#got7 jb

Jackson patted Jaebeom’s head and the staffs that filled the room tried to continue with their duties, but also be mindful of 7 crying and sobbing men in the centre of that room. Your gaze shifted to sobbing Mark and the way teared up Youngjae and Bam tried to calm him down. At least this view wasn’t tearing your heart into pieces. As a figure approached you, though, you had to readjust your eyes and focus on the man in front of you. The very next moment Jinyoung’s very warm hand grabbed yours and pulled you behind him. He felt your resistance and turned around, reading your face expression perfectly.

"I think he really needs you to calm him down." Jinyoung pulled onto your arm once again and you followed. "Hey, Seunah" Jinyoung called out in an attempt to whisper, but making it more of a low growl. Jackson, raising his head and seeing Jinyoung pulling on to you took a step back. Giving you space to come closer and giving you two space for privacy. Jaebeom raised his head a little, as he felt the loss of contact and took a few blinks to focus his teary eyes on you. Both Jackson and Jinyoung respectfully took a few more steps back and as you approached Jaebeom a little more, you couldn’t hold back a pout. Jaebeom straightened his back properly and it seemed the tears streamed down his face at a much lower pace. You pursed your lips and took a little step closer, not forgetting precaution and turning around to read the room - everyone seemed busy with themselves and their duties. But in all honesty - you couldn’t just stand and watch him any longer, even if the people watched you two attentively - your heart ached the moment you saw that first tear fall down his face back on stage. 

“You did so well-.“ You still whispered, everyone acted busy, but peoples’ ears were always perked up. Jaebeom blinked more tears down his face. Shit, you only made it worse for him. “Everything went so perfectly. You worked so hard. I’m so proud. These should be happy tears, everything worked out amazing. Right?“ you tried to give Jaebeom a smile, your words only made the tears fall down harder, while Park Jinyoung expected you to do the opposite. “Ah-, love, don’t cry.“ You finally sighed and reached a hand to his face, cupping his cheek and making a lame attempt at catching the teardrops - it did seem impossible. The waterfall that streamed down his face was impossible to stop with a finger. Jaebeom leaned in into your touch and closed his eyes. You tried to caress the softness of his cheek, while not making it too inappropriate for a working environment. “Everyone’s so proud and everyone are so thankful for the things you do. You’ve put so much hard work into this, it’s okay to cry. I can’t even hold back my tears for you and ah-.“ Jaebeom suddenly draped his arms over your shoulders and lost his face in the crook of your neck. You patted his nape in a very weak attempt to calm him down. He seemed crashed, drained and exhausted. You really wished you could lift him up just like that and transfer to bed and let him get as much sleep as he needed - doesn’t matter if its 12 hours or a week. You watched him work so hard all these weeks to make the concerts possible, you watched him all those years make all those things possible while also being a sweet and loving husband to you. “I just hope it’s tears of relief. As long as they’re not tears of pain - it doesn’t matter. We could cry all night long, right?“ You tried to give him a little kiss, forgetting all the work space boundaries in your head, landing your lips on his jaw. You patted his nape a few more times, moving your arms lower - you gave his waist a squeeze and rubbed your face against his shoulder - the sobbing man in your arms seemed to calm down at least a little. 

“I love you.“ you breathed out, somehow in unison with Jaebeom and as shocked as you were at the silly little coincidence, Jaebeom moved back a little and looked at you properly, with no tears falling out of his eyes,  beautiful irises focusing on you. 

“That’s silly of us.“ You giggled, moving your fingers to dry out the tears on Jaebeom’s cheeks. 

“But I, definitely love you more.“ He even made a weak attempt to smile and made you feel more at ease yourself. The air suddenly felt lighter and the second time he tried to make that little smile - the smugness on his face, your chest burned with love. Jaebeom covered your palm with his and moved it closer to his mouth. “I wouldn’t be here without your support.“ You knew exactly what he meant by that, how hard it was for both him and you to get his mind to a better place. You weren’t about to shy away and act like you weren’t behind it all. In a great partnership with the man himself, of course. 

“I know.“ You accepted with a playful nod and watched his lips give your palm a kiss with a smile. You were glad you could refer to dark times with a joke and a smile now. Jaebeom let go of your arm and tried to dry his face with the shirt he wore. 

