Art Of Love! (Chaewon)
Kim Chaewon (LSF) X Male Reader
MothaFluffa, with a sprinkle of Angst!
Long story ahead!!!
Apartment 54. Third floor. Chaewon stood at the door, smiling. It was affordable, convenient â the perfect place for a new start. Too bad she hadnât read the full description before buying it.
She drew in a deep breath before turning the doorknob. As the door opened, a warm, inviting scent and the sight of the apartmentâs beautiful dĂ©cor washed over her.
âWow! This is better than I expected!â She spoke to herself.
She dropped her bag on the couch and looked around. The artwork on the walls stopped her in her tracksâit was incredible. She quickly snapped a photo and sent it to her friends.
âOh right! Letâs check out the rooms.â As she approaches the corner, she bumps into someone and falls backward, landing on the ground as a couple of paintbrushes belonging to the other person clatter loudly beside her.
She rubs her forehead, dazed from the collision. âW-What theâ?â Her eyes widen as she looks up at a tall boy towering above her. âW-Who are you?! And why are you in my apartment?!â
He let out a scoff. âYour apartment? Really? And maybe watch where youâre going next time.â He straightened up after dusting himself off, then crouched to collect his scattered paintbrushes.
Heâs really handsomeâunfortunately, Chaewon thought. And a total dick on top of that! She got back on her feet, glaring. âI live here! Why the hell are you in my apartment?!â
âAre you stupid?â he said, and Chaewon froze. âYouâre the roommate, right? Please tell me you at least read the listing.â He crossed his arms. âIt said shared apartment, genius.â
âShared?!â Chaewon echoed, eyes wide. âSince when?!â
âSince always,â he said flatly, barely looking at her.
She threw her hands up. âGreat. Just perfect. A random guy who doesnât know how to apologize and thinks he owns the place. Fantastic start.â
âYou look like youâve seen a ghost,â he said with a half-smile. âSorry to disappoint you, but the only haunting thing here is your lack of reading comprehension.â
âExcuse me?!â she snapped.
âShared apartment,â he repeated, pointing towards the lease pinned to the fridge. âWelcome home, roommate.â
She rolled her eyes. âHow can I be so stupid?!â She whispered under her breath. âI canât go back now.â
~~~~
Chaewon let out a satisfied sigh. âFinally, all done,â she said, finishing the last of her unpacking. She glanced around the room, taking in her new space before deciding to explore a bit.
There were two extra roomsâone of which, she thought, could be perfect for a small music studio. But before she could take a closer look, the sharp sound of water splashing against the floor made her pause.
âAre you serious? Greatânow I need to get more water,â the boy grumbled. Chaewon watched as he stepped out of the room, clearly frustrated.
As soon as he was gone, curiosity tugged at her. Moving quietly, she tiptoed to the doorway and peeked inside, gasping softly as her eyes swept across the room.
Art covered every inch of the room, from the walls to the easel in the corner. Itâs beautiful, she thought, eyes wide in awe. âThis guyâs actually talented,â she whispered. But before she could take another stepâŠ
âBoo!â
He caught her just in time, their faces inches apart. âYou really have a thing for falling, donât you?â he teased.
âS-shut up! You scared me!â she snapped, cheeks red as she stepped back.
After a brief pause, he tilted his head. âSo⊠care to explain why you were snooping around my art room?â
âIâI wasnât snooping!â she stammered. âI just⊠heard something and got curious.â
He leaned against the doorway, grinning. âCurious about my art or about me?â
âNeither!â she snapped, her face turning red. âDonât flatter yourself! I-I was⊠inspecting.â
âInspecting now, huh?â he said, laughing softly. âDidnât realize I was living with a detective.â
âMaybe you are,â she replied, lifting her chin. âAnd detectives donât like suspicious behavior.â
âSuspicious? I was painting.â
âExactly. Suspicious,â she said, refusing to smile even as he laughed.
The tension in the air slowly faded into something lighter. He went back to his easel, brushing a few strokes of blue across the canvas.
Chaewon stood by the doorway, arms still crossedâbut her tone softened. âYouâre really serious about your art, huh?â
He glanced over his shoulder, surprised by her shift in tone. âYeah. Itâs kind of⊠my thing,â he said quietly. âBeen painting since I was a kid.â
âThatâs⊠actually pretty cool,â she admitted, her earlier defensiveness melting away.
He smiled faintly, the first genuine one sheâd seen from him. âThanks. Didnât think youâd say that after calling me a jerk.â
She smirked, trying to play it off. âHey, I can appreciate talent and still think youâre a jerk.â
âFair enough,â he said, chuckling softly.
For the first time since she moved in, the silence between them wasnât awkwardâit was almost comfortable.
