#cortis fic

SYN. What happens when love begins to bloom between two teenagers during a three week summer swimming camp

.✦ ݁˖ strangers→ lovers trope. Includes: Ahn Keonho, CORTIS, Ian and Stella of Hearts2hearts and Wonhee of ILLIT

A/N. Decided to remake this since summers ending and the original version was ass.

완벽한 날씨, 딱 맞는 playlist— ILLIT, Lucky girl syndrome

Chapter One

By the time the bus rolled through the towering pine trees and curved toward Lake Haneul Summer Camp, y/n had already convinced herself she’d made a mistake.

Signing up for a three-week swimming camp had sounded adventurous back in April, but now, watching dozens of teenagers drag colorful duffel bags toward the cabins while counselors blew whistles like the world was ending, she wondered if staying home with the air conditioning would’ve been the smarter choice. The lake glittered beneath the afternoon sun, docks stretching over the calm water, canoes gently rocking against the wooden posts. Somewhere farther away, laughter echoed across the beach. Everyone already seemed like they knew somebody. Y/n, meanwhile, awkwardly hugged her backpack to her chest and tried not to look as lost as she felt.

“First year too?”

Y/n turned to find a girl with long dark hair balancing two oversized bags while somehow still smiling. She looked equally overwhelmed, which immediately made y/n relax a little.

“…Is it that obvious?” y/n laughed.

“A little.”

“I’m y/n.”

“I’m Ian.”

Before either of them could say anything else, another girl jogged over, nearly tripping over her own suitcase. “Wait! Please tell me Cabin Four is this way because I’ve already gotten lost twice.”

Ian blinked. “…You literally walked away from the sign.”

“I know,” the girl admitted proudly.

Y/n couldn’t help laughing.

“I’m Stella.”

Within five minutes the three of them were already carrying each other’s bags, making jokes about who would be the first to accidentally drown during swim lessons despite voluntarily attending a swimming camp. The awkward introductions quickly melted into easy conversation, mostly because Stella had absolutely no filter and Ian possessed the rare ability to keep a straight face while saying something completely ridiculous. By the time they reached the girls’ cabins, y/n already felt far less nervous than she’d expected.

Their final roommate arrived a few minutes later, poking her head through the doorway with an apologetic smile.

“Hi… um… is this Cabin Four?”

She had soft eyes, neatly folded towels in her arms, and looked almost as shy as y/n had felt earlier.

“It is!” Stella answered. “Please tell me you’re normal because Ian keeps pretending she’s responsible.”

“I never said that.”

The new girl giggled.

“I’m Wonhee.”

The four introductions were simple, but somehow it felt like the beginning of something. Within half an hour they’d already claimed bunk beds, argued over whose sunscreen smelled the least weird, and somehow agreed to share snacks despite having known each other for less than forty minutes. It felt surprisingly natural.

After orientation, every camper gathered near the main dock where the counselors introduced the instructors and divided everyone into swim groups. Nearly a hundred campers stood together beneath the blazing summer sun, creating a constant buzz of conversations.

“…Group C!”

Y/n stepped forward.

“So do Ian and I!” Stella grinned.

“Same.” Wonhee smiled softly.

“Guess we’re stuck together.”

As they walked toward their assigned lane, another group approached from the opposite direction—five boys laughing loudly about something that apparently wasn’t funny enough to justify how hard they were laughing. One of them was tall with warm brown hair that the lake breeze kept pushing into his eyes. Another nudged him with his shoulder.

“Dude, watch where you’re walking.”

“I am watching.”

“No, you’re staring.”

“I am literally not—”

Before he could finish defending himself, he looked up.

Directly at y/n.

Both of them froze for exactly one second.

It wasn’t dramatic.

There wasn’t slow motion.

No magical music.

Just two people accidentally making eye contact before immediately pretending they’d been looking somewhere else.

Keonho looked toward the lake so quickly that he almost walked into a trash can.

His friends burst into laughter.

“You almost died because a girl looked at you.”

“I wasn’t looking!”

“You looked.”

“I didn’t.”

“You absolutely did.”

“I’m reporting all of you.”

Meanwhile, Stella leaned suspiciously close to y/n.

“…You okay?”

“Hm?”

“You froze.”

“I did not.”

“You literally stopped walking.”

“I was… observing nature.”

“There are cabins.”

“…Architectural nature?”

Ian sighed dramatically.

“She’s gone.”

“I’m right here!”

Wonhee quietly smiled without saying anything.

The counselors interrupted before the teasing could continue, assigning everyone to lanes for the afternoon swimming evaluation. It wasn’t a competition—just a way to see everyone’s skill level—but somehow it felt like one anyway. Y/n adjusted her goggles while trying very hard not to notice that the same boy from earlier had ended up two lanes away.

Unfortunately for her, she noticed.

Unfortunately for him…

He noticed too.

Keonho told himself he wasn’t looking.

He was simply… facing forward.

Unfortunately, forward happened to include y/n laughing at something Stella had whispered.

James elbowed him.

“You’ve looked over there six times.”

“I have not.”

“Seven.”

“I’m stretching.”

“With your eyes?”

Martin snorted so hard he nearly dropped his kickboard.

Practice itself was surprisingly fun. The instructors were energetic without being intimidating, and before long everyone was racing relay drills, diving contests, and underwater challenges that had Stella dramatically declaring herself “a retired professional dolphin.” Ian somehow managed to beat nearly everyone during freestyle while insisting she wasn’t competitive, and Wonhee turned out to be unexpectedly fast despite constantly apologizing whenever she won. Y/n found herself laughing far more than she’d expected, the initial nervousness disappearing with every lap.

