#sungchan fluff

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“Listen, there’s nothing gross about this,” you explained, “I don’t mind helping you remove the shedding, especially since it’ll help you feel more comfortable.”

“You’re too good to me,” he murmured.

You scoffed, chucking piece of the dead velvet into the trash bag you had opened on his counter, “shut up. If I was shedding, I know you’d help too. That’s how relationships work.”

“Still,” he wrapped an arm around your waist, nearly knocking you off your balance as he moved you to stand in front of him, “I appreciate it.”

“Of course,” you then kissed the tip of his nose, “I love you.”

He smiled, a blush now spreading on his cheeks, “I love you too.”

You finished picking out the last of the shedding velvet, humming to yourself when Sungchan suddenly asked, “you know my rut is starting soon, right?”

“Yeah in like, a month,” you took off your gloves, tossing them into the trash before tying off the bag.

“Sure, but there are pre-rut behaviors you should know about,” his arm, still wrapped around your waist, squeezed you closer, “like, I’m probably gonna mark up your walls a little bit.”

“To start marking your mating territory, yeah,” you nodded, “you won’t shred my walls though, right?”

He laughed, “no, thankfully with my hormone medications it’ll be reduced to small scratches. That’s usually enough to keep me calm.”

You nodded, “sure, whatever you need.”

“I’m also gonna be… a little more needy,” he looked up at you with those wide eyes you’d fallen in love with, “like… maybe a bit more annoying about texting you? Or seeing you?”

You chuckled, “are you gonna want to just move in to my place during that time?”

He wrapped both of his arms around you, forcing you onto his lap, “could I?”

You blinked quickly, trying to assess what just happened. You were half joking, but judging by how he now suddenly was scenting you by rubbing his face in to the crook of your neck, you knew it would probably be very helpful.

Sungchan didn’t bring a ton of stuff for his mini-move in. He already had a good amount of hits stuff at your place anyways. He was also finding himself sweating more than usual in his pre-rut, so he was walking around your place without a shirt basically as soon as he got home. You were usually able to assuage his growing anxieties by seeing him in the morning and first thing upon getting home, but as his rut got closer that was starting to not be enough.

“Hey,” Minnie was a fellow nurse at your job when you weren’t assigned out on the field, “um… I think your boyfriend is in the waiting room?”

“What?” you were confused by her statement- you had messaged him back a few minutes ago. You were tasked with looking over and counting inventory, and the room didn’t have service, so you took much longer than usual to get back to him. The waiting room of the company was usually only for clients scheduling the nurses, so it was abnormal to have a random singular person without an appointment to walk in and actually wait.

“Yeah. The deer, right? He was asking for you- he’s kind of cute by the way, good job,” she winked before heading back down the hall to help a technician.

Sungchan was in the same the suit pants, button up, and tie you saw him in that morning. Now, though, his hair was disheveled around his antlers, a visible red blush was on his cheeks, his tie was loosened, his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his hands were anxiously fidgeting with a loose thread on his pants pockets.

You barely opened the door into the waiting room before he immediately wrapped his arms around you, rubbing his face against the spot where your neck and shoulders meet.

“I was so worried about you,” he whimpered, his arms squeezing you so tightly to him that you were struggling to breathe, “I’m-I’m so glad you’re okay. ‘M sorry I just h-had to see you.”

“Chan, baby,” your voice was low so your co-workers wouldn’t be able to hear, “I’m okay. I’m sorry I took long to respond but-.”

“I-I know I’m sorry I’ll leave now I… I have to go home,” his breath was shaky, his face even more red than before as he let go of you and he had a layer of sweat building.

You frowned, placing a hand on his forehead and nearly jumping when you realized the heat emanating from him.

“Oh god,” you muttered, using your other hand to run some mental calculations. In the meantime, Sungchan was whining, leaning his forehead into the touch of your hand.

“Chan-I’m gonna get the Doctor we have on call here, okay? I think your suppressants may need a higher dose or something…”

“O-Okay I’ll just s-sit here,” he then proceeded to collapse onto the floor.

*****

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” you greeted, dabbing the wet cloth on Sungchan’s forehead as he slowly blinked awake. 

“What happened?” his voice was deeper than normal, but he looked much better now than he did earlier.

“Well… it turns out that because you already have what was explained to me as a ‘willing doe’,” you pointed to yourself, “your rut decided to set in a week earlier than usual. So, your hormone medication dosage was too low to help to suppress your adverse symptoms. I was able to pick up your new prescription already, so you should be okay.”

He nodded, then sat up from the bed, “I went to your job. I am so sorry-.”

You held up a hand to stop him, “it’s okay, really. My coworkers saw you faint and felt bad enough to rearrange the schedules so I could start my time off early.”

“Wow… so… I have you here early, then?”

You chuckled, “yes but the Doctor was very clear that you need to be drinking plenty of fluids to make up for what you’ve already lost.”

He leaned forward to kiss your forehead, “fine. As long as I have you with me the whole time.”

Check out my other Sungchan works here!

Sexually Explicit: References to masturbation, Sungchan has a size kink, dry humping, dirty talk, switch Sungchan

Sungchan did his best to keep the tulips from being crushed by his own hands. He knew your favorite tulip arrangements were ones that contained pink, white, and yellow, but the floral shop only had pink and white when he went to pick it up. No matter- he was sure you would be happy nonetheless since he made sure to wrap the bouquet with a yellow sash. He waited for his boss to meet him across the street from your place, his feet tapping the sidewalk as he looked up at the tall condominium complex your assistant instructed them to meet you at.

"Nice bouquet," his boss, Taeyong, pulled up in a taxi cab holding a bottle of wine.

"That's a red," Sungchan commented. He knew you preferred white wine typically.

"Yeah? I know you said you don't like her, but I think since she is doing us a favor, a nice red wine would be at least the minimum," Taeyong scoffed. Sungchan just nodded, not wanting to contradict his bosses idea of him.

Sungchan couldn't imagine how his boss and coworkers would react if they learned that he was your biggest fan and had been since your career started. He ran your biggest fan site, and had gone to every performance of yours possible, and was now working with the national library to display a few of your favorite books for their exhibition display.

"Ready to go?" Sungchan prompted, fighting to keep his voice sounding nonchalant. He was freaking out- how was this really about to happen? He made sure his hair was perfectly styled this morning, had done every mask necessary to make sure his skin was hydrated, and even squeezed in an extra gym session this morning to guarantee that his arms in his long sleeve button up could look extra toned.

Entering the building, they were greeted by your manager. Sungchan smiled and shook her hand, having to pretend that he had no clue who she was. Her instagram was a treasure trove of behind the scenes content for you and your group- pictures of you in the process of doing makeup, working in the studio, reading, and sometimes even you at the gym. Sungchan always saved those into a special folder in his computer.

"She told me to let you guys in early- she's in the bathroom finishing getting ready," you manager explained after meeting the pair upstairs and opening the apartment door.