âYou can come closer, you know,â he said without looking back. âYouâre hovering like Iâm gonna bite.â
âIâm not hovering,â she said quickly, taking one cautious step inside.
He glanced at her with a teasing smile. âSure youâre not.â
She ignored him, pretending to study the paintings instead. âYouâre⊠actually really good,â she admitted, her voice softer this time.
âThanks,â he said, setting his brush down. âDidnât expect you to say that. Thought youâd just insult me again.â
âI can multitask,â she replied with a grin.
He laughedâa real laugh this timeâand she couldnât help but smile too. The sound filled the room, easy and warm.
Then, without warning, she stepped back and bumped into a paint can.
They both froze as blue paint started pooling on the floor.
âOh noâŠâ she whispered.
He looked at the mess, then at her, and sighed. She winced. âIâll⊠clean it up?â
He smiled faintly, shaking his head. âYeah. Together.â
For some reason, that one wordâtogetherâmade her chest flutter just a little. Chaewon grabbed some tissues from the counter and crouched down, trying to soak up the blue puddle.
âUgh⊠this is so bad,â she groaned.
âRelax,â he said, kneeling beside her with a small smile. âItâs just paint. Happens all the time.â
âYeah, well, not usually because I knock it over,â she muttered, cheeks puffing slightly.
He laughed softly. âYou really do have a talent for chaos.â
She shot him a look. âSays the guy who leaves open paint cans lying around.â
âTouchĂ©,â he said, smirking.
They cleaned in silence for a momentâuntil she realized how close they were sitting. She glanced up, and he was already looking at her. For a second, neither of them moved.
âUhâŠâ she cleared her throat, sitting up straighter. âI donât think weâve⊠properly introduced ourselves.â
He blinked, then smiled faintly. âRight. Iâm Lee Y/n.â
âKim Chaewon,â she said, returning the smile despite herself.
âWell, Chaewon,â Y/n said, standing up and offering her a hand, âwelcome to Apartment 54. Try not to flood the place again, yeah?â
She took his hand, rolling her eyes but smiling. âNo promises.â
Their fingers brushed just a little longer than either of them expected.
And as they both looked away, pretending not to notice, that strange flutter in her chest returnedâstronger this time.
~~~~
Morning sunlight spilled through the blinds, brushing across Chaewonâs face. She groaned softly, burying herself deeper under the blanket before realizingâ
Wait⊠this isnât my old apartment.
She blinked awake, glancing around the unfamiliar room, boxes still half-open, a faint smell of paint lingering in the air. Right. New place. New start. And⊠new roommate. Her stomach grumbled. âUgh, breakfast,â she muttered, dragging herself out of bed.
As soon as she opened the door, the scent of coffee hit her. She peeked into the kitchenâand froze.
Y/n was already there, hair messy, sleeves rolled up, calmly sipping coffee while flipping pancakes like he owned the place. âMorning, roommate,â he said without looking up.
âYou cook?â she asked, surprised.
âAnd you wake up before noon? Miracles do happen,â he replied with a grin.
She narrowed her eyes. âYouâre awfully confident for someone who spilled water everywhere yesterday.â
âCorrection,â he said, turning to hand her a plate. âYou knocked over the paint. I just cleaned it up better.â
She crossed her arms but took the plate anyway. âYouâre still a jerk.â
âAnd youâre still clumsy.â
They stared at each other for a momentâthen both cracked up laughing.
For the first time since sheâd moved in, it felt⊠nice. Warm. Like maybe this wasnât going to be such a disaster after all.
âSo,â he said, taking another sip of coffee. âThink you can survive living with me?â
She smiled over her pancake. âDepends. Can you survive living with me?â
He chuckled. âGuess weâll find out.â
(Later that day)
By afternoon, the apartment had settled into an almost comfortable rhythmâalmost.
Chaewon was sitting on the couch with her laptop open, headphones on, quietly humming as she worked on a new melody. For once, everything felt calm. Until the sound of drilling shattered the peace.
âWHAT is that?!â she yelled, pulling off her headphones.
Y/nâs voice echoed from the hallway. âJust hanging up a shelf!â
âA shelf? It sounds like youâre demolishing the wall!â she shouted back.
He appeared a moment later, holding a power drill and covered in dust. âYouâre welcome in advance. Iâm making space for our stuff.â
âOur stuff?â she asked, raising an eyebrow.
âYeah. You get the left side for your music junk. Iâll take the right.â
âItâs not junk,â she muttered. âItâs equipment.â
âRight,â he said with a grin. âEquipment that takes up half the living room.â
âYouâre one to talkâyour art supplies are everywhere!â
âHey, creativity needs space.â
âSo does sanity,â she fired back.
