s with his other hand, causing him to be between you and your fake boyfriend. You looked at Jeonghan, offering him a small smile, and he gave you a quick, lazy grin before getting lost in his thoughts again. It made you wonder what he was suddenly thinking about.

After finding an ice cream shop, the three of you ordered your preferred flavours. You cringed at Jeonghan’s choice. 

“Mint chocolate? Really?” You snorted gently as the three of you waited for the vendor to hand you your treats. Jeonghan raised his eyebrow at you, intrigued by your reaction to his flavour choices.

“It’s an elite flavour. You picked what? Vanilla?”

“And strawberry. I have better taste than you.” You thanked the vendor as she handed you the cold treat. You watched as she ogled Jeonghan shamelessly as she passed him his ice cream. Rolling your eyes briefly, you gave Tommy your dessert for him to hold while you took out your wallet from your purse. 

When you were about to pay, Jeonghan swooped in, stopping you and taking his card out from his wallet to pay instead. He smiled at the vendor, making her giggle, which caused you to cross your arms and scoff. Once Jeonghan finished paying, he led you and Tommy to sit by the tables, your expression as sour as the lemon sorbet Tommy was licking.

“Big sis, your ice cream’s gonna melt if you don’t eat it!” The younger one pouted slightly as he finished his snack in record time. You gave him a small smile before taking a bite out of your cold treat, the sweetness not pacifying your inner bitterness towards Jeonghan’s earlier behaviour.

Obviously, he noticed, having done that on purpose to coax out your reaction, and he seemed to have gotten what he wanted. “Angel…” He started, trailing off as you gave him a pointed look.

“What?” You muttered, taking another bite of your dessert, not fully enjoying it as you thought.

“Are you jealous?” Jeonghan grinned, resting his chin on his palm as his smile reached his eyes; a mischievous glint shone through. You sputtered, giving him a baffled look before scoffing.

You? Jealous over Jeonghan? Hell would freeze over before that could happen. Sure, you disliked the way he smiled at that vendor earlier and how she seemed to eye-fuck him earlier, but you were not jealous. You rolled your eyes at the man sitting across from you, finishing your food before speaking.

“In your dreams, Jeonghan. I’d rather…” You trailed off, glancing at your brother, who was preoccupied with the free colouring paper on the table, but you covered his ears either way. “I’d rather step on horseshit than be jealous over you. Flirt with whomever you want.”

Jeonghan pursed his lips at that, taking the last bite off his ice cream before wiping his lips with a tissue. “Not gonna flirt with anyone else but my angel, baby.”

He suddenly got up from his seat, surprising you when he leaned down and kissed your lips. It wasn’t long, but it wasn’t a peck either. This kiss was sweet and lingered, as if to reassure you that he didn’t want anyone else but you. He pulled away when Tommy let out a disgusted noise, making Jeonghan chuckle as he sat back on his seat, leaving you surprised and buffering.

“Eugh.. I don’t get why people kiss. You and big sis kiss, Mom and Dad kiss. What’s so nice about kissing?” Tommy muttered, scrunching his nose before Jeonghan pinched his cheek and spoke up. 

“You’ll get it when you find a girl you’re very intrigued with and want to know about more.” 

You recovered after that sentence, looking at Jeonghan as your breath hitched gently. You hadn’t expected those words to come out of him, of all people. Trying not to linger on it, you paid him no mind, focusing on your younger brother instead and asking him about his birthday plans.

“Will you be coming with Hannie? Please tell me you’ll come!” Your brother pleaded, a slight pout finding itself on his lips again. 

Easter was in two weeks, and Tommy’s birthday was just about a week away, so you could afford to miss a few classes to drive back home a day or two earlier. You knew why he was pleading with you, and you felt bad for having missed his birthday last year because of exams.

“Of course we’ll come, bud, I promise we’ll make it this time. Isn’t that right, Jeonghan?”

You looked at Jeonghan as you roped him into the conversation, already having moved on from the earlier kiss. He nodded before ruffling your brother’s hair. “Of course. We’ll be there and bring you lots of presents.”

“Yay! You and big sis are the best, Hannie. I’m glad you guys are dating.”

A lump grew in your throat, knowing that Tommy was getting used to seeing you like this with Jeonghan—dating, being together. He was attached to Jeonghan and growing even fonder of him. It was going to be hard to break it to him when the two weeks were up, and you and Jeonghan were going to have to go back to your ordinary lives—bickering and disagreeing over the most trivial things.

A part of you didn’t want this to end for some reason. Maybe it was because of Tommy, but you knew the truth was uglier—more complicated than you wanted to admit. For some reason, seeing this part of Jeonghan was giving you mixed feelings, and it was messing with your head. It was fake. But how much faking does it take until it starts being real?

You decided to shake it off, focusing on the now rather than the later. That was future you’s problem.

After another hour at the mall, you noticed Tommy getting tired and signalled to Jeonghan that it was time to go home. He nodded, picking the younger fella up with ease, the latter immediately snuggling into Jeonghan’s shoulder. 

By the time you got to the car, the kid was already knocked out cold, making the man carrying him chuckle softly as he settled him into the backseat. He opened the door for you, prompting you to roll your eyes but play along before he took the driver’s seat and started the car.

Once you got back home, you let Jeonghan carry Tommy to his room, letting the kid nap before dinner while you stayed downstairs to talk with your dad.

“So, how was the outing? I hope the little man wasn’t much of a menace.” He chuckled tiredly as he took a sip of his coffee, his eyes tired but warm. He was sitting on a stool by the kitchen island, hunched over. You sat down beside him, shaking your head gently.

“Nah, he was good. I’ve got a whole list of gifts to buy him, though.” You shrugged as your father said your name sternly. “What? It’s not like you haven’t spoiled me back when I was seven! Let me have this.”

“No wonder you’re his favourite family member… He even said so in school.” He grumbled as he sipped his now lukewarm beverage. Your eyes softened at the admission of being your brother’s favourite, glad to be someone close to his heart, even with your age gap.

That’s when Jeonghan decided to announce himself, clearing his throat as he greeted your father. “Sorry to disturb your little conversation, but, uh…”

He trailed off, acting sheepish as he looked at you, sending you a quick wink before looking back at your father, asking for permission to take you out for a night drive, which surprised you. You weren’t expecting him to have anything planned, but you were proven to be wrong.

“Yeah, you guys can go, just don’t do anything too stupid like swerve off the road and hit a pole—”

“Dad.” You groaned, rolling your eyes as you got off the stool and went over to where Jeonghan was standing. Jeonghan chuckled, wrapping his arm around your shoulder, pressing your body close against his.

“We won’t swerve, I promise.”

“So…” You started as you entered the passenger seat once more, glancing curiously at him. “Where are we off to?”

“It’s a surprise, angel. I take it that you know what those are?” He started the car once more, shifting into gear as he drove. He handed you the aux, just like when you drove back home. “Turn on something.”

You did as he said, but still had questions. You couldn’t help it, you were curious by nature, and you couldn’t help but try to guess. But Jeonghan just shook his head at your incessant questions, shushing you. “You’ll get to know once we get there.”

“I just hope it’s not somewhere where you plan to murder me.”

“Your imagination is astounding, angel, truly.” He snorted gently, shaking his head as he focused on the road, the sun already setting on the horizon. You just huffed, letting him keep his secrets as you watched the pretty view of trees surrounding you out the window.

Jeonghan parked the car in a vast field, the setting sun facing you as he turned off the ignition and unbuckled his belt. You followed suit, getting out of the car to follow him to the trunk, where he had a cooler and blanket that weren’t there before. He took it out before heading over to the warm hood of his car and sat down.

He patted the space beside him as he took out two beers from the cooler and then revealed the bag of takeout he had with him. You cocked an eyebrow at him, surprised at the whole thing. “Where’d you get all of this from?”

“Ordered takeout from your favourite restaurant chain. Thought the beer would be a nice beverage to drink with it.” He shrugged as he handed you your portion and the utensils. You were surprised he knew your favourite order, only to remember what he had said to Mingyu.

Right. The list. Mingyu probably told him about your order. But that didn’t make the gesture any less sweet. You thanked him softly, sitting down cross-legged on the hood of his car, enjoying the moment before speaking up.

“Did you get my order from Mingyu?” You asked in between bites of your food. Jeonghan glanced at you before chuckling and shaking his head.

“No, sweetheart, I didn’t.” That answer confused you as you looked at him with a befuddled expression before he continued. “I notice things about you more than you think, you know. I don’t need the list from Mingyu to know what food you like and what you dislike.”

Your breath hitched at those words, not expecting him to admit something so… real. Clearing your throat, you looked ahead of you instead of Jeonghan, watching the sun set, and changing the topic.

“So, uh.. How’d you find this place? Was it your past makeout spot with girls or something..?” You grumbled as he scoffed, taking a bite of his own food before swallowing and speaking.

“You think so lowly of me, angel.. But no, this is my own private spot I used to go to. Just to clear my head and whatnot. Now, it’s our spot,” he murmured, sounding almost soft as he continued eating his food. Jeonghan had been revealing so many parts of himself these past 24 hours that it was giving you whiplash. Was this the same Jeonghan you’d been bickering with for the past decade?

Finishing your dinner, the two of you decided to drink the beer he had brought to wash the meal off. Only after a few sips, you could feel yourself loosen up, leaning against Jeonghan as you shivered, the sun fully setting on the horizon, leaving the sky a dark midnight blue.

“You cold?” He teased, but you only hummed, scooting over closer to him, which made Jeonghan stiffen before relaxing. He wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer as you sipped on your beer. “I didn’t expect you to exploit me of my warmth, angel.”

“Well, I am, so shut up,” you muttered, closing your eyes as you handed him your half-empty beer bottle. “You'd better get this away from me before I finish it whole and do something I might regret…”

“Like what, angel?” He murmured, voice soft as he placed both your beers into the cooler before lifting your chin to make you look at him. “Tell me.”

“No.. It’s stupid,” you practically whined, burying your face into his shoulder as you inhaled his scent. He smelled nice. Nicer than you expected, as you sighed softly.

“Come on,” Jeonghan cooed, coaxing you to say what was on your mind. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

You moved your head away from his shoulder to gaze up at his eyes—piercing through you with an unspeakable softness. You mumbled, incoherent to Jeonghan as he leaned down to hear you better. “Mind repeating that, angel?”

“I want you to kiss me.”

Jeonghan’s breath stuttered, hearing you say those words so carelessly, stirring something in him. He looked at you—searching for any hint of regret or withdrawal from your words, but he found none. A soft curse left his lips as he chuckled.

“Angel…” He murmured, voice slightly strained. “You don’t mean that, do you?”

“I mean it. Kiss me.”

Jeonghan wanted to. For some godforsaken reason, he truly wanted to kiss you until you were breathless and gripping onto him tightly, but something was stopping him. Was it because you probably weren’t thinking straight? Maybe. He wasn’t the type to use you while you were under the influence of alcohol. He may have been an asshole, but he’d never be that type of bastard.

“Baby, I can’t.” He brushed a few strands of hair away from your face, hooking them behind your ear. He chuckled when you pouted, making him kiss you on the nose instead. “God, you’re insufferable when you don’t get what you want.”

“You’re the insufferable one,” you muttered, huffing softly as he laughed again.

“If I give in, you’re not gonna pull away until I say so, hm?”

He leaned in, and he couldn’t help but smirk when he heard your soft gasp. “What’s it gonna be, angel?”

You only nodded, causing Jeonghan to pinch your side, and making you yelp as his smirk widened at the small noise.

“Use words, baby.”

When you were about to give him the green light, your phone started playing a stupid ringtone you had set for your group chat, which made you realise what you were doing and pushed yourself away from Jeonghan.

It was like a splash of needed, cold water for both of you. Jeonghan grabbed his beer, taking a swig of it as he tried to calm himself down. You weren’t thinking straight. You didn’t mean it. You hated him, and he hated you. He just managed to find you insanely attractive right now because of the goddamn alcohol in his system.

“We should.. We should head back,” he rasped, finishing his beer before tossing the empty bottles into a trash can not too far away from the car. He brushed off the dust from his pants before looking over at you, staring at your phone after what seemed an accidental dial to the group chat by Seokmin. Jeonghan sighed, calling out to you softly, causing you to come back to reality. “I said we should head back.”

“Right— right. Sorry.” 

You scrambled from the hood, entering the car without a word, and let him fold the blanket you had been sitting on for the past hour and a half. He packed the stuff back into the trunk, one last sigh leaving him before he entered the driver’s seat with a clenched jaw.

It was going to be a long ride home.

The ride back was silent, your thoughts consumed by the near-kiss you had nearly shared with Jeonghan. The call from the group chat must’ve been divine intervention, saving you from doing something stupid like kissing Jeonghan when you clearly didn’t have the reason to.

You didn’t even try making conversation. What were you supposed to say after almost kissing your enemy?! Thankfully, Jeonghan didn’t seem to want to say anything either, as the only thing that accompanied the silence were your soft breaths and the gentle rumble of Jeonghan’s car.

After parking in the driveway, he turned off the car, the rumbling of the engine cutting off and leaving the two of you in complete silence. Neither of you moved until Jeonghan opened his mouth to say something, only for you to speak up faster.

“I’ll head up first, thanks for the food.” You managed to utter in a hurry, getting out of the car as you slammed the door and scurried to your house. 

Unsure why, but your heart was pounding, and you didn’t want to hear what Jeonghan had to say, even though your curiosity wanted answers. Was he going to address the almost-kiss? Or was he going to tease you like he always did when you made a mistake? You’d tear your hair overthinking it, so you focused on getting to your room unnoticed by your parents instead.

Managing to avoid a full-blown interrogation from your parents, you went to the bathroom to wash up and change, splashing your face with cold water a couple of times to cool it down. Why the hell did you still feel so hot after a refreshing shower?

You entered your room, a small sigh leaving you when you didn’t see Jeonghan in there, probably downstairs talking to your parents. Great. That gave you time to collect your thoughts and write. You’d been itching to do that all day, Jeonghan just had to take you out on such a romantic outing—

Wait. Romantic outing? Was that supposed to be romantic? 

Your brain buffered as you were halfway through grabbing your laptop from your bag before shaking it off. Definitely not romantic. This was fake, you reminded yourself. It was only for show, for goodness’ sake.

Sitting down at your desk, you opened your laptop and loaded the Google doc you had been editing for the past few days. You were partially done with the smut section, typing more to the scene before fully moving on to something else. You bit your lip as you tried figuring a scene out, struggling as you typed and deleted it, backtracking and reconstructing the sentence to make it make sense.

“You need help, angel?” Jeonghan’s voice suddenly materialised behind you, startling you from your seat as you turned around to see him peering over your shoulder. “You seem to be struggling.”

He pointed out nonchalantly, making you scoff and face your laptop once more. You continued to type the edited scene, ignoring the fact that Jeonghan was lingering over your shoulder, reading what you were writing. For some reason, his presence didn’t bother you as much as it usually would. And he seemed to notice that too when you turned to look at him, as if waiting for his feedback.

“It’s good so far, angel. Don’t stop on my account.”

His voice was low and encouraging, and you couldn’t help but let a few butterflies flutter in your stomach. You caged them soon after, shaking your head mentally as you continued typing on your laptop. Soon, Jeonghan grabbed a nearby chair, sitting down behind you as he read and watched you write. His presence alone made something tingle between your legs, making you nibble on your lower lip once more as you crossed them.

Did this count as foreplay for writers? Letting the guy you found incredibly annoying watch you write and read what you were typing? 

You weren’t sure, as you just continued to let inspiration flow through you until another smut scene bubbled through the document. That’s when you decided to pause, and Jeonghan let out a frustrated noise.

“What?” You murmured, confused as you were about to close your laptop, but he stopped you.

“Finish writing that scene.”

“Jeonghan—” You looked at him as he held your wrist, preventing you from closing your laptop. He only looked back at you with what seemed like a serious expression, though a hint of desperation shone through his eyes.

“Angel, I said finish writing it. I wanna know what will happen.” He let go of your wrist, but was still looking at you as you contemplated writing the rest of the scene. If you were being honest, you weren’t sure how to write the scene with Jeonghan scanning through the screen intently.

So, you let out a shaky breath before opening your mouth. “I–I’m not sure how to go with it…”

Jeonghan frowned at that, not fully believing that you were struggling to write a smut scene of all things. “What were they supposed to do?” He asked, set on helping you with this scene whether you wanted to or not.

“After the kiss, the male lead was supposed to trail his lips down her body, to you know…” You trailed off, feeling hot all of a sudden. Why were you getting so nervous over something so trivial as smut? 

You were used to discussing scenes with Mingyu, even asking him about certain positions he’s tried on girls before, but now you were shying away from the conversation like some… prude. It was ironic.

“Uh huh, and then what, angel? You need to talk to me if you want me to help.” You swallowed thickly, your eyes roaming around the room as you fidgeted in your seat, your legs still crossed as your thighs clenched. “Come on, sweetheart, speak up, you’re the expert.”

“He eats her out.” You blurted out, cheeks flushing as you finally said it. Jeonghan hummed, as if to think of how to write the scene, only for him to turn your chair to face him, caging you between him and the backrest.

Your breath got caught in your throat when Jeonghan leaned in, nosing your jaw gently before pressing a feather-like kiss to your neck. He was testing the waters, and you were letting him, staying still. His hands moved from the handrest of your chair to your legs, prying them open. 

When you instinctively tried to close them, he nipped your soft skin before whispering into your ear. “Keep them open, sweetheart. Be good for me.”

The soft command made you shudder, unsure why, but you wanted to be good for Jeonghan, at least at the moment. Your curiosity got the better of you, and you wondered where this would lead.

A soft noise left your lips when Jeonghan sucked on your collarbone, leaving a small mark before shifting from his seat and kneeling between your legs, slotting himself perfectly. He tugged you gently, causing you to lean against your chair a bit more as he hooked your legs over his shoulders.

“Jeonghan—” you whimpered in protest, but he shushed you, gazing up into your half-lidded eyes.

“Let me give you inspiration for the scene, angel. Focus on me.”

He only muttered before kissing your inner thighs, occasionally nipping the supple skin. He then focused on your clothed cunt, pressing a soft kiss against your mound, which caused your hips to buck. Jeonghan only seemed to chuckle at that before pushing the gussets of your shorts and panties to the side, not wasting time as he groaned at the sight of your pussy. “Such a pretty pussy, baby.”

Your toes curled when he pressed a soft kiss to your clit, biting your lower lip as you tried to muffle your moans. Your hand flew to grip his hair, carding your fingers through the soft locks as he finally flattened his hot tongue against your slit, lapping up your arousal.

Jeonghan moaned against your cunt when you tugged on his hair, the sharp pain sending his blood down to his cock as he continued to lap at your juices like a man starved. He watched as you threw your head back against the plush backrest, his eyes darkening with pleasure at the sight of making you react this way.

“Open your eyes, angel. Watch me ruin you for everyone else.”

You obeyed, your eyes fluttering open as you looked down at Jeonghan, holding onto the undersides of your thighs tightly, you were sure that they were going to leave bruises, while fucking you with his tongue. 

Your wet hole clenched around his muscle, his tongue skilled as he switched from fucking you to swirling it around your pudgy bundle of nerves. You panted as Jeonghan worked hard against your cunt, making sure to pleasure you with his mouth alone. 

“Jeonghan—Hannie, I’m–I’m so close—” You whined, feeling the familiar heat coiling in your abdomen as your clit throbbed from the attention of his mouth. He hummed, slowing down his ministrations on purpose to draw out your pleasure until you were trembling and whining for him to let you cum.

“Do you deserve to cum, baby? Do you deserve to cum on my mouth?” Jeonghan crooned, kissing your soaked pussy lips gently as he looked up at your wrecked state. You nodded, heaving as your cunt drooled more slick. “Yeah? My angel deserves to cum, does she?”

“Yes, Hannie—please, please—” you begged.

You’d never expected you’d be begging for your enemy to make you cum, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

With that, Jeonghan increased his fervour, suckling on your sensitive, throbbing bud, one of his hands moving towards your cunt and plunging two fingers in without warning, and it made you moan out loudly before you covered your mouth with your hand. You hoped your parents were still downstairs, busy with whatever they were doing, while you got eaten out by your fake boyfriend.

Jeonghan grinned lazily at the fact that he made you react to him in such a way, his fingers curling just right to find that spongy spot which made your vision blur. You whimpered into your hand as he felt your hole spasming around his digits, signalling him that you were getting closer to the edge.

“Cum for me, sweetheart,” he murmured against your mound, suckling on your clit just right, causing the band in your belly to snap, igniting your insides as you came hard around his fingers. Slick gushed from your spasming hole, as Jeonghan continued to fuck his fingers into your squelching pussy, the noises making your face burn from embarrassment and arousal. 

Once you rode out your high, he pulled his fingers out of you, a whine leaving your lips at the loss. He chuckled as he sucked his fingers clean before lapping up your cunt again to ‘clean you up’ until you were whining from overstimulation and pushed his head away. 

You sighed, your body limp from the orgasm you had just experienced, as Jeonghan stood up from his position and wiped the remnants of your essence from his lips before leaving the room without a word.

A frown formed on your lips as you sat up straight, confusion bubbling up in your chest as to why Jeonghan just… left.

That was when post-nut clarity hit you, your eyes widening as you covered your mouth in realisation.

You had just let Jeonghan eat you out. On your office chair. In your childhood bedroom.

Jeonghan was fucked.

What had gotten into him that he did that, of all things? He had locked himself in the bathroom, splashing cold water onto his face, trying to calm himself down. He groaned as his dick twitched in his jeans, his mind muddled with you.

He couldn’t stop thinking about how pretty you looked when you came around his fingers, muffling your noises as you rode out your high. The way you panted and mewled his name like it was the only thing you knew. 

The way your pussy clenched so tightly around his digits when you came that he wished it was his dick in there instead—

A groan left his lips when he decided to mutter “fuck it” before unbuckling his belt, undoing his jeans, and shimmying them down to his thighs. He shoved his boxers down, letting his cock out of its confines as he hissed at the cold air hitting his leaking tip.

Jeonghan panted softly as he teased his shaft, rubbing the slit of his tip, making a mess of himself, smearing the precum along the length of his cock. He pumped his hand along the base before teasing the tip once more, giving himself some time to build up to his release, not wanting to cum too fast just yet, as he relived eating your sweet pussy out.

His eyes screwed shut, imagining the way your tight pussy would spasm around his cock, pleading with him to keep fucking you as you whimpered. He shuddered when he imagined the way you’d whimper out his name in that needy tone.

Jeonghan. Hannie.

He cursed to himself as he felt the familiar knot forming in his stomach. Jeonghan stroked himself faster now, fucking his fist as he imagined it was your cunt he was filling up instead, hating himself for wanting you so much when he finally came into the toilet bowl with a pathetic grunt.

He needed a shower. 

A cold, long one if he was going to try and survive the night without touching you.

You were already in bed, facing your window as you contemplated the life choices that brought you to this moment. What possessed you to let Yoon fucking Jeonghan do that to you and leave the room without explaining himself?

It was fucked up, but such was your life.

And now you were thinking of a way to somehow confront him about it. But where would you even begin? It wasn’t like it meant anything, right? He just ate you out for your fanfiction research purposes—

You snapped out of your thoughts when you heard the door open and close, and saw Jeonghan in his clothes, his damp hair, before he grabbed his pyjamas and left the room again. He came back five minutes later with furrowed brows as he sat down on your sofa. You bit your lower lip, but you decided to say something.

“Are.. are you not going to bed with me?” You asked hesitantly, and that made Jeonghan tense up before relaxing. He looked at you with a clenched jaw, as if he was thinking of what to do before sighing and getting up from the sofa to settle under the sheets with you.

He didn’t dare touch you, which you silently appreciated as the two of you lay there, looking at your ceiling. Your breathing grew calmer as you got more comfortable, settling as you turned to your side, facing Jeonghan, while he stayed still, as stiff as a board.

“Good night..” You mumbled, closing your eyes as you tried to catch some shut eye, turning around to face your window instead. While your body seemed to stay calm, your brain wouldn’t shut up as you kept reliving the same scene over and over. 

When you came around his fingers. His mouth.

The way he grinned up at you when you moaned.

And the way he just left.

You wanted to thrash around and crash out, but Jeonghan was right beside you, so that was a no-go, so you just stayed still, breathing through your nose as you let sleep take you soon enough.

SUNDAY, 9:33 AM

It was the morning the two of you were going back to campus, and Jeonghan was silent all morning, which was unsettling since he’d always have some teasing quip to send your way. By the time breakfast was over, however, he was back to normal, all smiley and teasing.

“Done packing, sweetheart?” he asked from behind you, spooking you as you decided to hit him on the shoulder.

“Stop sneaking up on me like that.” You hissed, frowning as Jeonghan chuckled and held his shoulder where you had assaulted him. “And yeah, all packed.” 

He took your luggage after you closed it, not even trying to stop him, since it was quite heavy with all the stuff your mother had decided to give you. A bunch of snacks you liked that you couldn’t buy near campus, a few tupperwares since you kept losing yours (cough Seokmin’s fault cough), and a whole ass wok. You weren’t sure what you were going to use it for or what you were going to cook in it, but the gesture was sweet nonetheless.

You squeezed your brother goodbye, promising him you’d come back soon, as the kid just pouted, close to crying, as your father whisked him away with candy before the poor boy could start bawling his eyes out. You hugged your mother the longest, rocking side to side with her until she pulled away.

“You look happier with him, you know?” She suddenly spoke softly, confusion painting your face.

“With who, Mom?” You tilted your head as she chuckled and shook her head at how oblivious you were.

“Jeonghan, silly. I see the way you look at him. And I see the way he looks at you. I swear, that’s the same way your father looked at me when we were your age.”

You swallowed thickly at that, glancing at Jeonghan who had just packed all your stuff into the trunk, wiping the sweat off his forehead as you looked away before he could catch you staring. Chuckling at your mother’s words, you easily dismissed them, waving your hand in front of you.

“It’s not like that, Mom.. we’re just…”

“Dating? Oh, honey, I know.” She patted your cheek before continuing. “But I’m sure of it. When the time comes, you’ll realise how much you lo—”

Jeonghan called out your name, cutting your mother off. “You coming, pretty girl?”

“I’m coming!” That didn’t sound good. Your ears burned as you quickly bid your mother goodbye and rushed to the car, seeing Jeonghan’s smug smirk. “Shut it, Yoon.”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

You were greeted by your friends waiting under your apartment building. Mingyu squinted at Jeonghan as he took your stuff out of his car and handed it to your best friends.

“Do you wanna come up?” You offered, crossing your arms unconsciously as you remembered the deal. Two weeks. You could pretend in front of your friends for two weeks, right?

“Nah.. I’ll come over tomorrow. Pick you up for breakfast, what do you say? My treat.” He counter-offered, grinning as you hummed and nodded. “Perfect.”

You stood there awkwardly as you glanced at your friends, who seemed to be waiting for something to happen, and you sighed. “We should kiss...”

Jeonghan seemed intrigued by your bold whispered statement, but he only shrugged before grabbing your waist and leaning in to kiss you.

You gasped against his lips as they moved slowly against yours, not faltering once as you got used to it. Getting the hang of it, your hands found their way to his shoulders, squeezing gently as Jeonghan restrained himself from slipping his tongue into your mouth.

Mingyu cleared his throat loudly before speaking. “We don’t have all day, lovebirds!”

Jeonghan pulled away first, his cheeks dusted with pink as he panted, giving you one last peck, and his signature grin came back to his lips. He squeezed your waist gently before letting you go. “I’ll see you tomorrow, angel.”

“Mmm.. see you.” You waved weakly, watching him enter his car, giving you a wink before driving off.

“God, I can’t believe I had to witness you make out with your enemy. I thought you were pranking me over the phone.” Mingyu muttered.

“Wait, you KNEW—” Seokmin pointed at his best friend accusingly while Minghao just rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long day.

“There’s no way the two of you started dating during that period; it doesn’t make sense!” Seokmin complained as you had explained the whole story—a lie—to them. Unfortunately for him, it did, in fact, make a lot of sense. There were no plot holes; you made sure of it. This lie was actually foolproof, and no one could see through—

“Then why’d you lie? You could’ve just told us you changed your mind about Jeonghan, and we’d probably be against it at first, but in the end, it’s your love life. All we can do is support you and kick his ass if he hurts you. There was no point in hiding it with a ‘crush’ on Seungcheol.” Minghao voiced out his thoughts plainly, and you clenched your jaw. This was what you loved and hated about him; he always made sense and clocked you on your bullshit immediately. But he also seemed to buy the lie, so there was no point in arguing.

“Yeah, I know.. But I just—I was so used to hating on Jeonghan, you know? Plus, it was a good cover to keep it private until we were ready…” You trailed off, scratching your cheek as you acted convincing. You looked at them apologetically and watched their reactions.

They bought it. The three of them bought it, and you were off the hook for now, as you got your freedom for the rest of the day. Mingyu had left for football practice; Minghao had a meditation group meeting to hold, while Seokmin went to meet up with one of his friends. You could finally write in peace.

That was until your phone buzzed with a notification from Jeonghan. You groaned.

You: What now??

Jeonghan: That’s not how you’re supposed to greet your boyfriend, sweetheart.

You: fake boyfriend***

You: anyway. What? I was busy writing

Jeonghan: Was it that part?

Your ears burned at the implication of what he meant. It wasn’t even 24 hours, and he was already teasing you about it. You scoffed as you continued to text him, trying to fight the smile forming on your lips.

You: none of your business. Now spill, you’re literally wasting my time

Jeonghan: Ouch, that hurts, angel.

Jeonghan: But I just wanted to say, look out your window.

You: ??

He didn’t reply after that, making you grunt and get up from your chair before looking out your window to see Jeonghan leaning by his car with a bouquet in his hand, waving up at you. You huffed, rolling your eyes as you headed downstairs in your silly Hello Kitty pants and plain tank top.

“What are you doing?” You crossed your arms as you paused just a few steps from him. He rolled his eyes at the distance, grabbing your upper arm to tug you into his personal space as he handed you the flowers.

