Synopsis: Riki has been by your side for as long as you can remember. Every childhood memory, every milestone, every stupid decision—you've never had to face it without him lingering somewhere nearby. So when junior year rolls around and dorm life comes to an end, moving into an apartment together feels less like a choice and more like the obvious next step.

But sharing four walls leaves little room for the distance friendship once provided. As routines intertwine and boundaries blur, the line between comfort and longing becomes harder to ignore.

Warnings: NSFW, kissing, making out, clothed, friction. minors DNI.

jm corner 𑁤 : first time writing a fic. kinda nervous ;)

I. Overflow⠀ ⠀♱ ⠀

“RIKI! IF YOU STUFF ANY MORE SHIT IN THAT BOX I WILL PERSONALLY BURN EVERY SINGLE CHROMEHEART ITEM YOU HAVE”, you yelled at the lanky boy as you helped him pack away his stuff. 

Yeah, maybe signing away into an apartment 3 days before your guy’s official move out of date of the dorms, or that being finals week right before wasn’t the brightest idea you’ve come up with, but it was that or having to face living with your families again. So, here you were, dealing with the consequences.

“Y/N, were you or were you not the one screaming at me earlier for not having anything packed for our apartment?” he said as he pointed at the boxes accumulating at the corner of the room with each passing hour. “I’m just simply responding to your request,” he said with a smirk. 

You sighed, “First of all, all those boxes are my blood, sweat and tears of hard work. Second of all, that did not mean pack everything you fucking own into that tiny ass box. We need order, we need organization because I know your ass isn’t going to actually unpack that shit correctly when we get there!” 

You loved the dude, really. He was your best friend, but moments like these made it feel like you were raising a fully grown son.

You grabbed the Sharpie sitting on the edge of his desk and started labeling the growing mountain of boxes.

Shoes. Hangers. CDs. Clothes. PC. Chrome Hearts. Miscellaneous. Chrome Hearts. Shower items. Chrome Hearts. Snacks. And somehow, even more fucking Chrome Hearts.

"God, how many boxes of the same shit do you have?" you groaned. "How are you even able to afford all of this? I thought we came from the same tax bracket."

"Sugar daddies," he replied with a grin, finally sorting everything into the boxes you'd labeled. "I promise you they love my feet."

You rolled your eyes, already fed up with his bullshit.

"Honestly, I wouldn't even be surprised if that's where you get your money, considering employment applications never seem to be one of your interests."

"Nah." He continued stuffing more Chrome Hearts into what had to be his eighth box by now. "Employment just isn't ready for someone of my caliber."

You stared at him, one brow raised, before holding up six fingers.

"Remind me how many times you've been rejected by the campus café?"

He blinked.

"Oh, right." You wiggled your fingers in his face. "Six."

"Rejection is redirection."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

The two of you settled into a comfortable rhythm.

You labeled the boxes. Riki shoved pieces of the past year into them without a second thought, seemingly unconcerned with the fact that he'd have to unpack every single one later. Then you came behind him, folding the flaps shut and sealing them with the duct tape you'd brought.

If someone asked you to materialize your friendship into a single action, it would be this.

You, organizing the chaos he created.

When the room was finally bare, stripped of every trace of Riki from the past year, the two of you stared at the boxes littering the floor.

Your eyes wandered around the room, and so did his.

"Well, would you look at that?" he said, checking an imaginary watch. "The most petrifying years of my life packed into those neat little boxes of yours in... three hours."

You looked at the empty walls where your Polaroids used to hang, at his bare desk where you'd spent countless hours studying instead of using your own. Then your gaze landed on the tiny single bed in the corner—the one you'd collapsed onto whenever the drinks hit too hard and walking back to your own room felt impossible.

Now it was stripped of the black mattress Riki had sworn was the scratchiest thing he'd ever laid on.

"You know," you said quietly, "I thought I'd feel weird about leaving."

"And?"

Your eyes drifted over the empty room one last time.

"Turns out all the stuff I'm actually gonna miss is leaving with me."

He looked at you for a moment before smiling.

"That's disgustingly sentimental."

