#cortis headcanons

With a slightly trembling hand, Seonghyeon reached out to brush a strand of hair behind your ear. The tips of his fingers were cold from pure nervousness, creating a sweet contrast against your warm skin. He held his breath, slowly dropping his gaze to your lips before leaning in inch by inch, his eyes fluttering shut just a millisecond before your lips could finally touch.

The bedroom door slammed open with a loud thud.

"MAN, MARTIN STOLE MY NUGGET!" Keonho burst in, protesting with the utmost indignity, pointing toward the hallway where Martin followed right behind, chewing with the most shameless look on his face.

Seonghyeon jumped back so violently that the back of his head hit the wooden headboard with a dull crack.

"Ow, crap!" he groaned, curling up and clutching his forehead while his whole face flushed a bright crimson. He grabbed his guitar at lightning speed, pretending to be deeply focused on tuning a string that wasn't even out of tune.

Martin stopped at the door, looked at Seonghyeon’s completely frozen posture, then at you flushed and curled up at the corner of the bed, and that teasing, playful smirk of his spread from ear to ear.

"Ooh… did we interrupt a moment, lovebirds?" Martin teased, nudging Keonho in the ribs, who only then processed the scene and widened his eyes, completely jaw-dropped.

╰┈➤𝒦eonho

The two of you were hiding out in the empty practice room around ten at night, sitting on the cold floor with your backs against the huge mirror. The faint smell of cleaning supplies and the low hum of the air conditioner were the only background noise. Keonho looked like a total volcano of shyness about to erupt, but he gathered every last drop of courage in his body. He turned his body toward you, nervously pulling at the sleeve of the oversized gray hoodie that covered half his hands.

"You… look really cute when you have that tired little face," he whispered softly, his voice cracking timidly on the last word.

He closed his eyes and slowly leaned in, his hands trembling slightly as they reached for your face, his lips almost touching yours in a sweet, hesitant peck.

The sliding door smoothly glided open.

Juhoon appeared in the doorway, holding two empty water jugs and wearing comfortable cloth slippers. He stopped, stared at the two of you frozen exactly an inch apart, and blinked slowly. Just blinked.

An agonizing, awkward silence filled the room for three agonizing seconds.

"Forgot my bottle," Juhoon said, in his usual completely monotone, peaceful voice. He walked slowly to the corner, picked up his bottle from the floor, and turned back around, closing the door with the exact same care he opened it with.

Keonho covered his face with both hands and let himself fall flat on his back onto the linoleum floor, letting out a loud, desperate laugh full of embarrassment.

"I hate Juhoon. I swear to everything sacred I hate that guy," he laughed in pure panic, looking at you through his fingers.

╰┈➤ℳartin

Backstage at the studio, Martin had taken advantage of a five-minute break to pull you into the wardrobe room, hiding you right between two racks overflowing with long coats. He loved the thrill of risking getting caught. With his microphone cable still hanging around his neck and his performance makeup untouched, he pressed you gently against the clothes hangers, one firm, warm hand on your waist and the other tilting your chin with precision, kissing you with a hunger that pulled a muffled gasp from your throat.

The mood was heating up and the kiss was deepening when a hand pulled the rack curtain open all at once.

"Martin, the producer wants you back to re-record the chorus," Seonghyeon announced on autopilot, holding a cup of coffee, completely oblivious to what was happening inside.

Martin didn't even move right away. He just slowly broke the kiss, resting his forehead against yours and letting out a low curse against your lips. When he turned his head to reply, Seonghyeon finally processed where Martin's hand was placed and his eyes went wide.

"Ah… Oh my God! Oh my God, sorry!" Seonghyeon took three quick steps back in a panic, almost spilling his coffee. "Didn't see anything! I mean, I did, but… five minutes in the studio, okay?!"

Martin let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. He turned back to you, pressing a long, sweet kiss to the tip of your nose, and whispered in your ear:

"Saved by Seonghyeon's complete lack of awareness. But we're finishing this in the van."

╰┈➤𝓙uhoon

Juhoon wasn't one for many words or big jokes, but when he decided to show affection, it was completely overwhelming. You were sprawling on the living room couch at the dorm late at night, the muted TV casting blue shadows across the dark wall. He had his large hand intertwined with yours, using his thumb to trace your lower lip with unbelievable slowness. Without any rush, he leaned in, holding your chin gently and sealing his lips against yours in a deep, calm, warm kiss.

Suddenly, the main ceiling light flickered on with a loud click, blinding both of you instantly.

James was standing near the light switch in a tank top, his hair a complete bedhead mess, holding an empty juice pitcher. He blinked a few times trying to adjust his vision and stumbled right upon the two of you glued together on the couch.

"Juhoon? At this hour?" James asked, his voice low and raspy from sleep. He walked over to the fridge looking like a zombie. "Turn off the light when you're done."

Juhoon let out a slow sigh through his nose, never losing his calm, centered composure, but he squeezed your hand just a little tighter on the couch.

"James. Turn off the light. Now," Juhoon requested, with a serene yet dangerous firmness that made James pause in his tracks, flick the light back off, and wander away in the dark, grumbling to himself.