They glared at each other for a beatâthen burst into laughter at how ridiculous they sounded.
âOkay,â Y/n said between laughs. âMaybe weâre both disasters.â
âMaybe,â she admitted, still smiling. âBut at least itâs not boring.â
He looked at her for a second longer than necessary, that playful glint in his eyes softening just a little.
âYeah,â he said quietly. âDefinitely not boring.â
And just like that, the tension between them shiftedâstill sharp around the edges, but warmer now. The kind that hinted that maybe, just maybe, something more was beginning to spark.
(Time Skip)
A few days passed, and life in Apartment 54 began to settle into a strange but comfortable routine. Mornings were filled with the smell of coffee and the sound of Lee Y/nâs brushstrokes, while Chaewonâs music drifted softly from her room. They still bickeredâconstantlyâbut the edge had faded. Now, their arguments sounded more like inside jokes.
One evening, thunder rolled outside, rattling the windows. The rain poured hard against the glass as Chaewon peeked into the kitchen.
Y/n stood there, hair a little damp, sleeves rolled up, stirring something on the stove.
âYouâre cooking again?â she asked, surprised.
âSomeoneâs gotta keep us alive,â he replied with a smirk. âUnless you plan on living off instant noodles forever.â
âHey, donât insult my noodles. Theyâve gotten me through hard times,â she said, grinning.
âThen consider this an upgrade,â he said, handing her a spoon. âTaste.â
She hesitated, then took a bite. âOkay⊠wow. Thatâs actually really good.â
âYou sound shocked,â he said, pretending to be offended.
âBecause I am shocked,â she teased. âYou look like the type who burns water.â
He laughed, shaking his head. âYouâre impossible.â
âAnd youâre smug,â she said, grabbing a second spoonful anyway.
For a moment, the storm outside faded into background noise. The kitchen felt warmâtoo warm.
âYou know,â he said after a pause, âyouâre not as bad as I thought.â
âWow,â she said, placing a hand over her chest. âThe great Y/n just complimented me. Should I write this down?â
He chuckled. âDonât push it.â
They shared a lookâshort, quiet, and strangely tenderâbefore Chaewon turned away, pretending to focus on the rain tapping against the window.
What is this feeling? she thought, heart fluttering. Heâs still a jerk⊠but why does he suddenly feel soâ
âYouâre staring again,â he said without turning around.
âIâWhat?! No, I wasnât!â she stammered.
âSure,â he said, smiling as he plated the food.
âUgh,â she muttered, but couldnât stop the small smile that crept onto her lips.
(Later That Night!)
Later that night, the dishes were done, and the rain had quieted to a gentle patter. The two of them sat on the couch, mugs of hot chocolate in hand, a half-finished movie playing quietly in the background.
Chaewon glanced at Y/n from the corner of her eye. He wasnât teasing her for onceâjust sitting there, focused on his drink, a small frown tugging at his lips.
âYou look serious,â she said softly.
He chuckled, though it didnât quite reach his eyes. âJust thinking.â
âAbout what?â
He hesitated before answering. âAbout how weird life can be. One moment, youâre sure of what you want⊠and then everything changes.â
She tilted her head. âThat sounds deep. You okay?â
âYeah,â he said with a faint smile. âJust⊠my last art exhibition didnât go well. I thought it was going to be my big break, but it tanked. Felt like everything Iâd worked for just⊠slipped away.â
Chaewon looked down at her mug. âI get that,â she said quietly. âI used to perform music before moving here. Small gigs, open mics⊠but after a while, it stopped being fun. I guess I needed to start over, too.â
He glanced at her, eyes softening. âSo thatâs why you moved here.â
âYeah,â she said with a small shrug. âNew place, new start. Though I didnât plan on having a roommate who drives me crazy.â
He smiled. âYou love it.â
âI tolerate it,â she corrected, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks.
The movie flickered, light dancing across their faces. For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Y/n leaned back, his voice quieter. âYou know, for what itâs worth⊠Iâm glad you moved in.â
Her heart skipped a beat. âYeah?â
âYeah,â he said simply, eyes meeting hers. âItâs been⊠less quiet.â
She smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. âGuess that makes two of us.â Outside, the rain slowed to a soft drizzleâbut inside, it felt like something had just begun.
(The Next Day!)
The next morning, the apartment felt differentâwarmer somehow.
Chaewon sat at the kitchen counter with her laptop, hair tied in a messy bun, a mug of coffee beside her. She was humming softly, lost in a melody.
Y/n walked in, half-awake, paint smudges still on his arm. âYouâre singing again,â he said, voice low and groggy.
âYouâre painting before breakfast again,â she replied without looking up.
He smirked. âTouchĂ©.â
There was a quiet ease between them now. She handed him his mugâhis favorite, the one with a chipped handleâand he accepted it without a word, like it was already routine.
