city nights.

The answer to that question was found in the other inhabitants of the mansion. Your twin aunties–not your blood relatives but your mother’s best friends from university–were the co-owners of the house, passed onto them by their parents. When your mom had nowhere to go one college summer, the twins picked her right up and invited her into their summer abode, and a yearly tradition had been formed. Fall, winter, and spring breaks were for other things but summer was always reserved for the beach house on Neiho’s Cherry Lane. 

Even though the three friends who were as close as sisters started their own respective families, the tradition carried on with the expansion. And that’s where the two most important inhabitants come to play–Johnny Suh and Jaehyun Jeong. The boys, as you called them, were cousins who were like brothers to each other. And to you, they were your best childhood friends. 

Being the same age as you, you were closer to Jaehyun–the pretty boy with the dimples and the deepest, dad laugh you could ever hear. Although apart for the majority of the year, Jaehyun never failed to text you at least once a day, whether it be a meme or just a random message that could be deemed as “too much information.” You shared a lot with him and in turn, he did the same with you. To you, that lunkhead basketball man was an open book. 

His older cousin, however, was not. Unlike Jaehyun, Johnny kept some pages closed. There were times when he was inaccessible and neither you nor Jae could read him. If something were bothering him, Johnny would keep it to himself rather than burden you or Jaehyun with his problems. As the oldest, his duty was to shoulder it, shove them aside, and make sure whatever happened didn’t affect you or Jaehyun in any way possible. His pouty lips would press into a thin line, his straight brows would furrow, and his eyes would narrow until you couldn’t see the beautiful honey-brown people would die to swim in. Other times, though, he was like sunshine and his wide smile brightened your days as no one else could. 

“Sit your butt down, child, we’re almost there,” your mother laughed, playfully shoving your shoulder so your butt fell back into the cushioned seat. Her hands turned the wheel and the tires landed on Cherry Lane. She passed one, two, three houses before pulling into the driveway. Before she could put the car into park, your fingers flew to the seat belt latch, ultimately freeing your body from your chair. Never mind that you were leaving your mom to deal with your bags. 

With enthusiasm that was seen nowhere else but here in Neiho, you rushed out of the car and down the nostalgic pathway filled with memories that lingered in your mind. You spotted the garden rocks you painted how many summers before as well as the wind catchers that you created with the boys during an arts class they were so reluctant to take. Holding back a smile at all the familiarity, you shoved the keys already in your hand eagerly into the lock. A twist to the side and your hand on the knob was all it took to open the grand, wooden door. A sigh that came from way deep in your chest let itself out as the cooling air conditioner and the smell of the sea salt vanilla candles blew your way.

With one hand against the clean, white walls, you used the other to slip your shoes off. “Anyone home?” 

Home. That was what the beach house on Cherry Lane was. It was home. 

Loud, resounding pounds from the staircase alerted you that someone was there and you knew exactly who that person was before they made it down the steps and rounded the corner. Always heavy-handed in the way he handled his body, Jaehyun Jeong stomped his way to you, his gait echoing through the quiet hallways. His smile was wide as soon as you landed in his line of vision. The next thing you knew, his body was hurling your way and you had no time to escape what came next. 

“Munch! You’re here!” he yelled into your ear right before lifting and twirling you around. Jaehyun’s voice sounded deeper than the last time you saw him in person. Your surprised squeal drowned out his low-toned laughter and your feet kicked against the hard core he worked on in the last year. 

“Put her down, Jae, before you break something,” his mom, Jieun, called from the steps, a fond smile taking over her face. Her features matched the ones on Jaehyun’s goofy face sans the reddened ears and cheeks. 

Her sister and Johnny’s mom, Hyesoo, peeked out of the kitchen to add to the scolding. “Jae, if you break something, you’re gonna have to replace it with your own money, honey, so be careful!”

“Listen to them!” you whined as his hands continued to dig at your side. “You’re hurting me!” 

He adjusted his grip. “Yo, how’s the weather up there, Munchkin? Better than down here, I hope,” Jaehyun teased with a cheeky smile. 

“Shut up, Dopey!” You kicked him in the abdomen harder than the last and his stronghold loosened just enough for you to wiggle away. 

As you caught your breath from laughing too hard, you took in your best friend’s appearance. Jaehyun’s wetsuit was half on–the top half folded right at the waist–while his buffer chest was slightly covered by the heathered tank top he probably threw on in a rush. Honey brown hair unstyled and strands thrown every which way, he still looked like the same boy you remembered. Just a tad bit taller and bigger than before. And to top it all off, his dopey smile had you mirroring one too.

You bet that the girls in his major department went crazy over him. You’ve heard some of his stories through your weekly FaceTime calls–from his short-termed girlfriends and situationships and friends with benefits–but none of those ever lasted. Curiosity bit at you, wondering why they never did, but you respected Jaehyun enough not to pry. If he wanted to, he would tell you. 

“Hey there,” Jaehyun chuckled again, his large hand coming up to your chin to squish your cheeks in between his fingers.

You stuck your tongue out and blew a raspberry at him, spit landing on the back of his hand. Jaehyun gave you a look of disgust, wiping the wet spots against your shirt. You’d think at twenty-one, the pair of you would outgrow childish habits but that wasn’t necessarily the case. 

“Just say you’re happy to see me, damn.”

“Never going to willingly admit that,” you retaliated with a shit-eating grin.

Jaehyun’s hands zoomed back to your face to pull at your cheeks. His tough grip tugged them so hard that it stung a lot more than it should have. Your consecutive slaps against his chest finally got him to stop and while you rubbed your cheeks better, he stifled his laughter behind his palm. 

“You might not be happy to see me but I am always happy to see you, Munch,” Jaehyun pressed a wet kiss on your throbbing cheek in return.  You were too busy tending to your pain to realize the redness that took over the tips of his ears. His mother and aunt were not. Giggling at each other, they enjoyed the boy’s embarrassed state, loving the fact that you were the only one to get him that pink.

“You’re something else, Jae,” you shook your head at him before rushing over to your aunties to hug them. You missed them both. 

“Baby, don’t just stand there,” Aunt Jieun scolded her son, coming over to slap him against his bicep, “go use those muscles that you keep bragging about and help your auntie carry their stuff into the house.” The boy, dorky as ever, saluted his mother and ran out the door in his broken-in Rainbow sandals. 

“Where’s Johnny?” you questioned. A glance around the house and you couldn’t see him anywhere. It was unlike him to not greet you as soon as you entered the property. Your heart dropped a little at his lack of presence. 

“Oh honey, your one-track mind never changes, does it?” Aunt Hyesoo grinned at you with a knowing twinkle in her eye. You pouted at her and she simply poked you in between your curled-up brows. “John’s out surfing. We told him to wait until after you arrived but he promised he would be back before your pretty little face showed up. Knowing him, that boy probably lost track of time.”

The front door swung open and slammed against the wall only to reveal a sheepish Jaehyun. Once again, the boy underestimated his strength. If one were to look at the wall behind the door, they’d spot a dent in the wall from all the rough handling but that’s a thing everyone in the house let go of. Holding the door open, Jaehyun allowed your mom to roll her luggage in first before hauling your load in. As the three mothers reunited, Jae nudged his sharp elbow to your side. “I was about to go join Johnny for a bit, wanna come wi–”

“Yes, let’s go, let’s goooooo!” Not even letting your best friend finish his sentence, you snatched the keys to his mother’s Rav4 and headed out the door. “We’re heading out!” You called behind you before barreling out the door with your tote bag in hand.

Jaehyun trailed right behind you with his deep laughter ringing through your ears. When you didn’t toss him the keys and remained at your spot on the driver’s side, he hesitated to get in the unlocked vehicle. His lack of movement made you roll your eyes. You had gotten your license last fall at the age of twenty so driving was no problem for you. At least, it wasn’t anymore. If you went back to the previous summer with you at the wheel, Johnny at your side, and Jaehyun behind you, you would probably say otherwise. But that was then. You were twenty-one now and had almost a year of driving experience under your belt.

“Get in the car, my driving’s better now, I promise.” The engine started at the twist of your hand and Jaehyun remained outside with a hardened look on his face.

“Sure it is, Munch,” he replied with a brow raised. 

“It really is, how else would I be able to get my license?” A few bats of your lashes and a pretty pout were all it took for Jaehyun to cave in and buckle himself in the car. He could never say no to you. Johnny was a little harder to break–he was a tough cookie to crack–but in the end, little old you were always his weakness. 

A defeated sigh escaped Jaehyun’s pink lips. “You’re lucky I love you so much.” 

Jaehyun’s little profession of love made you warm inside, just like your never ending friendship. “The luckiest girl in the world.”

“And the prettiest,” Jaehyun joked, swiping at your cheek.

“Ew, is that how you flirt with all the girls back home?”

“Why? Is it working?” From the corner of your eye, you could see his brows dance. “Are you finally falling for me? It’s about damn time.” 

“Absolutely not. Disgusting.” 

“Damn, and to think, I could have finally had a chance with the prettiest girl in Neiho.”