Immediately as they entered the threshold and took off their shoes, Sungchan was greeted by your small dog. You had posted on bubble the cute little dress you put her in (a yellow spring dress with a little pink bow on top) so Sungchan had already gushed to his roommates about it. He couldn't help kneeling down to gently pet her.

"She seems to like you already. It took her years to even tolerate me," your manager huffed as she watched the dog decide to trail behind Sungchan as he was guided into the living room.

"Oh... I love dogs," was what Sungchan settled on as to not reveal that he knew your dog's favorite spot to be pet.

"Go ahead and take a seat! She'll come out in a second and show you guys her library," the manager began typing away on her phone, "oh, were you guys hoping for any specific books or passages?"

"Well, the National Library and Archival institute is hoping to display books the owners got via collecting rather than just pieces they feel the public will love," Taeyong started, sitting up on the couch as Sungchan joined at his side, "our aim is to show these celebrities as book lovers with unique collections to showcase their tastes."

"Okay, cool," the manager nodded and looked up as your bedroom door opened. Sungchan stood up quickly to greet you, Taeyong raising an eyebrow as he followed in suit. Sungchan was squeezing the hell out of the bouquet, his knuckles white as he took in the sight of you in front of him. You were beautiful- perfect, even.

"Hi!" you smiled, greeting Taeyong first and accepting the wine. Sungchan caught the way the smile didn't reach your eyes as you noted it was a red wine before thanking Taeyong and passing it to your manager who then walked it over to your housekeeper.

"So, you're Taeyong," you nodded at his boss before finally meeting Sungchan's wide eyes, "and I guess that means you're Sungchan, right?"

Oh god, you actually read the email that he signed off on? Sungchan nodded, smiling politely as his arms extended to hand you the flowers.

You smiled brightly- a genuine smile that reached your eyes as you accepted the flowers from him. He ignored the panic that arose as your fingers brushed against his to accept the bouquet, the electricity sending shockwaves through his body.

"Oh, I've been needing to replace the tulips in the front of the apartment. Thank you so much- these are even my favorite colors," you smiled at Sungchan again, and he swore in that moment he could die.

Sungchan had been to several of your fan signings already. He always wore a black hoodie with a mask for fear of being connected to his job- but no fan interaction could hold a candle to this genuine thanks you expressed to him for simply bringing you flowers. If he could bring you flowers every hour of every day to receive this praise, he would do it in a heart beat.

You directly handed the flowers to the housekeeper, and Sungchan had to try and not faint when he heard you instruct them to not throw out the ribbon because you thought it would be a cute hair piece.

"It's not really a library, per say," you were explained, guiding them into the den that was separated with a red curtain, "my fans have just decided to call it that."

"We're sure it's still very lovely," Taeyong amended as both he and Sungchan trailed behind you. You opened the curtain entering it with Taeyong behind you. Sungchan stood at the entrance to the space, taking it in. This was your favorite place to do late night livestreams. He had seen you numerous times in the corner where a small end table and cozy chair were. He hadn't seen the space as a whole until now, though.

Every wall except one was covered in books, magazines, and paper with notes scrawled on them. Even where your chair was with the end table there was a small pile of books with notes splayed around them. Where there was a window, instead of being a bookshelf, there was a small mix of fan art and pictures- one of which called Sungchan's attention.

"I know, it is pretty self-absorbed to have so many pictures of oneself," you admitted as you watched Sungchan's starry eyes follow the largest hanging picture frame of you. "They're all pictures taken by fans, though. It's the way I remind myself that I have so many wonderful people supporting me."

It was quiet as you finally noted the particular part of the picture Sungchan was staring at- the website signature.

"Oh, 'theroadtoY/N' was my first fan. That was the first fan photo taken of me after debut. They were the only ones to greet us after our debut performance," you chuckled nervously. Sungchan remembered it clearly, it was just him in the street with his clunky camera waiting for the music show to end so he could catch a glimpse of your girl group.

"And you kept the photo they took?" Taeyong asked, not sounding convinced.

"Of course... in a way, I feel like 'theroadtoY/N' knows me best. They're always first to point out when I'm sick as well as encouraging people to be kinder to me because of it... they've been there since the beginning, so of course I'd keep something to show it," you shrugged. Sungchan had to quickly wipe a tear from his face. How was this even real? Was he dead? Was this heaven? It couldn't be, he decided, only because with the shit he has said he wanted to do to you online would certainly bar him from entrance into heaven.

"Um... so! My favorite books," you shuffled towards your chair, adjusting the pile to sit next to you, "these are all different editions. I have notes inside of each of them from every re-read. I think that should work for the exhibit, yes?"

"Do you want to tell us why these are your favorites?" Sungchan asked, finally turning around from the photo and standing next to his boss.

You chuckled, "how much time do you have?"

"However long you want," Sungchan smiled, and to assert his point, he sat down on the floor in front of you, taking out a notepad and pen to show he was eager to listen.

"I'll grab two chairs," your manager announced from the den. Sungchan hadn't even noticed them there and wondered how long they were there for.

"J-Just one, actually. I have to head out for a meeting but," Taeyong leaned down to slap an encouraging hand on Sungchan's shoulder, "you will be in extremely competent hands with Sungchan."

Sungchan had to fight the chills that raced down his body at the very idea of you being in his hands.

********

Eight hours.

You and Sungchan talked for eight hours. The only pauses were when your housekeeper would by force make you both eat, when Sungchan had shown you a funny video to support a point you made, or when your dog wandered in to get attention from you two.

If Sungchan was more delusional, he certainly would have counted it as a date.

That night, after being trusted by you with all of your thoughts and notes and your books, he dropped them off at the office and went home to sleep.

Sungchan's world blew up the following morning when he opened his phone to see your name was now tied in with a dating scandal.

Sungchan called in sick to work as soon as he read this, immediately racing to his best friend's coffee shop to begin his grieving process. Before Sungchan could even begin saying the rumors weren't true (and even if they were, Sungchan knew he would begrudgingly be happy for you and still support you) Shotaro yanked him away form the front of the store and shoved the two of them into the supply closet.

"Do you have a death wish?" Shotaro hissed.

"Yes... how long do you think they've been dating?" Sungchan had to keep his voice steady. When the two of you spoke yesterday, it didn't seem like there was anyone else, and if there was, no way you were happy. You let Sungchan stay there for hours uninterrupted- no way you would be in a happy relationship and allow him there for so long.

"Oh my god, you're an idiot," Shotaro shook his head, "do you remember those shoes you got because she wore them?"

Sungchan raised an eyebrow, confused but still nodding.

"And you know how we've gone to different local parks and libraries to take pictures in the same spots she and her members have?"

Sungchan was still confused but once again still nodded in agreement.

"And do you know how you went to her place yesterday for work- I still need those details but later- and were there for hours?"