âSo,â he said after a sip, âI was thinking about what you said last night. About music.â
âWhat about it?â
âYou should get back into it. Perform again.â
She looked up, surprised. âYou think so?â
âYeah,â he said simply. âYou light up when you talk about it.â
Her chest tightened a little. âThatâs⊠actually really sweet, Y/n.â
âDonât sound so shocked,â he teased. âI can be nice.â
âOccasionally,â she said with a grin.
He was about to reply when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screenâand froze.
âWhoâs Minho?â he asked casually, sipping his coffee.
âNo one,â she said a little too fast.
âOhhh,â he drawled, a teasing glint in his eye. âNo one, huh?â
âMind your own business,â she said, cheeks pink.
âIâm just saying,â he continued with a grin, âif your âno oneâ keeps texting, I might have to start charging him rent.â
âYouâre impossible,â she muttered, throwing a napkin at him.
He caught it easily, laughing. âBut you like living with me.â
âDebatable,â she saidâbut she couldnât stop smiling.
And as Y/n turned back to his art, Chaewon tried to focus on her music again⊠though it was a lot harder when her heart wouldnât stop racing.
~~~~
A week passed, and the chaos of moving in had finally settled. The apartment felt lived-in now â her music sheets scattered on the table, his paint stains on the floor, the faint scent of coffee and acrylics lingering in the air.
That evening, Chaewon sat by the window, strumming her guitar. The melody sheâd been working on floated softly through the room â warm, gentle, unfinished.
Y/n looked up from his easel. âThatâs new.â
âYeah,â she said, not turning around. âStill figuring it out.â
âItâs good,â he said. âDifferent. Feels⊠honest.â
She smiled faintly. âThanks. Itâs kind of about⊠starting over, I guess.â
He nodded, dipping his brush into blue. âI get that.â
A few quiet minutes passed â just the hum of music and the brush gliding across canvas. Then, curiosity got the better of her.
âWhat are you painting?â she asked.
He hesitated. âYouâll laugh.â
âTry me.â
He sighed, gesturing for her to come closer. âAlright, but no teasing.â
She stood, walking over to his easel â and froze.
On the canvas was her. Sitting by the window, guitar in hand, light pouring over her hair like a soft halo. The strokes were delicate, full of color and warmth.
âThatâs⊠me?â she whispered.
âYeah,â he said quietly. âYou looked⊠peaceful. I just wanted to capture that.â
Her cheeks flushed. âY/n, itâs beautiful.â
He looked at her then â really looked â and for the first time, she didnât see the teasing grin or smug smirk. Just sincerity.
âYouâre kind of my muse,â he admitted softly.
Chaewonâs heart skipped. âYou canât just say stuff like that,â she muttered, trying to hide her smile.
âWhy not? Itâs true,â he said simply, still painting.
She looked at the portrait again, her chest warm and full. For the first time since moving in, she realized she didnât just feel comfortable here. She felt at home.
- The Following Night
The apartment was quiet except for the soft hum of rain tapping against the windows again.
Chaewon couldnât sleep. She tossed, turned, and finally gave up, slipping out of bed to grab some water.
The living room lights were dim, and to her surprise, Lee Y/n was still awake â sitting on the couch, sketchbook in hand, a blanket draped lazily over his shoulders.
âYouâre up late,â she said softly.
He glanced up and smiled faintly. âCould say the same to you.â
âCouldnât sleep,â she admitted, sitting on the arm of the couch. âYou?â
âSame. Too many thoughts.â
She nodded, staring at the rain-streaked window. âAbout your art?â
âAbout⊠everything,â he said quietly. âLife, mistakes, people who somehow make your days less dull.â
She looked at him, catching the tiny smirk he tried to hide. âWas that your way of calling me interesting?â
âDonât push it,â he teased, but his tone was gentle.
For a moment, silence settled again â but it wasnât uncomfortable. It was the kind that felt safe.
âHey,â he said suddenly, voice softer now. âThanks⊠for sticking around.â
She blinked. âWhat do you mean?â
âMost people wouldâve run off after how we started,â he said with a small laugh. âGuess Iâm lucky you didnât.â
Her heart thudded. âMaybe I just didnât want to leave you with a mess.â
âOr maybe,â he said, meeting her eyes, âyou actually like having me around.â
She scoffed, but her voice wavered. âKeep dreaming.â
He smiled â not the cocky one she was used to, but something softer. âYeah⊠maybe I am.â
Their eyes lingered for a second too long, the air between them charged with something unspoken â until a thunderclap broke the spell.