“Oh shut up.”

The beach was a two-minute drive away. If it weren’t for Jaehyun’s surfboard mounted on top of the car, you would have been fine with the seven-minute walk or the short bike ride to your perfect little paradise. The midday crowd had made its way into the beach’s car lot, leaving a tiny compact space for you to wiggle into. Your first few tries weren’t successful, even with Jaehyun’s guidance, leaving him to laugh at your attempts before you switched places. Johnny would have never teased you like that. 

Jaehyun parked the car slowly yet successfully as you waited outside with crossed arms. He shot you a smug look, complete with his sunglasses sitting on top of his nose bridge and a smirk that lifted one plump cheek. 

“Don’t say anything,” you pointed a finger at him. “I have trouble in compact spaces.” 

“Wasn’t gonna,” Jaehyun cheekily answered as he started to take his baby blue board down the rack.

Huffing, you turned your body away from your best friend and faced the shoreline. One breath was all it took to inhale the calming scents of the ocean. The sun beamed down on you; while others hated the direct light, you didn’t mind it. Accompanied by the soft breeze making its way through your loose hair, it was a perfect beach day. Your past self was right to wear your two-piece under your clothes instead of your undergarments. 

Leaving Jaehyun behind, you stripped your loose top off, slipped off your Birkenstocks, and sunk your toes in the sand. The gritty, warm feeling surrounding your skin was something you missed dearly. Others hated the texture of sand–how it was coarse and hot, and how it got absolutely everywhere for no apparent reason–but it excited you. Feet running on autopilot, they led you straight to where the ocean met the shore. Dry sand turned wet, causing you to sink, sink, sink deep into the ground and you loved it all. When the cool rush of water hit your skin, you loved it even more. You closed your eyes and sighed, taking in the sounds of the waves hitting the rocks. 

You opened them just in time to see a tall, built surfer riding a clean wave with no breaks. He made the sport look effortless when you know that in fact, it was not. At all. When the figure reached the shore not too far from you, the man planted his surfboard right in the sand. His height was not too far off from the item itself, which was a feature many onlookers admired. 

After reaching down to catch some water in between his fingers, he ran that same hand through his thick dark brown hair, pushing his wet bangs out of his way. Your mouth began to split into two at the sight of him. Even without seeing his entire face, you knew that sharp jawline and stature anywhere. You saw it every summer, towering over you in a protective stance. The hands running through his hair used to hold yours whenever you had your scary movie marathons and the sculpted arms attached to them used to press you tightly against his chest whenever you needed comfort. 

There were so many times your thoughts drifted from the topic at hand to that face and build. Dreams. Daydreams. Little scenarios in your head that fed the monster called delusion. 

With tunnel vision for that man alone, your feet took you straight to him and your voice called out his name. “Johnny Suh!” 

Johnny’s hands immediately reached behind him as you catapulted yourself onto the broadest back you had ever seen in your life. Your arms circled his neck and your bare legs coiled around his waist as he held you in place with no complaints. Your dry body pressed against the cold, damp wetsuit but you didn’t care. You were with Johnny now. 

To you, the older of the boys wore many hats. He was your long-time friend. Your protector. Your crush. Your mom, as teasing as she gets, also referred to him as your first love. Your aunties rallied behind her with that and you always found it embarrassing. But loyal as they were, your secret never slipped past their lips. It was one for the girls, they would always say. You weren’t sure if Jaehyun caught on at some point–if he did, he never uttered a word. 

Johnny turns his neck to glance at you. His eyes took notice of the sparkle in your eye and the bright light of your smile and it brought that charming grin out to play. “Aren’t your clothes going to get wet?” he chafed, tugging on the thin fabric of your loose linen shorts. 

“Don’t care,” you replied, tilting your head to meet his gaze. His smile widened as you did so, the whiskers by his nose appearing out of nowhere. “Saying hi to you is more important than my clothes, Jojo.”

“Well then, hi.” The way Johnny said that two-letter word had your heart racing. It was soft and sweet and endearing. It was everything Johnny was. And it was beautiful. 

“Hi.”

He tapped two fingers on your thigh. “You ready to get down yet?”

“Nope.”

Johnny chuckled again and with your chest pressed tightly against his back, you felt the vibrations it caused. “Looks like my little Shadow finally came back to me.”

Shadow–that was what he called you. 

It all started when your moms noticed that you were so infatuated with the older boy that you stuck so close to him, following his every movement. When he would stand, so would you. And in turn, Jaehyun did too. When Johnny would want ice cream, you would copy him and state that you craved some too. And when he joined a volleyball camp at the country club, you tried to join too, only to be turned down because you were a girl. It upset you to no end at the young age of nine, that Jaehyun could follow the twelve-year-old Johnny but you couldn’t. To get rid of your sorrow, Johnny–although tired–played with you at home and taught you every little skill he learned that day. Your hobby only developed from there. 

“Looks like it,” you giggled. 

No matter how far you were or how much time had passed, you would forever remain as Johnny’s shadow. Just like Peter Pan’s shadow always found its way back to the leader of the Lost Boys, you would always find your way back to Johnny.

Your little moment was interrupted by the one and only Jaehyun, who has his surfboard lifted above his head. So into being within proximity to Johnny, you failed to notice the tiny drop of Jaehyun’s happy demeanor. “Dude, you done for the day or?” Jaehyun asked his older cousin, gesturing to the waves. 

Johnny turned to him with you still hanging like a koala on his back, happy that you are reunited with your two boys. “Nah, I was thinking about catching a few more before heading back. Tide’s pretty good today.” 

“Sweet,” Jaehyun grinned, his tiny little fangs peeking out as his mouth widened. He pointed his chin to the clear, blue water. “Let’s go?” 

Johnny tapped your thigh again and released your legs from his hold. “You okay with that, Shadow?” 

You nodded, patting your purse. “I got my audiobook, I’ll be fine.”

“You didn’t want to surf today?”

You tried your best to fight the warm flush taking over your body. “No, I was…too excited to see you, I guess. Didn’t want to change or grab my board.”

Johnny shot you a soft and tender smile. “You sure it wasn’t the beach calling your name? You always couldn’t wait to get down here.”

“I’m sure,” you replied, looking up at him. 

“Next time then,” Johnny reassured you. “Missed having you out there with me.”

Your heart stopped for a moment. How was he so good at that? Johnny was too good at making you feel like mush and he didn’t even know it. It was no surprise so many of the people you hung out with growing up had a crush on him. 

“Alright then, what are we waiting for?” Jaehyun shouted, raising his board high and running straight for the water. “First surf of the summer, let’s fucking goooooooo!” His loud voice faded out as he got deeper and deeper into the water. 

Johnny’s large hand quickly ruffled your hair and you swatted his grip away, grumbling as you did so. “Be right back. Don’t go anywhere. Don’t talk to anyone you don’t know either.” His overprotectiveness came into play. The warning was unnecessary, seeing how all the summer kids knew each other. It was like a big reunion every season, with parties and bonfires all around. Running into someone at the beach was far from surprising, in fact, it was expected. 

You waved him away, already busying yourself by setting up your spot a bit further from where the sand met the sea. Your AirPods were out and your phone’s camera app opened up, ready to take pictures of the beautiful scenery and your boys. “Stop worrying, I’ll be right here. Go.”

Johnny left, but not before giving you a little shove to the side of your head. You snapped multiple pictures of his back as he ran to his board with Jaehyun already riding a wave in the background. The sun was beginning to set, making the skyline the perfect backdrop for your pictures. Waiting for the next wave to hit, they sat on their boards. At one point, they shifted to wave at you, and being the person you were, you took more candids of them and sent it to the group chat with your parents. 

You slipped on your AirPods and continued onto a new chapter of the audiobook you started on your road trip here. The waves were loud enough to hear through your headset and the orange sun didn't blind you as much with Jaehyun’s sunglasses resting on your nose. This was the perfect way to spend your first day back at Neiho. 

With the amazing weather, the two best boys in the entire world, and the prettiest beach you have ever laid eyes on, this was going to be the best summer ever. It had to be. It was the summer before your last year of university. After graduation, your whole life could and would change. And you, as headstrong as you were, wanted this to be the perfect summer. 

The summer of all summers. 

The summer you would remember forever.

LIFEGUARD'S NOTICE BOARD. Hi y'all. This fic has been on the backburner for a while and I've slowly started to pick it back up again. This is only the first scene in the grande scheme of things that idk will ever be completed BUT it was too good to keep in the drafts! Tell me what you think: are you Team Johnny or Team Jaehyun?

TAGLIST. (tagging anyone who is on my gen taglist and people i talked to about this fic!) @johtenrecs @justalildumpling @bat-shark-repellant @bebsky @smileysuh @smileyerim @taelme @moonctzeny @lebrookestore @baekhyuns-lipchain @donutswithjaminthemiddle @ahcaratzen @espresseo-cafe @turtash @ravenjoongie @omlhyuck @cryingforjae

The sun you’ve been basking in suddenly disappears, a large shadow hovering above you. You frown at the loss of warmth and look up to see a soaked Johnny peering down at you. Your lips twist even more when your friend shakes his wet hair over you, the cold droplets hitting your skin. 