“Ah!“ Jinyoung materialised behind you, his firm palm on your shoulder making you jump in place. “Nothing like a wife’s touch that could calm a man down.“ He teased happily, wrinkles round his eyes as he smiled were the reason for a little upward motion on the corners of your lips. 

“Sh! Shut up, there are strangers in this room.“ you hissed at the man, feigning annoyance. Jinyoung ruffled your hair with a teasing face expression.

“Hey, show some respect.“ you played back, your unending battle of teasing continuing every time you opened your mouths.

“Right, show some respect to my wife!“ Jaebeom chimed in, regret on his face immediate, as the both of you knew the comeback would be explosive. Jaebeom wrapped an arm around your waist, you not being sure whether he was backing you up or wanted you to back him up in this.

Jinyoung, though, already moved on -  looking at the members and then at his leader and giving you nod. 

Maybe it was the kiss itself or maybe it was Jinyoung’s words that followed, either way, they were entering a new level in their relationship of candidacy and trust that surpassed where they were at prior. Maybe the kiss was exactly what their relationship needed. They hadn’t forgotten about it, like she had once wished, but instead moved past it. And somehow, that was better. If anything, it had drawn them closer, smoothing out the rough edges of their dynamic in a way she never expected. Without it, she wouldn’t have gained as deep of an understanding of Jinyoung’s feelings as she had now. 

Jinyoung had proven time and time again that he wasn’t the kind of person to leave things unresolved, and she was grateful for that. He truly meant it when he said he wants a relationship where you chose to get past the ups and downs… or at least that was the type of relationship Y/N had signed up for. But that wasn’t to say Y/N wasn’t experiencing any growing pains. She really admired Jinyoung for his ability to confront awkward situations and find a way forward, but at the same time, Y/N on the other hand wasn’t that good at kissing and making up… well at least one part of that she wasn’t. Avoiding talking about the kiss only made Jinyoung feel alone. A feeling Y/N was very familiar with being that at one point, it was because of him. But after confronting him in a very immature outburst, Jinyoung expressed why he was acting that way, apologized, and worked to change their dynamic. He had made real efforts to close the distance between them, to pull her into his world rather than keep her at arm’s length. He had promised her that she wouldn’t feel alone again. And in a way, she felt guilty that for a moment couldn’t do the same.

And she wondered why? She knew that it might’ve had to do with the fact that she didn’t want to talk about the kiss because it brought up her own anxieties about confronting her feelings. Maybe, deep down, she had wanted it to mean something. 

And thinking about it now, part of her didn’t like how well he had just moved on from the topic, how good he was at leaving it in the past. Because, to her, that meant the kiss—the moment that had shaken something loose inside her—was nothing more than a fleeting lapse, an experience neither of them would revisit. And maybe that was what unsettled her most. Maybe the kiss had been her subconscious way of pushing them toward something they could never be. But Jinyoung had shown her exactly where they stood. And she had no choice but to accept it. It confirmed what she had known all along but never quite admitted: this was temporary. Whatever they had, whatever they were, it would end in three months. They were friends, nothing more, and Jinyoung had proven that by the way he so effortlessly settled them back into place. No lingering looks. No hesitation. No indication that the kiss had meant anything beyond what it was. 

Jinyoung on the other hand, was relieved—relieved that he had taken the initiative to talk things through that night, relieved that the air had cleared between them, and relieved that, despite everything, they had settled back into something that resembled normal. A new normal, maybe, but it was comfortable. They still shared easy conversations, still had their quiet moments together, and if anything, their closeness hadn’t diminished—it had solidified. That should have been enough. That was what he had wanted. Or was it? Because for some reason, a small part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t been completely honest that night. Not with her. Not with himself.

Because if everything was so normal now, then why did he feel like he had left something unsaid? Like he had smoothed things over too well, to the point where they had erased any trace of what happened? Maybe it was because even he wasn’t sure what he was feeling. He hadn’t wanted to linger on it too much, hadn’t wanted to sit with the realization that the kiss had stirred something in him that wasn’t supposed to be there. Because if he did, then he’d have to admit that he was breaking his own rules—the very rules he had set. This was supposed to look real, not be this real. And yet, ever since that night, he had caught himself thinking about it more often than he should. The press of her lips, the way she had fit so easily against him, the way he had wanted to chase after the feeling rather than let it go. Every passing day it was almost as if something was trying to tell him that this was right, that she fit perfectly into his life. But every day that passes is another day closer to when she would be out of his life. So what was the point in deluding himself into getting attached to whatever this feeling was? Why was he trying to make this into something it could never be? Whatever meaning he thought to be behind that kiss he must have imagined it, because in the aftermath, Y/N had made her stance clear—she wanted to forget it. 