"Taro, what are you going on about?"

"Sungchan, you didn't even read the article," Shotaro finally took his phone out then and shoved it into his idiot best friend's face.

"Why would I-?"

"Read it," Shotaro's voice turned deadly serious then, crossing his arms as he waited for Sungchan to start scrolling through he article. Sungchan hesitated before finally relenting and starting to scan over the page.

At the top was a picture taken by your manager that they posted to their instagram. The photo was taken over your right shoulder with you smiling towards the picture frames in your den- and in the reflection you could make out Sungchan's face despite his body being cropped from the actual image.

"Oh no," he whispered. The more he scrolled, the worse it got. Fans found his personal instagram and scoured every photo- noting the 'matching couples shoes' the 'matching couples earrings' that Sungchan had only purchased himself after seeing you wear them.

"Shit," he kept whispering, his eyes only widening as the article then began noting how he was taking photos at the same locations as both you and the other members were- making it seem as if it was a long term relationship where he was friends with your friends, too. Him taking a cool picture on the same staircase as you was twisted into the two of you celebrating an anniversary. Him posting a new book he liked shortly before you posted the same book was attributed to him giving you the recommendation (despite the book already being a popular best seller).

"Oh, fuck off," Sungchan nearly cried then as he finally reached the comments. 20% of the comments were calling the article a reach, clearly pointing out that Sungchan was likely just a fan, 40% called for Sungchan's head on a spike, and the other 40% were talking about how you had betrayed them and were aiming to get you kicked out of the group.

"Yeah, so I ask again, do you have a death wish?" Shotaro snapped his phone back, "I'm not kidding when I say I've eavesdropped on every cafe conversation today and most people can't stop talking about this."

"I'm gonna be sick," Sungchan leaned his back against the shelf full of cleaning supplies, "they can't kick her out because of me."

"Her company already sent a statement denying the rumors," Shotaro rolled his eyes, "but that doesn't mean you won't be affected."

After Shotaro made an emergency kit of food and coffee for his friend, Sungchan was sent off with his supplies to hunker down in his place.

Sungchan was truly in shock. How could anyone think that he- a simple curator for the museum portion of the national library- would have somehow managed to pull you of all people? Sungchan sighed in defeat a he took off his shoes, slinking quietly to his coffee table to eat and watch a vlog you posted a few days ago that he had been meaning to watch.

Sungchan lived in a studio apartment on the same block as Shotaro's coffee shop. It was small, but it was perfect for his needs. The primary needs being to sleep and display and show off his merchandise of you and your group that he had accumulated over the years.

He had a bookshelf completely dedicated to your group albums (all versions of them) as well as your two solo mini albums (he was so proud of you) plus all the variants of your lightstck and your plushies. Your assigned animal was a bunny, so he had your official plush as well as other bunny plushies he had been gifted over the years.

He had a few posters of you and your group up on the wall mixed in with shots he himself had taken over the years- including the same picture you had up in your wall.

He started playing a vlog you and another member took a few days ago while eating his food when his phone started ringing. He raised an eyebrow and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"You better count your fucking days," an electronic voice said before the line went dead. Sungchan's eyes went wide as he quickly went to block the number.

Then, another call came in. Sungchan declined it. A new call came in, and Sungchan again declined it. By the time of the fifth call, Sungchan shut his phone off.

Sungchan was breathing heavy now, panicking despite your vlogs usually able to bring him comfort. He quickly stood up and went to his computer, going to his twitter account to see all of the discussion about you still blowing up.

"Okay so the company declined it and explained why me and Taeyong were there," Sungchan announced to no one in particular as he scrubbed through the statement. He frowned though noting that the comments were simply not buying it, and continuously pointing out coincidences the fans deemed to be facts.

I can't believe she would betray her fans like this...

She needs to focus on her work... doesn't the group have a comeback soon??

He's probably why she hasn't put out a full solo album yet

Sungchan felt his eye twitch, and he turned towards the website he had been running about you since your pre-debut. He hadn't posted the pictures he took from you getting back from a flight, and decided he would post that along with something else.

It was just a small statement- more a way to encourage people to calm down, and to believe the statement. Sungchan looked it over, and quickly published it before shutting off his computer. The last thing he needed was to further fall down an endless pit of hate comments.

Sungchan decided to take that time to clean up his place. Dusting, sweeping, scrubbing down his bathroom and kitchen, and within the blink of an eye it was fast approaching 10pm. He wiped the sweat off his brow, moving to take off his cleaning gloves when he heard a weak knock from his front door.

He gulped. What if the person who called him earlier showed up at his door?

Nervously, Sungchan grabbed the umbrella by his door as he approached it. There was another weak knock again which caused Sungchan to tighten his grip on the umbrella. Exhaling, he looked into the peephole to see someone who was in all black with a hoodie on and a face mask, leaning slowly from one leg to the other as their eyes opened and closed slowly.

It was you- and you were visibly very drunk.

Sungchan quickly unlocked and opened the door, staring down at you in awe. How did you even manage to find his place?

"Can I," you burped, "can I come in?"

"Y-yes wait no I-," Sungchan panicked as he remembered all of your memorabilia on his wall, "can you give me five minutes?"

You tilted your head, squinting as you seemed to analyze Sungchan- he then also remembered how he looked. He was wearing an apron so none of the cleaning supplies would stain his clothes, big rubber gloves, had his hair pinned back, and was wielding an umbrella.

"I-I was cleaning," Sungchan tossed the umbrella behind him to quickly peel off the gloves.

"Okay," was all you said, and Sungchan caught the corners of your eyes crinkling as you giggled.

Sungchan shut the door quickly and turned back to his studio apartment. He had never been so efficient- he quickly yanked off damn near every photo from his wall except for the one or two of himself with his family and friends. He shoved them all under his bed, doing his best with his little time to get them to be mildly organized. He then turned his attention to his desk that was littered with your photo cards and other small trinkets like your season's greetings calendar.

Between the desk and the bookshelf, with less than a minute left, he relented to just covering the bookshelf with a blanket and sliding all of the photocards on his desk into a small plastic bag that he gently placed under his bed. He hoped you wouldn't touch the blanket or snoop around his desk to see what was left behind.

Sungchan swiftly removed his apron, hanging it in on the hook in front of the entrance to his small kitchen. Before opening the door to you again he double checked how he looked in the mirror, and was reminded to then take out the clips from his hair.

Opening the door, he paused. You weren't standing there anymore. he looked down to see you were sitting on the ground, your back to him.

"Oh, you weren't kidding," you muttered, rubbing your eyes. You lifted an arm, "help me up?"

Sungchan helped you up and you now sat on his couch. Thankfully he had left on a cartoon on the tv instead of your vlogs. You were quiet as you drank the water he had offered to you, your mask off and hoodie down.

"I'm sorry," you broke the silence, your gaze fixed on the ground, "my company told me I shouldn't speak with you. I-I tried calling earlier but I guess you blocked me, which is fair-."

