#jooyeon fluff

loser bf jooyeon who.. trips over his own feet when he tries to act nonchalant in front of you, and ends up in near tears trying to make you pay attention to literally ANYTHING else

loser bf jooyeon who.. has the absolute WORST taste in clothing. you’re basically his stylist at this point, and his thief since all you do is steal half his closet. but he loves it when he gets them back and they smell like you

loser bf jooyeon who.. acts like he’s “locked in” during practice, bass in his lap and amp turned up all the way (or as loud as you let him), just for him to be watching random youtube videos on his laptop

loser bf jooyeon who.. sees a single vegetable in the meal that you made him and fights for his absolute life to finish to no matter what, because his love for you is stronger than his hatred for greens

loser bf jooyeon who.. sends you long voice messages instead of texting you because he “gets distracted” (he really just misses you and hates when he can’t call you)

loser bf jooyeon who.. HATES when you’re mad at him, he feels so sad even though it was definitely his fault :< will sulk until you forgive him, and will definitely make you forget why you were even mad in the first place

loser bf jooyeon who.. acts cocky all the time, like he KNOWS he’s attractive, but completely melts into his hands when you compliment him

loser bf jooyeon who.. tries to be a good boyfriend and bake for you but FAILS. nearly burns down the kitchen and gets a really long scolding from jungsu

loser bf jooyeon who.. stays up all night playing video games, specifically leave league of legends, and then pretends to have slept when you text him good morning just so you don’t yell at him >.<

loser bf jooyeon who.. can’t help but cum in his pants everytime you guys make out. you’re so hot and he can’t take it when you’re grinding on him :[

loser bf jooyeon who.. pouts when you scold him for his late-night gaming, but secretly loves the attention. he just nuzzles his head into your neck, murmuring how your voice is the only thing that could ever make him hard enough to beg you to ride his cock until he fills you up

loser bf jooyeon who.. wakes up hard every morning. normal for guys right? wrong. for him, the second he wakes up and feels you next to him, your thin sleeping wear lifting up in all the right places, he’s fighting back a moan in his throat and doing everything in his power not to fuck you in that state

loser bf jooyeon who.. has stolen your panties so many times, you stopped keeping count of how many have gone “missing” since you started dating him. he felt wrong and dirty for it at first, but how dirty could it be when you’re his girlfriend? when you’re not home, he can spend hours jerking himself off into the fabric til it’s basically nothing, just a frail piece of lace covered in his own cum dripping down his hand

loser bf jooyeon who.. can edge himself for hours if you asked him to. he’s been crying and whimpering into his own fist in his hotel room while you’re watching from your phone screen, thousands of miles away. he’s just so good and obedient, and wants to please you in any way. maybe you’ll tease him a little longer, you’ll finally let him finish ;3

loser bf jooyeon who.. had no clue about his size kink until he met you. your first time together, his mouth was left open in shock seeing your hands barely being able to wrap around him, let alone take him entirely.

loser bf jooyeon who.. could spend hours between your thighs if you let him. his knees digging into the mattress of his messy bed, hands gripping onto your hips to push you down and keep you close so you don’t move. his tongue his constantly switching from sucking on your clit to prodding your hole, never letting you get used to a single feeling at once. you lift his head by his hair, his eyes are glossed over and lips dripping from your heat. but he only has one mission: to make you squirt on his tongue.

Staff are all over you making sure your outfit is pinned in the right places, your mic pack is secured in the back pocket of your shorts, and that your lip color is bright and shiny. You’re about to go on stage to perform your solo performance for the first time ever. Your group has been around for a few years and the company decided for this album each of your members would get a solo. In meetings you specifically asked for a more mature song, you wanted to show a different side of yourself as an artist. The stage costume you wear is all black and glittery, slivers of skin peeking out in a provocative manner. You feel the vibrations from the vcr playing currently to intermission while you get ready. It’s almost an out of body experience when you step up on the stage lift with your dancers. From the first notes of your song, the crowd erupts into screams and cheers. You walk down the extended stage, singing and doing some steps of the choreography along the way. When you approach the audience you see banners with your name, the confidence you wear slips momentarily when a grateful smile lights up your face. 

Then you see him, your boyfriend. Jooyeon is completely concealed by a beanie and a black mask, but you know it’s him by the way he’s standing and bopping his head. You asked him to stay in the back rows during your solo, thinking it’d make you more nervous to directly see him, but he insisted he needed to be in the front row, he’s standing with his manager and your own are around with cameras to film you, he blends right in. Either way you would’ve given the show of your life, but seeing him right there makes you feel like you have to prove yourself even more. You purposefully stop in front of the section where he stands to do the floor work section of your solo where your bare legs move in a seductive way. When you stand to walk to the other side of the stage, you throw a wink his way. If only you could see his live reaction without a mask on.

It all ends in the blink of an eye, you find yourself back on the main stage waiting for the lights to fade out while taking in all the excited screams from your fans. 

Backstage your staff also cheers for you as you’re guided back to your dressing room. 

“You were totally killer out there!! I knew you’d do so well” your manager comments 

“Thank you!! I was so nervous I don’t even know if I slipped up or not” you sigh happily 

“You did perfect! Do you need anything before changing?” she asks

“Yeah, actually I’m gonna use the bathroom first”

Your manager nods as you start to walk towards it, you reach for the handle of the door and pull it open, but you feel a weight drag you in quicker than expected which makes you shriek. 

Your back hits the door suddenly and you’re caged in by Jooyeon who isn’t wearing his disguise anymore, letting his dark hair fall forward as he wears a goofy grin on his face, satisfied that he just scared the hell out of you. 

“What the fuck jooyeon!” you yell smacking his arm

his eyes crinkle when he laughs at your response “I got you good, didn’t I?”

you want to laugh too but you had a job to do “what’re you doing here?! I have to go get changed soon” 

“I just wanted to congratulate my beautiful girlfriend for performing so well, is that a crime?” he gives you a quick peck 

“When I’m on a time limit, yes!” 

you’d rather be melting into his embrace, to let yourself take in all the praise for your hard work out there but the invisible watch on your wrist is ticking 

His hands that were against the door move to grab you by the waist possessively 

“How much time?” His expression is hopeful when he waits for your answer

you look around the room still exasperated “like 10 minutes max?” 

“perfect” he says with a devilish smirk before dropping down to his knees

“What're you doing?!” you ask even though you already feel his fingers worming their way into the hem of your bottoms, working to slowly pull them down. You feel his lips around your exposed stomach area and wiggle in his hold, noting the way those ticklish sensation make you throb and start to wet your panties. 

“J-jooyeon, we can’t-“

Your words mean nothing to him as he takes off the layers separating your pussy from his mouth, he places a kiss right on your clit, making you moan quietly as your hips unconsciously tilt forward 

“Oh please baby, I saw the way you looked at me up there, I know you want this too” he’s all too relaxed having you like this while you’re thinking about how you still have a show to go back to, but your heartbeat pounding is in your ears as you see the way he carries on his actions, spreading your thighs apart. He looks up at you with charming eyes you would never deny "I'll make it worth your while, yeah?” his tongue finally makes contact with your folds, licking up all the juices that spilled out of you thus far, your head falls against the door as you restrain another noise from coming out of your mouth 

He gets messy quickly, it leaves you with no time to breathe, the combination of your slick and his saliva go all over the place, it runs down your thighs and his chin. He’s unapologetic about the manner in which he slurps and sucks on your clit. Your hands grip onto his hair as he laps at you like a thirsty dog. 

It’s hard to not let yourself scream out at the pleasure he’s giving you, but instead you whimper as his tongue works its magic on you as you find yourself grinding on his face. 

He moans against you as he’s pulled so closely into your body he almost chokes on the lack of air, the way you’re using him to get off makes his dick strain against his pants, one hand letting go of your leg to palm himself. 

Suddenly there’s a knock at the door, it jolts you forward and the voice of your manager follows 

“Y/n? Are you okay in there?”

Sweat trickles down your temple as you reply nervously “Y-yeah! I’m all good!”

The air of jooyeon’s quiet chuckle vibrates against you and you flick him lightly on the forehead, faking anger in your intense stare down at him, he simply laughs and rubs your outer thigh tenderly, waiting for you two to be left alone again

“Are you sure? You sound out of breath” she questions 

annoyed, you roll your eyes “just tired is all!”

Two of jooyeon’s fingers start to trail up and down your pussy, soon probing at your hole and you bite down on your bottom lip and accidentally groan lowly 

“Okay.. well you have about 5 minutes before you have to change, hurry up!” 

“Sounds good!” You yell back as soon as she finished her sentence, all while he had slowly started inserting himself 

You whip your head back down towards him

“Make me cum.. please” you beg in a whisper, running your hands through his hair sweetly 

He wears a cocky grin, knowing he could send you back out there right in this moment, but he doesn’t dwell on that thought because his favorite sight isn’t the idol version of you who moves across a stage with enough strong presence and talent to entertain a crowd, it’s the you that only he gets to see, his gorgeous partner who stands above him, needy for him and the climax only he can provide. 

Obeying your command, his movements become quicker, curling his digits in and out of you at the angle that directly pushes on your g spot, pairing that with the way he dove right back into your drenched cunt with his mouth, treating it like he can’t live without the taste of you. The sounds you let out start to increase in volume.

He throws one of your legs over his shoulder as he continues his attack with the wet muscle of his mouth, swirling it around your sweet bundle of nerves, his lustful efforts pining you against the door once more with his intensity. You show your appreciation through the sobs that you let out when he sucks harshly and hums to add further stimulation. He’s treating your incoming orgasm like it’ll be his ticket to heaven, to him you definitely look like a goddess with your lips parted, singing out a symphony of moans and tears lining your bottom lashes. It makes the ache in his jaw become meaningless, still thrusting his soaked fingers into you rapidly when those licking motions of his falter due to the distraction that is your beauty. 

“S-so close!” you warn him

He already knew that by the way you were bucking your lower half into him, one of his hands slowly trials its way under your top and starts to pinch and pull at your hardened nipple. The combination of the satisfying feelings he's giving you make you gasp out as you reach your peak, lids closed as stars flicker in your darkened vision. You feel your knees grow weak as jooyeon drinks up everything you have to offer, not detaching from you until you tug him with a force to detach from you, which he whimpers at. 

You try to breathe normally in your post orgasmic state as you catch the look on his face, almost as desperate as yours “Fuck… you’re so good to me joo, i’m sorry I have to go, i’ll make it up to you later! Promise” you bend down to kiss his shiny lips as you caress his hair

His grin is mischievous as he tells you “go baby, i've got a mess to clean up” his eyes pointing downwards, making you meet with the dark spot on his jeans

Huffing out a noise of pleasant shock, you can't help but tease him "you're so easy, my love” 

Jooyeon grabs one of your hand and brings up your knuckle to his lips a leaves a soft kiss “only for you angel”

“I’m sorry too… I hate when we fight.” You moved closer hesitant, then certain, and wrapped your arms around him. His hands rose immediately, gripping your waist, pulling you flush against him. He kissed your cheek, wet and noisy, the sound echoing deliciously in the steamy bathroom.

“I hate it too,” he breathed against your skin, “I love you… so much.” His lips brushed your cheek, then wandered to your jaw, then down your neck, kisses slowly deepening, tasting you, lingering with a hunger that made your knees weaken. The warm glide of his tongue against your pulse point sent a rush of heat low in your belly. Your fingers curled into his biceps, feeling every flex beneath your touch.

His mouth drifted down to your breasts, his kisses turning into open-mouthed worship. A low moan slipped from you when his lips closed around your nipple, the mix of hot water, warm breath, and his tongue making your skin spark.