"Literally go fuck yourself with a chainsaw."

He laughed. "Wow. I mean, if I had a roommate like yours, I wouldn't be missing much either." He let out an exaggerated sigh before dropping onto the bare bed frame. "But honestly? Me neither. I'm just gonna miss not having to be a full adult."

"We're victims, honestly. I thought we had more time," you said, sitting down near his legs.

"Tell me about it." He threw an arm over his face.

"We have rent due in two weeks," you reminded him, resting your cheek against your palm.

"Always the one with a reminder, aren't you?" He peeked at you through his fingers.

"Duh." You stood and pulled the two sets of keys from your jacket pocket, dangling them in front of his face. "Now let's get going. We don't have all day, and I want to start unpacking our new place."

"Whatever." He snatched the keys from your hand and stood. "I'm just glad it's you. Honest to God, I love Jay, but if I have to hear him talk about Max Verstappen one more fucking time, I'm putting a bullet between my eyes, and I'm making you watch."

You laughed before bending down to grab a box.

Together, the two of you made a few more trips back and forth, arms aching a little more with every flight of stairs. By the time only one box remained, the room looked unfamiliar—bare walls, empty shelves, not even a stray hoodie forgotten in the corner.

Riki picked up the last box while you took one final look around.

"Ready?" he asked.

You nodded.

Together, the two of you carried the last box out of the room.

Riki nudged the door shut with his foot before giving the handle one absent-minded jiggle to make sure it'd locked.

Click.

The sound echoed down the empty hallway.

Just like that, sophomore year was behind you.

The apartment waiting across town suddenly made junior year feel a lot closer than either of you were ready for.

You adjusted the box in your arms before falling into step beside him.

Neither of you looked back.

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀♱ ⠀

So, you knew living with Riki was a choice.

A choice that you definitely made sober.

What you hadn't accounted for was the reality of actually living with him.

You would've thought that after seventeen years together, at least a fraction of your common sense would've rubbed off on him.

It hadn't.

Not even a little.

If anything, living together had only confirmed one thing:

Riki was, and always would be, an absolute fucking menace.

Which was exactly why, instead of unpacking the mountain of boxes currently occupying your apartment, you found yourself sitting on the only piece of furniture in the living room—an orange tufted couch the two of you had rescued from the side of the road.

A hidden gem, you'd insisted.

A biohazard, Riki had argued.

You'd won.

Unfortunately.

Because after hauling every last box inside and mentally preparing to spend the rest of the afternoon unpacking...

...you opened the front door to find nine very familiar faces staring back at you.

"Oh my God! I thought we'd never get the party started!" Chaewon squealed, launching herself at you with absolutely no regard for the box still balanced in your arms.

Then came Manon.

Then Sophia.

"How in the fuck did you guys even get in here?" you managed to mumble, your voice thoroughly smothered by a wall of limbs.

Riki walked in a second later, setting his box down as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

"Hyungs! Finally."

...

Oh, he was going to die.

Right after you escaped whatever the fuck this hug prison was.

The smell hit you first.

Fruity soju.

Sweat.

More soju.

"Jesus Christ," you grimaced. "Did you guys bathe in Chamisul?"

“MEI!” Jungwon yelled as he lunged at you full force. Congratulations. You'd escaped one hug prison and been immediately transferred to another.

...

Okay.

This one wasn't exactly unwelcome.

You laughed, wrapping your arms around him before the realization hit all at once.

Oh.

Oh, no.

You were wearing black sweatpants.

Your ugly-ass UGG boots.

A sweat-soaked black Skims tank.

Finals-week hair.

And you probably smelled like cardboard, dust, and three flights of stairs.

Fantastic.

Of course Jungwon had to see you looking like this.

“Hey,” you muffled in his arms before pulling away.

You combed your fingers through your hair, or tried to at least. 

Pulled your shirt down and rubbed your sweaty palms on your sweatpants. 

"We're here to help you unpack and everything," Jungwon smiled, gesturing to the sea of boxes scattered around the apartment.

"You're so swe—"

"I NEED TO PEE!"

