“Just do it!” Chaewon yells back.

Yunjin— the new social media manager stands at the head of all this bickering, awkwardly recording the three of you with her phone. “We don’t have to go with this idea. There are other reels we could try— you know, if you’re not comfortable with a cake in the face.”

“No!” Eunchae yells. “I like this idea!”

“Well I don’t! And I’m the one getting a cake to the face!” You yell back.

“It’s two against one. And I’m the manager. Yunjin, start recording!” Chaewon answers back.

When you were told you were getting a social media manager, you expected to barely see them. You expected them to be a force in the background, silently swaying would-be customers to try out the cafe, only feeling their presence as the store got busier.

You did not expect to be corralled out of bed 3 hours before your shift started to film TikToks. And you especially did not expect those TikTok’s to end with your face to be covered in frosting.

“Okay then,” Yunjin says awkwardly, bringing the phone back up. “And, action,” she cues.

You do your best to ‘act natural’, or whatever Chaewon told you to do, but it’s hard, considering you know the ending. Chaewon and Eunchae do their little sequence before Yunjin pans to you. You can see her awkward smile, the knowing look that her idea has put someone she just met— you— in mortal danger, death by frosting.

And suddenly you can’t act natural. You’re on high alert. You have a whole shift to work after this, and plus—

The cake comes earlier than expected. It’s wet and cold, and you feel Eunchae’s hand on the back of your head as she pushes the cake harder into your face. You hear familiar giggles erupt around you— even hear a new laugh, loud and short as Yunjin covers her mouth in embarrassment having just laughed at someone she just met.

The cake falls to the floor, half of it still stuck to your face. You scoop out the cake covering your eyes, giving way to Eunchae, smiling proudly and Chaewon, laughing like you’ve never seen her laugh before.

You even see Yunjin biting back her laughter.

“It’s okay Yunjin, you can laugh at him,” Eunchae says as she takes a finger and traces it under your chin, scooping up extra cake before plopping her finger in her mouth.

“Yeah,” Chaewon adds as she too scrapes cake off of your cheek, “He likes to act mad all the time, but he really loves us,” she says despite your face cake in her mouth. “Want some?”

“Don’t offer the new girl my face cake!” You yell.

“I’m okay,” Yunjin says, but lets out her laughter. “Anyways, that was great! I’ll get to editing this right away.”

Chaewon and Eunchae hop over to Yunjin, phone still in hand. The three of them laugh as they watch the replay.

You decide against going to watch, not because you’re particularly mad about the cake— you sort of are, but it’s all in good fun— but because you’re not particularly close with Yunjin. She’s friendly for sure, but, things are still a bit awkward. It seems weird to feel… nervous, knowing how fast you got close to both Chaewon and Eunchae, but those were special circumstances. You were more focused on finally having a job rather than the social aspect of it.

Plus, you were constantly around them. You worked hours on end with them, and it was a good ice breaker to learn how to make drinks side by side with them. But Yunjin doesn’t work as a barista. You don’t have that common ground, don’t have the hours to spend with her during your shifts. The girls seem to be getting along with her just fine, though.

“Eunchae, go help him clean off the cake. Me and Yunjin will clean up here,” Chaewon says through fading laughter.

Eunchae’s soft hand grabs your wrist, dragging you off towards the washroom with hurried laughter.

The door clicks shut, and the temperature change is palpable. Eunchae still giggles, but she’s faced towards you— cornering you in the enclosed space.

You try to ignore it, try to remain somewhat level-headed. You are, in fact, still at work (not that it ever mattered before). You decide to keep the angry façade on. “What happened to not smashing the cake hard? You practically hydraulic pressed my skull!”

Eunchae takes two fingers, eyes locked on yours, and drags them across your cake covered lips. She takes the cake into her mouth. “You taste good y’know”.

You take a step back, back hitting the now locked door— but Eunchae tracks you like a hawk. “Eunchae, wait. I need to get cleaned up, we open soon”.

She ignores you, pressing her body onto yours. She’s still looking up to you, eyes barely blinking. “You looked so fucking hot when I caked you. I think I’ll have a slice”.

You should push her away, should play it off as a joke and get cleaned up. But her large doe eyes are too much to handle, the way her body is pushed up against yours so you can feel her— feel all of her— kills your resolve. When her tongue reaches up to lick your chin, you actually lean into it.

And then she’s licking all over, long strokes trailing up your face, on your cheeks, your jawline— everywhere. Your hands go to her waist, gripping it, claiming it.

“Eunchae— Eunchae wait,” you say without any conviction.

She responds by taking her tongue, slowly licking the cake off of your lips.

“You want to try some?” She asks, breathy and with all the conviction you were missing, frosting-lined tongue sticking out.

And without thinking your tongue is on hers— frosting be damned. You’re lapping her up like you’ve been starved for weeks. Her hands climb to your chest as yours tightened around her.

Your faces are a mix of frosting and saliva, tongues licking it up all the same. You feel her nipples harden against you as you pull her closer, your own hardening member pressing into her stomach. She pushes off of you slightly, reaching down to your waistband. She slides your pants down revealing your stiff rod with a pop.

“I want to taste more of you,” she says, scooping up some of the cake and lathering it on your cock before she drops to her knees. The sensation is almost too much to handle, her warm hand feels like heaven as she spreads the cake up and down your length. Your legs buckle as you lean on the door for support.

“Since when were you so assertive?” You ask.

“It’s your fault I’m like this,” she pouts, pointing the tip of your penis upwards. And when she sticks her tongue out, you almost grab her head, almost lose control. But it’s Eunchae, you remind yourself. The sweet girl who keeps you company, who loves chocolate and coffee and texting you way past your bed time.

So you let her go slow, let her run the tip of her tongue up the underside of your member. You groan loud, almost too loud. Eunchae smiles. She knows the effect she’s having on you, she can feel it in the way you buckle, in the way your eyes are begging for her.

So she takes her tongue, still slow, teasing, and circles it around the head, cleaning the white frosting off of it. She wraps her lips around the tip, sucking with dangerous force. You’re throbbing now, and when she pops it out of her mouth, you see her smile proudly. “I was right,” she says, “You taste so good”.

You reach for her, running your fingers through her hair before it lands on the back of her head. You softly position her mouth in front of your penis before—

A soft knock echoes throughout the washroom, and the sultry look on Eunchae’s face turns to surprise. She scrambles up as you reach for your pants.

“Hey sorry— Chaewon is calling for you guys. You almost done?” A nervous voice calls.

You both stand up straight. The mirror shows you and Eunchae’s face— a mess of frosting and saliva.

“Yeah— just a minute!” You call back.

“Sure, just meet us up front,” Yunjin says before you hear her soft footsteps retreat back.

You turn to Eunchae, who’s staring at you with a mix of horror and embarrassment. It stays that way until Eunchae’s face turns to a smile, full of relief. “That was close,” she says.

---

You’re still pent up by the time Chaewon and Eunchae head home before the store opens. It’s just you today, but Chaewon, hopeful Yunjin can turn things around, assures you things will change— that soon the store will be lined with customers.

But for now, it’s just you, leaning back on the counter as you wait for customers. Oh, and Yunjin, who sits at a table, quietly editing away on her laptop. You think of chatting with her, getting to know your new coworker better, but something is stopping you.

She seems friendly enough though. Maybe you will say something.

“Hey Yunjin?”

She looks over, smiling. “What’s up?”

“Do— do you want anything to drink? I mean you work here now so…”

She lights up. “Oh, is that really okay? I’d love a coffee. Do you have anything minty?”

“Minty? Yeah sure,” you say for some reason. In fact, you definitely don’t have any minty coffee’s on the menu.

But you already promised her a mint coffee, so you take some fresh mint leaves, muddling it before brewing a fresh shot of espresso overtop of it. With some ice and milk it’s surprisingly good— needs some work but Chaewon might even put it on the menu.