“Giving my girlfriend flowers? Isn’t that obvious?” 

“At 6:48 pm? Yeah, totally not strange.” You took the flowers anyway, taking a whiff of them and pressing your lips into a line not to smile. “Seriously, Jeonghan, what are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to see you.. Is that so bad?” He tilted his head to the side, a lopsided smile on his lips as he seemed to sound genuine.

Your enemy. Wanting to see you? The world must be ending.

When you huffed, he only leaned down to peck your lips, causing you to gasp softly. He then kissed you again, this time lingering as he smiled against your mouth. You couldn’t help but move your free hand to tug him by the material of the loose hoodie he was wearing. Jeonghan chuckled as he pressed a couple more kisses, each one longer than the other, until the two of you were making out again.

His hand slipped from your waist to your cheek, caressing gently while his other hand stayed on your waist, squeezing. Jeonghan’s tongue slid across your lower lip, and that caused you to whine out softly before opening your mouth for him. He groaned against your mouth as he tasted the sweetness of your mouth—mint and chocolate. Ironic combo coming from you. He liked it, maybe a little too much, but you weren’t aware of that.

He only pulled away for air before diving back in, overwhelming you slightly as you squeaked and turned your head away. It was a silent “enough”, and Jeonghan understood, pecking your cheek before giving you space.

“Oh, and I have one more thing for you,” he murmured after recovering from the kiss, opening the backseat of his car to grab a zip-up hoodie. “Since you know. I’m your boyfriend now.”

“You just want to see me swim in your clothes.” You deadpanned but took the hoodie either way. You managed to get a whiff of it—it smelled like him.

“Maybe. And maybe because you’re mine,” Jeonghan whispered, voice low and intimate now as his gaze trailed along your body before back to your face, causing you to feel a little too exposed in your clothes. He gently grabbed you by your chin, caressing your jaw.

“I’m yours for two weeks.” You corrected him, feeling heat suddenly coil between your legs at the way he looked at you. 

“Two weeks is enough, angel. You’re mine either way. I’ve ruined you for anyone else, remember?”

You shuddered at the reminder of what had happened last night, your mouth slightly agape before Jeonghan gave you one last peck. “Okay, back to writing you go, angel. I don’t wanna waste any more of your precious time.”

He grinned as he ruffled your hair and got into his car, giving you a wave and a salute before driving off, leaving you a flustered mess. 

You swear, Yoon Jeonghan was going to be the death of you one of these days.

The next morning came by faster than you expected, waking up from the alarm on your phone, grumbling softly as you got up from your couch, realising you probably dozed off while writing the evening before. 

You stretched, checking the time—6:45 AM. You didn’t have class until nine, so it gave you some time to get ready, but you remembered that Jeonghan was supposed to pick you up for breakfast.

For some reason, a voice in your head told you to put on the zip-up hoodie over the lace-trim camisole you were wearing, matching it with some flared, dark, faded jeans. You put on a few pieces of jewellery before checking your phone, seeing a message from Jeonghan from a few minutes ago.

Jeonghan: Morning, angel :) I’m waiting downstairs. Take your time.

Jeonghan: I also already bought you your breakfast, so hurry up, actually.

You scoffed at the juxtaposition of his messages, rolling your eyes as you put your shoes on and grabbed your bag with your laptop and notebooks along with your keys. Locking the door to your apartment, you headed down to see Jeonghan wearing his usual loose t-shirt and jeans, with a grey jacket over them.

You gave him a small wave while he let out a low whistle, giving you a quick once-over. “I see someone’s trying to impress someone. Is it me, angel? Hmm?”

He teased, but you decided to play his game, giving him a twirl. Jeonghan snorted, shaking his head as he tugged you into a short hug before opening the door to the passenger seat for you. Entering the vehicle, he closed the door and hurried over to the driver’s side before you could grab the cup with the coffee.

“Ah-ah, that’s not yours. This is yours.” He handed you the warm cup with tea. “Green tea with honey, right? I also got you some pastries from that bakery you frequented.”

You blinked at him, your face expressionless as Jeonghan looked at you, confused. “Is.. Is everything alright, angel?”

Unsure of what to say, you just grabbed the bag with the pastries, checking if they were indeed the ones you liked. They were.

How the hell did Jeonghan know all of these things? You were sure you weren't that predictable or that Jeonghan didn't pay enough attention to you to notice what you liked or not, so you were sure he got the list from Mingyu this time around. How else was he supposed to know how you liked your tea, your favourite flowers, or the pastries you loved?

You swallowed thickly before speaking. “Thank you. You... uh, you didn't have to. Since you know, we're faking it and all.”

“...right.” Jeonghan looked away from you as he started the car and started driving towards the campus park.

The drive was short to the park, and once the car had stopped, the two of you got out of the car and leaned against the hood of it, enjoying the fresh March air. It wasn’t too cold nor too warm, spring having been around the corner. You silently sipped on your tea and ate your pastries, while Jeonghan drank his coffee with a small frown on his face.

You weren’t sure what he was frowning about, but you couldn’t bring yourself to ask as you just basked in the oddly comforting silence. For once, it was nice to be around Jeonghan after years of animosity and bickering. If you told your past self where you were right now, she’d probably scoff and look at you as if you had grown three more heads.

“Is it good?” Jeonghan suddenly spoke up, and that made you look at him. “The pastries, I mean. Are they good?”

“Do you want a bite?” You blurted out your offer, passing the paper bag with the pastry towards him as he paused before leaning in and taking a bite. He hummed, pursing his lips gently before licking them.

“It’s.. It’s not that bad, I guess,” he murmured, washing the sweetness of the pastry off with some more coffee. “Not as sweet as you.”

He added, soon after, with a tiny grin on his lips, causing your whole body to warm up at his words. You were never going to live this down, were you?

After your short breakfast, the two of you decided to take a walk around the park, letting some students see the two of you act all close and ‘lovey-dovey’. You clung to Jeonghan’s arm, smiling sweetly and laughing at his jokes as the students you passed by had their mouths hanging slightly. I mean, since when did you laugh at Yoon Jeonghan’s jokes? And clung to him as if you were in love with the man?

Most people knew how much the two of you hated each other—it was a whole thing around campus because of how popular Jeonghan was with the girls. He was as notorious a fuckboy as Seungcheol. If not worse than him. So, seeing him act so… enamoured by you was strange to say the least. He didn’t look at other girls the way he looked at you, that was sure.

When it was almost time for your first class, Jeonghan walked you to your building, even though his was on the other side of campus. “See you during lunch? I need Seungcheol to see that we’re a thing.”

“Can’t—I promised Mingyu and Jihyo we’d hang out at the library.”

Jeonghan just let a soft ‘ah’ at that before nodding and pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “Alright, then.. I’ll see you later.”

You hummed as you gave him an awkward wave, not expecting the forehead kiss and easy acceptance of the fact that you had other plans with friends.

“He let you hang out with us?” Mingyu raised his eyebrow, skepticism laced in his tone. “Lowkey thought he’d be one of those semi-possessive pricks that wouldn’t let their girlfriends hang out with guys.”

“Mingyu—you were literally telling me to use condoms last time we called.” You swatted your best friend as he snickered, eating a chocolate bar. Jihyo was interested in gossip, so you had told her most of what happened; her reactions were the same as those of your three best friends.

“The two of you started dating way back then? Was it already serious back then or..?” Jihyo, seemingly more observant than your male friends, questioned about the whole nature of the relationship.

“No, we started being more serious just about two weeks ago.” Jeonghan suddenly appeared from behind you, startling you as he sat down beside you. “You don’t mind if I join you guys, right?”

“Jeonghan…” You murmured, surprise still filling you as he hummed, handing you a paper bag that seemed to contain a cream cheese bagel from the cafe you liked hanging around at with your friends.

“No, we don’t mind, but why are you here?” Mingyu seemed suspicious at the sudden appearance of Jeonghan, but the latter kept it cool. “Aren’t you supposed to be with your friends or something?”

“Nah, I ditched Seungcheol to spend some time with my pretty girl here.” Jeonghan ruffled your hair, causing you to swat his hand away and huff before giggling.

“My pretty girl?” 

Both your friends sounded surprised at the new nickname used, glancing at your unbothered reaction, when you’d normally have scoffed by now or insulted Jeonghan in some type of way. But no, you just playfully swatted his hand away and giggled. 

Jihyo recovered from her shock first, and Mingyu followed as the former decided to continue grilling the two of you for answers. “So you haven’t slept with anyone within the month the two of you were casually seeing each other?”

“Nope.” Jeonghan easily answered as if it were the truth. You wanted to scoff, remembering that the last time you went over to his dorm, he was with someone. Noticing your slightly disgruntled expression, Jeonghan leaned to whisper something into your ear. “It was porn.”

You snorted at that, your best friends looking at you confusedly before you continued your little whispered conversation with Jeonghan. “Who watches porn that loud?”

“I did it to pretend to have someone over, you know, so that people would leave me alone.. I haven’t slept with anyone since I told my mom I was dating you.”

That admission seemed to make you feel a bit better for some reason. You weren't sure why, but knowing that Jeonghan hadn’t slept with anyone for the past month because of some blatant lie he'd told his mom was incredibly endearing. But then again, you vividly remembered the girl calling Jeonghan’s name.

“The video said ‘baby’, not ‘Hannie’, angel.” You seemed to have said your thoughts aloud, making him answer your concern before pecking your cheek in front of your friends. “Trust me, if I were to sleep with someone, it’d only be with you. I’m yours as much as you are mine.”

Those words made your whole body flush, and that made Jeonghan grin, cocking his head to the side in slight awe of your reaction. This was fake, this was fake, this was—

“Ahem. We’re still here, you know? You can do this little intimate bubble later.” Mingyu deadpanned, squinting at Jeonghan and you as he crossed his arms.

“Mingyu, shut up, I wanted to see them kiss!” Jihyo whined, hitting your best friend for ruining the moment between you and your fake boyfriend. 

As much as you started to enjoy pretending with Jeonghan, you knew this was dangerous for your heart, and were quietly thankful for Mingyu’s intervention, even if he didn’t know the truth. That was your best friend's intuition for you.

“Shit.. I need to get going, I have cheer practice, and you,” she tugged at Mingyu’s hoodie. “Have football practice. We’ll leave you two to your devices. Don’t have sex here, though, have some decency.” 

Jihyo winked at you before dragging Mingyu out of the library, leaving you and Jeonghan alone. You immediately scooted your chair a little further away from him, only for him to scoot closer to you again, making you furrow your brows.

“Even if your friends aren’t around, other students are. Better safe than sorry, angel. I still have that file saved on my phone.” He cooed, teasing and taunting you with the same thing that made you agree to this dumpster fire of a relationship.

“Here I thought you’d stop being an ass.” You huffed, rolling your eyes. Glancing at the untouched bagel, you took it out and took a bite, sighing in pleasure as the flavour of the cream cheese hit your tongue. “You’re lucky Mingyu was nice enough to comply and give you that list of things I liked, because I would've cursed you out by now.”

Jeonghan was about to correct you, but he hesitated before deciding against it, shaking his head with a soft smile as he let you believe what you wanted to believe.

Jeonghan wasn’t sure where it started; when he’d start paying attention to every little thing about you. He swore he just loved riling you up and seeing you so pissed off at him, but ever since that night, he couldn’t get you out of his head. It was like everything that he had noticed had accumulated, and he remembered everything. The way he overheard how you liked your tea, or that you loved strawberries, or the way you’d scrunch your nose when someone got your order wrong. He noted everything down mentally without even realising it.

He both hated and loved the fact. Hated it because it showed that he cared more than he’d like to admit, but loved it because he’d get to see that surprised expression on your face every time he did something right. It was both a reward and a punishment.

So, when he watched you enjoy the bagel he bought you from the cafe you liked just outside of campus? It made his heart squeeze in both doubt and certainty. He was going to have your heart by the end of the two weeks, or he’d die trying. Otherwise, he’d rip himself to shreds.

“We should get going. Do you have any more classes?” He asked when you finished eating, grabbed his bag, and slung it over his shoulder. When you shook your head, Jeonghan hummed as an idea popped into his head. “Okay, good, I wanted to take you somewhere. It’s a surprise, though, so I’m gonna have to blindfold you. We just have to go to my place for a minute so that I can get said blindfold.”

“Are you sure you’re not trying to kidnap me?” You snorted as you packed your stuff and crushed the paper bag before throwing it away by a nearby trash can. “Also, why do you own a blindfold?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, angel?” He winked playfully, making you flush as he chuckled. He was going to make sure you’d like this surprise, already planning how he wanted to woo you fully.

The drive to his dorm was a short one, and Jeonghan didn’t take long to grab the blindfold, leaving you to wait in his car while you typed on your phone, trying to pass the time by writing some parts for your fic. When he came back, you closed your phone, clearing your throat as if you were almost caught handing out contraband in a prison yard. 

Jeonghan didn’t even blink when he clocked you. “You were writing fanfiction, weren’t you?”

“I—” You tried to defend yourself, but he didn’t let you, chuckling instead.

“Jeez, angel, relax. I’ve seen you write. You don’t have to explain yourself to me, and you can write whatever you want. Now turn around so I can put this blindfold around your eyes.”

You listened, turning around as he wrapped the blindfold around your eyes, careful not to make it too tight but also not too loose. When you sat back, you could only see black, your primary sense taken away from you because of Jeonghan’s supposed surprise.

“We also need to make a small pit stop somewhere, and the surprise is a bit of a drive, so just relax and enjoy being temporarily blind, alright?” He murmured, making you turn your head to look at him with a deadpan expression, but it didn’t work since your eyes were covered. He just chuckled, caressing your cheek before he ignited the car and started to drive.

Jeonghan parked his car after he had driven the two of you somewhere, and told you to stay put while he went to get something. He came back about twenty minutes later or so, opening the door to the backseat and placing some plastic bags into the seats before getting back into the driver’s seat.

“What’d you buy?” You asked curiously, and he only hummed in response, leaving you curious.

Jeonghan continued to drive you both for about 30 minutes before stopping. “Wait a sec, I’ll get you out of the car.”

He simply said before exiting the vehicle, rushing towards your door as he opened it, taking your hand. It was chilly, and you could hear the soft chirping of crickets. You could also smell the dampness in the air. 

“Where are we?” You finally asked as he took off the blindfold from your eyes. It took you a bit to get used to seeing again, but once you did, you gasped softly. You were by the lakeside, where the university used for activities. It was a popular spot among college students, but it seemed stranded.

“We’re at the more secluded part of the lake. I only know of this spot. And now, so do you.” He nosed your temple as he brought you close. You were in awe of the spot, the sun setting from afar beneath the treeline, leaving the sky with a beautiful pinkish-orange hue. “Surprise?”

“This is beautiful, Jeonghan, I—thank you.” 

You looked up at him, eyes soft as he looked back at you with the same look, but it was a bit strained. You wanted to ask him about it, but he only distracted you with the view of the lake as he sat you down on the hood of his car before bringing the food he had bought earlier—burgers and fries. He handed you the food, which you eagerly accepted, as you were a little hungry.

The two of you ate in silence, enjoying each other’s company as your thoughts brought you back to that night when he brought you to that field, and he had done something similar. That reminded you of the almost-kiss. 

You swallowed thickly as you sent Jeonghan short glances, your heart pounding in your chest as you remembered how tipsy you had been back then, how it felt like a good idea to kiss him when you clearly didn’t have to. It made your body tingle as the parallels seemed to happen.

Once you were done eating, Jeonghan threw the containers of your food back into the plastic bag. The two of you enjoyed the sounds of nature before you decided to say something. “Hey, Jeonghan?”

“Mmm? What is it, angel?” He glanced in your direction, tilting his head to the side.

“I… can I ask a stupid question?” 

“Depends,” he murmured, scooting over closer, leaning down as he smiled at you. “What kind of question are we talking about?”

“The type that would make me regret it,” you murmured, the keywords coming out. The type that would make me regret it.

It immediately took him back to that night in the field.

 “You'd better get this away from me before I finish it whole and do something I might regret…”

“Like what, angel?” He murmured, voice soft as he placed both your beers into the cooler before lifting your chin to make you look at him. “Tell me.”

“No.. It’s stupid,” you practically whined, burying your face into his shoulder as you inhaled his scent. He smelled nice. Nicer than you expected, as you sighed softly.

“Come on,” Jeonghan cooed, coaxing you to say what was on your mind. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

You moved your head away from his shoulder to gaze up at his eyes—piercing through you with an unspeakable softness. You mumbled, incoherent to Jeonghan as he leaned down to hear you better. “Mind repeating that, angel?”

“I want you to kiss me.”

Jeonghan swallowed thickly as you watched him react to what you had just said. So he did remember. It wasn’t just a figment of your imagination. He covered his nervousness with a chuckle, a familiar smirk coming to his lips as he spoke.

“And what would make you regret asking it, angel?”

“Because I want you to kiss me, Yoon Jeonghan.” You said simply, but your heart pounded in your chest as you waited for his response. You weren’t tipsy. You were fully in control of your thoughts and words, so there was no doubt that you truly wanted this, and Jeonghan wasn’t just hearing things. 

He clenched his jaw as he chuckled softly, before being on you in seconds. He cradled your face into his hands, bringing it closer to his as he crashed his lips against yours. You couldn’t help but squeak gently at how desperately he kissed you, melting against him as you kissed back. 

Jeonghan didn’t give you time to breathe, slipping his tongue into your mouth as he groaned at the taste of your lips against his once more. 

This kiss was real. And no one was going to take it away from Jeonghan’s cold, dead hands.

“Fuck—” he muttered against your lips, moving his hands from your face to your hips, pulling you flush against him as he continued to ravage you with his mouth, grinding himself against you.

A whine left your lips as your hands tangled in his hair, causing him to grunt softly, loving the way your hands felt in his hair. “This is what you do to me, sweetheart.”

He choked out as he pulled away from the kiss to lead one of your hands to his clothed, half-hard cock, making you palm him through his pants. You whimpered, your eyes glassy as you looked up at him, lips slick with spit and puffy from kissing him so much. 

Your eyes seemed to plead for something, but you seemed unsure to ask as you continued to palm his cock. That’s when he decided to ask, wanting to know what you were thinking about.

“What is it, angel? Talk to me,” he cooed, squeezing your hips as he nuzzled his nose against yours.

You bit your lower lip as he cooed at you, swallowing before voicing out your needs. “I need you to fuck me, Hannie—”

That made Jeonghan’s breath hitch, his eyes searching your face for any hint of hesitation or regret for asking that so suddenly, but he saw none. When you squeezed his dick gently, that made him groan and nod, already leading you to the backseat of his car.

You crawled into the backseat, Jeonghan following suit as he pressed his body close to yours, his hands roaming all over your body. His delicate, slender fingers trailed along your abdomen, pushing your top up to caress the underside of your bra-clad breast while he ground himself against your ass, muttering sweet nothings into your ear.

“Gonna fuck you so good, you’ll forget your name, angel. Gonna ruin this pretty pussy with my cock.”

You whined at that, grinding your ass back against him as he moved his hand to play with your breast, squeezing and pinching your nipple. “Hannie—”

“Shh, let me take care of you, sweets.. Lemme fuck that little attitude out of you until you’re only begging for my cock.” He whispered filthily into your ear, causing your cunt to squeeze around nothing as the continuous grinding only got you wetter. He pushed your top, along with your bra, higher, exposing your breasts to the cold air inside the car. 

That caused your nipples to pebble into hard peaks, making you moan softly when Jeonghan continued to play with your tits until they were sore.

Once he was satisfied with teasing you, he easily dragged your jeans down, leaving you in your baby blue cotton panties, the gusset soaked with your arousal. He sat back on his heels as he palmed your ass, whistling lowly.

“This is one hell of a view…” He muttered to himself, which caused you to push yourself back against him, impatient and whiny.

“Hannie, hurry up—” you complained, only to squeal when he swatted your rear before soothing it with his palm. “Please, Jeonghan, I need it so bad.”

“I know, sweetheart, me too, but let a guy enjoy the view.” He cooed, causing you to huff softly, but you let him get what he wanted.

After a minute or two, he finally moved, grabbing the pack of condoms he had bought from the gas station. “I told you they’d be useful.”

You scoffed, rolling your eyes at his words as you watched him undo his pants slowly, teasing you, a shit-eating grin present on his lips as he pulled out his leaking cock. Your throat dried up at the sight—long and thick, precum beading at the pinkish-red tip. He wrapped his hand around it, stroking himself gently at the sight of you, and all you could do was whine.

He opened the packet, ripping it with his teeth before taking the condom out and rolling it over his shaft, a soft hiss coming out of his lips.

Jeonghan stopped wasting his time now, dragging your panties down to reveal your drooling cunt. You trembled as you licked your lips in anticipation, gasping softly when he positioned his tip against your gaping hole.

“You sure you want to cross this line, angel? This means breaking your “No sex” rule,” he murmured, still giving you an out if you wanted to stop. You only pushed yourself back, jutting your lips slightly.

“Fuck me, Jeonghan,” you pleaded, too horny to think of the rule you had set for both of you. “Rules are meant to be broken.”

Jeonghan groaned in approval at that, as he pushed his tip into your tight heat, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. He tried not to slam into you, letting you get used to the stretch as you cried out his name.

You dug your nails into the leather seat of his car, moaning as his cock filled you up inch by inch. “Jeonghan, fuck—”

“I know, baby, you feel so good stretching around my dick, such a good girl for me, just f’me…” He grumbled as he leaned his body against yours, pressing his chest against your back as he finally bottomed out inside you. You felt the way he stretched you out, your pussy spasming around his thick length, making him grunt as his hips bucked against yours.

Once you had gotten used to his dick inside you, you wriggled your hips, whining softly. “Hannie, move, please..”

Jeonghan listened, praising you once more, making your cunt clamp around his cock tighter at the sound of his voice. He dragged his cock until the tip was the only thing inside of you before slamming back into you full force, causing you to squeal and lean your hand against the door to prevent hitting your head against it. 

He couldn’t help but be rough. Your pussy was so tight around his shaft that it was driving him insane. You whimpered as Jeonghan continued with his punishing thrusts, his cock sliding in and out of you with ease from how wet you were. 

“Fuck, you’re so warm inside, baby. Choking and sucking in my cock like you’ve been needing this—is this what you’ve been wanting? Getting fucked by me like this?” He muttered into your ear, nipping the shell of it gently as he continued to pound into your sweet, dripping hole. You moaned pathetically, crying out as you nodded.

“Come on, baby, use your words, tell me how it feels.”

“F–feels—feels so, so good, H-Hannie–fuck!” You stumbled upon your words, Jeonghan fucking you harder, punctuating each thrust with your words, making you cry out again. 

You could feel yourself get closer to your orgasm, whimpering as you reached for your clit, only for Jeonghan to slap your hand away. “Ah-ah, no touching. You’ll cum when I say you can cum, baby.”

“But–but—” you whimpered, and he only snapped his hips harder against you, making you understand that you weren’t the one in charge here. He was.

Your orgasm built slowly, feeling the heat coil in your gut until you couldn’t hold it in anymore as your pussy spasmed, leaking slick down your thighs. “Hannie, I’m so close—”

“I know, baby, me too..” Jeonghan grunted out as he felt himself get closer to the edge. He moved one hand from your hip towards your pudgy, neglected clit, rubbing the nub in tight circles with his fingers. “Cum for me, angel… Cum around my cock.”

Your toes curled as you wailed, panting as your orgasm hit you like a freight train, coming to you in strong waves of pleasure. Your back arched, eyes rolling to the back of your head as your pussy clenched tightly around Jeonghan’s cock, milking him for what he was worth. He came soon after with a strangled moan, spilling into the condom he was wearing.

The windows of the car were fogged up, and the damp scent of sex lingered on both of you. Jeonghan pulled out with a wet pop, tying the used condom and throwing it into a plastic bag on the floor of the backseat. He watched as you trembled, trying to recover as your empty whole continued to spasm. The sight alone was enough to make him hard again as he soothed you by rubbing your hip.

“You okay..?” He asked softly, catching his breath as he leaned against the backseat door. He manhandled you with ease, turning you around before sitting you down on his lap, his half-hard dick nudging against your mound. 

You were still panting as you leaned your forehead against his. “Can we go again?”

“Baby—”

“Can we please go again, Hannie?” You pleaded in that sweet tone that he wouldn’t be able to deny, even if he tried. He nodded, already nudging his length against your weeping pussy once more before grabbing another condom and pushing himself fully inside you.

Jeonghan fucked you nice and slow this time around, dragging out the feeling of his cock inside you as you ground yourself against him, riding him like he wanted you to. He played with your clit, making you reach your second orgasm quickly before he flipped the two of you over, and he was on top of you again, as you wrapped your legs around his waist. He chased his orgasm before he came into the condom once again. 

He didn’t pull out of you this time, basking in the afterglow as he looked down at you with awe. When you asked for a third round, he practically groaned, not having the stamina you had. But he obliged either way, giving you what you wanted until your legs felt like jelly.

By the time the two of you were finished, you were twitching and whining, and tears were running down your cheeks from how much Jeonghan had ruined you. The two of you were cuddling in the back seat, with you on top of him as he played with your hair.

You weren’t sure what this meant, but the two of you definitely crossed a line you couldn’t come back from. But you weren’t willing to talk about it now, enjoying each other’s presence instead.

After a little while, you sat up, patting Jeonghan’s chest as he stirred from his nap. “We should get going. It’s late.”

He grunted, but you were right. It was indeed getting late, and you’d rather sleep on a comfortable bed instead of the backseat of his car. So, the two of you got dressed, cleaned up after yourselves, and headed up front to the driver and passenger seats. The drive back was quiet and full of tension, but when Jeonghan placed his hand on your thigh, you quietly welcomed the comforting touch.

He squeezed the covered skin gently, humming as he drove while you watched the treeline outside the car window. He tapped his fingers along the steering wheel before glancing at you and speaking. “You good?”

You hummed weakly at his question, closing your eyes as you leaned your head against the cool window. You moved your hand to intertwine it with Jeonghan’s, the touch surprising him, but he didn’t pull away. When you got to your apartment, he parked the car, but didn’t fully turn it off just yet.

“I, uhm…” You started, unsure of what to say, as post-nut clarity set in on the way, your brain arguing with your heart as you avoided looking at Jeonghan. He seemed to understand where you were getting at, squeezing your hand gently.

“We don’t have to talk about it, angel. Just head back upstairs,” he murmured softly, as if he wasn’t going to even try to fight you about this, brushing his fingers along your jaw as he made you look at him, and grabbed your chin gently before bringing you in for a slow, sweet kiss. He pulled away before he could slip his tongue in, holding himself back as he gave you a strained smile. “Good night, angel.”

You exited his car, dazed from the sweet kiss, walking up to your apartment on autopilot as you sat down on your couch before grabbing a throw pillow and screaming into it.

You were fucked. Both literally and figuratively.

You didn’t sleep a wink last night, spending your time writing and bothering Mingyu instead. You decided to email your professors to say you wouldn’t attend your lectures that day and would instead rot in your room.

In the afternoon, Jihyo suddenly came over with snacks and your favourite drinks after hearing from Mingyu that you were supposedly bedrotting in your apartment. She gently kicked the door to your bedroom open, throwing the grocery bag into your bed before crossing her arms. “Okay, spill. Why weren’t you in any of your classes today?”

“I stayed up all night..?” You glanced at her with toner pads on your cheeks, one knee tucked close to your chest as you stated the obvious. You fidgeted in your chair, your leg that was down on the floor bouncing gently as you looked at your laptop screen blankly.

“Okay, that can’t be the only reason you missed Classical Lit. I took notes for you, by the way, I’ll send them to you later.” She plopped down on your bed, noticing your clenched jaw as you typed. You seemed distracted, which she could clock immediately from the years she’s spent time with you. “You’re thinking about something.”

You cursed mentally, closing your eyes as you sighed. You couldn’t tell Jihyo you fucked Jeonghan and that you were freaking out about it, because that would seem suspicious for two people who were supposedly dating for a month now, right?

“I, uh.. I might’ve done something,” you started, your shoulders slightly tensing up as you continued. “I fucked Jeonghan.”

Jihyo shot up, sitting down straight as he heard the words ‘Jeonghan’ and ‘fucked’ in the same sentence. “You did what?”

You winced at Jihyo’s reaction, though you were a bit thankful that she was surprised. You turned your chair as you scratched your head before picking on the material of the sweatpants you were wearing.

“Is that why you didn’t come to any of your lectures today? Because you’re sore from getting laid?” 

“What–?! No! I—I just.. I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus, and– and I didn’t know how to feel about it…” You looked down at your rug, unsure of what you were currently doing as Jihyo’s gaze softened.

“Oh, honey, you’re freaking out, aren’t you?” You nodded at that, jaw still clenched as you thought of how to explain it to Jihyo without sounding like you weren’t used to a relationship with Jeonghan.

“It’s just… It was our first time, you know? I initiated it, and it was amazing, god, it was absolutely amazing, but post-nut clarity or whatever…” You muttered, chewing on the inside of your cheek.

Jihyo just hummed at that, thinking of something to say. “Did the two of you talk about it? You know, after?”

You shook your head, and Jihyo sighed at that. You bit your lower lip before adding something more, knowing that Jihyo just wanted to help.

“We did cuddle in his backseat for a little while. And he kissed me good night afterwards.”

“YOU HAD SEX IN HIS CAR?!” She covered her mouth after screaming, apologising for startling you as she cleared her throat. “I–sorry, I just didn’t expect Jeonghan to have sex with you in his car. He never does that with anyone. Did… did you do it in a parking lot or something?”

“What—no! He took me to that lake our university uses for water sports, but not to the usual hook-up spot most students go to. He took me to a spot only he knew about, bought snacks that I liked, and it escalated from there.” You scratched your cheek as Jihyo’s jaw hung open. You blinked at her, concerned as you took off the toner pads on your face, getting up from your chair to throw the pads away.

Once she recovered, she turned to where you were standing, doing the rest of your skin care routine. “Girl, you should know that Yoon Jeonghan has never fucked anyone in his car before. He treats that thing like his temple—”

“Please.” You rolled your eyes, but Jihyo seemed serious. That reminded you of what Jeonghan said to you before.