"Woah, woah, woah," Sungchan sat up from his spot on the carpet across from you, shaking his head vigorously, "I didn't block you, I just turned my phone off. A-and... you have nothing to apologize for."

"Yes I do. I wish I could do more. I'm sorry that my fans are being so cruel to you," you met his eyes, distraught, "you should hate me for this."

"This isn't anyone's fault," Sungchan shrugged, "honestly, I'm sorry this is happening to you."

"Why would you be-?"

"Everyone is being awful to you. You have worked your entire life for the public, and they are treating you like garbage. It isn't fair, and I'm sorry," he huffed, taking a seat on the other side of the couch.

You were silent, taking another sip of water as you seemed to mull over what he had said.

"My company said I should still do the library exhibit, so your job is safe."

"That was never my concern. How are you?"

You fully turned to face him, your eyes wide. "I'm... I'm not okay. I feel so bad for my bandmates. I feel like such a burden."

Sungchan quickly grabbed the tissue box from his coffee table, handing you the box as soon as you shed a tear. He wished he could do more for you- but he knew you already felt vulnerable and didn't want to overwhelm you.

"Thanks," you smiled, wiping away the tear you shed with a tissue.

“You…. You don’t have to smile,” Sungchan fixed his gaze on the tight grip you had on the tissue you held.

You blinked, “… I…. I guess I’m just used to keeping it up.”

"Well... you don't have to. At least not with me," Sungchan nodded.

"I wish my company could do more for you. They're throwing you under the bus by not threatening legal action against fans who are threatening you."

Sungchan shrugged, "I'm not signed to them, and if they did that, it would give credence to the dating rumors. I'm a big boy, I'll be okay."

You tilted your head, your lip quirking up slightly before asking, "how old are you, Sungchan?"

"What? You didn't read the bio about me that the fans posted?" Sungchan quipped before replying with his age.

You chuckled to yourself, passing a hand through your messy hair before replying with, "ah, so I'm old to you."

"No, you're most definitely in my age range," Sungchan replied quickly, a heat building on his cheeks due to how embarrassingly fast he defended the minor age gap.

"Yeah? What, are you into old women or something?" you joked, poking his shoulder before leaning back on the couch, "my manager says young people aren't into my group or music anymore."

"Your manager is a lying moron," Sungchan grumbled, avoiding eye contact and scratching the back of his head.

"Careful, Mr. Jung, I'll start thinking you like me," you teased.

God, did I die? Is this my purgatory? Sungchan looked up at the ceiling to avoid your gaze, wondering how the hell he ended up here.

"I like you- as a person of course not like beyond like or anything- I- I certainly don’t hate you," Sungchan rambled, trying and failing to stay casual.

Sungchan could tell a blush had crept onto your face by how you proceeded to avoid his gaze and instead look around his apartment.

“You don’t have any decorations,” you noted, “just those two pictures frames on the wall.”

Yeah, because you were most of my decor Sungchan thought to himself, but instead just shrugged in response.

You yawned then, stretching your arms above your head in a manner that exposed your midriff for a moment.

Sungchan turned his face away from you, pretending to drink water as he tried to stifle the sudden boner that threatened to appear. He had seen you in crop tops and mini skirts all the time in photos and in performances, but something about having you on his couch in front of only him flashing your stomach made his nose almost start to bleed. You were well within arms reach. Sungchan just had to slightly extend his arms if he wanted to, and could have you underneath him easily. He wouldn’t dare, of course, but just the possibility was enough to make him dizzy.

“I should go home,” you slurred, your eyes shutting despite you moving to stand up. Sungchan caught you by your waist before you collapsed.

“Woah there,” Sungchan chuckled as he set you back on the couch.

“Whoops,” was your response, your eyes shutting as you instinctively curled up on the couch.

There was a knock at the door, and while Sungchan jerked towards it, you didn’t even move as you fell asleep.

Getting up, he opened it a crack to see Shotaro.

“How did you know I was awake?”

“Because I know you,” Shotaro laughed before pausing, “I brought food. Do you wanna let me in?”

“… No.”

“Why not?”

Sungchan didn’t want to admit that you were there- you deserved your privacy, just for a brief moment, so instead he racked his brain for a reasonable answer.

“I… I’m busy," was the genius response Sungchan first thought of.

“Doing what?” Shotaro then tried to shove the door open but Sungchan wasn’t budging.

“Dude I’m jerking off!” Sungchan’s ears got red as the lie fell past his lips.

Shotaro’s eyes went wide, “dude, what the fuck?”

“Y-yeah! So… go! Thank you for the food!”

“… yeah I’ll just leave it here,” Shotaro gently placed the food bags in his hands on the floor in front of the door before saying, “have… have fun with all that.”

Sungchan thanked him and quickly shut the door behind him. He’d grab the food after Shotaro left.

He turned back to the couch. You should be in bed. So, he quietly shuffled you into his arms bridal style, ignoring the feeling of pride in his chest as he did so, and laid you on his bed. He wrapped the comforter around you, and you snuggled against his sheets like you were in the safest place on earth.

Sungchan would never wash these sheets now, he accepted.

******

Sungchan was cooking breakfast when he heard you grumble awake. He set the burners on low and walked over to your bed side.

“Hey,” Sungchan greeted, catching the confused expression on your face.

“Where-,” you then paused, your memories from the night before seemingly flooding back as you realized you were in the house of the person whom you were rumored to be dating. You immediately went to cover your face with your hands, embarrassed

“I’m making breakfast. Feel free to use the bathroom. I put out a new toothbrush for you to use, it’s the pink one,” Sungchan nodded before striding back to the kitchen. It took a few minutes but you quietly crawled out of bed and into the bathroom, shutting the door discreetly behind you.

After about ten minutes, Sungchan had done his best to set up the small dining table in his kitchen and placed your food down. You walked out of the bathroom, observing Sungchan’s motions.

“I’ll… I’ll leave now. I’m sorry to have bothered you,” your voice was so soft, a pang hit Sungchan’s heart at the thought of you feeling like a burden.

“You don’t want to eat?”

“I can’t bother you-.”

“Please, I never get to cook for another person,” Sungchan smiled, hoping he could tempt you to stay with him just a little longer.

A few bites in, and you paused to let him know how good is cooking is.

“I’m a terrible cook. I can barely make scrambled eggs,” you admitted, holding back your laughter.

“I know,” Sungchan replied before adding, “your uh, attempt to make eggs sunny side up went viral.”

“Oh yeah, so embarrassing,” you chuckled, “so um, you don’t have anyone that would be, I don’t know, jealous about a dating rumor or something right?”

Sungchan coughed up his food, shoving a napkin to his face to cover up his embarrassment as you frantically grabbed his cup of water and pushing it towards him. After recovering and nervously drinking the water, he finally responded with a firm no.

