#junmyeon fluff

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” You looked at Liz, one of your coworkers and friends, who was… beaming with excitement.

“Of course!” She pressed the elevator button. “You won’t believe how handsome he is! Just imagine if we get a chance to speak to him—ah! I’m so excited!”

You just laughed at her sudden eagerness, leaning against the wall. “So you know him?”

“Not in person, but,” Liz fixed his hair, checking her reflection in the elevator mirror. “When I signed us both up on the website, he was on the preview. So… I did my research and found his personal IG.”

“Creepy…” you murmured, teasing her.

“Shut up!” She smacked your forearm while you laughed, following her out as the elevator doors slid open.

When you arrived in the classroom, you found the space packed with women who were clearly there for him—some of them checking their hair, others reapplying their makeup, others just murmuring about him. You looked at Liz, who seemed even more surprised than you were.

“That’s not fair…”

You grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the last two empty seats near the front. “C’mon!”

“Do you… think we’ll have a chance to talk to him today?” Liz looked genuinely down, but you didn’t have the heart to give her a realistic answer.

“Of course!” You smiled, giving her a tight hug. “Liz, I’m pretty sure he’ll notice you the second he walks through that door!” Her face lit up. “Now, what was his name again?”

“Kim Junmyeon,” Liz replied, smiling back at you.

Your face fell as if you had just heard the worst joke imaginable. “What?” You froze. It couldn’t be the same Kim Junmyeon you knew. He couldn’t be your ex.

“Kim Junmyeon,” she repeated, oblivious to your shock. “He’s literally the face from the last culinary competition in—”

“Morning, class!” Junmyeon’s voice filled the room, drowned out slightly by the collective, flirtatious response. “It’s so good to see you all again.” He scanned the crowd with that bright, familiar smile. “It seems like there are new faces here, and…” He paused a second when his gaze landed on yours. “Some others I knew all too well.”

You were panicked, feeling the desperate urge to escape. But Junmyeon seemed like he was genuinely happy to see you again.

“Did he… notice us?” Liz whispered, vibrating with excitement. You could only manage a stiff nod, feeling numb.

You sat stiffly in your chair as Junmyeon moved to the front of the room to begin his class. He stole everyone’s attention, speaking with practiced ease and laying out the safety protocols, but... you doubted anyone was actually listening to his words. Instead, they watched the way his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows or flirted shamelessly when he laughed with them at his small jokes.

Every woman in the room leaned forward, chins resting on palms, looking at him with heart eyes. Even with your frustration, you thought it was the perfect distraction—quietly, you could slip out the back while they were all under his spell.

“Liz.” You leaned in close so only she could hear. “I need to go to—”

Liz’s phone buzzed across the table, cutting you off, and she nearly knocked it onto the floor in her scramble to grab it. Her eyes went wide as she read the notification.

“Oh… no, no, no,” she hissed. “I totally forgot it! The furniture delivery! My landlord won’t let them in without me, and they’ll send the whole thing back to the warehouse!”

Before you could even process the words, Liz was already grabbing her bag. She gave you an apologetic look, her hands hovering in the air as if she wanted to hug you but didn’t have the time.

“I have to go! I’m so sorry! Good luck with the class—and with him!” she whispered.

Liz practically sprinted toward the exit, murmuring a quick excuse. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving an empty seat beside you. You were completely frozen, trapped, and you had missed your chance.

Up to the front, the rhythm of Junmyeon’s voice didn’t falter. He transitioned from the introductory lecture to the hands-on portion of the day: handmade pasta. It was meant to be a collaborative effort, and he suggested working in pairs to manage it.

The room erupted into a flurry of movements as friends leaned together and strangers introduced themselves. But you? You remained rooted to your spot, without a partner, so you had to swallow your pride, focusing on the mound of flour, and mimic the movements he had demonstrated.

Later, you were so focused on the sticky mess on your hands that you didn’t see the shadow falling across your workspace.

“Hhm? The walls are a bit too thin.”

You snapped your head up to find Junmyeon leaning over your table. He wasn’t looking at the class anymore; he was looking at you with an expression that was entirely too friendly.

