#izone hyewon

Imagine Jaeyi confessing to you, her usual composure faltering for the first time.

» She’s always been articulate, always in control of her emotions, but when she stands in front of you after school, gripping the edges of her blazer, she suddenly can’t find the right words.

“I don’t… usually feel this way about people,” she admits, voice quieter than usual. “But you—you make me feel different. I think… I really, really like you.”

Her ears are red, her confidence wavering, and for once, the ever-perfect student council president looks unsure.

You smile, taking her hand. “Then let’s figure this out together.”

Imagine Jaeyi being confused by her own feelings.

» She’s always been rational, always followed logic. So why does her heart race when you casually lean against her desk during student council meetings?

Why does she replay your laughter in her head long after you’ve walked away?

One day, she catches herself staring at you for too long, and when you meet her gaze, tilting your head with a playful smile, she immediately looks away, flustered.

What are you doing to me? she wonders.

Imagine Jaeyi falling deeper in love with you every day.

» At first, she thought it was just admiration—maybe even just curiosity.

But then she notices the way her heart softens when you wait for her after class, the way her stress fades when you call her name, the way she catches herself smiling just at the thought of you.

One evening, as you walk home together, she blurts out, “I think I love you.”

You stop in your tracks, eyes widening, and she panics for a second before you pull her into a hug, whispering, “I love you too.”

Imagine Jaeyi being protective of you, even when she doesn’t know how to express it.

» One day, she overhears some students gossiping about you, and before she can stop herself, she slams her hand on the desk, her sharp gaze silencing them instantly.

“If you have time to talk about others, you should use it to improve yourselves,” she says coldly before walking away.

When you hear about it later and tease her, “Were you defending my honor, President Jaeyi?” she looks away, mumbling, “I just don’t like hearing nonsense.”

But the way she tugs you closer afterward tells you otherwise.

Imagine Jaeyi finally kissing you, breaking all the rules she once set for herself.

» For so long, she’s followed a strict path—focusing on studies, responsibilities, and never allowing distractions. But now, with you so close, looking at her with such affection, she realizes that maybe love isn’t a distraction—it’s a new kind of priority.

So she finally gives in, gently cupping your face before pressing her lips to yours.

It began in a village without a name. A place the Empire only remembered when taxes were due or rebels dared to whisper. It was there — among farmers, filth, and forgotten sons — that she saw you.

You don’t remember the first time she looked at you. But she did.

Mud streaked your arms. The coarse fabric of your shirt clung to your chest as you hauled crates with the ease of someone who had no choice but strength. Your eyes weren’t dulled like the others. They burned with something dangerous: spirit. Resistance. Life.

That was what undid her.

She arrived in a gold carriage with blood-red curtains, guarded by a phalanx of imperial blades. Everyone dropped to their knees. Even the cattle seemed to bow.

Everyone, except you.

You were late. You didn’t know she was coming.

When you did finally appear, dirt-stained and panting from work, you stood still as her cold eyes found yours.

And for the first time in years, Empress Kang Hyewon smiled.

They said you were "recruited." That was the word. A summons, not an arrest.

But everyone knew what it meant. When the Empress herself requested a peasant by name, no one questioned it — they only watched with widened eyes and hushed prayers.

You were bathed in rosewater, dressed in imperial linens, and brought to the palace — a sprawling monument of white stone and crimson silk. A city within a city, filled with paintings of gods and soldiers, with mirrors that never showed your reflection quite right.

You didn’t know why you were there.

No one told you.

You weren’t made to scrub floors or pour wine like the other new servants. Instead, you were given a room — alone. Finer than anything you’d ever slept in, though still far from the luxury of nobles.

Meals were delivered. Robes were tailored. Your hands — once calloused from years of labor — began to heal.

And still, no explanation came.

Until she did.

She entered your room without a word.

No guards. No warning.

Just her.

Empress Kang Hyewon, in a gown that shimmered like ice under moonlight, her crown absent but her presence undeniable.

You stood.

Not out of fear. But something else — a tension that coiled in your chest like fire about to catch.

Her gaze swept over you. Not like a ruler assessing her servant, but like a storm considering a tree: wondering how long until it breaks.

“You didn’t kneel,” she said.

Her voice was silk over steel.

You swallowed hard. “I didn’t know you were—”

“I know,” she interrupted.