“Hey!” you hiss, drying yourself with the closest thing you can find–his button up. 

When Johnny realizes what you’re doing, he lets out a dramatic scoff and snatches it out of your hands. “That’s not a towel!”

“Well, that’s what you get for getting me wet!” Johnny smirks at your words, his thoughts taking them down a dirtier route, and you roll your eyes at the implication.

“Are you done for the day?” he asks as he takes a seat next to you.

 “Nah, just taking a break, I’ll get back in the water in a few,” you shake your head before gesturing to the abundance of open snacks next to you, “I got hungry.”

He laughs, “I can see that.” Johnny reaches over, his shirtless torso positioned above you for a matter of seconds, to grab the closest snack. You turn your head away, hiding your flushed face from the guy who invaded your space and your heart. 

You’ve had a small crush on Johnny since the day your housemate, Mark, introduced you to his best friend. The guy was easy to get along with–funny, incredibly respectful, and effortlessly handsome with his pretty smile. Despite his strong and somewhat intimidating build, Johnny was so approachable and your heart immediately latched onto him. 

At first, you thought your feelings were unrequited. Then, you began to notice the little things he did around you. Johnny paid close attention to the passing comments you made and brought them up when you least expected it. Once, you talked about loving the new pastry menu from the cafe down the block and the next time Johnny stopped by your house, he brought you a box of pastries just to see you smile. 

Whenever you went out with the rest of the group, he stayed close to you, constantly making sure you were okay. When you were out at a karaoke pub in Salzburg a day or two before, he immediately stepped in to protect you from guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He refused to leave your side for the rest of the night, ordering your drinks with his arm permanently circled around your waist. 

Johnny was the type to jokingly flirt with everybody just to fluster people but somehow, it seemed different with you. His brown eyes seem to soften, his words sounding more intentional, his touches light and lingering but you never received a telltale sign that he was into you. Just like now.

Johnny’s smile turns upside down when he sees the redness on your shoulders. His fingers brush against your skin and you flinch at his soft touch. “Your shoulders burned.”

“Shit,” you groan, “I left my cover up at the hotel. I just have my tank top with me.”

Johnny doesn’t say anything else, he just reaches over to grab his button up and drapes it over your shoulders. You shyly slide your arms through the sleeves, noting how his clothes seem so oversized on you. You hide your embarrassed face with the edge of his sleeves and are instantly hit with a whiff of his cologne–a grounding, earthy scent that matches exactly who he is. It’s like receiving a warm hug from him and though the weather is beating you down, you don’t think you ever want to take it off.

“Thanks.”

“It’s not a problem,” Johnny says back before leaning back on the palms of his hands. 

You steal another glance at him, admiring the way his position highlights the hard work he’s put into keeping fit. His swim trunks hang low on his hips and his upper arms flex while keeping his built torso upright while his wet, tan skin glistens under the sun.

You look away when he turns in your direction, trying to find his phone to check the time. Despite the tension rising between you since this vacation started, you still can’t bring yourself to make a move. You promised Yeri you would before the trip ended but it’s easier said than done. 

“Wanna sit at the water’s edge with me?” Johnny’s voice breaks through the silence. “You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to.”

“Sure,” you smile. 

He gets up first and offers you his hand. You slip your palm into his larger one and butterflies erupt in your stomach when he pulls you up with ease. His hand remains in yours as you walk to the edge, a short distance away from Yeri and Wendy, and gestures for you to take a seat. 

You’re surprised when he steps into the water instead of taking his place next to you. The shock increases tenfold when Johnny, with his wet, black hair and charming smile, settles his arms on either side of you. You can’t say that you’re trapped in between him and the canal’s edge–you can easily wiggle your way out of the situation if you want to–but you feel like you are. 

“Hi,” he says softly.

“Hi,” you whisper back. In your nervousness, your feet swing back and forth. They occasionally brush against his leg a couple of times but you can’t stop them from moving–it’s the only thing keeping you calm in this situation of yours. 

“You,” he starts to say. He pauses, one of his hands clutching the concrete railing a bit tighter before dropping into the water.

“Yeah?” you tilt your head.

Johnny’s fingers flex before he reaches up to push a stray hair away from your face. He tucks it behind your ear, his palm coming back up to cup your jaw. His thumb strokes the apple of your cheek while his eyes drift down to your body. His stare focuses on how his big shirt hangs off your shoulders, the sight of you in his clothes forming unspeakable thoughts in his head.

Johnny meets your gaze. “You just look really good in my clothes,” he lets out a low chuckle.

You fix your eyes on his lips for just a second, “I do?”

Before he can reply, Mark and Jaehyun make their way back to you. They swim over and take a seat on the edge with you, which makes Johnny lean back, and end the moment that caused your heart to beat a mile a minute.

“John,” Jaehyun claps the eldest’s back. 

“What?” Johnny snaps, annoyed with how things turned out.

“You gotta do the bridge thing, man!” Jaehyun encourages, “It’s now or never!”

“Never!” Johnny refuses.

“Pussy!” 

“C’mon, we talked about this, dude,” Mark adds with determination seeping through his eyes, like there’s a hidden implication behind the youngest’s words. “You have to.”

“What bridge thing?”

The boys share a look, Johnny trying to silence them with a glare, before he smiles at you. “There’s a low bridge down the way, not that high above the water’s surface. A lot of people floating down the current try to grab it as they pass under it. Some even climb over onto the bridge just to jump off on the other side, it’s a whole thing here.”

“Oh, then you guys have to do it!” you push, “I mean when are we ever going to be back here, right?”

“Yeah, John,” your housemate eggs your crush on, “When are you going to have this chance again?”

Johnny sighs in defeat, turning towards the boys, “Fine.” 

The other two cheer, shaking each other with excitement. They make their way over to the other girls a few steps away and they screech at the news. You don’t know why they’re so pumped for this but regardless, you grin at their antics. 

Your crush turns to you and places a hand on your bare thigh. His palm is cold from the water but your skin turns hot at the touch. Not knowing how much the contact affects you, Johnny gestures to his phone, “Hey, film me on the bridge? It’s just down that way, not too far from here.” 

“And why would I do that?” you tease him with a giggle. Your words suggest one thing but you grab his phone regardless, already getting ready to do the task he’s asking of you.

“Because I’m the one who takes most of your pictures that end up on Instagram anyway,” Johnny rolls his eyes, lightly smacking your thigh, “it’s time for you to return the favor.”

You scrunch your nose at him, “I never asked you to take those photos of me, you know.”

Johnny adds pressure on his palms and pushes himself up until he’s at eye level with you. “What can I say? I like taking pictures of pretty things.”

You place a hand on his chest to create some space between the two of you, hoping he can’t hear your heart beating at the speed of light. “Shut up.”

Knowing he’s flustered you, he grins. “Go on ahead. The current’s pretty strong so we’ll let you girls get a head start and meet you there.”

You nod before following Wendy and Yeri’s lead to the bridge. They jumped off the bridge earlier, while you left the water to eat. Linking arms with you, they teased you endlessly about Johnny. You try to brush them off, stressing that nothing happened, but your girl friends are too stubborn to accept that answer. 

The three of you make it to the bridge in no time, planting yourselves in the middle of the structure. With Johnny’s phone in hand, you aim it at the water and patiently wait for the boys to float along the stream. It isn’t long before you catch sight of the trio, Jaehyun and Mark hyping Johnny up once the bridge comes into view. 

Pressing record, you follow Johnny’s path in the river canal. The camera captures him in high-definition as he swims with the fast current. From down below, the man still finds you and his grin increases tenfold. Your heart stutters in your chest, knowing that smile is just for you. As he approaches the bridge, you quickly lean against the railing and hover your camera over the water. 

The black-haired man extends one arm up to the sky and grabs hold of the bridge with ease. You’re sure the camera picks up the loud gasp you let out as he pulls himself up and out of the water with a confident smirk. This may have been the hottest exertion of his strength you’ve ever seen and you’re certain the moment will stay in your mind for months. 

Johnny reaches his other arm to grip the bridge’s caging to hoist himself onto the bridge. The two of you now stand face to face with just the metal barricade keeping your bodies apart. His sudden close proximity leaves you shellshocked, the hand holding his phone dropping to your side. With one hand on the railing and the other cupping your face, he leans forward, just enough to brush his nose against yours.

Your breath hitches and you sense his eyes searching your face, waiting for your reaction. You know that if you pull away, he’d take it in stride but you, with your pounding heartbeat and butterflies making their home in your belly, lean forward instead and nudge his nose back.

Johnny releases a relieved chuckle. “Finally,” he whispers before closing the distance. 

Johnny’s  kiss is both firm and gentle–everything you imagined it to be. He captures your lips with certainty, like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but the palm holding your neck in place is feather light. Johnny breaks away for a mere second, just to catch his breath, and you chase after him. You place your hand on his bicep, gripping his wet skin as he steals another sweet kiss from your lips.