You bring it over to the busy Yunjin, who for the most part seems to enjoy it.

The ice isn’t broken, but it’s a start. The day goes by slow, though, and Yunjin seems to be busy with her work, so you decide against bothering her more. Your only customer, of course, is the pretty rich girl that always comes in.

She’s wearing a long overcoat overtop a tight cashmere sweater— designer if you had to guess. She smiles, dimple dotting her cheek.

“Another slow day?” She asks, voice soft but confident.

“Another slow day,” you repeat. “The usual?”

Liz smiles. “You remember my order? Do I really come that much?”

You’ve grown comfortable with Liz over the weeks. She was probably your only regular customer. You also appreciate the fact that she never brings up the incident— her walking in on you massaging Chaewon’s back. You used to cringe every time she walked in, embarrassed of the memory. But she never mentions it— never let Chaewon in on the fact that she caught you two.

“Of course,” you say cringing inwardly at your squeaky customer service voice.

You ring her up, silently making her order. It usually goes like this. Liz comes in, greets you amicably as you make her drink, then leaves with a wink.

But this time is evidently different. “You must be so lonely,” she teases.

You look at her confused. “Lonely?”

“You’re all alone. Usually you look so happy bickering with the cute girl with the bob— Chaewon, I think?” She says with a knowing smile.

You can tell your face goes red by the heat in your cheeks. So much for her not mentioning it. “Oh—”, you stutter. “I mean, umm, yeah I guess it can get kind of boring.”

You should laugh, brush it off, act like you don’t know what she’s talking about, but you’re at her mercy. It’s that damn dimple. It’s staring at you like it knows.

She leans forward on the counter. “You two seem close.”

Suddenly you’re very aware that Yunjin is sitting not 6 feet away, probably privy to this whole conversation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you laugh awkwardly.

Her smile curls up even further. “Oh come on. The first time I saw you you were massaging her back.”

Yeah, your cheeks are definitely burning red. “I think you must be seeing things. Here’s your drink,” you say, placing it on the counter.

She doesn’t take the hint that you want the conversation to be over, but you can’t outright say it— she’s a customer after all.

“You two would look cute together.” Something inside you jolts. Is she being serious? If only she knew what you had done with Chaewon. But you have this weird sense of pride. This girl, Liz— beautiful herself— thinks you and Chaewon would look cute together? Liz must sense the change in your body language, must know she’s struck something. “I’ll be rooting for you~,” she smiles before turning heel and leaving.

You can’t even be angry at Liz. She’s waited until you were alone, away from Chaewon before teasing you. You’re at least grateful for that. And she doesn’t know Yunjin, still sitting at her table is now apart of the team. And it’s not like she was that far off the mark. Your dynamic with Chaewon hasn’t changed— in fact it’s probably grown since Liz has walked in on you.

But you can’t help but feel… watched. As if Liz can see right through you. Where does she get off?

But you are at work. Maybe you have been acting too close to your coworkers, maybe you have been unprofessional to some degree. At least Liz is a good sport about it. Your head hurts thinking about it— you just hope Yunjin didn’t hear anything.

But nearly as soon as Liz is gone, Yunjin is at the counter.

“I finished!” She says. Good, seems she wasn’t paying attention.

“Editing?”

“Mhm. Wanna see?” She puts the laptop on the counter, screen facing you. It’s honestly funny, the Tiktok, yet you still don’t know how it’s supposed to bring in customers. The video has Chaewon and Eunchae in the frame.

Eunchae’s character supposedly has just finished baking a cake, but Chaewon, the manager, tells her it isn’t perfect. And Cozy Cafe’s customers only deserve perfection. So, because the cake isn’t perfect, Eunchae fakes her anger. The camera then pans to you, and Eunchae launches the cake into your face. Yeah, you don’t understand it.

“It’s great,” you lie to Yunjin. One, because you don’t want her to feel bad about you getting caked, and two because she’s new. The Tiktok will probably flop, anyway. No one will see it.

Yunjin smiles. “Just sent it to Chaewon. If she approves I’ll post it right away.”

“Finished for today then?”

“No, Chaewon wants some posters done. Just something to hang around the city”. She goes to sit down again.

Not an hour goes by before Yunjin screams, running to you with her phone out. You look at her inquisitively.

“Look!” She yells, showing you her phone. It’s the posted Tiktok.

“You posted it?”

“Yeah, but look!”

“Sorry, but what am I looking at?”

She pushes the phone forward. “Look!” She repeats, pointing at the small ‘4289’ in the corner.

“It has 4000 views already?” You say surprised.

“Those aren’t views. They’re likes.”

Four thousand likes. Already. Four thousand people watched you get caked in the face and thought it funny enough to like. “It has four thousand likes?”

“And I just posted it like, half an hour ago!” She says excitedly.

But you don’t know how to feel. It’s good for the store, you guess.

“I don’t know how I feel about that,” you say hesitantly.

Yunjin’s smile falters a bit. “Hey— are you sure you’re okay with this being— everywhere? I know the cake thing is embarrassing, but Eunchae and Chaewon insisted on it. If you’re not comfortable with it… I can take it down.”

Wow, is this how it feels to have a supportive coworker? “No—” you say. “No, it’s okay. It’s good for the store.”

---

The effects are almost instantaneous. The next day is your off day, but the work group chat dings with Eunchae’s messages.

[Eunchae] it was kind of busy today!

[Ms. Manager (scary)] Yunjin’s Tiktok is working! Were you okay? Could you handle everything yourself?

[Eunchae] don’t underestimate me! i was fine ☕ 💇🏻

[Ms. Manager (scary)] k I can schedule two people if it gets busier But if we’re fine..

[Yunjin] i can step in! i make coffee every morning at home

[Eunchae] lol

But it was indeed not fine. The day after that, you’re swamped from the beginning. Between baking the cakes and making orders, there’s almost no time to relax (duh, you’re at work). The customers all seem a little hostile too. Weird.

It takes you twice as long to close up, and by the time you get home you’re exhausted. You plop down on your bed, work clothes and all, sending a quick message to the group chat.

[You] definitely gonna need a second person

[Eunchae] couldn’t handle it? hehe

[Ms. Manager (scary)] Weak.

[Yunjin] Hwaiting!

And another text pops up. One you know all too well. Karina decides it’s a good idea to text you. Didn’t she get the hint last time? Well, you did promise her you’d talk things out with her, but you weren’t even sure you meant it.

It’s a link to the very same Tiktok that leaves you exhausted, followed by

[💔] Saw this Lol When can we talk?

You open the message. You definitely don’t have the energy for this. And when did she think you two were on ‘lol’ terms?

You click the link anyway wanting to see how the Tiktok is doing. In just two days it’s amassed nearly 10 thousand likes and almost quadruple the views. And it has 80 comments. Your face being caked is apparently what the people want to see. Maybe Yunjin is a genius.

You open the comments.

Woah, they’re cute Who’s that shmuck. Wish I worked there 😍 😻 beautiful Cozy’s coffee and cakes? MOre like Cozy’s coffee and baddies

Jheez, That last one has like 300 likes

That guy is such a loser cake boy got what he deserves bros cooked lmao. girlies ate tho

You stare at your phone in disbelief. Of course, that’s why it’s so popular. It barely has anything to do with the content. No, people are just fawning over two beautiful girls.

But why are you getting strays? Is the internet really that hostile? Is that why every customer that walked in seemed so damn hostile? Because they were expecting the ethereal Chaewon or the adorable Eunchae? But instead they got ‘cake boy’?

Maybe this chill cafe job you got by chance wasn’t a blessing.

---

It doesn’t help that Eunchae’s little stunt last week leaves you blue balled. Your balls are practically bursting. Couple that with the exhaustion of a busy cafe, and you’re going crazy.