Silence followed. Heavy. Sharp.

Then she stepped closer, and your breath hitched.

“You looked me in the eye,” she murmured.

“I didn’t mean to disrespect—”

“But you did.”

She was close now. Close enough to smell the delicate perfume that clung to her skin — something cold, expensive, and floral, like winter blooming.

“But I didn’t mind,” she added softly.

Your heart thundered.

She looked at you like you were prey — not in the way of a hunter, but something worse.

An owner.

A collector.

And then she smiled again — faint, dangerous, beautiful.

“I want to see what you become under my hand.”

The days blurred after that.

You were summoned often, though never for tasks. Not like the others.

Instead, she would have you sit beside her during court, your presence ignored by nobles too terrified to ask. Sometimes, she had you walk with her through the palace gardens, where roses bloomed the color of fresh wounds.

Other times, she’d simply watch you.

Sitting in her private chamber — all velvet and candlelight — as you stood quietly by the wall, unsure what was expected.

It felt like being studied by something ancient.

One night, she broke the silence.

“Do you know what they say about me?” she asked, swirling wine in a glass worth more than your village.

You didn’t answer.

She chuckled. “They say I’m cold. A serpent in human skin. That I slit throats with words alone.”

Her eyes flicked toward you.

“But you,” she whispered, “you don’t look at me like they do.”

You met her gaze. “Should I be afraid?”

A pause.

“No,” she said. “You should be mine.”

They whisper now, the servants.

They speak in corners, behind tapestries, careful not to be heard.

Why does the Empress favor him?

Why does he dine alone, in silence, with silver cutlery?

Why does she smile — actually smile — only when he’s nearby?

No one understands.

Because no one knows.

Not what happens when the sun falls.

Not what begins when the doors to her private wing close behind you.

At night, you go to her chamber.

Not because you are ordered.

But because you are summoned.

Your room always bears a single black ribbon tied around the door handle. That is her signal.

That is the command only you obey.

Her chamber is dark, lit by only a dozen candles and the glow of a hearth.

She sits by the window, in a silk robe that falls off one shoulder like moonlight slipping down a mountain.

“Come here,” she says.

You do.

She doesn’t touch you at first.

Instead, she looks at you — hungry. Not for flesh, but for something deeper. As if she wants to consume your very existence.

Her fingers trail across your jaw.

Rough from labor.

Still not soft enough for court.

“Every man here wears a mask,” she whispers. “But not you.”

You shiver.

“Should I?” you ask.

She steps closer.

“No,” she murmurs, “I want to break you without ever changing you.”

You become her obsession.

And you feel it — in the way her eyes linger, the way her fingers curl possessively into the fabric of your shirt when you part.

She doesn’t ask for loyalty. She assumes it.

She doesn’t demand love. She waits for it to become inevitable.

And part of you hates it.

Hates how the other servants flinch at your presence.

Hates the golden cage you now live in — one carved by power and lust and quiet madness.

But another part…

Another part waits for the ribbon each night.

Another part aches when she doesn’t summon you.

Because as much as she owns you…

You’re beginning to wonder if she’s becoming yours, too.

One night, as rain lashes the palace windows, she pulls you to the edge of her bed.

She looks tired — not physically, but spiritually. The weight of empire etched into her shoulders.

“You could run,” she says suddenly. “No one would stop you.”

You say nothing.

She leans in.

“But you won’t.”

Her hand touches your chest, over your heart.

“I don’t need chains to keep you here,” she whispers, her voice trembling with the smallest crack in her imperial mask. “You’re already bound.”

And for the first time since arriving, you don’t feel like a prisoner.

You feel like a secret.

A dangerous, beautiful secret that even the most powerful woman in the world doesn’t want the world to see.

Because in here, behind locked doors and quiet confessions, Empress Kang Hyewon is not just a ruler.

She is yours.

And you…

You are hers.

The palace was colder now.

Not in temperature, but in tension — the kind that crept down the spine of every noble and servant alike. Whispers followed every footstep. Eyes darted to the shadows with suspicion.

Because something was shifting.

Something dangerous.

And it all began the day she bled.

It started innocently. A diplomatic summit. An annual display of loyalty, where nobles from the outer territories kissed the Empress’s hand and pretended not to plot behind her back.