“Let me apologize properly…” he whispered against your breast, the vibration of his voice rumbling through your ribs. His hands slid down to your waist, guiding you back until your spine met the cool tile wall. Your fingers tangled in his dark, wet hair.

“Hm…?” he hummed, teasing you, though his eyes had already darkened with intention.

You looked down at him, his mouth descending slower, more purposeful, his breath caressing every inch of your skin on the way.

Your nod was small, bitten into your lip, but he caught it. And he smile, soft, wicked, reverent.

He kissed down your stomach, pausing just long enough for anticipation to coil tightly inside you, then continued until he reached your pelvis. He licked his lips, almost unconsciously, as though savoring the moment before touching you.

He moved your hands to his shoulders, grounding you.

“Hold on to me…” he murmured, voice warm and gravel-soft.

He lifted your leg over his shoulder, kissing the inside of your thigh with a slow hunger that made your hips jerk forward. The water streamed between your bodies, making everything slicker, hotter, more intimate.

When his mouth finally reached you, he started with gentle strokes of his tongue light, teasing, enough to make your breath hitch and your eyes flutter shut. Your head fell back, a soft sound leaving your lips as your thigh trembled around his shoulder.

Then he gripped your thigh tighter… And devoured you.

A sharp moan tore from your throat at the same time a deep groan rumbled from his, as if tasting you ignited something primal in him. You clutched his shoulders, nails pressing into wet skin.

Open-mouthed, messy, lips sliding, tongue fucking you with slow, filthy strokes that had your thighs shaking almost instantly. Hot water spilled over your stomach, mixing with the slick between your legs, making everything slippery and desperate.

He licked your clit slowly at first, long, deliberate strokes, before sucking lightly, then harder, finding your rhythm, your need. His free hand slid up your ass, gripping firmly, pulling you forward until you were practically grinding against his mouth. He moaned into you, the vibration sending a shiver through your whole body.

Your fingers dove back into his hair, tugging gently as you tried to stay balanced, but your hips had a mind of their own, rolling, seeking him, chasing the heat building unbearably fast.

He alternated between deep, slow licks and tight, precise suction on your clit, your thighs trembling, breath broken, the sound of water mixing with your moans, with his hungry breaths, with the obscene little sounds echoing off the tile.

You were close, so close, your voice rising, his name slipping out in gasps, in whimpers, in desperate little cries.

He tightened his grip on your ass, guiding your movements, making you ride the heat of his mouth until your orgasm hit hard.

Your breath caught, your whole body locked tight, then released in a trembling wave that shook through you. A long, broken moan fell from your lips as your legs nearly gave out. He held you through it, mouth still soft against you as you shuddered in his hands.

Only when you finally loosened, chest heaving, did he give one last slow, indulgent lick…

Then kissed your thigh as if sealing the moment.

When you looked down, he was flushed, lips glistening not just from the shower, but from you, eyes dark with affection and desire.

“Come here,” he panted. “I’m not done apologizing.”

Kim Jungsu

It was a slow Sunday, and you both had the day off. You’d spent most of the morning tangled in sheets and kisses, a lazy pillow-fight here and there, neither of you willing to abandon the warmth of the bed.

“Baby… we need to shower.” he murmured against your ear, his arms wrapped around you from behind as you lay curled together.

You let out a soft groan, nodding reluctantly before finally gathering the courage to get up. Soon, you were both stepping into the warmth of the shower.

The gentle steam wove around your bodies, morning sunlight slipping through the bathroom window, mixing with the soft scent of soap hanging in the air.

He looked at you with a faint shyness, his gaze drifting hesitantly over your skin, enough to make you smile.

“What are you staring at so much?” you asked softly, rinsing the last hints of foam from your hair, foam he had lovingly worked through with his own hands.

“You’re beautiful…” he whispered, stepping closer until your bodies melted into one delicious line of heat.

You laughed quietly, cheeks warm, placing your hands on his chest and stroking the soft skin.

“So are you… the most handsome man alive, and the sexiest.” Your playful tone made him exhale in surprise, a blush rising as you leaned up to kiss his neck, leaving a lingering mark before giving him a teasing bite. His hands gripped your waist firmly, pulling you even closer. Your breasts, already heavy and sensitive, brushed against him, your nipples hardening and making him gasp as arousal sparked between you.

“Kiss me…” you whispered, and he did, immediately. His lips crashed into yours with a mix of hunger and tenderness. A low moan slipped from your throat as you held his face, the kiss deepening, his tongue drawing yours into his mouth for a few slow, intoxicating seconds. When your lips parted, a thin string of saliva still connected you.

His hands slid down from your waist to your ass, squeezing gently. The eye contact grew hotter, the desire between you pulsing and unstoppable.

“I want you…” he breathed, one hand leaving your ass to lift your thigh, guiding it around his waist. The movement made your bodies align perfectly, your warmth brushing against him in a slow, tantalizing friction that made both of you moan.

“Yes…” you whispered, your hands gliding down his chest. He guided you carefully to the wall, pressing you there softly, your leg still wrapped tightly around him.

You shared the same heavy, humid air of the shower, breaths mingling.

“Do you want me now? Are you ready, sweetheart?” he asked in a low voice, his fingers sliding from your ass to your heat, finding you already soaked. The sound both of you made was pure, helpless pleasure.

His fingers, coated with your essence, rose to his lips. He tasted you, closing his eyes for just a moment, and you watched, wide-eyed, your breath catching.

“Want some?” he murmured when his fingers left his mouth, and you nodded, your thigh tightening again around him.

He smiled softly, glancing down where your bodies were almost touching. His hand wrapped around himself, stroking once, twice, before guiding himself to your entrance. The soft pressure made you gasp.

He looked at your face one last time, wanting to see every detail of your reaction.

Then he slid into you, and your brows knit together, your mouth falling open as your body trembled with the raw, delicious stretch of him.

“Mmh… does that feel good, sweetheart?” he groaned, his voice shaking.

“Yes… yes, please…” you moaned, gripping his shoulders tighter.

He didn’t hesitate. He moved slowly at first, rolling his hips, his cock pulsing inside you, snug within your soft walls.

He tipped his head back, eyes fluttering shut. His throat was exposed, and you immediately leaned in, kissing, licking, trailing your mouth along his skin, up to his jaw. His breaths came out broken, desperate, as his thrusts grew hungrier.

You felt your orgasm rising fast and deep, a visceral pull tightening your belly. Your pussy clenched around Jungsu, who grabbed your face and kissed you; messy, wet, filthy. Saliva smearing at the corners of your mouths.

His hips snapped harder, more precise, both of you trembling on the edge. Your moans turned breathless, needy.

“Jungs…” you gasped into the kiss before pulling back, your head falling against the wall as the climax tore through you, wave after wave.

Your bodies tightened at the same time, then pleasure bloomed. You felt him spill into you, warm and thick, his hips rolling through a few more deep thrusts to prolong it, your leg tightening around his waist as if to keep him there, pressed against you.

He pressed his forehead to yours, panting. “Fuck… I’m not done with you,” he whispered, voice wrecked. “Not even close.”

Oh Seungmin (O.de)

He came home from the gym completely drenched. His shirt clung to his chest, sweat dripping down the carved lines of his abs, the veins along his arms still swollen from the workout. He wiped his forehead with the hem of his shirt, giving you an accidental view of the deep V-line disappearing beneath his shorts.

You froze in the hallway.

Your mouth went dry. Your thighs pressed together. Your heartbeat sank straight between your legs.

“Hey, baby,” he said, still a little breathless from the training session. “Didn’t think you’d still be awake.”

But the moment he looked at you, your flushed cheeks, parted lips, pupils blown wide. He understood everything without you needing to speak.

“Oh,” he murmured, a slow smirk growing. “You’re looking at me like you want to eat me alive.”

You looked away, flustered.

“Hm… no. I’m just a little tired,” you answered softly, embarrassed at being caught wanting him this badly.

He stepped closer. His voice dropped.

“You don’t want to shower with me?” he asked innocently, too innocently. “I might need help. My body’s a little sore…”

The intention behind the words was unmistakable. You swallowed and nodded, still shy, but unable to hide the desire burning in your eyes as you watched him.

Minutes later, the two of you were under the shower’s warm water. Silence hung between you at first, not awkward, just charged. You tried to act normal, rinsing your hair, but your eyes kept drifting to his sculpted body, to water sliding over his chest, his arms, his abdomen. Your mouth was dry all over again.

He moved behind you without warning.

His arms wrapped around you, his biceps coming to rest carefully around your neck. You gasped, surprised, but the warmth that followed was instant, flooding you from the inside out.

“You’re terrible at hiding things,” he whispered with a grin. The hand not around your neck slid up your waist, slow and teasing. “You liked the muscles, didn’t you? Hm?”

His fingers brushed your skin like he already knew the answer.

“Yes…” you breathed, tilting your head against his arm, watching the way his biceps framed your neck so perfectly, how strong he looked holding you like that.

“All of this is for you,” he murmured against your ear. A smile touched his lips as his hand drifted down from your stomach, lower… until his fingers found your already soaked heat.

“And you’re already trembling,” he whispered. “Do you want to cum, sweetheart?”

“Please…” you exhaled, barely able to keep your voice steady.

He inhaled deeply, lips grazing your ear before he began to touch you. Circling your most sensitive spot with careful, devastating precision. His fingers were slow at first, gentle, exploring… then firmer, confident.

Your legs trembled. Your eyes fluttered shut. Your head fell back against his arm instinctively, offering him your throat, your breath, your entire body.

He tightened his hold around your neck, not constricting, just grounding you, guiding you deeper into the sensation.

Then he leaned forward and captured your lips in a soft, fleeting kiss, watching every reaction you gave him… Every twitch, every breath, every gasp.

His fingers left your clit only long enough to adjust you. He nudged you slightly forward, arching your back just enough that your ass pressed against him, leaving you open, exposed, inviting.

His hand slid behind you.

He dragged his fingers between your folds from behind, testing how wet you were, before sinking two fingers deep into you. Your walls squeezed around him instantly, needy and hot.

“Does this feel good, darling?” he asked, pumping his fingers slowly, stretching you, teasing you.

“Faster… Seung…” you whimpered, opening your eyes to meet his.

The need in your gaze made him grow feral.

He kissed you again, biting softly at your lip as his fingers plunged into you faster, deeper. Each thrust was precise, intentional, perfectly angled.

Your moans filled the shower. His name spilled from your lips. Your knees threatened to give out.

Then, his fingers curled inside you and found that spot.

Your whole body jolted.

You gasped, high-pitched, uncontrollable. Your walls clamping down around him as your orgasm ripped through you. Your legs trembled violently, your breath caught in your throat.

He held you there with nothing but the strength of his arm around your neck, keeping you upright as the pleasure crashed through every nerve in your body.

You grabbed his bicep desperately, nails digging into the hard muscle as if you needed something to anchor you while your orgasm pulsed out of you in waves.

“Mmh… you did so well,” he whispered into your skin.

He kissed your neck; slow, messy, possessive, leaving deep marks as your breath slowly returned, your body still trembling from the intensity of what he’d just pulled out of you.

Kwak Jiseok (Gaon)

The air in the house was still thick with the sweet, nostalgic ghosts of the celebration, the faint, lingering scent of vanilla and sugar from the cake, scattered remnants of confetti catching the dim light, and the warm, vibrant echo of loud, joyful laughter. It had been a small party, yes, but intensely vibrant, a luminous bubble of warmth packed with the people who adored him. And you, with meticulous devotion, had orchestrated every single detail, from the twinkling, mismatched fairy lights strung across the backyard like a galaxy, to the custom playlist you knew, without a shadow of a doubt, always made him a little too excited, a little too free.