The good news is Chaewon decides it necessary to schedule two people to easing the load (if only she could easy another load). The bad news is you have a front seat view to everything— all the pathetic men who come in to see the two cute girls from the Tiktok.

You know they’re just being friendly, putting on their customer service smiles as they take orders. But when Eunchae smiles to the tall guy with nice hair that just ordered, you can’t help but feel jealous. Or when you see 12 pairs of gazing eyes scan Chaewon’s whole body as she bends over to wipe the table, you want to scream.

It takes you everything you have not to shout at them, tell them to keep there eyes to themselves. You want to scream, to shout that Chaewon is yours.

But she’s not. And that’s not who you are. You clench your fists and bite your tongue. It’s just the stress.

For Eunchae and Chaewon, though, their dynamic with you doesn’t change. They’re still as friendly as ever the first coupe days. They still joke with you— hitting you playfully as if every eye isn’t on you. You don’t have the heart to tell them to stop— for one it would be an awkward conversation, to tell them half of the customers you’re getting are because of their looks. Plus it’s not like you have the time anyway. By Wednesday, the store is so busy you can barely think. You’re making drinks from open until close thanks to a couple of popular cafe hoppers who go around reviewing new cafes. Yours is their latest review, and it was glowing. It has almost as great an effect as Yunjin’s Tiktok had.

By Thursday, even Chaewon is a mess. The amount of work that comes with being a manager is no easy task, especially as the store grows. She’s knee deep in the work. Her attitude never left, even when the store was slow, but now it comes with an edge. It’s just a fad, she keeps saying whenever you do attempt to ask her how she’s doing. After the Tiktok’s blow over, things won’t be as busy. That’s how these things worked, Yunjin assures. You’ll get an influx of customers as the Tiktok trends, but it’ll soon even out to a manageable flow.

You want to help Chaewon either way, soothe her like you have before. Maybe share the load with her (or on her, your blue balls remind you), but you’re just too cranky with the week you’ve had. You’re deep into Thursday’s shift having barely talked to her when Liz comes in.

She comes when there’s a slight lull in the flow of customers, a rare occurrence this week. There’s still about 8 people in the cafe, but they’ve all ordered.

Chaewon waves at Liz with a smile. The two talk for a bit while Liz places her order.

“I think I’ll stay here for a bit. I’ve been wanting to try some of your cakes,” Liz says, pointing to a slice of chocolate mousse.

“Okay~~”, Chaewon says in her best customer service voice. She’s too good at this, you think. “Have a seat anywhere, I’ll bring it over”.

She plates the cake, but another customer walks in— a guy who’s all hair and height. Probably half a foot taller than you, and you hate him already. Especially as his eyes find Chaewon as he approaches the counter, then you. Except there’s none of the charm when he looks at you, just suppressed hostility.

“Hiya miss!” He says, smile so big it looks like a snarl.

Chaewon turns to the customer, big smile matching his. She wordlessly hands you the cake. “Welcome!” Chaewon says, all cute and fake. “First time here?”

“First time,” he admits. “Looking for some new study spots. I saw you on Tiktok and knew I found the place!”

Chaewon literally fawns. You almost drop the plate when Chaewon laughs. “Thanks for coming,” she says tilting her head down with a casual bow. “What can I get you?”

“What’s your fav-“

You can’t listen to this anymore. You drag your feet over to where Liz is— hopefully far enough you’re out of earshot.

Liz is sitting all elegant, one leg draped over the other as she scrolls her phone. “Enjoy,” you drop the plate on the table with more attitude than intended.

“My my” Liz sings. “Is that how you greet your favourite customer?”

Who ever said she was your favourite. “Sorry, Liz. Enjoy,” you say, genuinely this time.

“Tough week?“

“Busy. But I’m fine,” you sigh. “Not used to all these customers”

“Seems like something else is on your mind,” she teases. “Have you been thinking about what I said?”

What is she getting at? “I don’t know what you mean”.

Liz spoons her cake, but never brings it to her mouth. In fact, her eyes haven’t left you. “You’re usually so cheerful. All these customers must be getting you down. Especially those here for… the view?”

“Still don’t know what you mean.”

“Aww, don’t get short with me,” she says, voice still teasingly playful. “Chaewon, of course.”

“Sorry Liz,” you sigh, remembering your position. You definitely shouldn’t be giving your customers attitude, especially your most loyal one. “But really, it’s not Chaewon. I’m just tired—“

“Tired? You’ve been staring at Chaewon and Mr. Hair over there. Sad because she’s still talking to the cute customer?”

Why is Liz always smiling. You can’t hide anything from that damned dimple.

“The cake is delicious by the way~”, Liz responds to your stuttering. Weird, she hasn’t even taken a bite. “He is cute. You should tell her how you feel before someone snatches her away.”

It’s not that simple— it’s never that simple. Undoubtedly the week has taught you, you probably do have feelings for Chaewon. You can’t fall asleep without thinking of how she stood up to Karina, how she seemed jealous. Or how she playfully smacks you at work, or teases you when you say something stupid, but doesn’t judge you anyway. You can’t not think of how mad she gets when you tease her back, but still talks to you anyway. You can’t go through a night without dreaming about her— all of her, every nook and cranny Mr. Hair over there will never get to see. But she’s not the only one in your dreams.

Because another girl is there too. Eunchae. How she texts you every night asking what you’re doing, how you can’t work a shift with her and not laugh so hard your stomach hurts. How you opened up to her, and she not only helped through the mess of Karina in your head but made you laugh while you did. How she opened up to you, showed you more than her goofy adorable side. How she dragged you into the bathroom last week with cake on your face—

And what about Karina? It was clear things weren’t over between you two, no matter how one sided it was. You had promised her a conversation, yet you ignored her texts. Could you keep ignoring her forever? Or would you have to face her eventually?

“It’s not that simple,” is all you say.

Finally, Liz’s smile dissipates. “Finally, something real out of you.” She takes her first bite out of the cake. “Mmmm~. It is tough, she is your manager after all. But I can’t stand to see my two favourite baristas annoyed at each other. Talk to her, won’t you?”

You look at Liz. How did she manage to pry all this out of you? You didn’t even admit anything, yet she’s giving you advice as if she knows how you feel.

“It looks like Mr. Hair sat down, go on. Chaewon might get jealous you’ve been talking to a pretty girl like me for so long too,” Liz dismisses you with a wink.

The conversation leaves you confused. Liz and her dimple are all-knowing, you conclude. Chaewon simply looks at you and nods as you return, before clearing the counter of ground coffee and cream spills.

Was what Liz said true? Were you and Chaewon annoyed at each other? Did it seem that way to others? You had just been… giving her space. It was busy after all— you assumed she was doing the same. But you hadn’t exactly realized you were giving Liz attitude until she pointed it out. Had you been doing the same to Chaewon?

“Hey”, Chaewon’s voice snaps you out of your head.

And then she’s looking at you with no sparkle in her eyes— none of the charm she displays with customers is present while she talks to you. And suddenly you don’t want to help her anymore.

And your words come out as a hiss even if you don’t mean it. “Yes?”

There’s the look on her face you’d usually find cute— half a pout and half annoyed. “I think it’s time to hire someone else,” she says, voice a sigh. “You know, give us three a break.”

“I guess.”

Chaewon’s eyes flick to your face, searching. “You guess?”

“Seems like a fine idea to me, Chaewon.”

Something on Chaewon’s face changes. “Si— since when am I just Chaewon?” She says, but it’s with none of the snark it usually has.

“It’s your name, is it not?”

“I’m just asking a question!” Chaewon says defensively.

“Yeah, well— I didn’t know it was my job to decide if we needed to hire people. I thought that was the managers job.”

Chaewon steps back as if you’ve slapped her in the face. And all you feel inside is the stress of the entire week compounded— not the girl in front of you.

She turns away, back to the coffee machine. Her body loosens up as her voice, now devoid of emotion commands you. “We close in an hour. Go clean the kitchen.”