“Do you need some help?” His tone was soft enough that it felt private.

Immediately, a wave of disgruntled muttering rippled through the room. Everyone was glaring in your direction. One or two women even raised their hands, calling out for his attention, but Junmyeon didn’t even turn his head.

“I’ll be with the rest of you in just a moment.” His voice regained its professional projection without losing its focus on you.

The pressure was suffocating. You could feel dozens of envious eyes boring into your back, and the weight of his undivided attention made your hands shake as they remained coated in flour. Of course, you weren’t just a student to him.

You nodded, accepting the inevitable. You kept your eyes fixed on the wooden board, trying to maintain a shred of dignity while your ex leaned in to show you how to stabilize the flour walls. Every time his hand brushed near yours, your heart skipped a bit. Yes, he noticed it; however, he didn’t say anything.

Once he was satisfied that your doubt wouldn’t collapse, he stood up and gave you a soft smile, moving to the next group. You sighed in relief and threw yourself into the work, imitating his instructions step by step. The dough was stubborn, but eventually, it turned smooth and elastic under your palms. You rolled it out until it was translucent, the rolling pin clicking rhythmically against the table, and sliced it into long, uneven ribbons of fettuccine.

You were so mesmerized by the process that you didn’t realize how much time had passed. You just heard Junmyeon thanking everyone for being there, and the room began to clear as people packed their bags and wiped down their stations. You, however, were still struggling, your movements clumsy, leaving you trailing behind everyone else.

You stood there with flour still dusting your forearms, desperately pulling at the strings of your apron. They had somehow knotted behind your back, and the more you tugged, the tighter they became.

A soft, familiar chuckle echoed through the kitchen. Junmyeon was standing a few feet away, tidying his own station with a grace that made you feel silly—you were trapped, messy, cheeks completely red—there was no point in pretending he wasn’t there.

“I didn’t know you were the instructor,” you said quickly as you finally yanked the apron knot loose, desperate to clarify things. “I only came because of my friend. If I had known you were the one teaching this, I wouldn’t have been here.”

A slow, gentle smile spread across his face, and he gave a small understanding nod. “I believe you.”

His lack of defensiveness only made you more frustrated. It felt like he was handling you with the same patience he used for a difficult recipe.

“I mean it,” you snapped. “I’m not trying to follow you or… or make things weird. It was a total accident!”

“I know.” Junmyeon remained perfectly relaxed; he looked happy to see you.

He reached for his own apron again, trying it back on with practiced movements. He walked over to your station and reached for the tray of raw fettuccine you had just finished cutting.

“What are you doing?” Your brow furrowed in confusion.

He looked at you with a slight tilt of his head, as if the answer should have been obvious. “You’re the only one who didn’t actually cook the pasta,” he explained. “The water is still hot. I’m gonna help you finish it so you don’t have to take home a tray of sticky dough.”

Frustration bubbled up in your chest. Junmyeon was acting as if the years of silence between you didn’t exist, as if the bond you had once shared hadn’t been snapped into pieces.

“You don’t have to do that. I can just… throw it away.”

“I know. But you worked so hard today,” he countered, dropping the ribbons into the boiling pot.

You wanted to be mad and yell at him, but… he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was just being nice—the same sweet, attentive Junmyeon who always took care of the details—and it felt like he was intentionally messing with your head.

“Look,” he said gently. “I know you were the one who decided we needed distance. I know you broke up with me because I was immature. I respected that then, just like I respect it now.”

Junmyeon took a small step closer, though he kept enough distance to ensure you didn’t feel cornered. “I’m just… honestly happy to see you again. I’m happy to see that you’re doing well.”

You felt like your tongue was physically trapped in your mouth. You had spent the last hour treating him like an enemy, and he was standing there offering you nothing but grace.

“You can go home. I don’t want you to feel trapped here,” he added, noticing your silence. “The pasta will only take another minute. I can pack this up and leave it at the front desk for you, or I can just toss it if that’s easier for you.”

“I’m not doing good or bad. I’m just here,” you admitted.