“Chill out, I don’t have sex in my car.”

“Seriously, girl, if he did all that, that means a lot. I might not know Jeonghan that well, but I do know his sex habits. He never, and I mean never, had sex with someone in his car. Never. None of the girls I know who hooked up with him has ever done it with him—”

“Okay, enough. I get it. I’m special or something…” You grumbled, still doubting inside. Not because Jeonghan never fucked anyone in his car, but you before but because you could feel your feelings stirring in your chest when you knew that this was supposed to be fake. 

Jihyo could sense there was something still bothering you, so she just dragged you into your bed after you placed down whatever skincare product you were holding. “You’re literally his girl. But you’re doubting something. What is it?”

“Nothing, it’s just that we didn’t talk about it. I mean, not that I didn’t want to, but I was also scared, I guess?” You shrugged, and your friend just nodded gently.

“Do you want to do it again?” She suddenly asked, catching you off guard. Did you want to do it again? You weren’t sure. But what you were sure of was that it couldn’t happen again. It shouldn’t because you weren’t sure you wouldn’t catch feelings for Jeonghan if you did.

“I don’t know.” You just answered her, looking at your ceiling.

You wanted to slap yourself. Catch feelings for Jeonghan? That was a ridiculous thought, but it lingered in there—in the deepest pits of your hesitant heart. You could feel your anxiety spiking, but you shoved it down into the box you hid deep in your head as you just sighed. Past you really screwed you over.

A few hours into your hangout with Jihyo, you received a text from Jeonghan that you decided to ignore until it was late in the evening, and Jihyo had decided to leave, but not before giving you a tight squeeze and reassuring you that it’d be okay.

Jeonghan: Are you home?

Jeonghan: I have something for you, so please reply.

Jeonghan: Angel??

Jeonghan: I’m coming over.

That was his latest message, and you were going to rip your hair out as you continued to pace in your living room, wearing your ratty t-shirt and sweatpants. You weren’t ready to face him yet. What were you supposed to say? What were you supposed to—

A knock interrupted your thoughts, and you took a deep breath. You could do this.

You opened the door to find Jeonghan, wearing a simple navy blue hoodie and grey sweatpants, holding a white teddy bear in silly overalls and a basket of strawberries. “Hey.”

“Hi.” You stood by your door, blocking the entrance as he smiled at you. “What—what is that?”

“Oh, uh… I saw it while I was shopping earlier, and decided to buy it. It’s for you. I named it Jeonghan Jr., isn’t he adorable?” He tilted his head as he made the bear wave at you.

“I—you came over just to give me a bear?” You sputtered, blinking at him rapidly as he shrugged.

“Yes, and to talk.” His expression got a little more serious as you swallowed thickly, unsure if you wanted to let him in. “Can I come in?”

You faltered for a minute before finally moving aside to let him in, closing the door as you stood there awkwardly. You led him to your living room, letting him sit on your couch as he looked at everything—the pictures on the wall of you and your friends, the tiny bookshelf in the corner where you had your reading nook, and some other memorabilia you had. There were fairy lights on the rod of the window curtains, giving the room a warm glow as lamps lit the space instead of the ceiling light. It felt homey.

“What did you want to talk about?” You blurted out, feeling observed as Jeonghan perceived your space. He patted the space beside him, but you only shook your head as you hugged yourself. You couldn’t trust yourself to sit so close to him after last night. Not when his touch still lingered on your skin as if it branded you.

He sighed, placing Jeonghan Jr. by your throw pillows before rubbing his neck, as if he felt awkward. Maybe he was, you couldn’t tell. “About last night…”

“We, I— if you thought it was a mistake, I totally get it, I don’t know what had gotten to me last night, I’m sorry—” you started to ramble, looking around to avoid his gaze as you supported a nervous smile.

“Angel.”

“I said that rules should be broken, yes, but I wasn’t thinking straight, not really, I guess I was really horny and whatnot—”

“Angel, listen to me.” He finally cut you off, not realising he had gotten up from your couch as he grabbed your shoulders. “Listen to me, and tell me one thing.”

“Yeah..?” You looked up at him, eyes full of conflicting feelings you weren’t sure how to address as your heart continued to clash with your brain. You were supposed to hate Jeonghan, so why were you feeling like this?

“Do you regret it?” He simply asked, making you blink at him.

Did you regret it? How the hell were you supposed to answer that? How were you supposed to answer a question like that when your feelings were all over the place? 

You only clenched your jaw before answering what you had to say to keep this less messy.

“Yes.” No. “I do.” I don’t. You had to prevent yourself from clenching your jaw as you looked at how Jeonghan’s face seemed to harden up as he just nodded. You could feel your heart clench in your chest, even though it wasn’t supposed to do that.

“Do you?” You decided to ask back even though you knew that the answer would hurt. You needed to know.

“No.” He shook his head, no hint of that smile you always saw on his lips. “Not one bit, angel.” 

He answered simply and honestly, and that took your breath away, not expecting such an answer to come from him. “But I understand where you’re coming from, so I’ll leave you to your devices for now.”

He let go of your shoulders, passing you to head towards the front door, and you didn’t stop him. Why would you? This was fake, so there was no point in pretending to care about it.

The door to your apartment clicked shut, but it made you flinch as if he slammed it closed either way. You stumbled into your couch, covering your face with your hands as you felt the lump in your throat growing and your eyes stinging. 

You let yourself cry into your hands quietly, taking in sniffles as you realised how much you craved Jeonghan’s presence even if you hated it sometimes. 

You liked Jeonghan.

It had been four whole days since your conversation with Jeonghan, and the two of you acted like normal, sharing kisses here and there or holding hands in public. You pretended it didn’t affect you, but it was slowly getting to you with every lingering kiss coming from him, or whispering a joke that only the two of you would laugh about in front of your group of friends.

Right now, you were driving home a day early with Jeonghan for Tommy’s birthday party on Saturday. His hand was lazily placed on the console of his car while he hummed along to the music in the car. You, on the other hand, were fidgeting with your fingers, unable to stay still as you picked at your cuticles.

Jeonghan noticed, grabbing your hand before you could make your fingers bleed. “Stop doing that.”

He chided softly, glancing at you before looking back at the road. He intertwined your fingers together, and your throat tightened, being reminded of that night as you closed your eyes shut.

Your eyes only opened when he squeezed your hand comfortingly, a silent reassurance of sorts that gave your heart more reason to clench and ache. Was this really the same man you used to hate? The same man who picked on you and embarrassed you? You couldn’t tell anymore as you avoided looking at him.

Once you'd gotten back home, you were greeted by your younger brother as he tackled both you and Jeonghan, a soft ‘oomph’ coming out from the two of you as you laughed softly. You ruffled your younger brother’s hair before picking him up into your arms.

“You missed us, didn’tcha, bud?” Your brother nodded as he hugged you tightly, then looked at Jeonghan with a wide smile.

“Hannie is here too!” He said excitedly, and you hummed, nodding. Jeonghan booped Tommy’s nose, making the kid scrunch his face before he laughed.

“Of course, bud, I promised I’d bring your big sis home early, didn’t I?” He reminded the little boy, and your eyes softened at that. “And we have a plethora of presents.”

Jeonghan whispered with a wink, and Tommy’s eyes sparkled at the mention of gifts. When he asked to see them, you denied him, telling him he’d receive them on Saturday, his actual birthday. The boy pouted but settled down after your dad took him and coaxed him into a game of hide-and-seek.

“He’s such a hyperactive kid.” Jeonghan sighed, and you snorted softly at how tired he looked. The two of you headed up to your room, placing your stuff there before he closed the door, and you paused when you felt the air change.

“Angel…” He murmured behind you, and you could swear every hair on your body stood at that sound of his voice. His hands moved to touch your hips, hesitant, but there.

“Yeah?” You whispered, voice airy as he pressed himself against you, head leaning against your shoulder as he let out a deep sigh.

“Nothing. Just let me hold you like this for a second.” He sounded strained, as if he was holding himself back.

“You don’t have to do that when we’re alone like this, Jeonghan. That’s against the rules—”

“Screw the fucking rules, angel. We crossed lines nights ago, so just let me have this.” His tone was hard, but not harsh, as he pleaded. So, you let him hold onto you like that for five minutes before he finally pulled away. 

Jeonghan cleared his throat. “I’m going downstairs. You coming?”

“I—I’ll be there in a bit. I still have to unpack some of my stuff.” You turned to look at him, expression unreadable. He paused before refraining from saying anything else and left you alone. Once he had exited the room, you let out a breath you were holding, running your fingers through your hair. What the hell was going on with him?

You finished unpacking about fifteen minutes later, going down to find Jeonghan lounging around in the living room before his gaze found yours, and he stood up, licking his lips. “Do you, uh, want to go on a walk with me?”

You blinked, swallowing thickly as you looked around to see your parents by the dining table, probably eavesdropping. Nodding, the two of you headed towards the front door, shouting to your parents that you were going on a stroll with Jeonghan.

The two of you walked in silence around your neighbourhood, feeling too awkward to talk. It’s been like that all day, or when the two of you were alone. All because of that evening.

Then, you noticed something with the corner of your eye, gasping softly, which made Jeonghan turn his head towards where you were looking. It was the playground you, Jeonghan, and Mingyu used to play in—well, mostly you and Jeonghan, since Mingyu was forced to study all the time.

“Do you wanna go?” He murmured, and you nodded, already walking towards the swings as you snorted at the memory coming to you.

“You used to push me off the swing a lot.” You sat down on one of them, glancing at Jeonghan and waiting for him to sit down. 

He chuckled at the memory you triggered, sitting down beside you as he started swinging himself gently. “That was only because you hogged my spot.”

“It wasn’t your spot, Jeonghan, it’s a public playground!” You laughed softly, pushing him gently as he cracked a genuine smile. It was the first one that wasn’t as strained as the others from a couple of days ago. 

“Yeah, but it was my favourite swing! The seat was comfortable back then.” He sighed, reminiscing about the times of your childhood with a fond smile. “I remember pulling at your pigtails, though.”

“You suck,” you grumbled, making him laugh as you pouted, but laughed along with him. The atmosphere between you was lighter, and you felt relief. He seemed to be looking at you now, and you looked back at him with a soft, warm smile that he returned. Something pulled at your heartstrings.

That’s when you leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Jeonghan’s lips without expecting to do it. You gasped softly, pulling away, but he chased your lips and brought your face closer once more, pressing his mouth against yours more firmly as he kissed you.

You let yourself melt into the kiss and mewled softly when Jeonghan slipped his tongue inside your mouth. He kissed you as if you’d disappear if he didn’t hold onto you long enough. He held your face as if you were something he cherished and cared about, something he didn’t want to lose. And on the inside, you hoped that the latter was true.

Both of you pulled away for air, panting softly as Jeonghan leaned his forehead against yours, smiling. “I.. I didn’t expect that.”

“Me neither,” you mumbled shyly as he pecked your slightly swollen lips before getting off the swing and offering his hand. You tilted your head in confusion as you took his hand and got up from the swing you were sitting on. “Are we going back already?”

“You don’t expect me to fuck the lights out of my girlfriend in a playground, do you?” He smirked, tilting your head up with his index finger before cooing at you. “Or are you into that thing?”

You flushed, slapping his hand away as you grumbled and started walking ahead of him back to your house, as he chuckled and followed suit. You were back to bantering, which was good. But that didn’t really confirm or deny your feelings for one another.

Heading back to the house, you made a small pit stop at a convenience store to get some snacks and drinks. On the way back, he decided to quietly grab your hand without warning, pretending to be oblivious to the fact that the two of you were holding hands. You stifled a laugh at that, buying into his deception as both of you walked home holding hands.

“We’re back!” You shouted from the front door, and your mother answered back with a brief “dinner will be ready in an hour”, giving you time to kill. Once you finished taking off your shoes, you went upstairs with Jeonghan, your mind fully straight on one thing—finishing your fic.

So you plopped onto your bed, holding your laptop while Jeonghan looked at you with a barely restrained smile. You looked back at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering what he found so amusing while your laptop booted up.

“Nothing, nothing… It’s just that I kind of knew you were going to start writing the minute you chose those specific snacks and drinks at the convenience store earlier. I find it cute.”

He sat down on your bed, putting your legs over on his lap as he rubbed your calf up to your knee, making you shudder slightly as your focus shifted from your laptop to him. “Jeonghan.. What—what are you planning?”

“Didn’t I say I wanted to fuck my girlfriend senseless earlier?” He purred, fingers trailing up your thigh. Curse you and your decision to wear shorts earlier!

“Jeonghan, you—you were joking,” you murmured, voice pitched in a soft whine as he chuckled.

“I don’t joke about that type of thing, sweetheart. Put your computer away and spread those pretty legs. We have an hour before dinner's on the table, so I'd like to have dessert first.” His eyes were lidded, tone completely serious as you fidgeted. You couldn’t tell if he was messing with you or not, and it was both incredibly arousing and nerve-wracking.

That’s when Jeonghan grabbed your laptop, closed it, and tossed it somewhere on your bed. He gently pried your legs open, slotting himself between them, and you let him as your breath stuttered.

“Can I show my girlfriend how much she means to me..?” Jeonghan’s voice was laced with nervousness and need, his crotch pressing against yours as he brushed away a few strands of hair from your face. He waited for your approval, not moving an inch until you said yes. He searched your expression, seeing nothing but uncertainty, and he wanted to get rid of it.

“I.. I don’t know, Jeonghan…” You trailed off, seeing his expression twist into something you considered disappointment, before you continued. “Can you?”

It was soft, but enough for Jeonghan to hear as he sighed in relief, muttering something along the lines of “fucking tease” before crashing his lips onto yours. He kept his grinds minimal, to tease you of what was to come, as he moved his lips against yours with vigour, his fingers skimming and squeezing your thighs. His hands travelled along your plush body, groaning softly.

“You’re so perfect, angel. You don’t even know how much you drive me crazy,” he muttered against your mouth, pushing your top gently to touch the soft skin of your waist.

You chased his lips as he smiled before pressing soft pecks, giving you what you wanted, but not enough to satisfy. “Yeah? How do I drive you crazy, Hannie?”

“Firstly, that,” he murmured, nose brushing over yours as he spoke. “Love it when you call me that.”

“What else? Enlighten me, Mr. Yoon.” Jeonghan groaned at that, grinding his hips against your clothed core a bit harder, causing you to gasp softly. He placed another soft peck on your lips, nipping your lower lip as he grinned.

“Secondly, the way you gasp when I touch you. The pretty sounds you make when I tease you.” He whispered, hands squeezing and trailing up to the underside of your breasts, cupping the soft flesh over your lacy bra.

You gasp softly, already panting when all he did was gently grind against you and touch you so lightly. He chuckled at that. “Already so worked up… my lovely angel needs me to help her, don’t you?”

He cooed, and you nodded, unable to deny the fact that you needed him. Badly. So, he gave you what you wanted, grinding his hips properly now, as he leaned his head down to kiss down along your jaw and neck, nipping the skin gently as your arms found themselves wrapping around his neck lazily.

Jeonghan worked on taking your shorts off while kissing your neck and collar bones, making sure not to leave visible marks as he finally shimmied your shorts off down to your ankles, leaving you in your baby pink panties. “Cute—hey, ow-!”

He winced when you slapped his back as he chuckled against your neck. That’s when he spotted the damp spot on your underwear, making him smirk. Your face flushed as you turned your head when he looked up at you with a teasing glint in his eyes. He then moved his hand to ghost over the gusset.

“Already so wet for me? I haven’t even done anything yet…” He pressed his fingers against your clothed entrance, teasing and rubbing along your clothed slit. You whined and squirmed, your thighs loosening and spreading a bit wider for him, which made Jeonghan smirk. He played and teased your pussy until you were drenched, your inner thighs coated with slick.

“Hannie—I, I can’t—” you whined, writhing after the amount of teasing. You craved more, and you wanted Jeonghan to give it to you. “Please, please, please—”

“Aw, resorting to begging already, angel? Okay, I’ll be nice and give you my cock. That is what you want, right?” He cooed, and you couldn’t help but nod hastily, wanting anything he had to offer you—anything that would reduce the quelling ache in your cunt.

Jeonghan pushed his sweatpants and boxers down to his thighs, letting his cock out of its confines, gently slapping it over your covered pussy. He then shoved your panties to the side, too impatient to tug them off you. 

He bit his lower lip, watching as he pushed himself into you, seeing how your little hole stretched as you stifled your moan against his shoulder. He could feel your walls spasming around him as you took him in, welcoming the intrusion. “That’s it, sweetheart, just take my cock, hm? Let me make you feel good.”

“Hannie—” you whined, mouth agape as your head hit your pillows when he snapped his hips harshly, bottoming out in one thrust. Your legs trembled as he set a punishing pace, making you let out obscene noises he had to muffle with his hand to prevent alerting your parents.

“Be quiet, angel… You don’t want to get caught, do you?” He crooned, his thrusts relentless as you shook your head and tears glazed your eyes from pleasure. He was ruining you, and you loved it.

“Fuck, at this point I might cum in you—” he muttered, making your eyes go wide at the fact that he was currently fucking you raw. Were the two of you that impatient? Your eyes rolled back from the feeling of his bare cock inside you, Jeonghan chuckling when he felt you get slipperier, your drooling hole clenching and unclenching around him as filthy sounds of skin slapping, your muffled moans, and his stifled grunts filled the room.

The way you reacted to the fact of him fucking you without a condom was what got him off. “You like that, don't you? My bare dick inside your messy pussy? You just want me to cum inside this pretty little hole and fill you up, don't you? Come on, baby, tell me.”

Jeonghan moved his hand from your mouth, your soft moans turning into a soft pant as he slowed his pace down. You managed to keen out a soft whine, and he snickered at how fucked out you looked underneath him.

“So cute… You can't even utter a word because you're so drunk off my cock, aren't you?” He murmured condescendingly, a little bit mean, but you only moaned. Your fingers grasped the t-shirt he was wearing, fisting it tightly.

“F–faster, please, go faster—” you choked out, your tears running down from the corner of your eyes, and Jeonghan wiped them away before snapping his hips gently, giving you what you wanted, but not quite.

“Do you deserve that, angel? Do you deserve to get fucked hard and fast by me?” He cooed, sweet yet mean, keeping his pace achingly slow. “Do you deserve that after telling me you regretted fucking me the first time?”

You cried out softly when he stopped moving, your pussy squeezing him, milking him as he moved his hand from your cheek to stimulate your pudgy clit. Your toes curled as your legs twitched at the pleasure jolting through you in a different way.

“I didn't mean it—I lied, I lied, Hannie, I didn't regret it—” you babbled, pleading with him to start moving again. You admitting that you didn't regret that night ignited something in Jeonghan, his hips moving once more, full of vigour and need as he grabbed one of your legs and hooked it over his shoulder, reaching deeper into you, as he pistoned his cock in and out of your drippy cunt.

You clung to him, eyes closing shut as you buried your face into his neck, your release coming dangerously close. He could feel the way your walls started to spasm, sucking him in like a suction, desperate for his cum, but he knew better.

He continued his ministrations on your bundle of nerves while plunging himself into you deeply, his thrusts getting sloppier as he made sure you came before him. 

The heat in your stomach coiled with each thrust and touch, your body heating up impossibly as you reached the edge and started to cum around his shaft, almost triggering Jeonghan’s orgasm as he grunted and held back.

He prolonged your high and chased his release as he rutted into you before pulling out and coming all over your stomach, groaning as his vision blurred. Panting softly, Jeonghan’s hips bucked involuntarily, a moan leaving his lips when he saw you painted with his cum while your legs shook. 

That’s when the two of you froze, a knock being heard. “Honey? Is everything okay in there? Dinner’s ready.”

You could hear your mom’s voice through the door, making your sex-hazed brain clear up immediately as you spoke up with a hoarse voice, still recovering from the physical activity you’d just done with Jeonghan.

“W–we’re fine, Mom! We’ll be down in ten—no, fifteen minutes!” You stumbled between your words as Jeonghan pressed gentle kisses on your neck and collarbones to give you a hard time answering. Satisfied with your answer, your mother left, her footsteps fading as you let out a sigh in relief.

“You look so hot covered with my cum, angel…” He murmured against the valley of your breasts, nosing the soft lace as he looked at you with lidded eyes. “Do we have to go downstairs?”

“Jeonghan.” You rolled your eyes as you pushed his face away from your chest, and he grunted and pouted. “Clean me up.”

“Gladly—” 

“Not like that!” You hissed, smacking him as he chuckled and got off you to grab a few tissues from the tissue box on your nightstand before wiping off the cum from your stomach and helping you fix yourself up. Once you were done, you were about to leave the room, but Jeonghan grabbed your wrist, spinning you around to face him. He grabbed your waist with his free hand before placing a soft kiss on your lips, which made you huff.

“You’re so needy,” you grumbled, cheeks flushing. 

He only kissed you again, smiling against your lips before speaking. “And insatiable. But only for you, angel.”

The two of you went downstairs five minutes later than you told your mom, trying not to look awkward as both of you bickered quietly before sitting down beside each other. Your family talked as usual, unaware of what had occurred between you and Jeonghan just thirty minutes ago. 

While you ate, one of Jeonghan’s hands found itself on your thigh, rubbing sensually as you tried not to squirm in your seat to avoid suspicion from your parents. He pretended like nothing was happening, happily conversing with your father about something random you had tuned out. When his hand ghosted your center, your leg jolted, and your knee hit the table, alarming your parents as they looked at you with slightly confused expressions.

“Muscle spasm, sorry.” You apologised, shoving some mashed potatoes into your mouth. “These potatoes are really good, Mom. Right, Hannie?”

You looked at Jeonghan as you suddenly shoved a spoonful of the mashed potatoes into his mouth, catching him off guard as he just chewed and hummed. That gave you the chance to swat his hand away from your thigh while you poured some juice into his cup, acting like the doting, sweet girlfriend you were.

“So,” your mother started. “Any plans for the future? Like kids, hm?”

You and Jeonghan both choked on your drinks, almost spitting them out. “Mom!”

You gave your mother a look as she looked away with an innocent look on her face. Jeonghan recovered soon after, running his fingers through his hair as he nervously chuckled.

“Where’d you get that sudden idea, auntie?” He asked, and your mother hummed softly while your father looked stiff and awkward for bringing up such a conversation during dinner.

“Oh, I don’t know. It just seemed like a good question, you know. I’d like grandbabies soon!”

“Mom. We’re literally still in college.” You deadpanned, but your mother wasn’t truly being logical until Tommy decided to chime in on the conversation.

“I don’t wanna be an uncle yet! I’m too young!” He whined, and the situation got a lot lighter as you snorted softly and Jeonghan shook his head and smiled. The conversation then shifted to Tommy’s birthday and preparations for the next day, giving you time to breathe as you continued eating dinner in peace.

After dinner, Jeonghan and you headed upstairs to get ready for bed, with you going to the bathroom first. You did your skincare, changed into your pyjamas, and headed back to your bedroom, where Jeonghan was scrolling through his phone, wearing nothing but his sweatpants. You were still getting used to seeing him shirtless, and you couldn’t help but enjoy the view for a bit.

You nibbled on your lower lip before clearing your throat, announcing your presence to him as he looked up from his phone. “You can go to the bathroom now.”

He hummed, getting up from your bed before passing you, only to stop to whisper. “Glad you’re enjoying the view, angel.”

Your cheeks and neck burned as he left the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts. That’s when everything hit you. What were the two of you even doing? Was… was this real now? You weren’t sure until you asked him, but it contained more beans to spill than you wanted to deal with right now. So you shook it off, deciding it was better to enjoy the moment than overthink it.

When Jeonghan came back, he saw you half-sitting on your bed, leaning against the headboard as you read a book. Sighing softly with a fond smile, he moved towards the bed, deciding to slot himself between your legs and lie down on you. A grunt left your lips as you tried to kick him off somehow, but failed while he buried his face into your chest.

“You’re clingy,” you whined as you placed your book down, sighing in defeat when Jeonghan inhaled and exhaled deeply. “Why are you like this?”

You complained, but moved your hands to his hair, gently playing with the soft strands. He only hummed, pressing his cheek against you, and listened to your calm heartbeat.

“Because I think I’m gonna break another rule.”

Your breath hitched at that, and your heart started to increase its pace. Jeonghan seemed to notice how your body suddenly went rigid and let out a soft exhale before looking at you.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured, eyes soft and full of something vulnerable as his hold on your body tightened. “Not yet, at least. I’m still figuring this out myself. But…”

Jeonghan trailed off, smiling at you. “I do want you, angel. More than you know.”

Those words hit you harder than you’d like to expect, sending your thoughts through a whirlwind of possibilities. Did that mean that this was real now? You wanted to voice all your thoughts, and Jeonghan sensed you had questions, so he simply answered them for you.

“I want you, as in I want you, angel. I don’t want to see anyone else after this whole thing ends.” He shifted, hovering over you now, his face leaning close to yours as his hair tickled your skin. You swallowed thickly, not knowing what to say as your heart raced.

“Does this mean we stop faking it..?” You finally managed to speak after a minute or two, your voice quiet and hesitant.

“Only if you want to.” Jeonghan watched your brows furrow as you looked away, as if you thought about the pros and cons of actually dating him properly. He didn’t rush you, not wanting to scare you off, and afraid of your answer.

You were silently freaking out, unsure of the whole thing as you frowned at the sudden change. Did you want to stop faking it? Did you truly want Jeonghan in the way he wanted you? You already figured out that you liked him, but you didn’t know what went through his head, and you didn’t want to get hurt in the long run.

Seeing the hesitation in your eyes, Jeonghan faltered, figuring out your answer through your face alone, his jaw clenching before unclenching as he started speaking. “I… I was just messing with you. Forget it.”

He muttered, pressing his cheek against your chest as he tried to fall asleep to the sound of your heartbeat, leaving you even more confused and full of unanswered questions.

You started the day pretty early due to preparations for Tommy’s birthday party. He had invited a few friends from school, so it was going to be quite a big party, filled with kids, which meant a lot of work for you, Jeonghan, and both of your parents.

You were currently busy preparing the cake, always baking it from scratch, and trying your best to make whatever your brother requested. Thankfully, he asked for something simple—a blue three-tiered cake with toy cars. You tried to make the toy cars edible and tried your best to make them as accurate as possible to the movie characters your brother was obsessed with.

Preparing the cake also meant being distracted from your thoughts. Jeonghan left you with questions he was probably unwilling to answer after last night, but at least it wasn’t as awkward as it was a few days ago.

While you were decorating the cake, Jeonghan came into the kitchen with a stack of boxes containing new toys and a bunch of wrapping paper. He placed boxes on the counter with a soft grunt. “How’s the cake going?”

You paused as he tried to make conversation, your eyes moving from the spot you were piping to your fake boyfriend. The mere presence of him threw you off your game, and you hated yourself for liking it too much while you were still thinking of the situation that happened yesterday. The sex, the talk. Everything.

“What does it look like, Jeonghan?” You were snappy, and he understood that, but still flinched gently at your tone. You were confused and angry, but mostly angry from frustration with decorating the cake and the lingering questions in your head. “I’m decorating the cake. That’s how it’s going.”

“Got it.”

He stayed quiet after that, doing what he planned to do, which was wrapping the gifts you had bought for your brother—well, Jeonghan bought half of them, arguing with you by the register about who was going to pay for them. He ended up winning, shutting you up with an embarrassingly long kiss in public—the stupid bastard.

You gritted your teeth as you just continued piping the cake with the blue whipped cream, accidentally squeezing on the piping bag a little too tightly, which caused it to pop, sending the cream everywhere, mostly landing on your shirt. It landed on Jeonghan as well, prompting him to pause on what he was doing as he blinked and looked at you.

“You did that on purpose.” He deadpanned as he grabbed the bowl where the rest of the whipped cream was, and scooped some into his finger before wiping it on your face. You screeched, retaliating as you snatched the plastic bowl from him and smeared the cream on his jaw and neck. “Oh, you little—”

Jeonghan let out a scoff as he chased you around the kitchen, as you squealed, trying to avoid him. That’s when your dad entered the kitchen to see the whipped cream all over the place. Your father cleared his throat, bringing the chase of cat and mouse between you and Jeonghan to a halt, your boyfriend’s hands wrapped around your waist as he picked you up to keep you from running.

“You'd better clean this mess up before your mom and Tommy come back from the store.” With that order, Jeonghan let go of you, nodding at your father. 

Once your father left the room, you got rid of your shirt, leaving you in your tank top, leaving Jeonghan gaping before turning his head away, muttering to himself as he wiped the excess cream from his face with a paper towel.

You made a new batch of whipped cream, finished the cake, and put it in the fridge to cool overnight for the party the next day. You hated the silence between the two of you, and even if you were still partly annoyed at Jeonghan, you just wanted to talk to him.

“Hey.” You started, albeit awkwardly, but that caught his attention as he finished wrapping up the gifts for your younger brother. “Sorry about earlier…”

He waved it off, shaking his head as he cocked his head to the side and smiled. “No need to apologise about that, angel. Don’t worry about it.”

“But I—”

“Hush. How about you just help me take these into your room so that the little man doesn’t see them before his birthday party tomorrow?” He countered, trying to keep the atmosphere light between the two of you. 

He didn’t want to linger on what happened, like usual. So, you followed with it, taking a stack of the boxes from Jeonghan before the two of you headed up to your room. If he didn’t want to take responsibility for whatever was going on between the two of you, you wouldn’t either. 

Guests—mostly kids Tommy’s age—were already filling up your backyard as you juggled between the bowls of snacks and drinks you were carrying, clearly struggling before Jeonghan stepped in. The two of you hadn’t talked since yesterday, having just cuddled in your bed in silence, accepting each other’s warmth.

Other than that, you avoided him like the plague in your own home. It was easy with all of the commotion going on, though you still bumped into him once in a while when your mother called for both of you.

“Ask for help, don’t you?” He murmured, grabbing the juice from under your pits as he walked toward one of the tables set out in the backyard. “Stop avoiding me.”