Interesting, she had been the one to suggest they practice, yet somehow, he was the only one still stuck on it.

His eyes darted to Sihoon, who was sitting across the room, and suddenly, her words from before echoed in his mind. He had long suppressed them— but as soon as he laid eyes on her, they filled his head.

“ I wonder if she’d actually be as engaged if this wasn’t a contract.”

At the time, he had pushed back against it. Y/N had proven Sihoon was wrong, hadn’t she? She had let him in, she had been there in ways no one else had been, and she had made him feel grounded - stable. And maybe that was part of her contractual obligation, but part of him felt there were times where her being there for him, her consistency, was because she wanted to. 

But looking at Sihoon now, he couldn’t help but think of the instances Y/N was the type to run away. The way she had avoided talking about uncomfortable situations, how quickly she had chosen to move past them, how she had shown no indication that the kiss had meant anything to her—he started to wonder. Had he been deluding himself this entire time? Would Y/N only be interested in the chaos that was this arrangement? And even if he could allow himself to imagine something past it, would it be the same, or did Sihoon know her better?

“You two have been doing well,” one the staff announced, glancing between Jinyoung and Y/N, snapping them both out of their thoughts. “The public is really buying the chemistry.” Y/N barely had time to feel relieved at their words of affirmation before they continued.

“We want to remind you both that Jinyoung’s premiere event is at the end of the week. There will be cameras everywhere, so it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase everything you’ve been working on behind closed doors.”

Y/N and Jinyoung exchanged a glance at one another before looking back to the PR team. Y/N shifted slightly in her chair, feeling the weight of the statement settle in. Jinyoung, on the other hand, remained composed, simply nodding in acknowledgment.

“Also,” the PR manager continued, their smile widening, “we do have some exciting news. We’ve arranged a trip to Jeju Island for the two of you the day after the premiere.”

Y/N’s eyes widened in surprise, her posture immediately perking up. “Wait… like a vacation?”

There was a brief pause—just long enough for her to get her hopes up—before the PR rep clarified, “Sort of a work-holiday arrangement if you will… there will be scheduled outings and some casual ‘spotted together’ moments. Think of it as an extended opportunity to solidify your image as a couple following the premiere.” they explained.

Y/N’s shoulders dropped, her brief excitement slipping away as quickly as it had come. Of course it wasn’t just a vacation. Nothing ever was. She forgot. This was work after all. 

When the meeting concluded and the PR team left the room, Y/N let out a dramatic sigh, slumping back in her chair. “Of course, it’s not a real vacation,” she muttered aloud, arms crossed.

Jinyoung, still flipping through a folder the team had left behind, glanced at her and smirked. “Did you really think they’d send us to Jeju just for fun?”

Y/N shot him a look. “I was hoping.”

He shut the folder with a soft thud and leaned back, studying her “Still innocent I see. Nothing in this business is ever done out of the kindness of people’s hearts seeetheart” he scolded.

She groaned. “You’re telling me now?” she looked at him.

He let on a smile. 

“I can’t believe my first time to Jeju will be a work trip” she sighed disappointed.

“Well the first time I went I ran a food cart” he retorted. Y/N laughed.

“I’ll make sure we still enjoy ourselves, don’t worry,” he said, more reassuring. 

Y/N eyed him skeptically. “So you’re saying we’ll make the best of it?”

“I’m saying they can schedule whatever they want, but outside of that, we’re on an island with good food, nice weather, and an actual view that isn’t just Seoul traffic.”

A beat passed, and then Y/N sighed, the corners of her lips twitching upward. “Fine. But if they make us do another food cart you’ll be the only one cooking”

Jinyoung chuckled, standing up and grabbing his jacket. “If you can conjure up your barista skills, I’d say you have a deal.”

----

The next day, Jinyoung wandered through the street market, absentmindedly running his fingers over the fabric of a sweater before moving on to the next rack. Shopping wasn’t exactly his idea of a good time, but it was undeniably Yugyeom’s. The moment Jinyoung had mentioned the upcoming Jeju trip with Y/N, Yugyeom latched onto it as an excuse to drag him out under the pretense of "buying essentials." In reality, it was just another opportunity for Yugyeom to shop for himself.