“Just being here is enough sometimes,” he murmured, carefully lifting the fettuccine from the water, smiling softly. He looked at you. “Are you still writing reviews?”

You blinked, surprised he remembered such a specific detail. “I… yeah. I still do.”

“I knew it.” Junmyeon nodded, his eyes lighting up. “I’ve actually read a few of them. Your review of that little bookstore downtown was spot on—you always had a sharp eye. I’m glad you’re still doing it.”

You felt your cheeks turn a deep red. The idea of him sitting somewhere, scrolling through your words long after you had left his life, made your stomach do a nervous flip. “You’re lying,” you countered, trying to deflect.

“No,” he let out a nervous laugh. “Actually, it’s funny. I spent all morning rehearsing what I’d say, worrying about the new students... and when I saw you, everything just went out the window.”

“You seemed pretty composed to me,” you muttered, looking at the floor. “You were flirting with the whole front row.”

Junmyeon let out a short, surprised laugh. “Is that what you saw? I was terrified. I was trying so hard to look at everyone except you because I knew if I stayed in your gaze for too long, I’d forget everything.”

“You? Terrified?” you mumbled. “You’re far too busy with your classes and all those students… trying to catch your attention.”

Junmyeon let out a laugh again—that genuine, melodic sound that you realized… you had truly missed. “Are you asking if I’m single?” he teased, catching you completely off guard.

“What? No! That’s not—I wasn’t—” You stumbled over your words, your hands waving dismissively in the air as you tried to regain your footing.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” he said gently, though his smile remained. “To be honest, I haven’t actually dated anyone since you.” He carefully swirled the pasta into the container.

You froze. “But it’s been…”

“I know,” he interrupted softly, looking at you with a warm smile. “You were my first true love. I didn’t wanna erase all those memories from my heart and fill the space with someone else. At least, not for now.”

The way he looked at you in that moment made you realize why you had fallen for him years ago. You felt nervous, completely seen, and somehow, deeply loved.

“Oh! Wait—” He came back to his station for another container—one filled with a rich, fragrant sauce he must have prepared earlier. He walked back toward you, offering you both containers. “There.”

You looked down at the plastic lid. Even without tasting it, you knew exactly what it was. “You made it again…” you whispered, the words slipping out before you could stop them. “I always loved this sauce.”

“I know.” A small knowing glint appeared in his eyes. “I thought, if I was gonna make sure you actually accepted something from me, it must be something you could never turn down.”

Your cheeks flared red again. The warmth of his presence was starting to feel less like a threat and more like a familiar blanket.

“Thank you, Junmyeon.”

His expression turned even softer, like he wasn’t ready to hear his name from your lips again. “Will I… see you again?”

You met his gaze, and for a second, you felt your mind racing through a thousand excuses, your tongue heavy. Seeing your hesitation, he quickly clarified.

“As friends,” Junmyeon added, holding up a hand as if to offer a truce. “If that’s what you want. I just… I’d like to catch up properly, y’know… without a room full of people.”

You doubted yourself for a heartbeat, the memories from the past coming back, but then, you looked at the containers in your hands and back at his sincere expression. You just nodded softly, almost imperceptibly.

A look of genuine relief washed over him. “There’s a new coffee shop that just opened around the corner,” he suggested. “The interior is beautiful—lots of natural light and plants. You’d have plenty to write about for your blog.”

Your enthusiasm suddenly broke through your defensive shell. “A new one? That sounds great.” You looked at him, a familiar spark returning to your eyes. “Will you buy the coffee, right?”

Junmyeon let out a bright, genuine laugh that echoed against the kitchen. “Of course,” he said, nodding softly. “It’s on me!”

After you two exchanged numbers, he walked you toward the door, the air between you finally feeling light. As you stepped out into the hallway, you felt him linger for a second. “I’ll text you the address,” he sounded hopeful.

“I’ll be waiting for it,” you replied, clutching the warm containers to your chest.

Junmyeon looked like he didn’t quite want to let you go yet. “Go on, before the pasta gets cold. I’ll text you later.”