“I’m not avoiding you, I’m just busy.” You snapped back softly, not wanting to start an argument in front of Tommy and his friends. 

Jeonghan huffed and placed the juice bottles on the table before turning to face you. “You are avoiding me, and I don't blame you. I'm an asshole, remember?”

You clenched your jaw at that, knowing what he was trying to do. He was trying to paint himself as the same person you used to hate. Deciding to ignore him, you set the bowls of snacks out, kids swarming the table as you assisted them pour juice into their cups, smiling softly as you busied yourself rather than bothering with Jeonghan. 

After a bit, your parents took over for you, letting you take a breather in the kitchen. You were nursing some juice in a glass, leaning against the counter, when Jeonghan came into the kitchen with an empty bowl. He paused for a second when he saw you before grabbing a bag of chips and pouring the contents into the bowl.

Silence filled the room, aside from the crinkling of the foil bag Jeonghan was crushing between his hands after filling the bowl with chips. He threw the foil pack into the trash and grabbed the bowl before finally sighing and placing it back down. You continued nursing and sipping on your drink, ignoring him, before he grabbed your wrist and dragged you upstairs.

“Jeonghan, what the fuck are you doing?” You frowned as he kept quiet and dragged you to the upstairs bathroom before locking the door. Blinking furiously, your frown deepened as you scoffed. “What the fuck are we doing in my bathroom?”

Jeonghan just shrugged, prompting you to head over to the door, but he easily stopped you as he caged you between himself and the bathroom counter. “To talk.”

“We talked, what the fuck are you on?” You muttered as you tried to get under his arm to escape, but he didn’t let you, which made you grunt softly. He was being irrational, and you couldn’t be stuck in the bathroom with him right now. Not when your parents might need your help.

“I mean, without this animosity—I don’t like it, angel.” It was his turn to frown as he leaned down. You let out another huff, snorting softly. “I’m serious.”

“Yeah, right. Tell me that when you actually mean it, because I’m not letting you mess with me again–mnf-!” You grumbled, rolling your eyes, only to widen your eyes when he pressed his lips against yours. One of his hands snaked to the back of your head, holding onto the nape of your neck as he kept you there. 

His lips desperately moved against yours, fingers tangling in your hair as he tilted your head a bit to the side. You hit his chest as you tried to pull away, only to give up and melt against him after a minute of resisting.

You grasped onto his shirt, fisting it tightly as you returned his kiss, a relieved grunt leaving Jeonghan when he felt you relax against him. A sigh left you when he moved his mouth from yours down to your jaw and neck, licking and nipping but not marking. You mewled when he nipped a particular spot on the slope of your neck, making him smile against your skin.

“You drive me insane, angel,” he muttered softly against your neck, which earned him a soft scoff from you once more.

“I know, you said that before—” you cut yourself off with a soft gasp when he pressed himself against you, his clothed erection pressing against your lower stomach. Biting your lower lip, your hand let go of his shirt, snaking down to cup his hard cock against his jeans. 

A choked-out groan left his lips, his forehead pressing against the slope of your neck as you palmed him through his pants and gently squeezed. “Angel, I wouldn’t recommend that if I were you…”

“And why not?” You nosed his temple, your breath ghosting his ear as he shuddered before chuckling.

“Because we won’t leave this bathroom until I’m done with you.”

You softly gasped at that, toes curling slightly in your socks when Jeonghan’s hands roamed along your body fervently, squeezing your ass before easily undoing the buttons of your shorts. He tugged them down hastily and let them pool down on your feet along with your panties. You shuddered at being exposed, squeaking when Jeonghan suddenly picked you up and sat you down on the cold counter, and spread your legs so that he could slot himself between them.

Looking down at your exposed core, he groaned, his hand already moving down to tease your soaked slit. 

“You’re always so fucking wet. Can’t get enough of this sweet pussy,” Jeonghan muttered, licking his lips as you squirmed.

“Suck.” He brought his fingers to your mouth, and you opened it, sucking his slick-coated fingers while looking into his eyes, leaving him breathless. You could feel it in his gaze and from the way he pushed his digits into your mouth deeper that he wanted to see how deep you could take without gagging. 

Gurgling and swirling your tongue around his fingers, you moaned around him, sending vibrations along his knuckles as he let out a strained chuckle. “You wanna say something, angel?” 

You nodded, and Jeonghan took his fingers from your mouth, a spit trail connecting your lips and his slender digits. “Can… can I suck your dick now?”

Jeonghan let out another choked-out noise, rubbing his face with his other hand before chuckling.

“Anything you want, angel,” he murmured, moving from between you as you got off the counter, switching positions with Jeonghan. He leaned against the counter while you slid down to your knees and got in between his legs. 

Helping you undo his jeans, Jeonghan shoved his pants down to his mid-thigh, pulling his cock out of its confines. You watched him stroke his length a bit, enjoying the view of you on your knees, before you whined and slapped his hand away.

“Bossy,” he grumbled before letting out a soft hiss when you took him into your hand, stroking and squeezing gently as his tip drooled out precum. Jeonghan could help but run his fingers through your hair, messing it up a bit as he tugged you closer.

You pressed soft kisses along his shaft, giving the tip a kitten lick as you tasted him—a tangy flavour assaulting your taste buds as you moaned. You started suckling on his tip while giving him a proper handjob, your hand working along his thick shaft. You looked up at him as you took more of his length into your mouth and saw how his head tilted back from pleasure. Sucking eagerly, you hollowed your cheeks, swirling your tongue around him as you let out soft hums that left Jeonghan reeling as he bucked his hips, pushing his cock further into your mouth.

You gurgled when you took him deeper, eyes watering as you tried to deepthroat him. Jeonghan cooed, wiping your tears as he panted. “No need to try so hard, angel, I'm not gonna cum down your throat right now.”

You let out a confused noise before he pulled you off his cock, leaving your lips puffy and coated with spit. He flipped the two of you around once more, having your lower back pressed against the counter as he pried your legs open with his knee.

Jeonghan’s eyes zeroed in on the slick covering your inner thighs, a soft grunt leaving him. “You got off on sucking my dick? You're less innocent than I thought… though, knowing what you write—”

“Just put it in, Jeonghan‐!” You hissed softly, impatient and needy. He snorted, grumbling at how bossy you were being as he positioned his bulbous tip against your weeping entrance.

A whimper left your lips when he pushed in, never getting enough of his cock inside you. Jeonghan pawed at your hips, gritting his teeth at how tight you were from this angle. He fucked you slowly and shallowly, skin slapping against skin, echoing through the bathroom. You watched how he pistoned his cock in and out of you, letting out a soft mewl before looking back up at him with fucked out eyes.

Jeonghan chuckled, caressing your hips gently as he pecked your lips. You shied away before he could, kissing your cheek instead. 

You shouldn't be doing this. That was all you thought about as you whimpered and moaned for him. He could see it in your eyes even when you were so fucked out from his cock alone. When you were about to say something, Jeonghan gently placed his hand around your throat. Not to choke you, but to show a bit of dominance and ground you in the situation.

“You were gonna say we shouldn’t be doing this, right?” He started, and your breath just hitched as you looked away, but he moved his hand from your throat to your chin, making you look at him. “Angel, there are billions of different things we shouldn’t be doing, but this? This is ours.”

“Jeonghan—” you tried to voice out how you felt about this whole thing, but he just shushed you with a thrust of his hips that made you whimper.

“You’re mine, angel. Even when I’m not sure about how I feel towards you, you’re mine, and I’ve always been yours. Even when you hated me.”

Your body shuddered at his confession, knowing what it all meant deep down. He cared. Jeonghan truly cared for you, and this meant everything. He wasn’t avoiding his feelings anymore, and he was showing you his vulnerable side. So, you just gave yourself to him—to this. You wanted nothing more than to be his.

“I—I want you.” You managed to choke out as you managed to pull him closer, your lips ghosting his as you panted at every thrust he made, your orgasm getting closer. “I want you, Jeonghan.”

“I want you too, angel.”

He quickened his pace as he felt your walls spasming around him, groaning against your lips. “I’m gonna cum too soon if you keep squeezing my cock like that, sweetheart.”

You moaned at the idea of him coming inside you, your eyes lidded as you panted. Jeonghan seemed to read your mind as he chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

“You’re trouble, angel… You want me to cum in you, don’t you? Breed this sweet pussy? Have you full of my cum while you help your mom with handing out the cake? Is that it?” He crooned, his tone sweet but his words condescending, as you nodded gently, causing him to groan. “Yeah? Of course, you do, you’re my good girl, after all.”

“Jeonghan—” you mewled, milking his cock as your pussy clenched. He continued to piston his dick into you, watching as a milky white ring formed around the base of his shaft, making him bite his lower lip to prevent himself from coming at the sight alone.

Jeonghan moved his hand from your hips to your clit, rubbing the sensitive, throbbing nub with his thumb in tight circles, making you cry out softly against his shoulder, leaning your forehead against it. 

“I–I’m gonna cum—Jeonghan-!” You squealed as your release hit you like a wave, your boyfriend prolonging your pleasure as he continued to pound into you and rub your clit ruthlessly.

Jeonghan could feel his orgasm coming closer, his thrusts getting sloppier as he buried himself deep inside you, moaning as he filled you up with sticky, hot cum. He shuddered as your cunt pulsed around his sensitive half-hard dick, spurts of his release filling you up to the brim, and dripping down your thighs.

“Fuck…” He muttered, panting heavily as he kept you plugged with his dick, not wanting to pull out just yet. Jeonghan, ever the gentleman, pressed a soft kiss to your temple after ruining you for anyone else. “I don’t wanna pull out.”

He mumbled with a soft pout, making you hit his chest as you chuckled with a soft exhale. “Well, you have to. We need to be there for when Tommy blows out his candles.”

“Oh—fuck, right. I’ll clean you up, then.” Your boyfriend pulled out hastily, prompting the two of you to moan in unison as he grabbed a few tissues and cleaned your sensitive cunt up before helping you into your shorts, and helped you fix yourself up.

Heading downstairs, you bumped into your mom, who had been frantically looking for the two of you. “Where have you two been? We’re gonna blow the candles off the cake soon! Come on, Tommy’s looking for the two of you.”

She dragged both of you to the backyard, where your dad held the camera as he took pictures of your brother standing by the cake, smiling widely when he saw you and Jeonghan. That’s when all of you started singing happy birthday to him, and he thought of a wish. He blew on the candles, his friends and your family cheering and clapping, before your mother took the cake to cut it into slices for the kids.

You kneeled to your brother’s level, giving him a hand-five, smiling softly. “So, what did you wish for, little guy?”

“If I tell it won’t come true!” He huffed, crossing his arms as he pouted. “But I can write it down! That’s what Dad said I could do so they’d come true even more!”

Your brother ran to your dad to ask for a pen and paper, then returned to you to write down his wish. “Here! Don’t read it out loud though… I really want it to come true.”

“Okay, okay.” You ruffled your brother’s hair and took the piece of paper from him.

‘I wish for big sis and Hannie to stay together forever! And for big sis to keep making me cakes until forever!’

Your heart squeezed, smiling as you pocketed the piece of paper before picking your baby brother up and spinning him around. “I’ll make sure that wish comes true, little man, I promise.”

Tommy cheered as you put him down so he could eat some cake, leaving you with Jeonghan once more, standing happily.

“What’d the paper say, angel?” He asked, hiding his hands in his pockets as he glanced at you.

“If I say it won’t come true, Jeonghan.” 

“Fair enough,” he murmured, but pouted nonetheless. “Is it something about us dating forever and ever?”

You sputtered, hitting his shoulder as he snorted out a laugh. “You—you read it over my shoulder!”

“I did, so what? I plan on keeping the same promise you made to the little menace.” He smiled at you, the gesture full of warmth as he wrapped his arm over your shoulders. “Come on, I wanna try that cake you baked. I wanna check if it’s as sweet as my girl.”

He nosed your temple as he whispered the last part into your ear, making your face turn pink as you hit him again. It was a good day.

When Easter break was over, you and Jeonghan had to go back to campus, bidding your goodbyes until summer vacation. By then, Jeonghan would’ve graduated, and you’d be a junior with your friends. Doubt filled your chest again as you thought about it while typing on your laptop in Jeonghan’s car. He seemed to notice your perplexed expression, poking your thigh gently as he focused on the road.

“What’s bothering you?” He asked, and you just grunted softly. “Come on, sweetheart, talk to me. I know it’s definitely not the smut you’re writing right now. That’s your ‘I’m worried about something’ face.”

You tore your eyes from your laptop at that, looking at him incredulously. “What?”

“Yeah, you heard me. You make a face when you’re perplexed with something, and I wanna know what it is because… just because.” He paused at the last second, stopping himself from saying something stupid as he shrugged.

“I was thinking about you graduating this year…” You murmured, glancing back at your laptop as the light turned red. Jeonghan’s eyes softened at your concern, taking your hand into his.

“I’m not going anywhere, angel. I still have a master’s degree to pursue, remember?” He squeezed your hand gently, reassuring you, but you still had some doubt. Jeonghan sighed softly. “Don’t make me fuck you in my car again, because I will, just to prove—”

“Okay, okay—no… no need to go such lengths.” You flushed, clearing your throat as you closed your laptop with your free hand before looking at him, as he started driving again. “I just… I don’t know. I thought you didn’t want to pursue a master’s? Didn’t you say it was stupid to get a master’s degree in PoliSci?”

“I changed my mind, angel, people can do that, you know? Plus, it gives me more time with you on campus.” He shrugged before smiling. “Just to look out for you. And drive you to campus.”

“My apartment is a fifteen-minute walk to campus, smartass.” You retorted, but understood his reasoning. The thought of him staying made you both giddy and guilty. Did he really want to spend another two years in uni just for you? Jeonghan brought you back from your thoughts when he called out your name.

“Stop overthinking. I want this, really. Like more than you know.” He brought your hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles. “I won’t let some other grimy college students steal my girl.”

His girl. You were his girl.

Once you got back to campus, your friends decided to steal you away from your boyfriend, saying something along the lines of, "Spending this much time with Jeonghan is unhealthy." You snorted at their logic, but let yourself get dragged away anyway, wanting to catch up with your friends.

“Sooo, how was break for you guys?” Seokmin started as he took a sip of his iced coffee. Mingyu and Seokmin were mostly glancing at you since you had practically ignored the group chat for the whole break, spending your time with your family and Jeonghan instead of updating them. Minghao wasn’t interested, scrolling through his phone instead, but still listening.

You sighed, rolling your eyes as you started. “It went well. I can show pictures of the cake I made for Tommy.”

“No, spill the tea. What happened between Jeonghan and you during? Did you guys do something fun?” Mingyu waved off the idea of you showing the three-tier cake you worked so hard on, making you want to smack your best friend. Memories started flooding into your brain as you flushed.

“You’re mine, angel. Even when I’m not sure about how I feel towards you, you’re mine, and I’ve always been yours. Even when you hated me.”

“You’re trouble, angel… You want me to cum in you, don’t you? Breed this sweet pussy? Have you full of my cum while you help your mom with handing out the cake? Is that it?” He crooned, his tone sweet but his words condescending, as you nodded gently, causing him to groan. “Yeah? Of course, you do, you’re my good girl, after all.”

“Fuck…” He muttered, panting heavily as he kept you plugged with his dick, not wanting to pull out just yet. Jeonghan, ever the gentleman, pressed a soft kiss to your temple after ruining you for anyone else. “I don’t wanna pull out.”

You snapped out of your little bubble, your face now a red hue as Mingyu’s face turned smug. “They definitely had some fun–ow!”

He hissed when Minghao gently karate-chopped Mingyu’s head. “It’s none of our business. Let her have a personal life, Gyu.”

You sighed in relief when Minghao reprimanded your best friend, thankful as the conversation switched from you to some random thing Seokmin did during his trip to the Maldives.

When the three of you had caught up enough, you texted Jeonghan on your way home to come over to your apartment, rolling your eyes when he sent a bunch of winky faces. He was waiting by your building when you came into view, his expression brightening up.

“How was catching up with your besties? Fun?” He pressed a soft kiss to your forehead as the two of you headed upstairs. You just groaned, sighing softly as you pressed yourself against Jeonghan’s side.

“Yes, but tiring. I enjoyed it a lot.” You smiled as you unlocked the door before entering your home, tossing your shoes into the shoe rack and dragging Jeonghan towards the bathroom.

“Woah, right now?” He cocked his eyebrow, amused at your decision. You sent him a deadpan look, making him chuckle.

“I just wanna shower with you, smartass.” You rolled your eyes as you started shedding your clothes without much care, earning a hum from Jeonghan.

“We both know it won’t just be a shower, sweetheart.” He murmured against your now bare shoulder, kissing it softly. “And I know you won’t complain.”

After your shower, the two of you huddled up on your couch, refreshed and relaxed. You were on top of Jeonghan as the two of you cuddled, and Jeonghan was on his phone, scrolling through his socials, while you listened to his heartbeat, slowly dosing off.

That’s when a small flash and soft muttered “shit” brought you back from your almost-sleep, grunting against Jeonghan’s chest. “Did you take a picture of us?”

“...No?” You snorted at his unsure tone before you just nuzzled into his chest, making him sigh.

“God, I love you,” he murmured before realising his slip-up, the two of you freezing up in your spot.

“Say that again?” You moved your head to look at him, your expression soft as your eyes showed warmth. “Please?”

“I—fuck,” he muttered, flushing pink as he rubbed his face. “I didn’t want to say it like this.”

“Come on, Hannie, tell me again.” You tugged on the string of his hood, jutting your lip into a small pout. God, you were going to be the death of him.

“Kiss me first. Then maybe—” You cut Jeonghan off, not hesitating to press a soft kiss to his lips as he flushed further, his ears burning.

“...I love you, angel.”

“I love you too, Hannie.”

FIN~

taglist: @wonushy

“Your brother is going to lecture our ears off if we're late,” you remind Jeonghan, trying your best not to lose yourself in the way his hands drag along your sides and the way he breathes in your freshly washed hair. 

“Who cares what Joshua thinks?” he mutters dismissively into your neck, leaving goosebumps in his wake, “I'd much rather spend my evening with you instead of at that dinner filled with people I can't stand,” he finishes off, teasing the hem of your robe with his long fingers. 

“As sweet of a sentiment as that is, we have guests from the Wen family visiting. We can't just not show up,” you argue, still remaining in his arms and shuddering when his lips press against the exposed skin of your shoulder. You bite back a whimper when one of his hands continues to trail higher up your thigh, pushing the fabric of your robe out of the way as much as he can to expose as much of your skin as possible to his scorching touch. Jeonghan is arguably the smartest man you know. Hell, you'd go as far as to say he's the smartest man in the nation. You're well aware he's just trying to sway you right now but, you can't pretend he's not being very convincing right now. 

“You've got me there,” he concedes but, his hand doesn't slow in the slightest, “We'll just be a little late, that's all,” he whispers and you swear you've never heard a more tempting offer in your life. It's so much worse when he spins you around to face him. As though you weren't feeling dizzy and lightheaded enough. The lust in his eyes shines brighter than the moon outside of your bedroom window. The charcoal one of his servants applied around them amplifies his want that causes your own desire to flare up viciously. And to think, a year ago you couldn't stand this man and struggled to imagine yourself liking him in any capacity. 

How things have changed. 

“You're a terrible influence,” is all you say before pulling him by his own robe and smashing your lips together. You resist the impulse to roll your eyes when you feel him chuckle against your lips. Fortunately, his hands do a fantastic job of distracting you from his smugness. Nimble fingers untying the knot at the front of your robe with practiced ease. It doesn't quite pool around you but, it does grant your husband all the access he needs. Warm hands wasting no time in kneading and massaging as much of your tits as he's able to. Groaning into your mouth when he feels your hardened nipples underneath his palms. 

“They can't be mad at us for being late anyway,” he mumbles against your lips, “They've been harassing us for an heir for months now. We're just fulfilling our royal duties.” You laugh harder than you anticipate. Your laughter doesn't deter Jeonghan, though. His attention simply shifts to kissing along your jaw and running his hands along your body as though this is the first time he's touching you. As though he didn't have those same hands on you this morning. Out of everything you've learned about him these last few months, his seemingly bottomless lust has caught you the most by surprise. 

“You're ridiculous,” you finally manage to say once you've calmed down sufficiently, allowing your fingers to play with the ends of his hair while his mouth reacquaintes itself with your neck. “Am I wrong?” He asks brazenly, briefly shooting you a look that's equal parts exasperated and knowing before continuing with his very important task of mapping your body with as much of his lips and hands as possible.

“No, you're not,” you concede, letting him pull you towards your ridiculously ornate bed, “but, you're not doing a great job of trying to sway me into believing you suddenly care about your royal duties,” you say with a smile that hurts your face a little. “What? A man can't change his mind?” He asks with faux seriousness. 

“He can but, maybe he should change it another time. Not when we're meant to be getting dressed for a dinner that's very important for the future of our kingdom,” you muse, joining him on your silk sheets and letting him palm your thighs and litter your collarbone with messy kisses. “We'll make it,” he says with so much certainty that you really can't find it within yourself to disagree or argue with him. Especially not when his hand is making its way up your inner thigh, “We just have to be quick and efficient, that's all.” 

Jeonghan doesn't give you much time to digest his words. Dragging you into another impassioned kiss while his fingers brush your delicate folds. He swallows your quiet gasps eagerly. Devouring every sound the swipes and presses of his fingers pluck from you. “I tho–thought you said we had to hurry,” you whine when he continues to toy with you. His touches far too light and far too quick, not allowing you a second to savour them. “You're right, you're right. My apologies.” He has the nerve to chuckle into your mouth but, any snark you're about to unleash on him is forgotten instantaneously when he finally presses his fingertips to your clit with enough pressure to make your eyes flutter and your hands fist his robe. 

“Han–Hannie,” you whimper, allowing yourself to get lost in his skilled fingers and mouth. The thought of political dinners completely vanished from your mind. His mouth finds its way to your neck, kissing along your jugular before descending to your collarbone. You're certain that he could kiss every part of you over and over and over again and it would still never be enough for him. He pushes two fingers into you at the same time that he latches onto your hardened nipple. Dark eyes watching you under his lashes as his mouth draws breathy gasps of his name (well, attempts of his name) and his fingers gradually open you up for him. 

Not one to be outdone, you find enough coherence to palm him through his undergarments. Pride swelling in your chest when you feel his fingers falter and his quiet groan pressed into your skin. He's already so hard and the urge to sit on him and swallow his cock to its hilt grips you violently. So violently in fact that it doesn't take much more prompting for you to slip your hand into his undergarments and grasp him directly. Your walls squeezing around his fingers in time with the way he pulses in your hand. 

“You're going to be the death of me,” he hisses, finding his composure rather quickly (because of course he does) and curling his fingers inside you in the way he knows will make stars dance in your vision. Frankly, you wouldn't be shocked if he was a warlock because the reactions he pulls from you are not normal in the slightest. “You ah started all of th–this,” you remind him, gradually stroking him and delighting in the way his cock throbs in your palm with every movement. It's always lovely to be reminded that he's just as far gone for you as you are for him. 

Jeonghan chooses not to respond. Electing instead to increase the intensity of the way his fingers curl inside of you and covering your breasts in kisses while he shallowly thrusts into your hand. It's all messy and barely coordinated but, you find the tension in your core building. Every brush of your clit, every touch of his fingers, every kiss and lick of his mouth just pushes you closer and closer to the edge. You're sure he can feel the way your thighs quiver and the lack of focus you're able to provide to his slick cock in your hand. It's so close that you can practically taste it. 

And just like that, Jeonghan pulls his drenched fingers out of you. 

You're not sure when your eyes shut but, they fly open within an instant. Shooting your husband with a look that you're sure is equal parts betrayal and frustration. You can't help the way your hips jolt, searching for any sort of stimulation. Instinctively looking for anything to help ease the fluttering of your walls and the incessant pulse of your clit.

“Jeonghan.” 

He does at least look a little ashamed but, not enough for your liking. You can still see the amusement too clearly in his eyes. “I'm sorry, love,” he doesn't sound sorry in the slightest, “You know I can't help myself sometimes,” he says with an upturn of his lips that makes your stomach twist horribly and your ache between your thighs worsen. “Let me make it up to you,” he offers, maneuvering his way between your thighs before you can blink and recognise he's no longer in your grasp. Gods, you know his hair is going to be ruined by the time the two of you are finished but, you truly hope not. He's looked otherworldly before but, seeing him from this angle is an entirely different experience altogether. You've got to slip his servants a generous amount of gold coins in thanks. 

His kiss is gentle this time. A stark contrast to the way you can feel his tip prodding at your dripping, eager entrance. “I love you,” he sighs before pushing into you and, you really don't think that's all that fair. You really did marry a dirty trickster of a man. “Always so eager and ready for me,” he continues, his voice hoarse with desire as he finds his pace and all you can do is cling to his back for some form of grounding, “My beautiful, lovely, brilliant, erotic wife,” he grits out, one of his hands gripping your hip fiercely. 

It's hard to think of anything other than his gorgeous face twisted in the most arousing expressions you've ever seen in your life and the way his cock drags along the deepest, most intimate parts of you. You knew you were close before but, a few thrusts already have you dangerously teetering on the edge. “You're so unfair,” you gasp out while he focuses his attention on nipping at your throat while twisting and tugging at your nipples with those stupidly skilled fingers of his. 

“Unfair?” He laughs breathlessly, meeting your lidded gaze with his own, “Maybe you shouldn't have seduced me with that flimsy robe of yours,” he argues. The following snap of his hips is sharp and you can't really find it in you to respond. Grasping his own robe for purchase as the tension in your core begins to reach a fever pitch. “How was I meant to stop myself when you looked like that?” He rasps into your ear and you think it's deeply unfair how many of your weaknesses he's learned and, is using against you. He chuckles into your skin when all you're able to reply with are choked gasps and whines of his name. You can feel him smile into you when you jolt just as he presses his fingers to your swollen clit. Not giving you a chance to collect yourself before he rubs circles into you that cause your thighs to shake violently and your walls to tighten around him. 

“You wanted to cum, right?” His tone is teasing and you swear you hate him. It's difficult to speak when you can practically taste your climax with every touch of his fingers and stroke of his cock, “I want you to,” he breathes, a touch of desperation to his tone, “I want to feel it when you do. Want to feel you cum all over me, all around me,” he whispers straight into your ear and you can already feel the beginnings of electricity shooting down your spine, “I need to.” 

You're not sure what causes the cord to snap entirely. His cock? His fingers? His words? His voice? Him? You're not sure it really matters, ultimately. Your breaths turn to gasps and whimpers moans of his name while your thighs quiver around his slender hips. Every extremity tingling with the lightning you can feel coursing through you as Jeonghan continues his movements even through your mind numbing orgasm. You're too lost in a daze to make out what he's saying but, the bleary vision of him with his carefully styled hair sticking to his sweaty face and his smeared, charcoal liner make your stomach swoop all the same. 

“–beautiful you are,” are the rushed words you do manage to catch just as his grip on your hips grows harsher and his face morphs in pleasure. Jeonghan's stamina is impressive. Another aspect of him that you never quite expected. And usually, you'd be more than happy to let him continue making love to you until you both pass out but, you both have duties to attend to.

Jeonghan isn't the only one who has picked up a trick or two over the course of your marriage. 

Using what little energy you have left, you wrap your arms around him. Jeonghan lets you pull him closer to you, his breath stuttering when you intentionally clench your walls around him and drag your fingernails along the parts of scalp that aren't covered in hair clips. “Hannie,” you add an extra bit of whine in your voice, reveling in the way you feel him shudder and his cock throb inside of you, “Love you, Hannie.” He makes a noise you barely register before kissing you fiercely and holding you in place as he snaps his hips faster and faster, his blunt nails digging into your skin and your kiss being more tongue and spit than anything else. 

You're not sure what pushes him over the edge but, it's not long before he moans long and quietly into your mouth and you feel his cock shoot rope after rope of his release into you. The warmth that fills you is familiar and just so him that you can't help the soft whines that fall from your lips as you feel him ride out his climax. You can tell he's trying his best to not just collapse onto you but, the shakiness in his arms is evident and he's practically on you already. A small laugh bubbles out of you and you can't help but, smile when he shoots you a curious look.

“What?” He asks, running his thumb along the marks his nails left on your hip. 

“You can rest on me if you want to, beloved husband,” your face hurts from how much you're smiling. You must look insane, “You won't crush me.” 

Either he's just as insane as you are or he shares your bizarre sense of elation right now because he smiles right back at you before responding, “I thought we had a dinner to attend?” You decide to ignore how attractive he looks with his eyebrow raised. 

“We're already running late anyway. What's a few more minutes?” 

He really has become a terrible influence. 

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Seventeen Masterlist | Ko-Fi

it was like waking up from an unfathomable nightmare and immediately searching for a single flicker of light to bring you even a semblance of comfort. of reality. but when he woke up that day, his chest felt empty, his entire body felt cold.. it was nauseating, nerve-wracking, to say the least. for a moment, he wondered if he was stuck in some sort of cruel purgatory.

his home was much darker than he remembered. not a single sliver of sunlight was permitted to peek through the windows, the curtains now bolted to every corner of the large windows. he knew it was daytime, somehow, but he felt a strange sense of exhaustion. 

then his friend walked through the door.. but he wasn’t as happy to see him as he had expected. somehow, at a single glance, his friend looked different, his usual friendly countenance diminished. his friend parted his lips but remained silence, as if the two of them shared an unspoken sense of dread. it confused him, made him wonder just how much had changed when he was asleep.. 

in a brief passing, just as he was pushing the quilts forward, he saw it. a flash of painful memories nearly sent him falling back against the pillows again- and suddenly it all became too clear. he stared again at the marks on his wrist in a fit of rage and came to realize this new life ahead of him was anything but a cruel purgatory. 

for at least, for some, purgatory would eventually come to an end. 