During one water break, campers crowded around coolers filled with ice water and fruit. Y/n reached for a bottle at the exact same time someone else did.

“Oh—”

“So—”

Their hands stopped.

Keonho immediately pulled his hand back.

“Sorry.”

“No, you can—”

“No, really.”

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“…”

Neither of them moved.

Another camper casually reached between them, grabbed the bottle they’d both been awkwardly offering each other, and walked away.

“…Thanks,” he muttered.

“…Yeah.”

They stared at the empty cooler for a second.

“There were… more bottles over there,” Keonho said, pointing in the complete opposite direction.

“There are.”

“…Cool.”

“…Cool.”

He nodded once.

Then walked away.

After exactly five steps, he accidentally walked straight into a volleyball net.

His friends exploded into laughter loud enough for half the camp to hear.

Martin doubled over.

“I CAN’T BREATHE.”

James pointed dramatically.

“The net won.”

Keonho buried his face in his hands.

“I hate all of you.”

Across the field, Stella had witnessed the entire thing.

“…Did that guy just lose a fight against a volleyball net?”

Ian nodded.

“He absolutely did.”

Wonhee looked toward Keonho, then toward y/n, whose ears had quietly turned pink.

“…He seems nice.”

“I literally don’t know him.”

“You looked.”

“I accidentally looked.”

“You both accidentally looked.”

“Ian,” y/n groaned.

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

The afternoon ended with everyone sitting around the dock watching the sunset paint the lake shades of orange and pink. Camp suddenly felt much smaller than it had that morning. Conversations drifted across the water, counselors prepared tomorrow’s activities, and somewhere farther down the beach, someone unsuccessfully attempted to play guitar.

Keonho sat with his friends on the opposite dock, pretending to pay attention to James’ story while occasionally glancing toward the girls’ cabin without meaning to.

“…She’s smiling again,” Martin whispered.

“I wasn’t looking.”

“You literally smiled too.”

“…Did I?”

James sighed.

“You’re cooked.”

Across the lake, Stella quietly bumped y/n’s shoulder.

“So…”

“No.”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

“I know exactly what you were going to say.”

Ian grinned.

“…It’s only Day One.”

Y/n looked out across the shimmering water, completely unaware that Keonho happened to glance over at the exact same moment.

Their eyes met again.

This time…

Neither of them looked away immediately.

Only when Stella dramatically cleared her throat did y/n finally snap out of it, looking toward the lake so fast she almost dropped the marshmallow she’d been trying to roast.

Somewhere on the opposite dock, James was laughing so hard he nearly fell into the water.

Three weeks suddenly felt like they were going to be a lot longer—and a lot more interesting—than either of them had expected.

@playdatbeat

no more hiding

synopsis; in the emotional aftermath of getting caught, the silence in the house is unbearable. but when juhoon returns to face your brother head-on, a difficult conversation finally paves the way for a sweet, honest future where you no longer have to hide.

tags; brothersbestfriend!juhoon x f!reader not so secret relationship? angst but comfort skinship kissing 1k words

notes; part 4! (yay we all cheered!) i’d loved to let it end on a cliffhanger but u guys convinced me to continue this and i give in very easily 😣 hope u like this <3 likes and reblogs are appreciated!

001 | 002 | 003 | 004

the silence that followed the storm was almost worse than the screaming.

after juhoon left that night—stepping out of your room under martin’s icy glare—the house felt completely hollow. martin didn't speak to you. he didn't yell anymore, either. he just avoided you, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hallways like a reminder of the massive wall that had just built up between you. for three days, you stayed in your room, staring at the ceiling, wearing the black hoodie that still smelled faintly of wood and clean air, wondering if you had just ruined your family and your heart all at once.

juhoon hadn't texted. you knew why. he was trying to give martin space, trying not to make things worse. but the empty silence in your phone was deafening.

then, on the fourth evening, you heard voices downstairs.

they weren't shouting. they were quiet, deep, and tense. you crept out of your room, your bare feet pressing silently against the cold floorboards as you peered over the banister of the stairs.

juhoon was standing by the front door. he didn't look cool or untouchable anymore. he looked exhausted. his dark hair was messy, there were faint shadows under his eyes, and his shoulders were tense. martin was standing a few feet away, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his face completely closed off.

"i'm not here to fight, mars," juhoon’s voice carried up the stairs, low and steady. "and i'm not here to beg you to just forget it. i know i messed up. i should have told you."

martin let out a bitter, quiet laugh, looking down at the floor. "you're my best friend, juhoon. you're the one guy i trusted to have my back. and you're sneaking into my sister's room through a window?"

"because i was scared," juhoon said, stepping closer. the honesty in his voice made your chest tight. "i was scared of exactly this. i knew how much you care about her, and i knew i was crossing a line. but i didn't do it to play games, martin. i didn't do it to go behind your back just for fun."

juhoon took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto martin’s. "i care about her. more than i've ever cared about anyone. and if you're going to hate me, hate me for being a coward who didn't tell you. but don't hate me for loving her. because i do."

the word hung in the quiet air of the entryway. loving her.

your heart did a massive, violent flip in your chest. you squeezed the wooden railing, tears hot in your eyes.

martin stared at juhoon for a long, agonizing moment. the anger in his shoulders slowly seemed to drain out, replaced by a deep, heavy sigh. he rubbed his face with his hands, looking incredibly tired.