You nodded and reached the elevator, pressing the button, looking back one last time to see him waving from the classroom door. You stepped inside, the doors sliding shut on the sight of his smile, and for the first time in a long time, you weren’t thinking about the past—you were looking forward to that coffee.

The warmth from the museum is a welcome reprieve from the bitingly cold night air. As you step inside, you cast a look at the man accompanying you. He looks different in clothes other than his business professional office-wear, but that doesn’t make him any less handsome, dressed in a cozy sweater and dark trousers. Endearingly, he’s also wearing glasses that you didn’t know he needed, tortoiseshell frames that sit prettily on the bridge of his nose.

He catches you staring, and as if knowing exactly why, he pushes them up. “I forgot to put in my night contacts last night,” he says sheepishly.

“No, I like them!” you say. A little too enthusiastically. Your face burns as you try to recover, but he just grins and looks away, giving you the grace to drop the subject. 

You pick up a guide and flip through the pages, skimming through the special exhibitions in search of a worthy starting place. Junmyeon reads along over your shoulder, and the close proximity to him sends a thrill down your spine. “How about here?” you ask, pointing at one of the exhibits.

Junmyeon nods approvingly. “Sounds perfect.”

The sounds of your footsteps as you move through the halls echo just slightly above the quiet chatter of the other patrons. Junmyeon clears his throat softly. “Is this okay? I know it’s not a traditional Valentine’s date like we talked about.”

You laugh, remembering your previous conversation. You had lamented to Junmyeon offhandedly that you had never actually experienced a Valentine’s date. You’d always been single during the holiday, and the thought of going on a bad one when it was supposed to be all about experiencing love… yeah, no thanks. But with Junmyeon, the man who always saved you a seat on the bus ride home from work, even after your first meeting when there had been no other seats available… you’d be willing to try.

“I much rather prefer this,” you say. “It feels like there’s less pressure and I can actually enjoy myself rather than just think about how much it feels like a capital-d Date.”

You arrive at the exhibit you chose and the two of you stroll over together toward the closest painting on the wall. “You know, the majority of these were painted while he had cataracts?” Junmyeon says quietly. “It’s incredible.” 

He lets a few more facts slip as the two of you go through the exhibit, ever so often, always in a low, quiet tone. You notice how his eyes sparkle when you get to a piece that he knows something about, admiring the art with a careful eye.

“Will you tell me about this one?” you ask as you approach another, seeing that look appear in his eyes once again. 

His eyes widen ever so slightly. “Are you sure? It’s not too overbearing?”

“It’s interesting,” you reply. “I like hearing it from you.”

Grinning, Junmyeon launches into a passionate script about the art in front of you, his gestures growing more animated with each passing word. He even draws the attention of a few other passersby, including a museum guide who nods in approval. You are interested in what he has to say, but with each second you find yourself slipping further and further under some kind of spell, your eyes drifting from his twinkling eyes down to the curve of his lips. He’s just so… pretty, you think.

“So yeah,” he says, quieter now. “That’s how this piece ended up inspiring a bunch of modern artists.”

“Fascinating,” you breathe.

“Really?”

You nod, trying to will the tips of your ears to stop burning. “Really.”

“Are you hungry?” Junmyeon asks. You’re now in the cafe attached to the museum, standing in line for the check out counter. Your feet and your cheeks both have a slight soreness to them— your feet, because of the endless amounts of walking that you’ve done, and your cheeks, from the endless amounts of grinning. You found yourself unable to control your smiles throughout the night, charmed as Junmyeon had grown bolder and bolder, talking about the artwork in increasingly more detail.

“Not that hungry, but I’d like to stop for a minute here to take a rest.” You scan the menu, frowning when you don’t find anything you particularly like, then the counter itself. “Oh!” Your eyes light up when you finally see the ‘specials’ sign. “I’m about to suggest something crazy.”

“Okay, shoot,” Junmyeon replies, raising an eyebrow.

You point at the sign. “Gelato?” 

“Gelato in this weather,” Junmyeon sighs, but smiles when he sees your pleading eyes. “Not crazy at all,” he amends quickly.