You were never meant to be there. You weren’t a guard, nor an advisor. Just… her favorite.

But Hyewon brought you anyway.

She didn’t say why. She never did.

You stood just behind her throne — dressed not in servant garb, but a tailored jacket of midnight blue, embroidered subtly with her crest.

The nobles noticed. Of course they did.

Their gazes sliced across your skin, full of poison and envy.

But Hyewon didn’t flinch. She leaned back in her throne and sipped wine, letting her fingers rest lazily on the armrest… just close enough to yours.

“I like the way they hate you,” she murmured, eyes half-lidded. “It makes me feel closer to you.”

You didn’t know how to answer that.

So you said nothing.

But your silence didn’t stop the chaos from erupting.

It happened fast.

Too fast.

A servant — or what everyone thought was a servant — slipped past the outer guard. No one noticed the dagger until it was too close.

You didn’t think. You moved.

Your body collided with hers just as the blade slashed the air. It caught your side, not hers. A blinding jolt of pain flared through your ribs, but you stayed upright, gripping Hyewon tight as guards tackled the would-be assassin.

Blood soaked through your shirt. Your knees buckled.

Her hands cupped your face instantly, shaking.

“Why?” she whispered. “Why did you…”

You didn’t have an answer.

You were just… there. You had to be.

“I don’t know,” you choked, “I just—”

“Shut up,” she snapped, eyes wild, voice cracking. “Shut up and don’t you dare die.”

You didn’t die.

But someone else did.

Many someones, actually.

The rebellion was small, hidden until now — a faction of peasants and defectors who had decided that Empress Kang Hyewon’s reign had lasted long enough. That her cold elegance and ruthless efficiency needed to end.

They made a mistake.

Because they hadn’t considered you.

And worse — they hurt you.

The palace turned red after that.

Not in banners.

In blood.

She didn’t hold court for a week. The nobles trembled in uncertainty. The servants stayed silent.

Because they heard what she did in the dungeons.

One by one, the rebels — and those even suspected of sympathizing — were dragged into the bowels of the palace. Screams echoed against stone and iron. They said she interrogated them herself.

Bare-handed.

Face blank.

Voice low and merciless.

She didn’t ask for names. She ripped them from mouths.

Not because they threatened her empire.

But because they had dared to harm you.

You awoke in a bed far softer than yours.

Bandaged. Bare-chested. Dimly aware of the pain in your side and the pounding of your heart.

Then you heard the chair creak.

She was there.

Hyewon.

Crownless. Sleepless. Her gown was wrinkled — Hyewon, who never allowed a thread out of place. Her eyes were darker than before, ringed with shadows and fury.

You tried to sit up.

She pushed you back down, gentle but firm.

“Don’t,” she said. “You’re not ready.”

You searched her expression. “What happened?”

She stared at you for a long, long time.

Then she said, voice low: “They touched what’s mine.”

Your throat tightened.

“Hyewon…”

“Don’t speak. Just…” Her hand cupped your face. Her thumb brushed your lower lip like she was memorizing it. “You’re mine.”

“I didn’t mean to get in the way,” you murmured. “I just… I couldn’t let them—”

She leaned down suddenly, lips brushing your ear.

“You protected me,” she whispered. “No one’s ever done that before.”

Her voice trembled.

Not with weakness.

With something far worse.

Emotion.

“I’m supposed to protect you,” she said, pulling back. “Not the other way around.”

You swallowed.

“But I’m just—”

“If you ever say that again,” she hissed, “I will burn this palace to the ground with everyone in it. Don’t ever call yourself just anything.”

A silence.

Then she looked away, voice softer. “You bleed for me. I’ll kill for you. That’s balance.”

Rumors spread.

Of course they did.

The boy from the village, bleeding to save the Empress.

Her fury.

Her obsession.

And something new — her fear.

Because for the first time in a decade, she looked vulnerable. Not to war. Not to treason.

But to you.

A week passed.

You recovered.

But something in the palace changed.

Nobles no longer scoffed. They bowed — to you. Shallowly. Bitterly. But still.

And yet… there was someone else.

A nobleman. Lord Seong Minjae.

Young. Handsome. Viper-tongued and rich beyond measure.

He arrived under the guise of support, bringing soldiers and supplies to “aid the crown.” But everyone knew what he wanted:

To marry the Empress.