"you're an idiot," martin muttered, his voice cracking slightly. "you both are."

"i know," juhoon said, a tiny, faint trace of a smile touching his lips.

"if you ever hurt her," martin said, his voice turning deadly serious again, though the raw rage from the other night was gone, "i don't care if we've been friends since we were kids. i'll actually destroy you."

"i know," juhoon repeated, his voice soft but completely sure. "you won't have to."

martin stood quiet for another second, then finally let out a breath, stepping aside. he looked up the stairs, his eyes landing directly on you peering through the banister. he didn't look angry anymore—just like your tired, protective older brother.

"go on," martin sighed, pointing a finger at you. "he’s here for you anyway. just... don't use the window anymore. it's annoying."

a shaky laugh escaped your lips as you quickly wiped a tear from your cheek. you didn't waste another second. you practically flew down the stairs, your feet barely touching the steps.

juhoon was already waiting at the bottom. before you could even say his name, his large arms wrapped around you, lifting you slightly off your feet as he pulled you tightly against his chest. you buried your face in his neck, the familiar warmth of his skin and the scent of his cologne completely washing away the misery of the last four days.

"i've got you," he whispered into your hair, his hands holding you so securely you felt like you were finally home. "i've got you."

martin silently walked past you both, heading into the kitchen and closing the door to give you some space.

juhoon pulled back just enough to look at your face. his large thumb reached up, gently wiping away the tears on your cheeks, his touch so incredibly soft it made your breath hitch. his messy curls fell into his eyes, but his gaze was completely focused on you, burning with a quiet, happy intensity.

"are you okay?" he murmured, his thumb brushing over your cheekbone.

"i am now," you whispered, a bright, relieved smile finally breaking across your face. "you're really an idiot, you know that?"

"yeah," he soft-smirked, leaning his forehead against yours. "but i'm your idiot. if martin lets me be."

"he let you in," you pointed out, your hands tangling into the fabric of his shirt. "that's a start."

"good," juhoon whispered.

and then, without any hesitation, without any fear of footsteps on the stairs or closed doors, he leaned down and pressed his lips to yours. the kiss was slow, sweet, and full of a quiet relief that felt like a promise. his hand moved to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, while his other hand settled warm and heavy on your waist.

there were still things to fix, and things with martin would probably be a little awkward for a while. but as juhoon pulled back and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, then to your nose, and finally to your cheek, you knew you didn't have to hide anymore.

for the first time in weeks, you could finally just breathe.

@2xred — all rights reserved.

mallorie ಄ '08 ಄ she/her ಄ mexipino ಄ multistan!

⋆˚꩜｡welcome to my blog!

bio (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) ‹𝟹

hiii im mallorie! i am not new to tumblr but i am new to writing fics/smaus and trying to make my blog look aesthetic so pls bare with me...

ot5 cortis/jakewon biased

other groups i stan but probs wont be writing for -> txt, tws, &team, p1h

requests are HIGHLY encouraged! i am open to writing pretty much anything so dont be afraid to shoot me a dm!

i love to chit chat so if u want to be moots feel free to interact :P

im also a huge anime lover so lmk if ygs want any anime content! my favs are mha, jjk, howls moving castle, haikyuu, & ohshc

DISCLAIMERS!

-hate of any kind is unwelcome, so please be kind! this is a safe space for everyone EXCEPT racists, homophobes, etc. (you get the gist)

-i will NOT write smut for cortis

-heeseung WILL be included in my enhypen works. i am so excited to see what enha has in store for us as 6, but i'll always be ot7 at heart (╥‸╥)♡

SYN. What happens when two childhood model friends are reunited after debuting under the same label?

.✦ ݁˖ Childhood friends → lovers trope. Contains: ILLIT, CORTIS, romance, mentions of ' R U NEXT

グダグダ言うけど、君に恋してるよ— ILLIT, Sunday morning ☁️

Prev, Next..

For the first few seconds, neither of them moved.

The hallway around them remained just as chaotic as before—staff members hurried past carrying camera equipment, managers called out schedules, and idols bowed politely as they passed one another—but for Y/N and Juhoon, it all became background noise. They simply stared, each trying to process how someone who had once been part of their everyday life had suddenly become a stranger they hadn’t seen in years.

It was Juhoon who finally laughed first.

Not because anything was funny.

Because he genuinely couldn’t believe this was real.

“…You actually exist,” he said, shaking his head.

Y/N laughed too, her smile growing wider by the second.

“I was about to say the same thing.”

“You got shorter.”

“My manager literally measured me last month.”

“So… you got shorter.”

“I absolutely did not.”

Martin, who had been standing beside Juhoon this entire time, slowly looked between them with raised eyebrows.

“…You know each other?”

Before Juhoon could answer, Y/N grinned.

“I’ve known him since he was missing his front teeth.”

Juhoon’s eyes widened.

“…Don’t start.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely starting.”

“He cried because he lost a race to a seven-year-old.”

“I tripped!”

“You still lost.”

“I tripped!”

Martin immediately burst into laughter.

“No way.”

“It wasn’t funny.”

“It is now,” Y/N replied with a smug smile.

Juhoon groaned dramatically, rubbing a hand over his face.

“I waited years to reunite with you and this is what I get.”

“Oh, you expected me to be nice?”

“…A little.”

“No.”