“Ah, well, that’s good that you don’t have an additional person to worry about,” you hummed. It was quiet as the two of you finished eating.

“I’m gonna get going but, could I borrow a pen before I do?”

Sungchan didn’t think much of it as he opened up a drawer in the kitchen and handed you a pen. It was then that you slipped out a photocard from your pocket onto the table.

Sungchan felt his blood run cold, his eyes widening as he glanced to his bed. It seems in all of his shoving, the loose photocards he had moved from his desk to under his bed had peaked out enough for you to see them.

“Here. Next time, you can come into my place from the parking garage downstairs. It’s more discreet,” you clicked the pen closed and left his apartment in a flash. Sungchan blinked and stared down at the photocard where your real signature now sat along with a string of numbers.

“You’re lying,” Shotaro rolled his eyes. Sungchan quickly saved your number and ran to his friend’s coffee joint shortly after you left.

“Dude,” Sungchan whipped out the photocard and slipped it behind the cash register so only Shotaro could see it.

“Oh fuck off,” Shotaro’s face immediately lit up, bringing the card up to his eyes to scan over it, “you’re insane.”

That was when the bell to the cafe door rang, and Sungchan instinctually ducked under the counter to hide from the patrons.

"TheRoadtoY/N was surprisingly nice about the scandal," one of the patrons voice drifted inside, "honestly, if it was them dating her, I wouldn't even be mad."

Sungchan felt a swelling in his chest- as if he would ever be good enough for you.

"Can I get an iced americano?" the other person asked before seeming to turn to their friend, "well, that Sungchan guy is clearly not TheRoadToY/N."

Sungchan returned to his place later, crashing onto his bed with your signed photo card in his hand.

"God, what the hell do I do?"

The obvious answer was message you but... was that really a good idea? You still had so much heat on you, and you still gave him your number. Sungchan dropped the photo card onto his chest and took a deep breathe in, only then realizing that his entire bed smelled like you.

It was intoxicating.

It wrapped around him like a vice, and he buried his nose in his pillow, filling his senses with you. He thought back to last night, how you had lifted your arms and showed him your midriff- how he would love to grip your waist in his hands as he buried himself inside of you. You were so small, would you even be able to take him?

"I'm a god damn pervert," Sungchan admitted to himself glumly as he kicked off his pants, returning then to bury his nose in the sheets and finish himself to the thought of you on top of him.

******* Sungchan certainly knew the best thing for you was to him to not text you, let alone accept your invitation to your place a week later.

“So no to 'pride and prejudice'?” He clarified. You had loaned him books to display already but seemed to be second guessing yourself.

"I feel like I should remove it. I already have another romance there and with the dating scandal it wouldn't be wise," you murmered, "so maybe this non-fiction book instead?"

Sungchan was seated on the chair in your library, and you hovered next to him as you went to hand off to him a different book.

"Y'know, I did a bit of research on you before we reached out," Sungchan started, "most of your fan signs say you're a big romantic. You love romance novels, movies, and your favorite songs tend to be love songs- so, to your fans it would be normal that you would choose to display two romance novels."

You sighed, sitting down on the floor next to Sungchan. He wasn't sure what he expected when you invited him over, but you second guessing yourself to this degree was not at all one of his guesses.

"I feel like no matter what I do, no one will be happy," you admitted, leaning your head against the chair. Sungchan then sat himself next to you on the ground, his eyes meeting yours. He had never felt so bold in his life, yet here he was staring into your eyes and managing to not stutter too much.

"W-well, if that's the case, then you should do something that makes you happy. If no one will be satisfied, then you sh-should at least allow yourself to be satisfied."

You froze, seeming to scan Sungchan's face.

"I'm heading out! Dinner is in the oven, and your dog tucked itself into your room early!" the housekeeper suddenly called, causing you to both turn your heads towards the open curtain that showed the living room and home entrance where the housekeeper stood.

"Okay! Thank you! Have a good night!" you called. It was quiet then, both of you avoiding eye contact with the other until you heard the final click that indicated that the housekeeper left and locked the door behind herself.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" you asked, and Sungchan watched you nervously fidget with the him of your sweater.

Nervous? Did he make you nervous?

He, of course, said yes. Your housekeeper was kind enough to make enough dinner for him too, so the two of you sat towards the middle of your couch.

"Y'know, I told everyone I hated this movie," you hovered over a horror-comedy, "but I actually loved it. I thought it was so funny- I just didn't want people to try recommending to me more horror movies."

Sungchan remembered that- you and your members had a movie night and you complained about how it was too gory and no really your type of film. Sungchan also remembered being surprised by this- he recalled you having liked far more gory films, and this one had a particular satirical slant that seemed very up your alley.

"Do you not usually like horror movies?" Sungchan asked, curiosity taking over.

"Hm... yes and no? Sorry, that's weird," you admitted before continuing, "I do like horror films- if they have a purpose beyond being torture porn."

"Ah. That makes sense."

"Do you like horror movies? We can watch one, if you want."

"I do like horror movies, but I think I'd rather watch something in another genre if that's okay," Sungchan shrugged. He was happy to just be in your presence and was also just really enjoying the food- maybe he could ask the housekeeper for the recipe?

"Here- pick whatever you want," you slid the remote his way, focusing yourself on your own food.

Sungchan picked up the remote, seeming to wander the screen aimlessly until he saw your favorite movie come up as a suggestion. Sungchan had done his best to present like he didn't know much about you, but here he was presented with a choice if he picked this movie- would he pretend it was just a coincidence that he picked this movie, making you think fate brought the two of you together? Or, would he admit to you his identity as TheRoadToY/N?

He flicked on the movie, hiding a smile as he heard your small gasp of excitement.

"Oh, this is my favorite movie! How did you know?"

"Hmm? Oh, I didn't. I love this movie too so I just figured I'd put it on," he lied through his teeth, hoping you wouldn't push it.

"So you were able to find out that I love romance movies, but didn't at all see what my favorite movie was?" you sounded skeptical, and Sungchan looked over to see you stifling a laugh.

Sungchan sighed, "okay, maybe I did see that and I just don't remember it."

"Sure," you chuckled. Sungchan was glad you didn't seem to care too much as the movie continued playing. As you both cleared your plates and set it onto the coffee table, your ended up slowly moving closer and closer during the film- either by nudging the other person to laugh at a scene or when the other noticed a small detail.

It was about halfway into the film when you leaned your head against his shoulder, seemingly to get more comfortable. Sungchan stiffened underneath you, his heart rate quickening.

"Oh, sorry," you moved away and without thinking, Sungchan wrapped an arm across your shoulder to move you to lean against his chest.

"It's fine," was his response, and he practically melted as he felt you adjust against against him, sighing with content once you relaxed against him. Sungchan in turn went to remove his hand from your shoulder until you snatched it into your own hand to keep it there.

Sungchan felt that this was the moment he could die happy.

