…

At 6:30 pm sharp, Jaehyun and Yunjin met up in the dorm building you and Taesan both lived in. The two of them were dressed immaculately–even though they were more than likely gonna end up spending the night in Jaehyun’s car, or maybe a trashy club if they got bored. 

“You should knock on her door, I have a key to Taesan’s, so I can just walk in. Text me when you’re heading out, we can’t bump into each other, got it?” Jaehyun spoke in a hushed tone with a dopey grin. He was strangely excited over this. 

Yunjin was exactly the same, eagerly nodding her head as she replied. “Got it. And you made the reservation under both of our names?” 

“Yeah, duh. I’m not stupid.”

“Debatable.” Yunjin raised her eyebrows. 

“You know you love it.”  With one last flirty wink, Jaehyun slid his spare key into Taesan’s lock, twisting the doorknob and stepping inside with an exaggerated ‘HELLOOOO!’. 

He was an idiot, but Yunjin kinda did love it…

She knocked three times, and within twenty seconds, the door swung open. 

“How hot do I look tonight?” You stood in the opening of the door, practically beaming at your own appearance. Something weird was going on, Aphrodite was definitely on your side tonight–good hair day, good makeup day, AND a gorgeous outfit? This was a seriously rare occurrence. 

Yunjin let out a low whistle, looking at you like a hungry lioness. “Damnnnn girl… he’s gonna drop dead.”

“He?” 

She floundered for a second, clearing her throat and continuing. “Um, there's like, a really hot, new waiter there. He’ll love you! Let’s go! No time to waste!” 

Yunjin was always like this, so without a hint of suspicion you grabbed your phone and followed her out. 

…

When Jaehyun bursted into Taesan’s dorm, he almost went blind. 

“OW-! Jaehyun!!” Taesan’s shoulders leaped at the sound of the door combined with Jaehyun’s screeching, nearly poking his eye out with his eyeliner pencil. “Jesus Christ, don't you know how to knock?” 

Jaehyun chortled, flopping down onto Taesan’s couch. “Sorry, forgot you were still pissed at me. And why are you doing makeup in the living room?”

Taesan glanced over from where he was seated–on the floor, at the coffee table with a little stand up mirror. He shrugged his shoulders, mumbling, “Better lighting…” 

He wiped away the unwanted smudges of eyeliner, packing the pencil away into the small pouch on the table, and stood up.

“Okay. Are we leaving now or what?” 

Jaehyun discreetly checked his phone. 

*Yunjin: Just left! We’ll be there soon! 6:36pm 

It was too soon to leave, Jaehyun had to make sure they wouldn't arrive at the same time… 

He winced. “...can you do my eyeliner?” 

The one thing he vowed to never do. And he didn’t refuse a lot of things. 

“For real? Dude, I’ve been telling you for ages, you’d look ten times better.” 

Taesan grabbed the eyeliner, plopping down on the sofa beside Jaehyun. “Look up, I need to get in your waterline.” 

This felt like sleep paralysis to Jaehyun… 

…

You arrived at the restaurant with Yunjin just three minutes early, and before she even sat down, she practically ran off to the bathroom, muttering something about the long car ride and too much Redbull. 

Jaehyun and Taesan arrived four minutes after that, sauntering over to the hostess’ stand. 

“Do you have a reservation?” 

“Yes, it should be under Myung Jaehyun.” 

The hostess smirked, Jaehyun had explained the situation over the phone whilst making the reservation earlier (chronic oversharer). 

“Right this way.” 

They both followed the hostess, Jaehyun already straying away before they got to the table. 

“Yo dude, I gotta use the bathroom, I’ll be quick.” He scurried off like a gremlin, but that was his usual vibe anyways. 

Taesan walked up to the table the hostess led him to–but there was someone already sitting there. A girl. Had they been double booked? 

He spoke up quietly, “Um, excuse me? I think you’re at my table.” 

You turned around, immediately recognising the voice behind you. 

Ohhhh no… Taesan’s eyes widened, he raised his hands like some kind of surrender as he struggled for words. 

Suddenly, both your and his phones buzzed at the same time. Weird. You both looked down. 

Taesan had a notification from Jaehyun. 

*Myung GAE: Sit down. This is for u bro. Thank me later ;) 

Your notification came from Yunjin. 

*Besfren: Surprise!!! Don’t kill me pls!!! :3 

The two of you just looked at each other, Taesan’s face turning impossibly red as he murmured, “I had no idea about this…” 

He turned his phone around, showing Jaehyun’s text. 

“I get it if you don't wanna see me, I can just–” 

You cut him off with a slight smile, “No, it's fine. Sit down.”

Somewhere, in a hidden corner of the restaurant, Jaehyun and Yunjin were celebrating as if they’d just witnessed their favourite k-drama ship finally get together. 

…

The date went surprisingly well for a setup. 

You talked for ages. Taesan told you about his music, you told him about your dancing, and you figured out that both of you were obsessed with horror movies, but could never watch them alone. 

It was shocking how well you actually hit it off, and he stared at you the whole time like he was being hypnotised. 

Desperate. You kinda liked that. But that's a topic for a different day. 

Other than that, he had a weird sense of humour. His actual jokes were god awful, but he was unintentionally funny when he wasn’t trying. You threatened him a good few times–he wouldn’t stop teasing–and that encouraged him further. It was satisfying to see him shut up so fast when you dished it back out to him. 

…

The night ended with the two of you back at the dorms (and with Jaehyun and Yunjin absolutely hammered in the worst club they could find). 

Taesan glanced at you, then at the dorm room doors, then back at you. 

“So…”

“So…?”

He cleared his throat. God, he was awkward. “I had a lot of fun with you tonight. And… you really look amazing.” 

“Yeah, this was great, and thank you.” You replied with a soft smile, stepping closer in the dim light of the hallway. 

The atmosphere was electric between you. His breath stuttered for a moment, and then… 

He bowed. 

Like, full on, ninety degree bow. 

“See you soon!” Taesan chirped before fumbling his door open and rushing into his dorm. 

You stood in slight shock for a second, then let out a hopeless laugh before entering your own dorm. It was kinda sick that you found that endearing. 