The members of ILLIT had slowly wandered over by this point, curious about why Y/N suddenly looked so comfortable around someone she’d just bumped into. Wonhee tilted her head before looking at Juhoon.

“…Wait.”

She looked at Y/N.

“Is this… the Juhoon?”

Y/N blinked.

“…The Juhoon?”

“The one you always used to talk about when we were trainees.”

Y/N froze.

Juhoon blinked.

“…You talked about me?”

Her face immediately turned bright pink.

“I—I…”

Wonhee innocently continued before Y/N could stop her.

“You had a box of old modeling pictures with—”

“Wonhee!”

The younger girl immediately clamped her mouth shut.

“…Oops.”

Juhoon slowly turned back toward Y/N.

“…You kept our old pictures?”

Y/N looked everywhere except at him.

“…Maybe.”

“…Seriously?”

“They’re just… memories.”

His expression softened almost instantly.

“…I still have mine.”

This time, Y/N looked back up.

“You do?”

He nodded.

“My mom refuses to throw anything away.”

A tiny laugh escaped her.

“…That sounds like her.”

“My parents still have that commercial where you dumped fake ice cream all over me.”

“I did not dump it.”

“You absolutely did.”

“The director told me to.”

“You enjoyed it.”

“…Maybe a little.”

Both of them laughed, and for a brief moment it genuinely felt like they were twelve years old again, teasing each other between photo shoots while waiting for the cameras to reset.

Unfortunately…

Reality came back much sooner than either of them wanted.

A staff member called out, “CORTIS! Five minutes until rehearsal!”

Another manager immediately answered, “ILLIT, we’re heading to makeup!”

The smiles on both of their faces faltered.

“…Already?” Juhoon asked quietly.

Y/N sighed.

“Looks like it.”

Neither of them seemed ready to leave.

There was still so much they wanted to ask.

How had training gone?

When had he started dancing?

Did he still draw during long car rides?

Did she still collect tiny keychains from every city she visited?

Did either of them still remember the little café they always stopped at after shoots?

Years of questions sat between them.

Yet neither had enough time to ask even one.

Juhoon rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“So…”

“So…”

“…Congratulations.”

“You too.”

“I’m really proud of you.”

She smiled.

“I watched your debut.”

His eyebrows shot upward.

“…You did?”

“I stayed awake until almost three in the morning because I had an overseas schedule.”

“You watched it live?”

“…Maybe.”

“You definitely did.”

“Maybe.”

Juhoon couldn’t stop smiling.

“I watched your debut too.”

She looked surprised.

“You did?”

“I voted for you.”

The hallway suddenly felt much quieter.

“You…”

“I voted every day.”

Y/N stared at him.

“…You never told me.”

“You were busy trying not to get eliminated.”

“I didn’t even know.”

“You weren’t supposed to.”

For a second, neither of them spoke.

She remembered just how lonely those survival show months had been. Every performance had felt like carrying a mountain on her shoulders. Every ranking announcement had made her wonder if her dream would end that day.

All that time…

Without ever saying a word…

Juhoon had quietly been cheering her on.

She smiled so softly that even she didn’t realize she was doing it.

“…Thank you.”

He shrugged, almost embarrassed.

“I wasn’t going to let you lose.”

Their managers were now gesturing more insistently.

One minute.

They really had to go.

Juhoon hesitated before pulling something from his pocket.

It was his phone.

“…Can I?”

Y/N looked down at it before immediately understanding.

“Oh.”

She laughed.

“We really let years go by without exchanging numbers again, didn’t we?”

“…Kind of embarrassing.”

“Very embarrassing.”

Within seconds, they were typing their contacts into each other’s phones like they hadn’t spent nearly half a decade apart.

Juhoon glanced at the name she’d entered.

Still…

Just Y/N.

No emojis.

No nickname.

He smiled anyway.

Y/N checked his contact.

Juhoon.

Simple.

Just like before.

Neither of them changed it.

Some things didn’t need to.

As they handed their phones back, Martin suddenly leaned toward Juhoon with the biggest grin imaginable.

“So…”

Juhoon immediately sighed.

“…Don’t.”

“You smiled.”

“I always smile.”

“You were smiling differently.”

“I was not.”

“You had heart eyes.”

“I did not have heart eyes.”

Martin looked toward Y/N.

“…Did he always deny everything?”

Y/N nodded without hesitation.

“Constantly.”

“I am literally standing right here.”

Martin and Y/N high-fived.

Juhoon stared at them in complete betrayal.

“…You two have known each other for approximately six minutes.”

“And yet,” Martin replied confidently, “I feel like we’ve been friends for years.”

“Because you’re both teaming up against me.”

“Correct,” Y/N said with a laugh.

Her manager called her name again.

This time, there was no delaying it.

She took one step backward before offering him a small wave.

“I’ll see you around?”

Juhoon smiled.

“You’d better.”

Then, almost instinctively, he added—

“…Don’t disappear again.”

Y/N’s smile became gentler.

“I won’t.”

With that, they turned and walked in opposite directions.

Neither of them looked back immediately.

They both told themselves they needed to stay professional.

Focus on rehearsals.

Focus on performances.

Focus on work.

But after taking only a few more steps…

They both glanced over their shoulders at the exact same moment.

Their eyes met once more across the crowded hallway.

This time, instead of surprise…

They simply smiled.

It was small.

Quiet.

Comfortable.

The kind of smile only shared between people who had once known every version of each other.