Still, there were worse ways to spend an afternoon.

“What about this?” Yugyeom held up a ridiculously patterned coat, grinning.

Jinyoung barely spared it a glance. “No.”

“You didn’t even look,” Yugyeom whined, shoving it back onto the rack. “Fine. Be boring.”

Jinyoung smirked, shaking his head as he turned toward a display of winter accessories. A set of neatly stacked scarves caught his attention—soft, thick, and in neutral tones. His fingers ghosted over a navy one before his eyes landed on a similar style in muted pink.

Without thinking, he picked up both.

Yugyeom, watching from a few steps away, raised an eyebrow. “That’s pretty warm for Jeju… and two?”

Jinyoung nodded, already draping the navy scarf around his neck to test the feel. “Yeah.”

“For who?” Yugyeom’s grin was immediate—knowing.

Jinyoung ignored him, adjusting the scarf in the mirror.

Yugyeom snorted. “Oh my God. You’re getting one for Y/N.”

Jinyoung sighed, finally looking at him. “It’s cold out.”

Yugyeom’s smirk only grew. “Right. Because you always buy scarves for your fake girlfriends.”

Jinyoung rolled his eyes but didn’t put the pink one back.

Yugyeom wasn’t done. “You know matching accessories are a thing, right? A couple thing.” He wiggled his eyebrows before dramatically shimmying his shoulders.

Jinyoung turned to him, expression unreadable. Then, with practiced indifference, he told the cashier, “I’ll take these.”

Yugyeom gaped before breaking into laughter. “Hyung, you sound like you want to match.”

Jinyoung shrugged, unbothered.

Yugyeom squinted at him, leaning in. “Be honest—do you actually care about the scarf, or do you just want to see her wear something you picked out?”

Jinyoung pulled out his wallet, not even looking at him. “I’ve already seen that,” he murmured.

Yugyeom smacked his arm, eyes wide. “Wow. You’re further along than I thought. Should we buy lingerie too?”

Jinyoung shot him a glare as he grabbed the shopping bag, causing Yugyeom to cackle.

“Oh, wait—you probably prefer nothing,” Yugyeom added in a whisper, dodging out of reach before Jinyoung could retaliate.

Jinyoung exhaled sharply and pressed forward, but Yugyeom wasn’t done. As they stepped out of the shop, bags in hand, Yugyeom nudged him with an elbow.

“So,” he drawled. “Are you excited?”

Jinyoung frowned. “For what?”

Yugyeom scoffed. “Spending time alone with Y/N, obviously.”

Jinyoung said nothing.

Yugyeom’s grin stretched wider. “Oh my God. You are. Look at you.”

Jinyoung exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “It’s a trip.”

“Yeah, a trip. Just you two. Who knows, maybe you’ll get some more practice.” Yugyeom waggled his eyebrows.

That was a mistake telling him that.

Jinyoung narrowed his eyes. “Speaking of which… do I have anything on my lips?” He puckered exaggeratedly, perfectly mimicking Yugyeom’s infamous V-Live moment.

The smirk dropped from Yugyeom’s face instantly. “You don’t look cute doing it,” he muttered, stalking ahead.

Jinyoung chuckled to himself at the reaction.

Yugyeom recovered quickly, his teasing mood resurfacing. “Do you think she’s excited?”

“Y/N said it’s her first time going, so I’d assume so.”

Or at least, he hoped she was.

Yugyeom caught his expression and grinned even wider. “You want her to be excited to spend time with you, huh?”

Jinyoung tsked. “You’re reading too much into this.”

Yugyeom nestled up beside him, undeterred. “Am I? Hyung, I’ve never seen you go out of your way like this for anyone. The scarf, the trip, you not complaining about shopping—”

Jinyoung cut him off with a sigh. “I’m just trying to be thoughtful.”

Yugyeom hummed, thoroughly amused. “Right, right. Our very thoughtful Jinyoung. Because being thoughtful definitely doesn’t mean you like her.”

Jinyoung shot him a sharp look, but Yugyeom just threw an arm around his shoulder, grinning ear to ear.

“This is gonna be so fun,” he mused.

Jinyoung groaned, shoving him off. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re in denial,” Yugyeom countered, unfazed. “But don’t worry, hyung. You’ll get there… when you get to Jeju.”