╰┈➤𝓙ames

James had just gotten back from an exhausting schedule of practice and recordings. You ran into each other in the dorm kitchen while he was trying to grab a glass of water, but the longing hit him too hard. Unable to hold back, he set the glass in the sink, pulled you by the waist, and effortlessly lifted you onto the kitchen counter, fitting himself perfectly between your legs. His kiss was hungry, warm, holding the back of your neck firmly as he pulled you closer.

Neither of you heard the sound of laughter and footsteps coming up the stairs.

"AYO, JAMES! THE PIZZA IS HER—"

Keonho and Martin froze in the kitchen doorway holding pizza boxes. Seonghyeon was right behind them excited and almost ran into both of them. Juhoon simply appeared behind everyone like a silent shadow.

James slowly broke the kiss, but he didn't let go of you for even a second. He kept his hands firmly on your waist, slowly turning his head to glare at the audience of four guys standing at the door.

"Do you guys not have rooms or something?" James asked, his voice low, deep, and dangerously calm.

"The kitchen is a public space!" Martin yelled, already reaching over to grab a slice of pizza.

Notes: I saw so many people writing about this and I wanted to do it too ❤️ Hope you guys like it ❤️ Unedited.

Com a mão levemente trêmula, Seonghyeon levou os dedos até o seu rosto, afastando uma mecha do seu cabelo para trás da orelha. A ponta dos dedos dele estava gelada de puro nervoso, criando um contraste gostoso com a sua pele quente. Ele prendeu a respiração, descendo o olhar devagar para a sua boca antes de se inclinar centímetro a centímetro, os olhos se fechando só no milésimo de segundo antes dos lábios de vocês finalmente se tocarem.

A porta do quarto escancarou num estalido alto.

"CARA, O MARTIN ROUBOU MEU NUGGET!" Keonho entrou protestando no grau máximo de indignação, apontando para o corredor onde o Martin vinha logo atrás, mastigando com a cara mais lavada do mundo.

Seonghyeon deu um pulo para trás tão violento que a cabeça dele bateu com um barulho seco na cabeceira de madeira da cama.

"Ai, cacete!" ele resmungou encolhido, cobrindo a testa enquanto a cara inteira queimava num tom vermelho-pimentão. Ele agarrou o violão numa velocidade absurda, fingindo que estava concentradíssimo afinando uma corda que nem estava desafinada.

Martin parou na porta, olhou para a postura completamente travada do Seonghyeon, depois para você encolhida e vermelha no canto da cama, e aquele sorriso provocador e debochado dele se expandiu de orelha a orelha.

"Opa… atrapalhamos o momento do casal?" zoou Martin, dando uma cotovelada na costela do Keonho, que só então processou a cena e arregalou os olhos, ficando boquiaberto.

╰┈➤ 𝒦eonho

Vocês dois estavam meio escondidos na sala de treino vazia por volta das dez da noite, sentados no chão frio de costas contra o espelho enorme. O cheirinho suave de produto de limpeza e o zumbido baixo do ar-condicionado eram o único plano de fundo. Keonho parecia um verdadeiro vulcão de timidez prestes a explodir, mas juntou até a última gota de coragem que tinha no corpo. Ele virou o corpo na sua direção, puxando nervosamente a manga do moletom cinza gigante que cobria metade das mãos dele.

"Você… fica muito bonitinha quando tá com essa carinha de cansada," ele murmurou baixo, a voz dando uma falhada tímida na última palavra.

Ele fechou os olhos e foi se aproximando bem devagarzinho, as mãos tremendo um pouco enquanto procuravam o seu rosto, os lábios quase se tocando num selinho inseguro e doce.

A porta de correr da sala se abriu num deslizar suave.

Juhoon apareceu no espaço da porta, segurando dois galões de água vazios e usando uns chinelos confortáveis. Ele parou, olhou para vocês dois congelados a exatamente dois centímetros de distância um do outro, e piscou devagar. Apenas piscou.

Um silêncio vergonhoso e absoluto dominou a sala por longos e dolorosos três segundos.

"Esqueci minha garrafa," Juhoon soltou, com aquela voz completamente monótona e pacífica de sempre. Ele caminhou devagar até o canto, pegou o objeto do chão e deu meia-volta, fechando a porta com o mesmo cuidado com que abriu.

Keonho cobriu o rosto com as duas mãos e se deixou cair de costas no linóleo do chão, soltando uma risada alta, desesperada e cheia de vergonha.

"Eu odeio o Juhoon. Eu juro por tudo que é mais sagrado que eu odeio esse garoto," ele rindo de desespero, olhando para você por entre os dedos.

╰┈➤𝓜artin

Nos bastidores do estúdio, Martin tinha aproveitado cinco minutos de pausa para te puxar para dentro do camarim de figurinos, te escondendo exatamente entre duas araras lotadas de roupas compridas. Ele amava o risco de ser pego. Com o cabo do microfone ainda pendurado no pescoço e a maquiagem impecável do show, ele te prensou sem força contra os cabides, uma mão firme e quente na sua cintura e a outra segurando seu queixo com precisão, te beijando com uma vontade que arrancou um suspiro abafado da sua garganta.

O clima estava esquentando e o beijo ficando cada vez mais fundo quando uma mão puxou a cortina da arara de uma vez só.