To steal the throne she held alone.

To eliminate you.

You caught him watching you during court.

Not with curiosity.

But calculation.

One evening, Hyewon summoned you — no ribbon this time. Just two guards who led you to the garden.

She was there. Alone. Lanterns swayed in the breeze.

She didn’t look at you when you arrived.

“Lord Seong asked for my hand,” she said.

You stiffened.

She turned, slowly.

“And I laughed in his face.”

Your heart thudded.

“But he’s dangerous,” she continued, stepping toward you. “Too powerful to dismiss completely. If I reject him outright… it might fracture the court.”

You understood. Politics.

So you asked, “What are you going to do?”

She stopped in front of you.

Her gaze was ice and fire, fury and yearning.

“I’m going to give him exactly what he wants.”

You flinched.

“…You’re going to marry him?”

“No,” she said. “I’m going to give him hope. I’ll play the game.”

She leaned in, lips brushing your neck.

“But I’ll sleep in your bed.”

You shivered.

“And when he finally overplays his hand,” she whispered, “I’ll break him.”

You swallowed hard. “This… this is dangerous.”

“So is love,” she said.

You looked up, heart pounding. “Is that what this is?”

She didn’t answer with words.

She kissed you.

Deep.

Possessive.

Like she was sealing a pact with your soul.

Later that night, as you lay in her arms, her fingers traced the scar on your side.

She whispered against your skin:

“You’re not just a servant.”

Another kiss.

“You’re not just a man.”

Another.

“You’re mine. The only thing in this cursed world that I won’t let the crown take from me.”

You closed your eyes.

And in the dark, you finally admitted to yourself—

You didn’t protect her because you were loyal.

You protected her because you loved her.

And now?

You weren’t sure who was more dangerous:

Her empire.

Or her love.

She changed after the rebellion.

After your blood stained the marble of her throne room.

After you, a boy from a forgotten village, shielded an Empress with your own body — not for duty, not for coin, but something you still couldn’t name.

And after that day, Hyewon was no longer content to rule her empire.

She ruled you.

The transition was slow, then all at once.

She began purging the council — the old, greedy men who once advised her with veiled condescension. One by one, they disappeared. Exiled. Silenced. Or executed publicly under vague charges of “treasonous intention.”

Their crime?

Suggesting she send you away. That you were a “distraction.” That her obsession with a commoner would rot the empire from within.

They were right.

And she killed them anyway.

Then came the reformation.

She rewrote the laws.

Words like "equality" and "nobility" lost their meaning. Ideology became crime. Dissent became blasphemy.

“No one speaks but me,” she declared, draped in crimson velvet before a sea of trembling nobles. “No one thinks but me.”

It sounded like madness.

But no one dared to say it.

Because her gaze was fixed on you, seated beside her throne — no longer behind it.

You wore black, now. Silks you didn’t ask for. Rings you didn’t earn. The people no longer whispered “servant” when they saw you.

They whispered “consort.”

“Beloved.”

“God.”

She built you an army.

An entire division of elite soldiers — all women. Trained from birth. Loyal only to her.

Or rather, to you.

The Crimson Vow, they were called.

Their only purpose: Your protection.

They followed you everywhere. To the garden. To the bath. Even into the library, where you once begged them to give you privacy. They didn’t blink.

One of them said simply, “We would rather die than let a breeze harm you, my Lord.”

You didn't ask for this.

You never wanted this.

But Hyewon never asked what you wanted.

“She’s gone too far,” said Lord Seong, days before he vanished.

“She’s losing herself,” whispered the palace doctor, before he was found hanged in his chambers.

“She’s in love with him,” a maid whispered in the hall.

She was skinned and hung over the palace gates by dawn.

No trial. No mercy.

Just a message:

He is mine.

At night, she held you like glass.

Her voice, soft only for you.

“I didn’t build this empire to rule,” she said once, stroking your jaw as you lay tangled in sheets of silver thread. “I built it so I could protect what I love.”

Her lips pressed against the scar on your side.

“I built it for you.”

You didn’t answer.

You couldn’t.

Because part of you loved her, still.

But another part — a colder, quieter part — feared what she’d become.

What you’d made her become.

You turned your face away.

She kissed the back of your neck anyway.

And the world watched.