Riki barreled between the two of you, nearly shoulder-checking you into Jungwon before disappearing down the hallway.

Great reminder. Jungwon would’ve been a great distraction for your annoyance had he not reminded you of what the situation at hand was. 

Oh Riki, you’re so dead. 

"BITCH!" You slammed your palm against the bathroom door. "Get your ass back here! I'm gonna shove my literal foot up your ass!"

When you heard a stream, you paused. 

But being you, you continued.

“You cunt! Why did you not warn me we were bringing guests over you fucktard!” 

The bathroom door creaked open.

"Is this how we treat our guests?" Riki asked with a grin.

You were already preparing your next insult.

Then...

Silence.

The kind of silence that only happened when people were trying very hard not to laugh.

You slowly looked over your shoulder.

Everyone was staring at you.

...

Oh.

You forgot they were here.

"Yeah, t’seems we've been forgotten," Heeseung said, raising the bottle in greeting.

You blinked.

Strawberry soju.

...

Riki could wait.

"Hello, my beautiful, wonderful, generous friends."

Jay snorted, shaking his head.

"You lasted, what? Fifteen minutes before threatening bodily harm? New personal best."

Sunghoon tried to hide it, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him anyway.

Jake was less composed.

He'd doubled over on the couch, clutching his stomach as laughter shook his entire body, nearly sending the strawberry Ice UT in his hand flying across the room.

And then there was Sunoo.

Your favorite.

He strolled over with the kind of smug smile that meant he was about to say something that would piss you off.

"My, my, my." He pulled you into a hug. "Not even a day into your apartment and you're already trying to lose your security deposit."

You scoffed.

"Occupational hazard."

"Occupation?"

You pointed toward Riki without even looking.

"Living with him."

“Right,” he said as he winked just for you. 

See, the thing is. Sunoo has it out for you and your love life. 

He’s one of the only ones you’ve told about your tiny, little, if it was even anything… attraction to Jungwon. You would think he would be supportive, hell, even help you get your man, but no.

For some fuckass reason, he swears that it’s you and Riki that’s meant to be. 

Annoying fuck.

Ridiculous as hell. 

“Whatever,” you said as you slightly shoved him which resulted in him clutching his chest as if it deeply wounded him. 

You rolled your eyes. 

“Let’s just actually, get to the point—” you pointed at the bottle in Heesung's hand, “it’s time to whisk away whatever the fuck the past two weeks were.”

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀♱ ⠀

So, here you were. In a circle of your friends, breaking the apartment in, in the only way the shared brain cell your friend group had.

Playing truth or dare with a spinning soju bottle in the middle. 

Sat in a circle surrounded by boxes, in an empty two bedroom apartment, with a couch you found on the side of the road. 

You don’t know how many drinks you’ve had. Or how many rounds you guys have played. Hell, you don’t even know how many they brought. The only thing occupying your mind is how close you are to Jungwon. Knees constantly brushing together as you sat, criss crossed next to each other. 

You’d be lying if you said it didn’t send shivers all the way down your back. Or that you weren’t constantly fixing your shirt, your hair. Anything to comfort the feeling of being next to him. 

Your lips were chewed out at this point quite honestly. 

The bottle spun, then it landed on you. 

You’ve survived however many rounds it had been, but now it was your turn. 

And worst, because the person who spun it got to ask, you were in for a treat. 

Because low and behold, it was fucktard Jake. 

You literally sighed in defeat when it landed on you. 

“Just ask away, bro.” You said as you looked down, overwhelmed with alcohol, exhaustion, and an itching growing in your lower stomach that will be dealt with later. 

Jack snickered, “Truth or Dare, Y/N.”

You were in for trouble, but honestly fuck it. Because you were too deep in, and the alcohol flooded your systems at this point.

“Dare, bitch.”

He smirked, “Make out with someone you find attractive in the circle—” he raised his brows, “then, sit on their lap for the rest of the game.”

Fuck.

“Absolutely not.” Sunoo interjected.

“Why not?” Jake questioned as he fully turned towards Sunoo with disbelief. 