And truly, he had been. Entirely. All night long, every time his eyes, dark and shining, met yours across the crowded room, his smile came too easily, too wide, a pure, heart-spilling joy that seemed to bubble over from deep within. He hadn't let go of your hand for a single, precious second, his fingers intertwined with yours, a constant, comforting anchor. And when the last of the friends finally waved goodbye from the porch, disappearing into the cool night, he seemed to flicker even more alive, more intensely alight, as if the real, uninhibited magic of the night were only just beginning.

Closing the door behind the final guest, the click echoing softly in the sudden quiet, he pulled you against him by the waist, his arms encircling you in a firm, possessive embrace. A low, throaty laugh rumbled in his chest, vibrating against your ear as he leaned his forehead against yours, his breath warm and sweet.

"You know you just absolutely ruined all my expectations, right?" he whispered, his voice already turning rough, a sensual rasp. "Because now, no other birthday, no matter how grand, will ever measure up to this one. You've set an impossible standard."

"Oh, stop that," you chuckled, the sound airy and light, even as you melted deeper into his arms, letting his warmth envelop you. "You're only being so incredibly sappy because you had a few too many drinks."

He playfully nudged his nose against yours, a soft, teasing rub. "No," he countered, his voice a low, firm murmur. "I'm sappy because it's you."

You rolled your eyes with a playful, teasing smile, a small, knowing grin playing on your lips. Then, with a gentle tug, you pulled him toward the bathroom, after the two of you making quick, easy work of the beautiful, chaotic mess the party had left behind. A shared ritual of domesticity after the joyous storm.

You stepped into the shower together, the warm water already running, filling the small space with a soft, steamy veil that fogged the mirrors and kissed your skin. He flicked a few playful drops of water at you, a mischievous spark in his eyes, an unspoken invitation to a gentle, loving water fight. You laughed, a pure, uninhibited sound, leaning into his solid frame and wrapping him in a tight, possessive hug, your face pressed against his wet chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"This was, without a doubt, my best birthday ever," he murmured, his voice a contented sigh, his dark eyes shining down at you with an almost childlike wonder. "I love you. So, so much," he added, pulling you even closer, his arms tightening around you as if to imprint the moment onto his very soul.

You smiled to yourself, a thrilling, secret idea forming, blooming in the quiet space between your thoughts. He deserved this, you decided. He deserved every ounce of pleasure, every lingering sensation, for simply being the best boyfriend a person could ever dream of.

"It's not over yet, actually…" you whispered, your voice low and laced with a hint of delicious mystery. "I have one last surprise for you."

He pulled back slightly, his hands still anchored firmly and possessively on your hips, his eyes, dark and searching, now clouded with an intense, burning curiosity. A playful grin touched his lips. "Hmm? What is it?" he asked, his voice laced with an almost boyish excitement.

You bit your lip softly, drawing his gaze, before slowly, deliberately sinking to your knees in front of him, the cold tile a sharp contrast to the burning anticipation in the air. His mouth dropped open, a soft gasp escaping his lips, his eyes wide with stunned surprise and dawning comprehension.

"Love…?" he asked, his voice barely a bewildered breath, a question hanging heavy in the steamy air. You took his strong, calloused hands in yours, guiding them to cup your face in a tender, almost reverent caress. He followed your lead, his fingers tracing your cheekbones, still slightly confused but already vibrating with an undeniable, high-voltage energy, sensing the intense, primal pleasure that was about to unfold. His body was already coiled, ready.

You then took his index and middle fingers, still slick from the shower, bringing them to your lips, and sucked them gently, deliberately, your eyes locked with his. He inhaled sharply, a ragged sigh escaping him. Your tongue circled the wet tips of your fingers, tracing the shape, mimicking the wet, eager glide of his own hard cock, a silent promise of what was to come.

You withdrew the fingers, giving them one last, lingering lick, your gaze never leaving his, before gently guiding his hands up, threading them into your wet, slick hair.

"Fuck my mouth, Jiseok…" you whispered, your voice husky, raw with desire, the words a direct, undeniable command. "This is your present."

He inhaled sharply, his entire body trembling. His cock, already thick and straining, pulsed with a hungry demand.

A volatile mixture of eagerness and a lingering, exquisite hesitation made him grasp your hair more firmly, but still with a tender, gentle restraint. You opened your mouth wide, tilting your head back, your throat exposed, and slowly, deliberately, took him in. He was thick, hot, filling you. You choked slightly on the sudden, overwhelming intrusion, a small, involuntary gasp escaping your lips. He groaned, a deep, primal sound, throwing his head back against the tiled wall, the warm water still sluicing down his lean, sculpted abdomen.

"Baby…" he groaned, his voice thick with raw passion, his thumb stroking your cheek, a feather-light touch, as he began to move, sliding in and out of you with a slow, deliberate rhythm. "You're so perfect… God, you're absolutely perfect…" He smiled sideways, a crooked, sensual grin, his movements growing more confident, deeper now, inside your willing, smiling mouth. He watched you with half-lidded eyes, entirely consumed by the intoxicating pleasure.

You pressed your hands against his muscular thighs, anchoring yourself, taking purchase, giving yourself leverage to move in perfect, synchronized rhythm with his powerful thrusts. Your tongue danced, circling the wet, slick, engorged head of his shaft, a delicate, teasing swirl that made him shudder violently, gripping your hair with a sudden, primal strength. A soft, breathless sound escaped your throat as the deep, resonant vibrations passed through him, through you.

"Fuck, baby. This is so fucking good, I'm going to come so hard…" he said, his voice a tortured, ecstatic whisper, punctuated by guttural groans and ragged sighs.

You intensified the rhythm, your movements growing faster, more aggressive, driven by an insatiable need to push him over the edge. His hips slammed into your mouth with a frantic, desperate speed. Your jaw ached, a dull throb, but the pain was a negligible price for the sight of his complete, unadulterated satisfaction as he raced toward his shattering climax.

He let out one long, drawn-out, final moan, a sound ripped from the very depths of his soul, his entire body tensing, arching, before collapsing in a sweet, exquisite rush of release. You felt him spill into your mouth, a warm, thick gush, the soft, saline taste washing over your tongue. You swallowed every single drop, eagerly, hungrily, a true act of devotion.

He watched you, his hand still stroking your cheek, his breath coming in ragged gasps. You slowly pulled off him, his cock still throbbing, then began kissing your way up his flat, taut stomach, leaving a trail of wet, hot kisses, until your lips finally reached his, soft and swollen. His face was flushed crimson, his eyes closed, still lost in the afterglow.

"You just sucked out my soul," he murmured, his voice a weak, contented chuckle, making you laugh out loud, a clear, joyous sound that echoed through the steamy bathroom.

Han Hyeongjun (Junhan)

lately, exhaustion had been your constant shadow. Endless hours of overtime bled into restless evenings, your mind perpetually racing, devising new strategies to navigate the intricate knots of your professional life. The strain was visible, a deep-set weariness that even the most spirited smile couldn't fully mask.

Hyeongjun, observant and deeply caring, noticed the toll it was taking. He wasn't one for grand declarations; his love was spoken through deliberate, tender actions. That evening, he simply offered: an act of profound, intimate care. He would tend to you in the bath,washing your hair, massaging the tension from your weary shoulders, and simply being there.

The water, a balm of exquisite heat, cascaded over both of you, mingling with the steam that softened the edges of the room and the anxieties of the day. After meticulously washing the scent of stress from your hair, Jun began his delicate work. His hands were strong, yet incredibly gentle, kneading the knots in your shoulders with a focused, loving intention.

A soft, involuntary sound of pure relief escaped your lips. A quiet, contented sigh that echoed slightly in the humid air. Hyeongjun paused, his large eyes glancing at your face with an endearing curiosity. You were turned with your back against his chest, and he shifted, drawing your body closer into the comforting cradle of his own.

“Is that better, my love?” he murmured, his voice a low, sweet resonance. His hands slid from your shoulders, down the curve of your arms, until they gently captured your own. You nodded, a silent affirmation, tightening your grip on his hands, wanting to hold onto the tangible proof of his affection.

“Tell me,” he asked, his voice barely a whisper against the low, steady sound of the running water, “is there anything else I can do to help you truly relax?” A small, genuine smile touched your lips, the first true smile of the day. You turned slowly within the water, your eyes meeting his, still holding his hands captive.

“Yes,” you answered, your voice a playful, teasing lilt. “Kiss me.” You pursed your lips with mock impatience, your eyes twinkling, waiting for the soft touch of his lips against yours. Junhan’s signature shy smile bloomed on his face. He leaned in, offering a kiss so light, so chaste, it was little more than a whisper of contact. But before he could retreat, you acted. You wrapped your arm around his neck, rising onto the balls of your feet, and deepened the kiss, transforming the shy touch into a profound statement. He emitted a soft, surprised sound, a low hum, giving you permission to lead, to set the pace. Your tongues met in the warm, wet collision of the moment.

He sighed your name into the kiss, a warm breath against your mouth, still tinged with the endearing shyness that clung to him, even after all your time together. Hyeongjun was often hesitant to let his touch become overtly sensual, and you found this bashful purity utterly captivating. Reaching down, you gently guided one of his hands from your own, placing it on your waist, then guiding it upward, over the swell of your hip, until his fingers brushed the soft curve of your breast.

A dual groan of pleasure and surprise escaped both of you, cutting the kiss short. The air in the small room seemed to grow heavier, thicker with shared desire, and Junhan’s cheeks flushed a beautiful, deep red.

“I want to make you feel completely good,” he said, his voice reduced to a raw, barely audible thread. You leaned back with him until your shoulders found the cool anchor of the tiled wall. With a sweet, trusting smile, you nodded, granting him the unspoken, total permission he needed to explore the depths of your mutual desire.

His shy smile returned, this time carrying a confident spark. Slowly, deliberately, his fingers found their way to your already softened, ready core. You parted your legs ever so slightly, a gentle invitation, and he gasped softly as his hand brushed against your welcoming wetness. You sighed, a fragile, trembling sound of anticipation, as your hand left his neck to thread through his wavy hair, caressing the back of his head.

Junhan watched your face intently, his thumb beginning to trace slow, meticulous circles on your swollen clit. You tilted your head back, eyes closed, riding the first tender waves of rising pleasure.

“Jun…” The moan was a soft plea, and you began to grind subtly against the pressure of his fingers. Confirming your readiness, he slipped two fingers, the middle and ring, inside you, his thumb never leaving its sensitive post.

“Does that feel right…?” he whispered, pressing a tender kiss to your wet cheek. You nodded with a desperate urgency, biting your lip to keep the escalating sounds of pleasure contained. He began to move his fingers in a rhythmic, searching cadence, ensuring his thumb remained precisely on your most sensitive point. You knew the edge was near; the deep relaxation you craved was manifesting as intense physical release. You pulled him back into a messy, hungry kiss as he continued his masterful internal stimulation, mapping the hidden, sweet spots inside you.

Shedding the last vestiges of shyness, Junhan broke the kiss, his mouth descending to the curve of your neck. You wrapped one leg around his waist, granting him better access, allowing his fingers to find new, deeper angles. His free hand secured your thigh, while his lips and tongue continued their journey downward, claiming your breasts, teasing, sucking, and gently nipping at your sensitive skin.

With a final, shattering moan, your body dissolved into an all-encompassing orgasm, your legs momentarily losing their strength. He groaned in unison, feeling the intense clench of your muscles around his fingers, his eyes fixed on the beautiful surrender in your face. Your essence spilled warmly onto his hand, and a primal desire washed over him, a fleeting urge to taste you.