---

You lay in bed that night with only one positive thing on your mind. Tomorrow— payday, is your day off. You have to pry your mind away from thinking of the days events, of how you gave Chaewon the cold shoulder, even if she was just asking for your advice. It doesn’t help to know that Eunchae and Chaewon are working together tomorrow. All of those customers, flocking to see them. You think about going to the cafe. Pretending to study, sit at one of the tables the whole day so you can be there in case a boy gets too friendly. But that would be creepy— and after your week you need a day off. Even if you don’t deserve it after your attitude.

Your rent is covered this month— a problem that used to fill your entire being with dread. Now your dreads are cute and snarky and smell of coffee.

You’ll have enough money after this paycheque to splurge a little. Yeah, tomorrow you’ll go out; you need a break more than anything right now.

By the time you wake up, the Sun is on it’s way back down. You’re groggy and cranky, but just a bit less irritable than yesterday— that’s a good sign. You grab your phone (which you forgot to charge, of course), and awaken to 4 missed messages.

[Eunchae] u ok? u didnt respond to my messages last night 😿 busy shift? i want some more cake lol

[You] Sorry Yeah, rough shift

The reply comes immediately.

[Eunchae] i figured chaewon is in a bad mood lol scary 😱

[You] Have a good shift

You don’t know what else to say— especially with her mentioning Chaewon. You plop your phone down, stretching. Your belly rumbles, but it’s already 3pm. And you decided to eat out tonight— somewhere fancy. Maybe even grab a drink or two, God knows you need it.

You start second guessing yourself. You’re already going to a nice restaurant by yourself. People will probably stare, and it doesn’t help that your nicest clothes are wrinkled. But you step out your door anyway— a testament to how poor your state of mind is. Your phone dings again.

[Eunchae] hey me and yunjin are gonna hang out! she wants to go bowling lol chaewon has paperwork to do 🙄 wanna come?

[You] Not today, sorry Tired

[Eunchae] :/ next time then

[You] Next time yes

[Eunchae] promise?

[You] Yeah. Promise

You slide your phone back into your pocket. You’re honestly flattered Eunchae invited you. But you need a night to yourself tonight.

The restaurant you choose— the nice Italian place with the bar— is perfect. The dim lights, the bartender that doesn’t talk much, and the mafalde ai funghi. It’s a perfect meal, you think as you sit at the nearly empty bar, slurping down your meal. Plus, the two old fashions you chugged only make the experience better.

“Another?” The bartender asks.

A short nod is all you give.

The bartender slides you your third drink. You heave a sigh before taking a sip— the harsh bitterness on your tongue just feels right in your mouth. Just bitter and silence, that’s all you want.

But of course, that is not what this night would provide.

“I’ll have, hmm— a vodka cranberry”.

Your head flicks to your left in surprise. That damn dimple is staring back at you, behind a smiling Liz of course.

“Liz!”

She’s wearing a fur coat, a divine black dress peeking out. Her entire outfit is probably worth more than your rent— her earrings alone probably double it. Glossy red lipstick lines those smiling lips.

“What are you doing here?” You ask surprised.

“I could ask the same of you. This isn’t the place I’d expect to find you in. Oh— not like that honey,” she clarifies. It’s a fair point, it’s fancy as all hell. Probably not a place one should frequent if their income relies on a small cafe. “Just doesn’t seem like your vibe.”

You’re already too buzzed to put your guard up; not that it would do you any good anyway. That dimple knows everything. “Just— needed a break.”

“Talk to Chaewon?”

“Not— not really,” you said. Guess you wouldn’t be taking your mind off things.

“Things looked a little heated yesterday. Thought you’d have heeded my advice.” Her drink arrives, and she takes a sip, slow and elegant. Her red lipstick stains the glass.

You take a sip from yours as well. “Sorry Liz, was kind of hoping to take my mind off things tonight.” You say with an air of finality. She doesn’t take the hint that you want to be alone, but she stops her questioning of the particular matter.

You both sit there for a while, sipping your drinks. It’s honestly kind of awkward. You wish so much you were alone. Your wrinkled shirt looks like a wife beater compared to her elegant outfit.

“So… what are you doing here all alone?” You finally ask.

Liz chuckles. “Oh, I’m not alone.” She waves somewhere behind her. There’s a man sitting there, quite evidently staring at you two. “But he’s all jawline and no jokes. Quite boring if you ask me.”

“You’re here on a date?” You feel even more out of place.

She looks back at him— literally makes eye contact with him. You want to shrink.

“Hardly a date. These rich guys think a nice meal is enough to pique my interest. When really I’m much like you. Just need to… let loose every once in a while. Take my mind of things, as you would say.”

“Letting loose would be nice,” you sigh. You can still feel Liz’s date’s eyes on the back of your head, but you suck your drink down and forget. “So, how do I do it?”

“How do you…?”

“Let loose. Take my mind off things. This pasta isn’t really helping.”

Liz covers her mouth, but the laugh is still as clear as the large cube of ice sitting in your cocktail. “See, you’re much more interesting. I think we can start by getting you another drink?” She calls the bartender over, getting one for herself too. “When’s the last time you, let loose as we say.”

You thought back to the night at Chaewon’s over two weeks ago. Not that long ago, you admit, but it feels like a lifetime ago. You thought of what your shared with Eunchae, both emotionally and physically— about how the next morning Chaewon in her jealousy of Karina brought you to the supply closet and—

A pang of guilt overtakes you. When she had been jealous, and you in a predicament, Chaewon only helped. Understood and helped, in her own special way. And now here you were, recognizing Chaewon’s stress as a manager, and all you had to offer her was the bitterness of your jealousy, the peak of your stresses directed at her.

“Been a while,” you said despite the recency of certain events.

“If you really want Chaewon, then you have to take care of yourself. You can’t expect to show her kindness if you can’t even do that to yourself.”

“I told you, there’s nothing going on between me and Chaewon!”

“Oh? And how about the other?”

“Eunchae?”

“Yes, yes her.”

“No, nothing.”

Liz eyes you with an even greater interest. “You insist?”

“Then maybe I can help you show yourself kindness and let loose. How about it?” She says, eyebrow raised inquiringly.

Thank God. Of course a rich girl would know how to really let loose. “Really? I don’t know if I have enough money for like… those nice massages or whatever, but if you know a way I’d love to know.”

Liz’s mouth tilts upwards. “Oh, don’t worry about money, follow me,” she says as she takes 3 1-hundred dollar bills and places it on the bar counter. You could’ve sworn your pasta was only 30 dollars, plus the drinks at 13 a piece, but, rich people, you guess.

You did not expect to find friendship in Liz this night as you walked out of the restaurant (the incredulous look of Liz’s date following you all the way out), but you welcomed it all the same.

---

Friendship is not exactly what you would describe the night to have offered. Liz’s penthouse is otherworldly. The elevator opens to a huge centrepiece— an actual statue of an angel appearing to be diving into a fountain. The marble floors and crystal chandelier are glittering like diamonds. In fact, they probably are diamonds.

“What do you do for a living?” You ask.

She just laughs as she leads you up a grand staircase to the second floor terrace.

“I didn’t know we were going to your apartment.”

“Oh don’t worry honey, make yourself at home.”

She leads you to a large drawing room. Oh to have a drawing room. Your bachelor pad isn’t even a quarter the size. She takes off her fur coat, revealing her stunning black dress. The darkness of the dress only highlights her moon pale skin, her sleek shoulders and slender arms seem to glow bright. “Sit,” she gestures to a large couch.

You do, but despite her assurance you can make yourself at home, you start to feel a little nervous— only natural given the situation.

“So… how will I let loose?” Oh how naive you are. Liz grabs something from a large chest near the balcony exit. She places them behind her back before slowly making her way towards you. Every step her body sways. It would be mesmerizing, if not for the fear overtaking your entire body. You should’ve known— she’s rich and beautiful and definitely a serial killer.