“Because you’re about to ruin my five-year investment.”

You looked up in time and met Riki’s eyes. 

“...You’re what?”

“Nevermind.” Sunoo pouted. 

“Easy,” you said.

You had a mission. Because tonight wasn’t just about you. 

Suddenly, you got up. The alcohol was really doing wonders for your already boosted ego. Now getting up and all you met were shocked eyes on you. 

“Honestly,” you said as you started walking around the circle, first stopping at Heesung who was to your right. “If you guys just wanted to make out with me just say that…”

You crouched down, met him face to face, nuzzling your nose against his. He sighed, eyes locking on yours, before looking down to your lips that were caught in between your teeth. 

You looked up, closing the distance by a millimeter before gracing your lips against his cheeks, and he sighed, closing his eyes. He was too far gone, the sweetness of your voice leaving him in a trance. 

You grabbed his jaw, tilting, before licking and kissing his ear, and breathing into it.

“Chaewon’s been waiting for you all night” you whispered in his ears before pulling his face from yours by the ends of his hair. 

You got up, looked at Chaewon and winked. 

Heesung lowered his gaze before meeting Chaewon’s eyes with a smirk on his lips. Chaewon understood what you were doing at that moment.

For some god awful reason, they’ve been dancing around in circles for months, hell even years. And you being you, just wanted them to finally realize… define what it was they were dancing around. 

Because you were so…exhausted from hearing about it.

Onto, your next target.

You crawled towards Jay. 

Jay’s eyes locked with yours. Shocked, weighing on his face as you propped up on your knees in front him. 

You grabbed his jaw, put your finger on his mouth and traced his lower lip. You crouched down by his neck, breathing into it before tracing his ears, your mouth lowered. 

“Save your kiss for when it finally lands on Sophia”, you whimpered into his ears, before fully pulling back. 

Everyone’s eyes were on you. Shocks written in their faces, alcohol pumping through their blood, lust in their lips as they watched the show you put on. Everyone knew how you were, every dare was a show. Today was no different. 

You’ve kissed some of the boys, hell even your girls before, but something in your veins were different today. Everyone could tell. 

The thread holding the group together by sheer humor, alcohol, and tension that was piling throughout the years of what everyone called friendship was beginning to stretch as the strain of adulthood got the best of them and the thread of pride and boundaries blurring in those lines. 

You may seem like a standard to most. Upheld by constructs, organization and mood boards. But everyone knew, once alcohol was in your system, you may as well have been Riki’s mirror. Maybe that’s why you guys got along so well. 

Because in his recklessness you found comfort. In his chaos, you found your home.

So when the thread of control that only sobriety can mask, so came the restraints that whisked away just as fast. 

Luckily, the next person was Sunghoon.

Your favorite person to tease. 

Oh, because he was so reactive when it came to your best friend Manon. You’ve know about their secret- not so - secret, situation — calls at night when the drinks were obliterated and everyone departed into their own little agendas —meant to be hidden, but you knew better. 

You locked eyes with Sunghoon, then looked at Manon. 

She knew. 

You crouched down behind Sunghoon, before forcing him to meet Manon’s eyes. 

Heavy, lidded, unmasking all their thoughts as you slid your arms from behind him to feel the tenseness in his chest. The muscles under your palm twitched as Sunghoon sat frozen, twitching, under Manon’s gaze. You lowered your mouth right by his ear. 

“You know…” you whispered, “I’m usually the one that drops her off at yours.”

Sunghoon froze. 

Manon’s cheeks turned crimson. She knew, legs clutched tight. Mirroring that of Sophia’s and Chaewon who seemed to forget the rest of the group, eyes locked on their secret partner. 

And fuck, the anticipation of what was to unfold after tonight continued to blur your — and everyone’s—vision with excitement. 

Every thought, every possible innuendo that possessed your group of friends were going to be unmasked in your’s and Riki’s empty living room. Because who, if not you? Was going to do just that. 

As the hazy thoughts of whatever was going on between the three sets of couples that everyone danced around the idea of just laid itself out bare in front of everyone here. Shock was an understatement. 