The two of you sit side by side in the cafe booth, eating your gelato. You dip your spoon into his to taste his flavor and he does the same to you. 

“How did you get to know so much about art?” you ask. 

“Oh, I got really into it in college. When I was studying and I needed a break, I would just click through random articles online to learn about something else completely unrelated to my classes. I ended up looking through some artists’ histories and I got obsessed.”

“Wow,” you say, deadpan. “You took a break from studying with studying. You’re just full of surprises.”

“In what other ways have I surprised you?” He tilts his head, looking at you with an adorable, inquisitive look.

“Well for starters…” You reach out and tap the corner of his glasses lightly. “These were a surprise.” 

“So I have bad eyesight. Is that a crime?”

“Of course not,” you laugh. “But what would be a crime is if you didn’t wear them for our second date.”

Junmyeon sputters, choking a bit on his spoon. His face turns the same shade as his strawberry sorbet. “You want a second date?”

“Mhm.” You reach over and take another spoonful out of his bowl. “Don’t you?”

“Well… yes,” he blinks. He looks at you quietly for a second, contemplative, before he starts laughing. 

“I’m not the only one full of surprises, it seems.”

well, that was fun! want to try another?

"You're popular today."

You look up from your laptop and peer at the stack of letters in your roommate's hands. She waves the multicolored pieces of paper in front of your face with a sly grin. "Feels like I'm in kindergarten all over again and the popular kid got all the Valentine's."

"What are you talking about?" you sigh, holding your hand out impatiently. "Nothing exciting about getting a bunch of bills."

"Bills?!" She flops down next to you on the couch and spreads out the pink and red envelopes. "Do these look like bills to you?"

You take the envelopes and flip through them quickly. Sure enough, your name is plastered on the front of each one, each with different handwriting and writing styles. There's no return address, or even any indication of the sender's identity.

"Kinda creepy," you mutter.

"I think it's cute! Who's doing this anymore, huh? I'd much rather get one of these then get another 'you up' message from Hinge." She shudders. "Well, aren't you going to open them?"

You sit there and go through each letter one by one, your face burning embarrassingly hot with each word read out loud between the two of you. They're… love notes. Confessions of feelings ranging from silly and light-hearted to deeply sincere. With each note, you realize the identity of each letter writer: nine distinct men that you’ve had contact with recently. Some of whom you’ve known for years, but some that you barely knew their names.

Each letter ends similarly: a request to take you on a proper first date. 

“It seems like I had better find some plans for Valentine’s Day,” your roommate whistles.

“I don’t even know what to do,” you moan, putting your head in your hands. “Nine dates to choose from?”

“Oh no, my steak is too juicy, my lobster is too buttered.” She pries your head out of your grasp and squeezes your hands reassuringly. “Hey, you know all these guys, right? It’s not like they’re creeps. You really can’t make a wrong choice here. And hey, who said you can’t go on all these dates?”

You roll your eyes, but she nods vigorously. “Seriously! If you really can’t choose… then don’t!”

You look at the scattered letters around you and think carefully. Of course, one date (or nine) couldn’t hurt. The question was: who should you reply to first?

⋆˙⟡♡ the artist you accidentally bumped into on the street last week?

⋆˙⟡♡ the man you’ve started talking to on the commute home from work?

⋆˙⟡♡ the pianist who’s always playing in your apartment lobby?

⋆˙⟡♡ your next-door neighbor who’s always trying to borrow some sugar?

⋆˙⟡♡ the barista at your favorite cafe?

⋆˙⟡♡ the guy you met at the record store?

⋆˙⟡♡ your old college friend you recently reconnected with?

⋆˙⟡♡ the dancer that’s always in the gym at the same time as you?

⋆˙⟡♡ your childhood best friend?

-------------------------------- ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ -----------------------------

"Who is THAT?"

"Oh no, no no no" your friend hurriedly steps in front of you to block your view "he's dangerous"

"What?" you peek your head to take another look at him "How? He seems nice"

"Exactly" she points her finger at you "he's charming, and charm is a man's most effective weapon"

You laugh as you roll your eyes."You're so stupid. What's his name?"