…

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A/N: So... did yall forget about me yet... for the longest time I could not think how how to write this chapter. u can literally see the timestamps skip from April to now goodbye </3 its currently gcse season (uk oomfs pray for me) so I won't be active (saying this as if ive been active in the past almost month and a half 🫪) but once my exams are over, IM FREE!!!!! I also got tickets to see Ateez in London and I feel like bragging x BUT ANYWAYSS if ur still tuning in for updates despite my AWFUL disappearing habits, ilysm and thank you for supporting me!! 🥹

A chipper voice interrupts your thoughts as you head to the ‘Employees only' section of the store. “Hi there, are you the new hire?” You turn around to see a woman who looks oddly happy, considering it was only nine a.m. 

“Yes, that’s me.” Your reply is polite, but not quite as enthusiastic as the woman across from you. 

She smiles brighter, ushering you further beyond the countless aisles of pet supplies that you assumed were for restocking, “Lovely, my name’s Penny, and I’m the supervisor for this store, so I’ll do what I can to help you settle in here. Of course, I am pretty busy too, I only have a short amount of time to talk, but I’ll set you up with one of our other employees, they can show you the ropes around here.” 

There’s a clipboard sitting on a nearby shelf that she quickly grabs as she continues whisking you through the employee warehouse, she glances down at the page attached to the clipboard, “Y/N, is it?” 

You nod your head, your lips parting to speak, but she cuts you off before you get the chance, extending her arm for a handshake. 

“Nice to meet you, Y/N. I’m sure you’ll have no problem settling in here, we’re all pretty close; like a work family!” 

Her handshake is very firm, unexpected. You wonder just how true that ‘work family’ statement is. 

“It’s nice to meet you too, I’m really grateful for this opportunity.” A warm smile decorates your face. 

Penny flips through another few sheets of paper attached to her clipboard, her eyes scanning each page at a record speed. You assume she drinks a lot of coffee. 

“I’ll get Leehan to show you around, he’s quite a character, but you’ll get used to him. I’d do it myself, only I have a meeting to attend, so I gotta bounce. I might be free to check in later, just to see how you’re getting on. Leehan should be here any minute now. He’s quite smart, so you may end up being lectured on a species of fish you never even knew existed!” Her eyes sparkle with excitement and her words are almost incoherently fast paced. She has to be the bubbliest supervisor you’ve ever had, but you definitely weren’t complaining, it was nice to be welcomed so fervently. 

No one notices him when he appears. 

“I’m showing the new hire around?” He asks flatly, eyes glancing briefly over to you before jumping back to Penny. His gaze felt threatening and welcoming all at once. 

Penny flinches, obviously just as oblivious to the man’s appearance as you had been a few seconds ago. “Oh, there you are! This is Y/N, and yes, you’re helping her out.”

It’s not difficult to piece together that this was the ‘Leehan’ guy she was just talking about. 

You give him a friendly smile, expecting one back as some sort of greeting from the person you’d probably be spending most of your day with, but all you get in return is the same blank expression he had before. 

He didn’t seem rude, despite his slight ignorance, there was a softness behind his eyes that gave away an illusion of something kind. His eyes were pretty, but you weren’t sure if thinking about that was an HR violation or not…

“Alright, well, I’ll leave you guys to it then. Leehan, go easy on the aquarium section, it's a welcome tour, not a marine biology class.” With that, Penny leaves the two of you alone together. 

There’s an awkward silence that lingers for a few moments, you decide to break it, clearing your throat and speaking up, “So…Leehan, right? I’m assuming you know a lot about fish, from what Penny told me.”

“Yeah, I do.” Leehan’s reply is short, although the way his eyes light up at the mention of one of his interests is impossible to miss. 

He doesn’t seem shy or anything, but you assume you’re going to have to be the one to keep this conversation going. “Do you have a favourite kind of fish?” 

The floodgates were now opened. 

“My favourite kind of fish are corydoras, have you heard of them? I have a couple of my own, they’re a type of catfish, but there are many different species of corydoras. They can actually breathe air too, and they help keep the tank clean.” There’s something profound about how he speaks, even if all he’s doing is spilling a few fun facts about fish. He’s not embarrassed by his rambling, either. He seems unapologetic about his knowledge, which you had to admit was pretty charming. 

“They sound pretty cool, are there any in this store?” Another friendly smile spreads across your face, and this time it’s reciprocated. 

“No, we don't have any.” He sighs quietly, “On the topic, I guess I should show you around.”

He leads you over to the aquarium section of the store, pointing out the different kinds of fish and spewing all kinds of useless yet endearing facts. 

“These guys stay pretty small, they only grow up to an inch and a half, but they can live for a long time in the right conditions.” Leehan watches a little school of neon tetras swimming around a tank, looking over to see if you’re also watching them. 

He realises that he should probably speed up a little bit, since he hadn’t even showed you around one section of the store due to his info-dumping on pet fish. He leads you through a couple aisles, shelves filled with decorations, food, water filters and tanks, all neatly organised and displayed nicely. You’d noticed that this part seems particularly nice. It wasn’t that the rest of the store was messy, but the fish section seemed especially looked after. 

It’s like he can read your mind when he sees your eyes trailing the shelves, speaking up in that almost monotone voice, “I’m kinda in charge of this section. I know more about fish than anyone else who works here, so they just let me do my thing and take care of it.” 

“That’s nice. You do a good job at it, this is all really organised.” You respond, almost fondly.

“Thank you, I always put the things that are the best for the health of the fish to the front. Some things are more dangerous for them than people realise. See that plant?” He points to a fake plant made of plastic, “It looks pretty, sure, but their fins can get caught on that part very easily.” 

He steps closer to the shelf, shifting the plant to the back. “These ones are better. There’s nowhere for them to get caught, and it can be entertaining for them to swim through.” A small, satisfied smile crosses his features, like he’s proud of himself. It’s adorable. 

“You really do know a lot about fish, Leehan.” 

“They’re interesting creatures, and there’s so many different kinds to learn about.” 