Chaewon quickly stood, brushing her hair behind her ear. âI, uh⊠should probably go back to bed.â
âRight,â he said, his voice low. âGoodnight, Chaewon.â
âGoodnight, Y/n.â
As she closed her door, her hand lingered on the knob, heart racing. She could still feel his gaze â warm, quiet, and heavy with something she didnât quite have the courage to name.
- The Following Morning
The next morning came with sunlight spilling through the blinds â too bright, too normal for how fast Chaewonâs heart was still beating.
She took her time getting ready, hoping Y/n would still be asleep. No such luck.
He was already in the kitchen, hair messy, hoodie half-zipped, humming quietly as he poured coffee.
âMorning,â he said without looking up.
âMorning,â she replied, her voice softer than usual. She grabbed a mug, careful not to meet his eyes.
The silence stretched, heavier than usual â not awkward, exactly, but full of everything left unsaid from last night.
âYou sleep okay?â he asked, glancing at her.
âYeah,â she lied quickly. âYou?â
âEventually,â he said with a faint smile. âKept thinking aboutââ He stopped himself mid-sentence.
âAbout?â she asked, raising a brow.
âUh⊠the painting,â he said, taking a quick sip of coffee.
âRight,â she said, pretending to believe him. âThe painting.â
They both looked away at the same time, cheeks tinged with color.
A beat passed, then Y/n broke the silence. âHey⊠about last nightââ
âNothing happened!â she blurted out, way too fast.
He blinked. âDidnât say it did.â
âRight. I justâuhâmaking sure you didnât, you know, think anything happened.â
âUh-huh,â he said, fighting a grin. âWhatever helps you sleep at night.â
âYouâre impossible,â she muttered, turning away â but he caught the tiny smile on her face.
As she walked toward her room, he called out, âHey, Chaewon?â
She paused, looking over her shoulder.
âThat song you were humming last night,â he said. âYou should finish it.â
âYeah?â
âYeah,â he said with a small, genuine smile. âIt suits you.â
Her chest tightened again â that same flutter from before. âThanks,â she said quietly, disappearing into her room.
Y/n watched the door close, exhaling a soft laugh to himself.
âYeah,â he murmured under his breath, âdefinitely not just roommates anymore.â
~~~
The days slipped by quietly after that morning, each one blurring into the next. They had fallen into a rhythmâmorning coffee, separate work, shared dinners, and those long, quiet nights where neither wanted to admit how much they looked forward to them.
That Friday evening, the apartment was calm. A gentle tune hummed from Chaewonâs speaker as she tuned her guitar. Y/n sat across from her on the floor, sketching something in his notebook.
âYouâve been working on that for hours,â she said, strumming a chord. âWhat is it this time?â
âJust sketching ideas,â he replied. âYouâll make fun of me if I show you.â
âNo, I wonât,â she promised, smiling. âProbably.â
He shot her a look, but handed her the sketchbook anyway.
Her breath caught. It wasnât just a drawingâit was her again. But this time, she wasnât sitting by the window. She was on the couch, guitar in her lap, head turned slightly toward the light. It looked⊠alive.
âY/nâŠâ she whispered. âItâs beautiful.â
He shrugged, trying to play it off. âYou make it easy to draw.â
Her heart skipped. âYou really need to stop saying things like that,â she muttered.
âWhy?â he asked, meeting her gaze. âBecause they sound like I mean them?â
The room fell quiet. The song playing in the background faded into the hum of the city outside.
She looked away first, cheeks warm. âYouâre impossible.â
âMaybe,â he said softly, setting his pencil down. âBut you donât look away when I draw you anymore.â
Chaewon swallowed, unsure what to say. Her fingers trembled slightly on the guitar strings. âMaybe Iâm getting used to it,â she murmured.
He leaned back, studying her face, his tone lower now. âOr maybe youâre not scared to let someone see you anymore.â
She froze, her chest tightening. He wasnât smiling this time. He wasnât teasing. He was just⊠honest.
âY/nâŠâ
âYeah?â
âIf you keep saying stuff like thatâŠâ she said quietly, âI wonât know how to stop thinking about you.â
His eyes widened just slightlyâbut before he could reply, her phone buzzed again on the table. The moment shattered.
She stood quickly, flustered. âIâI should get that.â
He nodded, eyes following her as she walked away.
The unfinished song still lingered between themâsoft, delicate, and full of everything they didnât quite have the courage to say.
~~~
The night air was thick with quiet.
Chaewon stood in her room, phone in hand, staring blankly at the message from Minho: âStill thinking about you. Hope youâre doing okay.â
She sighed and locked the screen, tossing the phone onto her bed. It wasnât that she didnât careâit was just that things felt⊠different now. Especially after what Y/n had said.
She left her room to clear her headâand found him standing by the balcony, sketchbook in hand, looking out at the city lights.