Every bone in your body is telling you to run, but for some reason you stay put. You can overpower her right? But what if she’s carrying a knife behind her back— or worse, a gun. You’re sure if it’s a knife you’d be able to grapple it out of her hands. But a gun? There’s nothing you can do against a gun. She’s close now and oh god she’s about to use whatever it is that she’s hiding.

You don’t wait to find out, you jump over the edge of the couch to the door, screaming all the while— but it’s locked, because of course it is.

Liz just eyes you, and she’s approaching you and it’s over— you’re going to die here and Liz is going to eat you. Every click of her heels on the floor like a countdown, a timer for your survival. She’s so close you just close your eyes and accept it. But you hear something next to you click— probably the gun—

“You’re free to leave if you like,” Liz says.

You open your eyes and see the open door behind you. “Sorry, doors lock automatically, but they unlock from the inside, if you’re so inclined to leave.”

“W-what?” You say through quivering lips. “Y-You’re not going to kill me?“

Liz bursts out into laughter.

“I- I can go?”

“I knew it, you are so much more interesting than my date. I’m only messing with you.”

You’re still confused and scared, but Liz seems to be genuine. It was just a prank, or a misunderstanding.

What she reveals behind her shouldn’t exactly ease your mind. It’s a lacy blindfold. Your eyes flick up to Liz, and she’s smiling— she’s always smiling.

“W-what?’

“You wanted to let loose, didn’t you?” She says, letting a strap of her dress fall off her shoulder.

Your mind is so unclear you don’t even run. She leans in close. “You’re sure there’s nothing going on with you and your coworkers?”

You swallow hard. “Y-yeah I’m sure.” You take in everything, her collarbones, her damn near perfect smile, that fucking dimple. And you know what’s coming, but that damn Eunchae has left you blue balled for over a week. So you stay put.

She leans in close, mouth nearly touching your ear. You can smell her elegant perfume, sort of citrusy. “Just say my name if you want me to stop,” she whispers.

She takes the blindfold and wraps it around your eyes, tying it tight. Just her touch is enough to leave you hard, having been so pent up. “L-Liz,” you mutter. You can’t make out the room anymore, but you can still see light, still sense movement. God you hope she doesn’t kill you.

“Want me to stop already?” You can’t muster a response. “Remember. My name, the safe word.” You nod slowly.

She takes you by the hand, leading you back to the couch. “Sit.”

And you do. You can’t even fathom what’s happening. 2 hours ago you expected to eat your dinner, come back home and wallow. Now you’re in your most loyal customers penthouse, blindfolded.

Her hands move up your body, and she’s unbuttoning your shirt. She slides it off of you, every touch of her sends shivers up your spine. You can’t see her, but the image of her is stuck in your head, her dress perfectly hugging her body in its tightness. Her slender shoulders, those hands that now move up and down your shirtless body.

You reach up to grab her, but something clicks on your wrists, locking them together. You feel soft fur. Handcuffs— the kinky kind. You shudder, trying to rip your hands apart, trying to get away. Her hand cups your face. “Remember,” she whispers. “Just say my name and I’ll stop.”

You calm down a little, and you see a shift in the light through your restrictions. You feel her climb atop of you, the pressure welcome on your throbbing cock. “My, hard already? You really haven’t let loose in a while,” she laughs.

You can feel her slow, painful grinding on you as her hands explore your body. “Neither have I,” she says. Her fingers find your nipples sending electricity through your spine. You let out a moan, and Liz’s grinds grow a little faster.

“Tell me about Chaewon,” Liz says, voice sharp and commanding— filled with desire..

“What?” You ask, but Liz pushes your hands over your head and behind your head so your elbows are bent down, and takes your lips in hers. “Tell me,” she says with excitement between her assault on your lips. Her tongue forces your way into your mouth as you struggle to breathe, to regain your composure. Her fingers are still playing with your nipples, and she breaks off of your lips and attacks your neck next.

A jolt of pleasure erupts within you, eliciting a soft gasp from your lips. “Tell me,” she commands.

You grind your hips into Liz’s, your balls threatening to burst already. But your mind flicks to Chaewon, and it’s her lips that replace Liz’s, her hips on yours.

“She’s so— fuck— she’s so damn snarky,” you moan as Liz’s assault grows more vigorous. “She can’t hold her anger in for the life of her. Her attitude is oppressive— mmm, fuck—“

“Keep going,” Liz pants.

“She’s always laughing at stupid shit, always pouting, always yelling”

“Yes, yes and?” Liz says, hips growing more aggressive.

“But she’s— fuck, Chaewon— she’s so damn perfect. She cares for me in every way that it counts. The way she teases me, the way she lights up when I say I’ll help her. The way she looks when I’m fucking her, or she’s on her knees—“

“You’ve fucked her?” Liz asks, voice growing to a peak in excitement.

“Fuck Chaewon— yes, yes we’ve— mmm— we’ve fucked.”

Liz’s hips stop as she climbs off of you, and you buck your hips up at the sudden arrest in stimulation. But you feel her hands slide your trousers down your legs, and your throbbing cock springs free. You look around, trying to see where Liz is, but the blindfold is too restrictive.

And you feel her hand on your cock, and with one sense removed the sensation hits tenfold, and you almost burst right there. Her hand is slow and painful. You can feel her breath hit your neck, but you’re still unsure where she is— you can only sit there and take whatever she dishes.

“Tell me! Tell me how you fucked her!” She begs.

“I fucked her the very first week I started,” you struggle as Liz thumbs the head of your cock. “I fucked her the day I met you Li— the day I met you.”

“I knew it!” She yelps, stroking you faster. You feel her shift somewhere, feel her separate your legs as she climbs in between. “Keep going,” she orders, hand still sliding up and down your shaft.

“She dragged me into the supply closet, and she tried to have her way with me”

“Tried to?”

“Yes, but I fucked her before she could— fuck,” you buck up into her hand. “I fucked her before she could get the upper hand.”

“Did you come inside of her?” Liz asks.

“N-no, she wouldn’t let me. I c-came on her— fuck Li—“ you stop yourself knowing if you say her name, this whole thing ends. “I came on her face”

You feel wet hotness slide down to the very base of your cock, you hear Liz struggle as she pushes the entire thing down her throat. You can feel yourself throb inside of her, feel her throat enclose on you, before she slides it back out. You can feel every drop of her saliva coat your dick, feel every lick she administers to it.

“And?”

You have to take a moment to clear your head. It buzzes with pleasure, your whole body does, but Liz slows down at your lack of information.

“Tell me!”

“We’ve— nngh— we’ve fucked one more time since but— holy shit,” you say as you buck your hips back up feeling her mouth on you once again. “But still— that’s it. It’s just physical.”

Liz separates your legs further, and you feel a hand cup your balls. She massages them slowly but passionately, as she continues working her mouth. “Pretend.” She says through saliva and precum. “Pretend I’m her”

It’s all she needs to say before you’re thrusting into her throat, every buck of your hips releasing a wet gurgle from the rich girl. Her hands continue to fondle your balls, and she meets you halfway as you thrust, pushing her mouth deeper on your cock.

“Ch-Chaewon,” you yelp, as pressure consumes your entire body, and you release a week’s worth of stress and desire into her. Waves would be understating it— it comes in tsunamis. The sound Liz makes as she slurps up your cum is truly lewd. It only makes you buck harder as you release into her mouth. The feeling is even more blinding than the strap wrapped around your eyes. There’s a ringing in your ears as the pleasure peaks; your whole body is tense and Liz’s mouth continues to extend that pleasure.

Your climax finally subsides, and your body goes slack. Yeah, maybe Liz was right— you needed to let loose. But it is evidently not over as you feel Liz climb back on you. She takes your handcuffed hands and places them on her breasts.