Another smile pulls at your lips. You follow him throughout the rest of the store; the puppy care section, aisles upon aisles full of pet beds, giant bags of food stacked on shelves. It was a pretty great petstore, with everything a furry (or scaly) friend could ever need. 

He brought you to the cashier’s desk, showing you how the till works, his hands typing in numbers, opening drawers, and counting change, and… and…

“Are you listening?” His voice pulls you out of your trance. 

You blink a few times, your eyes widening slightly. “Oh- yes, yeah. I’m listening. Numbers there, change there, I got it.” 

Leehan smiles, a soft, barely there laugh escaping his lips. 

“Okay. That’s pretty much it, then. I can help you with anything else later if you need. I’ll probably hang around the fish section, no surprises there.” 

You give him a friendly nod, matching his smile. “Thanks, Leehan.” 

“No biggie.” 

—---

Lunch came quicker than you realised, a day of serving customers and stocking shelves passing by like lightning. The only problem was that you weren’t exactly sure what to do at lunch…

You assumed that you’d get a break, but were you supposed to bring something? You didn't pack anything. Maybe you could go out somewhere. 

The safest bet was to ask someone, so your feet quickly carried you over to the fish tanks. 

Leehan stood there, watching a tank of guppies circle in the water, his head turning at the sound of your footsteps. “Oh, hey Y/n. Did you need something?” 

“Um, yeah, actually. What’s the deal with the lunch breaks here? Like, are we supposed to bring our own food, or-...” You trail off, biting the inside of your cheek. 

“Well, you can bring your own if you want, but most of us just hit up the cafe or something. What time are you thinking of taking your break?” 

“I was thinking, like, now? Maybe?”

He looks down at his watch. One pm. “That’s fine, I guess I could take mine now too, wanna go to the cafe?” 

A gentle warmth floods your cheeks. This ridiculously handsome coworker of yours was asking you to the cafe with him. But it wasn’t a date. It couldn’t be. You met him this morning, there’s no way it was a date. 

“Sounds good!” You chirp back, despite your internal conflict. 

—----- 

That was how you found yourself falling into a comfortable routine of hitting the local cafe with your new workmate, Leehan, each day. 

You quickly bonded, picking up shifts when the other couldn’t, taking turns to pay for lunch when paychecks didn’t come soon enough. It made working bearable, unlike any other job you had before. 

It was now two weeks into your new employment, you and Leehan were hanging out in the staff breakroom for a short break while the store was out of its rush hour. 

“So, Y/n,” Leehan began, “You like sushi?” 

“Uhm, yeah… why do you ask?” 

“Well, this new sushi place just opened downtown, I was thinking of trying it out tonight, just wanted to know if you’d wanna join me?” 

Is he… asking you out? Like- for real?! 

This wasn’t a quick lunch trip to the cafe, or a walk to the convenience store, this was real dinner plans. Holy shit, Kim Leehan was asking you on a date!

“Yeah, I’d like that. I can be there at seven pm.” 

“Nonsense. I’ll pick you up at six thirty.” He smirked in a way that had your heart doing somersaults in your chest. 

Collecting yourself, you force out a “Thank you,” past the impending urge to giggle and kick your feet and start writing ‘Y/n Kim’ in hearts all over a notebook. 

—---- 

It was now six fifteen, and you were all ready for your date; simple makeup, dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans with a white tank top and a light blue cardigan, your hair was pulled back into a twist, secured with a fish shaped claw clip that you thought was perfect for the occasion. 

You sat down on the couch, scrolling on your phone to pass the time, and shortly after, there was a knock at your door. 

Although you felt like sprinting, you calmly walked over to the front door, taking a deep breath to calm yourself before opening it. 

Leehan stood there like a prince in a fairytale, his hair looking like it had been meticulously styled by a gentle breeze, his eyes deep pools of honey brown, his–

You were staring. REALLY staring. Almost creepily. 

“H- hi, Leehan.” You pulled yourself out of the Leehan-induced trance, plastering a smile on your face. 

“Hey, are you ready to go?” He smirked as if you weren’t just gawking at him like a trout fish.

You nodded, “Mhm.” And with that, you locked the door behind you and followed him to his car, a cool silver model of a car that you knew nothing about. Cars never interested you, but this one does. Mostly because of the boy driving it. No, completely because of the boy driving it. 

The radio hummed a soft tune, one you didn’t recognise, but he paused it, handing you his phone. 

“Here,” You took the phone from his hand, his eyes stayed on the road, “You can play whatever you want, I’m hooked up to the bluetooth.” 

“Oh, thanks.” 

Your eyes glanced down at the phone now in your hand. This was a huge decision. Pick something cool–but not something that shows you're trying too hard, but it also has to be niche so he doesn’t think you’re one of those mainstream losers, even though you kind of were…

You settled on picking something from one of his existing playlists, just to play it safe. 

The song started, and he immediately recognised it, but he didn’t comment, he just smiled as he drove through the streets leading to the sushi restaurant. 

—----

Inside the restaurant was bustling with people, warm overhead lights painting everything in a golden hue. You and Leehan were seated quickly, despite how busy it already was, and you placed your orders. 

“So, I heard that Penny was thinking of shortening shift lengths, since we’ve gained a few extra staff members.” Leehan spoke before taking a sip of his water. 

You tilted your head, “Oh really? I didn’t know about that. Does that mean less time at work?”

“Yeah, which is normally a good thing, but I actually love being at work.”

“Me too. Working with you is a lot better than any of the other jobs I’ve had before.” You drop a subtle hint. Does this count as flirting? 

“I agree. Working with you is great, Y/n. I guess we’ll just have to go out like this more often to make up for the lost time.” He punctuates his sentence with a slight smirk, which makes you think he has the same impression you do. 

A faint blush creeps its way onto your cheeks as you reply, “I’d love that.” 

A few minutes later, your food is delivered, a few plates of different kinds of sushi; the two of you wanted to try as many different things as possible. 

Upon taking his first bite, Leehan’s eyes widen, his chopsticks almost slipping from his fingers as he speaks with a mouthful of sushi; thankfully covering it with his hand. 