âYouâre still up?â she asked quietly.
âCouldnât sleep,â he said without turning. âYou?â
âSame.â
She walked closer, the cool night breeze brushing past them. For a moment, neither spoke.
âThat guy who texted,â he said suddenly. âIs he⊠someone important?â
Chaewon blinked, caught off guard. âMinho? No. Not anymore.â
He nodded slowly. âGood.â
She frowned. âGood?â
âYeah,â he said, turning to meet her eyes. âBecause itâd really suck if I was starting to fall for someone who wasnât available.â
Her breath caught. âY/nâŠâ
He took a hesitant step closer. âI know itâs sudden. And maybe itâs stupid. But every time you walk into a room, I canât focus on anything else. Youâre loud, stubborn, messy as hellââ
âWow, way to make a girl feel special,â she interrupted, heart racing.
He laughed softly, eyes warm. ââbut you make this place feel like home. And I havenât felt that in a long time.â
She froze, words caught in her throat. All the teasing, the late nights, the quiet smilesâit all clicked.
âYou really mean that?â she asked.
âEvery word.â
The city lights flickered between them, reflections dancing in their eyes. Slowly, almost without realizing it, she stepped closer.
âThen you should probably kiss me before I overthink this,â she whispered.
He smiled, soft and certain. âWasnât planning on waiting.â
And just like that, the distance vanished.
The noise of the city melted away, replaced by the quiet rhythm of two hearts finally beating in sync.
When they pulled apart, Chaewonâs cheeks were flushed, her voice barely above a whisper.
âYouâre still kind of a jerk, you know.â
âYeah,â Y/n said, grinning. âBut now Iâm your jerk.â
She laughed softly, leaning her forehead against his. âGuess I can live with that.â
~~~
Morning light streamed through the curtains, brushing across the living room. The air felt different â softer, quieter, charged with the memory of last night.
Chaewon stirred awake on the couch, realizing sheâd fallen asleep there after⊠that. Her heart skipped at the thought. Did that really happen?
âMorning,â came a voice from the kitchen.
She sat up quickly, nearly knocking over a cushion. âOhâuh, morning.â
Y/n stood there, hair a mess, wearing the same hoodie from last night. He held two mugs of coffee â and a look that was somewhere between shy and amused.
âYou sleep okay?â he asked, setting one mug down in front of her.
âYeah. I think,â she said, still flustered. âYou?â
âBarely,â he admitted with a small smile. âKept replaying⊠uhânever mind.â
She blushed immediately. âYou mean theââ
âYep,â he interrupted quickly, taking a long sip of his coffee.
They sat in silence for a moment, both pretending to be way too focused on their mugs.
âSo,â she started, trying to sound casual. âThat kissâŠâ
âYeah?â
âIt wasnâtâuhâa roommate thing, right?â she asked carefully.
He chuckled softly, leaning against the counter. âPretty sure roommates donât usually kiss like that.â
âGood,â she said before she could stop herself.
He grinned. âGood?â
âI meanânot good good, just⊠you know what I mean!â she stammered, hiding her face in her hands.
Y/n laughed quietly, setting his coffee down and moving closer. âYouâre cute when youâre flustered
âAnd youâre impossible,â she muttered, but didnât move away when he sat beside her.
âMaybe,â he said with a small smile. âBut now Iâm your impossible.â
She rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a grin. âIf you keep saying things like that, I might actually start liking you.â
âMight?â he teased.
âDonât push it,â she said â but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.
And as they sat there, laughing softly over coffee, the air between them finally felt easy â like love had quietly found its place in the middle of their chaos.
~~~
Three weeks later, Apartment 54 looked⊠lived in. Half-finished canvases leaned against the wall, a pile of guitar picks sat on the coffee table, and there was always music playing â either Chaewonâs humming or Y/nâs soft tapping of a brush against glass.
Theyâd fallen into a rhythm that felt easy and right.
âYouâre using my mug again,â Chaewon said one morning, hands on her hips.
Y/n looked up from the stove, feigning confusion. âYour mug?â
âYes, the blue one with the tiny crack. You said it was cursed!â
âWell,â he said, handing her a plate of pancakes, âguess I wanted to test my luck.â
âUnbelievable,â she muttered â but she smiled as she took the plate.
Later that afternoon, Y/n painted while Chaewon recorded vocals in her small setup. Through the wall, he could hear her laughing at her own mistakes, starting over again and again. It made him smile â the sound of her voice had become the heartbeat of the apartment.
Around sunset, she wandered into his art room, curious as always. âWorking on another masterpiece?â
âMaybe,â he said, brushing a line of gold across the canvas. âWant to see?â
She leaned over â and froze. It was a painting of two mugs sitting side by side on the kitchen counter. Her cursed blue one⊠and his chipped gray one.