The once-proud Empire of Aurelia became a land of trembling silence.

Books were burned. Borders closed. Statues of you and her replaced the old gods.

Rebels who still rose were crushed beneath steel boots and ash.

And always, at the heart of it all, stood Empress Kang Hyewon.

Beautiful.

Merciless.

Devoted beyond reason.

She no longer spoke of justice. Or legacy.

Only you.

“Let them call me a tyrant,” she said one morning, overlooking the smoldering remains of a border village that had dared fly a different flag.

Her hand found yours.

“They can hate me.”

She pulled you close, so close your breath caught.

“But if the world burns to keep you safe, then let it burn.”

And in that moment — watching flames lick the sky, feeling her heartbeat race beneath layers of armor and silk — you realized something:

You didn’t know if this was love.

You didn’t know if you should run, scream, or kiss her.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

Because Empress Kang Hyewon had made her choice.

Kwon Eunbi.

That wasn’t a call you got often, and definitely not at this time of night.

“Hello?” you answered, the faintest edge of concern creeping into your voice. "Noona?"

“Y/n!” Eunbi’s exasperated tone hit you immediately. “Hyewon’s drunk. Again. And guess what? She’s been saying your name like a damn spell!”

Your stomach dropped. “She’s what?”

“Saying. Your. Name,” Eunbi groaned, clearly annoyed. “It’s been going on for twenty minutes, and honestly, I’m over it. You need to come get her before I leave her here to fend for herself.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, already feeling the familiar mix of frustration and worry building in your chest. “Where is she?”

“Blue Haven Bar,” Eunbi said. “And hurry up. She’s one terrible karaoke attempt away from getting kicked out.”

“She promised me she’d cut back,” you muttered under your breath, already grabbing your jacket.

“Yeah, well, her promises seem to expire after happy hour,” Eunbi snapped. “Just get here.”

She hung up before you could respond, leaving you to stare at your phone in disbelief. A long sigh escaped your lips. You weren’t even mad at Eunbi for being snippy—dealing with a drunk Kang Hyewon would test anyone’s patience.

Abandoning your half-eaten ramen and the rom-com still playing on the TV, you grabbed your keys and stormed out.

-

The scene at Blue Haven Bar was exactly what you’d expected. The place was packed, the music loud enough to make your head ache, and the air thick with the smell of alcohol and desperation.

You spotted Eunbi immediately. She stood near the bar, arms crossed and looking like she was ready to murder someone. Next to her, perched precariously on a stool, was Kang Hyewon.

Hyewon was a mess. Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks flushed, and she was swaying slightly to music that wasn’t even playing.

“There you are,” Eunbi said, relief and irritation warring in her voice as you approached. “Took you long enough.”

“I came as fast as I could,” you shot back, your eyes narrowing as they landed on Hyewon.

“Y/n-ahh!” Hyewon exclaimed, her face lighting up the moment she saw you. She attempted to stand, only to stumble and nearly fall.

You rushed forward, grabbing her arm to steady her. “Hyewon, what the hell?”

She blinked up at you, her lips curling into a goofy smile. “You caaame,” she slurred, leaning heavily against you.

“Of course, I came,” you said, exasperation creeping into your voice. “What were you thinking? Drinking this much again? You promised me—”

“Promises, shmomises,” she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. “I missed you, so I drank.”

You stared at her, your jaw tightening. “That makes zero sense.”

“Welcome to my world,” Eunbi muttered. “She’s been like this all night. Good luck getting anything rational out of her.”

Hyewon’s eyes darted to Eunbi, and she pouted. “Eunnie, you’re so mean. Y/n’s nicer. That’s why they came.”

“I came because you’re a frigging mess,” you corrected, the irritation bubbling just beneath the surface. “Not because I’m nice.”

She gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like you’d just insulted her entire existence. “You don’t mean that!”

You groaned, rubbing your temple. “Okay, that’s enough. We’re leaving. Now.”

“Finally,” Eunbi said, throwing her hands in the air. “She’s all yours. Don’t let her puke in your car.”

Hyewon clung to you as you guided her toward the exit, her legs wobbling like a newborn deer. “Y/n’s the best,” she declared loudly, earning a few amused glances from nearby patrons.

“Yeah, yeah,” you muttered, feeling your face heat up. “Let’s just get out of here.”