"Martin, o produtor tá te chamando pra regravar o refrão," Seonghyeon avisou no automático, segurando um copo de café, sem nem se dar conta do que estava acontecendo ali dentro.

Martin nem se mexeu de imediato. Ele apenas parou o beijo devagar, encostando a testa na sua e soltando um palavrão baixo contra a sua boca. Quando ele se virou de lado para responder, Seonghyeon finalmente processou onde a mão do Martin estava enfiada e arregalou os olhos.

"Ah… Meu Deus! Meu Deus, desculpa!" Seonghyeon deu três passos para trás em pânico, quase derramando o próprio café na roupa. "Não vi nada! Quer dizer, vi, mas… cinco minutos no estúdio, tá?!"

Martin soltou uma risada fraca, balançando a cabeça. Ele se virou para você, te deu um selinho demorado e estalado na ponta do nariz e sussurrou no seu ouvido:

"Salvo pela falta de noção do Seonghyeon. Mas a gente termina essa conversa na van."

╰┈➤𝓙uhoon

Juhoon não era de falar muito ou fazer grandes piadas, mas quando decidia demonstrar carinho, era de um jeito avassalador. Vocês estavam jogados no sofá da sala do dormitório de madrugada, a TV ligada no mudo projetando sombras azuis na parede escura. Ele tinha a mão grande entrelaçada na sua e usava o polegar para acariciar o seu lábio inferior com uma lentidão absurda. Sem pressa nenhuma, ele se inclinou, segurando seu queixo com delicadeza e selando os lábios nos seus em um beijo profundo, calmo e quente.

De repente, a luz principal do teto acendeu num estalo alto, cegando vocês dois instantaneamente.

James estava parado perto do interruptor, de regata e com o cabelo completamente bagunçado de sono, segurando uma jarra de suco vazia. Ele piscou algumas vezes tentando ajustar a visão e deu de cara com vocês dois colados no sofá.

"Juhoon? A essa hora da noite?" James perguntou, com a voz grave e rouca de quem acabou de acordar. Ele caminhou até a geladeira parecendo um zumbi. "Desliga a luz quando terminarem"

Juhoon suspirou devagar pelo nariz, sem perder a postura calma e centrada, mas apertou a sua mão com um pouco mais de força no sofá.

"James. Apaga a luz. Agora," Juhoon pediu, numa firmeza tão serena e perigosa que fez o James pausar na hora, apagar a luz de volta e sair andando no escuro resmungando sozinho.

╰┈➤𝓙ames

James tinha acabado de chegar de uma rotina exaustiva de treinos e gravações. Vocês se encontraram na cozinha do dormitório enquanto ele tentava tomar um copo d'água, mas a saudade bateu mais forte. Sem aguentar, ele largou o copo na pia de qualquer jeito, te puxou pela cintura e te ergueu sem esforço para te sentar no balcão, se encaixando perfeitamente entre as suas pernas. O beijo dele era faminto, quente, segurando a sua nuca com vontade e te puxando para mais perto.

Nenhum dos dois ouviu o barulho de risadas e passos.

"AÊ, JAMES! A PIZZA CHEG—"

Keonho e Martin travaram na porta da cozinha com as caixas de pizza na mão. Seonghyeon vinha logo atrás animado e quase atropelou os dois. Juhoon simplesmente apareceu por trás de todo mundo como uma sombra silenciosa.

James interrompeu o beijo devagar, mas não te soltou por um segundo sequer. Ele manteve as mãos firmes na sua cintura, virando a cabeça devagar para encarar a plateia de quatro garotos parados na porta.

"Vocês por acaso não têm quarto, não?" James perguntou, a voz baixa, grave e perigosamente calma.

"A cozinha é um espaço público!" Martin gritou, já esticando a mão pra pegar um pedaço de pizza.

Notes: Vi muita gente escrevendo sobre isso e eu quis fazer tambemm❤️espero que gostem❤️Nao revisei.

You pull the collar up around your ears, teeth lightly chattering as the lawn begins to glow under the sudden flash of a thousand yellow bulbs.

“Look, Seonghyeon, it’s starting!” You nudge his elbow with yours, bouncing on the balls of your feet. “Isn’t it crazy? It looks like fairy dust.”

Seonghyeon doesn’t look up at the towering spire of light. He doesn’t even glance at the crowd around you taking photos.

Instead, his hands are deep in the pockets of his oversized wool trench coat, his shoulder pressed warm and solid against yours. When you turn to check if he’s paying attention, you find his dark eyes already fixed entirely on your face, tracking the way the wind whips stray strands of hair across your lips.

“Yeah,” he says softly, his voice a low rumble beneath the distant chatter of tourists. “Gorgeous.”

You roll your eyes, a small smirk tugging at the corner of your mouth. “You’re not even looking at it.”

“I’m looking at the best view in Paris.”

“God, you’re so corny,” you groan, though the sudden rush of heat to your cheeks belies the complaint. You try to turn back toward the tower, but Seonghyeon shifts, stepping directly into your line of sight to block the light show.

He’s tall, his broad shoulders framing the dark sky behind him. He looks unfairly neat—sharp jawline softened by the messy fringe falling into his eyes, his nose flushed slightly pink from the chill.