“You,” he says in between heavy breaths, “just made me the happiest guy in the world.”

Your hand slides up his arm and rests against his jaw. He lovingly presses a peck on your palm and you finally recognize that familiar gleam in his eyes–the one he only aims at you– as the look of someone in love. 

“And you just made this the best summer ever,” you giggle in his hold. 

“Can I make it even better?”

“How can anything top this?” you ask, looking up at him.

Johnny rests his lips on your forehead and whispers five words into your skin, “Let me be your boyfriend.”

“What?” 

“You heard me,” he reassures you with a hopeful look in his brown eyes, “let me be your boyfriend.”

You answer him with another kiss, your fingers weaving into his short wet hair. He smiles at your eagerness and you feel his grin against your lips. He’s impossible to pull away from but you will yourself to do so, knowing that if you don’t let go now, you’ll most likely end up in the water with Johnny.

Your new boyfriend rests one more lingering kiss against your forehead. You revel in the feeling before he leans back. He sends a flirty wink your way before jumping right back into the fast stream with a cheerful yell. 

As soon as Johnny’s back in the water, Yeri and Wendy attach themselves to you. They scream different variations of “I told you so’s” into your ears as you process what just happened. You bubble with happiness, more giggles spilling from your mouth. You cover your face with your hands, pressing your palms into your cheeks, hoping the pressure will cool you down. 

Johnny Suh, your crush for years, confessed his feelings for you and kissed you for the first time ever. It was a bridge you thought you would never cross and yet you’re bursting at the seams because you’re on your dream vacation and now have your dream man by your side. 

Nothing, you think, can get better than this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE. big thanks to @aquarius-johnny for proofreading and nudging me to write again. v grateful!! to those of you that finished the fic, please tell me what you think! <3

The sun you’ve been basking in suddenly disappears, a large shadow hovering above you. You frown at the loss of warmth and look up to see a soaked Johnny peering down at you. Your lips twist even more when your friend shakes his wet hair over you, the cold droplets hitting your skin. 

“Hey!” you hiss, drying yourself with the closest thing you can find–his button up. 

When Johnny realizes what you’re doing, he lets out a dramatic scoff and snatches it out of your hands. “That’s not a towel!”

“Well, that’s what you get for getting me wet!” Johnny smirks at your words, his thoughts taking them down a dirtier route, and you roll your eyes at the implication.

“Are you done for the day?” he asks as he takes a seat next to you.

 “Nah, just taking a break, I’ll get back in the water in a few,” you shake your head before gesturing to the abundance of open snacks next to you, “I got hungry.”

He laughs, “I can see that.” Johnny reaches over, his shirtless torso positioned above you for a matter of seconds, to grab the closest snack. You turn your head away, hiding your flushed face from the guy who invaded your space and your heart. 

You’ve had a small crush on Johnny since the day your housemate, Mark, introduced you to his best friend. The guy was easy to get along with–funny, incredibly respectful, and effortlessly handsome with his pretty smile. Despite his strong and somewhat intimidating build, Johnny was so approachable and your heart immediately latched onto him. 

At first, you thought your feelings were unrequited. Then, you began to notice the little things he did around you. Johnny paid close attention to the passing comments you made and brought them up when you least expected it. Once, you talked about loving the new pastry menu from the cafe down the block and the next time Johnny stopped by your house, he brought you a box of pastries just to see you smile. 

Whenever you went out with the rest of the group, he stayed close to you, constantly making sure you were okay. When you were out at a karaoke pub in Salzburg a day or two before, he immediately stepped in to protect you from guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He refused to leave your side for the rest of the night, ordering your drinks with his arm permanently circled around your waist. 

Johnny was the type to jokingly flirt with everybody just to fluster people but somehow, it seemed different with you. His brown eyes seem to soften, his words sounding more intentional, his touches light and lingering but you never received a telltale sign that he was into you. Just like now.

Johnny’s smile turns upside down when he sees the redness on your shoulders. His fingers brush against your skin and you flinch at his soft touch. “Your shoulders burned.”

“Shit,” you groan, “I left my cover up at the hotel. I just have my tank top with me.”

Johnny doesn’t say anything else, he just reaches over to grab his button up and drapes it over your shoulders. You shyly slide your arms through the sleeves, noting how his clothes seem so oversized on you. You hide your embarrassed face with the edge of his sleeves and are instantly hit with a whiff of his cologne–a grounding, earthy scent that matches exactly who he is. It’s like receiving a warm hug from him and though the weather is beating you down, you don’t think you ever want to take it off.

“Thanks.”

“It’s not a problem,” Johnny says back before leaning back on the palms of his hands. 

You steal another glance at him, admiring the way his position highlights the hard work he’s put into keeping fit. His swim trunks hang low on his hips and his upper arms flex while keeping his built torso upright while his wet, tan skin glistens under the sun.

You look away when he turns in your direction, trying to find his phone to check the time. Despite the tension rising between you since this vacation started, you still can’t bring yourself to make a move. You promised Yeri you would before the trip ended but it’s easier said than done. 

“Wanna sit at the water’s edge with me?” Johnny’s voice breaks through the silence. “You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to.”

“Sure,” you smile. 

He gets up first and offers you his hand. You slip your palm into his larger one and butterflies erupt in your stomach when he pulls you up with ease. His hand remains in yours as you walk to the edge, a short distance away from Yeri and Wendy, and gestures for you to take a seat. 

You’re surprised when he steps into the water instead of taking his place next to you. The shock increases tenfold when Johnny, with his wet, black hair and charming smile, settles his arms on either side of you. You can’t say that you’re trapped in between him and the canal’s edge–you can easily wiggle your way out of the situation if you want to–but you feel like you are. 

“Hi,” he says softly.

“Hi,” you whisper back. In your nervousness, your feet swing back and forth. They occasionally brush against his leg a couple of times but you can’t stop them from moving–it’s the only thing keeping you calm in this situation of yours. 

“You,” he starts to say. He pauses, one of his hands clutching the concrete railing a bit tighter before dropping into the water.

“Yeah?” you tilt your head.

Johnny’s fingers flex before he reaches up to push a stray hair away from your face. He tucks it behind your ear, his palm coming back up to cup your jaw. His thumb strokes the apple of your cheek while his eyes drift down to your body. His stare focuses on how his big shirt hangs off your shoulders, the sight of you in his clothes forming unspeakable thoughts in his head.

Johnny meets your gaze. “You just look really good in my clothes,” he lets out a low chuckle.

You fix your eyes on his lips for just a second, “I do?”

Before he can reply, Mark and Jaehyun make their way back to you. They swim over and take a seat on the edge with you, which makes Johnny lean back, and end the moment that caused your heart to beat a mile a minute.

“John,” Jaehyun claps the eldest’s back. 

“What?” Johnny snaps, annoyed with how things turned out.

“You gotta do the bridge thing, man!” Jaehyun encourages, “It’s now or never!”

“Never!” Johnny refuses.

“Pussy!” 

“C’mon, we talked about this, dude,” Mark adds with determination seeping through his eyes, like there’s a hidden implication behind the youngest’s words. “You have to.”

“What bridge thing?”

The boys share a look, Johnny trying to silence them with a glare, before he smiles at you. “There’s a low bridge down the way, not that high above the water’s surface. A lot of people floating down the current try to grab it as they pass under it. Some even climb over onto the bridge just to jump off on the other side, it’s a whole thing here.”

“Oh, then you guys have to do it!” you push, “I mean when are we ever going to be back here, right?”

“Yeah, John,” your housemate eggs your crush on, “When are you going to have this chance again?”

Johnny sighs in defeat, turning towards the boys, “Fine.” 

The other two cheer, shaking each other with excitement. They make their way over to the other girls a few steps away and they screech at the news. You don’t know why they’re so pumped for this but regardless, you grin at their antics. 

Your crush turns to you and places a hand on your bare thigh. His palm is cold from the water but your skin turns hot at the touch. Not knowing how much the contact affects you, Johnny gestures to his phone, “Hey, film me on the bridge? It’s just down that way, not too far from here.” 

“And why would I do that?” you tease him with a giggle. Your words suggest one thing but you grab his phone regardless, already getting ready to do the task he’s asking of you.

“Because I’m the one who takes most of your pictures that end up on Instagram anyway,” Johnny rolls his eyes, lightly smacking your thigh, “it’s time for you to return the favor.”

You scrunch your nose at him, “I never asked you to take those photos of me, you know.”

Johnny adds pressure on his palms and pushes himself up until he’s at eye level with you. “What can I say? I like taking pictures of pretty things.”

You place a hand on his chest to create some space between the two of you, hoping he can’t hear your heart beating at the speed of light. “Shut up.”

Knowing he’s flustered you, he grins. “Go on ahead. The current’s pretty strong so we’ll let you girls get a head start and meet you there.”

You nod before following Wendy and Yeri’s lead to the bridge. They jumped off the bridge earlier, while you left the water to eat. Linking arms with you, they teased you endlessly about Johnny. You try to brush them off, stressing that nothing happened, but your girl friends are too stubborn to accept that answer. 