Jinyoung sighed, rolling his eyes—but he didn’t argue.

_____________________

The next night, before his drama’s premiere, Jinyoung sat at the dining room table, bathed in the dim glow of his laptop screen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, then backspaced, then hovered again. Y/N watched from across the room as she zipped on her jacket, just observing him. He didn’t notice, instead, his brows were drawn together in concentration, lips pressed into a firm line. Every so often, he exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping against the desk in an uneven rhythm—hesitant, restless. It wasn’t like him to seem so unsettled, but the way his eyes scanned the screen, the way his knee bounced under the table, made it obvious. Y/N had seen him handle press before, but something about tonight felt different. Seeing him like this gave Y/N an idea.

Outside the apartment window, snow was falling slowly.

“Jinyoung,” she called softly, stepping into the dinning room where he sat at the table, shoulders taut.

“Hmm?” He hummed in response without looking up from the laptop.

“You look like you’re trying to set your laptop on fire with your mind.” she joked.

He glanced up for a second before offering a small, tired smile. “I’m just making sure everything is set for the event.” He explained, looking back to the computer.

Y/N hummed, considering him for a moment. “Do you want to get Hotteok with me?” she asked innocently.

He blinked, looking up at her. “I didn’t think they had Hotteok in Seoul,” he said.

She smiled. “I found a place, and I need your expertise to know if it's good.”

He then turned his attention to the window. “It’s snowing.” He observed.

“Exactly,” she grinned. “Perfect weather for Hotteok.” She added.

“What’s the alternative?” He questioned.

“I'll go by myself,” she responded.

He furrowed his eyebrows at her and let out a short huff of intrigue.

"So, let me get this straight—you’re telling me you’re going out, at night, in the snow, alone, fully aware that I won’t just stay behind… meaning I have no choice but to go with you?" His lips pressed into a thin line.

“Yes,” she replied, smiling.

“All because you want to try hotteok at 9 pm at night?” he asked. 

“Well yes, but also because we should get your mind off of things,” she suggested, her eyes flickering to the computer.

“And this is the only thing you could come up with?” He replied.

“… Well do you have any other suggestions?” She tilted her head.

He actually did actually… just not appropriate ones.

He simply stared back at her, thinking.

“Please … Jinyoungie?” she smirked at the usage of the nickname which caused him to visibly cringe.

And yet, with a sigh, he shut his laptop screen and rose from his seat without more debate.

In all honesty it was seeming harder and harder to say no to her.

Satisfied at her win, she tugged on his sleeve, pulling him toward the door.

-

Even though their apartment was only a ten-minute walk away, the cold bit at their skin the moment they stepped outside. Y/N didn’t mind. She was just happy—Jinyoung had been working hard lately, and this was the perfect distraction. Jinyoung, on the other hand, was already regretting this. He hated the cold.

But when he glanced at Y/N out of the corner of his eye, their shoulders bumping as they walked, the regret faded—just a little.

Still, since Y/N was in a good mood, and Jinyoung was Jinyoung, he couldn’t help but toy with it.

The next time their shoulders met, he gave her an extra shove, just enough to knock her slightly off balance. The smile wiped clean from her face as she shot him a glare. Jinyoung only grinned mischievously, walking ahead like nothing happened.

Y/N caught up, her expression annoyed.

Sensing it, Jinyoung threw his arm over her shoulder, pulling her close. Without thinking, Y/N wrapped her arms around his waist in response.

“This your way of keeping me warm?” she mused, tilting her head up at him.

“No, this is so you can’t push me away,” he shot back, smug.

“That’s rich, coming from the guy who just pushed me.”

“My apologies for having broad shoulders,” he replied dryly.

“It’s not your fault. I blame the army.”

Jinyoung smirked, glancing down at her. 

“And I don’t want to push you away anyways” she mentioned, looking down at their footsteps.

“Oh really? What? Are you starting to get used to me or something?” he questioned teasingly.

“No I’m saying because I’m cold” she corrected, looking back up at him innocently.

Something about the way she looked at him—effortlessly comfortable, like they belonged in this moment—made him pause.

Without a word, he stopped. Y/N loosened her hold on him, standing up straight to meet his gaze.

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a scarf—the one he’d bought at the market with Yugyeom, which he just remembered he had on him. Carefully, he draped it around her neck, adjusting it with care.