Neither of them noticed the rookie camera operator standing nearby, absentmindedly filming backstage B-roll for a behind-the-scenes video.

The lens had captured everything.

Their reunion.

Their laughter.

Their lingering glances.

Their synchronized look back.

The footage lasted less than thirty seconds.

No one thought much of it.

At least…

Not until it was uploaded to the music show’s official YouTube channel later that evening.

Within an hour, fans had clipped that tiny backstage moment and shared it across every social media platform imaginable.

“Wait… why do Juhoon and the ILLIT member look like they already know each other?”

“THEY LOOKED SO COMFORTABLE???”

“Did anyone else notice they both turned around at the same time???”

“I’m telling you, that’s not a normal first meeting.”

“Someone investigate immediately.”

By midnight, the clips had millions of views.

And somewhere in their dorms, both Y/N and Juhoon were completely unaware that the internet had just begun asking the same question neither of them had expected to answer.

Who exactly was Kim Juhoon to Y/N?

SYN. What happens when two childhood model friends are reunited after debuting under the same label?

.✦ ݁˖ Childhood friends → lovers trope. Contains: ILLIT, CORTIS, romance, mentions of ' R U NEXT '

A/N. I'm so excited about this layout guys🥹🥹 please lmk what you guys think about it!!

悲しみも（悲しみも）追い越していく— ILLIT, Sunday morning ☁️

Chapter One, next...

Before they were idols. Before the screaming crowds, sold-out arenas, fancams, and endless schedules… they were simply two children standing in front of cameras much bigger than themselves.

Y/N had been six years old when she first met Kim Juhoon.

She remembered hiding behind her mother’s leg inside a brightly lit photography studio, intimidated by the dozens of staff members running around with clothing racks and camera equipment. The commercial was for a children’s clothing brand, and every child looked perfectly confident except for her.

Then a boy with fluffy dark brown hair walked over, carrying two juice boxes.

“You look scared,” he said matter-of-factly.

Y/N blinked.

“…A little.”

He held one juice box toward her.

“My mom says juice makes scary things less scary.”

She giggled before accepting it.

“I’m Juhoon.”

“I’m Y/N.”

“Cool.”

“…That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

“…You’re weird.”

From that moment on, they became inseparable.

Over the next several years, the modeling industry practically considered them a package deal.

Whenever one booked a commercial, there was a decent chance the other would too.

Children’s clothing brands.

School supply advertisements.

Toy catalogs.

Ice cream commercials.

Magazine shoots.

Back-to-school campaigns.

Even family-themed advertisements where they’d pretend to be siblings or best friends.

The photographers adored them because they never had to fake chemistry.

Whenever the cameras started rolling, they naturally laughed together.

They naturally teased each other.

They naturally held hands while running through parks.

They naturally smiled.

Because none of it was acting.

Off set was even better.

The adults would often lose sight of them only to find them building blanket forts under clothing racks, racing around studios, or splitting snacks during breaks.

“You stole my gummy bears.”

“I borrowed them.”

“You ate all of them.”

“…Temporary borrowing.”

“You owe me.”

“I’ll buy you more when we’re adults.”

“You don’t even have money.”

“I will.”

“You promise?”

Juhoon held out his pinky.

“I promise.”

Y/N smiled before hooking hers around his.

“Pinky promise.”

Neither of them knew just how important that promise would become.

⸻

By the time they were eleven, both had become recognizable child models throughout Korea.

People constantly commented online.

“They’re so cute together.”

“They’re basically twins.”

“Please keep casting them together!”

Their parents even became close friends because of how often the children worked together.

Birthdays were spent together.

School festivals.

Weekend amusement park trips.

Christmas parties.

One year, Juhoon had even shown up at Y/N’s house in the pouring rain because she’d gotten sick and had to miss a commercial.

He’d stood outside holding a terribly wrapped gift.

“I brought homework.”

“…Homework?”

“And chocolate.”

“…Why homework?”

“So you don’t fall behind.”

“…You’re the worst.”

“But I brought chocolate.”

“…Okay, you’re forgiven.”

⸻

As they grew older, the jobs slowly changed.

Instead of colorful toy advertisements, they started doing more fashion campaigns.

Magazine covers.

Junior brands.

Teen collections.

People constantly complimented how naturally they posed together.

“Look at each other.”

Click.

“Smile.”

Click.

“Pretend you’re laughing.”

They actually laughed.

Click.

The photographers never had to tell them twice.

⸻

When they were thirteen, everything changed.

Y/N had quietly begun training under HYBE.

Modeling schedules became less frequent.

Dance lessons replaced weekend photoshoots.

Vocal training replaced acting classes.

She became busier than she’d ever imagined.

Juhoon noticed.

“You haven’t answered my texts.”

“I’ve been practicing.”

“Again?”

She nodded apologetically.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you even practicing?”

“…It’s a secret.”

“A secret?”

“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

Juhoon pouted dramatically.

“You tell me everything.”

“I know.”

“…I really can’t.”

He sighed before handing her a canned coffee.

“…Fine.”

She bumped his shoulder.

“You’re not mad?”

“I could never stay mad at you.”

⸻

Months passed.

Then one afternoon—

The internet exploded.

HYBE announces new girl group survival show: R U Next?

Contestant lineup revealed tomorrow.

Juhoon didn’t think much of it.

Until—

He opened the contestant photos.

And froze.

There she was.

Y/N.

Smiling nervously at the camera.