–

the chandelier shone bright above the crowd, the polished marbled floor beneath your feet somehow glistening even more so than usual. even with hundreds of guests dancing gleefully through the room, there wasn’t so much of a scratch on the tile. though you were hardly interested to find out what went into cleaning your fiance’s ballroom floor.

you stared down at your pasteled tulle skirts in a daze, wondering how you’d come to let a perfectly good outfit go to waste. across the room, wonwoo discussed business, finance, strategy.. anything he figured you couldn’t be bothered to hear. especially on the night your engagement was to be formally announced.

you should have been happier. it was a momentous occasion, an important milestone for many, not just royalty. strangers from both yours and wonwoo’s kingdoms joined together to celebrate your future union. you weren’t just promised to him but a life of stability, comfort.. yet you should have been happier.   

one thing that would have made you happier, for example, was if your fiance shared even one dance with you. it seemed that the two of you went through the motions of your speedy engagement in different ways, with him evidently viewing it only as a transaction. which, in all fairness, it was exactly that.

you soon came to find out there was only so much you could take. you managed to sneak out of the ballroom without anyone noticing, furthering away from the crowd until all you could hear was the echoed tapping of your heels against the floor. 

there was nothing like a breath of fresh, night air, especially after hours of suffocation. the crisp autumn air was refreshing, rejuvenating, almost- even if you had left your shawl inside. you chased the wonderful feeling of freedom the further you stepped into the unfamiliar gardens, the full moon high above your head mistifying, to say the least.

“it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” 

a cool, low voice not two feet behind you startled you out of your daze. you turned around, only to find the culprit was just as handsome as he sounded. fluffy blonde hair, elegant and striking features, dark eyes that shone beautifully in the moonlight.. he wore elegant black robes, covering every inch of his skin. incredible- you had barely shared any words, yet he seemed to be the most elusive figure you had and ever would lay your eyes on. 

“yes,” you suddenly coughed out, a short chuckle leaving your lips soon after. “yes. it is..”

the man, noticing your flustered state, chuckled knowingly and took a single step closer. “my apologies. i didn’t mean to startle the queen-to-be.”

you tilted your head, finally noticing the crimson in his eyes. his irises were the deepest shade of red imaginable, just like rubies.. it was unlike anything you’d ever seen before. “how do you know who i am?” 

he chuckled again, sending a chill down your spine. “i saw your tiara and took a leap of faith. besides.. everyone in the kingdom knows who you are.” 

“maybe you’re right. even so.. it’s unfair,” you started, struggling to speak as eloquently as he did. “that you know who i am, yet i don’t even know your name.”

“jeonghan.” he spoke without hesitation, seemingly carrying enough confidence for the two of you. especially considering the skillful way he took your hand in his and pressed a kiss against your knuckles. his fingers were cold as they wrapped around yours, as if you’d plunged your hand in ice cold water, yet you couldn’t bring yourself to pull away. “it’s a pleasure to finally put a face to the name. such a gorgeous face, i might add.”

you furrowed your eyebrows, puzzled. “didn’t you-”

“gossiping remarks in the town square hardly do your beauty justice.” he smirked, as if he knew the flattering remark was more than a satisfactory explanation. after all, you were doing a terrible job masking just how flustered you felt.. 

“thank you,” you finally whispered, avoiding his gaze. a never ending sea of tall oak trees marked a plunge into darkness, one you had since been contemplating diving head first into. 

his gaze followed yours into the forest several feet ahead and he raised an eyebrow. “forgive me for sounding invasive, but shouldn’t you be inside? with your fiance?”   

“i suppose i should be,” you sighed, making no attempt to hide your apprehension. “but.. it’s a little suffocating in there at the moment. i just needed a moment to decompress, collect my thoughts.”

he smiled to himself, as if to be taking pride in the fact you had placed confidence in him. “that’s understandable,” he started, releasing a long breath. “you’re starting a new chapter in your life. that doesn’t always come easy.”

“i don’t mind change, not really,” you shrugged. “and i know how lucky i am. i just..wish i had more of a say in these types of arrangements.”

jeonghan nodded, briefly humming in contemplation. “so now, you’re just.. inattentively going through the motions of a life you didn’t sign up for. i know a little about what that’s like.”

“you do?” disbelief filled your tone as you raised an eyebrow.

he chuckled at your phrasing, stepping closer to you until one breath could have pressed your shoulder against his own. “yes. i may not be of noble blood.. but that does not mean i cannot try to understand those who are.”

his words were so vague, his tone so alluring, yet you couldn’t bring yourself to ask him to elaborate. especially once you were met with his beautiful crimson eyes again and ultimately left speechless- this stranger puzzled you in many more ways than one. his eloquent way of speaking was a perfect match for his beauty, positively alluring…

“i suppose.. i better go back inside. before the prince starts to suspect something,” you chuckled sheepishly, still struggling to hide your bashfulness. 

he watched you take a few steps towards the staircase before calling out to you, “so soon?”

you turn to him with a gentle smile, “well.. yes. it’s rather rude to keep my intended waiting, whether we’re in good spirits or not. wouldn’t you agree?”

he smirked broadly, twisting his lips in a way that made your heart race. “i do. but he doesn’t seem to pay you any mind, does he?” 

something rather dark clouded your mind and there was an unmistakable pang in your heart, whether it was brought on by confusion or something else entirely, you didn’t know. was the mysterious jeonghan a mind reader, or was he simply more intuitive than most? 

he continued, “otherwise he wouldn’t have left you out here, all alone. especially near a dangerous forest.. whether you’re in good spirits or not.” 

you couldn’t stop the smirk pulling at your lips as he repeated your words. “will you join me inside, then? i can’t, in good conscience, leave you out by this ‘dangerous forest.’”

his eyes briefly widened as he stared past your shoulder for a moment, the light from the lanterns illuminating his dark irises. it was a terrifyingly alluring sight, disappearing in a flash of lightning. he spoke coyly, “very well, if you insist.”

maybe you were imagining things, but the flames in the tiny candles throughout the hall seemed to expand from the moment he stepped past the doorway. there was a shift in the air, one that you couldn’t conjure the words to explain. and yet, you made a conscious effort to take his hand in yours the moment the two of you were in the ballroom. he seemed puzzled at first, as if you had caught him in a flustered state.

“share a dance with me?” you offered, admiring the depth of his fluffy white hair. 

he tilted his head briefly, giving rise to another devilish smirk. “i would be honored.”

it was an undoubtedly puzzling sight, the princess sharing a dance with a dazzling stranger on the night of her engagement party. you did your best to shrug off the judgemental glances and inquisitive stares, focusing only on the beautiful man leading you in circles around the dance floor. like everything he did, he led the waltz with skillful precision..and charm. for the knowing smile never left his lips. 

it felt strange trying to avoid his gaze when his chest lay nearly a breath away from yours. you quickly caught on to the cunning nature in his smile, chuckling to yourself. “you smile like you know something no one else in the room does,” you noted quietly. 

he laughed softly at your words and you could have sworn you saw the lanterns flicker one more time. “maybe i do,” he replied coyly.

you scoffed, “very well.. do you mind enlightening me?” 

he merely shook his head, the loose curls near his eyes shaking with the impact. he laughed again and it seemed to overshadow any other sound in the room. “no.. no i don’t think i will,” he finally answered with a snicker.

“you’re no fun,” you teased just before he twirled you under his arm. 

“on the contrary,” he whispered, just before his grip on your waist tightened ever so slightly. it seemed as though he spoke not to argue with you, but to make a promise..

the song eventually reached its end with the orchestra drawing on the last few notes. applause scattered throughout the room, prompting you to take two steps back from jeonghan and draw in a deep breath to collect yourself. something about the look of intrigue in his dark eyes pulled you in like a moth to the flame. 

you watched him part his lips and mentally asked yourself what he was about to say. run away with me? in a heartbeat.. 

“get away from her,” a deep voice not two feet behind your shoulder demanded. 

you, recognizing it immediately, whipped your head back. “wonwoo.. we were just-”

wonwoo ignored you, quickly reiterating his words in a much louder tone. “get away from her. i won’t ask again.”

jeonghan’s smile never faltered, giving rise to a new level of darkness in his eyes. “and why would i do that? i was under the impression we were to share another dance.”

wonwoo’s hand fell to his side to circle around the silver detailed hilt of his sword. unmistakable anger filled his narrowed eyes as he stared at jeonghan with nothing less than the deepest form of hatred. but why…? “you have no business being here. how did you even manage to get in here? you weren-”

“weren’t invited?” jeonghan offered with a snicker. “your lovely fiance was gracious enough to invite me in, actually.”

jeonghan’s words were filled with venom, leaving a sour taste in your mouth. you looked back and forth between the two of them with furrowed eyebrows. “i don’t understand..” you started dryly. “wonwoo, will you just tell me wh-”

“there’s no need for that,” wonwoo cut you off once again and gripped tighter to his sword, threatening to release it from its sheath at any moment. “jeonghan, leave. there’s no need to cause a scene.”

he took a single step backwards and hummed, as if in contemplation. although he could easily overpower anyone stupid enough to get in his way, there was no use in dealing with collateral damage. as boring as his night was turning out to be.. “very well. just remember.. you can’t get rid of me that easily now.”

he disappeared in the blink of an eye, a blur.. not even a cloud of mysterious smoke signalled his departure. a collective gasp filled the room and you, at a loss for words, released a heavy sigh as a pit formed in your stomach. your suspicions from the beginning had been confirmed: there was more to the beautiful stranger than met the eye.

not only were you frightened, confused about your encounter with the strange man, but you felt like a fundamental piece of information was missing. you turned to wonwoo, demanding, “how did you know his name? what is he?”

he appeared dejected, his frame slightly shrinking under your gaze. there was no excuse for him to ignore you now. “that, my darling,” he started in a weary tone, just as a light pattern of rainfall began to tap against the windows. “was a vampire.”

–

“you do realize how foolish your actions were tonight?”

your fiance, always the monotonous one, stood near your doorframe with his arms folded across his chest. you chuckled bitterly at the reflection in your vanity mirror; how fitting, it seemed, that the first time he bothered to visit your quarters was in order to scold you. nonchalantly, you brushed through your hair without bothering to focus on his eyes, even in the mirror. 

you argued, your tone slightly harsher than anticipated, “how was i supposed to know what he is?” 

“that’s besides the point; it’s the principle. you can’t just invite people into my-” he paused, clearing his throat. “-our castle without even discussing it with me first.”

you finally turned around to face him, your eyebrows furrowed. “maybe i would have taken better care to heed your request if i knew your kingdom was overrun with.. with vampires. i don’t remember you mentioning that at all in the arrangement, by the way.”

his shoulders noticeably stiffened at your words, the horrible notion of the monsters bringing a shiver down his spine. it was true; his kingdom, like many, had been crawling with vampires for centuries. but as far as you were concerned, none of your subjects had reported so much as a sighting of the terrifying creatures. you felt barely equipped to handle what would undoubtedly be a catastrophic attack, now that you had invited one in..

wonwoo stood in silence with his jaw clenched for a moment, pondering his next choice of words carefully. defending oneself against a vampire was bad enough, but an entire castle? how could someone be so foolish… “and if i remember correctly, the only concern your family had was the promise of more land and soil.” 

you clenched your jaw in an effort to hold your tongue. his words, however poisonous, had a hint of truth to them; your marriage was an arranged transaction. and it was becoming increasingly clear that wonwoo wanted desperately to remind you of it every day..

“so what happens now?” you finally asked, your voice slightly strained.

“there are two guards sanctioned outside your door. just.. stay in here for the night and you should be safe. and don’t leave this room unless permitted,” he instructed you without an ounce of sympathy in his tone. 

“good night,” was your acknowledgement as you turned back around to stare in the mirror. the moment you heard the door click shut several feet behind, a heavy, weary sight left your lips. knowing there was no chance of you getting any sleep that night, you took to studying the details of your reflection and wondering how you’d been paired with the most apathetic man in the realm. 

outside, the wind was getting harsher and harsher, blowing through the large trees planted near your balcony and seemingly knocking at the french doors and windows. the full moon shone brightly directly above the castle, casting shadows into your bedroom. not for the first time, you wished you weren’t a night owl. 

 it felt like you were waiting. waiting for something, or more accurately, for someone. although the windows were closed, you felt a chill run down your spine, giving rise to goosebumps that would form along your arms. your bright blue dressing gown was only a few steps away, draped over the dressing screen. yet.. you felt glued to your chair. 

hours must have passed before the wind all but ripped the balcony doors off their hinges, sending a harsh wave of frosty air through your bedroom. although you felt the effects of the cold, goosefleshed skin and slightly shaky hands.. it didn’t feel unwelcomed. actually it felt oddly comfortable. 

and then lightning struck, a flash of blinding light piercing through the space of your bedroom. yet, you might as well have welcomed the storm with open arms; the rain had always brought you comfort, after all. especially during sleepless nights.

“i do apologize for the interruption,” a clear voice behind you spoke smoothly, prompting your shoulders to stiffen. you could hear jeonghan, feel his presence directly behind the small vanity chair, yet he did not appear in the mirror in front of you. even so, you stared straight ahead, as if to make eye contact with his reflection.

“is it true, then?” you asked him while tugging at a loose thread on your sleeve.

he let out another chuckle, the sound going straight to your racing heart. “it seems like you already know.”

you drew in a breath as he rested his hands on your shoulders, his thumb brushing lightly against your collarbone. “i should have seen the signs,” you thought out loud. maybe you were as foolish as wonwoo claimed, for you made no effort to push jeonghan away..

he hummed, “are you sure you weren’t just ignoring the obvious?” 

you furrowed your eyebrows gently in contemplation, reflecting on the first time you saw his deep red eyes, felt his cold hand against yours.. suddenly, you let out a halfhearted chuckle, “maybe you’re right.”  

although you couldn’t see his reflection, you could feel his gaze piercing into yours. you swore you could hear him smirk as he spoke lowly, “don’t beat yourself up, princess. based on what i now know about you, it seems as if you’re craving a little more of.. an adventure.”

“adventure?” you quickly shook your head, snickering. “i wouldn’t say that.”

“i would,” he countered gently. “you’re bored, princess. and who could blame you, with the man you’re expected to marry?”

you paused, watching your hair fall behind your shoulder in the mirror. although it appeared to move on its own, jeonghan’s fingers brushing gently through your achingly soft locks pulled you back into reassurance. “you think you can give me what i really want?” you asked him lowly, the faintest hint of amusement in your voice. 

he paused, leaning down just a little bit. you felt his breath brush gently against the shell of your ear, effectively sending yet another shiver down your spine. “i know i can.”

a soft breath barely left your lips before his own were on your neck, leaving a trail of feathery kisses in their wake. you tilted your head back, your eyelids falling shut with ease as you bore your throat to him. for a moment, he was cool, calm and collected, releasing a gentle sigh against your skin. he was determined to savor the moment for as long as possible, even if your pulse racing beneath his lips was louder to him than the thunder outside. his eyes were screwed shut as he fought with everything inside him to ignore his instincts, to let his sharp teeth only lightly graze the surface..   

the gentle prick prompted your eyes to open and you sat upright again, finally turning to face him. his pupils were dilated, his gaze intense.. but he seemed to immediately understand the place of unease you were coming from. 

“don’t worry,” he assured you with a gentle smile. “i’ll only take a bite if you really want me to.”

a gentle sigh left your lips after he spoke, loving nothing more than the thought of allowing him a taste. the collected way in which he spoke, the flushed look in his eyes, all of it almost tempted you to tilt your head back for him all over again. “while i like the sound of that,” you started breathlessly. “i’m not sure how wonwoo would feel about seeing the marks in the morning.”

he nodded while doing his best not to showcase his disappointment at the mention of your fiance. here you were, desperate to appease a man who paid such little attention to you.. “as you wish,” he whispered.

you shifted in your seat to face him better as he knelt upon the floor. he was now eye level with you, yet not nearly close enough, in his mind. you finally asked him quietly, “what are you really doing here?” 

“can i not pay a visit to a new friend of mine?” he asked, his eyes locked intently on yours. 

you scoffed lightly, tilting your head. “considering your teeth were almost in my neck, i’d be willing to guess your visits come with ulterior motives.”

he shook his head, his tone nowhere near as defensive as you expected. “as i told you; i eagerly await your permission to taste you, as long as that may take.”

you bit the inside of your cheek, trying not to let the promising notion go to your head; whether he intended the double entendre or not, you weren’t entirely sure. “you have a lot of restraint for a vampire.”

he laughed at your words, his eyes filling with amusement. “not all vampires are as vicious as they are in the fairytales, princess. some of them are just-”

“going through the motions of a life they didn’t sign up for?” you offered with a smirk. 

he paused, his expression filled with surprise. maybe it was all in his head, but the two of you seemed to understand each other much faster than anticipated. “yes,” he finally chuckled. “yes, you could say that.”

“be that as it may, wonwoo, the guards, they’re all preparing to take extra security members. it's dangerous for you here.”

he sighed, almost in defeat, before nodding his head. “i thought of that. that’s why i’m offering to take you somewhere with me.”

you chuckled, taken off guard by his words. “where?”

“for a drink, perhaps?” 

“i thought you only drank blood.”

he snickered again, shaking his head. “again, so quick to judge. i happen to enjoy red and white wines just as much as blood.”

as a quiet apology, you chuckled and sheepishly looked at your lap. “very well, where are we going for this drink?” 

he paused, lifting his hand to cup your chin between his thumb and index finger. his eyes immediately searched for yours as if he couldn’t stand a second being denied the sight. “my home, of course.”

—

soaring through the sky in the arms of a vampire was something that you’d never even dreamed about. he could have easily teleported back to the mansion while holding you tightly to his figure, but holding patience as a virtue, he opted instead for an extended flight above the forest. the rain seemed to disappear magically and for a moment, you wondered if he had something to do with it. 

the kingdom from several feet above was beautiful, tall trees scattered around open plains and tiny houses keeping their distances from each other- all the while, the cold wind blowing against your face remained gladly welcomed. suddenly, flying didn’t seem so unnatural. 

you weren’t expecting the vampire’s home to be a large, magnificent mansion. although its several towers were dark, looming, and slightly offputting to any onlooker and it appeared more worn down than wonwoo’s castle, you found it quite alluring. soft candlelight poured out of a handful of windows, signalling a comforting safe haven inside. 

he still cradled you close to his chest, one arm around your waist while the other relaxed under your knees, when his feet finally landed on the ground. although he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he suddenly felt unconfident about the outward appearance of his home. “it’s not much,” he started quietly. “but it’s home.”

“it looks lovely,” you assured him, smoothing your hand over his covered shoulder.

“well, then i’m glad it holds up to your standards.”

when he carried you gracefully to the large front door, it dawned on you that the sight of the two of you must be hilariously misleading to any potential onlooker. after all, you were still in your white nightgown with only a small dressing robe to shield you from the cold. and with the way he held you so close, you looked almost like his bride. for a brief moment, you wondered if he wrestled with the same thought process.

just as you suspected, the interior of his mansion was much more welcoming than the exterior. plush scarlet furniture at every corner, dimly lit candles and lanterns upon the walls and tables, pitch black curtains hanging from the windows, a bearskin rug in the center of the drawing room.. it was oddly..cozy.

you tightened your arms around his shoulders while taking in all of your surroundings. you’d never seen that much red in your entire life. a cold breeze coursed through the hall, prompting you to shiver in his grasp. he only chuckled, bringing you closer to his chest. “it gets a bit drafty in here sometimes.. but i’ll keep you warm.”

he set you down in favor of holding onto your hand and leading you near the fireplace. as he briefly left you to place a drink order with one of his servants, it dawned on you: although you were in enemy territory, you couldn’t remember a time in which you’d felt safer. 

he seemed to rejoin you as quickly as he left, sitting down next to you on the bear skin rug. you watched the flames flicker in his eyes, accentuating their redness.. “have you lived here for a long time?” you asked.

“my whole life,” he replied lowly. “this mansion has been passed down among my family from generation to generation.”

you took another look around, taking note of just how high the vaulted ceilings were.. yes, it appeared old, very lived in.. but you sensed that if those walls could have talked, there were many secrets yet to be shared. “it’s beautiful,” you reiterated, unsure of what else to say.

“thank you,” he chuckled, endearment in his tone.

only a few minutes passed before the drinks were finally delivered in exquisite black chalices. you grasped the goblet delicately, taking a look inside and staring deeply at its deep red contents..

“i promise its nothing more than ordinary red wine,” jeonghan assured you, taking the smallest sip from his own cup.

you chuckled, keeping your eyes locked with his own while taking a gentle sip, aiming to savor the taste. it was the richest red wine you had ever tasted, a sweet undertone proving to be more addicting than you could have imagined.. how fitting, it seemed, that the vampire knew were to find the perfect brands of red wine. 

“this is far from ordinary,” you noted, setting your goblet a few inches away on the floor. “where did you find it?”

he licked his bottom lip, the sight doing more to your heartbeat than it should have. “aren’t i allowed to at least have a few secrets?”

“very well.”

he set his chalice down near yours, using it as a less than discreet excuse to inch his way closer to you. for a moment, he said nothing, the gentle crackling of the fire before you filling the silence. his eyes remained fixed upon your figure, most notably your neck and jawline. he yearned for even the smallest taste, knowing you were most likely just as sweet on the inside as you were on the outside.. 

you, of course, feeling his intense gaze on you, turned to him with a small smirk. the fact that a real, living vampire was so clearly fixated on you was more flattering and ego-feeding than it should have been. “you have a history with wonwoo, don’t you?” you asked, effectively catching him off guard.

“yes,” he answered without hesitation. 

so your suspicions were correct. there was something concerning about the way wonwoo addressed him without even a flicker of fear in his eye. and of course, the fact that your fiance couldn’t have been bothered to tell you how he had come to know and despise the vampire. “will you tell me about it?” 

“no,” he replied, his tone just as sharp and quick as before.

you tilted your head, eyebrows knitting together as you tried not to showcase your annoyance outright. “and why is that?”

“because i’d much rather focus on you tonight, darling princess.”

just like that, your brief shift of annoyance melted away. how could it be possible that a man you’d met only hours ago proved to be more attentive than your own intended? were you really this starved for attention that you would allow yourself to venture inside a vampire’s home, territory that you were frighteningly unfamiliar with? 

you did your best to push those silly questions to the back of your mind, mirroring his actions and inching closer to him. but once his shoulder was pressed against yours, the breath seemed to be snatched from your lungs.. “why.. do i feel so drawn to you?”

he paused, lifting his hand once more to let his fingers graze against your jaw. the longer you stared in his deep red eyes, it only became more apparent that the vampire was insistent on devoting every ounce of his attention to you and only you. he soon whispered, “i could easily ask you the same thing.”

once his hand cupped your cheek, effectively reeling you in closer to him, you abandoned any sense of guilt preventing you from kissing the beautiful vampire in front of you. the last thing you thought about in depth before his lips met yours was the fact that your engagement was purely a transaction, it was anything but love. after that, your mind felt hazy, foggy, focusing only on the feeling of his lips against yours.

he kissed you slowly, deeply, as if determined to memorize you on every intimate level. your gentle sighs, the patterns in which your addicting lips, the feeling of your skin against his.. your nose briefly brushed against his as you tilted your head to kiss him at a better angle and he nearly saw stars. 

his hand glided down to your neck and he, too, felt as if the air had been snatched from his lungs. for he felt your blood rushing underneath his fingertips, he heard your heartbeat echo in his ears again, the effect of a mere kiss proving to excite you and intimidate you all at the same time. it was too tempting, too alluring.. yet he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. in fact, he only cupped your neck tighter with the one hand.   

the two of you were quickly snapped out of your collective daze when a tiny prick on your bottom lip prompted you to break the kiss. you were breathless, feeling a shockwave run down your arms as a result of the tiny little nibble he’d allowed himself, yet you couldn’t bring yourself to break away from him completely. 

“was that-” you whispered, taking a mental note of the way his pupils dilated once again. 

he only smirked faintly, allowing you the tiniest glimpse of his sharp, gleaming fangs. the hand on your neck slid into your hair, tangling themselves in the strands. “do you want me to stop?” 

you couldn’t deny how strangely alluring the sight of his fangs were. in an instant, he could change his mind and show his true colors, prove himself to be exactly what you were always warned about.. and yet, they weren’t so terrifying now that you were seeing them for yourself. and he made no attempt to catch you in a bad moment and drain your blood..

as soon as you saw him gently swipe his tongue across his bottom lip and inadvertently bare his fangs once again, your decision was made.

“no.” 

you moved your own hand to the back of his neck, pulling his lips right back onto yours. you quickly got lost in the kiss again, this one more passionate, more desperate than the last.

jeonghan smirked against your lips, doing his best to keep his hunger and desire at bay. it was too soon, too fast to steal from you just yet. for he had you exactly where he wanted you and he was going to take his time, enjoy every second of his attempt at retaliation. even if his patience was wearing incredibly thin..

–

you were back in your private room before the sun rose. although there was some falsehood to the legends and rumors about vampires, they did, apparently, avoid sunlight at any cost. you slept peacefully for about.. two hours before being abruptly awoken by your new handmaidens. they were nothing if not punctual, you’d soon come to realize. 

immediately upon waking up in your new home, you were filled with a sense of dread and longing.. jeonghan’s home was a perfect escape from your responsibilities. everything about the vampire himself was fantastical in every good sense of the word; every second with him felt like a dream. naturally, it was much preferred to waking up to your cold-hearted fiance.

even sharing a meal together felt like a formality. the two of you kept great distance as you ate in silence and avoided eye contact at any available opportunity. it was torture. 

“i trust you slept well?” wonwoo finally spoke up, though his voice suggested disinterest.

you paused before slowly nodding your head. you couldn’t tell if the lack of sleep or the memory of your shared night with jeonghan was the bigger issue playing in your distraction. “yes, partially. and you?”

“partially,” he replied dryly.

you nodded again, making no attempt to hide your own disinterest. your gaze fell to the large grandfather clock in the corner of the room- nightfall had never seemed so far away..

“i need you to do some studying today,” wonwoo abruptly spoke, once again pulling you out of your daze for better or for worse. “if you are to live here, you must learn to defend yourself against those.. monsters. especially now that we are forced to potentially coexist with one in this castle, no thanks to you.”

while pushing his scolding remarks to the back of your mind, you glared softly at him. “why can’t we just find someone to bless the castle? or move to a safe house, for that matter.”

“it’s not that simple,” he sighed in annoyance. “once you invite a vampire into your home, the only way to uninvite them is to transfer ownership of the property. which i do not intend to do. or.. to kill them.”

“which you.. do intend to do?” you asked hesitantly.

he paused, clenching his jaw as his gaze briefly fell to his plate. “i will do whatever’s necessary.” his narrowed eyes met yours. “if he comes after what’s mine, i’m afraid i’ll have no other choice. let’s hope, for everyone’s sake, that he makes the right decision and keeps to himself.”

‘what’s mine..’ for whatever reason, you hated the way those two words sounded. you realized quickly that he could have been talking about anything; his home, his jewels, his throne.. maybe even you. suddenly, you bit back a chuckle- there you were, thinking that he couldn’t have cared less what became of you. could he have proved you wrong? 

yet, you felt no ounce of regret or shame. in fact, you were wrestling with the temptation to tell him he was wrong about jeonghan more than the temptation to confess your secret affair. if that was even the correct word to use..

“will you ever tell me what happened between the two of you?” you asked, though deep down, you already knew the answer. especially as he rose to his feet and took a step back in avoidance.

“all you need to know is that he’s a monster. and you would do well to keep your distance from him.”

seeing nothing better to do after your shared meal, you took to the study to comply with wonwoo’s request. he had a surprising volume of books on vampire folklore and legends, making you wonder if any of them were filled with facts. you settled comfortably against the sofa near the lit fireplace; you had a feeling you would be in there for a while..

meanwhile, as sunlight poured through one study’s window in abundance, another room was filled with darkness. the curtains completely shielded the glass in jeonghan’s study, preventing even a tiny sliver of sunlight from sneaking into the room. he, too, felt simultaneously exhausted and restless somehow. 

as he paced back and forth, tossing a ripe green apple from one hand to the other, he sighed heavily. he should have known that exacting revenge on the would-be king would be no easy feat. he expected complications, maybe some curveballs.. but he never expected to fall for someone so quickly. and so intensely, at that.

his nervous state of mind was not lost on joshua, a man whom he’d always called his brother. joshua’s understandable fear of the sun prevented him from getting any sleep during the day, provoking him to keep a cautious, watchful eye around the castle. that particular day, his pattern seemed to come in handy.

“what’s troubling you? you are usually hard to find during daylight,” joshua noted, sitting comfortably on the dark red loveseat in front of jeonghan.  

“it’s all going according to plan,” jeonghan started, pausing his steps in favor of standing directly before his closest friend. “some parts are proving to be.. a little too easy. i can go inside the castle as i please. thanks to his bride-to-be.”

joshua furrowed his eyebrows, evidently confused. “i don’t understand-”

jeonghan sighed, his avoidant gaze drifting to the apple in his hand. the words felt heavy on his tongue, embarrassment flooding his veins and preventing him from replying straight away. “i can’t deny that i.. find her incredibly charming. alluring. in all honesty, i can’t even put it into words. a small part of me even feels guilty for using her blind trust in me to my advantage.”

“you’re.. in love with her?” joshua stiffened slightly on the couch, the confusion evident within his features. “that’s impossible. you haven’t even known her for an entire day.”

jeonghan lifted his chin with a tiny smirk, “really, joshua. after all we’ve seen, after all we’ve done.. you’re skeptical of a tiny thing like love at first sight?”

“you sound incredibly delusional.”

jeonghan turned his back on the other man with a heavy sigh, hunching his shoulders ever so slightly. “i knew you wouldn’t get it. i don’t know why i bother to tell you these things anymore.”

joshua laughed in disbelief, much to his friend’s annoyance. “i’m trying to be the sensible one here. you’ve waited for years, plotting every last detail.. you want to throw it all away for.. for what? a princess you have no chance with?” 

“i’m not saying i want to throw all my plans away,” jeonghan countered. “i..can have it both ways. i know i can.”