“Hey,” you protest, tapping his chest. “I paid for a flight to see the landmark, not your face.”

“My face is much better and valuable than this,” Seonghyeon counters smoothly. He unzips his heavy coat, spreading one side open. “Come here. You’re freezing.”

You don't need to be told twice. You step right into his space, burying your face into the collar of his knit sweater. It smells like cedarwood, and the sweet scent of the bakery you two stopped at two hours ago. Seonghyeon wraps his coat around your back, pulling you flush against his chest until his chin comes to rest naturally on top of your head.

The warmth is instantaneous, seeping through your thin shirt and turning your limbs to jelly.

“Better?” he murmurs into your hair.

“Acceptable,” you mumble against his chest, though your arms wrap around his waist, fingers hooking into the belt loops of his jeans. “Still think you should be looking at the glowing tower. It only sparkles for five minutes every hour.”

“I’ve seen pictures of the tower,” he says, his hands sliding down to rest on your hips, thumb tracing small circles through your jacket. “Pictures don't show how your eyes get all big when you're trying to act like a tourist.”

You tilt your head up to glare at him, but the angle just leaves you staring directly at his mouth—curled up into that infuriating little smirk he only uses when he knows he’s winning.

“You’re an idiot,” you whisper.

“Mhmm.” He leans down, his breath warm against the tip of your cold nose. He hovers there for a heart-stopping second, teasingly close, until you huff and stretch up on your tiptoes to close the gap.

When his lips touch yours, the chatter of the crowd and the pulsing lights of the Eiffel Tower fade into background noise. His mouth is warm and gentle, tasting faintly of hot chocolate, moving against yours with a deliberate patience that makes your toes curl in your sneakers. One of his hands slips up from your hip to cup the back of your neck, his fingers tangling in your hair to hold you right where he wants you.

When he finally pulls back, it’s only by an inch. His forehead rests against yours, his breath coming in short puffs against your lips.

“See?” Seonghyeon whispers, his dark eyes sparkling brighter than any light show behind him. “Much better than a pile of iron.”

JUHOON 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝖽, 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖻𝗈𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗉. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌, 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗂𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗒. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗈, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗍, 𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝖺𝗍 𝖺 𝗌𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁. 𝖠𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝗈𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝖼𝗍 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗌𝖾𝖽. 𝖳𝗈𝗈 𝖺𝖽𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗂𝗋 𝗈𝗋 𝗉𝖺𝗍𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖺 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝖿 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝖺 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖧𝖾'𝗅𝗅 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗎 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗎𝗉.

MARTIN 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗒𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗉, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗏 𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝗈𝗅𝗎𝗆𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗌𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗎𝖽. 𝖧𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗄 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾, 𝗎𝗉𝖽𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖼𝖾𝗋𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗈𝖼𝖼𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝗁𝗆𝗆'𝗌, 𝗎𝗁𝗁'𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗁'𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖼𝖼𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 "𝗈𝗁 𝗆𝗒 𝖽𝖺𝗒𝗌" 𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝖽𝗆𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖻𝗈𝗒𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽. 𝖠𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖾𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝖿𝗍 𝗁𝗎𝖿𝖿𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖺𝖽. 𝖳𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗉 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗉 𝖺 𝖿𝖾𝗐 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗌. 𝖧𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝖽𝗀𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗇𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖺 𝗌𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝗎𝗆𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗏.

SEONGHYEON 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽, 𝗍𝗁𝗈 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗋. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝖿𝖾𝗐 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗌 𝖺𝗀𝗈, 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗌 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝖺𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗈 𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝗈 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝖺𝗍 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍. 𝖤𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗍. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝗌𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇 𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗀𝗈𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗉. 𝖠𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗍, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐 𝗈𝖿 𝗉𝖾𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖲𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗒, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗆 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗐𝗄𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽. 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗇 𝗂𝗇 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗋, 𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝖿𝗍 𝗌𝗇𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝖺 𝖿𝖾𝗐 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋. 𝖧𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝖼𝗁 𝗂𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌, 𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅. 𝖧𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝖳𝗂𝗆 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗀𝗈 𝖺 𝖻𝗂𝗍 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗈 𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖽𝗆𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎!!

KEONHO 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝖺𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗋 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗎𝗉𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝗆𝗌. 𝖧𝖾 𝖽𝗋𝖺𝗀𝗀𝖾𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝗂𝗆, 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝗒, 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝗉 𝗁𝗂𝗆 𝗌𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗌𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗀𝗈𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌 𝗈𝗎𝗍, 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗀𝗈𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗁𝖺𝗅𝖿 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝖾𝖾 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖼𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖾𝖺 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗆𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝖻𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗀𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗎𝗉 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖼𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗉 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖻𝗈𝗒𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽'𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗋, 𝗌𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗎𝗉 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌. 𝖨𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝗎𝗇𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾. 𝖦𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝗈𝗋.

You had embarrassed him in front of his family—just because you could, and read his diary aloud when you were nine in front of your friends. “Dear diary, she smiles so pretty and I think I like her.” You declared at that time. James genuinely thought it was just that. But oh lord, he was so wrong. Loudly wrong. As if invading his privacy wasnʼt enough, you somehow convinced his own mother that you were the better child.

You also liked being the center of attention, especially during Q&A sessions in class. James was the opposite. He liked living a slow life, and not being seen with a lot of people. But to his knowledge, he was seated with you during junior until this senior high school time. Every time you answered a teacherʼs question, the entire class would turn to look at him. Heʼd rather die than to be in that position over again.