Her voice is even more full of desire as she speaks. “And the other?”

Your hands find her ample breasts as you play with her nipples. The two orbs feel so smooth in your hands— you only wish you could see them.

“Tell me about the other— Eunchae,” she screams as she takes your hands in hers, guiding your hands on her tits. Evidently, you were not giving them enough passion, as her hands guide you to squeeze and flick her nipples even harder.

“Eunchae… Eunchae is so fucking adorable it hurts,” you say. Your penis is growing hard again, despite your recent release.

“Yes, yes!”

“She’s so sweet, and caring. She makes me laugh more than anyone else. We walk home together after every shift. She texts me every night and I respond every time. She’s— she’s perfect as well.”

Liz takes your lips again, this time her tongue invades your mouth easily. She’s licking everywhere, her tongue brushes against your teeth, the inside of your cheeks, your tongue. You continue to knead her breasts. You want to wrap your arms around her waist, pick her up and have your way with her, but the handcuffs do their job well.

“And have you?”

“Yeah— your tits feel fucking perfect. Yeah, we have.”

“How did it feel! Hurry!” You hear a squelch you can only assume is her pussy—Liz is fingering herself.

“It was different. Amazing, but different than Chaewon.“

“How so? Worse?” She pants.

“No— no not worse, just different. Slower, less… aggressive. More— fuck Eunchae— more gentle.”

You can feel her hard nipples, you want to lick them, to have them in your mouth, but you are at Liz’s mercy.

“But— nngh— but that’s changing.”

“Changing? Changing how? You’ve had sex again?”

“N-no. No not sex. But she made a move. We probably— probably would have if it wasn’t for the new girl.”

Liz plops what you assume is her pussy on your dick— hard again. You can feel her wetness, feel her slick coat you as she slides it up and down the underside of your shaft.

“What new girl?”

“We— holy shit Li—”

“Don’t say my name!”

“Sorry— we just hired a— nngh— a social media girl. You saw her, the day you first questioned me— about Chaewon.”

“Her? The redhead?”

“Yeah.”

“And?” She asks. You can feel her growing wetter, her nipples harder.

“A-and what?”

“Have you?” She asks quickly.

“No”

Liz’s hands reach to your face before she takes you in her lips once again.

“Don’t look at me in my eyes,” she pants quickly, before sliding the blindfold off of you. The light is blinding at first, but your eyes adjust. Liz is fully naked, her body divine. She’s looking everywhere, everywhere but you. Her clavicle is so divine you can’t help but take it in your mouth.

Her moans grow louder as you kiss her neck. You’re still handcuffed, and your cock is once again at full mast. The room is a haze of your heavy breaths.

Liz lifts her hips a little, positioning you at her entrance. She doesn’t ask before she slides your cock inside of her. If Chaewon is pushy and Eunchae is adorable, Liz is a monster with a perfect body. The inside of her pussy gives way to pure luxurious pleasure. You can barely catch your breath as she sits on your cock.

“Who are you thinking of?” She asks as she bounces on you. “Tell me.”

“What?”

“Tell me which one you’re thinking of!”

But your head is spinning and the sensation of her pussy proves too much. Your hands are locked in place, and when you close your eyes, you don’t know who you see. There’s someone there, but they’re blurry. You can’t make out who it is, all you know is you’re threatening to burst at any moment.

“I don’t know!” You yell.

You can feel Liz tighten on your shaft. Her hips grow rabid as she continues to buck them. You’re lost in a haze of women, Liz’s games leave you confused. You can no longer tell who you’re fucking, no longer know where you are. You close your eyes as shock goes up your spine, and you’re cumming again.

You can tell Liz is too by the way she screams— by the way her walls shudder on yours. She’s holding herself up on your shoulders, trying her hardest not to collapse on top of you. You display none of the conviction she does, and your head lolls back on the couch and your body goes limp.

“Holy shit Liz,” is all you say.

In no time, Liz’s composure is back. She climbs off of you, putting her dress back on. You’ve barely seen her while she was naked, and if it wasn’t for her disheveled hair, you would have never guessed she just had her way with you.

It’s as if nothing happened with Liz. That smile is back. “Well, that was— adequate. I expect to see you again at the cafe?” She says, her breath back to a steady pace. “You may leave now, if you wish.”

She walks to the door, leaving you sitting there, still heaving, before she turns to offer one last sentiment. “Oh, and do let me know who you choose in the end.” And she’s gone.

You sit there in disbelief. You had planned for a simple night, a nice meal and a drink. Instead you’re at Liz’s apartment, having just been… used for her entertainment.

One thing is certain though. An outstanding invitation from Eunchae to hang out and an unfinished argument with Chaewon— you have a lot to think about.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N:

Hello all! As with almost everything I put out, no idea how this piece came to be. I plan and plan and the end product is nothing like my plan.

But, a lot happened this chapter. Liz finally makes her full appearance, and conflict is starting to brew. Let me know what you all think! Honestly, I just recently got into IVE. I hope my portrayal of Liz is adequate for you all, but I do understand it won't fit everyone's idea of her. I went purely on aesthetic. She just looks so ethereal, like a rich girl.

This series is such a fever dream for me to write, but I honestly had a lot of fun with this chapter (maybe too much, if I'm honest).

Probably won't be updating CC until after It Was Only A Week finishes. This series has really popped off, and I hope these chapters live up to everyone's expectations. If not, I sincerely apologize. Please keep believing in me. All feedback is welcome!

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who gradually brings you around the dorm so often that it becomes less of a visit and more like you’re an honorary roommate. at first everyone teases her relentlessly whenever you come over, but after months (and eventually years), nobody even blinks when you let yourself inside, greet everyone individually, and immediately start helping unpack groceries or setting the table or tormenting everyone with yunjin.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who never expected the members to adore you as much as they do. she worried they’d think she spent too much time with you, but instead they’re constantly asking where you are whenever you haven’t visited in a while. if it’s been over a week, someone inevitably says, “are we ever seeing them again?” while eunchae just laughs, subconsciously taking out her phone because yeah, she misses you too.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who absolutely melts every time the members unintentionally prove how much they trust you. they’ll leave you alone in the living room while they shower, ask you to grab something from the kitchen, or casually tell you to help yourself to anything in the fridge because you’ve become such a familiar presence. sometimes, on their days off, sakura plates you up a bowl of kimchi-jjigae without even knowing if you’re going to be coming tonight.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who loves that you naturally fit into the group’s dynamic without ever trying to force yourself into it. you know when to join the chaos, when to quietly listen, and when to disappear with eunchae so the members can have their own time together. that balance makes everyone appreciate you even more.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who secretly treasures the quiet evenings the most. instead of elaborate dates, you’ll both end up curled together on the dorm couch while the members wander in and out doing their own thing. sometimes you’re barely talking, just sharing a blanket while she absentmindedly plays with your fingers as everyone else goes about their evening, occasionally taking pictures of the two of you to tease you with later.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who is still incredibly affectionate even after years together. she never grows out of instinctively reaching for your hand, resting her head on your shoulder, or quietly leaning into your side whenever you’re sitting together. it’s so automatic that sometimes the two of you don’t even realise she’s doing it.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who has grown alongside you in such a visible way that everyone around you notices. when you first started dating, you were both still figuring out communication, boundaries, and how to balance busy lives. now disagreements rarely become arguments because you’ve both learned how the other thinks, when to give space, and when to simply ask, “can we talk about this?” and when your feelings are hurt, you make sure to communicate it before it boils over into resentment. and who refuses to let problems sit overnight. if something feels off, she’ll gently ask about it rather than pretending nothing happened. not because she’s perfect, but because the two of you promised early on that you’d rather have uncomfortable conversations than let resentment build. she has become incredibly emotionally mature with you. she isn’t afraid to admit when she’s overwhelmed or insecure, and because you respond with patience instead of judgment, she’s learned that vulnerability doesn’t have to be scary.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae encourages your own goals just as much as you encourage hers. whether you’re studying, working, or pursuing your own dream, she celebrates every achievement with the same excitement you have whenever she reaches another milestone. neither of you ever feels like your accomplishments are competing with the other’s.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who constantly reminds you that your life shouldn’t revolve around her schedules. she wants you to have your own hobbies, your own friends, and your own ambitions because she genuinely believes the healthiest version of your relationship is one where you’re both growing independently while choosing each other every day.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who ends up becoming the relationship the older members point to whenever conversations about dating come up. they’ll jokingly tell her, “don’t mess this one up,” because they can see how genuinely happy and comfortable the two of you make each other.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who blushes every single time one of the members casually says something like, “you two are disgustingly cute.” especially after watching the two of you solve a disagreement with an honest conversation instead of passive-aggressive silence.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae has the members constantly teasing her because she’s noticeably calmer whenever you’ve visited recently. if she’s smiling more than usual during practice or humming around the dorm, someone inevitably asks, “did y/n come over yesterday?” and her embarrassed smile answers the question before she can.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae loves when you help make the dorm feel warmer without overstepping. maybe you cook dinner every once in a while, help decorate for birthdays, or leave homemade desserts in the fridge before heading home. the members start associating little acts of comfort with you