“This is so good! You have to try some of this Y/n, here-” 

His chopsticks grab onto one of the pieces on his plate as he leans over the table, one hand under your chin as he brings the sushi to your lips. 

You swear your heart stops at that moment. 

He’s not wrong, the sushi is amazing, but tasty fish doesn't make your stomach flip the way he just did. 

“Wow, yeah, that-... that’s really good!” You’re flustered beyond your own comprehension, taking a drink of water in a feeble attempt at calming the blood rushing to your face. 

“Let’s go back here someday. I’m not even finished yet and I already miss this food. We should make it a thing, weekly dinners since work is gonna be shorter.” 

This couldn't be real. He was asking you out on weekly dates!

“That sound’s great.” 

“Yeah, I’m glad I have someone to hang out with, you’re a great friend, Y/n.” 

Friend. 

You almost choke on your sushi, forcing a natural expression. “You too, Leehan. Great friend.” 

Something within you churns at the word ‘friend’. 

—---

So… It turns out that your super gorgeous coworker wasn’t asking you out on dates, you were just delusional. 

Then again, what were you supposed to think? He picked you up, fed you sushi, paid for your meal, complimented you, walked you to the door afterwards… If that wasn’t a date, what was? 

And that’s not to mention the constant subtle flirting; which had actually increased since that night at dinner. He was always making these little comments that made your heart flutter and your stomach fill with butterflies. 

Surely that wasn’t just friendliness. He had to know what he was doing. 

He was either dreadfully oblivious, or he was leading you on.

For your own sanity, you decided on the first option. 

—---

Another day of work came around, which meant another day of crushing on the stupid fish boy you work with. He was tending to the aquariums; feeding the fish along with helping anyone who approached him. You were at the cashiers desk, ringing up the fifth hamster to be sold this week to a young girl and her father. 

The hamster was currently trying to eat itself out of its carrier box, but the little girl didn’t seem to mind as she stared through the ventilation holes at the little creature. 

You rang up their new pet, put the cash in the register and wished them a good day as they headed out of the store. 

The next customer caught you off guard, a familiar voice catching your attention. 

“Hey, thought I’d stock up on fish food while I remembered.” 

Leehan stood there in front of you with an easygoing smile, setting a couple containers of fish food on the counter. 

You laugh softly, beginning to scan his items. “That’s gonna be 11,000 won, please.”

He hands over his money, and you place it in the cash register, but he lingers for another moment.

“So… Do you have plans tonight?”

You glance at the date on your phone. February 14th. Is this his weird way of mocking you?

“No, I don’t. You?”

“Neither. Let’s do something together, maybe try a new restaurant or something.” His unbotheredness is enraging.  

Your posture stiffens slightly as you respond, “You want to go out tonight? With me?” 

“Uhm, yeah…?” 

“Fine,” You sigh, “Let’s go out. I’ve got nothing better to do anyway.” 

Leehan lets out a quiet little laugh, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips and crinkling the corners of his eyes as he begins to walk away, a cheery voice echoing behind him. 

“Thank you Y/nie~!”

—----

You dressed extra nice tonight, even though you were ninety percent sure this wasn’t supposed to be a Valentine’s date. It made you feel like an idiot; you knew he didn’t like you in the same way, but you were clinging to the foolish hope that maybe he was just as nervous as you were, maybe his heart got fast and palms got sweaty every time he saw you. 

You shook those thoughts out of your head and flopped down onto the couch to wait for him–just as you would any other time. 

There was a knock at your door not long after, you got up to answer it, and there he stood, with his hands behind his back…?

No greetings, he immediately grinned brightly, his voice excited. 

“I got you something.” 

You looked at him, a little confused, “You… got me something? What is it?”

Leehan brings his arms out from behind his back, holding out two small and impossibly cute fish plushies, one blue one and one pink one. 

“They’re matching, see? This one’s you, and this one’s me!” He handed the pink one out to you, his fingers brushing yours as you took it from him. 

The plushie was just as soft as it looked. You gazed down at it with a small smile. 

“Thanks, Leehan. It’s adorable.” 

“I know! They’re clownfish!” He beamed as he grabbed one of your hands, basically dragging you from your doorstep and to his car. 

It was getting harder and harder to convince yourself to give up on this silly crush. 

—---- 

The two of you sat there in the restaurant, you picked at your food while Leehan droned on about all his ‘interesting’ fish facts. You were trying to enjoy yourself and ignore your feelings, but it was difficult when just looking at him had a weird mixture of excitement and disappointment clawing at your chest. 

He talked some more, but you were no longer listening.

It was a little ridiculous, and you were honestly sick of the mixed signals, so you broke. 

“Leehan, you’re confusing me.”

His eyebrows furrowed slightly at your vaguely dispirited tone. 

“Oh, well, these ones are freshwater, not salt, that might be where you’re getting mixed up–”

“It’s not about the fish.” You cut him off. “It’s about… this. Whatever this is.” 

Leehan stared over at you, silent, with a confused and almost dejected look. 

“I mean, it might just be wishful thinking on my part, but I keep feeling like… like maybe you like me, because I like you, and it feels like you’re either playing with my feelings on purpose, or you don’t even realise what you’re doing. I just-... I can’t take the mixed signals anymore, I’m sorry. Please just tell me what’s going on here before I drive myself even more insane over it.” 

You feel like you could throw up with anxiety, your heart in your throat as you wait for his response as you avoid his gaze.

“Y/n, you-... you like me?” He questions, but you don’t answer. 

Leehan bites down on the corner of his lip, his mind running through the words that were about to come out of his mouth. 

“I had no idea you felt like that… I’m really sorry if you felt like I’ve been playing with you or something, that wasn’t my intention. I guess I’ve never thought of this as anything more than a friendship.” 

You let out a wry scoff, shaking your head slightly and already accepting the fact that you just ruined everything. 

Until he starts again. 

“But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want it to be more” 

You finally meet his eyes, both of your hearts beating so fast they might explode. 

“I like you too, I just assumed you wouldn’t feel the same since I act so… friendly, I guess.”

“Friendly?” You scoff again, “The flirting? The unspoken dates? The plushie? That’s-...That’s friendly to you?” 

“Well… yeah?” 