The three of you make it to the bridge in no time, planting yourselves in the middle of the structure. With Johnny’s phone in hand, you aim it at the water and patiently wait for the boys to float along the stream. It isn’t long before you catch sight of the trio, Jaehyun and Mark hyping Johnny up once the bridge comes into view. 

Pressing record, you follow Johnny’s path in the river canal. The camera captures him in high-definition as he swims with the fast current. From down below, the man still finds you and his grin increases tenfold. Your heart stutters in your chest, knowing that smile is just for you. As he approaches the bridge, you quickly lean against the railing and hover your camera over the water. 

The black-haired man extends one arm up to the sky and grabs hold of the bridge with ease. You’re sure the camera picks up the loud gasp you let out as he pulls himself up and out of the water with a confident smirk. This may have been the hottest exertion of his strength you’ve ever seen and you’re certain the moment will stay in your mind for months. 

Johnny reaches his other arm to grip the bridge’s caging to hoist himself onto the bridge. The two of you now stand face to face with just the metal barricade keeping your bodies apart. His sudden close proximity leaves you shellshocked, the hand holding his phone dropping to your side. With one hand on the railing and the other cupping your face, he leans forward, just enough to brush his nose against yours.

Your breath hitches and you sense his eyes searching your face, waiting for your reaction. You know that if you pull away, he’d take it in stride but you, with your pounding heartbeat and butterflies making their home in your belly, lean forward instead and nudge his nose back.

Johnny releases a relieved chuckle. “Finally,” he whispers before closing the distance. 

Johnny’s  kiss is both firm and gentle–everything you imagined it to be. He captures your lips with certainty, like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but the palm holding your neck in place is feather light. Johnny breaks away for a mere second, just to catch his breath, and you chase after him. You place your hand on his bicep, gripping his wet skin as he steals another sweet kiss from your lips.

“You,” he says in between heavy breaths, “just made me the happiest guy in the world.”

Your hand slides up his arm and rests against his jaw. He lovingly presses a peck on your palm and you finally recognize that familiar gleam in his eyes–the one he only aims at you– as the look of someone in love. 

“And you just made this the best summer ever,” you giggle in his hold. 

“Can I make it even better?”

“How can anything top this?” you ask, looking up at him.

Johnny rests his lips on your forehead and whispers five words into your skin, “Let me be your boyfriend.”

“What?” 

“You heard me,” he reassures you with a hopeful look in his brown eyes, “let me be your boyfriend.”

You answer him with another kiss, your fingers weaving into his short wet hair. He smiles at your eagerness and you feel his grin against your lips. He’s impossible to pull away from but you will yourself to do so, knowing that if you don’t let go now, you’ll most likely end up in the water with Johnny.

Your new boyfriend rests one more lingering kiss against your forehead. You revel in the feeling before he leans back. He sends a flirty wink your way before jumping right back into the fast stream with a cheerful yell. 

As soon as Johnny’s back in the water, Yeri and Wendy attach themselves to you. They scream different variations of “I told you so’s” into your ears as you process what just happened. You bubble with happiness, more giggles spilling from your mouth. You cover your face with your hands, pressing your palms into your cheeks, hoping the pressure will cool you down. 

Johnny Suh, your crush for years, confessed his feelings for you and kissed you for the first time ever. It was a bridge you thought you would never cross and yet you’re bursting at the seams because you’re on your dream vacation and now have your dream man by your side. 

Nothing, you think, can get better than this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE. big thanks to @aquarius-johnny for proofreading and nudging me to write again. v grateful!! to those of you that finished the fic, please tell me what you think! <3

The sun you’ve been basking in suddenly disappears, a large shadow hovering above you. You frown at the loss of warmth and look up to see a soaked Johnny peering down at you. Your lips twist even more when your friend shakes his wet hair over you, the cold droplets hitting your skin. 

“Hey!” you hiss, drying yourself with the closest thing you can find–his button up. 

When Johnny realizes what you’re doing, he lets out a dramatic scoff and snatches it out of your hands. “That’s not a towel!”

“Well, that’s what you get for getting me wet!” Johnny smirks at your words, his thoughts taking them down a dirtier route, and you roll your eyes at the implication.

“Are you done for the day?” he asks as he takes a seat next to you.

 “Nah, just taking a break, I’ll get back in the water in a few,” you shake your head before gesturing to the abundance of open snacks next to you, “I got hungry.”

He laughs, “I can see that.” Johnny reaches over, his shirtless torso positioned above you for a matter of seconds, to grab the closest snack. You turn your head away, hiding your flushed face from the guy who invaded your space and your heart. 

You’ve had a small crush on Johnny since the day your housemate, Mark, introduced you to his best friend. The guy was easy to get along with–funny, incredibly respectful, and effortlessly handsome with his pretty smile. Despite his strong and somewhat intimidating build, Johnny was so approachable and your heart immediately latched onto him. 

At first, you thought your feelings were unrequited. Then, you began to notice the little things he did around you. Johnny paid close attention to the passing comments you made and brought them up when you least expected it. Once, you talked about loving the new pastry menu from the cafe down the block and the next time Johnny stopped by your house, he brought you a box of pastries just to see you smile. 

Whenever you went out with the rest of the group, he stayed close to you, constantly making sure you were okay. When you were out at a karaoke pub in Salzburg a day or two before, he immediately stepped in to protect you from guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He refused to leave your side for the rest of the night, ordering your drinks with his arm permanently circled around your waist. 

Johnny was the type to jokingly flirt with everybody just to fluster people but somehow, it seemed different with you. His brown eyes seem to soften, his words sounding more intentional, his touches light and lingering but you never received a telltale sign that he was into you. Just like now.

Johnny’s smile turns upside down when he sees the redness on your shoulders. His fingers brush against your skin and you flinch at his soft touch. “Your shoulders burned.”

“Shit,” you groan, “I left my cover up at the hotel. I just have my tank top with me.”

Johnny doesn’t say anything else, he just reaches over to grab his button up and drapes it over your shoulders. You shyly slide your arms through the sleeves, noting how his clothes seem so oversized on you. You hide your embarrassed face with the edge of his sleeves and are instantly hit with a whiff of his cologne–a grounding, earthy scent that matches exactly who he is. It’s like receiving a warm hug from him and though the weather is beating you down, you don’t think you ever want to take it off.

“Thanks.”

“It’s not a problem,” Johnny says back before leaning back on the palms of his hands. 

You steal another glance at him, admiring the way his position highlights the hard work he’s put into keeping fit. His swim trunks hang low on his hips and his upper arms flex while keeping his built torso upright while his wet, tan skin glistens under the sun.

You look away when he turns in your direction, trying to find his phone to check the time. Despite the tension rising between you since this vacation started, you still can’t bring yourself to make a move. You promised Yeri you would before the trip ended but it’s easier said than done. 

“Wanna sit at the water’s edge with me?” Johnny’s voice breaks through the silence. “You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to.”

“Sure,” you smile. 

He gets up first and offers you his hand. You slip your palm into his larger one and butterflies erupt in your stomach when he pulls you up with ease. His hand remains in yours as you walk to the edge, a short distance away from Yeri and Wendy, and gestures for you to take a seat. 

You’re surprised when he steps into the water instead of taking his place next to you. The shock increases tenfold when Johnny, with his wet, black hair and charming smile, settles his arms on either side of you. You can’t say that you’re trapped in between him and the canal’s edge–you can easily wiggle your way out of the situation if you want to–but you feel like you are. 

“Hi,” he says softly.

“Hi,” you whisper back. In your nervousness, your feet swing back and forth. They occasionally brush against his leg a couple of times but you can’t stop them from moving–it’s the only thing keeping you calm in this situation of yours. 

“You,” he starts to say. He pauses, one of his hands clutching the concrete railing a bit tighter before dropping into the water.

“Yeah?” you tilt your head.

Johnny’s fingers flex before he reaches up to push a stray hair away from your face. He tucks it behind your ear, his palm coming back up to cup your jaw. His thumb strokes the apple of your cheek while his eyes drift down to your body. His stare focuses on how his big shirt hangs off your shoulders, the sight of you in his clothes forming unspeakable thoughts in his head.

Johnny meets your gaze. “You just look really good in my clothes,” he lets out a low chuckle.

You fix your eyes on his lips for just a second, “I do?”

Before he can reply, Mark and Jaehyun make their way back to you. They swim over and take a seat on the edge with you, which makes Johnny lean back, and end the moment that caused your heart to beat a mile a minute.

“John,” Jaehyun claps the eldest’s back. 

“What?” Johnny snaps, annoyed with how things turned out.

“You gotta do the bridge thing, man!” Jaehyun encourages, “It’s now or never!”

“Never!” Johnny refuses.

“Pussy!” 

“C’mon, we talked about this, dude,” Mark adds with determination seeping through his eyes, like there’s a hidden implication behind the youngest’s words. “You have to.”

“What bridge thing?”

The boys share a look, Johnny trying to silence them with a glare, before he smiles at you. “There’s a low bridge down the way, not that high above the water’s surface. A lot of people floating down the current try to grab it as they pass under it. Some even climb over onto the bridge just to jump off on the other side, it’s a whole thing here.”