âYou painted our mugs?â she asked softly.
He shrugged. âThey looked right together.â
Her heart swelled, caught somewhere between laughter and tears. âYouâre such a sap.â
âYou love it,â he said, smiling.
âYeah,â she admitted quietly. âI really do.â
He reached out, brushing a bit of paint off her cheek. âYouâve got color on you.â
âYou did that on purpose,â she said, narrowing her eyes.
âMaybe,â he teased.
âOh, youâre soââ she lunged for him, smearing a streak of blue across his jaw.
âHey!â he laughed, dodging but failing miserably. In seconds, it turned into a full-blown paint war â laughter echoing through the apartment.
When they finally stopped, breathless and messy, Chaewon looked at him, her voice softer.
âYou know,â she said, âI think this apartment really is perfect now.â
âYeah?â he said, smiling. âWhyâs that?â
âBecause youâre in it.â
He smiled back, eyes warm. âGuess that makes two of us.â
Outside, the evening light bathed the room in gold. Inside, the chaos of paint and laughter felt like home.
~~~~
A few months later, Apartment 54 had changed again.
Not physically â the same canvases lined the walls, the same guitar rested by the couch â but it felt different. There was something unspoken in the air lately, a quiet tension beneath the laughter.
Chaewon sat at the table, scrolling through her emails. Her eyes landed on one from a small music studio â the kind of opportunity sheâd dreamed about. They wanted her to record a demo. In Busan.
âHey,â Y/n said from the other room, breaking her train of thought. âYouâve been quiet all morning.â
âJust⊠reading something,â she replied quickly, closing her laptop.
He walked in, paint still on his hands, curiosity written all over his face. âSomething good?â
âYeah. Maybe. A studio wants me to record a song. But itâs in Busan.â
He smiled, proud. âThatâs amazing, Chaewon!â
âItâs only for a few weeks,â she said carefully. âBut they want me to move there if it goes well.â
His smile faltered, just a little. âOh.â
âYeah.â
Silence settled â heavy and uncertain.
âYou should do it,â Y/n said finally, forcing a smile. âThis is your dream.â
âI know,â she said quietly. âI just⊠didnât think it would come this soon.â
âHey,â he said, stepping closer. âWeâll figure it out. Long distance isnât impossible.â
She looked at him, eyes soft. âYou say that now, but what if it changes everything?â
âThen weâll change together,â he said simply.
Chaewon smiled, but something inside her still twisted.
Later that night, she found Y/n on the balcony, staring out at the city. The sketchbook lay open beside him â but instead of drawing, heâd written something.
âWhatâs that?â she asked.
He closed it quickly, smiling. âNothing. Just⊠thinking again.â
âAbout me leaving?â
âAbout us,â he admitted. âI want you to chase your dream. I just wish it didnât mean chasing you from far away.â
She reached out, taking his paint-stained hand in hers. âYou wonât lose me, Y/n.â
He squeezed her hand gently. âYou promise?â
âI promise.â
The night stretched quiet and still â full of love, fear, and everything in between.
Neither of them said it aloud, but they both knew:
Sometimes the hardest part of loving someone is learning when to let them fly.
~~~~
The day Chaewon left, the apartment felt empty.
Her laughter no longer echoed through the hall, and Y/n found himself pausing mid-brushstroke, expecting to hear her humming from the other room. But there was only silence.
She texted him when she arrived in Busan:
Chaewon: Landed safe. The studioâs smaller than I thought, but it feels right.
Y/n: Good. Donât forget to eat, okay? And send me your new song when you finish it.
Chaewon: Bossy as ever. Miss you already.
He smiled at the screen for longer than heâd admit.
Days passed, and their messages turned into nightly video calls. Sheâd tell him about long recording hours and ramen dinners, and heâd show her the new paintings heâd startedâone of which, she eventually noticed, had her reflection hidden in the background.
âYou painted me again,â she said one night, laughing.
âI keep trying not to,â he said, âbut you sneak in anyway.â
Her smile softened. âYouâre such a sap.â
âYou love it,â he teased, but his voice was quiet, careful.
Weeks turned into a month. Her song began to gain traction online, small but steady, and she started spending more time at the studio. Calls became shorter. Texts took longer to arrive.
One evening, Y/n sat on the balcony with his phone, typing and deleting the same message over and over.
I miss you.
He finally hit send.
It took an hour before her reply came.
Chaewon: I miss you too. Iâm sorry Iâve been busy. Things are getting crazy here.
Y/n: Donât apologize. Youâre doing amazing.
He meant it â but when he looked at the empty couch where she used to sit, the words hurt a little.