He took that thought back a few minutes later when you looked up at him and asked if you could kiss him. Now this was the moment he could die happy, really.

His brain short circuited, “huh?”

“S-sorry, I-I,” you sat up then, going to move away from him frantically.

“No wait, yes you can I’m sorry I just panicked,” Sungchan spoke quickly, immediately trying to rectify the knee jerk reaction. Because, truly, why would you want to kiss him? He was the reason your current image was being so scrutinized. You could kiss anyone- why him?

“You- I- do you want to kiss me? I mean, even that first day you came over, I was practically throwing myself at you,” you chuckled, “you were here for hours.”

“Eight hours,” Sungchan suddenly regained the ability to speak, “but… you weren’t… we were doing work?”

“So… you don’t want to kiss me?”

A few second ticked by before Sungchan decided to simply grab your face and press his lips against yours. A small, gentle peck, and then, a longer kiss where your lips could fold into each other.

The more Sungchan kissed you, the more frantic it all became. Between you climbing onto his lap, and his own recollection of his time with you, things began to click together more easily.

You did seem to get closer and closer to him last time too, seeming to brush your hands against his arms and thighs a lot. You even called him cute. He probably ignored all of this out of an abundance of caution, but it did make him feel silly in hindsight.

You let go of his lips to start kissing down his neck, your hands running up along his arms to stop and squeeze his forearms. Sungchan tilted his head back, letting his mouth drop open to release a small whine at the contact.

"I... I have to tell you something," he suddenly murmered, sitting up straight again. You either were ignoring him or didn't hear him, because your mouth had latched onto to where his neck and shoulders met, gently gnawing and sucking on the flesh.

"I... ah-I-I'm TheRoadToY/N," he quickly confessed. It didn't feel right not being honest with you- even if it meant things wouldn't go further from here. You paused in your actions, and Sungchan accepted the fair rejection he thought was imminent.

"Sung," you let out a laugh now as you faced him, "dude- did you think I was going to let people into my house without having a background check ran on them?"

He blinked, "I'm not public with that at all, especially at work. My boss thinks I hate idols."

You shook your head, "sure, but my team has a list of all the IP addresses TheRoadToY/N uses. When you sent your inquiry emails, those lined up with TheRoadToY/N. Plus... I also saw your photocard collection, so it all was sort of confirmed."

Sungchan felt an embarrassed heat rise on his face, "Oh... I tried to hide them all to not scare you, I'm sorry."

"Oh," you pouted, fixing his hair, "no don't apologize. It was a really sweet thought... and I appreciate you being honest before anything could happen."

Sungchan's mind was racing, his hands nervously placing themselves on your hips and forcing you to grind down against his throbbing cock.

"F-fuck," you whimpered, placing your hands on his shoulders to hold yourself up.

"Do you still want something to happen now?" he whispered, a sudden confidence growing as he watched your eyes screw shut, your hips moving of their own volition as you sought your pleasure through Sungchan.

You nodded dumbly, and without missing a beat, Sungchan gripped your hips tightly, stopping you in your tracks. You sniveled at him, moving your hands down to his forearms. Sungchan noticed then just how small you were compared to him, how he could easily overpower you and pin you down against the couch and take you in anyway he wanted. Your hands couldn't even wrap fully around his arms. You were at his whims.

"I'll need to hear you say it, baby," he directed, moving his own hips up and rubbing his hardness against you in a slow and agonizing motion.

"I- I- yes please I... please let me at least dry hump you, Sung," you begged. He suddenly wished he could record you- your voice cracking as you begged for him to just sit there and watch you fuck yourself with him. You were perfection as a person, and you were begging for him.

"Good girl," he hummed, forcing your hips back down onto his lap and allowing you to chase your high. He started bucking his own hips up to meet yours, and the room was filled with the sounds of you both moaning and babbling at the other, hips pistoning until you both finished loudly. You buried your face in Sungchan's neck, seeming to relish in the wet stain he formed from finishing inside his pants. The sound of you crying his name as he finished sent him into orbit- how could someone make something so filthy sound so beautiful? He couldn't ever thrive with anyone else after this, he accepted.

Was this even real?

He wrapped his arms around your waist, keeping your body close to his before he kissed the crown of your head.

"Y'know that I'm really protective of you, then," Sungchan's shaky voice came out, "so I'll do and be whatever you want me to be."

"I know," you moved to look into his eyes and cradled his face in your hands, "you know I'm pretty possessive of you too, right? I have all of the pictures and posts and fan fictions you've ever done, saved."

Sungchan gulped, his dick immediately getting hard at the realization that you knew all of the shit he ever said he wanted to do to you.

"So, I'm all yours, as long as you're completely mine, too," you kissed his forehead and met his eyes. That was when he saw it- the fiery passion in your eyes that was so rarely ever shown, but now was transfixed on Sungchan alone.

"I-I've always been yours," he confessed, because it was true.

The apartment you shared with your boyfriend was quiet beyond the hum of music from your vinyl player. You kicked your shoes off and set your bag down, your eyes adjusting to the dim lighting the candles lit up on your small kitchen table offered.

"You're home," Sungchan hummed. He stepped out of the bedroom you two shared, meeting you where you still stood by the door to drop a kiss to your forehead, "dinner is on the stove. I'll set the plates so you can eat- I ate earlier but I wanna sit with you. Go ahead and get comfy."

Just from that, you felt your headache slowly pull back, allowing you a moment of reprieve. You nodded, heading back to the room

You were having to run around all day, juggling a million different things and putting out an unbelievable amount of fires. Your feet were straining and the waistband of your slacks were bothering you starting at hour two of the day. You peeled your clothes off, sighing at the relief it offered. You slipped into PJs and stepped back out.

"Do you wanna talk about your day? Or do you want me to talk about anything else?" Sungchan offered as soon as you sat yourself down at the table.

"Talk my ears off, please."

"So," Sungchan let out that breathy laugh that you loved as you filled your glass with water, "guess what couple broke up?"

You paused your inhalation of the food he cooked to meet his eyes, "no way."

"Yep, Minh and Sadie," he pointed, "you were right."

"So, who broke up with who? C'mon- don't hold out on me."

"Sadie did- like you said she would. Apparently the last straw was Minh telling her brother that he didn't like Sadie's crochet gifts." Sungchan explained. Sadie and Minh were both coworkers of his that had been dating for a few months. You and Sungchan had gone on a few double dates with them, and the writing was on the wall that the pair were not a good match.

"Dinner is great, by the way," you added, your headache subsiding with each bite you took and with each word you exchanged with him. The gentle light of the candles casted a beautiful glow on your boyfriend's face, and you felt a warmth spread from your chest. He knew today was a hard day from you, judging from how little you could escape to text him.

"I'm glad. You mentioned you were craving it for a while so I figured I should make it," he explained.