"No"

"Come onnnnn, please?"

Your friend sighs and takes a step to the side, standing next to you, both now in view of this extremely handsome man who's smiling at someone, drink in hand and leaning elegantly on the fireplace mantel. His hair is perfectly styled, parted in the middle, and a bit puffy, with a single strand falling on his temple right above his eyebrow that certainly didn't happen by accident.

"His name is Junmyeon, he's a lawyer and yes, he's single" she remarks that last part with a sigh "but like all lawyers, he is a charmer and he is no stranger to sweet talking to get what he wants, so be careful"

You nod, eyes glued on him as you see him engaged in conversation with someone who looks like she's trying her best to keep him entertained. And to think you didn't want to come to this party...

"How do you know him?" you ask your friend, taking a sip from your drink.

"He's a friend of my brother, from high school " she looks inquisitively at you "...why?"

"I'm going in" you nod, giving her your empty glass "wish me luck"

You take a step forward without waiting on her response, but you can hear her gasping quietly. He had finally stopped talking to that woman and was standing on his own, checking his phone. He immediately notices you approaching and swiftly puts his phone away, not breaking eye contact.

"I'm so sorry to bother you but your smile has been lighting up the room all night and I just had to come and say hello" you whisper this last part, trying your best to stay confident. If he was good-looking from afar, up close he's simply stunning.

He raises his eyebrows and smirks, tilting his head slightly to the side. "I’m Junmyeon, nice to meet you" he extends his arm towards you "I don’t know your name, but I’m sure it’s as beautiful as you are"

"I'm (Y/N), and the pleasure is mine" you shake his hand, his beautiful and soft hand. "So, aside from taking my breath away, what do you do for a living?"

This time he chuckled while combing a hand through his hair, a faint blush on his cheeks. You bet he's not used to being on the receiving end of these phrases, and him being a bit flustered feels like a victory to you.

"Sadly I am a very busy lawyer who has to get up early for a hearing..." he purses his lips apologetically "so, tell me before I leave, what number should I use when I text you good morning tomorrow?"

He asked it so casually that it caught you off guard, and you reacted by opening and closing your mouth like a fish out of the water. There goes your charm.

"That was smooth" you admit, smiling shyly. He hands you his phone and you write down your number, choosing to save your name with a 🐰 next to it before giving it back to him.

"A bunny" it was more of a statement than a question, but he still waited for an answer.

"I think they are cute" you shrug in response "don't you?"

"I do. It is my favorite animal actually"

"Really? Well... then I may have to show you my bunny tattoo someday. I think you'll like it"

He licks his lips in an attempt to hide his smile, failing to do so. "You are making it impossible for me to leave..."

"Oh please, don't let me get on your way" you joke "you are free to go"

He leans closer to you, taking your hand in his and lifting it up to his lips "Goodnight" he kisses your hand "I'm sure you'll wake up tired from all that running around in my mind tonight"

You can't think of an answer so you just stand there, cheeks burning and a stupid smile plastered on your face. He smiles back and winks, walking past you to the door.

Not one second later, your friend is next to you again. "Did he just kiss your fucking hand?"

"He...did?" you laugh "you were right, he is a charmer". You proceed to tell your friend about your interaction when you feel your phone buzz in your pocket.

Unknown number: I lied, I can't wait until the morning. Would you like to get coffee tomorrow? 🐰

And apparently, it could also summon the man, you thought to yourself at hearing the sounds of an approaching car. When it came to halt in front of your house, you pulled your mother in one final goodbye-embrace. She swayed a little from left to right as she held you tightly and gave you a soft peck on your cheek, which made it really hard for you to be annoyed when you heard her whisper next to your ear.

“Do you have a tent?”

“Junmyeon brings the tent, Mom. It’s gonna be fine, please, let me go? He’s waiting outside already.”

“Okay, darling,” your Mom said, giving you a final squeeze before she gave you space to grab your coat and oversized backpack.