You let out one last, profound sigh as your body settled, your leg unhooking from his waist to find purchase on the shower floor once more. “Are you alright?” he asked, pulling his wet fingers slowly from your core.

You laughed softly, a sound of perfect contentment, and nodded, pulling him in for a final, lingering kiss, a silent promise of the ease and love that awaited you both.

Lee Jooyeon

You two were still living inside the soft glow of that honeymoon phase slow touches, lingering hands, every brush of skin turning warm too fast. All day it built between you: his fingers sliding down your thigh, your lips finding the curve of his neck, glances that held more than they said.

By the time you got home, the tension had turned into something sweet and heavy.

You slipped into the shower first, letting the hot water run over your shoulders, leaving the door unlocked on purpose, already knowing Jooyeon would join you the second he found an excuse.

It didn’t take long.

You had just rinsed the last of the shampoo from your hair when you heard the bathroom door open, soft and careful.

“Baby…? Is it okay if I come in?” he asked, his voice carrying that tiny anxious tremble he tried to hide.

You laughed quietly, letting your voice echo through the steam. “It’s okay, come in.”

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click before joining you under the spray.

“Oh hell, that’s freezing.” He said dramatically, hugging himself.

You rolled your eyes. “It is not freezing. You just bathe like you’re trying to melt your skeleton.”

He shook his head in exaggerated denial, then stepped right up to you, eyes full of mischief.

“I’m freezing. Warm me,” he declared, wrapping his arms around your waist and pressing his damp body against yours.

You couldn’t help but laugh as you embraced him back, your cheek resting against his slim chest. Warm skin against warm skin, steam curling around you both, his breath soft on the top of your head.

Then you felt it… his lips brushing the crown of your hair, his hands slipping down to your waist, thumbs stroking slow circles on your skin.

A small sound escaped your throat, the kind you didn’t mean to let out, and you felt him exhale sharply, his body reacting instantly to the closeness, to every inch of tension you two had built throughout the day.

You looked up at him, lips brushing his jaw as you kissed his neck. His grip tightened suddenly, pulling your hips right against his, stealing your breath.

Your eyes met for a heartbeat. dark, warm, wanting. before you both leaned in at once.

The kiss was slow at first, deep and warm, your hands tracing the soft lines of his torso, his quiet breath filling the shower. His mouth moved with yours like he knew every part of you already. His hands drifted up, cupping your breasts gently, his thumbs brushing over your damp skin as he explored you with growing hunger.

He broke the kiss only to lower his mouth to your neck, his wet hair brushing your chest and making you shiver. You wrapped your arms around his neck, fingers sinking into his long hair, pulling him closer.

He kissed his way down, slow and deliberate, until he reached your breasts. He took one into his mouth while his hand tended to the other, his tongue trailing circles before he gently sucked your hardened nipple.

You gasped, thighs tightening instinctively.

“Can I taste you?” he asked against your skin, his voice low, deep, trembling with desire.

You nodded, letting him guide you back until your spine met the cool tile.

He didn’t stop kissing you. down your stomach, your hips, leaving warm marks of devotion wherever his lips touched. His hands slid to your hips, then down to the curve of your ass, squeezing gently before turning you around.

Pressed to the wall, you felt his breath behind you.

You bent forward just a little. just enough. and he let out a soft, involuntary moan.

He knelt behind you, hands spreading your thighs so he could see you properly. soft, swollen, glistening under the warm spray.

A quiet, breathless laugh left him, and he pressed a kiss to the curve of your ass before gently parting you, giving himself room.

Then his mouth reached you.

The first touch of his tongue made both of you moan. A shared pulse that echoed between your legs and through the shower walls.

His grip tightened on your hips as he licked you slowly, savoring you, exploring you, coaxing tremors from your legs with every stroke. You pressed your hands to the wall to steady yourself, breath catching when he found your entrance, his tongue sliding in and out in slow, tempting motions that made your knees weaken.

“Jooyeon…” you breathed, hips rolling back against his mouth, his low moan vibrating against you.

One of his hands slid up to your breast, squeezing gently before traveling down again to your stomach, lower, lower. until his fingers found your clit.

You gasped, the sound sharp and desperate, your hand flying back to grab his wrist, grounding yourself in pleasure.

He quickened his pace, his tongue, his fingers, his breath. Working you open, working you higher, working you into trembling.

And when your orgasm hit, it hit hard.

Your knees buckled, your thighs closing around his hand, trapping him exactly where you needed him. He kept going, licking you deeper as you came, holding you up when your body nearly gave out.

Your breath stuttered as the waves faded, forehead resting against the wall, the world soft and warm around you.

He gave your ass a gentle slap before standing, lips glistening faintly, eyes bright with satisfaction.

As soon as you unlocked the door and walked into the apartment, everyone, but Jooyeon, knew who it was and started to playfully pick at you for your delay.

They couldn’t see you yet, so Joo’s attention peaked as well, looking over to the front door from his seat on the couch.

You made sure to show the bag of food before walking in the living room, making everyone cheer at the sight (and smell) of the fried chicken.

And finally, you step into the room with a bright smile on your face. And the woman that you are.

Joo had no idea what to do with himself.

It was obvious that you had come directly from work to the apartment, given your work clothes, but he was still shocked.

Your makeup was simple but perfect – definitely had a touch up not too long ago. Your hair is also perfect, even with the humidity of autumn, already in the streets.

Your clothes looked expensive, perfectly fit to your body. You had jewelry to match, nails done, and, without your shoes, pink socks.

Joo, on the other hand, had worn the first clothes he could find.

His hair has been in a bun for the last few hours, so he knew how messy it was.

And he’s sure that his shirt has a small hole on the side.

When he first noticed it, Joo sat so still, he wished the couch would swallow him. But, at the same time, he just wanted to stare at you.

As you put down the bags of food at the centre table, you smiled at everyone that started conversation with you. But no one really remembered to introduce Jooyeon. 

He, at this point, liked to believe that he had indeed mastered the art of standing still so that no one can see him,

But then your eyes moved over to him, expecting him to speak.

He did open his mouth…

but no sound came out.

You waited.

And waited some more.

His mouth eventually closed, and he looked down at his phone.

You blinked… and blinked again. 

You looked around the room and no one seemed to notice your interaction, so you decided to just sit down and ignore his presence, as he seems to prefer that too.

With this, everyone ate and drank until their stomachs could fathom anymore.

You tried not to look in Joo’s direction, even when his stillness did slowly evaporate -- which made you even more unsure about what happened between you two.

Hours later, part of the group went out to the balcony to get some air, and you walked off to the bathroom.

When you came back, the living room was empty, so you made sure to get yourself a seat on the couch while you could.

Though distracted in your phone, doom scrolling, you heard the door of the balcony slide open. So, you look to see if it was one of your friends.

It was Jooyeon.

He was still laughing at something that his friends had said, but, when he noticed your eyes on him, he stills all over again.

You blink.

He blinks.

His smile disappeared in the midst of his step into the room, and you seemed like the only one in control of your own body, because you let out a small sigh and looked away.

Joo’s mind struggled to interpret your reaction, leaving his mind to shortcircuit quite a bit.

But, as the genius that he is, he makes sure to turn back around, go back to the balcony, and slide the door closed behind him.

The sound is back to being muffled, and you’re even more confused now.

Could you two possibly have met before and something bad happened?

Has he heard some weird rumor about you?

Did you smell bad?

…

You tried to not let it affect you, but you also weren’t one to interrupt the Friday night with your friends to confront him. Lord knows you’ve had a long enough day, already.

So, you swallowed the bad feeling all over again and the night continued on.

Your friends came back inside, and slowly so did everyone else.

Joo made sure to sit on the other side of the couch, the farthest away from you. But you refuse to take him seriously anymore.

He’s the one being goofy. You don’t even know the man.

So, as the night progressed, you did forget about it and him.

Some people eventually left, others fell asleep with the help of the alcohol.

You were fine, still, so you got yourself to the kitchen to get something else to drink.

You looked around, grabbing a clean cup to make your own concoction that definitely sounded better than it would ever taste.

You made it. Tasted it. Didn’t hate it.

So, you made your way back into the room to offer some to your friends.

But before that could happen, someone’s body collides with yours and the cold concoction of a drink hits you.

A loud gasp is heard in the kitchen, but it wasn’t your own.

It was Joo’s.

Jooyeon freaks out at the sight of what he had done and starts showering you with apologies.

He is frantic. He looks and runs around the kitchen to grab the kitchen towel, and, with no prior warning, begins to try and clean the red stain on your clothes.

In the midst of his constant apologies, you are speechless.

You don’t even bring yourself to stop his frantic wiping, which only stresses him out further.

His apologies intensify, and you finally grab his hand.

Joo stops, freezes, and looks at you in the eyes. He is terrified.

You… can’t help but laugh.

Blame the alcohol, but you could not do anything else but laugh at him.

Jooyeon’s fear may have doubled now, but he knew he deserved it.

So, he made sure to say:

“I can pay to have it cleaned.”

You weren’t even sure what to tell him.

“I have money,” he continued.

“So do I,” you answered.

“But I can pay…”

“There’s no need.” You finally tell him.

Joo, with this, opens and closes his mouth repeatedly. “But I want to.”

You laugh again, making him stand up straight, still not taking his hand off yours.

“It’ll wash fine in the washing machine,” You explain to him.

He blinks three times in silence, like a cartoon character.

“Are you sure?” He asks.

You nod, still smiling, and he relaxes. But only a slight bit.

You take your hand off his, but Jooyeon’s hand stays in place. He’s abnormally silent again, but you try to test the waters.

You introduce yourself to him, and he corrects his posture immediately.

He tells you his name, too.

But he’s silent. Again.

So, you ask the million door question: “What do you do for a living?”

And that’s when you open the unclosing door that is making Joo talk about his band, the members, the name, the fans, his favorite and least favorite songs, his inspirations, and even his hobbies.

It’s fair to say that he caught himself talking for too long when he mentioned Pokemon.

But, to his surprise…

You were still listening.

So, he also tested the waters and kept going.

And you kept nodding and listening.

When he finally finished, he studied you with his entire attention span. He knows he talked for too long, but he’s not even sure what he’s expecting of you now.

You talk about yourself for a bit, and you can tell how intensely he’s staring at you.

It almost looks like his eyes have a permanent sparkle.

And that’s when you pull your phone out of your pant’s pocket and ask: “What’s your band's name, again?”

And Jooyeon, like the reasonable person that he is, marked your wedding’s date on his mind’s calendar.

Just don’t tell him that he needs to ask you out first.

Fair warning, I'm really new to the fandom. Yes, the encore video kidnapped me into it, and fanfics are my only way to express my excitement. Hope you liked it <3

and, like fate, a week later you’re sitting behind a folding table in the corner of a dive bar that smells like cheap beer and lemon cleaner, a stack of tickets in front of you along with a roll of neon wristbands you had to pick up yourself because jooyeon forgot.

the boys are loud and sloppy, but endearing. they don’t really tune their guitars properly until 3 songs in. gunil tries to flip his drumstick in the air and loses it, so he has to go running after it in between songs. jooyeon keeps making dumb jokes into the mic between songs that don’t really get any laughs. but, somehow, the crowd actually calls for an encore by the end.

you can see why people like jooyeon. he’s magnetic - he's sweaty, and a little messy, but in a way that feels like he belongs on a stage, no matter how small.

when he’s not on stage, though, he’s kind of a disaster.

after their set, he wanders over to your table, still buzzing.

“how’d i do?” he asks, craving the validation and leaning too far across the table, long hair damp with sweat.

“you forgot half the lyrics,” you look at him disapprovingly.

“that was an artistic choice,” he throws you a bright smile.

“you tripped over your amp.”

“i was trying a new joke!”