On the other hand, you were not someone as cocky as how James would describe you. You were popular, pretty, and smart. Someone who always caught peopleʼs attention at the school hall. You were only doing those annoying things with James, simply because you liked the reactions coming out of him every time you did something that got under his skin.

“Can you get out? Itʼs my room.” He stood next to his door as he placed a hand on his waist, staring at you whoʼs lying on his bed.

“No.” You turned a page of the “Little Women” novel in front of you. “Why not?” He frowned like a lost deer. Are you freaking serious right now?

“Because our families are there. Iʼm not going to bother them.”

“You better be joking.” He scoffed. “Weʼre not that close, you know? So stop pretending like we are.”

You let out an ʼouchʼ and looked up at him. “Look, why do you hate me so much?” You closed the novel and sat up straight.

“Do you have to ask?” He grabbed his phone in his pocket and sat on his study chair, showing his back to you. He didnʼt even bother to come and lie next to you. Even though deep down, you slightly wanted him to do that.

“Do you like me?”

James gasped and turned his chair to look at you. “Ew, thereʼs no way on Earth Iʼd do that.”

“Then, answer me.”

James choked on his own words. He couldnʼt even answer a simple question. Why did he hate you? Was it because of the diary story? Was it because youʼre smart? Was it because youʼre popular, and you donʼt have time to hang out with him at school?

Every time James looked for a reason, he still couldnʼt find it. His brain seemed to stop working. In fact, he didnʼt hate you that much. Thatʼs why it was so hard for him to find excuses. The sound of It Had To Be You by Frank Sinatra echoed in his room, leaving a loud silence between the two of you.

“I donʼt like you.”

You let out another ʼouchʼ. “That was harsh.”

“Okay, I donʼt like you.” James smiled sarcastically at you from ear to ear. He looked silly, and you just wanted to eat him alive.

“You sound like you donʼt mean it. Just accept the fact that you like me.” You blew him a kiss as you lay on your back on his pillow and started reading “Little Women” again. James remained silent. Part of him disliked the idea of liking you, and another part wondered if it would really be that bad.

Months passed, and itʼs already Summer. You and James got closer but still fought over the smallest thing ever. James couldnʼt deny ever since last Christmas, he was thinking maybe a little too much about you. How your smile never seemed to fade, how your dark orbs shone every time it looked at him, and how your hair fell every time you pulled out your hair tie.

You and James have been friends since forever. Jamesʼ family moved into the house next to yours when both of you were five. And ever since then, you and James became inseparable.

Your classmates decided to go on a summer vacation to the nearest beach. Some of you went enjoying the beach under umbrellas, and some (especially the boys) played football on the sand.

James was a part of the team as well, and you cheered for him, making him smile throughout the entire round. He didnʼt have that many friends since he was labeled as a nerd by your classmates. When the first round ended, James got kicked out because he couldnʼt score a goal.

He absentmindedly went to sit next to you, making the girls let out an ʼohʼ. They often asked why you liked being around him, and you simply shrugged over the question. “Maybe because heʼs nice?” You said at that time.

“That was a good round.” You put your arm over his shoulder and patted him.

“I know itʼs the worst. Stop being optimistic.” James answered sarcastically, his lips slightly forming a pout. Oh, you wish you could peck those cute lips of his.

“I still enjoyed it, though.” You observed him as a smile formed on your beautiful face. “I donʼt find this round interesting anymore since youʼre not in it.”

James swore you could possibly hear his heart thumping. That smile of yours could be the reason of his death one day. He shyly looked down, biting down a smile at your words. No, he couldnʼt act like this. You knew he hated you, he couldnʼt change that perspective yet. Not now.

“You look great, by the way.” Your voice brought him back to reality. He looked to the side only to find you already staring at him. Your sunglasses resting on your head, your shiny hair blown by the wind was the most gorgeous and breathtaking sight he has ever seen.

He cleared his throat. “You donʼt look bad either. I like it.” His voice came out low and dry.

“Yeah?” You raised your brows. “What did you like about it?” You whispered to him, sending him a shiver down to his spine.

“Em.. the swimsuit looks great. Your hair looks stunning.”

You giggled. “So youʼre saying Iʼm beautiful?”

“I guess so.” He drew his attention to the beach, avoiding eye contact. His cheeks heated up as soon as your eyes lingered on him.

“Thank you, baby.”

Baby?

He looked up at your now standing figure. You did a warm up before going into the water. “What did-”

“Come here!” You yelled at James. The poor boy was still confused with the new nickname you just gave him and now you wanted to play with him alone? On this beach? In front of your friends?

“Hello?” You yelled again. “Zhao Yufan!”

He still frowned at you. So you ran back to your umbrella and pulled Jamesʼ hands. “Letʼs go!”

And he followed you. Everything felt like a slow motion to him. Thereʼs no way the annoying-popular-pretty girl next door was his crush, and to his liking, rather to spend time with him than her friends. James couldnʼt process anything as he kept playing with you and followed the flow. He didnʼt want to rush this moment, especially if youʼre not feeling the same way as he did.

Tonight was one of Jamesʼ friendʼs party and he invited you to be his fake date since he didnʼt have any girls left to chose. At least, thatʼs what he said to you. You basically didnʼt mind if it meant you had more time to spend with him instead. “Do I look good?”