“Does he want to come in for a moment? You two could stay for a cup of coffee or tea?”    

You snickered at how chipper your Mom suddenly sounded at the mention of Junmyeon. She really adored him and how he was always polite and always on time and always respectful and reliable. He was the best boyfriend a mother could want for her child. And also the perfect son-in-law - you were quite aware of that yourself and suspected your Mom had already dreamt of a perfect wedding.

But that wedding would definitely stay a dream for some more time. Junmyeon and you were only together for a few months now - far, far away from any wedding plans - and he was your first serious boyfriend. Your first, great, world-shaking love and all you wanted was to take your time to experience all of its beauty fully and as naturally as it came. You felt no pressure to rush any steps, only the security that Junmyeon thought the same way about your relationship and the fact that he considered your bond equally precious as you did, multiplied the butterflies in your stomach by a thousand.

“I don’t think we have time, we need to be at the camping site no later than 5,” you explained, giving your Mom a last quick peck on the cheek before opening the front door. Junmyeon had gotten out of his car already and was rummaging through the trunk to make a little more space for your things.

“Have fun, sweetheart,” your Mom smiled and gave a wave to Junmyeon who had emerged as soon as he heard your mother’s voice.

“I will,” you smiled back at her, “Bye, Mom, see you in a few days.”

“Bye-bye”, she squeezed your hand, then you went to finally greet your boyfriend with a soft kiss. 

“Hey,” he said and instantly took your hand in his with the warmest smile.

“Hi,” you responded a little shyly, feeling all kinds of bubbly at his lovely action and the sound of his sweet, gentle voice.

“Your mom seems quite happy you are leaving for a few days, huh?” he teased as he took the huge backpack from you. 

You snorted. “Mh right, if you want I can drive alone and you’ll stay here with her. I’m sure she’d be delighted to have you around,” you joined in on his joke and watched him loading your backpack in the trunk with swift movements.

“Yeah, she would, I’m charming like that. But I’d be much more delighted to have you around, so no last minute changes to the plan.”

His words made you blush a little. How dare he make your heart all soft and mushy like that, your inner voice squealed while you made your way to the passenger seat. 

“Have fun you two!” your Mom shouted one last time before she went back into the house, to which Junmyeon replied with one of his nicest smiles and a happy “Thank you, we will!”

Your heart fluttered even more seeing him being just as excited about this trip of yours as you were and by the time Junmyeon had taken his place in the driver’s seat, starting the engine, you were grinning like the happiest person on the planet. And who knows, maybe in that moment, you were.

The drive itself was calm, filled with nice music and easy-flowing talks, and even setting up the tent once you had arrived, worked out perfectly - well, at least after one of the camping site’s staff offered a helping hand. But it was fun, and filling the interior with mats and blankets and all kinds of different pillows felt a lot like building a cozy blanket fort. 

You were surprised by how soon the sun was setting though, getting the tent to take shape must have taken longer than you had thought. There were a couple of trees that casted long shadows over the otherwise quite empty site. It had been a smart idea to plan the trip a few weeks before the actual summer break, so that there were no families crowding the place. And the two of you had picked a spot a bit more secluded from the few other campers anyway.

You actually had pretty much forgotten that there must be others around somewhere and didn’t bother thinking more about them as Junmyeon hurried towards you to show you the pictures he took of the stunning sunset. He handed you his phone so you could thumb through his camera roll to pick your favorites as he put his arms around you to hug you from the side, finally pressing a kiss against your temple.

“You hungry?” he mumbled, his lips still grazing your skin. You nodded as an answer, still immersed in the high quality pictures Junmyeon’s phone could make and the fact your high quality boyfriend was hugging you with seemingly no intention to let you go again. No that you wanted that. If you had it your way, Junmyeon would never stop hugging you ever. 

“Good, because I’m starving,” he chuckled, “What do you think about a dinner-picnic?” You loved the idea. But you hated the fact that it made Junmyeon let go of you after all. A little sulky about the prompt end of your hug, you quickly sent the pictures you’ve selected from Junmyeon’s phone to your own before joining him in setting up the picnic while the light was fading more and more. 