“you broke a string.”

“passionate performance,” he insists, grinning. “besides, the girls in the front row loved it.”

“you’re insufferable,” you roll your eyes, but you’re smiling.

he just laughs, steals one of the wristbands from your pile, and wraps it around his own wrist like a trophy.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

later, when you’re packing up the leftover shirts and stickers, he’s outside, passing a joint with seungmin and gaon. he catches your eye through the doorway, and holds it out toward you with that same lazy grin.

“shift’s over,” he calls. “want a hit?”

you shake your head, but you’re smiling.

and maybe that’s the start of it. not the weed, not the music, not even the dumb jokes.

but the way he makes all of this - the late nights, the sticky floors, the bad lighting - feel less chaotic, and more like a place where you should be.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

you weren’t necessarily supposed to be their manager.

you were supposed to be the one who counted crumpled bills at the ticket table, taped up hand-drawn flyers, and carried extra sharpies in your bag because jooyeon always forgot them. you were supposed to be a friend, a helper, background noise.

but somewhere along the line, the band got traction. their spotify singles started creeping past a hundred thousand plays. venues stopped being sticky-floor bars with busted speakers and started being actual clubs with stage lighting.

and you became the person answering the emails, negotiating the rates, handling the merch designs.

jooyeon had once sent a reply to a venue asking if they were interested that literally read “sounds lit. can we get free fries in the dressing room?” and it became very obvious that if they wanted to be taken seriously, it had to be you.

and you never meant to be good at it. but you are. you keep spreadsheets, budgets, tour calendars. you book them shows that make them look bigger than they are. you even set up a new line of merch that actually sells out.

and the boys know it. they thank you every chance they get. sometimes junhan pats your shoulder with a smile, or gaon buys you snacks during load-in. but jooyeon, he’s always been special.

every time you tell them about a new show in a new city in a new venue they’ve always wanted to play, he just grins, grabs you around the waist, and hugs you until all you can think about is him, how he smells. how warm he is. then he starts the yelling, “you’re insane! what would we do without you?!”

you try not to let your thoughts linger too much on any of it.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

with bigger shows comes more attention.

for example, the fans.

at first it’s cute: regulars who dance too hard in the front row, people scribbling the band name across their notebooks and shoving them toward you to get signed. but soon, it shifts.

girls with hand-painted signs. screaming louder when jooyeon leans into the mic. crying when he jumps down and sings a line inches from their faces.

and jooyeon . . . loves it. he feeds on it.

one night in daegu, someone actually throws their number onstage, scrawled across the back of a receipt. jooyeon picks it up, laughing.

“what’s this?!” he shouts into the mic, waving it in the air. “you think i can read your handwriting while i’m trying to play?”

the crowd screams. he sticks it in his back pocket.

later, you find it sticking out while you’re helping them pack up.

“seriously?” you mutter, tugging it free.

“what?” he asks, big eyes looking at you like he’s searching for something.

“are you gonna call her?”

he shrugs. “nah.”

“then why keep it?”

he flashes that maddening grin. “maybe i like knowing i could.”

you crumple the paper and throw it in the trash. he doesn’t stop you.

and he doesn’t stop grinning either.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

with the chaos of the new success you find yourself drawn more and more to junhan.

it’s not necessarily intentional, but you and him end up hanging around each other more during shows. he’s steady, calm, the kind of guy who never panics when something goes wrong - like when the cable blows mid-soundcheck and jooyeon is pacing in circles like the world’s ending.

you and junhan slip outside sometimes before or after sets, sharing a cigarette or passing a joint in the quiet. it’s easier with him. he doesn’t demand. he doesn’t take up all the air.

but the first time jooyeon catches you two leaning against the van, smoke curling into the night sky, his whole face changes.

“what’s this?” he demands, voice sharper than you’ve ever heard it though he tries to make it seem like a joke.

“a joint,” you deadpan.

“where was my invite?” he asks, smile tight.

“you were inside flirting with your fan club,” you joke, your smile looking the same.

he opens his mouth, closes it again, then mutters, “whatever,” and stomps back inside.

junhan chuckles under his breath. “he’s jealous.”

“he’s ridiculous,” you mutter.

but your stomach twists anyway.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

it starts to seem like the bigger they get, the bigger the gap between you and him feels.

he’s everywhere at once - on stage, in photos, laughing with fans, soaking up all that messy, wild love. and you’re behind the scenes, spreadsheets and checklists, trying to make sure none of it falls apart.

sometimes you catch him looking at you mid-show, but you tell yourself it’s nothing. he looks at everyone.

and sometimes, when you’re standing by the soundboard and the crowd is chanting his name, you wonder if you’ll ever stop being the person just outside the spotlight.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

in busan, the crowd is the loudest it’s ever been.

you’re exhausted, your throat sore from yelling at the sound guy earlier, but when the lights dim for the encore, you can’t help but smile.

jooyeon comes back out, grinning like a maniac, hair plastered to his forehead, shirt sticking to his back.

“you guys still alive?” he shouts, and the venue erupts.

then - softer, too low for most to notice - he says into the mic, “this one’s for the person who makes sure we even get to play these shows.”

your stomach flips.

the boys kick into “AGAIN? AGAIN!” - one of their highest-energy, loudest songs. jooyeon is all over the place, throwing himself across the stage, but when he sings, his gaze finds you and it holds for a little while, just enough to feel like it's on purpose.

and you hate yourself a little for wondering, for hoping, that maybe it is on purpose.

the crowd screams. he grins.

and you?

you pack up the merch boxes a little harder than necessary, trying to bury the thought before it buries you.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

after the busan show, you’re running on fumes. the band is wired, sweaty, laughing, half-dead and half-high off adrenaline. you’re just trying to get merch into boxes before the venue staff kicks you out.

jooyeon keeps circling near you, like he wants to say something, but every time you look up he ducks away - talking to staff, ruffling junhan’s hair, chugging a water bottle.

finally, you snap.

“are you gonna hover all night or actually help?” you ask, slamming a box closed.

he blinks. “i was gonna carry those out.”

“then carry them.”

he grabs the box, muttering, “you’re so bossy sometimes.”

“someone has to be.”

the tension lingers. you don’t know why you do this to yourself.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

later, when everything’s loaded into the van and the others are already inside, he catches you by the wrist before you can climb in.

“wait.”

“what?” you sigh, tired.

his grip is warm, a little too tight. “did you… hear me? on stage?”

“you were screaming into a microphone for forty-five minutes. yes, i heard you," you try to make a joke but it just comes out mean.

“no, i mean -” he cuts himself off, jaw tightening. “the part before again? again!”

your chest knots, you shrug. “yeah. i heard.”

“and?”

you shrug, forcing your face blank. “nice shoutout. the crowd probably thought you meant your mom.”

he stares at you, incredulous, like you’re purposely missing the point. maybe you are.

“you know i didn’t mean my mom.”

“then who?” you challenge, pulse racing.

his mouth opens, but no sound comes out. for once, jooyeon doesn’t have a comeback.

you climb into the van before he can finish.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

when you start the drive back it’s quiet. junhan asks if you want to split a cigarette at the next rest stop, and you say yes, just to feel something normal.

jooyeon sits in the far back, hood up, staring out the window.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

outside the gas station, the night air is sharp. you’re leaning against the van with junhan, smoke curling into the sky. he’s rambling about a riff he wants to try out tomorrow, something easy, calm, grounding.

you laugh at something he says, flicking ash off your cigarette, and that’s when the van door slams.

jooyeon storms out, eyes flashing.

“seriously? again?”

“what?” you ask, startled.

“this,” he gestures wildly between you and junhan. “you sneaking out with him like you’re - i don’t know - like you’re- “

junhan raises his eyebrows. “like we’re what?”

jooyeon glares. “you know what. it’s weird.”

you exhale slowly. “jooyeon, we’re just smoking. chill.”

“don’t tell me to chill,” he snaps, stepping closer. “you don’t see how it looks?”

“looks to who? the five of us on this tour? who cares?”

his hands fist in his hoodie. “i care!”

the words hang heavy. junhan takes the hint and stubs out his cigarette. “i’ll, uh… go grab snacks.”

leaving you two in the dark.

“what’s your problem?” you demand, crossing your arms.

“my problem is you acting like it doesn’t matter!” he bursts out. “like i can just stand there while you laugh with him and -“

“you laugh with everyone, jooyeon! girls throw their numbers on stage and you keep them for fun!”

he flinches, eyes wide. “that’s different.”

“how?”

“because none of them are you!”

the silence after that is deafening. your pulse is in your ears. his chest rises and falls like he just screamed his throat raw.

you whisper, “jooyeon…”

he shakes his head, backing up a step. “forget it. i shouldn’t have - just forget it.”

he turns like he’s going to storm off, but you grab his sleeve.

“don’t just drop that on me and walk away,” you tell him, brows furrowed and heart racing.

his jaw clenches. his eyes flick to yours. and then, voice softer, “i dedicated that song to you. because i wanted you to know. because i’m… so fucking bad at saying it.”

your throat tightens. “saying what?”

he swallows hard, hair messy around his face.

“that it’s you. it’s always been you.”

you don’t answer right away. you can’t. the weight of it knocks the air from your lungs. you stare at him, searching for the joke, the punchline. but there isn’t one.

he’s not grinning. he’s not smirking. he’s just raw, open.

“jooyeon . . .”

“i know i’m an idiot,” he rushes out, voice cracking. “i know i flirt too much, and i mess up, and i don’t make it easy to trust me. but when it’s you and junhan, i hate it. i hate it because i want it to be me making you laugh. it should be me standing there with you.”

you drop your gaze, heart pounding. “do you hear how insane you sound? you’ve got girls crying over you every night.”

“i don’t want them.” his voice is low, firm. “i want you.”

the words slice through the night air, sharp and terrifying and impossibly tender.

you can’t breathe and you can’t look at him, but you can’t drop his sleeve, your mind is going too fast.

but before you can answer, the van door slides open. gaon pokes his head out, oblivious.

“yo, we’re ready to leave. hurry up.”

jooyeon scrubs a hand over his face, mutters, “coming,” and yanks his arm free, brushing past you.

you stand frozen, chest aching, wishing that cigarette hadn't burnt out so you could take a long drag of it right about now.

but right now you don’t know if you’re more afraid of believing him, or of not believing him at all.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

the rest of the drive back from busan is too quiet.

usually, the van is chaos. jooyeon with his feet on the dash, junhan and gaon bickering over aux, somebody in the back seat laughing too loud at a dumb meme.

but tonight, everyone seems to read the room. you're driving, like always, hands tight on the wheel, eyes fixed on the dark highway. the boys passed out one by one after the show, mumbling themselves into silence. all except him.

you can feel jooyeon’s stare in the rearview mirror, where he chose to sit in the back instead of next you like he always does. his gaze isn't constant - it's just there in flickers. a glance when he thinks you won’t notice.

your jaw is tight. you keep your focus on the road.

because if you meet his eyes, you’ll remember the way he said it after the show, out behind the venue, still buzzing with adrenaline, words slipping out before either of you were ready:

it’s always been you.

you didn’t know what to say. so you said nothing.

and now, the weight of it sits heavy in the air.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

by the time you pull into seoul, dawn is a thin gray line on the horizon. you park in front of the boy's apartments and kill the engine.

no one moves at first. the guys groan, stretch, stumble out with backpacks and instrument cases. the van empties until it’s just you and jooyeon.

you sit there, gripping the wheel, pretending you need another moment before unloading.

he doesn’t move either.

“you’re not gonna look at me?” his voice is low, rough from smoke and no sleep.