So, when the time came for Jake and Sunoo, their bodies were in a defensive stance. 

And honestly, if anyone was upfront and honest it was those two so they were already an afterthought in your mission. 

Unfortunately, the next person beside Jake was a question mark you'd never bothered trying to solve.

Riki.

Your eyes met his.

Usually he'd be laughing by now.

Making some stupid comment.

Calling you dramatic.

But he wasn't.

He was just...

Looking at you.

The corners of his lips had long since dropped, his breathing slower, heavier. His eyes followed you in a way that made the room suddenly feel too warm.

...

What was he looking at?

You?

You'd done this before.

Put on little performances.

Teased your friends.

Kissed a few of them for dares.

Riki had seen every single one.

So why did this one feel different?

He had seen you unmasked in all ways more than one, but maybe not in the way he has right now. 

Because when you met his eyes, it wasn’t the familiar teasing ones you were usually met with. 

It was dark, heavy, mirroring that of his breath, uneven. 

What was he thinking about?

Why is he even looking at me like that?

And maybe, for the last time it was the alcohol speaking it for you, because when you looked at his face, and his eyes, they kept traveling to his lips. 

As if that was the only thing you could see. 

Fuck, what was the dare again?

Because for some god awful reason, maybe the alcohol you’ve been consuming has finally caught up with you. Your brain was hazy, fuzzy, warm, and wanting things you shouldn’t be wanting. 

The noise of the truths that were just uncovered by your doing, and the crowd, the eyes, the friends that was supposed to surround you was gone. 

The only one left, in your vision, was the pretty pouty lips in between his teeth as he looked at you with heavy lidded eyes. His body leaning against the couch, legs uncrossed, one propped up, the other crossed, as if paving way for you to settle right in between. 

His chest heaved up and down, eyes still locked on yours. 

Or tried to, because again, if the alcohol was your unmasking, so was Riki’s.

Again, you were each other’s mirror right? That’s how guys got along… right?

So, when the only thing you see is the vision of his lips on yours, unchained of sobriety, unchained of constructs and boundaries of your friendship. 

You do the only sane thing your alcohol fused brain could come up with, you straddled him. 

And that’s when the chains came undoing. Because you had never looked at each other in the way that you have. 

And you should be doing this to the person right beside him, Jungwon.

Because you said you wanted him right?

So, why did you not see him in the haze that clouded your brain and vision with lust and intensity. 

God, it was definitely this apartment, or the alcohol. Or whatever the fuck was in between Riki’s thighs that nudged you the moment you made contact with it. 

But when Riki looked up at you, the noise in your head was gone. 

Left was the hunger in his eyes, in between his legs, unmasking you in ways he had never seen before. 

You didn’t even second guess yourself when you lowered your lips to meet his. 

Brushing along his, as you grabbed his jaw. 

The slick of his jawline felt firm under your touch, the only thing confirming itself in you that this was happening, and it was real, and he was warm. So fucking warm. 

So when you brushed your lips against his, and his big veiny hands found the space between your shirt and your sweatpants as he guided you closer on him, feeling the friction of his bulge on your crotch, you swear you stopped breathing, and so did everyone else that was watching the scene unfold. 

Because the only thing in your vision was his eyes as he breathed in your mouth, giving you space to run away, to do the sane thing for your friendship, to walk out, unharmed, untainted, unshattered by whatever it was that you were about to cross. 

But you were hypnotized. 

Hypnotized by his warmth. 

So when your lips finally met his, your veins were flooded with heat and it felt like a breath you didn’t even know you were holding. 

The knot in your chest came undone, because the only thing you feel is him. 

The alcohol that consumed your system was replaced by the only physical thing you can feel, Riki.

His mouth met yours in hunger, lips dancing with yours before he slid his tongue along your lower lip asking for entrance. When you opened your mouth as an answer, he groaned into your mouth as he continued to lap your mouth with all of him. His tongue swirling your own, lips colliding with each other in hunger. 

He sat, allowing you to fully straddle him, now moving both arms to move to your back, one holding you up by threading his fingers through your hair, while the other pressed up throughout your whole back moving up and down, scratching you to feel the heat of him even more. 