"You're so sweet. Thank you, baby," you leaned forward and pinched his cheek, earning a giggle from him. You sat back down and continued eating as he continued his duty of talking your ear off.

"Minh is already trying to flirt with the mail attendant, though," Sungchan leaned back in his chair, "we're having a running bet to see how long he can stay single for."

"Yeah I give it maybe two weeks."

"That's what I said, too," Sungchan agreed.

"How was work for you today, though?" you asked, finishing your plate.

"It was okay. Honestly, I was just waiting for my meetings to be over," he admitted.

You both quietly cleaned up the table before moving onto your couch, the vinyl player now off as the TV quietly played a favorite show of yours.

"I'm really proud of you," Sungchan whispered, holding you more tightly against his chest, "I know work has been grueling, but you're doing so amazing. This is such amazing stuff to put on your resume."

You pressed your back closer to Sungchan, looking up to meet his eyes.

"Thank you... it's been really hard though. I miss you so much," you admitted. He pressed a kiss to your forehead before moving to caress you face.

The awful weather has everyone relying on the safety of their cars, traffic building and grinding to a halt, disrupting your bus’s regular schedule by ten minutes.

Your gaze drifts lazily over the array of car lights blending together, until a blur of white draws your attention to a man in a shirt and joggers. No jumper or coat, no hat—he’s visibly shivering, his clothes clinging to his body as he approaches an old man sitting at the bus stop.

The outside world is mute, your ears filled with slow jazz that suits the laborious weather. You watch the stranger’s lips move, then see him hand over what you think are heat packs to the old man, who takes them with frail hands and vigorous nods, as if being scolded.

The young man smiles, his cheeks lifting before softening again. He dips his head in a small, respectful bow before turning away and moving to the edge of the shelter. You begin to feel guilty watching him rub at his bare, rain-soaked skin, goosebumps rising in the cold.

“Here,” you say, holding out your scarf. “You look like you need it.”

He blinks, eyes wide and owlish, before the corners of his eyes slowly curl into a soft, petal-like smile. You can’t hear him, but the gentle curve of his lips and the shape of his words tell you he’s grateful. You nod, offering a silent “you’re welcome,” as your attention is pulled away by the approach of your bus.

Your short winter break rolled by like a windy night—rushed and cold. The stress of last term still lingers deep in your bones, settling further than any chill could reach.

It’s what prompts you to seek out a café not too far from campus—one that, in your opinion, makes the best hot chocolate—for a change of scenery that’s better suited to studying.

The sweet smell hits you in waves the moment you open the door. An addictive mix of warm drinks and sugary treats fills the cozy, home-like atmosphere, giving your steps a little bounce as you approach the counter.

“Good evening, what may I get for you today?” The waitress’s greeting is infectiously sweet, making you smile giddily.

“One honeycomb hot chocolate, please—oh, and please go heavy on the whipped cream and chocolate powder.”

Going through the transactional motions, you step to the right to wait for your drink.

That’s when you feel the weight of someone staring at you.

Looking up and scanning your surroundings, you’re surprised to catch the gaze of a man squinting at you. His head tilts, hair fringing his eyes, as if he’s trying to figure out whether he knows you or not.

You most certainly don’t know him—so that’s unlikely, you think. Then he clicks his fingers, his expression shifting both dramatically and comically as he says, “Ah!” When he smiles, the corners of his eyes crease into sunray-like lines, and you recognise him instantly.

He doesn’t hesitate in approaching you, and you feel somewhat apprehensive at the sight of the looming stranger you had no idea you would cross paths with again.

“Hey, how are you?” he asks warmly, with a familiarity like he’s known you forever.

The question is simple, but it leaves you a little stunned. “Um… I’m doing well, thank you. And yourself?” Your voice is softer than usual, matching the café’s ambience.

“I’m great! You really saved my life that day. If it weren’t for the scarf, I think I would have died.” His eyes widen, his expression an exaggeration of his words, and you smile, letting out a small huff of laughter.

“Well, what kind of crazy person goes out without a jacket in winter?”

He scratches the back of his head, looking sheepish. “I guess I was a bit crazy…”

The chance to reply is cut off when his order number is called. He moves forward, his broad, towering frame oddly reminiscent of a deer in the careful way he steps. You watch as he collects his drink, his voice softening as he thanks the waitress—then, to your surprise, he returns to you.

“Do you mind if I wait with you?” he asks, sheepish.

Though your original purpose for being in the café lingers at the back of your mind, the shyness on his face makes you shake your head. “Of course not.”

You retrieve your drink not long after and then you both naturally move to find a table, seating yourselves by the windows.

The man mirrors your actions, sinking into the plush seats and placing his drink in front of him..

“I’m Sungchan,” he introduces, his eyes smiling.

You offer your own name, then raise your cup to your lips, blowing gently as steam mists forward, eager for the drink to cool so you can finally take a sip.

Sungchan watches you, his lips twitching into a small smile. “You’re a bit impatient.”

You mumble into the cup. “They have the best hot chocolate in the world, and I don’t want to wait another second.”

He laughs, watching as you purse your lips and blow at the hot liquid. You take a quick sip, then hiss as the heat singes your tongue.

“Too hot?” he asks, amused.

You frown in response, eliciting a laugh from him. You try another sip, scalding your lips in the process, and ultimately put your mug down with a resigned sigh. Your eyes drift upward to find Sungchan’s eyes squinted into a smile.

After a beat, he asks, “So, you just out for hot chocolate, or do you have plans?”

Your fingers tap against the mug as you voice the true reason for your visit, aside from the heaven-sent hot chocolate. “Actually, I was going to attempt to get a head start on my assignments. I’m usually a last-minute kind of person, so I was trying to be a bit more… responsible?”

Sungchan snickers, his face lighting up. “Sounds like the life of most students. So, what’re you studying?”

“Social work,” you reply.

His eyes widen for a moment, his brows lifting before he lets out a low whistle. “Wow, that’s really cool. I can see why, though—you’re a caring person.”

You lift your cup to your lips quickly, shielding your widening eyes, wincing as you drink. You let out a small breath and offer a smile. “Um… thank you?”

Sungchan just laughs, easy and light. “Seriously, you didn’t have to give me your scarf… which I totally would’ve returned if I knew I’d see you again.”

You wave him off, taking another sip. “I just felt sorry for the doofus out in the rain with no coat.”

But you don’t mention that you found said doofus sweet for getting an old man some heat packs, regardless of himself.

You and Sungchan end up speaking for a while about random things—like the latest drama and how the second lead is always the better option, though of course the writer would never allow that, or how odd it is that tomatoes are considered fruits. He also mentions a rather long list of things that scare him in this world (to him, at least), and you agree with a small frown to soothe his surprisingly fragile heart.

When you’re halfway through your drink, his phone rings.

He answers with a small smile that feels as warm as the room, and your immediate thought is that it might be his significant other.

You drink silently, focusing on the patterns on the table to drown out his conversation and avoid unintentionally eavesdropping.