“why does you always need me to?” you fire back. it comes out sharper than you mean, angrier than you want.

he scoffs. “right. pretend it didn’t happen. classic.”

that gets you. you turn, finally meeting his eyes.

they’re tired, rimmed red. but clear. too clear.

“jooyeon…” you start, then trail off.

you think about all the reasons you’ve been hesitant. he’s wild, unpredictable, a magnet for attention. you’re the one who keeps the calendar straight, who remembers to order new merch before the old runs out. you live in the margins, not the spotlight, you thrive on control, so why invite chaos into your life when you know you can't control it?

and yet - is love something you should try to control?

why couldn’t he be something that just is, outside of everything you try to always have a handle on?

the thought hits you like a jolt, and before you can second guess, you’re moving.

you climb awkwardly over the console into the back row where he’s slouched, surprise flickering across his face as you sit next to him, facing him but not yet looking at him.

for once, he doesn’t say anything. he just watches. waiting.

you take a breath, grab his hoodie strings, tug him forward, and kiss him.

it’s messy, unpracticed, but sweet. his hand comes up to steady you, fingers curling at your waist. you feel him exhale against your mouth, like he’s been holding his breath for weeks.

you pull back first, searching his face.

“i don't want to pretend it didn't happen” you admit, voice unsteady.

he smiles - small, exhausted, relieved, and genuine all at the same time, “thank god.”

the van door slides open then, and suddenly the rest of the band is there, frozen mid-step.

junhan squints. “seriously? in the van?”

“damn, finally,” gaon says, deadpan, pulling out his guitar case from inside the van like he expected this all along.

seungmin whistles. gunil mutters, “knew it.”

your face heats instantly. you try to shove off jooyeon, but he doesn't go easily and he’s grinning now, wide and unbothered, like this is the best morning of his life.

“shut up,” you snap at the others, scrambling out of the open door and past all of them like you have somewhere to be.

jooyeon just leans back, smug, calling after you, “don’t act like you didn’t start it.”

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

outside, the sky is pale with a hint of morning mist. the city is waking up and despite the chaos, despite the noise, there’s a strange calm in your chest.

because maybe it’s messy. maybe it won't last.

“That smells nice,” he says. You nodded in agreement. 

“I’m gonna get it,” you state, putting the cap back on the candle and placing it in the basket you were carrying. 

The two of you were out shopping. Half looking for gifts to buy for the holiday season and half browsing the store to get some decor for the apartment you moved into not long ago. 

“So…” Jooyeon began to speak as he wandered over to the other side of the aisle. “Do you still have that dress that coincidentally matches with that one suit I have?” he asked while pretending to look at some knickknacks. 

“Why?” You eyed him suspiciously, folding your arms over your chest. Jooyeon takes a glance over his shoulder at you and immediately turns back, acting like the knickknacks are the most interesting thing in the world when he saw you were suspicious of him. And you had every right to be because.

“So I may or may not have told my mom that there was no need for her to introduce me to her friend’s daughter at the Christmas function because we’re dating.” There was hardly any pausing between his words as he informed you. 

“Jooyeon!” You shouted about five octaves too loud for the store the two of you are in right now.

“I know. I know. Believe me I know, but just listen please?” He approached you, holding up his hands in surrender.

“Go on then,” you tell him. Thinking that he better have a good reason for lying about you two being together. 

“My mom has been on my case lately about me not having a girlfriend. She keeps trying to introduce me to all these different girls and to put it plainly I don’t have any interest in them. She has been kinda hinting about this daughter of one of her friends. Yesterday she was talking about introducing us at this year's Christmas function and I kinda just ended up telling her that we’re dating. I guess while we’re on the topic of the Christmas function I need you to come with me, y’know as…my date,” he rambled. 

“That’s why you asked about the dress,” you said. 

“Yep,” he nodded.

“Jooyeon,” you sighed, dropping your arms from over your chest.

“Please?” he begged. “Look, it doesn't have to be for a long time. Just ‘til Christmas. Please, just pretend like we’re dating until Christmas. Then we can fake break up or I can tell my mom that I lied about it,” he tried to convince you to agree. You suppose Christmas is only about a month away and you’d be lying if you said you didn’t like spending time with Jooyeon. 

“Yes, I still have that dress,” you tell him. 

“Yes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” He threw his arms around you in a hug. 

The Christmas function wasn’t until December 23rd, but Jooyeon thought that it would be a good idea to invite you to join him and his family in strolling around the Christmas village your city sets up every year. To better sell your twos’ relationship. 

Jooyeon’s mom greeted you with probably one of the warmest hugs you have ever received. Her arms wrapping around you in a calming and soft, yet also secure manner. 

“You have no idea how happy I was when Jooyeon told me that him and you are dating,” she beamed, pulling away from the hug. She looked so happy that it made you feel a little guilty about yours and Jooyeon’s relationship being a lie. 

“And we’re very happy to be together,” Jooyeon stated, joining at your side. He slips his glove-covered hand into yours.

A little while later with his parents walking ahead of the pair of you, you leaned in to whisper to Jooyeon. “I kinda feel bad,” you shared. 

“What? Why?” he turned to look at you with concern filled eyes.

“Beacuse your mom looks so happy and we’re not actually together. I feel bad lying to her,” you explained. Almost as if on cue Jooyeon’s mom takes a look back at the two of you walking together. A shining smile plastered on her face. You smiled back at her before returning your attention back to Jooyeon. “See?”

“Then let’s date for real.” That’s what Jooyeon wishes he had the courage to say. Because what Jooyeon left out was the reason why he was uninterested in all the other girls his mom tried to set him up with was because he likes you. He has had a secret crush on you for most of the duration of the time you two have known one another. Meaning he sure as heck wasn’t going to be interested in someone who isn’t you. Fortunately enough for him you never asked why he wasn’t interested. 

“It’s fine I promise. She’s just really happy to see me dating.” Is what he says instead because he’s still too much of a coward to confess to you how he really feels. Though he supposed that he’ll have to do something about that soon, because now that he gets to hold your hand and cross over that line of friendship, even if it is just an act, he doesn’t want to go back.

Jooyeon and his dad had stepped away to get the group of you some hot chocolates. Leaving you with his mom. The two of you sat on a little bench together. 

“I’m glad that my little plan worked,” she told you with a giddy tone. 

“What little plan?” you looked at her confused. 

“I could tell that my son was smitten with you,” she tells you and places her hand over yours giving it a squeeze. “So I started ‘trying’ to set him up with other girls, hoping that it would light a little fire in him and make him brave enough to finally ask you out,” she disclosed. “And it worked,” she cheered happily. 

You do your best to keep your composure, but it’s hard with the thought currently racing through your mind: Did Jooyeon have real feelings for you?