He stared at the screen for several seconds before grabbing his phone.

Juhoon:

“YOU NEVER TOLD ME???”

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally—

Y/N:

“I’m sorry…”

“I wasn’t allowed.”

“I wanted to tell you.”

“I really did.”

He called immediately.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

Finally she answered after practice.

“…Hello?”

“You seriously joined a survival show?”

“…Yeah.”

“When were you planning to tell me?”

“I couldn’t.”

“You disappeared for months.”

“I know.”

“You stopped modeling.”

“I know.”

“You skipped my birthday.”

“…I know.”

Silence.

“…I’m sorry, Juhoon.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“…Are you happy?”

“…What?”

“Training.”

Another pause.

“…I’ve never been more tired.”

“…That’s not what I asked.”

“…”

“…I’m happy.”

He smiled softly.

“Then that’s enough.”

Y/N immediately started crying.

“Why are you crying?”

“I thought you’d be angry.”

“I was.”

“…Was?”

“…I still kind of am.”

She laughed through tears.

“But…”

“…Go debut.”

⸻

The next several months were brutal.

Y/N lived almost entirely inside the R U Next? practice rooms.

Dance evaluations.

Vocal tests.

Eliminations.

Filming.

Interviews.

Stress.

Juhoon watched every episode.

Every single one.

Even when she didn’t know.

Whenever Y/N ranked high, he’d grin proudly.

Whenever she cried after evaluations, he’d feel his chest tighten.

He wanted to text her constantly.

But he knew she was busy.

Instead…

He quietly voted.

Every day.

Without fail.

⸻

The finale arrived.

Millions watched.

Juhoon sat in front of the television alone.

His leg bounced uncontrollably.

When Y/N’s name was announced as a debut member—

He jumped off the couch.

“YES!”

His parents laughed as he practically celebrated harder than anyone.

She’d done it.

She’d actually done it.

Y/N debuted as a member of ILLIT.

⸻

After debut…

Everything became different.

Not bad.

Just…

Different.

Schedules became impossible.

Time zones.

Comebacks.

Music shows.

Interviews.

International promotions.

The occasional text became monthly texts.

Monthly became yearly.

Eventually…

Nothing.

Not because either of them wanted to stop talking.

Life simply moved faster than either could keep up with.

Still…

Every birthday.

Juhoon would type—

“Happy Birthday.”

Every year.

Y/N always replied.

“Thank you.”

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

⸻

Years passed.

Y/N became one of fifth-generation K-pop’s brightest stars.

Magazine covers returned.

Luxury brand deals.

Award shows.

Millions of fans.

Juhoon watched from afar.

Proud.

Quietly.

Then…

His own dream finally came true.

After years of training…

He debuted.

As a member of CORTIS.

The news spread quickly across social media.

One person nearly dropped her phone inside HYBE’s practice room.

“…Juhoon?”

Yunah looked over.

“What?”

Y/N stared at the announcement.

“…No way.”

The teaser photo showed a familiar smile.

The same one she’d known since childhood.

The same boy who used to bring her juice boxes.

The same boy who promised to buy her gummy bears one day.

She smiled without realizing it.

“…He actually did it.”

⸻

A few weeks later, fate finally decided enough time had passed.

Music Bank.

The backstage hallways buzzed with idols moving between waiting rooms, managers shouting schedules, and camera crews weaving through the crowded corridors.

ILLIT had just finished rehearsing for their comeback stage. Y/N walked down the hallway with the other members, absentmindedly reading something on her phone while her manager explained the day’s schedule.

“After pre-recording, you’ll have—”

She wasn’t listening.

Not until she heard a laugh.

It was familiar.

Painfully familiar.

One she’d recognize anywhere.

Her head lifted automatically.

At the opposite end of the hallway, another group rounded the corner.

Five boys.

Managers surrounding them.

Stylists adjusting jackets.

One of them looked up at the exact same moment.

Dark eyes met hers.

Both of them froze.

Juhoon’s conversation with Martin died mid-sentence.

Y/N completely forgot what her manager had been saying.

Neither of them moved.

For a second, the noisy hallway seemed to disappear.

All they could see was each other.

She noticed he’d grown taller.

His features had become sharper, more mature, but his eyes were exactly the same as the ones she’d known when they were children.

Juhoon noticed that Y/N looked nothing like the little girl who used to steal his gummy bears. She stood with the quiet confidence of someone who had earned her place on countless stages, yet when she looked at him, the same warmth he’d remembered flickered across her face.

“…Juhoon?” she whispered.

He blinked once, almost like he couldn’t believe she was actually standing there.

“…Y/N.”

Neither of them cared that dozens of staff members were walking past.

Neither of them cared that other idols had started glancing over curiously.

After all these years…

They were finally standing face-to-face again.

And somehow…

Despite everything that had changed…

Seeing each other still felt exactly like coming home.

a minute too long

synopsis; weeks of keeping your secret connection with juhoon lead to a stolen night in your bedroom. but when an unexpected return threatens to expose everything, you risk losing the two most important people in your life.

tags; brothersbestfriend!juhoon x reader martin as your older brother secret relationship angst if you squint mentions of anger? skinship kissing 2.3k words

notes; as requested: finally part 3! i guess this is now the end of this short series and honestly i loved this more than i thought i would. part 2 is definitely my favorite but i enjoy all of them >_< likes and reblogs are appreciated!