“Oh, then you guys have to do it!” you push, “I mean when are we ever going to be back here, right?”

“Yeah, John,” your housemate eggs your crush on, “When are you going to have this chance again?”

Johnny sighs in defeat, turning towards the boys, “Fine.” 

The other two cheer, shaking each other with excitement. They make their way over to the other girls a few steps away and they screech at the news. You don’t know why they’re so pumped for this but regardless, you grin at their antics. 

Your crush turns to you and places a hand on your bare thigh. His palm is cold from the water but your skin turns hot at the touch. Not knowing how much the contact affects you, Johnny gestures to his phone, “Hey, film me on the bridge? It’s just down that way, not too far from here.” 

“And why would I do that?” you tease him with a giggle. Your words suggest one thing but you grab his phone regardless, already getting ready to do the task he’s asking of you.

“Because I’m the one who takes most of your pictures that end up on Instagram anyway,” Johnny rolls his eyes, lightly smacking your thigh, “it’s time for you to return the favor.”

You scrunch your nose at him, “I never asked you to take those photos of me, you know.”

Johnny adds pressure on his palms and pushes himself up until he’s at eye level with you. “What can I say? I like taking pictures of pretty things.”

You place a hand on his chest to create some space between the two of you, hoping he can’t hear your heart beating at the speed of light. “Shut up.”

Knowing he’s flustered you, he grins. “Go on ahead. The current’s pretty strong so we’ll let you girls get a head start and meet you there.”

You nod before following Wendy and Yeri’s lead to the bridge. They jumped off the bridge earlier, while you left the water to eat. Linking arms with you, they teased you endlessly about Johnny. You try to brush them off, stressing that nothing happened, but your girl friends are too stubborn to accept that answer. 

The three of you make it to the bridge in no time, planting yourselves in the middle of the structure. With Johnny’s phone in hand, you aim it at the water and patiently wait for the boys to float along the stream. It isn’t long before you catch sight of the trio, Jaehyun and Mark hyping Johnny up once the bridge comes into view. 

Pressing record, you follow Johnny’s path in the river canal. The camera captures him in high-definition as he swims with the fast current. From down below, the man still finds you and his grin increases tenfold. Your heart stutters in your chest, knowing that smile is just for you. As he approaches the bridge, you quickly lean against the railing and hover your camera over the water. 

The black-haired man extends one arm up to the sky and grabs hold of the bridge with ease. You’re sure the camera picks up the loud gasp you let out as he pulls himself up and out of the water with a confident smirk. This may have been the hottest exertion of his strength you’ve ever seen and you’re certain the moment will stay in your mind for months. 

Johnny reaches his other arm to grip the bridge’s caging to hoist himself onto the bridge. The two of you now stand face to face with just the metal barricade keeping your bodies apart. His sudden close proximity leaves you shellshocked, the hand holding his phone dropping to your side. With one hand on the railing and the other cupping your face, he leans forward, just enough to brush his nose against yours.

Your breath hitches and you sense his eyes searching your face, waiting for your reaction. You know that if you pull away, he’d take it in stride but you, with your pounding heartbeat and butterflies making their home in your belly, lean forward instead and nudge his nose back.

Johnny releases a relieved chuckle. “Finally,” he whispers before closing the distance. 

Johnny’s  kiss is both firm and gentle–everything you imagined it to be. He captures your lips with certainty, like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but the palm holding your neck in place is feather light. Johnny breaks away for a mere second, just to catch his breath, and you chase after him. You place your hand on his bicep, gripping his wet skin as he steals another sweet kiss from your lips.

“You,” he says in between heavy breaths, “just made me the happiest guy in the world.”

Your hand slides up his arm and rests against his jaw. He lovingly presses a peck on your palm and you finally recognize that familiar gleam in his eyes–the one he only aims at you– as the look of someone in love. 

“And you just made this the best summer ever,” you giggle in his hold. 

“Can I make it even better?”

“How can anything top this?” you ask, looking up at him.

Johnny rests his lips on your forehead and whispers five words into your skin, “Let me be your boyfriend.”

“What?” 

“You heard me,” he reassures you with a hopeful look in his brown eyes, “let me be your boyfriend.”

You answer him with another kiss, your fingers weaving into his short wet hair. He smiles at your eagerness and you feel his grin against your lips. He’s impossible to pull away from but you will yourself to do so, knowing that if you don’t let go now, you’ll most likely end up in the water with Johnny.

Your new boyfriend rests one more lingering kiss against your forehead. You revel in the feeling before he leans back. He sends a flirty wink your way before jumping right back into the fast stream with a cheerful yell. 

As soon as Johnny’s back in the water, Yeri and Wendy attach themselves to you. They scream different variations of “I told you so’s” into your ears as you process what just happened. You bubble with happiness, more giggles spilling from your mouth. You cover your face with your hands, pressing your palms into your cheeks, hoping the pressure will cool you down. 

Johnny Suh, your crush for years, confessed his feelings for you and kissed you for the first time ever. It was a bridge you thought you would never cross and yet you’re bursting at the seams because you’re on your dream vacation and now have your dream man by your side. 

Nothing, you think, can get better than this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE. big thanks to @aquarius-johnny for proofreading and nudging me to write again. v grateful!! to those of you that finished the fic, please tell me what you think! <3

The sun you’ve been basking in suddenly disappears, a large shadow hovering above you. You frown at the loss of warmth and look up to see a soaked Johnny peering down at you. Your lips twist even more when your friend shakes his wet hair over you, the cold droplets hitting your skin. 

“Hey!” you hiss, drying yourself with the closest thing you can find–his button up. 

When Johnny realizes what you’re doing, he lets out a dramatic scoff and snatches it out of your hands. “That’s not a towel!”

“Well, that’s what you get for getting me wet!” Johnny smirks at your words, his thoughts taking them down a dirtier route, and you roll your eyes at the implication.

“Are you done for the day?” he asks as he takes a seat next to you.

 “Nah, just taking a break, I’ll get back in the water in a few,” you shake your head before gesturing to the abundance of open snacks next to you, “I got hungry.”

He laughs, “I can see that.” Johnny reaches over, his shirtless torso positioned above you for a matter of seconds, to grab the closest snack. You turn your head away, hiding your flushed face from the guy who invaded your space and your heart. 

You’ve had a small crush on Johnny since the day your housemate, Mark, introduced you to his best friend. The guy was easy to get along with–funny, incredibly respectful, and effortlessly handsome with his pretty smile. Despite his strong and somewhat intimidating build, Johnny was so approachable and your heart immediately latched onto him. 

At first, you thought your feelings were unrequited. Then, you began to notice the little things he did around you. Johnny paid close attention to the passing comments you made and brought them up when you least expected it. Once, you talked about loving the new pastry menu from the cafe down the block and the next time Johnny stopped by your house, he brought you a box of pastries just to see you smile. 

Whenever you went out with the rest of the group, he stayed close to you, constantly making sure you were okay. When you were out at a karaoke pub in Salzburg a day or two before, he immediately stepped in to protect you from guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He refused to leave your side for the rest of the night, ordering your drinks with his arm permanently circled around your waist. 

Johnny was the type to jokingly flirt with everybody just to fluster people but somehow, it seemed different with you. His brown eyes seem to soften, his words sounding more intentional, his touches light and lingering but you never received a telltale sign that he was into you. Just like now.

Johnny’s smile turns upside down when he sees the redness on your shoulders. His fingers brush against your skin and you flinch at his soft touch. “Your shoulders burned.”

“Shit,” you groan, “I left my cover up at the hotel. I just have my tank top with me.”

Johnny doesn’t say anything else, he just reaches over to grab his button up and drapes it over your shoulders. You shyly slide your arms through the sleeves, noting how his clothes seem so oversized on you. You hide your embarrassed face with the edge of his sleeves and are instantly hit with a whiff of his cologne–a grounding, earthy scent that matches exactly who he is. It’s like receiving a warm hug from him and though the weather is beating you down, you don’t think you ever want to take it off.

“Thanks.”

“It’s not a problem,” Johnny says back before leaning back on the palms of his hands. 

You steal another glance at him, admiring the way his position highlights the hard work he’s put into keeping fit. His swim trunks hang low on his hips and his upper arms flex while keeping his built torso upright while his wet, tan skin glistens under the sun.

You look away when he turns in your direction, trying to find his phone to check the time. Despite the tension rising between you since this vacation started, you still can’t bring yourself to make a move. You promised Yeri you would before the trip ended but it’s easier said than done. 

“Wanna sit at the water’s edge with me?” Johnny’s voice breaks through the silence. “You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to.”

“Sure,” you smile. 

He gets up first and offers you his hand. You slip your palm into his larger one and butterflies erupt in your stomach when he pulls you up with ease. His hand remains in yours as you walk to the edge, a short distance away from Yeri and Wendy, and gestures for you to take a seat. 