A few days later, she sent a voice message instead of a text. Her tone was soft, tired, but warm.
âHey⊠I listened to one of your old recordings today â the one with the guitar near the window. I miss that sound. I miss home. I miss you.â
Y/n closed his eyes, the ache in his chest melting into a quiet smile.
âThen come back soon,â he whispered to himself.
Outside, the night was still â but for the first time in weeks, he picked up his brush again. This time, he painted not just her image⊠but the space between them.
~~~~
The train from Busan to Seoul rattled softly, the hum of the tracks matching the rhythm in Chaewonâs chest. Months had passed since she left â months of new faces, music sessions, and long nights staring at her phone, missing the sound of his voice.
Her song had taken off more than she expected. The studio wanted her full-time now, but the one thing she couldnât stop thinking about wasnât her music.
It was Y/n.
When the train finally stopped, she exhaled a shaky breath and whispered to herself, âHome.â
âž»
The key still fit perfectly in the lock.
Apartment 54 smelled exactly the same â faint coffee, paint, and something that was just him.
âHello?â she called softly.
From the art room, a familiar voice answered. âChaewon?â
He appeared in the doorway, paint still on his hands, looking both stunned and relieved all at once.
âYouâre⊠back,â he said, almost afraid to believe it.
She nodded, smiling nervously. âSurprise.â
For a moment, neither moved. Then he stepped forward, closing the distance. She barely had time to breathe before his arms were around her.
âYou have no idea how much I missed you,â Y/n murmured against her hair.
She laughed softly, clutching him back. âI think I do.â
When they finally pulled apart, his eyes lingered on her face â the tiredness from travel, the sparkle of happiness she tried to hide.
âYou look different,â he said. âHappier.â
âBusan will do that to you,â she teased. âBut⊠I missed this.â
âThe paint smell or me?â
âBoth,â she said, smiling.
âž»
That night, they sat on the balcony again â the same spot where heâd once told her he was falling for her.
âHow was it?â he asked.
âAmazing,â she said honestly. âTerrifying too. But I learned a lot. About music⊠and about what I really want.â
âAnd whatâs that?â he asked softly.
She looked at him, eyes glinting in the city light. âTo keep making music. But not alone.â
He smiled â the kind that reached his eyes this time. âYou meanâŠ?â
âI mean you,â she said simply. âHome didnât feel like home without you in it.â
Y/n took her hand gently, thumb brushing her skin. âThen donât leave again.â
She squeezed his hand. âNot unless you come with me.â
The city below seemed to fade away â just two people, one promise, and the warmth of a love that had quietly waited to be rediscovered.
And for the first time in months, both of them knew:
They were exactly where they were meant to be.
~~~~
A year had passed since the day Chaewon came back to Apartment 54.
The place had changed again â not from new furniture or paint, but from life. From laughter that filled the rooms, from music that blended with the soft scent of acrylics, from the quiet warmth of two hearts that had finally found their rhythm.
Chaewonâs song â the one she wrote during her nights in Busan â had gone viral. She still couldnât quite believe it. Fans sent her messages about how it âfelt like home,â and every time she read one, sheâd glance at Y/n, who always smiled knowingly.
Heâd opened a small art studio downtown. Sometimes, people would stop to ask about the portraits displayed in the window â the girl with the gentle smile, the paint-stained hands, the spark in her eyes.
âThatâs my muse,â heâd say simply.
They still argued â about laundry, about who finished the coffee, about whose turn it was to take out the trash â but those tiny moments had become part of their rhythm. Their chaos. Their love.
One evening, as the golden hour painted the room in soft orange light, Chaewon sat by the window, strumming her guitar.
âWhat are you working on?â Y/n asked, leaning against the doorframe.
âA new song,â she said, smiling. âAbout us.â
âYeah?â he asked, grinning. âShould I be nervous?â
âA little,â she teased. âItâs about a girl who moved into an apartment with a total jerk.â
âAh. Sounds familiar.â
âDonât worry,â she said, eyes twinkling. âHe turns out to be the love of her life.â
He laughed, crossing the room to kiss her forehead. âI like how it ends.â
âMe too.â
She started playing again â soft, steady chords that filled the apartment with warmth.
Y/n picked up his sketchbook, sitting beside her on the floor, drawing while she sang.
Two creators, two dreamers, two hearts that had collided by accident and stayed by choice.
Outside, the city moved on â busy, loud, endless.
But inside Apartment 54, time slowed.
Home wasnât just walls or windows anymore.
It was them.
~~~~
The End!đ„Č
My first Ever Fic!!!! A fluff to start the launch of new writer! Smuts will be written too so donât worry!đ
(Sorry if thereâs any mistakes!!)



