001 | 002 | 003

the two weeks following that night in your bedroom went by in a blur of quiet, stolen moments.

it was exhausting, but it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to you. you and juhoon had quickly become experts at hiding in plain sight. whenever martin was around, nothing changed. juhoon went right back to his usual, detached self. he would sit on the living room couch, completely focused on the TV screen or his phone, barely throwing a glance in your direction. you would walk past him to get a glass of water, acting like he was just another piece of furniture in your brother’s chaotic life.

but the second martin’s back was turned—even if it was just for a minute—everything shifted.

it was in the small, empty gaps of the day. you’d meet in the narrow hallway upstairs while martin was downstairs looking for his keys, sharing a quick, breathless kiss against the wall, your hearts hammering against your ribs in fear of getting caught. or juhoon would slide into your bedroom for just five minutes while martin was taking a shower, holding you so tight against his chest that you could barely breathe. it was soft, incredibly sweet, and completely secret. you were both totally head over heels, finding any possible excuse just to feel each other’s touch, even if it was just a brief brush of your shoulders in the kitchen when your brother wasn't looking.

but the paranoia was always there, lingering in the back of your mind like a dark cloud. martin was your older brother, and juhoon was his absolute best friend. if martin ever found out, it wouldn't just be an argument—it would ruin everything.

then came a quiet friday evening.

martin had been talking all week about heading out to meet some old friends from school. he’d been planning it for days, complaining about what to wear and making a massive mess in the hallway before he finally yelled a quick goodbye and closed the front door. the house immediately fell into a deep, peaceful silence.

you were finally alone.

you were sitting on your bed, the room lit only by the warm glow of your bedside lamp. the night air outside was cool, and you had pulled on one of juhoon’s oversized black hoodies that he’d accidentally left in the living room a few days ago. it was way too big on you, the sleeves completely covering your hands, but it smelled exactly like him—woodsy, clean, and warm. you had your knees pulled up to your chest, scrolling through your phone, just enjoying the quiet.

then, a soft, sharp sound made you freeze.

tap. tap.

you blinked, turning your head toward your bedroom window. at first, you thought it was just a tree branch brushing against the glass in the wind. but then it happened again, louder this time.

tap.

you slid off the bed, your bare feet making no sound on the floorboards as you walked over to the window. you unlocked it and pushed the glass open, the cool night breeze instantly hitting your face. you leaned out, your eyes widening in shock.

juhoon was standing on the narrow roof overhang outside your window. his hands were shoved into the pockets of his dark jacket, and his messy hair was blowing slightly in the wind. when he saw your face, a small, knowing smirk spread across his lips.

"hey pretty," he whispered, his voice incredibly low.

"juhoon? what are you doing?" you whispered back, looking around the dark backyard in panic. "are you crazy? you could have fallen!"

"martin’s gone, right?" he asked, ignoring your panic entirely.

"yeah, he left like half an hour ago, but—"

before you could finish your sentence, juhoon grabbed the wooden frame of the window. with an effortless, practiced grace, he pulled himself up and swung his long legs over the sill, stepping quietly onto your bedroom floor. he closed the window behind him and locked it, shutting out the cold air.

when he turned around, his eyes instantly locked onto you. his gaze dropped down, taking in the giant black hoodie hanging off your shoulders. the smirk on his face widened, turning into something incredibly soft.

"you're wearing my hoodie," he murmured, stepping closer.

your cheeks instantly flushed warm. you pulled the sleeves down further over your hands, looking up at him. "it was on the couch. and it’s cold in here."

"sure," he said softly.

he didn't waste another second. juhoon closed the remaining distance between you, his arms wrapping around your waist. he pulled you in flush against his chest, burying his face in the crook of your neck. you let out a soft sigh, your hands automatically wrapping around his shoulders, holding onto him like he was the only anchor in the world. he smelled so good, and the heat radiating off his body instantly warmed you up.

"i missed you," he whispered against your skin, his voice sending a shiver down your spine. "martin wouldn't stop talking today. i couldn't even look at you."

"i know," you murmured, leaning your head against his chest, listening to the steady, rapid beat of his heart. "it's getting harder to pretend."

"way too hard," he agreed.

he pulled back just enough to look at your face, his hand rising to gently brush a stray piece of hair behind your ear. his thumb lingered on your cheekbone, tracing the soft skin. he looked so relaxed here, in the quiet safety of your room, away from the rest of the world.

"come here," you said softly, tugging at his shirt.

together, you both crawled onto your bed, sitting close with your backs pressed against the headboard. the room felt incredibly cozy, the small lamp casting long, warm shadows across the walls. juhoon stretched his long legs out, and you immediately curled up against his side, resting your head on his shoulder.

his hand found yours on the blanket. his large, warm fingers slipped between yours, locking your hands together. you watched as his thumb began to slowly, rhythmically trace over your knuckles, just like he had done two weeks ago. it was a habit of his now, a quiet way of keeping you grounded, and it made your chest ache with how sweet it was.

"what if he comes back early?" you asked quietly, the lingering anxiety poking at your thoughts.

"he won't," juhoon said, his voice calm and confident. "he was going to that arcade on the other side of town. he’ll be gone for hours."

"but what if?" you insisted, looking up at him.

juhoon stopped tracing your knuckles. he turned his head to look down at you, his dark eyes incredibly serious. "then let him. i'm tired of hiding in hallways. i'm tired of having to act like i don't want to hold your hand when we're sitting at the same table."

your breath trapped in your throat. you stared at him, completely captivated by the raw honesty in his voice. the cool, unapproachable juhoon was entirely gone when he was alone with you. he was vulnerable, sweet, and so fiercely protective of whatever this was between you.