The conversation is brief; from a casual greeting to Sungchan’s expression falling slightly, as if in disappointment, before he hangs up with a quiet, “I’ll see you at home.”

When he ends the call, he looks up at you with a small pout that quickly fades as his lips settle into a gentle smile. “Hey, I know this is random, and we don’t really know each other, but will you keep me company somewhere?”

It’s safe to say that today is not the day you start on your assignments.

You should have had more willpower, really—he is a stranger, after all. And if your mother, your sister, your aunt, your grandmother, your cousins, hell, even your friends knew that you agreed to follow a stranger to an unknown location on a late winter night, well… they’d kill you themselves.

But you couldn’t say no. Not when his big brown eyes grew doe-like and he jutted his lips into a pout, practically begging you to accompany him.

Even if, in all honesty, you were a tad weirded out.

Thankfully, you’re not led far from the café, and there are plenty of people out to notice the two of you.

Sure, he seems like a nice guy, but at the end of the day, he's still a man you don't know.

Sungchan must sense your weariness, his long arms swinging loosely as deep lines crease his forehead when he frowns. “I’m not a scary person.” Then he adds, quieter, “People always get me wrong.” He stops in his tracks, prompting you to stop as well, your neck craning back to look at him.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re still a man.”

He grimaces, as if the thought itself bothers him—his teeth bared slightly, nose and cheeks scrunching. “I am, aren’t I?”

You laugh, roll your eyes, and grab the material of his jacket. “C’mon, Sungchan. I haven’t got time to waste.”

Gradually, his pace matches yours. You can feel his stare lingering on your face, his head turning back and forth between looking ahead and glancing at you nervously.

The edges of your lips curl into a barely noticeable smile, and you nudge his side. “You’re not so bad, Sungchan.”

That brings his smile back.

Soon, you come onto a quiet street—the traditional kind, with cobbled paths and old, worn-out shops that have been around for decades. The lamps are dim, the rows of stores forming what feels like an alleyway.

You stop at the mouth of it. “This is very suss, by the way.”

Sungchan’s brows shoot up so quickly you half expect them to leave his face. “I—I—” He sighs. “It is.” He relents solemnly, his expression turning sulky.

You snicker and take out your phone. “Say cheese.”

He looks bewildered, and before he can question it, you snap a photo and send it to your sister. “Now, if you try anything, my sister knows your face and where I am,” you tell him candidly, stepping into the low-lit street.

Sungchan stumbles after you, his jaw hanging open. “I’m happy you’re safe, but… you’re very… cavalier about it, don’t you think?”

You laugh, shrugging. “Want me to go?”

“No!” he says a little too quickly, a little too loudly. He flinches at his own voice and huffs. “No, I’m… I’m enjoying your company,” he admits.

Your reply is just as easy when you shyly say, “Me too.”

You follow Sungchan to a shop.

The green paint coating the exterior is peeling away, revealing the rusted metal beneath the frame of the old store. The sign is only half-lit, bulbs dead and leaving the letters only partially visible.

“This is the place,” he grins.

Warmth greets you once again as you step inside. The interior matches the exterior—an old, almost retro vibe. Baskets filled with CDs, records, and tapes are pushed against the faded walls. A distinct smell, reminiscent of old books, lingers the further you walk in. You eye aged record sleeves housing timeless albums and clusters of old stereos, portable CD players, even older-model MP3 players.

You quietly follow Sungchan, only now noticing the shine in his eyes as he scans the various albums. You spot faded signs on each basket indicating genres—jazz, pop, folk music—but he passes them all and heads toward the back.

Hip-hop. Interesting.

“This is the only store around here that still stocks old albums—especially the lesser-known ones. I’ve discovered so many songs thanks to this place,” he gushes.

You nod, finding yourself smiling at his excitement. Sungchan’s eager fingers rummage through the semi-organised basket, mumbling to himself, “have it,” or “meh.”

Your own curious fingers reach out to scan the shelves, and Sungchan’s eyes flicker to yours. “They have other genres too! I’m not sure what you’re into, but they’re bound to have something here…”

You grin, pulling out a CD with a faraway look on your face. “I like hip-hop too.”

Time slips away so easily in the store, with Sungchan recommending various artists, explaining how each track sounds, how the artist’s voice works with the beat, and the kind of lyrics they convey. You find yourself caught up in his obvious passion, the two of you sharing animated conversations about music, and you even warmly recount a childhood memory of your mother listening to a pirate station in the kitchen, dancing as she did the dishes.

It isn’t until a while later that a worn, gravelly voice calls out Sungchan’s name.

“It’s nearly closing time.”

Sungchan smiles sweetly, acknowledging the old man who seems to have appeared from nowhere.

The old man stiffly makes his way to a chipped white counter and settles onto the worn-out stool behind it.

“Let’s get these. I’ll get this one for you,” Sungchan grins. And before you can reject the kind offer, he continues, “As a thank you for keeping me company. My friends were meant to meet me today, but… oh well, it all worked out.”

The word “no” dies on your tongue, and you nod with a grateful smile as you follow Sungchan to the counter.

As soon as you’re close enough, Sungchan is looking over to where the old man sits.

“Ah! Where’s the stool I gave you?” he frowns, placing the CDs on the counter to be scanned.

“It was too hard,” the old man replies gruffly.

His frown deepens, and you look back and forth between the old man, who doesn’t even look at him, and Sungchan, who unexpectedly seems a bit frustrated.

“And that old stool isn’t?” he argues.

“This stool has known my butt for years—it’s fine,” the old man grumbles back.

Sungchan huffs, leaning on the counter. “The doctor said your back is—”

“—I’ve lived like this for so long, I may as well have been born like this. Say hi to your mother for me.” He hands over a plastic bag, effectively ending the conversation, then gets up and walks away, leaving Sungchan watching him go.

You clear your throat, feeling slightly awkward.

“Sorry, he’s a stubborn old man I know,” Sungchan says once you’ve both left.

You shake your head. “You seem close.”

He nods, looking ahead, a nostalgic smile on his face. “Hmm, he and his wife used to take care of a lot of kids in our neighbourhood. They were like everyone’s grandparents.”

“That’s really sweet.”

Sungchan nods in agreement. “Yeah, he used to be active—doing everything, always smiling. But since his wife passed away, he hasn’t been the same.” Sungchan’s eyes flicker downward, his expression tightening as he swallows, fighting to hold back emotion.

“That must have been hard on everyone,” you say softly, watching him as you come to a standstill down the street.

He lets out a small, nervous laugh, as if trying to brush it off, before offering you a gentle smile. “I’ll walk you to the bus stop.”

The walk is mostly in comfortable silence. The air is crisp, the cold sharp against your cheeks and numbing your nose.

You glance up at the darkening sky.

“It’s chilly—I should have gotten a hot chocolate to go,” he says, shivering.