It takes a good amount of self control to not just outright laugh at how oblivious he is. All this time, he’s felt the same. The worst part is that he thought he was hiding it exceptionally well. 

“I can’t believe you think that’s how friends act. I thought you were trying to be like-... some kinda playboy or something, leading me on for the fun of it.” You run a hand through your hair, an exasperated laugh passing through your lips. 

Leehan just looks dumbfounded, his eyebrows still raised in surprise. “I thought I was pretty good at hiding my crush on you… And ‘playboy’? For real? I’m a fish nerd, I don't think I'm capable of being a playboy.” 

“Well you sure seemed like it.” 

A comfortable silence fell between the two of you for a few moments, then he spoke again. 

“Wanna be my Valentine then?” 

Instantly, a smile paints your face and you almost let a giddy giggle slip out. 

“Sure, I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine?” 

“Okay, deal.” 

You smirk, tilting your head. “So it's settled, Valentine’s.” 

“For now.” He winks, and you really can't decide if it's more dorky and adorable, or attractive. 

—----

Time passed quickly, and after less than a week, you two made it official. You spent the majority of your time together, whether that was at work or hanging out in each other’s apartment, which then obviously led to you becoming a part time fish parent and having to memorise the names of over fifteen fish. He was a little strange, and his oceanic fixation was annoying at times, but he was yours, and you wouldn't trade that for anything.

📮 Delivery complete.

Thank you for choosing GirlNextDoor post office special valentines delivery services — we hope this letter reached you safely and warmly. Your envelope has been stamped, sealed, and filed with care.

~ Leehan's letter has been safely delivered.

previous delivery sent: Han Taesan - @haeonniie

next delivery scheduled: Love Letters - @myungmyng, @haeonniie, @chocosan44 (posted by May)

combined perm!taglist: @waldorfiles @twaesns @aphantassia @started-with-f-ends-with-uck @kaiseen @ivehan @enzstr @ziziforsan @kyunari @marianaconta123 @robloxianneya @beomtomie @kawieiichan @nanadreamies @mukieissukie @sese-blurbs @leehanaholic @izzyreadsstuff @wiihan @w3willris3 @gentiliana @j-jellyous @verseofmin @toastmenace @vivimxuu @enhypenlvrsstuff @mofuhyun @kkeomchiz @jih00nlover @yumimeimi @haru-reto

☆☆☆☆☆

The little bell above the door jingled as you entered Checkerboard Diner, dressed in your most appropriate outfit with your hair pulled back; you wanted to make a good impression. This job would be your saviour--you'll hopefully make enough to buy some new AirPods so that you don't have to listen to the agitating racket from the asshole living next to you. It was only 9 am, so the diner wouldn't be open for another half hour yet, but you liked to be early, it was more professional.

Your nerves and excitement quickly turned into confusion though, there was someone else here, wiping down a table, and it definitely was not sweet Mr Lee who interviewed you yesterday and decided to give you the job on the spot...

"Oh, hello. You must be the new hire," a guy just about your age stood up straight, a gentle smile on his face. His voice was soft and almost shy sounding.

Your eyes trailed over him. He was tall with long-ish, pretty hair that was styled in a way that looked perfectly effortless. His outfit was only a simple black t-shirt, paired with some baggy jeans, but somehow it still looked captivatingly stylish on him.

"Yeah, it's my first day, I thought I'd come early, y'know, didn't wanna risk being late or anything," You reciprocate his friendly smile, stepping further into the diner. The interior was beautiful. It was dimly lit with warm tones and a retro vibe, like something straight from an old movie.

He nods politely, "Well, I'm Anton, my dad's the owner, I'm assuming you met him yesterday. We're glad to have some extra staff now, we just moved here so it might be good for someone local to teach us how this place works."

Despite his initially reserved demeanour, you and Anton bonded quickly. You found out that he was the same age as you and taking a gap year before university, and that he played bass guitar in a garage band in his home town. He showed you one of their tracks, it was soft, mellow, and it was one thousand times better than the garbage your neighbour makes...

☆☆☆☆☆

All the guys, except Woonhak of course, met up on campus. Taesan angrily stalked toward Jaehyun, who was tauntingly waving a black eyeliner pencil in his direction.

"Gimme that, idiot..." He snatches the pencil out of Jaehyun's grasp, the others chuckling quietly in response to their friend's dramatic reaction.

He opened the front camera on his phone, messily applying the eyeliner just like he always does; lining his waterline and adding a little around the outer corners of his eyes before smudging it out with his finger.

The five of them exited the campus and made their way to the little town that was barely a block away, collecting Woonhak from the bus stop as they began to head to Checkerboard Diner--Taesan's personal request.

"How did you even find out about this place?" Sungho questions, lightly nudging Taesan in the arm, he seemed to be deep in thought.

"Yeah, don't you eat, like, strictly takeout and instant ramen?" Riwoo adds, grinning like a sly fox.

Taesan looks at both of them, his expression one of what almost looks like anticipation, "I dunno, just saw it online and thought it looked cool I guess."

The guys exchange looks. There's something off about him today, but they know that if they ask him what's up, he'll either brush it off and say 'nothing' or he'll bite their heads off.

They eventually make it to the diner, seating themselves at a booth in the corner.

Taesan's knee was bouncing under the table, but he didn't notice, he was too busy looking around, and he was looking for something in particular...

"Where the hell are the waiters in this place? It's been like five whole minutes," Woonhak whines like a child, leaning against Jaehyun's arm beside him.

Just then, there's a soft laugh coming from the kitchen, immediately catching Taesan's attention.

He looks over, and there you are, hair pulled back in a way that shows off your gorgeous face, the warm lights of the diner making you glow and the smile on your face doing serious damage to his sanity.

Then out walks Anton from the kitchen, playfully swatting you with a cloth.

It's like time stands still around Taesan. This was a dumb idea. Why would he come here? What did he expect? He got his hopes up and let himself believe his stupid, stupid delusions.

He lets out a heavy sigh, slumping into the leather diner seat, mumbling something unintelligible.