She blinked. “What’s this?”

“You’re cold.” He noted, still fixing it, fingers lingering.

She looked at the navy blue scarf along his neck and realized it resembled hers. “You do realize this is a couple thing, right?”

Jinyoung sighed. “Not you too.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

She let out a teasing hum. “This almost makes it look like we’re actually dating.”

Jinyoung smirked, tilting his head. “We are actually dating,” he said smugly, wiggling his eyebrows as he gave the scarf one final tug.

“Oh, right,” she responded innocently.

He smiled, then threw his arm back over her shoulder, pulling her along.

-

Eventually, they reached a food truck near the square, the warm scent of something savory cutting through the crisp night air. The sizzle of dough and caramelized sugar wrapped around them as they approached the cart, the hotteok cooking to golden-brown perfection on the griddle.

Without hesitation, Y/N ordered two, the sweet scent of cinnamon filling the air as the vendor handed them over. She turned, offering one to Jinyoung.

“Try,” she insisted, holding it up to him, implying for him to let her feed him. “Maybe it’ll remind you of home so you can stop overthinking.”

Jinyoung hesitated, glancing between her and the food. Then, he leaned in, taking a small bite.

A rare, soft expression flickered across his face—surprise, maybe even delight.

Y/N’s smile widened. “Not bad, right?” she teased, nudging him.

Jinyoung gave a nonchalant shrug, trying to play it cool. “I approve.” His tone was casual, but there was something sincere beneath it. She liked seeing him like this—unguarded, content.

They lingered at the cart, finishing their hotteok, basking in the warmth of the streetlights illuminating the quiet night.

He couldn’t help but smile in realization that that rather than Y/N dragging him here wanting to hotteok for herself, she brought him here to get his mind off of things by giving him a familiar comfort.

He studied her enjoyment of the hotteok with a light smile.

-

On the way back, Y/N pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, the chilly air biting at her cheeks. The snowfall had picked up slightly, the streets growing quieter as they walked. When they reached a small alley with an overhang, she instinctively ducked beneath it, seeking shelter from the falling snow.

Jinyoung, however, walked just past the edge, snow collecting on his shoulders and hair, completely unbothered.

“Come under here,” Y/N called, watching him from beneath the overhang.

He glanced over, smiling. “I like the snow.”

“Oh, really?” Y/N arched an eyebrow, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes.

Without hesitation, she kicked the garage door beside her. A pile of snow, dislodged by the impact, tumbled down—right onto Jinyoung’s head.

The moment the snow settled, Y/N pressed her lips together, barely containing her laughter.

Jinyoung stood frozen in place, eyes wide, snow slipping down his collar. Slowly, he turned to her, mouth slightly agape.

“I’m sorry,” Y/N choked out between laughs.

Jinyoung wiped at his face, shaking the snow from his hair with a deadpan look. “Really?”

Y/N was still laughing, eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Take a picture—it’ll last longer,” he muttered, brushing more snow from his coat.

“If you say so.” She immediately whipped out her phone and snapped a photo.

Jinyoung barely glanced at the camera before his hand shot out, aiming to delete it.

“Jinyoung!” Y/N gasped, realizing his plan just in time. She yanked the phone away and took off running.

Jinyoung didn’t hesitate. He chased after her, his laughter blending with hers.

Y/N’s footsteps were light, but Jinyoung was faster. Within seconds, he caught up, wrapping his arms around her from behind, trapping her in place.

Y/N continued laughing, struggling against his grip.

They wrestled for the phone for a moment before Jinyoung got ahold of it, both of them breathless, but smiling, Y/N gave up and went back to her hold onto his waist. “Don’t delete it” she cautioned, watching him hold her phone in his hands.

But rather than delete the photo, he slid to the right of the homescreen to open the camera, and turned it facing them, lowering it so they could both fit in the frame of the selfie.

Y/N was surprised at how cute they looked together, but she was too content to protest.

Jinyoung dipped his head slightly to fit into the frame, his arm still hooked around her collar, pulling her close as they continued walking while taking the selfies. He held her head under his chin as they both smiled silently looking down, Jinyoung snapping away. The camera caught the way their scarves nearly matched, the snowflakes dusting their hair, and the faint glow of the streetlights behind them. In the picture, Jinyoung’s smirk softened just enough to look genuine, and Y/N, despite herself, looked warmer and more like a girlfriend than she expected.