When you pressed onto him even more, an attempt to get even more closer, you whimpered in his mouth. Only enabling him to assault your tongue even more, grinding into you now.

You feel it. 

The weight beneath. 

The hard weight of his cock as it presses against your clit, and it only makes you gasp against him. 

You pressed yourself into him more, his hand traveling down to move your hips while the other stayed at through your hair, dominating, pulling, tugging and controlling the kiss. 

That’s when you hear it. 

Click.

Then—

Flash.

Reality crashed back all at once.

The apartment.

The circle of empty soju bottles.

The nine people staring at the two of you.

The fact that you were still on top of your best friend.

...

Fuck.

Silence swallowed the room.

Then—

"Investment returns, I tell ya'," Sunoo said, breaking it with the widest grin you'd ever seen.

“Fuck,” you muttered as you scrambled away from Riki. “I don’t know what that was, I’m sorry,.. Fuck.”

You said looking down, embarrassed.

“Y/N—” Riki started, but then saw the look on your face. 

The guilt hit all at once.

You'd just made out with your best friend.

In front of everyone.

The dare was supposed to expose everyone else's secrets.

Not create one of your own.

Fuck. 

What even happened. 

You blacked out.

That's the excuse you settled on.

Because the alternative was admitting that somewhere between laughter and soju...

You'd forgotten Jungwon was sitting right beside him.

Fuck. 

“Mission accomplished,” Jake clapped, “I think we’re done for the night, that sobered me up pretty fast!” He said as he got up with Sunoo. 

“Compound interests!” Sunoo muttered. 

He held up the photo evidence of whatever just unfolded, “Manifesting for the future babies in the making of this very apartment. What a great way to break it in on the first day.” 

“That sounds like a good ending for me,” Heesung said as he got up, walked towards Chaewon before holding his hand up towards her, “My lady, your carriage awaits.” He smiled.

Chaewon grabbed his hand, before getting up to her feet. She looked at you with a smile in her eyes, “Have a great rest of your night, lovely day to ‘unpack’ right?” 

Then looked at Riki, who was now looking at you. But you refused to meet his eyes. 

“Can’t keep you waiting can I?” Jay muttered towards Sophia as he got up and walked towards her as well. 

She snickered before grabbing his arm and getting up herself. She smiled towards you, smiled and nudged in the direction of Riki with a glint in her eyes.

You pleaded with your eyes. 

Only resulting in her mouthing “fighting”.

Sunghoon got up, then walked towards Manon, who was already up. 

“Guess you’ll be needing a ride to mine?” he offered as he looked at her, while side-eyeing you. 

“There’s gonna be a lot of unpacking tonight, I take it?” He teased. 

Oh, how the tables have turned. 

You knew you said that this wasn’t about you tonight, so how did it come to this?

As everyone scrambled up, 

“Guess I should start heading out too,” Jungwon whispered before getting up, with a shy smile. He couldn’t meet your eyes. 

"Won..." you called softly.

He rubbed the back of his neck before finally looking at you.

"You guys... have a lot to unpack."

His eyes flicked toward the boxes.

Then, almost involuntarily...

Back to Riki.

"I don't think you need our help anymore."

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀♱ ⠀

Especially when ot6ers who are not okay in their fucking heads and love harassing others making the fandom as a whole look horrible, they keep turning jungwons words as a way to counter 0t7 fans and THEN completely take it out of context to go and hate on heesung but this is just the tip of the iceberg and it gets worse

I wanna respect the group's decision, but I strongly relate to ot7 engenes considering heesung has been part of the group 6 years, you cant just erase that. We weren't even given a proper explanation they just dropped the bomb on us and expect us to just move on and pretend as if he never existed in the first place, that my main problem regarding his exit. If they indeed gave the fans more context I guarantee you shit wouldn't have escalated this far

𝐼𝒸𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝒷𝓎 𝓂𝑒!ྀིྀི⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

𝐼𝒸𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝒷𝓎 𝓂𝑒! ྀིྀི