-

The walk to the taxi stand was slow and frustrating. Hyewon alternated between dragging her feet and stumbling forward, forcing you to practically carry her.

“You’re mad,” she said suddenly, her voice soft and almost childlike.

“You think?” you snapped, not even bothering to hide your irritation. “You promised me you’d stop drinking like this. Do you know how worried I was when Eunbi called?”

She frowned, her lips trembling slightly. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“Then why do you keep doing this?” you demanded, stopping to look at her. “Why can’t you just call me when you’re upset instead of drowning your problems in alcohol?”

Her gaze dropped to the ground, and for a moment, she looked genuinely remorseful. “I… I didn’t want to bother you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

You stared at her, your frustration momentarily giving way to disbelief.

“Bother me? Hyewon, you could never bother me.”

She glanced up at you, her expression unreadable. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” you said, sighing. “But this? Making me come pick you up every time you drink yourself into oblivion? This is what bothers me.”

Her bottom lip quivered, and she nodded slowly. “I’m sorry.”

You exhaled sharply, the tension in your chest easing ever so slightly. “Let’s just get you home.”

As you flagged down a taxi, Hyewon leaned against you, her head resting on your shoulder. “You smell nice,” she mumbled, her voice muffled by the fabric of your jacket.

You rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the warmth spreading across your cheeks. “Don’t try to butter me up, Kang Hyewon. You’re still in trouble.”

She giggled softly, her breath warm against your neck. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”

“I’m not mad,” you lied, though the tightness in your voice betrayed you.

“Liar,” she whispered, her tone teasing despite the exhaustion lacing her words.

You sighed, already dreading the conversation you knew you’d be having with her later.

-

The taxi pulled up in front of your apartment complex, and Hyewon, who had fallen silent for most of the ride, suddenly perked up.

“This isn’t my house,” she mumbled, blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings.

“You’re in no shape to go home alone,” you replied, stepping out and helping her stumble out of the car. “You’re staying at my place tonight.”

She didn’t protest, but as you guided her to your apartment, she kept muttering under her breath, her words slurred and barely coherent.

“Y/n is so nice… always taking care of me… but also so mean…”

“What was that?” you asked, shooting her a side-eye as you unlocked the door.

“Nothing!” she chirped, then giggled like she’d just gotten away with the world’s greatest secret.

Once inside, you helped her settle on the couch. She slumped against the cushions, her head lolling back as she sighed dramatically.

“Water,” you said, placing a glass in her hand. “Drink all of it.”

She obeyed, though with the coordination of a toddler, spilling a little on her shirt. She looked down at the wet spot and pouted.

“Awwww” she whined, her voice dragging out your name. “You’re so bossy.”

“You’re so irresponsible,” you shot back, folding your arms.

Her pout deepened, and for a moment, she looked like a chastised puppy. Then she burst into laughter, completely ignoring your frustration.

“What’s so funny?”

“You,” she said, grinning up at you. “You’re always so serious. It’s cute.”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. “Ya, Kang Hyewon, I don’t think you understand how worried I was tonight.”

Her smile faltered, and she sat up slightly, tilting her head. “You were worried?”

“Of course I was worried!” you snapped, the frustration you’d been holding back spilling out. “You promised you’d slow down, Hyewon. You promised! And instead, I get a call from Eunbi saying you’re drunk out of your mind and repeating my name in some bar!”

“I didn’t mean to…” she mumbled, her voice small.

“You never mean to,” you said, softer now but still firm. “But you can’t keep doing this. It’s not fair to me—or to yourself.”

She blinked at you, her expression unreadable. Then, out of nowhere, she started laughing again, the sound bright and disarming.

“Hyewon,” you said, your tone a warning. “This isn’t funny.”

“I know,” she said between giggles. “I know it’s not funny. But you’re just… you’re so…”

“So what?” you asked, exasperated.

“So perfect,” she blurted out, then slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide as if she’d just revealed the world’s biggest secret.

“What?”

Her cheeks turned crimson, the blush creeping all the way to her ears. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“Hyewon,” you said, stepping closer, “what did you mean by that?”

“I meant what I said,” she mumbled, looking anywhere but at you. “You’re perfect. You always take care of me. You always show up when I need you. You… you’re everything I could ever want.”

Your heart stopped.