“you can’t,” joshua replied with another chuckle, rising to his feet. just as he reached the doorway, he sighed, turning back with his hand still on the cold doorknob. “for your own sake..i urge you to get your priorities in order. or you’ll spend the rest of eternity regretting it.” 

jeonghan chose to stay silent, allowing the door clicking shut to fill in the silence. he didn’t plan for this. he didn’t plan to fall so quickly, to let the hopeless romantic deep inside him take over.. he didn’t plan for you to be so beautiful and charming, and he definitely didn’t expect to feel guilty on your behalf. of course wonwoo never knew to appreciate a wonderful thing when he had it.

then of course, he wondered if he was telling joshua the truth. if he really could have it both ways.

–

within a few days, security measures around the castle had somehow heightened. the two guards never left your bedroom door, standing stoically in the hallway day after day. while you were weary of the two of them staying just outside your bedroom twenty four hours a day, you knew it was futile to request them to leave you alone. 

for wonwoo was growing more and more anxious by the day. the only time he didn’t have someone watching closely over you was at night time, when you were presumably asleep. you had a feeling it would only get worse after the wedding, which was only a few weeks away. naturally, it felt best to enjoy what little nights you had left with jeonghan, even if it did drastically ruin your sleep schedule.  

one night, you sat crosslegged on the vampire’s large, four poster bed with him only a few inches away from you. he let his gaze slowly drift all the way from your eyes to the bright pink dress you wore. what a light you were in his darkened home, a light that he suddenly didn’t want to dim. 

he wore a white, fluffy shirt that almost appeared as velvety as his blonde hair. his collarbones peeked from under the fabric, revealing more of his skin than you’d seen. you weren’t sure exactly why, but it begged the question, “is it..strange? not having any heartbeat.” 

“you’ve been studying.” he chuckled before shaking his head. “no. not entirely. just..feels a little empty.”

naturally, there were so many questions you wanted to ask him every time you came face to face with him. he could easily prove all of the books you’d been forced to read wrong. but there seemed to be no delicate way to approach any of them. 

“can i..” you started, your eyes falling to the ruffles in his shirt near his chest.

he didn’t waste a single breath before replying in a cool tone, “please.”

with his permission, you tentatively reached out to place your palm flat against his covered chest. sure enough, there was nothing there.. nothing but cold. you wondered how he could stand it. “you’re right,” you whispered. “how can you stand the cold?”

“you get used to it after a while,” he replied, and you soon realized how foolish it was to ask him such a question. you forgot all about the brief embarrassment, however, when he moved a hand to rest on your shoulder, just above your collarbone. you watched his lips part as he seemed hyperfocused on that area of skin, all of the blood beneath seeming to gather under his fingertips like a magnet. 

“you can hear it, can’t you?” you finally asked him, feeling your own heart race as his eyes seemed to cloud over with hunger. that action, alone, may have been enough of an answer for you.. but you simply loved to hear him speak. 

he nodded stiffly, “you’re so reactive. your heartbeat.. it’s like a thousand drums.”

you bit back the smirk tugging at your lips, his words shamelessly feeding your ego. “that’s just what you do to me.”

he sighed in return at your words, crimson eyes flicking back up to yours. “honestly..?”

“honestly,” you nodded with sincerity, tugging him closer by the ruffles on his shirt and chasing his lips with your own. the kiss lasted ten, maybe twelve seconds before he pulled away slowly, leaving you feeling strangely empty as the cold left you.

you never would have known he was wrestling with several dilemmas in his own mind. he remained focused entirely on you, as if to be wondering if you were truly sitting before him.. “you’re so.. enchanting.”

the breathless way in which he spoke, the way his gaze absentmindedly fell to your lips.. it could easily have made you faint. you instead moved your hand slowly up to his cheek, pulling a gasp from his lips as the warmth of your palm met his skin. “i’m not the one with powers.” 

he chuckled even though your words brought him back into reality all too quickly, and he lowered his chin ever so slightly. “i’ve enjoyed these nights with you very much. i just.. want to ensure that you are, too.”

you chuckled, his words sounding almost absurd to you. “of course i am. don’t you think i would have turned you away by now if i didn’t enjoy your company?” 

“fair point,” he nodded. “however.. with the matter of your engagement-”

“wonwoo and i are not in love, if that’s what you’re wondering,” you gently cut him off. really, the last thing you wanted was to talk about your fiance with him, but you complied, knowing it must have at least brought him a little comfort. “our engagement is purely out of obligation to our kingdoms. though i assumed you, the intuitive vampire, already knew that.”

of course.. he should have known the stoic prince carried no romantic feelings towards you. his only question was, would it complicate his own plans? would wonwoo really be so unbothered by the loss of a most precious princess?  

“well, i knew he was inattentive,” he started.

“but you didn’t know the details?”

“i can’t read people’s minds, princess, not fully. it’s more like i can read emotions. i know wonwoo to be cold, dismissive, and.. in turn i knew you to be deeply upset and lonely.” as the words left jeonghan’s lips, he felt a strange pang of guilt in his chest for the first time. it was unfamiliar to him, who had no heartbeat- clearly, he hadn’t planned this far ahead.

“and bored,” a half hearted chuckle left your lips just before your eyes searched for his again. suddenly, you wanted to push any notion of your life just outside his window to the back of your mind. “you say you can’t read people’s minds.. but could you read other vampire’s minds?”

he tilted his head to the side for a moment, biting back a beautifully knowing smile. “well.. it’s different for everyone. but i could, potentially, read the mind of a vampire that i’ve turned.”

his words stuck with you for a moment, his tone almost promising. although it felt, sometimes, that he understood you on many levels you hadn’t expected him too, there was a possibility he could come to learn even more about you. but would it feel invasive? or would it feel especially intimate? 

“at least, at that point, we’d be fully transparent with each other,” you hinted with a smirk. 

he immediately flashed a smile, finding delight in your words. it was almost too easy.. “i like your way of thinking.”

“there’s plenty more where that came from.”

with an arm around your waist, he pulled you closer, your words igniting a fire within him. the knowledge that you were so willing to even consider becoming like him was too much to bare, the thought of sharing eternity with you too tantalizing to ignore. even if it wasn’t originally his plan.. 

a sigh left his pouty lips before they were back on yours. he had no words in that moment, all of his thoughts fighting to the death in his own mind as he kissed you with every ounce of strength he had left. only a knock at the door pulled him out of his confusing trance and prompted him to break the kiss, his hand remaining on your cheek. 

“yes?” he sighed out in annoyance, pulling a chuckle from your lips.

joshua pushed the door open, his eyes filled with disapproval as he saw the two of you in such a tight embrace. yet, jeonghan couldn’t bring himself to pull away and even mask his dignity. “it’s nearly dawn. the princess should be on her way home soon.”

“yes, joshua, i’ll take care of it,” he replied dismissively, nearly making you laugh again.

joshua, however, was not amused. the distasteful look never left his eyes, his otherwise neutral gaze speaking louder than words. you felt slightly judged, realizing how compromising your position appeared to be.. although, the fact that  jeonghan didn’t seem to care less provided a small amount of comfort. 

“well, take care quickly,” joshua finally spoke, his tone low. as your eyes flicked back and forth between the two vampires, you wondered if they’d shared some sort of secret conversation you had no part of in the brief, passing silence. “we don’t need her fiance knowing who she really spends her nights with.”

he left the room before jeonghan could bite back with a rebuttal. instead, he turned to you with a remorseful, slightly reluctant gaze. you swore his grip on your waist grew tighter as he whispered, “i’d spend all my days and nights with you in a heartbeat.” 

you felt foolish for falling in love with someone so quickly, abandoning any sense of logic in favor of connecting with a phantom. speaking with him about the promise of a shared eternity felt almost childish.. yet incredibly tempting. “it sounds..truly wonderful.”

he must have sensed your hesitance for he slowly pulled back, studying your thoughtful gaze. “i know it’s fast..” he started, his hand soon finding your own. “why don’t you consider it carefully?”

“i will,” you promised, quickly bringing his hand to your lips and pressing a kiss against his knuckles. it was, truthfully, an empty promise- you knew you would have an answer by the end of the week. in all honesty, you had your answer as soon as he left you by your bedroom window. you knew you were hopelessly in love with him as you began to miss him from the second he left your side.

before the sun began to rise and you were within the security of your own chambers, jeonghan came to realize he would be remiss if he didn’t take a few extra peeks inside the castle. the castle that was technically his, in a round about way. soon, he was hidden near the large window in wonwoo’s office, where the crown prince worked tirelessly. 

jeonghan watched him in bitterness, realizing that he hated sharing with this man. he hated sharing the castle, the princess; it was never his plan. suddenly he remembered his vow, that he would rip everything away from wonwoo in a satisfying movement. and he rationalized that no matter how his own plans would change, the ending would be the same. 

for he was purely giving the prince the same treatment he, himself, had been given. 

–

“you’ve been acting strange lately.” 

you weren’t expecting a confrontation from wonwoo, of all people. you were certain that he was the last person in the castle that paid enough attention to you, therefore he would be the last to realize a shift in your behavior. yet there were some things even wonwoo couldn’t help but notice; you were notably sleepy during the day, skipping meals, mostly unable and unwilling to participate in simple conversation..

he couldn’t help but wonder if the upcoming wedding was a contributing factor. he was no stranger to experiencing cold feet, the feeling of unease only heightening now that it was more than a few days away. yet in his mind, you could have done a better job of hiding your apprehension.

you were quick to brush off his words, sighing, “i’m just tired. i haven’t been sleeping very well lately.”

this was odd; as far as wonwoo was aware, you barely participated in any of the wedding planning. granted, neither did he- “is the guest room not to your satisfaction?” he asked, his voice slightly strained.

“no, it’s perfectly fine,” you did your best to assure him, your tone slightly dry.

he paused, distracting himself with the scattered papers on his desk for a moment. he couldn’t let his confusion or his intrigue get the best of him, or worse, become blatantly obvious to you. the last thing he wanted was to give you the impression he cared a great deal about your feelings towards him, or your courtship in general- maybe it was a horrible tactic, but it stopped the lines from becoming too blurred.

yet, there was one question burning a hole in the back of his mind. he cleared his throat after a moment, crossing his arms over his desk. “have you.. by chance witnessed anything odd in the castle lately?”

you knew what (or better yet, who) he spoke of even with the lack of details. you leaned your head back against the arm chair, feigning contemplation. “not that i recall.. in all honesty, i’ve never felt safer in my life than i have during these last few weeks.”

“good,” he muttered in that all too familiar dismissive tone. though he was still unconvinced..

“have you?” you countered, raising an eyebrow.

“nothing worth noting,” he replied without taking his eyes away from the paperwork.

you chuckled, “if we are to be married, though, i think most things would be worth noting. if there’s something you wish to tell me, please say so at once.”

“it’s nothing, i swear it,” he replied a little too quickly. as always, though, he was quick to compose himself and momentarily hide his disdain. “i’m sure that if there’s anything amiss within these walls, it will present itself in its own way.”

you weren’t a fool; you knew that was his own way of hinting at you to tell him whatever secrets you may have buried within. but you remained silent; there was no definite way of telling your fiance that you were planning on leaving him for a vampire you barely knew. 

to leave wonwoo was to leave an agreement, a transaction, at the risk of bringing corruption to your kingdom. to leave the world you knew behind in favor of an eternity of unfamiliarity.. yet you couldn’t get the promise of eternity with someone as attentive and enchanting as jeonghan out of your mind. especially with every moment you sat silently in the library with said fiance..

you wished you could read wonwoo’s mind as you watched him slump over his desk, devote his entire attention to his work. did he truly suspect you of something? or did he have a confession of his own that he was harboring?

–

it was particularly cold that night, even with jeonghan’s large black cloak draped over your figure. he walked slowly by your side, clearly unbothered by the icy breeze even as it blew against his thin white blouse. for a moment you envied him; even if a part of you had always enjoyed the fall and winter time, you wished there was an easier way of walking through it completely unbothered.

“why did you take me out here, again?” you asked, tugging the heavy material of the coat closer to your chest. 

he chuckled a little bit, draping his arm around your shoulders after hearing the slight warble in your tone. it was a wonderful distraction, however brief it was. “i wanted to show you something. it’ll only take a minute.”

true to his word, it wasn’t long before he led you to the back of the small gardens. much to your surprise, they were kept very well.. almost too well, considering the state of the weather. yet near the back corner lay a large bush of vibrant red roses, the scarlet petals appearing to be made from the finest silk, itself. 

“how..how are they-” you stumbled over your words, enchanted by the deep red flowers. something about the specific shade of red was strangely alluring, pulling you closer and closer to the bushes.

“alive?” he finished, noticing your fixation on the flowers and snickering. “there’s a lot more about this house that you don’t know about. strange magic courses through the entire property, magic that even i can’t wrap my head around at times.”

he stepped forward, extending his hand slowly to pluck a single red rose from the bush. he turned to you with a smile ghosting over his lips, his eyes practically piercing into yours. slowly, you reached your own hand out to take the rose from him, unsure if the whisper of gratitude actually left your lips. 

“it’s beautiful,” you sighed gently, treating the stem with delicacy and care.

“isn’t it?” he chuckled, watching you carefully in admiration.

you rotated the rose between your fingers, wanting to study it from every angle. it truly was magical, especially with the knowledge it had suffered through harsh winters.. there was something so beautiful about its resilience. suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through your finger, brought upon by a prick of a thorn. the rose fell into your other hand as you examined the small wound, the tiniest drop of blood falling down your index finger..

you chuckled, caught off guard by the prick of the large thorn. while you were opting to forget about it, though, jeonghan seemed fixated on it, his eyes glued to your finger. he watched the soft pool of blood trail down your hand while you searched your pockets for a handkerchief. he drew in a deep breath, one that called to you. 

briefly, you were alarmed by the intense daze he fell into. you’d never seen such intensity in his eyes. you wiped your hand off on your skirts, making a mental note to wash it off later, before tapping his shoulder. “jeonghan-” 

he blinked repeatedly once the gentle trail had been washed away, any evidence of the incident wiped clean. though the smell of iron still filled the air between the two of you, tempting him, taunting him.. he cleared his throat, avoiding your gaze for a moment. “my apologies, princess.” 

“it’s not your fault,” you started, offering a gentle smile of reassurance. “i should have been more careful.”

“no-” he paused, distracted by the tiny dried marks of blood on your skirt. although his fixation was slowly melting away, the sight puzzled him, raising too many questions and prompting him once again to battle with his impatience. he lifted his chin to meet your gaze, “no. i should have known-”

you held your hand behind your back; although the wound was small, there was no shame in being cautious. “it’s.. killing you, isn’t it?” 

he held eye contact, his intense gaze softening as your words echoed in his mind. he still couldn’t wrap his head around how his mood had shifted within only a few weeks of knowing you; yes, he yearned and hungered for you.. but he had grown concerned for your wellbeing. your readiness. 

“it is..” he slowly admitted.

you sighed deeply; at least the two of you shared a certain hunger. you moved a hand to his cheek, the other now gripping a little more timidly onto the rose. “then just..” you paused, unsure how to state your plea. “i swear i can handle it.”

he sighed in frustration, taking a step back and letting you withdraw your hand from his face.  “you know i can’t do that. not yet.”

“but why?” 

he paused, turning his back on you. he didn’t want you to witness his expression change as he contemplated his piling dilemmas.. “because..” he started, his tone vague and unsure. “you have to be sure that you’re absolutely ready. and i mean.. absolutely ready, without question.”

“i’ll be fine, i swear- i know that you must be suffering-”

he shook his head quickly, gripping gently onto your upper arm. he spoke lowly, as if to share a secret with you alone, “you know how patient i can be, princess; i can wait for just a little while longer. we have to find the perfect moment.” 

you tilted your head back to get a better look at the moon directly above the two of you, shining like a spotlight and providing the perfect ambience. in your mind, there couldn’t have been a better opportunity; the garden was perfectly secluded, cold, the two of you in your own little world.. meanwhile, as jeonghan was allowed a better view of your neck, the intense hunger pooled in his stomach again, his mind going fuzzy.. 

you, of course, did nothing to help him out of his daze as you spoke, “this seems like as good an opportunity as any.”

“no, no-” he started, shaking his head before his gaze fell to the grass. maybe he was being selfish, but he was aiming for a perfectly satisfying moment to taste you, to take you into his world. a time when it would torture wonwoo the most.. “trust me. the wait will be worth it, i promise you.”

you let out a heavy sigh of defeat, knowing there was no use trying to convince him. maybe there was a small truth to what jeonghan said, maybe there was something special about waiting.. ultimately, you complied with his request and agreed to wait. although, you hoped the right opportunity would present itself sooner rather than later. 

–

when you arrived home, however, you wished you’d spent at least a few more minutes trying to convince him. 

“i was wondering where you’d been running off to.”

you recognized wonwoo’s voice from across the room immediately. he leaned back against your bedroom door with his arms folded across his chest and much to your surprise, there was no anger in his expression. more like.. intrigue. a knowing smirk twisted at his lips, hitting you like a slap in the face.

“so you have kept in contact with that.. new friend of ours.”

you hopelessly feigned innocence, your eyebrows knitting together in such a vain attempt. “i don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

he scoffed, the sound of mockery sending a pang through your heart. “don’t lie. tell me, where else would someone go during the night time?” 

you felt your throat run dry as he spoke, knowing that he had effectively backed you into a corner. knowing that your act of innocence had come to a close, you let your shoulders slump as you asked him, “why do you care, anyways? it’s not like you were planning on putting any effort in this marriage outside of the trading agreements.”

he shrugged his shoulders, pushing off of the wall to take a step closer. “maybe you’re right. but i simply won’t allow that horrid monster anywhere near what’s mine. not anymore.”

“but don’t you see? he couldn’t care less about your castle. he has a home of his own, he lives comfortably. he doesn’t need to steal anything from you. you.. you judge him too harshly.”

“then why would he try to worm his way into gaining partial ownership of the castle?”

“you tell me,” you countered after a bitter scoff left your lips. “for god’s sake, just tell me what really happened between the two of you! why are you so convinced he’s hyperfixated on ruining your life?” 

his shoulders stiffened, his eyes quickly leaving yours. for a moment, he seemed to be vaguely tempted to tell you the truth, with you standing before him, on the edge of your seat.. “from this moment on, you are not to see him any longer.”

you felt your face grow hot with rage as he quickly turned his back on you. you yelled, “you don’t get to decide that for me!” 

“i’m doing this for your own good,” he bit back, whipping around to face you with a harsh stare. “i thought your studies would have brought you some much needed clarity but apparently not. you either can’t see jeonghan for what he truly is or you simply refuse to. he’s a demon. he’ll feed on you and drain you for all you’re worth as soon as he gets the opportunity.”

“you don’t know that! you don’t know anything about him, he’s gentle and.. beautiful and kind.. whatever version of him you thought you knew, it’s not him!” 

“that’s exactly my point!” he snapped. “how can you not see that he’s putting on a facade for you?”

you hated how blunt and cold his words sounded, how they drove into your heart like a stake. most of all, you hated how even for a brief second, you wondered if there was any truth to his statement. was the vampire truly so magnetic and alluring to a fault? did he truly have a certain power over you that you couldn’t begin to comprehend?

“you’re wrong about him,” you finally muttered, your voice silent yet filled with anger. if only the sunlight wasn’t peeking through your curtains; you would have relied on the vampire of the hour to conveniently whisk you away.

wonwoo huffed, opening the door for two more guards to step inside your quarters. “they’re to watch over your balcony every evening,” he explained, only fueling the raging fire of anger inside you. “it’s not up for debate; it’s unsafe for you at night, otherwise.”

you were quick to follow him as he stepped into the hallway, hurriedly making his way to the spiral staircase. it was as if his words meant nothing, as if they had no consequence.. “so i’m a prisoner? my privacy is to be thrown out the window?”

“it’s for your protection,” he bit back, the monotony in his tone doing little to reassure you. “i won’t argue with you on this matter for a second longer. not when there’s endless amounts of work to be done.”

you stopped in place, your hand clutching tightly onto the railing.. how did you keep managing to forget about your own wedding? 

–

as the days passed, you considered again and again what may have become of you if you’d begged and pleaded with jeonghan to let you stay with him. at least for a little while longer. after hours and hours of meticulous wedding planning and rehearsals, you were heartbroken to find that the vampire made no attempt to approach your balcony. the two guards, unassuming as they may have been to a being like himself, were still a nuisance he wasn’t willing to deal with.

it was the evening before your wedding. even when you were surrounded by family members, servants, and several members of the court alike, you had never felt so isolated. final preparations were being made but you couldn’t bring yourself to focus on anything except for the dancing flames in the wall’s tiny opening before you. 

although jeonghan had remained absent for a few days, you could still feel his presence somehow. a brief gust of cold wind, for example, resembling a whisper in your ear.. it prompted you to wonder if beyond the stacking differences between the two of you as individuals, he had found a way to communicate with you.

soon wonwoo stood before the rest of the crowd, gathering their attention. as he spoke, it was the happiest he had ever sounded for as long as you knew him, which, truthfully was not saying much. “today marks a momentous occasion- the eve before two kingdoms with many differences on paper, put them aside and unite as one.”

modest applause rang through the hall and brought a discomforting tingling to your ears. they seemed to be celebrating your hopelessness and wonwoo seemed to catch on, for his eyes immediately landed on you before he spoke again. “my dear princess-” the words unfamiliar and unwelcome, “let us celebrate the beginning of a new chapter together.”

together.

one thing was for certain; you two were to stay at arm’s length as you navigated the new chapter he spoke of. neither of you had any intention to embrace a possible connection.

the two of you would, however, do whatever necessary to keep up appearances. hence why you slowly approached him with the fakest, loveliest smile you could plaster upon your lips.. and as you faced the crowd with him, hand in hand, either of your parents’ proud smiles forcing your stomach to twist in knots, it all felt too alarmingly real.

it was clear your audience was expecting something, maybe a little kiss.. which neither of you would give them the pleasure of witnessing. both of you were determined to save that agony for the wedding..

as suspense seemed to fill the room, however, thunder began to rumble on an otherwise clear night sky and rattle the windows. while no one else in the room seemed to think much of it, you were puzzled- could it be-

“now don’t stop on my account.”  

a collective gasp filled the room as jeonghan stood merely a few feet away from the reluctant couple with a shit eating grin. his gray suit made his fluffy blonde hair that you had missed so dearly pop, not to mention his deep red eyes. you had to laugh; it truly felt like centuries since you had been forced to commit the vampire’s beautiful features to memory.

“jeonghan,” wonwoo sighed through gritted teeth. “i’m getting a strange sense of deja vu.”

“as am i,” he chuckled, taking a single step closer to you. he barely had time to blink in your direction before wonwoo unsheathed his sword, the sharp tip nearly inches away from the vampire’s jaw. his smirk merely deepened as his eyes flicked to the blade. “c’mon. you know that won’t do a thing.”

“true,” wonwoo nodded. “but it could distract you.”

you furrowed your eyebrows in questioning merely seconds before jeonghan quickly reached behind and plucked the pointed wooden stake from the guard’s hand. he laughed and you hated how beautiful the sound was leaving his pouty, addicting lips.. “i don’t get distracted, old friend. not anymore.”

wonwoo huffed, making no further attempt to mask his anger. “get out of my castle at once.”

“with pleasure.” his voice was sharp and cool as he reached towards you, dodging the sword and grabbing your forearm. his grip was firm but gentle, his cold fingers locked around your arm as he brought you into his cold embrace. the last thing you saw before he draped his dark cloak over your figure was wonwoo waving the sword in jeonghan’s direction to no avail. for in the blink of an eye, you were in the center of the vampire’s drawing room. 

you were breathless. your chest heaved against his as you gripped tightly onto his shoulders, not wanting to part from him for even a moment. “thank you..” you whispered. “how did you..”

“i had a feeling,” he replied, his hands slowly inching closer to your lower back. 

“why didn’t you come back?” you asked him with desperation, your grip on his shoulders subconsciously growing tighter.

he stayed silent for a moment, his expression turning somber. “there were a few complications. and i.. well, truthfully i needed some time to myself. please forgive me, princess, i should have told you-”

“no,” you interrupted, moving your hands to cup his cheek and prompt him to look in your eyes again. “what matters is that we’re together now.” it took everything within you to hold back from adding a tiny ‘forever’ to the end of your sentence. you could only hope that the look in your eyes spoke for itself.

he let out a gentle sigh, which was laced with nothing but affection, before bringing you closer to his large window. now that he was allowed a proper view of you in the moonlight, a peaceful resolve within his features. his hands remained glued to your waist as he brought you impossibly close to him, barely allowing either of you room to breathe. though, it was the way you preferred it.

“i’m sorry princess,” he spoke again, guilt filling his crimson irises to the brim. “i failed you.”

you shook your head immediately, seeing no need for another apology. “no. not yet. you came just in the nick of time.”

he leaned down, letting his forehead rest against yours. thanks to the close, breathless proximity, he could perfectly hear your heart racing in your chest. the sound, as always, was like music to his ears, prompting a familiar ache in the emptiness in his chest- “as did you.”

you pondered the gravity of his words as a warmth spread throughout your body. it washed away all of the dread, hopelessness you had felt not even an hour earlier. and for that- you were eternally grateful to him. you pulled away just enough to meet his gaze again, your voice filled with sentimentality that finally made him smile, “we both found each other at the perfect time.”

he had no words. he hoped his actions would speak louder as he brought a cold hand up to the back of your neck, pulling you in for a deep and slow kiss. he poured everything into it: love, adoration, and most notably, hunger. that familiar sharp, chilling wave of surprise washed throughout your body the moment his fangs grazed your bottom lip. 

your lips were only a single breath away from his when you paused, whispering to him emotionally, “i’m ready.”

he paused, pulling his head back just enough to meet your gaze. but you could tell his patience was wearing extremely thin, judging by the way his fingers had tangled themselves into your hair. “are you absolutely sure?” 

he barely asked the question before you nodded your head, your fingers wrapped around the lapel of his jacket. “positive. please-”

he flashed a smile of relief, the moonlight giving rise to a glint of his pure white fangs merely a millisecond before he leaned in. hoping to help you relax, he left a trail of hungry yet soothing kisses from your jawline to the area where your neck and shoulder met, right above your jugular. 

this was it. this was the moment. all the horrible, tortuous waiting on his end was drawing to a close. he felt you stiffen in his arms as you drew in a deep breath and released it, unable to completely eradicate your subtle fears. your sigh was like a mystical breeze, filling his ears like the sweetest music.. 

he parted his lips, barely letting the sharp edge of his fangs graze the surface of your skin. you quickly responded by gasping and gripping on tighter to his biceps, whispering to him and pleading, “don’t let me go.”

upon hearing your words, he stopped, guilt coursing through his cold body upon impact. you couldn’t fool him; as much as you tried to hide it, you were scared. understandably so. and he couldn’t bare to see it. especially when you had no idea what lay in store..

he stumbled out of your grip, taking two clumsy steps backward. “i.. i can’t-”

you opened your eyes to see him with his chest heaving, his fangs disappearing from view. then you gently pressed, “why?”

“i can’t do this-” he repeated, his voice worn and shaky as he avoided your gaze. “i can’t do this to you.”

“no-” you gasped, raising your voice without fully realizing. “no, jeonghan, i want this. i want you. for eternity, just like you promised-”

“no, you don’t-” he reiterated firmly, turning his back on you. you watched as he practically shrunk under your gaze, picturing the sunken look in his beautiful eyes.. a horrible air of confusion and uncertainty filled the tense air before he finally spoke, “you know.. i wasn’t always like this.”

you furrowed your eyebrows, confused. “what do you mean?” 

he chuckled, but it wasn’t his usual light, airy laugh. no it was filled with an unmistakable sadness that nearly snapped your heart in two. 

“i worked in the palace once. a few years ago. i grew up with the prince, we were good friends- hence why i was able to join the ranks of his knights so quickly. the army, being sworn to secrecy, were tasked with hunting and killing vampires. wonwoo, of course, led all of us fearlessly, determined to put an end to the generational battle.

“but i made the mistake of trusting in him too much. i misjudged him.. so i told him the truth. that i had befriended one. that he was reclusive, that he meant no harm- that perhaps, these were deeply misunderstood creatures. obviously, he didn’t take too kindly to my confession and when i refused to tell him who and where this vampire was, he took an unexpected approach. he promoted me to the general leader of his army.”

he noticed your confused expression but continued to stare out the window, eyes falling to the gardens below. “the next excursion the army took was to a notoriously violent family of vampires’ home. he and i took the lead.. but we were dangerously outnumbered and underprepared. but you see.. he had made sure of that.”

you froze, asking him quietly, “what do you mean by that?”

he drew in a deep breath before releasing it, his cold breath casting a cloud upon the window in front of him. “after commanding the rest of his men to escape, he left me inside. for dead. but i suffered a much, much worse fate than death.” 

suddenly he pulled back the sleeve of his silky shirt and you gasped, finally being allowed a glimpse of a tiny scar from none other than “fangs..”

he nodded, dropping his arm to his side. “joshua rescued me and brought me back here, to his home. the only thing worse than the nightmare of being bitten was waking up from it. waking up without a heart, without a running pulse, with a terrible, terrible hunger-” he paused, his eyes finally finding yours. “and to think.. i thought about subjecting you, darling princess, to the same horror.”

it was too much to handle, all at once. you actually stumbled backwards, your hand barely clutching onto the curtain to stop you from falling.. 

“it.. it can’t be true-”

“but it is.”

you felt your heart shatter in your chest and brought a hand to soothe the aching area. “so you were going to use me.. for revenge?” 

once again, he was unable to look in your eyes. he bit on his lower lip, hard enough to draw blood, before shamefully nodding his head. “i was.” 

“was any of it true?” you asked, raising your voice again. you couldn’t help it, you were hurt, angry- angry with both of them, somehow. 

he stepped closer immediately upon hearing the tiny warble in your voice. his hand fell to yours and he pressed a kiss to your knuckles before explaining, “listen to me.. falling for you was never part of the plan. i wanted to take his life from him, everything he knew and loved, just as he’d done to me. but… i never stopped to think about what could become of you. the one who cast their own little spell on me, princess.”

tears fell from your eyes like a dam breaking and you bowed your head down, allowing a small cry to leave your lips. all your hopes, all your ambitions were suddenly dashed with the confession. you brought your hand to your lips in a vain attempt to muffle the heart wrenching cries that left your lips. 

for a moment, you struggled to speak, struggled to voice to jeonghan how.. confused you were. how hurt you were on his behalf. how even then, you couldn’t bring yourself to stop caring so deeply for him. that beyond your initial hurt and anger, you believed him. 