Jaehyun notices his friend's deflation, and it immediately seems weird, considering how high strung he'd been acting all day. He follows Taesan's gaze over to the kitchen area, where you and Anton were play fighting with dishcloths, and he immediately recognises your face from all those twitter posts he's seen Taesan commenting on.

"Oh shit..." Jaehyun practically whispers, nudging Taesan and speaking lowly, "Is that-...?" He doesn't finish, but it's easy to guess what he means.

Taesan bites down on the inside of his cheek, nodding and muttering a response, "Yeah, it's... yeah." What the hell is wrong with him? He was more angry at himself than anything. He knew he wasn't the most... likeable person, so to even assume that he'd have a chance with you was bizarre. Stupid.

Jaehyun lets out a quiet, sympathetic hiss, placing a hand on his moping friends shoulder, "Damn, that's rough bro..."

Taesan just shakes him off, folding forward and leaning his head against the table.

Anton approaches their table with a small notepad in his hand, a lingering grin on his face from play fighting with you, "Hey guys, what can I get you?"

He receives a couple strange looks from the group, since they all just witnessed their friend experience an ego death by seeing Anton laughing so comfortably with you, but the silence doesn't last for long, Woonhak breaks it, ordering half the damn menu for himself. The rest of them take turns ordering, then it gets to Taesan.

"Do y'all serve alcohol?" He all but groans, head still on the table.

"Uhh, not until five pm, sorry..." Anton looks down at him skeptically.

Taesan finally sits up, refusing to look at Anton, his eyes fixed somewhere random, "Then I'll just get fries and a milkshake," He grumbles, handing the menu over.

This day was a major fail.

He arrived back on campus that evening after sadly eating his feelings in fries and milkshakes and being dragged around a pet store by Leehan for what felt like hours, and immediately flopped onto his bed, putting his headphones on to drown out any thought that dared to cross his mind. He hadn't used his headphones in a long time, but he didn't wanna bother you by blasting his music like he usually does. You couldn't help but notice how quiet your dorm was when you got back, you just assumed he was out or something, not that he was consciously trying not to disturb you anymore.

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A/N: IM SORRY THIS CHAPTER IS KINDA SADDD 💔💔💔 My boy Taesan is going thru it rn... I know how cliche and overdone this trope is but im such a sucker for a cliche homewrecking plot...

Park Sungho... virgo venus.

contains: established relationship, fluff, acts of service, mention of sickness, husband material Sungho... wc: 383.

Sungho was naturally neat and tidy. He likes minimalism, clean spaces and calmness. His love was no different. Although it was fairly quiet, you were spoiled in a way that didn't need huge romantic gestures or dramatic declarations. He loved by showing up. By listening to your voice as you talk for hours, entranced by your hidden intelligence. By practicality and diluting your delusions with his logical thinking.

You had no responsibilities when Sungho was around, the servant nature of his sign showed itself with no shame. There was never a task left undone. He never outright volunteered, but coincidentally, the household chores you constantly complained about always ended up done without you even lifting a finger.

You walked through the door to your shared apartment, taking off your shoes at the door, as per his request. The faint smell of cleaning sprays wafted from the kitchen, where you walked in to see your boyfriend standing there with a rag tossed over his shoulder and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, "Sungho, you really didn't have to..." You shook your head, a fond smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.

"It's nothing, it needed done anyways, and you know I clean better." He crossed over to you, his own smile beginning to grow.

You didn't ask him to do this. You never had to. He remembered every little thing you've ever told him--and that includes your whining over how hard it is to clean an oven.

Sungho's love was stable, reliable, and unique. Full of thought and careful organisation. Even though he seemed nit-picky and critical over the stupidest things, all he wanted was for you to live to your fullest potential.

"You shouldn't use your phone before bed, love. It's bad for your eyes." He set down his own book and shifted closer to you under the blankets.

He worried about you constantly, especially your health, which makes your sick days even more adorable, because he is straight away spawning at your side of the bed with a cup of hot ginger tea and his grandmothers broth recipe.

"Eat up, it's good for you."

He was your perfect little perfectionist, and your life would be a hell of a lot more taxing if he wasn't in it.

Lee Sanghyuk... scorpio venus.

contains: confession, one sided pining-to-relationship, jealousy, possessive riwoo, drama queen riwoo, he's also a little bit creepy at the beginning but trust its cause he's shy... wc: 525.

Sanghyuk barely spoke to you before you got together; he barely even breathed in your presence. But his eyes watched you, betraying the deep infatuation that was starting to rise to the surface.

You had always known each other through mutual friends, and you knew just how funny he could be when he was around the right people--you just assumed you weren't one of them. In reality, he was harbouring a dark secret. A buried, aching hunger that had been devouring him whole since the first day he met you.

It wasn't hard to notice that everywhere you went, he was always close by, eyes flickering over to where you were as if he was surveilling you. Most people would find it creepy, you found it intriguing.

Sanghyuk, however, found it all consuming. His mind had been plagued of constant replay reels of your beautiful smile, of the way your hair shone when the sunlight hit it, of you. 'Down bad' was a gross understatement for the way he felt about you.

One day, you had scheduled to hangout with a few of your friends, and he tagged along, of course. Anytime he was around, there was something mysterious and unspoken in the air surrounding you. It was addicting.

When your friends had gone their separate ways, leaving you and Sanghyuk waiting at the bus stop, you couldn't help yourself anymore, your voice steady and lowered just a little.

"Sanghyuk. Do you like me?"

He manages to keep a natural expression, but the tension in his shoulders gives his true thoughts away, "Why are you asking...?"

"Because every time I see you, you're staring. Every time we're around each other, it feels like I'm just waiting for something to happen."

He'd avoided this for so long, this was the most hidden part of him. But the outcome might just be worth the risk...

"Well... not exactly..." His voice is quiet and a tiny hint shaky, confusion flooding through you before he begins again, "...I don't just like you. I'm obsessed with you. And it's eating me alive."

He was dramatic, and you loved every bit of it. He'd almost choke at the mere thought of you even glancing at another guy. He'd test you, and sulk if you didn't answer correctly.

"Who was that guy texting you last night?" He asks with a completely straight face, even though he knows damn well that there was no guys texting you at all.