You’re surprised when he steps into the water instead of taking his place next to you. The shock increases tenfold when Johnny, with his wet, black hair and charming smile, settles his arms on either side of you. You can’t say that you’re trapped in between him and the canal’s edge–you can easily wiggle your way out of the situation if you want to–but you feel like you are. 

“Hi,” he says softly.

“Hi,” you whisper back. In your nervousness, your feet swing back and forth. They occasionally brush against his leg a couple of times but you can’t stop them from moving–it’s the only thing keeping you calm in this situation of yours. 

“You,” he starts to say. He pauses, one of his hands clutching the concrete railing a bit tighter before dropping into the water.

“Yeah?” you tilt your head.

Johnny’s fingers flex before he reaches up to push a stray hair away from your face. He tucks it behind your ear, his palm coming back up to cup your jaw. His thumb strokes the apple of your cheek while his eyes drift down to your body. His stare focuses on how his big shirt hangs off your shoulders, the sight of you in his clothes forming unspeakable thoughts in his head.

Johnny meets your gaze. “You just look really good in my clothes,” he lets out a low chuckle.

You fix your eyes on his lips for just a second, “I do?”

Before he can reply, Mark and Jaehyun make their way back to you. They swim over and take a seat on the edge with you, which makes Johnny lean back, and end the moment that caused your heart to beat a mile a minute.

“John,” Jaehyun claps the eldest’s back. 

“What?” Johnny snaps, annoyed with how things turned out.

“You gotta do the bridge thing, man!” Jaehyun encourages, “It’s now or never!”

“Never!” Johnny refuses.

“Pussy!” 

“C’mon, we talked about this, dude,” Mark adds with determination seeping through his eyes, like there’s a hidden implication behind the youngest’s words. “You have to.”

“What bridge thing?”

The boys share a look, Johnny trying to silence them with a glare, before he smiles at you. “There’s a low bridge down the way, not that high above the water’s surface. A lot of people floating down the current try to grab it as they pass under it. Some even climb over onto the bridge just to jump off on the other side, it’s a whole thing here.”

“Oh, then you guys have to do it!” you push, “I mean when are we ever going to be back here, right?”

“Yeah, John,” your housemate eggs your crush on, “When are you going to have this chance again?”

Johnny sighs in defeat, turning towards the boys, “Fine.” 

The other two cheer, shaking each other with excitement. They make their way over to the other girls a few steps away and they screech at the news. You don’t know why they’re so pumped for this but regardless, you grin at their antics. 

Your crush turns to you and places a hand on your bare thigh. His palm is cold from the water but your skin turns hot at the touch. Not knowing how much the contact affects you, Johnny gestures to his phone, “Hey, film me on the bridge? It’s just down that way, not too far from here.” 

“And why would I do that?” you tease him with a giggle. Your words suggest one thing but you grab his phone regardless, already getting ready to do the task he’s asking of you.

“Because I’m the one who takes most of your pictures that end up on Instagram anyway,” Johnny rolls his eyes, lightly smacking your thigh, “it’s time for you to return the favor.”

You scrunch your nose at him, “I never asked you to take those photos of me, you know.”

Johnny adds pressure on his palms and pushes himself up until he’s at eye level with you. “What can I say? I like taking pictures of pretty things.”

You place a hand on his chest to create some space between the two of you, hoping he can’t hear your heart beating at the speed of light. “Shut up.”

Knowing he’s flustered you, he grins. “Go on ahead. The current’s pretty strong so we’ll let you girls get a head start and meet you there.”

You nod before following Wendy and Yeri’s lead to the bridge. They jumped off the bridge earlier, while you left the water to eat. Linking arms with you, they teased you endlessly about Johnny. You try to brush them off, stressing that nothing happened, but your girl friends are too stubborn to accept that answer. 

The three of you make it to the bridge in no time, planting yourselves in the middle of the structure. With Johnny’s phone in hand, you aim it at the water and patiently wait for the boys to float along the stream. It isn’t long before you catch sight of the trio, Jaehyun and Mark hyping Johnny up once the bridge comes into view. 

Pressing record, you follow Johnny’s path in the river canal. The camera captures him in high-definition as he swims with the fast current. From down below, the man still finds you and his grin increases tenfold. Your heart stutters in your chest, knowing that smile is just for you. As he approaches the bridge, you quickly lean against the railing and hover your camera over the water. 

The black-haired man extends one arm up to the sky and grabs hold of the bridge with ease. You’re sure the camera picks up the loud gasp you let out as he pulls himself up and out of the water with a confident smirk. This may have been the hottest exertion of his strength you’ve ever seen and you’re certain the moment will stay in your mind for months. 

Johnny reaches his other arm to grip the bridge’s caging to hoist himself onto the bridge. The two of you now stand face to face with just the metal barricade keeping your bodies apart. His sudden close proximity leaves you shellshocked, the hand holding his phone dropping to your side. With one hand on the railing and the other cupping your face, he leans forward, just enough to brush his nose against yours.

Your breath hitches and you sense his eyes searching your face, waiting for your reaction. You know that if you pull away, he’d take it in stride but you, with your pounding heartbeat and butterflies making their home in your belly, lean forward instead and nudge his nose back.

Johnny releases a relieved chuckle. “Finally,” he whispers before closing the distance. 

Johnny’s  kiss is both firm and gentle–everything you imagined it to be. He captures your lips with certainty, like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but the palm holding your neck in place is feather light. Johnny breaks away for a mere second, just to catch his breath, and you chase after him. You place your hand on his bicep, gripping his wet skin as he steals another sweet kiss from your lips.

“You,” he says in between heavy breaths, “just made me the happiest guy in the world.”

Your hand slides up his arm and rests against his jaw. He lovingly presses a peck on your palm and you finally recognize that familiar gleam in his eyes–the one he only aims at you– as the look of someone in love. 

“And you just made this the best summer ever,” you giggle in his hold. 

“Can I make it even better?”

“How can anything top this?” you ask, looking up at him.

Johnny rests his lips on your forehead and whispers five words into your skin, “Let me be your boyfriend.”

“What?” 

“You heard me,” he reassures you with a hopeful look in his brown eyes, “let me be your boyfriend.”

You answer him with another kiss, your fingers weaving into his short wet hair. He smiles at your eagerness and you feel his grin against your lips. He’s impossible to pull away from but you will yourself to do so, knowing that if you don’t let go now, you’ll most likely end up in the water with Johnny.

Your new boyfriend rests one more lingering kiss against your forehead. You revel in the feeling before he leans back. He sends a flirty wink your way before jumping right back into the fast stream with a cheerful yell. 

As soon as Johnny’s back in the water, Yeri and Wendy attach themselves to you. They scream different variations of “I told you so’s” into your ears as you process what just happened. You bubble with happiness, more giggles spilling from your mouth. You cover your face with your hands, pressing your palms into your cheeks, hoping the pressure will cool you down. 

Johnny Suh, your crush for years, confessed his feelings for you and kissed you for the first time ever. It was a bridge you thought you would never cross and yet you’re bursting at the seams because you’re on your dream vacation and now have your dream man by your side. 

Nothing, you think, can get better than this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE. big thanks to @aquarius-johnny for proofreading and nudging me to write again. v grateful!! to those of you that finished the fic, please tell me what you think! <3

The sun you’ve been basking in suddenly disappears, a large shadow hovering above you. You frown at the loss of warmth and look up to see a soaked Johnny peering down at you. Your lips twist even more when your friend shakes his wet hair over you, the cold droplets hitting your skin. 

“Hey!” you hiss, drying yourself with the closest thing you can find–his button up. 

When Johnny realizes what you’re doing, he lets out a dramatic scoff and snatches it out of your hands. “That’s not a towel!”

“Well, that’s what you get for getting me wet!” Johnny smirks at your words, his thoughts taking them down a dirtier route, and you roll your eyes at the implication.

“Are you done for the day?” he asks as he takes a seat next to you.

 “Nah, just taking a break, I’ll get back in the water in a few,” you shake your head before gesturing to the abundance of open snacks next to you, “I got hungry.”

He laughs, “I can see that.” Johnny reaches over, his shirtless torso positioned above you for a matter of seconds, to grab the closest snack. You turn your head away, hiding your flushed face from the guy who invaded your space and your heart. 

You’ve had a small crush on Johnny since the day your housemate, Mark, introduced you to his best friend. The guy was easy to get along with–funny, incredibly respectful, and effortlessly handsome with his pretty smile. Despite his strong and somewhat intimidating build, Johnny was so approachable and your heart immediately latched onto him. 

At first, you thought your feelings were unrequited. Then, you began to notice the little things he did around you. Johnny paid close attention to the passing comments you made and brought them up when you least expected it. Once, you talked about loving the new pastry menu from the cafe down the block and the next time Johnny stopped by your house, he brought you a box of pastries just to see you smile. 

Whenever you went out with the rest of the group, he stayed close to you, constantly making sure you were okay. When you were out at a karaoke pub in Salzburg a day or two before, he immediately stepped in to protect you from guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer. He refused to leave your side for the rest of the night, ordering your drinks with his arm permanently circled around your waist. 