You did a turn in front of him in your white sundress. James bit his inside cheek to hold his excitement, seeing you in that dress awakened something inside him. It felt like butterflies filling his stomach and doing dances in it. “You look gorgeous.”

Your smile crept on your face as you clung your arms with his. “Thank you, baby.”

Not that sweet nickname again. It was the second time you called him that since last summer vacation.

“Ready?” He opened his car door for you.

“I was born ready.” You wiggled your brows at him and sat on the passenger seat as James closed your door and went around the car.

Nearly 20 minutes later, you and James arrived at his friendʼs house. You clung your arms around his again as soon as you got down from his car. You played the role of his fake girlfriend too good. His head spun.

“Iʼm going to get us a drink.” You looked up at him through your lashes and he nodded. You smiled at him before leaving for the drinks. He could've sworn he almost fell on the floor because of your smile.

James finally realized he never actually hated you. Youʼre not as annoying as how he remembered, and youʼre also not an attention seeker. It was just you. Everyone adored you, just like how he adored you. Youʼre popular amongst his friends. Maybe thatʼs why he hated you. He hated the fact of not being chosen, especially by you. But all this time youʼve been together, you always prove him wrong.

“Is that your girl?” A blonde guy bumped his shoulder on Jamesʼ as he sipped a cup of soda in his hand.

“Yeah.” James rubbed his nape.

“Holy shit, man! Youʼre insane!” He looked at James with an amazed face. “I told you, you have to get out of your zone and find some hot chicks.”

James saw youʼre coming to his way. “Ni-ki, stop.”

The blonde guy—Ni-ki—did exactly as he was told and sipped more of his soda. “Hi.” You beamed. “What did I miss?” You passed one cup to James and looked at both James and Ni-ki.

“Wait, Iʼve never seen you before. Whatʼs your name?” Ni-ki changed the topic as he offered his hand to shake yours. “Iʼm Ni-ki, by the way.”

“Iʼm Y/N. Nice to meet you, Ni-ki.” You shook Ni-kiʼs hand and smiled. Your voice trailed off his ear like a melody.

James looked at you then at Ni-ki then looked at your handshake. It seemed like it didnʼt have an end. James cleared his throat and separated your hand softly from Ni-ki. “I think weʼre going to the balcony. You know, just to get some fresh air.”

Ni-ki let the two of you leave and use the balcony. “Relax, I wonʼt take your girl. Unless you want me to.” Ni-ki winked at James before leaving to meet another group of friends.

“Is that your friend who hosted this party?” You stared straight to the front, sipping the last sip of your soda.

“Yeah, we have been friends since middle school.” James looked down on the road, there were a lot of teenagers standing and holding a cup on their hands chatting with each other.

“He seems like a good friend.”

“He is. He is my only friend.” James didnʼt know why heʼd said that to you. It slipped out of his mouth.

You looked at him, waiting until he looked back at you. When he did, he couldnʼt read your expression at all.

You nodded after a while and formed a thin smile on your lips. “Thatʼs nice. At least you have someone to rely on.”

The balcony door opened and Ni-kiʼs head showed. “Does anyone want wine?”

James glanced at you, finding your figure leaning to the balcony railing as you watched him. “I want it.”

“Iʼll be right back!”

“Wow. I never know you drink.” You chuckled.

James shrugged. “Uh... yeah. Iʼve been drinking since our first year at senior high school.”

Lie.

You formed an ʼohʼ as a response. Both of you remained silent until Ni-ki came back with two glasses of wine in his hands. “Here we go.” He put the glasses on the table at the balcony.

“Thank you, Ni-ki.”

“Thanks, man.”

“My pleasure, you lovebirds.” Ni-ki winked at both of you and closed the balcony door again.

You glanced at James. The boy seemed to hesitate taking a sip of the glass. “You sure you want to drink?” You rubbed his back, feeling concerned about him. He didnʼt need to do anything to prove it to you anyway.

“Yes.” He nodded and gulped. His Adamʼs apple bobbed up and down due to his anxiousness.

“You donʼt have to drink it if itʼs your first time.” You placed your hands on his and squeezed it. Jamesʼ eyes widened as he looked at you. He caught you off guard and thereʼs nothing more embarrassing than this moment.

“How did- how did you- ”

“Look, James. You donʼt have to do this. I knew it was your first time. Iʼve been with you since weʼre five, remember? I know when youʼre lying.”

His voice became raspy as he looked to the other side. “This is so embarrassing.”

“Nothing is embarrassing.”

“I always embarrass myself in front of you. Itʼs embarrassing.”

“No,” you cupped his face and forced him to look at you. “Youʼre not embarrassing. Itʼs cute when you try to act cool in front of me.”

His eyes became glossy. Did he want to cry?

“Can I, at least try it? Just for this time?” James didnʼt know why he asked for your permission. But he still did it anyway.

“Okay, baby. If you donʼt like it, you can stop drinking it. Okay?”

Baby. Baby. Baby. That word hung in Jamesʼ head a bit too many times. Whatʼs your intention for calling him that name? You didnʼt say you like him, nor did he make it obvious that he likes you.