When the two of you finally sat down on the picnic blanket, munching happily on the dishes both of you had prepared, you caught a glint in Junmyeon’s eyes that told you he had planned for exactly this. A picnic under the starlit sky - the sole idea had “Junmyeon” written all over it, really, and you wondered how you didn’t realize before.

“Hey, what are you laughing about?” Junmyeon must have noticed the little giggles you let out as you began to see through his little plan.

“Nothing, just… I was just thinking about how a picnic under the stars just has to be the most you-thing ever.”

You suspected that comment made him blush, you couldn’t really see in the growing dark, but the way he didn’t answer you for a little moment spoke for itself. 

“Is it… umm… do you like the idea?”

You couldn’t tell if he was stammering out of embarrassment or because he was actually insecure if you’d be into something romantic like that. Whatever it was, it had to be fixed with a kiss, you decided and quickly huddled up against him.

“I love it, Junmyeon,” you said quietly, “I love you.” And gently, you cupped his face, pulling him closer for your lips to meet. You could feel how he was smiling against your kiss, how he shortly pulled back to tell you he loved you too, how he caught your lips again. The romance of it all made you feel like floating, swimming in emotion, wrapped in nothing but comfort and love. 

Soon enough the dark of the night had engulfed you fully, the dishes put aside so you could lie down and get comfortable. Your head was resting on Junmeon’s shoulder while his arm was wrapped around you, his fingertips grazing along your arm in slow movements. 

“Can you recognize any constellations?” Junmyeon almost whispered into the quiet night and you nodded in reply. 

“The basic one’s. Here’s Cassiopeia… and there’s the Big Dipper… and that’s Orion.”

You lifted your arm and pointed towards the sky, moving your finger along with your explanations.

“Right next to Orion is Taurus, look!” Junmyeon added and pointed upwards as well. “And I’m pretty sure that’s Leo right there, but no guarantees,” he laughed. 

“I wouldn’t know, I’m always getting lost in all the stars up there, I’m already happy I can spot three constellations in this mess,” you chuckled along, taking the night sky in once again.

In comfortable silence, you looked at the twinkling lights a little longer. It was mesmerizing and beautiful and overwhelming. You couldn’t remember when you saw the sky like this for the last time, without light pollution or clouds blocking the view, and you wanted to remember this for a very, very long time. How the sky seemed to be expanding only, how bright the starlight shone upon your face, how good it felt to feel Junmyeon just breathing next to you, sharing the warmth of your bodies in the cool night air. 

It was unfair how quickly you felt your eyelids growing heavier and heavier, how often you caught yourself already halfway headed into a dream. Junmyeon sighed and like a stubborn child you clung to his side. You didn’t want him to get up, you didn’t want this to be over already. But then he mumbled your name, his voice a bit hoarse from not using it for a while, and one by one you started to pay attention to your aching limbs, to how cold it had become and with a little whine you loosened your grip on him, allowing him to sit up as you did the same. 

“Maybe we should get in the tent,” he spoke the words that were hanging between the two of you. You agreed with a simple humm, clearly hating the necessary change of location.

“Don’t pout, we can do this again tomorrow, you know?” Junmyeon said softly, stroking your cheek before giving a little peck to your pouty bottom lip. 

“I guess we can,” you sighed, a little more dramatic than you actually felt, making Junmyeon laugh brightly. Man, he really outshone all these stars up there when he was happy like that, you thought to yourself. 

This thought gave you a last burst of energy, which you and Junmyeon used to quickly clean up your picnic space and get changed into warm pajamas before you let yourself sink into the pillow paradise you had built earlier that day. Or yesterday. You had lost track of time completely and thoroughly enjoyed the feeling, knowing that it didn’t matter at all. Not for the next couple of days. Not with Junmyeon laying down next to you, looking so very kissable as he was about to turn off the last flashlight. 

“Good night kiss?” you asked, the tiredness from before coming back at you all at once.

Without hesitation, Junmyeon leaned down to you and moved his lips lazily against yours for the last time before your mind drifted off into much needed slumber.