Johnny was the type to jokingly flirt with everybody just to fluster people but somehow, it seemed different with you. His brown eyes seem to soften, his words sounding more intentional, his touches light and lingering but you never received a telltale sign that he was into you. Just like now.

Johnny’s smile turns upside down when he sees the redness on your shoulders. His fingers brush against your skin and you flinch at his soft touch. “Your shoulders burned.”

“Shit,” you groan, “I left my cover up at the hotel. I just have my tank top with me.”

Johnny doesn’t say anything else, he just reaches over to grab his button up and drapes it over your shoulders. You shyly slide your arms through the sleeves, noting how his clothes seem so oversized on you. You hide your embarrassed face with the edge of his sleeves and are instantly hit with a whiff of his cologne–a grounding, earthy scent that matches exactly who he is. It’s like receiving a warm hug from him and though the weather is beating you down, you don’t think you ever want to take it off.

“Thanks.”

“It’s not a problem,” Johnny says back before leaning back on the palms of his hands. 

You steal another glance at him, admiring the way his position highlights the hard work he’s put into keeping fit. His swim trunks hang low on his hips and his upper arms flex while keeping his built torso upright while his wet, tan skin glistens under the sun.

You look away when he turns in your direction, trying to find his phone to check the time. Despite the tension rising between you since this vacation started, you still can’t bring yourself to make a move. You promised Yeri you would before the trip ended but it’s easier said than done. 

“Wanna sit at the water’s edge with me?” Johnny’s voice breaks through the silence. “You don’t have to go in if you don’t want to.”

“Sure,” you smile. 

He gets up first and offers you his hand. You slip your palm into his larger one and butterflies erupt in your stomach when he pulls you up with ease. His hand remains in yours as you walk to the edge, a short distance away from Yeri and Wendy, and gestures for you to take a seat. 

You’re surprised when he steps into the water instead of taking his place next to you. The shock increases tenfold when Johnny, with his wet, black hair and charming smile, settles his arms on either side of you. You can’t say that you’re trapped in between him and the canal’s edge–you can easily wiggle your way out of the situation if you want to–but you feel like you are. 

“Hi,” he says softly.

“Hi,” you whisper back. In your nervousness, your feet swing back and forth. They occasionally brush against his leg a couple of times but you can’t stop them from moving–it’s the only thing keeping you calm in this situation of yours. 

“You,” he starts to say. He pauses, one of his hands clutching the concrete railing a bit tighter before dropping into the water.

“Yeah?” you tilt your head.

Johnny’s fingers flex before he reaches up to push a stray hair away from your face. He tucks it behind your ear, his palm coming back up to cup your jaw. His thumb strokes the apple of your cheek while his eyes drift down to your body. His stare focuses on how his big shirt hangs off your shoulders, the sight of you in his clothes forming unspeakable thoughts in his head.

Johnny meets your gaze. “You just look really good in my clothes,” he lets out a low chuckle.

You fix your eyes on his lips for just a second, “I do?”

Before he can reply, Mark and Jaehyun make their way back to you. They swim over and take a seat on the edge with you, which makes Johnny lean back, and end the moment that caused your heart to beat a mile a minute.

“John,” Jaehyun claps the eldest’s back. 

“What?” Johnny snaps, annoyed with how things turned out.

“You gotta do the bridge thing, man!” Jaehyun encourages, “It’s now or never!”

“Never!” Johnny refuses.

“Pussy!” 

“C’mon, we talked about this, dude,” Mark adds with determination seeping through his eyes, like there’s a hidden implication behind the youngest’s words. “You have to.”

“What bridge thing?”

The boys share a look, Johnny trying to silence them with a glare, before he smiles at you. “There’s a low bridge down the way, not that high above the water’s surface. A lot of people floating down the current try to grab it as they pass under it. Some even climb over onto the bridge just to jump off on the other side, it’s a whole thing here.”

“Oh, then you guys have to do it!” you push, “I mean when are we ever going to be back here, right?”

“Yeah, John,” your housemate eggs your crush on, “When are you going to have this chance again?”

Johnny sighs in defeat, turning towards the boys, “Fine.” 

The other two cheer, shaking each other with excitement. They make their way over to the other girls a few steps away and they screech at the news. You don’t know why they’re so pumped for this but regardless, you grin at their antics. 

Your crush turns to you and places a hand on your bare thigh. His palm is cold from the water but your skin turns hot at the touch. Not knowing how much the contact affects you, Johnny gestures to his phone, “Hey, film me on the bridge? It’s just down that way, not too far from here.” 

“And why would I do that?” you tease him with a giggle. Your words suggest one thing but you grab his phone regardless, already getting ready to do the task he’s asking of you.

“Because I’m the one who takes most of your pictures that end up on Instagram anyway,” Johnny rolls his eyes, lightly smacking your thigh, “it’s time for you to return the favor.”

You scrunch your nose at him, “I never asked you to take those photos of me, you know.”

Johnny adds pressure on his palms and pushes himself up until he’s at eye level with you. “What can I say? I like taking pictures of pretty things.”

You place a hand on his chest to create some space between the two of you, hoping he can’t hear your heart beating at the speed of light. “Shut up.”

Knowing he’s flustered you, he grins. “Go on ahead. The current’s pretty strong so we’ll let you girls get a head start and meet you there.”

You nod before following Wendy and Yeri’s lead to the bridge. They jumped off the bridge earlier, while you left the water to eat. Linking arms with you, they teased you endlessly about Johnny. You try to brush them off, stressing that nothing happened, but your girl friends are too stubborn to accept that answer. 

The three of you make it to the bridge in no time, planting yourselves in the middle of the structure. With Johnny’s phone in hand, you aim it at the water and patiently wait for the boys to float along the stream. It isn’t long before you catch sight of the trio, Jaehyun and Mark hyping Johnny up once the bridge comes into view. 

Pressing record, you follow Johnny’s path in the river canal. The camera captures him in high-definition as he swims with the fast current. From down below, the man still finds you and his grin increases tenfold. Your heart stutters in your chest, knowing that smile is just for you. As he approaches the bridge, you quickly lean against the railing and hover your camera over the water. 

The black-haired man extends one arm up to the sky and grabs hold of the bridge with ease. You’re sure the camera picks up the loud gasp you let out as he pulls himself up and out of the water with a confident smirk. This may have been the hottest exertion of his strength you’ve ever seen and you’re certain the moment will stay in your mind for months. 

Johnny reaches his other arm to grip the bridge’s caging to hoist himself onto the bridge. The two of you now stand face to face with just the metal barricade keeping your bodies apart. His sudden close proximity leaves you shellshocked, the hand holding his phone dropping to your side. With one hand on the railing and the other cupping your face, he leans forward, just enough to brush his nose against yours.

Your breath hitches and you sense his eyes searching your face, waiting for your reaction. You know that if you pull away, he’d take it in stride but you, with your pounding heartbeat and butterflies making their home in your belly, lean forward instead and nudge his nose back.

Johnny releases a relieved chuckle. “Finally,” he whispers before closing the distance. 

Johnny’s  kiss is both firm and gentle–everything you imagined it to be. He captures your lips with certainty, like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but the palm holding your neck in place is feather light. Johnny breaks away for a mere second, just to catch his breath, and you chase after him. You place your hand on his bicep, gripping his wet skin as he steals another sweet kiss from your lips.

“You,” he says in between heavy breaths, “just made me the happiest guy in the world.”

Your hand slides up his arm and rests against his jaw. He lovingly presses a peck on your palm and you finally recognize that familiar gleam in his eyes–the one he only aims at you– as the look of someone in love. 

“And you just made this the best summer ever,” you giggle in his hold. 

“Can I make it even better?”

“How can anything top this?” you ask, looking up at him.

Johnny rests his lips on your forehead and whispers five words into your skin, “Let me be your boyfriend.”

“What?” 

“You heard me,” he reassures you with a hopeful look in his brown eyes, “let me be your boyfriend.”

You answer him with another kiss, your fingers weaving into his short wet hair. He smiles at your eagerness and you feel his grin against your lips. He’s impossible to pull away from but you will yourself to do so, knowing that if you don’t let go now, you’ll most likely end up in the water with Johnny.

Your new boyfriend rests one more lingering kiss against your forehead. You revel in the feeling before he leans back. He sends a flirty wink your way before jumping right back into the fast stream with a cheerful yell. 

As soon as Johnny’s back in the water, Yeri and Wendy attach themselves to you. They scream different variations of “I told you so’s” into your ears as you process what just happened. You bubble with happiness, more giggles spilling from your mouth. You cover your face with your hands, pressing your palms into your cheeks, hoping the pressure will cool you down. 

Johnny Suh, your crush for years, confessed his feelings for you and kissed you for the first time ever. It was a bridge you thought you would never cross and yet you’re bursting at the seams because you’re on your dream vacation and now have your dream man by your side. 

Nothing, you think, can get better than this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE. big thanks to @aquarius-johnny for proofreading and nudging me to write again. v grateful!! to those of you that finished the fic, please tell me what you think! <3