You let out a playful scoff, sarcasm dripping from your voice as you reply, "Oh, just one of my other five boyfriends..."

Your joke backfired, because he slept with his back turned to you the whole night after that as you giggled to yourself, muffled in the sheets.

Sanghyuk was a lot to deal with; easily jealous, possessive, kept your relationship a secret, but it was more than worth it. He was also the most passionate person you'd ever seen, and his love wasn't just attraction, it was a soul-merging tie. Loving him feels like loving a wild cat that just wants to devour you (in the softest, most delicately loving way).

Myung Jaehyun... capricorn venus.

contains: established relationship, fluff, workaholic mj, a couple tiny moments where I nerded out on astrology talk... wc: 540.

It was a rare occurrence for anyone to see Jaehyun being serious. He was the bubbliest, friendliest, most outgoing person in the universe, but when it comes to your relationship, a whole other side of him emerges to the surface. Capricorn rules over the bones and the skeletal system, and that's exactly what he was to you; the support frames that held you up, the steadiness that kept you together.

He loved you with every bone in his body. His sign won't just let him love you in a casual way, no, his natural drive makes him work extra hard to make you feel how loved you are, how much he appreciates you. He rarely said it out loud, and preferred to show it through actions, but when he did say it, it was thought out and sincere.

"Love you with every bone in my body..." he mumbles quietly, head resting on your chest as the two of you lounge on the couch, "Even those stupid little tiny ones inside your ears or something..."

"You mean ossicles, Jae...?'

"Yeah, yeah... popsicles or whatever..." He trails off. You let out a breathy laugh, and as soon as your fingers begin to card through his hair, he's already fast asleep.

Jaehyun's love was classic, straight out of an old fashioned film. He held some traditional values, he believed in protecting you, and supporting you, and being your rock. Your family adored him, your friends were jealous that you'd managed to find 'one of the good ones'. You knew just how lucky you were, because he never failed to prove it to you.

It wasn't always smooth sailing, though. He often got caught up in work and had the most hectic schedule, but he never let you down or failed to make it up to you; like the time he bought you a whole new outfit, a new plushie, and took you to your favourite restaurant just because his schedule happened to be busier that week.

Without a doubt, his love languages were mostly acts of service, gifts, and quality time. He took love very seriously, and you never one felt unappreciated by him. He always made sure you knew your worth, whether that was by spending a ridiculous amount of hard earned money on gifts for you "just because", or spending every waking moment attached to your side.

He was drowning in work all day, but he still dragged himself away from his desk and out into the living room, sinking down beside you on the couch with his laptop on his knee. Even if the two of you were just sitting next to each other, in silence while he worked, you made his head clearer with just the sound of your breathing.

Jaehyun was in it for the long run. This wasn't just a fling. He had goals and aspirations for you both--he wanted a future with you, and trust that he had a plan for your future wedding by the second date.

He was warm and comforting without being overwhelming, and it took some time for him to show you what it truly felt like to be loved by him, but once he did, you could never turn back.

Han Taesan... cancer venus.

contains: friends to lovers, yearner Taesan, more astrology nerd talk, dramatic confession, slight crying, very cheesy ending (can you all tell I'm obsessed with down bad Taesan...) wc: 939. (guess my bias hard edition)

Cancer was represented by the crab, and that describes Taesan perfectly. A hard, protective outer shell; he puts on a front to guard the true softness his heart bears. He's sensitive, deep down, but relies on his claws and crabbiness to avoid getting hurt.

Ruled by the moon, his cancer venus made the time you spent with him feel like evening walks on the beach, the refreshing breeze and quiet adoration from the boy beside you setting off fireworks in your heart.

He couldn't tell you that you were all he thought about. He couldn't send you the playlist he made that was full of songs that reminded him of you. He couldn't tell you he loved you, because he was convinced you saw him as only a friend.

But the truth was, the line between 'friends' and something more had been long erased by the two of you.

With his venus sign being the 'mother sign' of the zodiacs, he was nurturing and caring--the absolute opposite of how he'd act around anyone else. He cared more than he ever showed, and it was impossible not to notice.

He helped you decorate your room when you two became roommates, he cooked food for you, he bought blankets and cushions for his couch so you'd be comfy (and because he was in dire need of redecorating before you moved in), he'd jump at any excuse to take care of you--learning how to braid your hair, taking off your makeup on the nights you came home from work tired and fell asleep on the couch...

Even with all his efforts, he never expected anything from you in return, but that doesn't mean he didn't want it. He'd spend endless nights writing the words he couldn't say into songs he didn't show anyone and poems that only made sense to him. Underneath his mask, he wanted to be loved, and he wanted it badly; nothing had to change between the two of you, but he hated the way he couldn't stop worrying that he was being overbearing and clingy.

For a relatively quiet person, his thoughts were loud and messy, especially when it came to you. Eventually, he decided to try sort that out.

He walked up to your bedroom door with his heart in his throat as his knuckles grazed the wood in two soft knocks.

"Yeah, come in!" you yelled from your bed, closing your laptop and sitting up. It was instantly clear that there was something wrong with him. "...you okay?"

His footsteps barely made a sound as he walked over to your bed, his posture stiff and a worrisome expression on his face, "Yeah, I just-..." he trails off, swallowing hard, "I need to tell you something."

"Tell me what?"

His jaw tensed as he chewed on his bottom lip, thinking over what he was finally about to confess. "I really like you. Like, not just as a friend. Its-... I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear from me, and I really, really don't want this to ruin what we already have... and now Im kind of realising that I should've just kept this in like I have been, but its too late to stop now so..." His gaze drops down to his own lap, eyes squeezing shut as if he was bracing himself for something as he continues. "I'm really sorry, I tried to make it go away, but it's just-... theres always this feeling in my chest, gnawing at me to tell you all of this. I understand if you don't wanna be friends anymore, or whatever, just please don't cut me off completely, I still wanna-"

"Taesan," You have to cut him off, he's rambling with the shakiest, quietest voice you'd ever heard from him, and when he looks up at you, you can see the tiny glint of tears in his eyes.