long-term girlfriend!eunchae will absolutely light up when you show up unexpectedly after a difficult week. she tries to act composed, but the second she sees you walking through the dorm door, every ounce of exhaustion seems to disappear from her face.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae sometimes falls asleep beside you while you’re both watching a movie in the living room, completely trusting that you’ll wake her gently when it’s time for bed. the members occasionally walk past, smile to themselves, and quietly lower the tv volume because neither of you noticed she’d drifted off.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who has inside jokes with you that have become so old that neither of you even remembers how they started. the members hear random phrases that make absolutely no sense before the two of you burst into maniacal laughter while everyone else just stares in confusion.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who has gradually become more confident because of how consistently you’ve supported her. not because you “fixed” her, but because having someone who truly believes in her unconditionally has given her the confidence to believe in herself too. she thinks she couldn’t have done it without you, but you know she could have.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae receives the exact same support from you that she gives back. whenever you doubt yourself, she’s the first person reminding you how much you’ve grown since you met. she remembers your achievements better than you do and never lets you minimise them.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae makes your anniversary less about extravagant gifts and more about reflecting on how far you’ve come together. you’ll spend hours talking about old memories, laughing over past misunderstandings, and realising how different, yet somehow more yourselves, you’ve both become. and understands that love isn’t just grand romantic gestures anymore. sometimes it’s bringing you a drink before you ask. charging your phone because she noticed it was low. saving the last snack she knows you like. waiting until you’ve finished talking before responding. remembering the little details because they’re part of loving you.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who has built something with you that the members quietly admire. not because your relationship is picture perfect, but because it’s built on mutual respect, patience, communication, and growing together instead of expecting either of you to stay the same forever. even with demanding schedules and constant public attention, your relationship remains the one place where both of you can simply be young adults learning, making mistakes, and choosing each other over and over again.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who instinctively looks for you whenever something funny happens. if she’s laughing so hard she can barely breathe, she’s already turning around to find you because your reaction somehow makes everything even funnier.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who is the type to randomly walk into the room just to bother you. “what are you doing?” she asks, eyes wide.

“reading,” you hum, looking up at her. “are you okay?”

she paused, looking at you then mumbles, “…can i have a hug?”

you smile, “you interrupted me just for that?” she just stares at you, and how could you say no to that face? “come here,” you open your arms and let her get comfortable before going back to your book.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who loves resting her chin on your shoulder whenever you’re cooking or making coffee, talking nonstop while you’re trying to focus.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae met you when you were both seventeen, back when your relationship was equal parts sweet and awkward. neither of you really knew what you were doing. your dates were convenience store runs after school, late-night phone calls where you’d accidentally fall asleep on facetime, and spending twenty minutes deciding what to eat because neither of you could make a decision. looking back now that you’re both nearly twenty, it’s impossible not to laugh at how much you’ve both changed while somehow still feeling like the same two people.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who grew up with you instead of growing away from you. while other people assumed teenage relationships couldn’t survive because “people change,” the two of you proved that changing wasn’t the problem, it was whether you were willing to learn each new version of each other. every few months there seemed to be something new to understand, and instead of resisting it, you embraced it together.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae was forced to mature much earlier than most people your age. living with four older members meant she naturally picked up their habits, their perspectives, and the way they handled responsibility. she learned how to communicate from watching them resolve disagreements, learned independence from seeing how they balanced their careers with their personal lives, and learned that growing up didn’t mean losing your kindness. by the time she was nineteen, sometimes she’d say something so thoughtful that you’d stop and stare before laughing, “you’re literally nineteen going on thirty-five.”

long-term girlfriend!eunchae always says she isn’t mature because she’s special, she just had really good people to learn from. whenever someone compliments how emotionally intelligent the two of you are, she’ll immediately credit the members for setting such a good example while quietly giving you just as much credit for helping her put those lessons into practice.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae remembers how different arguments looked when you first started dating. at seventeen, little misunderstandings felt like the end of the world because neither of you had much experience communicating through difficult feelings. now, nearing twenty, disagreements usually end with one of you saying, “i don’t think we’re understanding each other. can we start over?” and somehow that simple sentence solves half the problem.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae learned that apologising isn’t about winning or losing. somewhere along the way, both of you stopped worrying about who was technically right and started caring more about whether the other person felt heard. “i’m sorry i made you feel that way” became far more important than proving a point.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae slowly stopped expecting the other person to read their mind. at seventeen it was easy to assume, if they really loved me, they’d just know. now it’s become, i love you enough to tell you exactly what i need. that shift alone made your relationship so much healthier.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who has watched both of you become calmer people over the years. not because life got easier, it definitely didn’t, but because you learned that not every problem needed an immediate emotional reaction. sometimes the healthiest thing either of you could say was, “let me think about it for a little while.”

long-term girlfriend!eunchae never lets your relationship become the center of either of your identities. that’s something the members unknowingly taught her. she watched people she admired continue growing as individuals while supporting one another, so she wanted the same for the two of you. she wants you to succeed because you’re you, not because you’re her partner.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae quietly notices the little ways you’ve both grown that nobody else would ever pick up on. you don’t interrupt each other anymore. you instinctively ask way in advance before making plans that involve the other person because of her schedule. you know when the other needs comfort versus advice. you’ve learned each other’s stress habits so well that support has become almost second nature.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae sometimes catches herself looking at old pictures from when you first started dating and smiling to herself. not because she misses those days, but because she’s proud of those two seventeen-year-olds for choosing to keep learning instead of giving up when things got difficult.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae has the members teasing her whenever they notice how “grown-up” your conversations sound. they’ll overhear you discussing future plans, finances, work, family visits, or simply checking in on each other’s mental health and jokingly ask, “since when did you two become actual adults?” before immediately admitting they’re proud of how far their little sister has come.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae never feels embarrassed asking the older members for advice. whether it’s about balancing work and relationships, handling conflict, or simply wondering if something she’s feeling is normal, she’s always willing to learn. over time, those conversations made her realise maturity isn’t pretending to know everything, it’s being comfortable admitting that you don’t.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae has built a relationship with you that reflects that same mindset. neither of you acts like you’ve figured life out at nineteen. instead, you constantly tell each other, “we’ll learn as we go.” somehow, that makes everything feel less overwhelming.

long-term girlfriend!eunchae who makes the members incredibly emotional sometimes because they remember the shy seventeen-year-old who first introduced you. now, watching the two of you approach twenty, they see two people who have grown into kind, patient, emotionally secure adults without losing the softness that made everyone root for your relationship in the first place. one of them eventually jokes that they feel like proud older sisters watching the two of you grow up together.