She looked up at you then, her eyes glassy but filled with a sincerity that cut through the fog of her drunkenness. “I like you, Y/n. I’ve liked you for a long time. And I’m tired of pretending I don’t.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and electric.

“Hyewon…” you began, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Wait!” she said, holding up a finger. “Don’t say anything yet. I… I know I’m drunk, and maybe I’ll regret this tomorrow, but right now… I just needed you to know.”

She slumped back against the couch, her eyes fluttering closed. “I’m sorry if this ruins everything,” she murmured, her voice fading. “But at least now you know.”

You stood there, frozen, watching her as she drifted off to sleep. The confession echoed in your mind, over and over, until you finally let out a shaky breath.

“Kwangbae…” you whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re an idiot. But I like you too.”

-

The next morning, Hyewon woke up to the smell of coffee and a pounding headache.

She groaned, sitting up slowly and clutching her head. “What happened last night?”

“You got drunk. Again,” you said, handing her a cup of coffee. “And you confessed.”

Her eyes snapped to yours, wide with panic. “I… I what?”

“You confessed,” you repeated, grinning from ear to ear. “Told me I’m perfect and everything you could ever want.”

Hyewon looked like she wanted the couch to swallow her whole. “Oh my god. Kill me now.”

“Not before I tell you I like you too,” you said, your tone light but your words serious.

She froze, her jaw dropping. “Wait. Are you serious?”

“Dead serious,” you said, sitting down next to her. “Now, are you going to let me take care of you properly, or are you going to keep being a mess?”

Her cheeks flushed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Only if you promise to not be bossy about it.”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help smiling back. “Hell no.”

The silence that followed was surprisingly comfortable. Hyewon sipped her coffee, her eyes darting to you every few seconds like she was still trying to process everything.

“So…” she started, breaking the quiet, “what now? Do we, like, plan a date or something? Or do we just sit here awkwardly pretending I didn’t embarrass myself last night?”

You smirked, leaning back against the couch. “Oh hell no, we’re absolutely never letting you forget last night.”

Hyewon groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

“Buuuuuutttt…” you added, your voice softening, “I think a date sounds nice.”

She peeked at you through her fingers, her expression cautious but hopeful. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” you said, nudging her shoulder gently. “Though, if you pull another stunt like last night, I might have to reconsider.”

“I won’t,” she said quickly, sitting up straighter. “I promise. No more drunk Hyewon.”

You raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

“…fine, no more out of control drunk Hyewon,” she amended, grinning sheepishly.

“Yeah, sounds better alright.” you said with a chuckle.

The two of you sat there for a while, sipping coffee and letting the morning sunlight stream in through the windows. It felt… easy, like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place.

“Ya…” Hyewon said suddenly, breaking the quiet.

“Yeah?”

She hesitated, biting her lip before meeting your gaze. “Thanks for always taking care of me. Even when I don’t deserve it.”

“You always deserve it, Hyewon,” you said, your tone firm. “But you’re welcome.”

Her cheeks flushed again, and she looked down at her coffee, a shy smile playing on her lips.

“So, about that date…” she said, her voice teasing now. “I’m free tonight. You?”

You laughed, shaking your head. “You just want to make sure I don’t ditch you after last night, don’t you?”

“Maybe,” she said, grinning.

“Well,” you said, leaning closer, “lucky for you, I’m free too.”

First one I thought is definitely mommy Eunbi. She'd be someone that'll make you the most delicious dinner after long stressful day of work. You wouldn't even need to show or express it for her to know how bad your day was, taking the initiative on showing how much love she has for you. And she knows how much you love how she does it too, how she can magically make you release all the stress out of you.

Gaeul is the one who instantly notices the changes on how you fuck her at night. The way you just get so rough trying to get the shitty day out of your mind through relentlessly fucking her. Just so you know, she enjoys your bad days as she gets to be used for at least until dawn. At the same time, she uses this opportunity to show her wildest side to match your dominance, whatever helps you ease your mind.

It all happened because of an injury, you sprained your knee last week in a football game, damaging your ACL and ultimately causing you to miss the game today. The final game of the calendar year. You wanted to end your year on a high, but it looks like you were going to end the year on the bed, doing nothing.