“you don’t have to say anything,” he whispered, his fingers brushing along your jawline. “i know.”

although there was a small comfort to those two simple words, it couldn’t silence your cries. not completely. you looked up to him, and much to his (and truthfully, your own) surprise, you sobbed, “i want to stay with you.”

“no you don’t,” he shook his head, letting his hand fall into your hair. 

“i do,” you sobbed, anger and desperation in your tone. 

“no. you-”

“i do!” you cried out, the edge in your voice breaking his own spirit. “i don’t want to go back now, i.. jeonghan, i can’t go back now-”

he sighed gently, sorrow filling his eyes once more. “princess, pl-”

“i can’t! i can’t, i won’t!” you buried your face in his chest, despite how angry you felt with him in that moment. “you can’t make me!” “listen,” he spoke gently, yet with confidence that brought you to briefly silence your tears. he cradled your head in his hands, fingers weaving through your hair. “even after the pain begins to dull.. you will be hunted. you will never stop living in fear. he will never stop searching for his princess.”

you knew he was right. but you refused to acknowledge it. you cried desperately into his jacket, where he continued to hold you tightly.

“you’ll lose everything. everything you know and love,” he started, his voice finally beginning to shake. “you’ll even lose the sunlight.”

you would have cried out your protest again, had he not seemingly captured your words from you. instead, you felt dumbfounded, speechless.. and for the first time in forever, you felt like giving up. 

“i can’t do that to you. i won’t do that to you.” he captured your chin between his thumb and index finger, prompting you to look into his eyes again. you couldn’t resist, even if the devastation in his eyes was as clear as day. “please.. don’t ask me anymore.”

it pained you to speak, your voice lowering, “does that mean..” you sighed, gently closing your eyes to avoid the look of despair in his eyes. “is it over now?” 

he paused, hating to answer you straight away and potentially add salt to the wound. he seemed to carefully, mindfully craft his words before he spoke, “not completely, princess. i’ll be with you. you could hear me during our time apart, couldn’t you?”

his words brought you a sliver of hope, even if you weren’t fully satisfied. even if you were still preferring to abandon your life in favor of sharing blissful eternal moonlight with him.. “yes. i could.”

“then don’t stop listening for me,” he pleaded before pressing one last feathery kiss against your forehead. “alright? swear it.”

“i swear it,” you murmured, your voice threatening to give way once again. his lips found yours before he could hear the promise in its entirety and he kissed you passionately. the two of you poured your most heartbreaking (but not your last) goodbye into the kiss rather than using anymore hurtful words.

–

it was as if wonwoo was expecting you to come back home. as if he expected you to immediately regret your decision and come back to him.. and you would let him think that way, for now. there was no use in arguing with him and adding to the tense environment. at least he seemed to share the same sentiment, for he didn’t ask any questions or gloat- for jeonghan, in his eyes, had found defeat and that was more than enough for him. 

the morning of the wedding, you felt nauseous, as expected. you were less concerned about parading yourself in a ceremony with a man you couldn’t care less about and more concerned about what it meant for your future. a life filled with safety, security.. and as jeonghan put it, boredom. 

You drove past the last few storefronts, through rows of homes and wide open fields until you reached the guest house. It looked much like the other houses in the neighborhood—simple and unassuming, save for the bright red roof and the wooden signpost by the gate.

The gates were open, so you let yourself in, taking a moment to soak in the quiet surroundings. The house had a traditional Korean setup, with a low table outside, a shed of large clay crocks (probably holding kimchi or fermented soybean paste), an outdoor cooking area, and other signs of daily life scattered around.

Then, the front door swung open, and a petite elderly woman stepped onto the porch, dressed in a floral blouse and loose pants. Her silver hair was neatly pinned back, her sharp eyes scanning you before she broke into a warm smile.

“You must be the city girl,” she said, hands on her hips. “Took you long enough.”

You blinked at her bluntness but caught the teasing glint in her eyes. You smiled apologetically. “I know, I’m sorry. Something came up, so I had to delay for a day. Is the room still available?”

“Of course! We don’t get many guests here. Haven’t had a single one this year until you.” She waved you inside. “Come. I don’t usually take in long-term guests, but I liked the way you spoke on the phone. You seemed polite.”

Inside, the house was warm and lived-in, wooden beams stretching across the ceiling. Something was cooking in the kitchen, filling the space with a savory aroma.

“You must be starving. Lunch is almost ready,” she called from the kitchen.

“Thank you. I’ll just grab my things from the car,” you said, pointing toward the door.

She nodded. “Ah, right. Let me help you with that.”

“No, it’s alright—”

“Hannie!” she called out, ignoring you. “Come out and help our guest with her luggage.”

A moment later, a figure appeared at the doorway. Tall, dark soft-looking hair trimmed just above the shoulders framed her delicate features—a straight nose, lips, and sharp, striking eyes with long lashes that would make anyone jealous.

There was something boyish in the way she moved. Her stride was quick and heavy, her clothes were loose and simple. A plaid button-down over a plain white t-shirt,  and pair of dark sweatpants. Not exactly the dainty look you might’ve expected from someone with a face like that, but it suited her.

“Hannie,” the elderly woman called again, motioning to the car outside.

She only hummed in response before stepping down from the porch and heading straight for your trunk. You followed after her, popping the trunk open just as she reached it.

“Thank you,” you said. “I can get the heavier ones,” you offered, out of habit more than anything.

Hannie barely spared you a glance before hauling out your largest suitcase like it weighed nothing. “It’s fine.”

You blinked. Okay, strong girl.

A small duffel bag dangled from her other hand as she turned back toward the house, moving easily despite the weight. You had to admit, you were a little relieved to know there was another girl your age in the house. You’d expected to spend most of your time with elderly folks—nice as they were, they didn’t quite offer the same kind of connection. But with Hannie here, at least you’d have someone to talk to.

Shutting the trunk, you grabbed the rest of your bags and followed her inside.

The first three days passed uneventfully. You quickly became familiar with the routine in the house: the sounds of cooking from the kitchen, the fluttering of old curtains in the breeze, and the occasional gathering of the elderly ladies just outside the gates of the guest house. You had been expecting peace, but this was something else entirely—a rare kind of mundanity, where time seemed to stretch and slow down. You loved it more than you had anticipated.

Hannie, the granddaughter of the house, was always present in some way but never fully there. She rarely spoke, her gaze slipping past you instead of meeting your eyes, and she was gone for long stretches of the day. You sometimes wondered where she went—perhaps to town, perhaps somewhere even quieter than here—but it wasn’t a question you felt the need to ask. It didn’t seem like she would answer, anyway.

When you did cross paths, the interactions were brief. A polite nod from her, a quick greeting from you. Occasionally, you’d catch her in the kitchen, stirring something at the stove, or stepping onto the porch with a towel slung over her shoulder, hair damp from a shower. Once, when you mumbled a sleepy “good morning” while rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you thought you saw the corner of her mouth twitch upward before she disappeared out the door.

You assumed she was just a little shy. Maybe reserved. That was fine with you. It was oddly nice having another girl around who didn’t expect constant conversation.

The guest house owner—Gram, as she liked to be called—was warm and thoughtful, though she saw your lack of movement as odd. She often encouraged you to explore, to go into town, to at least take a walk.

“Most people get restless after a day or two,” she said one morning, watching you sip your tea at the low table outside. “You, though, you act like you’ve been waiting your whole life to sit still.”

You grinned. “Honestly, Gram? I have.”

She clicked her tongue, unconvinced. “Hannie, why don’t you take her into town today? Show her around. The store won’t burn down without you for a day.”

At the mention of her name, Hannie, who had been quietly peeling fruit by the water pump, finally glanced at you. Her expression was unreadable, but her head tilted ever so slightly, as if sizing you up. Then, just as quickly, she shrugged. “Sure.”

It wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic invitation, and you didn’t want to force anything. “Thanks, Gram, but I promise, I’m fine. I’m enjoying myself.”

Gram sighed, shaking her head. “If you say so. But if you change your mind, just tell Han.”

You nodded, and across the table, Hannie met your gaze again, her lips pressing into something like a faint smile before she went back to peeling.

Still, Gram refused to let you be completely idle. Every day, she gave you a small task—flipping sun-dried herbs at noon, covering them before sunset. It wasn’t much, but it made you feel like a part of the household rather than just a passing guest.

Hannie never commented on your meandering presence in the house. Sometimes, she’d walk past you on the way out, sometimes you’d catch sight of her returning in the late afternoon, looking effortlessly graceful yet somehow boyish in the way she moved. 

As the days passed, little things about Hannie started catching your attention—details that didn’t quite match the soft-spoken, delicate image you’d formed of her at first. Her voice, though quiet, had a low, steady timbre. Occasionally, she’d roll her shoulders or rub the back of her neck in a way that felt oddly... rugged. There was something in the way she leaned against doorframes too, hands stuffed in her pockets, with a relaxed posture. And yet, she still looked as graceful as ever, dark hair soft against her skin, her features almost too pretty. 

The contrast was interesting, but you didn’t think much of it—so what if she was a little rough around the edges? Plenty of girls had tomboyish sides.

Strong, you thought idly one afternoon, watching her haul in a sack of something from outside. Strong for someone so pretty.

But you didn’t dwell on it. More than anything, it was just nice having another girl around. She wasn’t unfriendly, but she wasn’t exactly inviting either. It wasn’t awkward, though. If anything, it suited the peacefulness of the guest house. You weren’t looking for company, and Hannie didn’t seem eager to offer it. But of course, living together would make people grow closer.

One morning, you found yourself at the kitchen table, lazily flipping through a magazine Gram had left lying around. Hannie stood by the sink, rinsing a handful of freshly picked persimmons.

“Do you eat these?” she asked.

You looked up. It was the first time she’d spoken to you without it being a response to something you said first. “I like them, but I never really had them fresh like that,” you admitted.

She grabbed a towel and started drying one. “They taste better chilled.”

“Oh?” You watched as she set a few aside and placed the rest in the fridge. “So you like them cold?”

She shrugged, placing one on the table in front of you. “Try it later.”

After that, you noticed other little things.

When you forgot your slippers outside one evening, you found them neatly placed by the door the next morning. The first time you struggled to lift one of Gram’s large water jugs, Hannie walked past, muttered, “You’ll hurt your back,” and hoisted it up with ease before you could protest.

“Thanks,” you said, surprised.

Gradually, your paths started crossing more. If she was already outside when you went to dry the herbs, she’d sit nearby, scrolling through her phone while you worked. If you ended up in the kitchen at the same time, she’d slide you a cup of whatever she was drinking without a word.

The conversations stretched a little longer, too. One weekend morning, you found her on the porch, sitting quietly under the sun. Without thinking, you sat beside her, stretching your legs out and basking in the sunshine.

“Gram says you haven’t gone to the beach yet,” she said.

You raised an eyebrow. “She’s been trying to get me out of the house since day one.”

Hannie smirked slightly, eyes still on the road. “She’s not used to people who like sitting still.”

You laughed. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

You talked about the weather, the best place to buy snacks in town, how the local stray cats had more attitude than city ones. They weren’t deep conversations, but they were comfortable.

Hannie still wasn’t overly talkative, but she started meeting your eyes more, responding with more than just a nod. And sometimes, when she thought you weren’t paying attention, you’d catch a small, amused smile on her lips.

It wasn’t much, but you were getting used to each other.

On a cool Saturday afternoon, you sat cross-legged at the low wooden table outside, with a basket of vegetables sitting between you and Hannie. Gram had roped the both of you into helping with dinner, which, in her words, “would taste better with young hands working on it.”

You didn’t mind. It gave you something to do.

Hannie, across from you, was peeling potatoes efficiently. You, on the other hand, were going slower, carefully stripping the skin from each one with a small knife.

“How long have you been staying here?” you asked.

Hannie didn’t look up from her task. “I live here.”

“Like, since birth?”

“Maybe,” she said, lips twitching.

You gave her a flat look. “That’s not a real answer.”

She considered for a second before finally saying, “I wasn’t born here, but I grew up here. I left a few years ago, but I came back.”

You nodded, filing that away. “Where did you go?”

She flipped a potato in her hand. “Seoul.”

“You lived there?”

“For a bit.”

“You’re very specific,” you said dryly.

She smirked. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“Of course. I have to know who I’m living with.”

“Mm.” She switched to peeling carrots. “Your turn, then. I have to know who I’m living with, too. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

You rolled a potato in your hands. “Depends on the question.”

Hannie shot you an amused glance but didn’t push. “Why’d you come here?”

You shrugged. “I wanted a change of pace.”

She peeled another strip from the carrot. “That’s a vague answer.”

“The specifics are boring,” you said through gritted teeth, unwilling to divulge anything.

She let out a small huff of laughter. “Fair enough.”

For a while, neither of you spoke, just continuing your work. The sun had begun to dip lower in the sky, and you were realizing once again why they called this guest house The Sunset House. The smell of something simmering in the kitchen drifted through the air.

“What do you do all day, anyway?” you asked, breaking the comfortable quiet. “I always see you coming and going, but you never say where you’re headed.”

Hannie hummed. “I go to work at the grocery shop.”

You nodded. “So you’re not just freeloading off your Grandma, then?” you teased.

She snorted. “I have my own money and I know how to work for my meals.”

“Okay, but I have a real question,” you said, squinting at her. “What’s your skincare routine?”

Hannie blinked at you, clearly caught off guard. “My what?”

“You have really nice skin,” you said matter-of-factly. “Like, it’s annoyingly flawless. I need to know what you’re using.”

She chuckled. “I just use whatever’s around.”

You frowned. “Liar.”

“It’s the truth,” she said, looking far too entertained.

“No fancy routine? No expensive products?”

“Nope.”

You narrowed your eyes at her, but she just kept peeling, smug as ever. You huffed. “This is so unfair. Your skin is prettier than mine and I have like, a ten-step skincare routine.”

“Sounds like a you problem.”

You grabbed a potato and chucked it at her arm. She caught it easily, shaking her head with a grin.

The conversation continued, flowing from one topic to another with no real direction—just small questions, half-answers, and the occasional amused remark. It wasn’t deep, but it didn’t need to be.

By the time you finished, the basket of peeled vegetables was full, the sun had lowered into a deep orange, and you had learned just enough about Hannie to know there was still more to figure out.

It was hard to ignore the nagging thought in your head ever since you arrived in town. While you tried to brush it off, convincing yourself that you deserved this break from your turbulent city life, the anxiety that you should be doing something more productive lingered in the back of your mind. 

It was probably because your mind and body were so used to being on high alert all the time, functioning at full capacity every day for the last several years that you start getting anxious when you’re not doing anything and just relaxing. You could feel an odd sense of suspicion, nagging at the back of your mind like, “Shouldn’t you be doing something?”

Watering Gram’s garden plants was enough to push away all these thoughts, though.

As you stood under the gentle heat of the morning sun, you maneuvered the hose expertly, a result of doing the chore every day for the last few weeks. You let out a slow breath, feeling oddly content with the simplicity of it.

“Are you planning to drown my plants?”

You startled slightly as Gram’s voice rang out. Turning, you found her watching you with a hand on her hip. “Come here,” she said, beckoning you over to the low wooden table. “I have a better use for those hands.”

You shut off the water and wandered over, only to be greeted with a rice cake shoved into your hand. “Would you like to come to the beach today?” she asked.

“The beach?”

“There’s a new teacher at the daycare center. Seola, a very lovely lady. She arranged a picnic with the elderly and the children.” Gram gave you a pointed look as she patted your hand. “You should come. You need to socialize with someone your age before you forget how to hold a conversation.”

Before you could respond, Hannie stepped out onto the porch in her usual shirt-over-tee combo and denim jeans, brushing her hair back with her hand, she slung a bag over her shoulder, acknowledging you with a brief nod before passing by.

“Gram, I’m off,” he said.

“Alright, see you later,” Gram replied. She waved him off before giving you another look. “Han will be there too, so you don’t have to worry about being around people you don’t know.”

Not that you needed much convincing. You had already planned to explore town today anyway. You finally had enough of the idle days, and you were now ready to see and experience the quaint charm of this small town.

So at noon, just before lunchtime, you drove to the beachside with Gram, the car packed with the food she had heartily prepared all morning.

The beach was lively with old and young voices, laughter, conversation, and the sound of waves rolling against the shore. You helped Gram set up the food, spreading it out on the picnic blankets as she introduced you to the small group already gathered there—a few elderly folks, some parents, and a handful of kids darting around with beach toys and shells. It felt like stepping into a family reunion, where everyone knew each other and shared years of memories you could only imagine.

Gram introduced you as a temporary resident. “She’ll be here for six months,” she explained, smiling as curious eyes turned your way. “Let’s all be nice to her. She’s from the big city.”

“Ah, so that’s why you look so pale,” an older woman teased, squinting at you. “You need some sun on you, dear.”

“She should eat more, too,” another one chimed in, eyeing you like she was already planning to pile food onto your plate.

“You’ll love it here,” one of the older women assured you. “Life moves slow, but there’s always something to do if you know where to look.”

Another joined in with a chuckle. “A bit of gossip now and then, a trip to the market, a walk by the coast… it doesn’t take much to stay busy here!”

They were warm, welcoming, and funny, and their playful remarks had the same lightheartedness as Gram’s. You found yourself smiling more than expected, caught up in their conversation as they asked about your stay. You also met Seola, the new daycare teacher who moved to town just two months ago. She was the same age as you were, and you felt a sense of kinship with her as someone who came from the big city yourself.

At one point, a little boy ran up to you out of nowhere, his face bright with excitement as he held out a shell. “Look! This is the best one I found today!”

You knelt down, taking the shell from his hands to admire it. “Wow, this is a good one,” you said, humoring his enthusiasm. He beamed, launching into a detailed explanation of why it was superior to all the others. You nodded along, half-listening—until something just past his shoulder caught your eye.

Out by the water, Hannie emerged from the waves, hands pushing through his soaked hair, slicking it back from his face. Droplets clung to his skin, sliding down sharp cheekbones and along the lines of his jaw. You blinked, something about the sight snagging on a thought you couldn’t quite place.

Then she stepped fully onto the shore, reached for the hem of her wet shirt, and pulled it over her head. And your mind went blank.

Time seemed to slow as your eyes registered the defined shoulders, the abs, the arms that clearly belonged to someone used to physical labor. The sunlight played across his skin, highlighting every line and shadow. You couldn’t move. You couldn’t speak. All you could do was stare.

Hannie wasn’t just a little masculine. Hannie wasn’t just oddly strong. Hannie… was a man.

Your breath caught in your throat, and an unexpected heat rose to your cheeks. The boy in front of you was still talking, but you couldn’t hear a word of it anymore.

How could you have missed this? It was as if every little sign from the past several days were suddenly lining up like pieces of a puzzle. The deeper voice, the way he carried himself, the fact that he had never once actually referred to himself as a girl. And then there were the times Gram had mentioned her grandson—the one you thought you’d never met, yet had been living with all along. He had never corrected you. And you? You had been so sure—so certain you knew exactly who you were living with.

As you stood there, still absorbing the shock, two teenage girls approached you excitedly.

“What’s it like living with Jeonghan?” one of them asked, practically bouncing on her toes.

“Who?” The name threw you off entirely.

“Yoon Jeonghan,” the other girl chimed in, as if it were obvious. “You’re staying at Gram’s guest house, right? Isn’t he amazing? He’s like the pride of our town.”

Jeonghan. The name sounded foreign to you, yet as you watched him crouch down to help one of the kids collect shells, it suddenly seemed to fit him perfectly. 

“I thought his name was Hannie?” you asked, though the moment the words left your mouth, you realized how foolish they sounded. Hannie—it wasn’t his name. Just a nickname, something his grandmother must have been affectionately calling him.

The girls giggled, exchanging amused glances. “That’s just what the grandmas call him.”

One of them leaned in, lowering her voice like she was sharing a juicy secret. “He’s kind of famous, you know? We run a fan page for him—it’s almost at 100k followers.”

“He gets a ton of idol trainee offers. Some people even come all the way here just to see him,” the other added. “But he always turned them down. Now, he works at the store downtown. Everyone loves him.”

Jeonghan. Jeonghan. Yoon Jeonghan.

You blinked, still grappling with the idea that the quiet, elusive Hannie was actually Jeonghan, the town’s golden boy. Before you could think of what to say, Gram’s voice called out, interrupting the conversation.

“Lunch is ready! Come here and eat!”

The girls scampered off toward the picnic mat, giggling about something you couldn’t quite catch. You turned to follow, but your thoughts were still spinning.

“Kids! Hannie!” Gram called again, waving him over. “Come on, let’s eat!”

Jeonghan straightened, brushing sand from his hands before jogging up the beach. The sunlight glinted off his skin, drawing your gaze before you could stop yourself. Heat crept up your neck again.

He reached the mat and, without hesitation, plopped down next to you, his damp hair falling casually over his shoulder.

“You’re here too,” he said, smiling at you before grabbing a bottle of water. He seemed completely at ease, oblivious to the turmoil running through your mind.

Lunch was a lively affair, the mat spread under the shade of a large tree, bowls and plates of food passed around as conversations overlapped. The elders were particularly chatty, most of their attention—unsurprisingly—focused on Jeonghan.

“You know, our Hannie here was top of his class in university,” one of the grandmothers boasted, nudging the woman beside her. “Always so clever.”

“And so hardworking,” another added, her tone exaggerated in a way that felt suspiciously rehearsed. “Had all sorts of offers after graduation. He even worked in Seoul for a bit.”

“Really?” Seola, the teacher, perked up with interest, chopsticks pausing midair.

You, however, narrowed your eyes slightly. There was something oddly deliberate about how they were talking about him, as if… as if they were trying to sell him.

Jeonghan, sitting beside you, seemed completely unfazed. He took a sip of water, then casually met your gaze. “What are you thinking so hard about?”

You blinked, realizing that you had been staring. “I was just wondering why they’re talking about you like you’re a prized cow.”

Jeonghan nearly choked on his drink, turning away with a cough. Beside him, one of the elders clapped her hands together, unaware of your remark. “And! He’s very good with children,” she announced, nodding toward the group of kids playing nearby. “They all adore him.”

Seola chuckled. “That’s rare. Most guys aren’t patient enough with kids.”

“Exactly!” The older woman beamed. “That’s why any girl would be lucky to have him.”

Your eyes flickered to Jeonghan, curious as to how he’d react, but he was busy picking the green onions out of his soup. As if this whole matchmaking attempt had nothing to do with him.

You stifled a laugh. “You seem very popular, Jeonghan.”

“Mm,” he hummed in agreement, finally looking at you. “Are you convinced?”

“Of what?”

“That I’m a catch.” He tilted his head, the corner of his lips twitching up just slightly.

Your chopsticks hovered over your plate. The way he said it was so casual, but something about his tone—low, smooth, just teasing enough—made your stomach flutter. 

You masked it with an eye-roll. “I don’t know. You don’t seem that impressive to me.”

Gram clicked her tongue, shaking her head as she picked up a piece of grilled fish and placed it onto your plate. “Clearly, you need to spend more time with him.”

“Gram?” you questioned, genuinely perplexed by the insinuation in her tone.

The lunch continued in the same direction, the elders throwing more praises, Seola responding with polite interest, and Jeonghan humoring them without ever actually engaging. It was almost funny how unfazed he was—until you caught a few of the older women exchanging glances as if they were mentally taking notes on how both you and Seola were responding.

Oh god. They weren’t just selling Jeonghan. They were matchmaking him.

You needed some air.

As the meal wrapped up, you slipped away from the group, stepping onto the shore where the waves lapped at your feet. The realization of the past hour was still in your mind—not just about the elders’ intentions but also the fact that your whole perception of Jeonghan had shattered today.

And, of course, just as you were attempting to collect yourself, he appeared beside you. “Escaping?”

You glanced at him. “You too?”

“Sort of.” Jeonghan walked alongside you, hands in his pockets, letting the wind ruffle his damp hair. “Figured you’d need company.”

You hesitated before blurting, “Why didn’t you tell me you were a guy?”

Jeonghan stopped mid-step. “What?”

“The whole time, I thought you were a girl, maybe a little masculine or a lesbian, but biologically, a girl. I’ve been calling you ‘Hannie,’ but that’s not even your real name. Your name was Jeonghan. You never corrected me.”

His expression shifted from confusion to pure shock. “Wait.” He turned fully to you, blinking rapidly. “You thought I was a girl?!”

You crossed your arms. “You’re really pretty with equally pretty hair. Your grandma calls you Hannie.”

Jeonghan ran a hand down his face, half-laughing, half-exasperated. “Oh my god.”

“I mean, can you blame me?” You gestured vaguely at him. “Look at you.”

His mouth opened, then closed. He looked down at himself as if seeing what you saw. Then he exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”

You smirked. “I think it’s kind of funny.”

Jeonghan shot you a look, smirking. “I bet you do.”

You basked in the comfortable silence as you continued walking. The waves were cool against your feet, and the voices behind you grew distant. Every now and then, you caught Jeonghan glancing at you, as if still processing what you had just confessed.

Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. “A girl.”

You grinned. “I’d say I’m sorry, but…”

“But you’re not.”

“Not even a little bit.”

Jeonghan let out a sharp laugh, the kind that came from deep amusement rather than disbelief this time. You got the feeling he wouldn’t let this go anytime soon.

The next morning, Jeonghan was heading downtown for an errand, and Gram suggested you go with him. “You should get out more,” she said, nudging your arm. “Let Han show you around. It’ll be good for you.”

You didn’t see a reason to refuse. The town was still unfamiliar, and a trip to the market sounded more productive than another slow morning at the guest house. Plus, you figured you might as well start your car after letting it sit idle for so long.

Which was how you found yourself in the passenger seat, watching as Jeonghan adjusted the mirrors before smoothly pulling out onto the road. He drove leisurely, one hand resting on the wheel, his other elbow propped against the window.

By the time you reached the market, the streets were busy. Stalls lined the sidewalks, vendors calling out to passersby, with the scent of fresh produce, grilled food, and sweet treats. Jeonghan was greeted warmly at every turn, engaging small talks with vendors who seemed genuinely happy to see him. He was polite, smiling when an elderly woman at a vegetable stand patted his arm and called him “our handsome Jeonghan.”

Then she turned to you. “And who is this?” she asked with a teasing smile. “Have you finally brought a girlfriend home, Hannie?”

Before you could react, Jeonghan laughed. “She’s not, but she wished she was.”

“No, I don’t!” you exclaimed.

“No need to be shy, dear,” the vendor said, grinning. “If I were a few decades younger, I’d wish I was his girlfriend too.”

You groaned while Jeonghan bit back a laugh, handing over the money before gently steering you away.

“I can’t believe you have fans in every age group,” you scoffed.

“Well, it’s a small town,” he replied, chuckling.

After finishing the errand, Jeonghan led you to a small café tucked between two shops. The place had a cozy charm—wooden tables, hanging plants, and an old vinyl player in the corner playing soft jazz.

A man behind the counter beamed when she saw him. “Jeonghan! It’s been a while.”

“Hi, Joon. I’ll have the usual,” he greeted, then turned to you. “You?”

You looked up at the menu hanging overhead, wondering what to order or if you wanted coffee at all.

Joon’s gaze flicked to you. “This must be the pretty guest Gram was talking about.”

You glanced at him, curious. Jeonghan waved a hand. “Yeah. She doesn’t get out much. I’m showing her around town.”

“You should come more often. We make the best coffee in town,” Joon said proudly. “Not that there are any other coffee shops around,” he added, chuckling. “What can I get you?”

“Uh, I’ll have what he’s having,” you said, smiling politely at him.

“Coming right up!”

Jeonghan led you to a vacant table by the window. “You come here often?” you asked.

“Now and then.” He pulled out a chair and sat across from you, resting his forearm against the table. “The owner, Joon’s mom, used to sneak me free pastries when I was a kid. I feel obligated to keep giving her business.”

Your lips quirked up. “Bribed into loyalty. Classic.”

He just laughed, watching you for a moment before asking, “What do you think of the town so far?”

You thought about it and then shrugged. “It’s charming and peaceful. Everyone seems to know each other. It’s kind of nice.”

He hummed, stirring his drink lazily. “It has its charms.”

“Well, they seem to adore you,” you noted.

He shrugged. “I’m very likeable,” he said smugly, making you laugh.

Minutes later, Joon set two iced drinks on your table before slipping away. You took a sip and raised a brow. “Oh, this is sweet. Vanilla latte?”

Jeonghan nodded. “Decaf. You don’t like sweet?”

“I do,” you admitted. “But I didn’t peg you as the type.”

Jeonghan took a sip of his own drink. “And what type did you peg me as?”

You tilted your head, pretending to analyze him. “Black coffee. No sugar. Maybe a shot of espresso if you’re feeling adventurous.”

He gave you an unimpressed look. “Do I look like I hate myself?”

You laughed. “No, but,” you shrugged, making him smirk.

“I’ll have you know I like nice things. Why would I suffer through bitter coffee when I could enjoy this?” He lifted his drink in emphasis.

You smirked. “So you have a sweet tooth.”

“Does it bother you?”

“Do you care what about I think of you?” you asked back, narrowing your eyes playfully.

Jeonghan just took his drink and looked out of the window, ignoring your question entirely. You didn’t press, enjoying the coffee instead and the nice ambience of the cafe.

Before heading home, Jeonghan made one last stop at the grocery store. It was bigger than you expected, with stocked shelves and a steady flow of customers.

“You work here?” you asked as you followed him inside.

He nodded. “I own it. Well, not really. It was my grandpa’s. After he passed, someone had to take over.”

Something about the way he said it made you pause. “Is that why you came back?”