sakura

the soft glow of lights illuminated the back, casting a warm ambiance around as you swayed gently to the music playing in the background leaving just the two of you wrapped in own little bubble.

she looked into your eyes, feeling a rush of warmth. -“can you believe it’s been a year?” sakura asked, her voice barely above a whisper. - you smiled, cheeks flushing. “It feels like yesterday we were just friends.”

you moved in sync, lost in each other’s gaze. as the music played on, saku felt an irresistible pull. she leaned in, lips meeting in a soft kiss that quickly deepened, a sweet blend of love.

time stood still as you melted into each other, hearts racing under the stars. when music finally stopped she pulled away, breathless and smiling, whispered - “I could stay like this forever.” - “me too”- eyes sparkling with joy.

chaewon

the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the park where chaewon set a picnic blanket. you had spent the afternoon sharing snacks and playful jokes.

you leaned back on elbows, a mischievous grin spreading across face. - “I bet you can’t catch me!” you teased, springing to feet and darting away.

chaewon laughed, her heart racing as she jumped up to chase after. - “oh, you’re so going to regret that! - raced through the grass, laughter echoing around. just as you glanced back, chae lunged forward, catching you by the waist and spinning around.

“gotcha!” - she exclaimed. - you giggled, eyes sparkling with delight. - “okay, okay! you win!”

In that moment of playful victory, chae leaned in and planted a quick peck, a soft brush that sent butterflies fluttering in both yours stomachs. your cheeks flushed pink as she grinned widely. - “hey! that was sneaky!” - “just a little reward for my victory” - she replied with a wink. - “well then, I guess I’ll have to challenge you again.” - “bring it on then” - she said playfully, ready for whatever came next.

yunjin

the room was dimly lit, the soft glow of candles flickering against the walls, casting dancing shadows that mirrored the tension in the air. you and yunjin stood close together, breaths mingling as you shared a moment that felt electric.

“no way we waited this long” - she whispered, her voice thick with anticipation. your heart raced as she stepped closer, bodies almost touching. - “maybe we were just waiting for the right moment” - you replied, eyes locked onto hers.

In an instant, the space between you vanished. yunjin cupped your face in her hands and leaned in, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. It was hungry and desperate, filled with all the unspoken words you had held back for so long.

your hands finding their way to her waist, pulling closer as if trying to fuse bodies together. her fingers tangled in your hair feeling every curve and contour. world outside faded away; all that mattered was this moment.

when kiss finally over, breathless and wide-eyed, she rested her forehead against yours. - “wow” - she breathed, a smile breaking across her face.

“yeah” - you replied softly, still dazed. - “wow”

kazuha

the rain pattered softly against the window, creating a cozy backdrop for the quiet evening. you were curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, favorite movie playing in the background but forgotten as you lost themselves in each other’s presence.

you rested head on her shoulder, eyes fluttering closed as you breathed in the familiar scent of your partner. - “I love nights like this” - you murmured, smile gracing your lips.

“me too” - kazuha replied, brushing her fingers through your hair. simple act felt intimate, grounding in a moment that felt both ordinary and extraordinary.

as the credits began to roll, she turned to face you fully. she gently lifted your chin with her fingers, eyes locking in a gaze that spoke volumes. In that tender moment, kazu leaned down and pressed a soft forehead kiss. It was gentle and sweet, filled with warmth and affection. - “you know you mean everything to me, right?” - she whispered against your skin. - “and you mean everything to me” - you replied softly, leaning into her touch.

you stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s warmth, as this love that felt like home.

eunchae

the practice room buzzed with chatter of choreographers but eunchae’s focus was solely on you, who sat across the room on the bench, talking with crew members. she couldn’t help but smile, her heart fluttering at the way your eyes sparkled with excitement.

As she go forward, her hands gesturing wildly, you felt a playful urge bubbling inside. glanced around the room, ensuring no one was watching. the crew members already walk away, so with a mischievous grin, she decided to take a chance.

In one swift motion, eunchae leaned across the bench and planted a quick kiss on your lips - just a fleeting brush that sent a jolt of electricity between you.

your eyes widened in surprise, her laughter halting mid-sentence. - “what are you doing?” - you exclaimed, cheeks flushing pink. - “just a little sneak attack” - she replied, trying to suppress her giggles as she set next to you.

you narrowed eyes playfully. - “oh really? you think you can just sneak in and out like that?” - she shrugged with a grin. - “maybe I’ll have to do it again.”

before you can even could react, eunchae leaned in closer, her voice low and teasing. - “you better be ready.” with that, she reached for you and captured your hand, pulling it toward her as she leaned in for a kiss full of warmth.

“i’m telling you. something is happening.”

chaewon slams her hands down on the dorm’s kitchen table like she just uncovered a murder. everyone jumps. kazuha drops her strawberry milk.

“eunchae doesn’t even like strawberry milk,” chaewon hisses. “but yesterday, she drank it. and said, quote: ‘y/n likes it so i’m tryna understand her taste buds.’”

sakura raises a brow. “maybe she’s just being a good dongsaeng?”

“okay but then why did she SKIP PRACTICE to go to y/n’s room and come back with her hoodie.”

“…maybe she was cold?”

yunjin suddenly appears from behind the fridge door with a full powerpoint pulled up on her ipad. slide 1 is titled: ‘EUNCHAE AND Y/N ARE LESBIANS: A THESIS’

kazuha is filming from behind a house plant. yunjin wears a bucket hat and fake mustache.

chaewon peeks from behind a laundry rack. “targets approaching.”

you and eunchae walk by, laughing about some inside joke. eunchae keeps nudging you. you nudge back. then she leans her head on your shoulder.

sakura whisper-yells. “SHE JUST NESTLED. I REPEAT, NESTLE CONFIRMED.”

“shut up,” yunjin says, “i’m trying to hear the dialogue.”

“you wanna put subtitles too?” kazuha mumbles, chewing on popcorn.

you’re sprawled on the floor, scrolling through your phone. eunchae climbs over the couch and lands on top of you like she owns the place.

“hi.”

“you’re heavy.”

“you’re in denial.”

you glare. she grins. you bonk her with a pillow. she dramatically gasps and falls over like she’s been murdered. and then, just as you're about to steal her spot—

she pulls you back by the wrist, wraps herself around you, and mutters:

“stay. you’re warm.”

meanwhile, sakura is in the corner recording like national geographic. “the prey has been caught,” she whispers. “the gay is strong here,” yunjin adds.

you and eunchae sneak off to the hallway like you’re not being monitored by four nosy idols and several hidden cameras.

eunchae: “they’re not gonna find us here.”

you: “girl this is literally a hallway outside the living room.”

eunchae: “exactly. they’ll never expect it.”

you roll your eyes. she grabs your face and kisses you like she hasn’t seen you in years. your hand is in her hair. she giggles halfway through. you giggle back.

then— click

you both freeze.

“did you hear that?” you whisper.

eunchae turns slowly. and there they are:

chaewon mid-photo. kazuha holding the “eunchae lesbian activity tracker” notebook. yunjin aiming her ipad like it’s a goddamn telescope. sakura holding chips.

“…sup,” yunjin says casually.

“EXPLAIN,” chaewon demands.

eunchae shrugs. “ok. we’re dating. what now?”

silence.

then sakura starts clapping.

they won’t leave you alone.

“don’t kiss in the hallway, you lesbians,” chaewon says.

kazuha creates a folder called “the softest sapphic footage.”

yunjin prints a photo of you two holding hands and tapes it on the fridge with “GAY RIGHTS” in comic sans.

sakura just wants y’all to film a couples vlog so she can edit it to the song “lovers rock.”

eunchae winks at you across the room. you blush.

“still wanna keep it secret?” she whispers when she passes you.