"you don't mean that," you whispered, though your heart was beating wildly. "martin is your best friend. it would ruin everything."

juhoon stared at you for a long moment, his thumb resuming its gentle stroke over your hand. "he’s my best friend, yeah. but you're... you're everything else."

your heart swelled so much it felt painful. you reached up, your fingers gently tangling into the soft, messy strands of his hair, pulling him down slightly. juhoon didn't need any encouragement. he leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a slow, deep kiss that tasted like pure relief.

it was a quiet, lingering kiss, full of all the unspoken words and frustration of the last two weeks. his hand moved from your waist to the back of your neck, his fingers holding you gently but firmly, keeping you close. you melted into him, your eyes closed, completely forgetting about the rest of the world outside your bedroom door.

neither of you had any idea that downstairs, the front door had quietly clicked open.

martin’s plans had fallen through. his friends had canceled at the last minute, and he had trudged back home, annoyed and cold, wanting nothing more than to grab some food and complain to you about it.

neither of you heard his heavy footsteps coming up the wooden stairs, or him walking down the hallway.

outside your bedroom door, martin stopped. he had walked up to ask you if you wanted to order a pizza with him, but as he reached for the doorknob, the sound of hushed, quiet whispers from inside made him pause.

he frowned. you were supposed to be alone.

inside the room, juhoon pulled back just a fraction, his lips brushing against yours as he spoke. "you look really pretty in my clothes," he murmured, his voice a sleepy, deep rumble. "i think you should keep it."

you let out a soft laugh, your face completely flushed. "martin is going to notice if i start wearing your hoodies every day."

"let him notice," juhoon whispered, his eyes dropping to your lips again. "i'll just tell him i like seeing you in them."

your fingers traced his jawline, a soft smile on your face. "you're crazy."

"only for you," he murmured.

on the other side of the door, martin’s blood ran completely cold.

he recognized that voice. he knew that deep, quiet tone better than anyone else’s. it was juhoon. his best friend. his brother in everything but blood. and he was in his little sister's room, talking to her like that.

martin’s mind raced, a sudden, suffocating wave of shock washing over him. he stood frozen in the dark hallway, his hand hovering over the doorknob as his brain tried to process what he was hearing. his best friend. the guy he trusted with everything. the guy who sat at his dinner table, who gamed with him, who he called his brother.

and his little sister. the sister he had spent his entire life trying to protect.

the shock quickly turned into a thick, burning anger. it started in his chest and quickly spread through his veins, hot and blinding. they had been lying to him. for how long? how many times had juhoon been in this house, pretending to be his friend, while secretly looking at you?

inside the room, juhoon leaned down again. his eyes were dark, full of affection, his thumb gently wiping a stray lash from the corner of your eye.

"i love you," he whispered, the words slipping out so easily, so naturally, that it made your breath completely hitch.

you stared at him, your heart hammering a frantic rhythm against your ribs. "juhoon..."

"i do," he said, his face inches from yours. "and i'm not going to keep hiding it."

you tilted your head up, your eyes fluttering shut as you prepared to close the tiny space between your lips, ready to give him everything—

slam.

the bedroom door flew open, hitting the wall with a deafening crash that shook the entire frame.

you both jumped apart instantly, your hands ripping away from each other as your eyes flew wide in sheer, paralyzing terror.

standing in the doorway was martin.

his face was completely pale, then turning a dark, angry red. his chest was heaving up and down rapidly, his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles were stark white. he looked between you—sitting on the bed in juhoon’s oversized hoodie—and his best friend, who was slowly scrambling off the mattress.

the absolute betrayal in martin’s eyes was devastating. but the anger behind it was terrifying.

"what the actual hell is going on here?" martin roared, his voice shaking the entire room.

the sheer volume of his voice made you flinch, your hands instinctively grabbing the blanket. juhoon stood up slowly, stepping directly in front of you, shielding your body from martin’s furious gaze. his face was pale, but his jaw was set, his shoulders tense and ready.

"martin, listen to me," juhoon said, his voice remarkably calm despite the situation, though you could see the slight tremor in his hands. "let me explain. it's not what you think—"

"explain what?!" martin shouted, taking a massive, aggressive step into the bedroom. he looked like he was about to explode, his eyes wild with rage as he pointed a shaking finger at juhoon. "my best friend? in my sister's bed? behind my back?!"

"martin, please—" you started, your voice cracking with tears as you tried to step out from behind juhoon, but juhoon gently blocked you with his arm, keeping you safe behind him.

"shut up!" martin yelled, his eyes snapping to you for a fraction of a second, filled with hurt and anger, before locking back onto juhoon. "you lied to me. you stood in my house, you ate my food, you acted like my brother, and the whole time you were touching my sister?!"

"it’s not like that," juhoon said, his voice dropping, trying to de-escalate the anger. "i care about her, martin. i really care about her. i didn't want to lie to you—"

"you're dead to me," martin whispered, his voice suddenly dropping from a shout to a low, venomous growl that felt a hundred times worse. "both of you. get out of my sight, juhoon. get out of this house before i fucking make you."

the silence that followed was suffocating. you looked at juhoon’s tensed back, then at your brother's furious, trembling frame, realizing with a sinking heart that the secret was finally out.

and everything you knew was about to burn to the ground.

@2xred — all rights reserved.