After a few and some shared laughs, he allowed for Y/N to take her phone back from him and review the photos. 

He watched over her shoulder as she scrolled through them, noticing her grinning, admiring the pictures.

“Pretty,” he murmured before he could stop himself.

“The snow, right?” she asked without glancing up at him. 

“You,” he corrected.

At this Y/N looked up at him, something fluttering in her chest. Her face flashing a blush.

“Shut up,” she muttered, nudging him shyly, but Jinyoung didn’t let her go.

As they continued walking content, Jinyoung glanced over his shoulder to see their footsteps in the snow behind them. In doing so, for a split second he thought he saw a shadow slip out of sight around a corner in the distance. His brows furrowed, but before he could think about it, he turned his attention back in front of them, pulling Y/N close.

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

By the time they returned to the apartment, raving about their hotteok, the space was quiet.

As they stepped into the warm apartment, the contrast from the biting cold outside sent a pleasant shiver down Y/N’s spine. Jinyoung was still dusting snow off his shoulders and hair when Y/N stepped closer, reaching up without thinking. “Hold still,” she murmured before tugging at the zipper of his jacket. 

Jinyoung watched as she slipped his jacket off his shoulders for him, her eyes flickering downward at what was beneath before she could stop herself. His sweater, damp from the melting snow, clung to him in a way that left little to the imagination—outlining the firm lines of his torso, the way it stretched just slightly over his broad shoulders. She swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of how close they were, of the heat radiating from his body despite the lingering chill. It shouldn’t have been a big deal—she was just helping him out of his snow-covered clothes—but as her fingers brushed against the fabric, she had to force herself to focus on anything other than how ridiculously good he looked like this. Jinyoung, seemingly oblivious, smirked down at her. “You’re being awfully thorough,” he mused. Y/N rolled her eyes, stepping back before she did something embarrassing. “Just trying to keep you from catching a cold,” she muttered, but the warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her.

“You’re soaked,” she commented, more to herself than him. His lips curled slightly, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I wonder who’s fault that is?” he asked sarcastically. Y/N looked up at him as she busied herself with her own coat. “Go change,” she quipped, but the warmth in her touch still lingered between them.

After they both had changed, they returned to the living room. The lights were dim, the only glow coming from the city outside, casting shifting patterns on the walls. The heater hummed in the background, wrapping them in warmth, but that wasn’t what kept the chill away. It was this—being here, sitting close.

A movie played in the background, something neither of them had put too much thought into. 

Jinyoung shifted slightly, stretching one arm behind his head as he let out a slow breath. He glanced down at Y/N, who was still sitting up, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the blanket.

“You can lay down on me if you want,” he murmured, his voice quiet. 

Y/N hesitated for a second at his suggestion, but the other part of her was eager to take him up on his offer. Slowly, she eased down over him, laying her hands on his chest, resting her head on them.

The moment she settled against him, she became hyper aware of everything again - especially how his body felt beneath her, the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the way his shirt stretched across his chest as he shifted. It should’ve been easy to relax, but now her heart was beating a little too fast, and she was scared he could feel it. 

Jinyoung hadn’t even hesitated draping an arm around her, his fingers brushing absently against her shoulder.

Is this how friends laid together?

He didn’t seem to notice Y/N’s tenseness. Instead he remained still. It was casual—should have been casual—but the longer they stayed like this, the more something unspoken hung between them.

She sighed softly, shifting. The movie played on, but Y/N found it hard to focus on anything except she could feel his abs rise and fall against her stomach. She swallowed hard remembering what they looked like.

Jinyoung’s voice broke through the quiet. “Comfortable?”

Y/N snapped herself out of her thoughts, willing herself to sound normal. “Yeah,” she mumbled, though she wasn’t sure if her answer was entirely true. Comfortable wasn’t exactly the right word—not when she felt this aware, this distracted.

He hummed in acknowledgment, but she could tell by the slight amusement in his tone that he wasn’t entirely fooled. Still, he didn’t press further. Instead, his fingers resumed their slow, absentminded movements against her shoulder, and Y/N forced herself to exhale, letting the tension leave her body.

Maybe she’d get used to this. Maybe she’d stop overthinking how solid he felt beneath her, how easy it would be to trace the contours of his shoulders, his arms—

She squeezed her eyes shut. No. That was dangerous territory.