He didn't ever cry. He hated the thought of making someone else upset because of his own emotions, so he never expressed them in overly dramatic ways, but you always noticed all the little hints.

His bottom lip is caught between his teeth again as he waits for you to say something else, clearly not trusting his own vocal cords right now.

"I'm really glad you said something, Taesan. I felt something shift between us a while ago, but I know you don't really like talking about this stuff so I didn't mention it," you moved closer to him, "I like you too, but I guess I didn't want things to change either. How about we just... don't change or label anything yet, but also stop hiding?"

His whole body visibly relaxed, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he finally moved even closer, melting into you as his arms wrapped around you, his face tucked away in the crook of your neck, "Yeah, I'd like that."

The passing weeks after that were exciting and buzzing with the most addictive type of tension. Both of you had been acting like giddy teenagers, blushing and subtly flirting without the fear of making the other person uncomfortable.

You and Taesan had walked up to the rooftop of your apartment building, looking out over the city before laying down on an old blanket you brought up, the full moon's light making everything glow.

"The moon looks so beautiful tonight," you gaze wistfully up at the sky, the bright orb glaring black down at you.

He turns his head, eyes trailing across the side of your face like he was looking at a work of art, "Yeah, beautiful..."

Kim Leehan... virgo venus.

contains: implied friends to lovers, mentions of Leehan's fish obsession (my fav thing ever), acts of service, fluff, bf!Leehan. wc: 367.

When you first met Leehan, you thought you had no chance. He was friendly, and he got along with everyone, but romantically, he was incredibly picky.

You met him through a mutual friend and witnessed his friends suggesting a girl for him, only for him to immediately shut it down on multiple occasions, always claiming that she was 'too wild', 'not smart enough', it seemed like he was searching for someone absolutely perfect.

That's why a few months into your friendship, he confessed to you, you were so shocked--and obviously ecstatic.

Since then, you noticed your life falling into a comfortable, orderly routine. Organised and simple, but never boring. Leehan was anything but boring to you. He was endlessly knowledgable on marine life, and he made sure that by the end of each conversation, you were too.

He'd lay down with his head in your lap as you twirled your fingers through his long hair, telling you all the facts and random information he knew; not only about fish, about everything. People say that knowledge is power, and if that was true, then Leehan is close to a godly level of it.

You always listened and paid attention, and he gave that right back. Even if you were talking about the most uninteresting topic in the world, you always notice how he watched, nodding along with his whole brain tuned in. He was highly attentive, and it paid off, because he remembered every little detail.

His attention to detail had him remembering all the little things about you. He'd buy you a plushie of a character you once mentioned was your favourite, if you seemed weighed down by something, he was already finding a way to help. He helped you organise your makeup, dumping it out of the messy, crusty old pouch you'd always used since you complained about not being able to find anything and sorted it into neat trays in your drawer.

Leehan was helpful, the venus sign of service, but he never held it over your head or expected anything in return, he just did it to watch how you smile and thank him with those sparkly eyes, it was his absolute favourite sight.

Kim Woonhak... saggitarius venus.

contains: situationship to lovers, travelling, bitchy French lady, commitment issues and angst (briefly), some astrology nerd terminology wc: 649.

"We should go to Tokyo together, isn't it so cool there?"

You let out a soft huff, looking over at Woonhak. "That's like, the twentieth place you've said we should go."

"Imagine how free we'd feel, just travelling the world, eating good food, never staying in one place for longer than a week... Doesn't that sound like heaven to you?" He replied with a bright smile and even brighter eyes.

The Archer of the zodiacs, Sagittarius, is constantly striving for freedom, spontaneity, and new experiences; when that's translated into a romantic placement, how could his biggest dream be anything but seeing the whole world with his partner?

Woonhak was always looking up travel destinations, some of them huge cities, some rural, cultural places. He wanted to explore it all, learn about how differently things work in each country, and due to Sagittarius being a mutable sign--he could adapt to almost everything.

One thing he couldn't adapt to was the feeling of being 'tied down'.

The two of you had been in this weird limbo between more than friends but not quite a relationship for longer than you could remember. So you decided to bring it up.

You nervously fidgeted with your thumbs for a second before looking across the restaurant table at him. It looked like a date, it felt like a date, but he wasn't your boyfriend or anything, and that left you confused.

"Hey, Woonhak... What are we? I've just been thinking, this 'situationship' thing has been going on for a while now."

He stopped slurping at his noodles, painting a smirk on his face, "What do you want us to be?"

It was unexpected, how bluntly you replied with, "I want us to be together. For real."

That wasn't a crazy suggestion, right? Why did his face drop at the word 'together'?

"Y/n, y'know, like-... what we have already is great, is there really a need to put all these... labels and restrictions on it? What's the difference?"

"Exactly, Woonhak. What's the difference? Do you, like, not wanna be committed or something?" Your fork clinked on the side of your plate as you dropped it.

It's not that he's afraid of commitment, he just... likes to be free. He doesn't wanna end up trapped. Who's to say he won't end up uninterested after a while? He couldn't break up with you over that and leave you heartbroken, but he couldn't give up his freedom either.

"You know I like you, but you know how like, restless I can get. You've seen my past relationships, they all barely last a month, and I don't wanna end up losing this over it." How serious he is while he says this is honestly a little jarring, he usually made jokes and laughed his way out of serious conversations, it seemed like he really cared about this...

You shouldn't laugh. He's always the one turning heart-to-heart's into stand up comedy, but this time you couldn't stop the breathy laugh escaping. "If you really think I'd end up boring you or whatever, then why have you been putting in the effort with me for ages now?"

That got the gears turning in his simple head. He knew he liked you, he knew he wanted to have something with you, he just didn't realise how different it felt to any other girl he'd been in a relationship with.

You two left the restaurant that night, officially boyfriend and girlfriend (finally).

And as it turns out, he didn't end up feeling trapped, or any less free than before; especially not on your first vacation together. You both ended up getting scolded by a prissy French woman for laughing too loud in her patisserie.

Soft, quiet 'nights in' were amazing, but you were drawn to Woonhak's sense of adventure, and more so how he wanted to bring you along on all his experiences.

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