Jooyeon and his dad shortly return with the hot chocolates. You can’t help but look at Jooyeon differently when his fingers brush against yours as he hands you the heated beverage. 

~~~

Jooyeon and you would continue to go out on the occasional date at the Christmas function grew nearer and nearer, but after your talk with Jooyeon’s mom at the Christmas village you can’t stop wondering about what Jooyeon’s true feelings for you are. Did he like you? Was his mom mistaken? You never once suspected that Jooyeon might have had a crush on you. However right now as you both sat on your couch in matching Chrisrmas pajamas, two mugs of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows sitting on your coffee table, the Cinnamon Sugar scented candle you bought lit, emitting its aroma. Sharing a cozy blanket with his hand resting on yours under the cover. You were in your apartment there was no need for him to be holding your hand and yet he was. It made you think that maybe his mom was right about her discernment about her son being smitten with you, but should you bring it up? Should you tell him about what his mom spilled to you? Jooyeon has never really been one to talk about his romantic feelings. Then again maybe that was just because he was hiding his romantic feelings for you. (He was.) 

“I don’t think that your mom is gonna magically show up and catch us not holding hands Joo.” You decided to take a bit of a comical approach. 

“What?...Oh,” he says when he feels his thumb swiping over the back of your hand. He removes his hand from on top of yours and tries to not let his face show how he wished he was still holding your hand. 

“Why did you tell your mom that we were dating? I mean, I get that it was to get her to stop trying to set you up, but why did you pick me to be the person you were dating?” Your question makes Jooyeon’s heart pound in his chest. Because you were his only option. The only person he wanted to date. Fake or real. 

“Well if not you, who else?” he chuckled nervously, shifting his position under the blanket. 

“I guess you're right. Because your mom so would have known that it was a fake relationship if it wasn’t me,” you say. You can see the panic take over Jooeyon’s face. 

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I think your mom accidentally ratted you out,” you told him in a more gentle voice. Though you spoke in a more comforting tone it did nothing to calm Jooyeon’s pounding heart. 

“What do you mean?” he questioned again, worry swirling in his eyes. 

“When we were at the Christmas village she told me that she was glad her plan worked,” you began to say. 

“Her plan?” he asked. Confusion now joined the list of emotions he was feeling. 

“She thought that you were smitten for me, so she tried to set you up with other girls, hoping that it would get you to work up the courage to confess to me,” you disclosed. 

Jooyeon feels like he wants to throw up. For the past two weeks you’ve known or definitely suspected that he has real feelings for you. What bothers him the most about that is how you heard about his feelings from someone who isn’t him.

“I guess she was halfway right then. Because I do like you y/n. I like you a lot. She just underestimated how much of a coward her own son is when it came to telling you,” he voices. His confession makes your heart fill with warmth. 

“Well the Christmas function is in a few days and-” Jooyeon speaks before you can finish.

“I understand if you don’t want to go anymore. I’ll come clean to my mom about-”

“I was thinking that there’s still time for us to go as a real couple,” you finished what you were gonna say. It takes Jooyeon a few moments to register what you just said. 

“A real couple? You mean?” Did you actually want to be with him too?

“Yes, let’s officially get together. I mean fake dating has been fun, so dating for real should be just as fun right?” you say playfully. 

“Better. It’s going to be so much better,” he declares. His hand finds yours under the blanket once more, holding onto it like he always wants to do. 

Safe to say when you two arrive at the Christmas function Jooyeon is overjoyed to introduce you to people as his girlfriend. However he’s even more thrilled about the fact that your relationship will last much longer than just ‘til Christmas.

You were halfway through your lunch when your phone lit up.

>> Jooyeon.

You answered immediately. “Hey, what’s up?”

“What color is your dress?” he blurted out — no greeting, no context, just panic in his voice.

You blinked. “...What?”

“Your dress. For the wedding.”

“What wedding?” you asked, completely thrown off.

There was a pause. “You’re kidding.”

“No?”

He groaned audibly, dragging a hand through his hair. You could practically hear him pacing. “The staff wedding. The one this weekend. You’re supposed to go with me.”

You laughed. “I am?”

“Yes!”

“When did you ask me?”

Another pause. Then, in a quieter voice, “Oh, shit.”

You burst out laughing. “You didn’t ask me!”

“I— okay, to be fair, I thought I did,” he said, flustered. “In my mind, I definitely asked.”

“Well, in reality, you didn’t.”

He sighed dramatically. “Okay, fine. Then I’m asking now. Will you come? Please? You can’t let me go alone, I’ll end up at the weird singles table.”

You grinned. “Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

“Y/N,” he whined, dragging out your name.

You laughed again. “Fine, I’ll go.”

You could hear him exhale in relief. “Perfect. Oh— and wear something black or gold, okay?”

You frowned. “Why?”

“Because we should match,” he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

You rolled your eyes, smiling despite yourself. “You didn’t even ask me properly and now we’re matching?”

He chuckled, tone softening. “Guess I’m making up for it.”

𖹭

The day of the wedding, you were already waiting outside when Jooyeon came down the steps in a perfectly fitted black suit with subtle gold details. The sight made your breath hitch for a second — he looked unfairly good.

When he spotted you, his eyes widened. "You actually matched me."

You smiled, twirling slightly so the gold accents on your dress caught the light. "You were annoyingly specific."

He grinned, walking over until he was right in front of you. "Annoying but right, though."

"Debatable."

He laughed, shaking his head. Then, before you could say anything else, he slipped something off his wrist — that leather bracelet he always wore.

"Here," he said, holding it out.

You blinked. "What are you doing?"

"It’s lucky. And," he added, fastening it gently around your wrist, "so people know you’re with me tonight."

You stared at him, heat rising to your cheeks. "You realize that sounds way more romantic than you think it does, right?"

He just smiled, eyes soft. "Good."

𖹭

The wedding was cozy and full of familiar faces from the company. You and Jooyeon sat side by side, whispering quiet jokes during the ceremony and trying not to laugh when the officiant fumbled the vows.

At the reception, the teasing started almost immediately.

"Matching outfits?" one of the stylists said, smirking. "Are you sure you two aren’t the ones getting married today?"

Jooyeon laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly caught off guard. But instead of stammering or changing the subject like he usually would, he smiled — that confident little smile that made your heart skip — and said, "She’s my future lady."

You froze mid-sip. "What?" you mouthed, but he just winked at you.

You poked his ribs lightly with your elbow, whispering, "You could’ve warned me first."

He leaned closer, his voice low and teasing. "What? I thought it was obvious."

"Obvious, huh?" you whispered back, pretending not to blush.

He chuckled, eyes lingering on you a little too long. "You didn’t deny it."

You turned away to hide your smile, nudging him again — but the warmth in your chest refused to leave.

𖹭

The night flowed easily — music, food, laughter. You took pictures together, clinked glasses with other guests, and shared glances that said more than words could.

When the first slow song started playing, Jooyeon glanced at you, nervous and hopeful.

"You, uh… want to dance?"

You raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you can? Last time, you almost tripped over your own foot."

He laughed, reaching out his hand anyway. "I’ve practiced."

You took it, and the moment you did, his smile softened.

He held you carefully, one hand at your waist, the other lightly brushing your fingers. The lights above glowed warm and dim, and the rest of the room faded into a blur.

"See?" he said quietly. "Told you I could dance."

You smiled. "Barely."

He laughed under his breath, gaze dropping to you again — lingering a bit too long. "You look beautiful, you know."

Your throat tightened slightly. "Flattery won’t save you if you step on me."

"Maybe not," he murmured. "But it’s true."

You looked up at him — and this time, he didn’t look away.

For a moment, it felt like the air itself slowed down — just you, him, and the soft hum of music weaving through the quiet.

𖹭

Later that night, you both stepped outside for air. String lights swayed gently above the patio, and the muffled laughter from inside drifted out through the open door.

Jooyeon handed you a glass of juice, sitting beside you on the low wall.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," you said softly. "Just… needed a break from all the dancing."

He nodded, glancing at you before his eyes fell to your wrist. "You still have it on."

You lifted your arm a little, smiling. "Of course. You said it was lucky."

He smiled back, that small, warm one that never quite reached his eyes unless it was real. "Keep it. I like how it looks on you."

You looked at him, your voice quieter now. "You know, for someone who didn’t even ask me to the wedding properly, you’ve been surprisingly smooth tonight."

He grinned, leaning closer, tone low and teasing. "Guess I’m finally figuring out how to talk to my date."

You laughed, shaking your head. "You’re unbelievable."

"And you’re still wearing my bracelet," he said softly, eyes flicking to it again — a gentle reminder, a silent confession.

According to him, you two were destined to be in each other’s lives (you both reached for the last pack of ramen at the convenience store on a Tuesday night). 

TWO YEARS AGO

You had a shitty day, rain was pouring down and you had no umbrella and the only thing you needed was to eat your favorite pack of ramen from the convenience store next to your house and have some peace.

However, because you wanted to test the universe and say out loud “It really can’t get any worse, can it?” while running inside the store, life decided to show you that it can always, in fact, get worse. 

You were looking around the instant noodles shelf for your favorite type but it was nowhere to be found, and admittedly, tears started to fill your eyes. One thing. That’s all you asked for. One good thing today.

Steps heavy and nose stuffy, you decide to walk over to the snacks section to at least buy yourself a bag of chips, when suddenly, surrounded by blue packaging of oreos there was, your most beloved pack of ramen, disregarded on the wrong shelf. 

Someone must’ve changed their mind and left it there without a second thought, and your eyes widen, a spark of hope filling your chest. You make sure to also grab some chips but as soon as your hand reaches for the ramen, a large hand grabs on the other end of it, the pack now stuck between the two of you.

“Hey I grabbed it first-” You begin, only to raise your head and catch what you think is the most beautiful person you’ve ever come across frowning down at you.

“Uh no, at most we grabbed it at the same time.” He replies determined, tugging on the pack towards him leaving you with a baffled expression, your hand tightening around the ramen, refusing to let go.

“Listen, I had a really shitty day and I just want my favorite ramen so if you could be so kind  to-” You mumble through gritted teeth, only for the blonde’s knuckles to turn white from the strength he is applying at the end of the package to hold onto it.

“Yeah, well I had a really shitty day too.” He replies a little more harshly than intended, eyes softening when he sees your red tear filled eyes because the last thing you needed tonight was to lose your comfort food to a random guy that decided to snap at you. “It’s my favorite food and I grabbed it at the same time, I’m in my right to buy it as much as you are.” He clears his throat with a deadpan look. 

You are about to scream and cry at him, but instead you close your eyes, taking a shaky breath before looking back at him. “Please…” Is all you manage to crock out, and the taller purses his lips.

“Alright, How about this?” He asks, making his way to the cashier, both of you holding onto the ramen as if it was a pack of gold. You’re dragged in line against your will when the stranger turns to you. “We can share.” 

“It’s not going to fill us up.” You respond, slightly amused at the idea, a small smile now making its way on your face.

“Isn’t that better than not eating it at all?” He hums knowingly in a gentle but teasing tone, also buying two onigiris and some drinks for good measure and paying, before making his way to the microwave with you.

Now, here you were, sitting next to the blonde as he was preparing the ramen, disregarding the pack of veggies to the side. “Hey you forgot-” You start but the taller one shakes his head cringing.

“No I didn’t, it ruins the taste. Here.” He corrects, handing you the pack of veggies. “You can add it to your bowl if you want to.” He finishes, grabbing two cardboard bowls and pouring equal ratios of ramen in both of them, before sitting on the chair next to the table and opening both of your drinks.

You let out a small chuckle for the first time today, shaking your head as you take a seat and add the veggies, opening your onigiri as well. You take a bite and a tear unironically falls on your cheek, whining at the familiar taste. The other isn’t reacting any better, he practically lets out a loud groan, throwing his head back while nodding in satisfaction, this time earning a whole-hearted laugh from you.

“You really like it, huh?” You tease trying your best to bite back a smile while eating some more.

“I don’t play about my food.” He replies in a serious tone before breaking into a smile. “I’m Jooyeon, by the way.” 

Little did you know, that name would become your favorite name in a matter of a few months. The same name that ended up being there for you every time you were stressing about an exam, to hold you after yet another failed date, to facetime you while he was on vacation with his parents because he just missed you that much. 

You introduce yourself and a moment of silence falls between you two, before you speak up again. “Thanks, by the way. For this.” You’re not sure if you were referring to the ramen or the company but either way, Jooyeon gives you a small nod of approval, lips now curling into a mischievous grin. 

“Don’t thank me too much, you’ll have to pay for your part of the ramen. I’m just a college student, y’know? Stuff’s going hard these days…with the economy and all.” He explains with a dramatic sigh, another laugh escaping your lips as you nod, taking money out of your wallet and paying for half of the ramen, your drink and onnigiri, only for the man’s face to turn into a questioning look. “What’s with all this?”

“You said I have to pay for my side, no?” You frown, pointing to your food, only for the blonde to shake his head and give you most of the money back, only keeping 97 cents.

“Of the ramen.” He repeats, putting the coins in his pocket and eating some more as if nothing, leaving you with a confused yet intrigued look. 

“You’re a weird guy, Jooyeon.” You whisper loud enough for the other to hear, and he simply gives you another grin, happy that he managed to make you smile. 

That night, you found yourselves talking for around three hours at the convenience store, the food long gone as you were now tearing up with laughter as he was telling you about how he and his friend Jiseok got kicked out of a hospital once because they tried to race-skate their way through it. 

That night you also found out that you actually live in the same building, and he’s the guy that wouldn’t stop blasting metal music at eleven at night on a Wednesday and you take the opportunity to threaten him with throwing fireworks at his front door if he doesn’t stop and he promises to buy some headphones.

PRESENT DAY

Having Jooyeon in your life was both a blessing and a curse. You can’t think of a better person to have by your side, and you are especially grateful that it turned out that you two had a few shared classes and went to the same university, because that meant to have a shoulder to lean on during late night studies, or, in this case, a very tiring bus ride.

The trip wasn’t all that, really. It was just an end of the year trip with the English department to a nearby city. During the ride, Jooyeon made sure to stay still and let your head rest on his shoulder, wear headphones to not disturb your sleep and hit Jiseok’s head who was sitting in front of you two when he would laugh just a little too loud. 