James nodded and drank the wine like a thirsty kid. You frowned at the sight and held his empty glass before itʼs falling down on the floor. “Hey. Look at me.” You cupped Jamesʼ face again. His eyes were open-closed, his lips parted a bit and became glossy, his cheeks turned as red as tomatoes. He was drunk.

“Let me take you home.” You grabbed his car keys in his pocket and placed his arm over your shoulder as a support for him to walk.

By that, you drove back to your house. James mumbled a lot of things, but you couldnʼt catch it. Sometimes he whined, and the other time he stayed silent.

You parked his car in his garage and helped him walk to his bedroom. His parents were sleeping, thatʼs why you did it by yourself and didnʼt want to wake them up. “Youʼre so freaking heavy.”

James giggled. He fixed his black glasses to see the path to his bedroom clearly. “Thank you.” He mumbled when you put his body on his bed.

You breathed heavily and passed out next to him. You stared at his ceiling as you placed your hand on your chest, feeling your heart beating so fast. “You look so beautiful today. It makes me crazy.”

You looked over at him, finding him hide his face in the back of his arm. “Really?” You moved his arm to look at his now red face. It became more red than the last time you saw it.

He pouted, really pouted this time, and nodded at you. “I- I donʼt know how to explain it.”

“Well, you can go slowly.“ You ran your fingers to his hair, giving him a sense of relaxation. “Iʼll wait.”

“I just donʼt think I hate you.”

“I know.”

“...You knew?” His eyes widened, reminding you of a kitten who lost his mother.

“Remember how I told you that you liked me last Christmas?”

He nodded. “I just realized I donʼt really have any reason to hate you. Maybe all of it came from the jealousy I had if you end up not choosing me over your friends.”

“I was scared, like really scared, that one day you would leave me. Thatʼs why I always make a statement that I hate you because I read people would think about someone who hates them.”

“It may sounds weird and Iʼm sorry if it is, but I like you. So, so much. You canʼt imagine it. Every time you smiled, looked, and talked to me, or annoyed me I felt myself falling harder.”

Oh, sweet boy.

“Iʼm not saying this in order you have to be with me because I donʼt have friends.... I just feel like, I really need to confess how I feel to you. I feel like I always like you,” he stopped for a second. “No, I love you. I feel like I always love you.”

You stared at him and stayed silent. James started to wonder why you didnʼt utter a single word since his confession. Did he do something wrong? Did he hurt your feelings? Did he offend you?

Your mouth parted a little and closed again, as if youʼre hesitate to say something. He sat up straight and fixed his glasses. He met your eyes and tried to find the answer. “Did I - ”

“I love you too.” You cut him off. And oh, his expression was so precious to you. “I did all the annoying things just to get close to you. I hope you donʼt mind.” You smirked at him.

He was confused. This couldnʼt be real. Thereʼs no freaking way a girl like you liked him in the first place. He was just an ordinary guy. “This is not a joke, you know.” His dizziness was long forgotten because of your answer.

You gasped and put a hand on your chest, playing dramatically at his words. “Why did you think I was joking?” You moved closer to him as he slowly moved backwards. No, no.

“Thereʼs no way you would like me.“ His voice cracked. He looked down at his fingers and gulped.

“Did you realize Iʼve been calling you baby?” You moved closer and closer until thereʼs only a few inches left between the two of you. James nodded, the thought of you calling him baby made his heart beat like crazy.

“I spent most of my time annoying you. Did you realize why I did that?” You whispered to him.

“Y-yeah.. yeah.”

You smiled at him. “Good.”

Thereʼs a long silence after the conversation. Both of you sank down in your own thoughts. “Can I be your boyfriend?”

“Is that how you ask someone out?”

“Wait- do you wanna be- ”

“Yes, you can and I wanna be your girlfriend.”

His eyes turned glossy as he stared at you, your lips to be exact. He held your face and leaned forward. “Can I kiss you?”

“Of course.”

He pressed his lips on yours and both of you moved in sync. The kiss was messy, but you didnʼt mind. Thereʼs always room to learn. He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against yours. “Did my glasses bother you?”

You shook your head. “No.”

He nodded. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, baby.”

He grinned at you. “Keep calling me that, I like that nickname.”

“Okay, baby.” You pecked his lips again. “Can I sleep here tonight? I donʼt wanna wake your family up.”

Classic.

“Of course. I can sleep on the floor-”

“Youʼre sleeping next to me.”

“Next to you?”

“Why? You donʼt want it?”

“No! I want it.” He answered immediately, causing you to giggle. “Youʼre so cute.” You pecked his cheek and positioned yourself on his bed.

“Come here.” You opened your arms as he crawled and hugged your body. The two of you enjoyed the cozy moment and slept until the next morning.

“Howʼs everyone doing?” Evan starts the conversation. The five of you were classmates in high school, and this is the first time you have  seen them since graduating.

“So... anyone got a partner? How about you?” Evan tugs at you while grilling the meat. You smile at him and nod. “Yes, I have a boyfriend.”

Everyone cheers and congratulates you. Evan smiles and puts meat on your plate. You donʼt think much of it. Minutes pass, but Evan still puts meat on your plate every time itʼs empty. And only you. Whatʼs he doing?