Jeonghan didn’t answer right away. He picked up a basket, taking his time as he strolled past the produce section. “You could say that,” he said eventually. “I came back because Gram would be lonely by herself. She’s old now, someone has to be here and make sure she’s alright.”

You glanced at him, noting how his expression didn’t change, but something about his voice softened.

“She still works at the pear farm,” he added, shaking his head fondly. “She said she’d go crazy if she had nothing to do, so someone has to be around to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”

Hearing that made you feel like you understood them both a little more. The quiet life they had here, the small routines that kept them moving forward—it all made sense now. You became more curious about them, but you didn’t want to pry, so instead of asking, you just took what he told you and left it at that.

As you trailed behind him, your gaze landed on the skincare aisle. “Alright, spill. Which one is it?”

Jeonghan followed your line of sight, then let out a dramatic sigh. “Are you still on this?”

“You’re ridiculously pretty,” you said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s only fair that I find out how.”

He gave you an unimpressed look, then reached out, grabbed a random product, and handed it to you. “Here.”

You examined the label. “This is a body wash.”

“Exactly.”

You narrowed your eyes. “You’re lying.”

He smirked. “You’ll never know.”

“And if I sneak into your bathroom later?”

He stuck his tongue in his cheek, then smirked before saying, “I guess I'll see you there, then. I take really long showers at night, you see.”

You blinked rapidly, surprised at the sudden turn of the conversation. Clearing your throat, you put the bottle back and turned away. “Fine. Keep your secrets.”

The days that followed were more eventful than the previous ones. You still helped Gram around the guesthouse, still found time to sit outside with her in the afternoons, listening to the occasional stories she decided to share. But now, there was something different about your days—Jeonghan.

He wasn’t just around anymore. He was in your space, in your routine, slipping into your life as if he had always been there. Like how he took it upon himself to be your unofficial tour guide, showing up outside the guesthouse just as you were about to head out.

“Where are you going?” he’d ask.

“I’m not sure, but I’m going around town again today,” you’d say, tossing your bag over your shoulder.

His eyes would glint with amusement. “You’ll get lost.”

“No, I won’t.”

But you always did. Turning one too many corners in the winding streets, ending up somewhere you hadn’t planned. And somehow, Jeonghan was always there, lounging by a store or leaning against a wall like he’d been waiting for you the whole time.

“You have a terrible sense of direction,” he’d say, grinning.

“And you have too much free time,” you’d shoot back, but you never minded when he fell into step beside you.

He took you everywhere. To the best lookout point in town, where the cliffs met the endless blue of the sea. To the hills, where wildflowers bloomed in untamed clusters, swaying lazily under the afternoon sun. To the pear farm, where you met Gram’s friends—hardworking women who took one look at you and started teasing.

“She’s the one staying at the guesthouse?” one of them asked Jeonghan, squinting at you. “You’re showing her around, aren’t you?”

“Something like that,” Jeonghan replied, glancing your way with a smirk.

“Ah, what a handsome pair,” the woman sighed dramatically. “You look great together. You’d make the most beautiful babies.”

You choked on your own breath while Jeonghan just laughed, handing you a pear like nothing happened.

There was also the day he dragged you onto a boat. It wasn’t planned. You had only gone to the dock to look around, but Jeonghan had other ideas.

“Ever been boating?” he asked.

You eyed him warily. “No.”

“Great.” That was your only warning before he pulled you toward a small boat, casually untying it from the dock.

“Wait—what if I get seasick?” you protested.

“You won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“We’ll find out when we get there,” he chuckled, offering a hand to help you board the boat.

You hesitated, but you took his hand anyway. He had never done anything to disappoint you so far, so you trusted him. And despite your initial wariness, you had to admit—it was nice. The air was crisp, the water was calm, the reefs below were beautiful, and the silence between you was comforting.

At one point, Jeonghan leaned back against the edge, stretching his arms. “You like it here, don’t you?”

You glanced at him. “I do.”

He smirked. “I’d bet fifty bucks you never leave.”

You scoffed. “Never leaving is a stretch. Maybe I’d never want to, but I will anyway because I have to.”

Jeonghan flashed a mischievous smile as if you had just challenged him. “A hundred, then. You will never want to leave, and you never will.”

You rolled your eyes. “Now you’re making me want to leave just so I can take your money.”

“Are you gonna play or not?”

“No,” you said, shaking your head. “I don’t need it.”

Jeonghan sighed nonchalantly. “Fine. But I know I’m right.”

You weren’t sure when it happened, but somewhere between stolen pears and getting lost in town, between late afternoon coffees and spontaneous boat rides, you had started to enjoy his company. And maybe he had started to enjoy yours, too.

That afternoon, as you and Jeonghan strolled back home, he glanced at you and asked, “You free tonight?”

You arched a brow. “Why?”

“It’s Joon’s birthday,” he said. “He’s having a small party at the café. Just us and some friends. He invited you too.”

You hesitated. “He did?”

Jeonghan smirked. “He mentioned it the other day. You probably forgot.”

You did remember Joon casually saying something about it, but you hadn’t thought much of it at the time. A small celebration at the café didn’t sound bad, and truthfully, you weren’t opposed to seeing other people your age, too. Most of the people you’d seen around were old enough to be your grandparents.

“Alright,” you said. “I’ll come.”

“Good. We can go together.”

Later that evening, you followed Jeonghan to the café, which was livelier than usual. Warm lights glowed from the ceilings, the scent of coffee still permeating the air though none of it was being served now. All you could see on the table were bottles of soju and beer, spicy and fried food, and a cake sitting at the center.

The small space had been rearranged to fit a gathering, with a handful of tables pushed together. A few people were already there, chatting, laughing, clinking glasses. Most of them seemed around your age, and it didn’t take long to notice that many of them were couples.

“Jeonghannie hyung!” Joon’s voice rang out the moment you stepped inside. He grinned, wiping his hands on a towel before pulling him into a quick hug. Then he turned to you. “And look who actually came. Finally.”

You scoffed. “Happy birthday, Joon. And I do go outside, you know.”

“Only because Jeonghan drags you everywhere,” he teased, earning a snicker from Jeonghan himself. “Come in. Let me introduce you.”

You met a few of Jeonghan’s friends. You barely remembered their names, but it didn’t take long to notice that most of them had grown up together—and many had ended up marrying each other. Seola was also there, curled up beside a guy, her arm draped lazily over his.

“You made it,” she said, smiling when she saw you.

“I did.” You nodded toward the guy beside her. “Boyfriend?”

She nodded. “I’m glad you came,” she said. “Joon said he invited you, but I wasn’t sure if you’d actually show.”

You shrugged. “Figured I should experience the town’s nightlife at least once.”

Seola laughed. “This is about as lively as it gets.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “So, you and Jeonghan, huh?”

You rolled your eyes. “Not this again.”

“What? You don’t like him?”

“He’s fine, but he annoys me a lot.”

She laughed. “That’s how you know he likes you.”

Before you could protest, Joon clapped his hands together. “Alright, drinks are on me tonight. Eat, drink, have fun!”

“Happy birthday, Joon!”

The evening unraveled in a blur. There was food, laughter, and lots of conversation. At some point, someone turned on music, and people started to sway along. Jeonghan stuck to your side for most of the night, occasionally teasing you, occasionally offering you bites of his cake as if you didn’t have your own. You didn’t realize how late it had gotten until a few guests started nodding off in their seats, the conversations had grown louder, and the laughter became more unrestrained over the clinking of bottles and half-finished drinks.

Joon was already passed out on the table by the time you and Jeonghan decided to leave. His friends—still rowdy despite the late hour—bid you both a noisy farewell, slurring words and waving exaggeratedly as they walked you out the café doors.

The night air greeted you like a sigh of relief, cool against your warmed skin. You stretched your arms above your head, exhaling contentedly. “It’s nice out.”

Jeonghan hummed in agreement, stuffing his hands into his pockets as the two of you strolled down the quiet village road. “Yeah. I should thank you for coming tonight. Because of you, I wasn’t assigned to take care of Joon. He gets drunk so quickly and I have to clean up after him most of the time.”

You laughed, tilting your head toward him. “You’re welcome? I guess? I thought he could hold his liquor because he kept insisting he could outdrink everyone.”

“Well, he’s also the best liar among all of my friends too, so…” he replied, making you chuckle. The alcohol had settled pleasantly in your system, making it easy to laugh at whatever nonsense he spewed.

“You held your liquor pretty well,” he remarked, side-eyeing you with a smirk.

You grinned. “I have a high tolerance.”

“Almost as high as mine.”

“Almost?” You scoffed. “I was drinking at your pace all night, and I’m still standing. Do you see me stumbling into ditches or tripping over my own feet?”

Jeonghan smirked, challenging. “Well, not yet.”

You gasped, feigning offence. Eager to prove him wrong, you stepped ahead, turning to walk backward easily. Arms spread wide, you gave him a smug grin. “Look at that. Not tripping.”

That made him laugh and shake his head fondly as he beckoned you back to his side. “Alright, fine. You can walk.”

“I’m not even drunk at all,” you said, falling into step beside him.

“Yeah? How’s your balance?” he asked just before bumping his shoulder into yours, playful, teasing.

You almost tripped over yourself, but regained your balance in time. Scoffing, you nudged him back. He nudged harder, almost making you lose your footing again. Huffing, you shoved him, but he didn’t budge. Before you could react, Jeonghan caught you by the shoulders, pulling you flush against him. 

The sudden closeness sent a jolt through you—not from surprise, but from the unmistakable heat of his body against yours.

And you didn’t pull away.

Maybe it was the alcohol making you more uninhibited, or maybe you simply wanted this too. You weren’t sure, but you didn’t want to think about it too much.

Neither of you spoke,as you both continued walking. His hands remained firm on your shoulders, like it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. And you basked in the warmth of it, not even noticing that you were gradually leaning closer against him.

But then a sharp bark split through the silence, making you flinch and pull away from him. A dog stood behind a fence nearby, watching you both with wary eyes, still growling slightly. You held your breath, staring back at it. Then it barked once more, and you squealed.

“Run,” said Jeonghan, but you were already bolting.

The two of you raced through the empty streets, feet pounding against the road, breathless laughter echoing into the night. He nearly overtook you, but you darted ahead at the last second, reaching the guesthouse gate just before he did.

Panting, you turned to gloat—only to freeze when you realized how close he had stopped. Face-to-face, no, face-to-chest with Jeonghan, who was also catching his breath. You stood there, chest rising and falling, staring at each other in the dim glow of the streetlamp. 

He looked ethereal under the yellow light, his hair slightly tousled from the wind, his lips parted as he exhaled. There was something almost dreamlike about the way he gazed at you, his eyes dark and unreadable, as if he were seeing something in you he hadn’t before.

The cool night air did nothing to ease the heat creeping up your skin. You were still drunk, or maybe just lightheaded from the run, but it was hard to focus on anything except how close he was—how easily he could reach for you if he wanted to.

“You’re staring,” he murmured.

Maybe you were. But you were also a little drunk. And he was very, very handsome.

So you said it. “You’re so handsome.”

This wasn’t the first time you’d told him that, but this time, he didn’t laugh like he usually did. Instead, he stared at you with a soft expression on his face. Then, slowly, his eyes dipped lower, stopping on your lips. You did the same, your eyes landing on his plump lips, so pretty, so inviting.

For the first time, the thought crossed your mind.

What would it feel like to kiss him?

Would he be slow about it, teasing? Would he pull you in lazily, like it wasn’t anything special? Or would it be something else—something that would leave you breathless and light-headed?

“We should get inside,” he said, eyes still fixed on your lips.

You nodded. But neither of you moved. He didn’t touch you, but you felt it anyway—the intensity of his gaze, the way he stared at your lips.

Would he kiss you if you leaned in first? The thought was dangerous. But you couldn’t help it, not when he looked at you like that, like he was thinking the same thing.

Jeonghan exhaled deeply, like he had just come to a decision. He took a slow step toward you to close the distance and your entire body awoke with anticipation. Just as he was about to reach for your face, the gate rattled loudly.

Both of you jumped as it swung open, revealing a very awake, very confused Gram. “What are you two doing standing there?” she asked, peering at you both suspiciously.

Jeonghan, ever the smooth talker, recovered first. “We were just about to go inside, Gram.”

Gram squinted at him before clicking her tongue. “If you’re gonna flirt with our guest, at least do it inside where it’s warm.”

Your face heated instantly. “We weren’t—”

“Mm-hmm,” she cut you off, unimpressed. “Come on in, it’s late.”

She turned, leaving the gate open for you to follow. You swallowed, glancing back at Jeonghan who was watching you with a knowing glint in his eyes. Then, with a slight smirk, he gestured toward the door.

“After you,” he murmured.

You weren’t entirely sure what had just happened between you. But you had a feeling it wasn’t nothing.

You had barely finished setting down Gram’s breakfast tray when she sighed and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. “I swear, I feel fine,” she insisted, but the slight rasp in her voice and the warm touch of her skin told a different story.

“Gram, you have a fever.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “A slight fever never kills anyone.”

“Should I take you to a clinic?” you asked, but she shook her head.

“No need. I just need some rest,” she said, patting your hand. At that moment, Gram’s friends arrived with hearty chatter and warm smiles.

“How are you feeling?” one of them asked, squinting at Gram sprawled on the couch.

“I’m fine, but I’m worried about Hannie. He’s at the farm handling the inventory today, but it’s too much for one person,” Gram said, sighing almost too dramatically.

“Oh no, the poor boy,” said another who turned to you with a suspicious grin on her lips. “You should go help him.”

Another grandma agreed. “Oh, my. Yes, dear. You should.”

You hesitated. “I don’t wanna leave Gram alone—”

“She won’t be alone. We’re here,” said another, already nudging you out of the way.

“Go on, dear. Fret not.  We’ll take care of her. We’ll make her soup.”

“She’ll be fine. You think we don’t know how to take care of one of our own?”

You hesitated, looking back at Gram, but she only chuckled weakly. “Go on. You’ll be more useful there than fussing over me.”

So you went. Jeonghan looked genuinely surprised when you arrived at the farm. He was sitting on a crate with a clipboard in one hand and a pen on the other. He took one look at you and cocked his head.

“Hi. What are you doing here? How’s Gram?”

“She’s fine her friends came over. She sent me here to help,” you said, brushing past him. “Said you had too much to do alone.”

Jeonghan snorted. “Did she now?” He leaned back, arms crossed. “Was it her or the other women?”

You frowned. “Um, all of them? Why does it matter?”

He smirked. “You’ve been tricked.”

“Tricked?”

“They’ve been trying to marry me off for years. This is exactly the kind of thing they’d do. Trick a poor, unsuspecting woman into spending time alone with me."

“Excuse me?” You blinked, thrown off. “And you just… let them?”

“They mean well. Just desperate to see me settled. Been at it for about four years now. And there’s not much I can do.” He shrugged, tapping the pen against the clipboard. “Besides, it doesn’t happen often. There aren’t that many women around my age who are still single. So when someone new shows up, they start getting ideas. Poor Seola kept getting baited on her first week here.”

That sent a rush of heat up your neck. You looked away, pretending to inspect the baskets of pears stacked nearby. “Well, sorry to disappoint them, but I’m only here to help.”

“Right,” he said, his voice laced with something teasing. “Strictly business.”

You nodded, clearing your throat. “Strictly business.”

“You’re not here thinking about how you almost kissed me a few nights ago.”

“Excuse me?” you gasped, indignant. You pointed a finger at him. “You almost kissed—” then pointed the finger at your chest— “me. Get your facts straight!”

Jeonghan chuckled but didn’t push it further. Instead, he handed you a clipboard and gestured toward the stacks of wooden crates. “If you insist on helping, you can double-check these counts while I finish up the rest.”

You huffed but took the clipboard anyway, moving toward the crates while he returned to his own work. The quiet stretched between you—not uncomfortable, but filled with a hyper-awareness that had been there for days now, ever since that one drunken moment outside the guest house.

You focused on counting and scribbling notes, but every so often, you caught glimpses of Jeonghan moving nearby. He worked with efficiency, sleeves rolled up, hands deftly sorting through the inventory. The sunlight filtering through the trees left patterns over his skin, making him look almost too picturesque for a man just organizing pears.

At one point, you were so absorbed in pretending not to be aware of him that you lost your footing, nearly stumbling over a crate. Jeonghan glanced up from where he was standing, just as you had steadied yourself.

“Careful,” he said, smirking. “Wouldn’t want Gram’s ‘strictly business’ helper to break something.”

You shot him a glare. “I tripped over a crate. Nothing to break here.”

He smirked. “Still, I’d be devastated if you got hurt on my watch. What would the old ladies say? Probably accuse me of mistreating my future wife.”

You groaned. “Can you not bringing that up?”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

Yes. Maybe. A little. You weren’t sure. But instead of answering, you tossed a pear at him. He caught it effortlessly, turning it over in his hand.

“You’re very defensive,” he mused, biting into the pear.

“And you’re very annoying,” you shot back, before returning to your clipboard.

The work continued. He teased you every  now and then and you’d retort but mostly tried to drown him out. By the time you finished your part of the task, you felt the kind of exhaustion that wasn’t just physical.

Jeonghan stretched, rolling out his shoulders. “I think that’s good for today.”

“Great,” you said, setting down your clipboard. “Then I’ll—”

Before you could finish, rain started falling. It was so sudden that you both stood there for a second, blinking up at the sky as the cool droplets hit your skin. Soon, you realized it wasn’t stopping, and Jeonghan nudged your arm.

“Run to the warehouse,” he said, pointing to the warehouse which looked so far away. “Go,” he repeated, and you started running.

You reached it in no time, but not without getting soaked. Inside, the space was dry, the scent of cardboard boxes and ripened pears filling the air. You wrapped your arms around yourself, shaking off the water clinging to your skin. Jeonghan leaned against the doorway, watching the rain with furrowed brows.

He glanced at you a few moments later. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” you replied, rubbing your arms. “The weather was so nice today. I didn’t think it would rain.”

“Well, the weather likes to be unpredictable sometimes,” he said, gaze drifting over you before he reached for something on a nearby shelf—a folded blanket. He tossed it over your shoulders without a word.

You blinked. “Where did that come from?”

“Emergency stash,” he said simply. “Most of the workers here are old women. They prepare for anything and everything.”

“Thanks,” you mumbled, pulling it tighter around yourself.

Jeonghan just hummed, still watching the rain. And for a while, neither of you spoke. The world outside was misty and gray, but in here, it was warm and quiet. The warehouse was fairly large, but the space between you felt small. And it may be because the place was packed with endless crates of pears and shelves of pear products.

You weren’t sure how long you stood like that before he turned toward you fully, head tilting slightly as he studied you.

“You really don’t mind being here, do you?” he mused.

You frowned. “Well, I didn’t but if I had known it would rain, I wouldn’t have come up here at all.”

He chuckled. “No, I meant in this town. At the guesthouse. Helping out on some pear farm.”

You thought about it, about the slow mornings, the sense of peace you’d been trying to chase, the way you’d felt so much more at ease these days.

“I don’t mind,” you admitted, leaning back against the wall. “It’s… nice. No deadlines to chase. No stuck-up superiors breathing down my neck. No endless stack of workload to bury my face in.” You sighed in relief, smiling absentmindedly. “It’s really nice.”

“What happened?” he asked, joining you in your corner. “Back in the city?”

“It’s nothing,” you shrugged. “I’m just taking a break from corporate life.”

“I see,” he replied, unconvinced but knew better than press for answers you weren’t ready to share.

The rain was coming down harder now, drumming against the roof of the warehouse and soaking the ground outside. You could hear the soft trickle of water running off the edges of the roof, pooling into the dirt. The crates of pears sat forgotten outside, and you wondered if they’d be fine, though seeing Jeonghan not worrying about it made you assume they would be.

You noticed how Jeonghan shivered slightly, damp clothes clinging to his skin. “Cold?” you asked.

He shook his head, but you could tell he was lying. You scooted closer to him and draped the blanket over his shoulder, too. It was then that you realized that it was a small blanket, just enough to wrap around you but too small for the two of you.

Jeonghan chuckled. “Thanks, but I don’t think this is helping.”

“Right?” you replied, chuckling.

He shifted slightly, lifting one arm and draping it over your shoulder. You hesitated at first, but you let him pull you closer, letting the warmth of his body seep into yours. He rubbed your arm with his hand, squeezing gently in an attempt to fight the cold against your skin. It worked, though not well enough.

“How long do you think this rain will last?” you asked, slowly leaning against his chest.

Jeonghan hummed, and you felt his chest vibrate. “Not too long, I think. An hour at most. Maybe half.”

“My car is just below the hill. I should have driven it all the way up here,” you sighed, closing your eyes.

“You didn’t know this would happen,” he said, rubbing your shoulder. “Did you see my pickup down there? I didn’t drive up, too.”

You chuckled, pulling away to look at him. You were gonna say something, but the way he was looking at you made you hold your breath.

His gaze was steady, searching, as if something was fascinating about your face. He didn’t move, didn’t say anything. He just looked, and something about it sent a slow, burning heat in your chest. Your gaze drifted lower. His lips were slightly parted, and you knew—just as you had known that night outside the guesthouse—that this was going to happen.

You weren’t sure who moved first. One moment, there was space between you; the next, Jeonghan was leaning in, and your fingers had curled against the fabric of his shirt. His lips met yours. A slow, quick peck. Barely a kiss at all—just a taste. But then you exhaled, and he was kissing you again, properly this time.

Soft and lingering like he was savoring the moment, like he had thought about it and now that it was happening, he didn’t want to rush. His lips were warm, even with the cold outside. You responded without thinking, tilting your head, pressing closer. Your fingers tightened in his shirt. He hummed against your lips, low and pleased, his other hand finding the small of your back and pressing you closer. The blanket slipped from your shoulders, but you barely noticed.

Jeonghan angled his head, his hand sliding up to your jaw, thumb stroking just under your ear. His tongue brushed against yours, coaxing you into parting for him. A quiet sound escaped you, something between a sigh and a gasp, and that was all it took for him to press you back against wall, his body flush against yours.

The heat between you burned hotter than the cold rain. His hands roamed, brushing over the curve of your hips, slipping under the hem of your shirt to find the warmth of your skin. You gasped against his mouth at the sensation, fingers tightening in his shirt.

He took that as encouragement. His lips left yours only to trail lower, to your jaw, and down to your neck. You shivered—not from the cold, but from the way he touched you. Your own hands moved, pushing beneath his damp shirt, palms pressing against his stomach. He let out a quiet, surprised laugh before he kissed you again, deeper, hungrier.

The rain outside blurred into nothing. It was just him. His lips, his hands, the heat of him against you. But then, he stopped, pulling away just enough to look at you. His fingers flexed against your waist, as if holding himself back. 

He pressed his forehead against yours, exhaling sharply as he asked, “Is this okay?”

The words sent a jolt through you, cutting through the haze of heat and desire clouding your thoughts. Your pulse pounded in your ears, and for the first time since kissing him, you could hear the rain again—the steady downpour, the distant rumble of thunder.

Reality came crashing in, making you pull back slightly with a shaky breath. Your hands gripping his shirt loosened. His gaze searched yours, unreadable but patient. He was waiting.

“I…” You swallowed, looking away. “We shouldn’t.”

There was a second of silence, Jeonghan’s hand leaving your waist and reaching up to tuck stray strands of hair behind your ear. Then he planted a soft kiss on your forehead and said, “Okay.”

You weren’t sure if the cold you felt now was from the rain or from something else entirely. But it was gone as soon as he pulled you into a hug.

“But we can do this, right?”

You chuckled lightly, closing your eyes and basking in his warmth. “Yeah,” you replied, wrapping your arms around him too. “Yeah, we can.”

You tossed and turned all night, replaying every moment at the warehouse. The way his lips felt against yours, the way he touched you with veneration, the addicting heat that had consumed you. All of it.

It was just the heat of the moment, you told yourself. Just a fleeting lapse of judgment, nothing more. But the longer you lay there, the more you realized you were lying.

You wanted it. You liked it. And you liked Jeonghan.

It wasn’t just your imagination. You didn’t imagine the way your heart raced when he kissed you. You didn’t imagine the sparks of pleasure dancing on your skin when he touched you. You didn’t imagine the way you melted in his arms when he held you close until the rain stopped.

You were still trying to come to terms with it when you heard faint voices outside. Curious, you pushed yourself up and peered through the window.

Outside, it was the early hours of dawn. In the dim dawn light, Jeonghan stood with Gram by the shed, lifting the lids off large clay crocks. Even though you couldn’t hear them, it wasn’t hard to guess what they were doing—Gram was transferring kimchi into a large container, with Jeonghan helping her.

As if sensing your gaze, he suddenly glanced up and caught you watching. You froze when his gaze met yours. But Jeonghan just smiled and raised a hand in a lazy wave, which you returned sheepishly.

Then he sent kisses your way, gestured that it was still too early, and mouthed that you should go back to sleep. Clearly, he had no idea you hadn’t slept a wink yet.

You huffed but nodded anyway, and just as you pulled back from the window, you heard Gram say something. Jeonghan turned to her, his head tilting in mock innocence, and you could imagine her scolding him for slacking off. Smiling to yourself, you shut your window and crawled back into bed.

As expected, you woke up late the next morning. It was almost noon, but it was the weekend, so you knew Jeonghan and Gram would be home all day. But he was nowhere to be seen.

Gram told you over lunch that he had gone to the city to visit his parents. You only nodded in response, pretending it didn’t affect you. But as the day stretched on, you found yourself missing him.

Which was stupid.

He was just a guy—a good-looking guy, yes, but that didn’t mean anything. Good-looking guys had a way of making you think you liked them when you really didn’t. Besides, liking Jeonghan wasn’t part of the plan. You had come here for peace and quiet—to breathe and to heal, not to get swept up in whatever this was.

So you spent the day distracting yourself—helping Gram in the kitchen, reading in the shade, taking a walk along the shore. Anything to push thoughts of him away. The more you did, the more you convinced yourself that you didn’t like him that much.

You weren’t that attached to him. You didn’t care that he wasn’t around, didn’t notice the way the day felt quieter without him. You weren’t thinking about the way he always leaned too close when he talked or how he made even the dullest moments entertaining.

Would he be back today? Tomorrow? Would he have texted you if you had exchanged numbers?

Stop it. This wasn’t you. You didn’t get flustered over a guy. You didn’t sit around waiting like some lovesick idiot. You were better than this.

You were fine. Your thoughts kept circling back to him, but you were fine. You just needed to reset. Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, you’d be back to normal.

So you sat outside on the porch after dinner, telling yourself you weren’t waiting for him. You were just enjoying the evening air after a hearty meal. You weren’t glancing at the road every few minutes. You weren’t hoping he’d arrive before you ran out of reasons to stay outside.

Then, as if answering an unspoken wish, Jeonghan’s pickup came rolling into view, kicking up dust along the quiet road. The second you saw it, the day seemed brighter, and your heart felt lighter, warmer.

Oh. 

So this was it. This was what it felt like to really like someone.

Jeonghan parked his truck and hopped out, already smiling from ear to ear as he walked over to where you were sitting on the porch. “Waiting for me?” he asked, opening his arms as if he was waiting for you to jump into them.

You scoffed, crossing your arms defensively. “No. I’m just getting some air.”

Jeonghan raised his brows. “You could’ve just lied and said you were. You’re hurting my feelings here.”

“I— what?”

He sighed, pouting. “I’m hurt because you’d been on my mind all day, and I couldn’t wait to come home and see you again.”

You blinked, suddenly feeling too warm despite the cool night air. The way he said it so smoothly, so easily, like it was just a simple fact, left you scrambling for a response. But nothing came.

Neither of you spoke.

Instead, you just stood there, staring at each other in the warm porch light. He didn’t even try to laugh it off or take it back so your heart thudded a little harder, unsure what to make of this.

Then, the front door creaked open, and Gram stepped out. “Hannie, you’re back so soon,” she greeted, eyeing him up and down. “Have you had dinner yet?”

“I did,” he answered, stepping back slightly. “I picked up something to eat on my way here.”

Gram huffed. “You should get some rest, then. You must be tired. Why didn’t you just spend the night at your parents’ house? Driving back and forth like that—” She gave him a knowing look, voice lilting with mischief. “It almost seems like you were excited to come home for some reason.”

You caught the implication immediately. Jeonghan did too, if the way he smirked was any indication.

“You’re right, Gram,” he said without missing a beat. Then, with a glance at you, he added, “Actually, I was wondering if I could take the reason out for a stroll.”

Gram barely spared him a glance as she waved a hand dismissively. “Do whatever you want.” She turned back toward the house, muttering, “Young people these days. So forward. Too liberated.”

And just like that, she was gone. You, however, were still standing there, completely dumbfounded.

You turned to Jeonghan, who was watching you with an all-too-pleased expression. He tilted his head toward the road.

“So? You coming?”

You walked in silence for the first few minutes. You were expecting Jeonghan to start the conversation because, obviously, he should be the one making conversation. There were plenty of things he could start with, like clarifying what he meant when he implied that you were the reason he chose to come home right away despite the long drive.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?” he finally asked, leaning down slightly to peek at your face.

You turned away. “No. What would I even say to you?”

Jeonghan straightened up, huffing. “I practically spelled it out for you, and you have nothing to say?”

You stopped in your tracks, exhaling sharply as you ran a hand over your nape. “Okay, what the hell is this? How about communicating clearly and more openly like grown adults  instead of whatever this is?”

Jeonghan turned fully to face you. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was light when he said, “I like you.”

For a second, your mind went completely blank. You opened your mouth, then closed it, then let out a breath. “Are you sure?”

His brows furrowed. “What kind of question is that?”

“I mean—” You gestured vaguely. “It’s not just because of yesterday? Maybe it’s a momentary lapse of judgment. We kissed, and there was…” You hesitated to say it. “...a moment, and now you think you like me because of it.”

Jeonghan tilted his head, then asked, “Are you drunk?”

“No.” You shot him a look. “Jeonghan, I’m serious.”

He chuckled, but when he spoke again, he was serious. “No, it’s not just because of yesterday. I don’t pull something like that on just anyone. I’ve liked you for a while now.”