Instead, she focused on his heartbeat, steady and grounding.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in stillness. But here, in this quiet, unhurried moment, nothing felt heavy.

As for Jinyoung, for once, his mind wasn’t racing. For once, he wasn’t thinking about the event, the cameras, the expectations.

Just this. Just her.

They laid in silence, content and warm. But as the movie’s plot unraveled, Jinyoung felt his & Y/N’s bodies tense. The story took a darker turn—an obsessive stalker watching the protagonist’s every move. He could see Y/N watching intently, the way her fingers curled slightly into the blanket.

He just reached for the remote and switched it off.

Y/N blinked up at him, startled. “Why—?”

“You don’t need to watch that. Let’s find something that won’t give us both nightmares.” he said simply, voice calm but firm as he searched for something else.

She exhaled slowly, the tension still clinging to her frame. It was so odd how sometimes she didn’t even have to open her mouth and yet he just knew what she was thinking. She didn’t know anyone as receptive as Jinoyung.

She watched as he scrolled through options, one arm behind his head, the other flicking through selections with the remote. This time, he picked the movie—something light, something easy. But something in the air lingered, something unsaid.

He set the remote down and laid his hand back down on her back, Y/N eager for him to continue the faint drawing he was doing on her shoulder with his finger. Instead, they laid there in silence for a moment as the movie started.

“I would never let anything happen to you,” he said aloud, finally clearing the air of what felt unsaid. Y/N’s turned her attention away from the movie at the randomness of it. His voice was quiet, serious in a way that left no room for doubt.

“I know,” Y/N consoled.

He nodded, seeming content with that.

She shifted, resettling, her head resting on her hands, which rested on his chest. Jinyoung felt the weight of her so naturally beside him that he let himself relax completely. He noticed the way her breathing evened out, the way she unconsciously nestled closer as if she felt just as safe.

Jinyoung glanced down, his gaze tracing the soft curve of her face, the way her lashes fluttered slightly—caught somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.

She made a small sound—content, almost—her body rising and falling dependent on his breathing.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

It wasn’t long before the warmth of the room and the quiet flickering light of the screen lulled her to sleep, as per usual.

Jinyoung scoffed at how routine this had become. But he wasn’t much better. He only lasted a few moments longer before his own eyelids grew heavy.

—

An hour or so later, Jinyoung jolted awake.

His breath came quickly, uneven. The dark silence of the apartment pressed in around him, too still, too quiet. His pulse pounded in his ears, a lingering echo of something—something he couldn’t quite shake.

In his panic, he startled Y/N awake.

She blinked rapidly, disoriented, her gaze quickly finding him. “What happened?” she mumbled, still half-asleep.

His hand gripped the edge of the couch, the other still resting holding her back. His face was pale, the remnants of his nightmare still clinging to him. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to steady his breath.

“It’s nothing,” he murmured after a pause. “Just a nightmare.”

Y/N propped herself up on one elbow, rubbing her eyes as she studied him. Even in the dim light, she could tell something wasn’t right.

“Are you okay?” she asked, voice softer now, laced with concern.

Jinyoung hesitated. Part of him wanted to tell her, yearning for more comfort. The dream had been vivid—dark, unsettling… about stalking - a nightmare probably ignited with help the first movie. But as he stared at her in the eyes now, innocent and drowsy with sleep, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her what it had truly been about for fear of scaring her too.

Instead, he exhaled, forcing a half-hearted smile. “Just stressed,” he said quietly. “The drama’s release is tomorrow, you know how it is.”

Y/N searched his face, unconvinced. Still, she reached up, brushing a few strands of hair from his forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay, Jinyoung.” Her voice was soft, steady.

He looked at her for a long moment, his heart heavier than he let on. He wanted to say more. He wanted to tell her. But instead, he just nodded.

Y/N yawned, stretching slightly. “Do you want to go to bed?” she asked, shifting as if to sit up.

Jinyoung hesitated—just for a second—“In a minute” he said before guiding her back down to his chest. His arms wrapped around her this time, almost as a quiet plea to stay.

She tensed slightly at first but then, without a word, relaxed against him. Maybe he needed this.

And so, as she let herself drift back into sleep. Jinyoung on the other hand stayed awake a little longer, staring at the ceiling, wrestling with his thoughts.

An* Here's a treat for reading all the way through ;)

-> Chapter 24