“Baby.” You look over your shoulder and find Juhoon standing behind you in his navy track jacket. Everyone stops and looks at Juhoon as well.

“Babe! Everyone, this is Juhoon, my boyfriend. And Juhoon, thatʼs Zoey, Megan, Noah, and Evan.” You introduce them properly and Juhoon shakes their hands one by one.

When it comes to Evan, Juhoon introduces himself again, gripping his hand tightly as if Evan were going to run away. “Hello, Iʼm her boyfriend.”

Juhoon gives Evan a thin smile before sitting between you and him. “What are you doing?” You whisper to Juhoon. 

He immediately grabs the tongs and starts grilling the meat. He blows on the piece of meat he just grilled and feeds you. “Say ah.”

You open your mouth and let Juhoon feed you for the rest of the night. Zoey, Megan, and Noah are fangirling over the two of you, while Evan seems to be quieter than before. After dinner, you and your friends say goodbye to each other. 

“See you soon, honey.” Zoey and Megan kiss your cheek before leaving. Noah taps your shoulder, and Evan gives you a brief hug.

“I donʼt like that red-haired guy.” Juhoon confesses.

“Evan?” 

“His nameʼs weird.” 

“...what?”

Juhoon holds your hand and keeps it in his pocket. He walks you home in silence. “I didnʼt know you were gonna come tonight. We shouldʼve come together.” 

“Yeah. Itʼs fine.” Juhoon rubs your hand and smiles at you.

When you arrive at your apartment, you sit on the couch and turn on the TV. “Come here.” You open your arms, inviting Juhoon to cuddle with you on the couch. He lies on you and intertwines his legs with yours. He clings to you like a koala. 

“I miss you so much.” He mumbles.

“Please, youʼre literally with me from morning to night.” You giggle.

“I donʼt like that red-haired guy.”

“Okay...? And whyʼs that?” You play with his hair. “He flirted with you.”

“He definitely didnʼt do it.”

“I saw it with my own eyes,” he looks up at you. “His gestures, his tone, and his eyes. I saw everything. He likes you.”

“Yeah?” You meet his eyes. “And? Are you jealous?”

“No,” he shakes his head. “The meat he gave you was burnt. You didnʼt even notice it.”

“Itʼs not good for your health.” Juhoon stares at the TV screen and pulls you closer.

You chuckle. “Youʼre right. I didnʼt notice that.”

“Whatʼs your plan tomorrow?”

“Iʼm gonna go to the public library in town. I need new books to read.”

“Who are you gonna go with?”

“Evan. Because he told me thereʼs this cool book Iʼm definitely gonna like. I canʼt wait to read it.”

“No,” Juhoon sits up and looks at you. “I mean, go with me instead. You can ask for the title tonight, and we can go together tomorrow. Just us.”

“Oh, honey.” You cup his face. “You look like a turtle when youʼre jealous.”

“Tell me thatʼs a joke.”

“Well, turtles are cute.”

“Do you think Iʼm cute?” He grins at you.

“I believe I just said turtles.”

“Yeah, I donʼt like to be called cute either. Iʼd rather be called handsome or sexy.” Juhoon shrugs and lies down on you again. His hands wrap around your body.

“So, youʼre gonna go with me, right? I mean, tomorrow.”

“It depends,” you stop playing with his hair. “If you confess what youʼre feeling tonight, we can talk about it.”

Juhoon remains silent for almost one minute. “Yes, I was jealous. Iʼm not comfortable seeing you get touched or flirted with by some perverts who think theyʼre going to be with you someday. Thatʼs not going to happen because Iʼm still your boyfriend. Nobody gets to disrespect you like that.”

“Iʼm gonna go with you tomorrow.”

Juhoonʼs eyes widen and he sits again. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, why not? I can text him-”

“Donʼt,” Juhoon raises his index finger. “Can I text him instead? Please.” He pouts at you. And you swear you just want to eat him alive. Heʼs such a baby. Your baby.

“Okay.” You beam at him.

“Okay.” He smiles and stares at you, completely mesmerized by your appearance. A little messy hair, cheeks flushed from the cold, and glossy lips. “What kind of gloss are you using today?”

“A pink one. I think it kinda tastes like strawberry.” You purse your lips. Seconds later, you finally realize why he asked you that. “Why?”

“Nothing.” Juhoon shakes his head, but he still looks at you. His eyes look dark and glossy under the dim light. 

“You shouldʼve known better about what you want, baby.” You squeeze his hand.

“Stop teasing me.” Juhoon groans, and you laugh. “Okay, okay. I wonʼt do that again.” You giggle. 

You turn your attention back to the TV, trying to focus on the first episode of Gossip Girl. Juhoon clears his throat and intertwines his fingers with yours. 

“I- Can I kiss you?” He mumbles.

“Of course.” You look at him. “Do you have to- ”

He pecks you. The two of you stay silent. “Thatʼs it?” You raise your brows at him, trying to hold your laugh.

“You donʼt have to be shy.”

“Iʼm not shy! I... I just- ”

And with that, you gently cup his face and press your lips on his. “Is it better?” You pull away and look at his eyes. 

“Thatʼs so much better. Thank you.” Juhoon grins at you before pecking your lips again. The two of you go back to watching TV for the rest of the night.