With all finals being over and one more week on classes left, everyone on campus was enjoying themselves. Going to the pub, celebrating with mates, doing fun stuff with people they know and fraternities are advertising their fun parties they have this weekend. However, you can't do any of these because the doctor told you to avoid any form of activities that will put stress on your knee for at least a month, meaning your life was pretty much meaningless.

Despite this, your girlfriend of two years was being pretty supportive to you. Of course she was, she was part of the university cheerleading team so naturally she was going to be cheerful. She was always your cheerleader, cheering you on when you were on the pitch, going through every highs and lows with you, by your side and making every lows of life better for you. 

Kang Hyewon was really the perfect girl, not just for you but for the university as well. She was popular, pretty and also head of the cheerleading sorority. Every guy wanted to date her but there was only one lucky guy who can call himself her boyfriend and that guy was you. 

Even now, when you were out injured, Kang Hyewon told you that everything was going to be alright, making sure you feel better. She knows that there was only two loves in your life. Football and Kang Hyewon. However, despite Kang Hyewon thinking she has made you feel better about not being able to play the last game of the calendar year, it was still you having to stay home alone today because she had to go to the game with other cheerleaders to cheer on the university football team.

It was not a good thing being alone at this state, you started to think. Thinking about a lot of stuff. Thinking about what would happen in the game before moving on to thinking about deeper stuff. Starting off with thinking about what would happen if your knee never recovers or if the situation with your knee gets even worse, before finally thinking about your relationship with Kang Hyewon.

Kang Hyewon, like you said, was one of the most popular and prettiest girl in the campus. The head cheerleader status she got a few months ago only made her more popular and more wanted around the campus. 

With that you started thinking if you really deserved her?

You only started with her from a friends with benefits relationship when you both entered university, but slowly became in love with each other. However, the romance have been dying lately. The two of you have been feeling comfortable with each other, living together has seemed to kill the romance and you two have stopped going on romantic dates for a while now. 

Plus watching her simps around her and people trying to hit on her didn't help with this situation.

You thought about it long and hard, you really didn't deserve her. She deserved someone better, someone more romantic and someone who actually can give her the love that she deserves. What she doesn't deserve was someone like you, a guy who is nothing without football, a guy who isn't romantic at all. She deserves love and you just can't give her the love that she deserves.

As much as you loved her and wanted to be with her, you just know that you can't give her what she deserved, there are a lot of other guys out there in the university who are willing to give her what she deserved. All the guys who you have saw hit on her was right, she deserve someone better, someone who isn't you. 

As much as you hate to do this, you feel like something has to be done to rectify this situation. You needed to do something you didn't want to do.

Whilst you were deep in thought, deciding what you were going to do, the door open and your girlfriend Kang Hyewon walk through the door.

"Hey, I'm back. How's your day" Kang Hyewon asked as she walked through the door to see you sat on the sofa with the remote control in your hand and the TV on SkySports Main Event.

"So no change for you then" Kang Hyewon sat next to you as she took the remote control out of your hand.

You snapped back into life as Hyewon took the remote control out of your hand, you were so deep in thought that you didn't even saw her come sit next to you.

"How's your day been" Hyewon asked you again.

You just hugged her tightly which surprised Hyewon a little bit but she hugged you back not knowing what has gone through your mind.

"Hyewon, I don't deserve you" you said whilst hugging her tightly "I really don't"

Hyewon was surprised to hear what you just said. She didn't know what was going on, she has heard people tell her that she deserved better, but she never thought you would think that way as well.

"What are you saying" Hyewon said pulling out of the hug, surprised at what she just heard.

"You deserve better, not someone a weirdo like me who just sits around all day watching football" you responded.

"But I don't want better, I want you. I know people have been saying I can date better guys than you, but they don't give me what you give me. I feel safe around you. Sure, you do eye other girls up and prioritise football over me, but you're a good guy deep down" Hyewon responded.

"No I'm serious, you deserve to be in a relationship with someone who's more romantic than me" you stated, making your point very clear

At that moment, Hyewon kissed you on the lips.

"If I really think I deserved someone better, then I would have left you. We've been together two years already and even when we broke up a year ago, we got back together. Sometimes, love is not always about the romantic stuff, it's about being comfortable and feeling safe. You give me that sense of safety and comfort which is something that nobody else can give me" Hyewon said making you feel better.

The two of you shared another kiss, this time more passionate.