Jooyeon was like that: funny, weird and stupidly caring. From all the jokes and pranks he did on a daily basis, you’d never say he was capable of holding a serious conversation but you knew better than anyone that he was more mature than he liked to let on. 

The curse part comes from the fact that somewhere along the way, you found yourself falling for him. Hard. It was torturous and it was absolute hell having someone this absolutely perfect and being unable to stop thinking about what would happen if you just grabbed his face and kissed him to shut him up whenever he’d tease you about winning against you at mario kart. 

You find yourself pretending to sleep for just a little longer to have a good enough excuse to hug his arm while resting your cheek on his shoulder because you know that although you haven’t been able to stop thinking about him for the past few months, it’s not worth risking what you two have.

After a long day of visiting the town you find yourselves at a mall, wandering around as you were given an hour to relax before heading back to the dorms. Suddenly, while walking with everyone else towards the restaurant, you feel your hand being dragged away and with it your body towards the arcade zone. 

“What the fu- What are you doing?? We’re supposed to go eat-” You laugh at Jooyeon who was currently putting a finger over his lips to shush you and pull you further inside the arcade.

“C’mon, we can eat back at the hotel, I refuse to listen to teacher Min yapping about his marriage for two hours.” He whines, and when he sees your unsure look, he does what he does best: emotional manipulation. Jooyeon gives you his signature puppy eyes, lips in a barely noticeable pout while resting his hands on your waist. “Pleaseee?” 

You purse your lips with a sigh and the other exclaims in victory, kissing your temple before rushing to the air hockey table. One of the many reasons you hated going to the arcade with Jooyeon was that he always won, unless he started to feel bad and let you win a total of maybe TWO games.

The blonde giggles to himself after the third round of air hockey, poking his tongue out at you as you scoff determinedly. Another reason you hated going to the arcade with him though, is because against your displeased mumbles and tired eyes, your heart was beating twice as fast when he got behind you during a shooting game to show you how to correctly hold the gun for better aim, or the way his eyes would sparkle when you cursed annoyed when you almost won a game.

“C’mon it was not thaaat bad…” He laughs softly trying to comfort you by hugging your neck from behind as you stare at the different scores from the previous basketball throwing game. You give him a death glare but to no avail as the taller simple looks down at you grinning.

It’s stupid, he’s really not doing anything but you find yourself looking at him for a second too long, and you could swear his eyes travel to your lips for a brief moment before you clear your throat and pull away for your own wellbeing. 

“Bet you’ll crash in under forty seconds.” You muse with a small chuckle as the blonde raises an eyebrow, zipping his jacket all the way up and signaling a ‘watch me’ with his fingers before starting the game.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, he scores the second place amongst all players and you roll your eyes at him as he mocks your words from earlier, getting off the bike and close to your face with a challenging look. “Huh? What was that? Lee Jooyeon you’re the best player, sexiest, funniest person EVER???” He challenges and you laugh wholeheartedly.

“Where did sexy and funny even come from?” You ask between giggles as you two make your way to the boxing machine, the blonde huffing. 

“It’s a given, duh.” He rolls his eyes, preparing the machine. And because life really likes to torture you, of course Jooyeon’s score is ridiculously high and you find your lips parting as your breath hitches after he brushes his hair back with a smug look, taking a small bow. “Do you want to try?” 

You were about to say no and complain about how he probably just wants to make fun of you but after he swears he won’t and that you can slap him if he laughs, you let out a small huff, looking at the machine in front of you with uneasy eyes. “I’m not so sure, Joo…” 

“C’mon, it’s more technique than it is strength.” He encourages you with an honest nod, getting next to you and holding your fist in his two hands, the moment feeling oddly intimate. “Make sure your thumb is outside and try to keep strength in your wrist so you won’t hurt yourself, yeah?” He instructs softly, because despite all the jokes and teasing, Jooyeon was in fact, your biggest supporter. 

You give a small nod, and give it your best and surprisingly, the score isn’t nearly half as bad as you thought it’d be. Jooyeon’s face lights up and hugs you tightly squealing about how well you did and suddenly you find yourselves looking at each other, distance just enough to look at the other’s eyes.

It was all in your head, you think to yourself. You could swear that for the past five months the blonde would always hold you just a bit longer than usual, let his eyes linger on your figure when you’d wear a new outfit and always find some excuse to have you in his arms.

Jooyeon was a very direct person. He wasn’t ashamed of who he is or his feelings, so the fact that he’s never directly asked you out or tried to kiss you unfortunately could only mean that he never really saw you as anything other than his friend.

However, moments like these, where his chest would move up and down just a bit quicker and his fingers would press against your lower back, made you forget for a moment that unfortunately, he was not your boyfriend. 

“We should head back.” You whisper, your hand moving on his shoulder to pat them, about to pull away, only to be pulled closer. “What are you doing-” You blink in surprise, and the blonde opens his mouth as if ready to say something, only to close it again and shake his head.

“Let’s do the claw machine and then we can leave?” He suggests and you pull away with a small nod, a wave of sadness washing over you. Why exactly? It was hard to say, but it was most likely a combination of his cologne now imprinted on your clothes from all of the hugging, the way his lips were dangerously close to you a couple minutes ago and the way you so badly want something you can’t have.

“Joo, c’mon, the kid’s been waiting for like ten minutes and you already wasted like twenty bucks.” You whisper close to him, the small kid next to you two getting impatient as the parent was giving you two a nasty stare, only for your friend to scoff determinedly and shake his head.

“Are you kidding me?? I’m paying for this thing, and I WILL get that stupid octopus plushie.” He glares at the kid making him run away, earning a judging look from you. “Life is tough! He can just ask his parents to buy him one!!” He defends himself.

You facepalm shaking your head at his competitiveness. “Plus, it’s like impossible-the plushie is stuck!”

“Ah yeah?” He hums with a sly smile and after a few more tries, somehow, Jooyeon manages to pick up the plushie with a victory scream, throwing his hands in the air before turning around to you and pointing a finger at you. “SUCCEEDED AGAINST THE WISH OF MY ENEMIES!” He pokes his tongue out, holding the plushie next to his face. 

“That thing isn’t even pretty, it’s so ugly, why would you spend so much mo-” You note, when suddenly you feel the older one rub the plushie on your face with a laugh, his other arm wrapping around your lower back to hold you in place as he laughs at your protests.

“You can’t say that about my kid!!” He exclaims, refusing to stop and when you take a step back in an attempt to escape, you both stumble, your back now leaning against the claw machine with a gasp as he instantly takes the hand he was rubbing the plushie on your face with and holds onto the machine to not crash onto you. Your bodies were now pressed together, laughter dying down as Jooyeon’s breaths were heavier, eyes wide. “Are you alright?”

You look up at him, your hands on his shoulders for support and goddamn it why does he have to be this beautiful? Why can’t Lee Jooyeon be less perfect and save you from the suffering? Instead of a reply, you give a short nod, eyes not leaving his as you catch your breath.

Jooyeon doesn’t really know what got into him. Maybe it was the adrenaline from before, maybe it was the fact that you’ve been clinging onto him the whole way here or maybe, it was the fact that he’s been holding back from doing something stupid for the past five months, ever since that night when you called him in a frenzy at three in the morning because of a nightmare and he showed up at your door in pink slippers and pajamas, instantly pulling you in a hug and realizing that he’d rather die than know that anyone else but him could comfort you at that hour.

Next thing he knows, his breath gets stuck in his throat as he carefully tucks a strand of hair behind your ear and his hands gently cups your cheek, thumb caressing it ever so softly as if scared that you’ll run away if he moves too suddenly. 

When he leans in, because you love to ruin every good thing you have got going on for you, you lower your head while squinting your eyes together, and let out a sad whisper, refusing to look at him. “Joo we can’t…” You start, feeling the other’s hand still on your cheek.

“Why?” And for the first time in two years, you hear Jooyeon’s voice break, and the sound of his voice breaking is not even close to the excruciating pain growing in his chest, gulping but refusing to let go just yet.

“Because, what if we don’t work out?” The words leave your lips in a shaky breath and funnily enough, that makes the blonde relax, a small smile creeping on his face when he understands that this isn’t a rejection but more of a fear-response.

So, Jooyeon does what he does best: refutes with a question you can’t debate against, his hand moving under your jaw to gently make you raise your head and look at him. “And what if we do?” he whispers with a slight tilt of his head, now both of his hands cupping your jaw, thumbs still caressing your cheeks as your hands fall on his hips.

He leans closer again, just as slow, making sure to give you enough time to pull away but you’d be stupid to. Even though your brain is screaming at you to please be logical about this and not risk what you two have, you find yourself closing your eyes and letting your lips brush against his.

Funnily enough, it didn’t feel like fireworks. When you started to slowly move your lips against each other, it felt like coming home after a rainy day, and you suddenly remembered the night you two met. You grip onto Jooyeon’s jacket as he smiles slightly in the kiss, barely containing his excitement, his hands now close to squishing your face as he deepens the kiss.

Soon enough, the kiss gets interrupted by the same parent and kid from before clearing their throat and you pull away with a guilty look, shaking a few giggles before apologizing and walking away, except Jooyeon wasted no time in pulling you close and resting your back against the wall of a more secluded area.

You look at him surprised, still shaken up from earlier, a blush spreading across your cheeks when he gets closer to you again. “We should talk.” He says barely above a whisper, holding your hands gently, the plushie now in your bag. You start talking about how risky it would be to get together and mess up what you two have and he simply listens, before getting closer to you. “Two weeks. Give me two weeks and if you think it’s not worth it we can just put it behind us but please- don’t let us not try.” 

The look in his eyes is pleading, almost desperate, contrasting his soft and understanding tone. Your heart breaks. Even in a moment like this, Jooyeon refuses to lose without a fight and you remember just how much you admire that about him. You’re scared. Terrified, even. You both know how weary you are of new relationships with how badly your last one treated you, and yet, you nod your head before you could think twice.

The taller one breaks into a huge grin, cupping your face and silently waiting for a confirmation. When he gets it, he captures your lips in a happy and passionate kiss, hugging your neck while constantly kissing your head. He closes his eyes holding onto you, when your voice breaks the silence. 

“We should really get back to the hotel, they’re probably looking for us.” You whisper, only to be met with a smug look as the man starts walking, interlocking his fingers with yours. 

“Jiseok’s covering for us.” He hums proudly, and you give him a questioning look, lightly hitting his arm.

“This was your plan all along??” You laugh softly, only to have your cheek kissed cutely by the other, making your face turn red.

“Mm no, but I’m not complaining about the results. Even though my crush didn’t admit they liked me when I’m over here head over heels…” He replies dramatically, your lips curling into a shy smile.

“To be fair, you didn’t confess either, you just kinda started eating my face.” You whisper before the taller one stops you in your tracks on the streets.

“WOOOAAAHHHH I KISSED YOU!” He explains offended, standing in front of you. “That’s more than enough of a confession. Didn’t you feel my PASSION? My LOVE?” He scoffs, and your breath hitches as the last sentence, lips parting. 

Jooyeon seems to take notice of it, and simply smiles lazily while kissing your forehead, wrapping his arm around your shoulder as if knowing what’s on your mind, walking quietly. “Hey Joo?” You manage to let out, looking up at him as the blonde turns his attention to you with a hum. “I l-” You start, but no matter how much you wanted to say it and let him know just how mutual your feelings are, the words got stuck in your throat.

You hated it. You wanted to, you felt it. You felt it more than anything you’ve ever felt and yet, here you were, pulse rising and anxiety starting to creep up on you, and you eventually bite your lip, a disappointed look plastered across your face.

However, Jooyeon doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. Quite on the contrary, he seems absolutely thrilled, his eyes now sparkling brighter than ever before. So, he does the other thing that he does best: understand you even when your words fail you. “I know.” He smiles, giving your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I love you too.” 

He lets the words slip like it's the easiest thing in the world for him. Because it is. He makes sure to look into your eyes so you can understand just how serious he is about this, and places a small yet full of emotion peck on your forehead, lips smiling against your skin before he pulls away.

You blink at him multiple times, stopping in your tracks and you want to cry, because Lee Jooyeon is truly a blessing you’re not sure you deserve. And because a lot of times words fail you, you cup his face and pull him to your level, kissing him as if your life depends on it.

It’s worth the shaky hands and irregular breaths when you feel the older let out a surprised noise, his arms instantly wrapping around your waist to envolve you into a warm and secure hug. His shaky breaths turn into small relieved giggles, and your arms wrap around his neck, holding him so close you’d think he’ll disappear if you release your grip even by a millimeter.

Your shaky breaths start having a more regulated rhythm in no time, both of you smiling in the now more messy kiss, teeth clanking and noses brushing because of the laughter, and for once in a long time you know you’re safe.

Jooyeon makes sure to kiss your lips softly a few more times before pulling you into a tight hug, head burying in your neck and if you didn’t know any better you’d swear a couple tears stained your shirt as he was swaying you two gently. 

“I really want to make you happy…” He mumbles, pulling away and resting his forehead on yours, fingers tracing your lower back as you play with his hair, your eyes filling with tears. “Ah, you’ve always been such a crybaby…since the day I met you.” He teases playfully, although his dilated pupils give away his true feelings.

You squint and lightly pull on his hair, pocking your tongue out only for the other to lean in and peck your lips once. You freeze again and he laughs at the new-found power over you, his lips finding their way on your forehead once again before playfully patting your ass and holding your hand on your way to the hotel. 

Lee Jooyeon was the only person in this world to understand you to your very core and maybe, the only person in the world who could convince you to face your fears instead of running away from them. And when you have to part ways to go into your respective rooms and he pulls you into yet another loving kiss, whispering something about how you better be prepared for him to be twice as annoying as before, you know.

You don’t need a two week trial. You want this. You want it more than you’ve ever wanted anything in your life. Jooyeon seems to know it too, because as you walk away, he turns his head to steal one last glance at you, biting the inside of his cheek in a pathetic attempt to stop himself from smiling like an idiot before opening the door to his room.

He fails. Jiseok makes fun of him. He doesn’t care.

THE END