☆rickstar ☆

“Who would you rather be stuck in an elevator with,” Sunghoon says, smirking, “I'll give you three names okay?”

Jay simply nods, deciding to go along.

“Okay your options are Hana, Jess and- He hums, looking around the classroom, spotting someone and grinning.

“____.”

As soon as Sunghoon utters your name Jay’s heart drops a little, but he plays it off pretending to be thinking like the very mention of you didn't startle him.

He paused for a second, before answering.

“____.” He says, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

Both Jake and Sunghoon share a knowing look, chuckling loudly in a teasing tone, turning a few heads their way.

Jay splutters, cheeks turning red, “What the hell? You guys gave me the options.”

“Yes, but I wasn't expecting you to say ____.” Jake says with a smirk that Jay desperately wants to wipe off.

“Don't say her name so loud!” He says nervously, “you guys play yourself, I need to concentrate.”

Jake rolls his eyes, “This class is shit, what are you even writing in that notebook?”

Jay covers the notebook with his hand hurriedly, “It's nothing! Just- oh my god if I play along with you guys will you quit acting like pre teens?”

Both Jake and Sunghoon nod fervently, but the bell rings, interrupting them.

“Aw man,” Jake mutters. “Aren’t we getting assigned partners for that stupid project today?”

“I hope I'm stuck with someone nice.” Sunghoon says, yawning. He suddenly sits up straighter like he got a million dollar idea, “Oh my god guys, who would you rather be stuck with to parent a child?” He says excitedly.

Jay groans, burying his head on the desk, tuning out the two idiots he has for friends.

The whole thing started out as a joke.

Jake had been your close friend for years, and your relationship was the type where you both teased each other mercilessly. He would pull pranks, make sarcastic remarks, and flirt just enough to keep you on your toes, but never too much to make it serious. But he was still the one to be always by your side, whenever you need him, whenever you feel stressed or just here to spend some with you. But the teasing part was all part of the game, a comfortable balance. That was before the night of your mutual friend’s birthday party.

The party had been wild from the start. Your friend’s place was packed with people, music was pulsing through the walls, and laughter was spilling out of every corner of the room. Jake, always the life of the party, had been glued to your side, nudging you every time he saw someone doing something ridiculous. It was easy to forget the chaos around you when he was near; he had this way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room.

For a moment, you had drifted away from the group to join a few friends on the dance floor, swaying to the beat, the warmth of the crowd creating this buzz that made you feel carefree and alive. You could see Jake nearby, chatting with some of their friends, but every now and then, you’d catch him glancing in your direction, a little smirk on his face as if to say, “I see you.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, but inside, your heart did that familiar flutter whenever he looked your way.

At some point, you felt someone move in closer beside you, a guy you didn’t recognize, leaning in a little too close. He grinned, clearly trying to strike up a conversation, his voice cutting through the music.

“Hey, didn’t expect to see someone as cute as you here. Want a drink?” he asked, his eyes lingering a bit too long.

You gave him a polite smile but stepped back, crossing your arms a bit defensively. “Thanks, but I’m good,” you said, trying to keep it light but not encouraging him either.

The guy didn’t seem to get the hint. He stepped closer again, attempting to make more small talk, his body language clearly too eager. Just as you were about to find an excuse to leave, you felt someone else slide up beside you, the familiar warmth and scent of Jake instantly easing your tension.

Jake grabbed your waist, pulling you closer to him, a relaxed smile on his face, but you could feel the hint of protectiveness radiating from him. “Hey, babe, everything okay here?” he asked, looking at the guy with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

The stranger took a step back, noticing Jake’s presence. “Oh, sorry, man. Didn’t realize…”

Jake just gave a small nod, his hand staying firmly on your shoulder. “No worries,” he said, his tone polite but firm. The guy took the hint this time and drifted off into the crowd, leaving you and Jake alone.

You looked up at him, raising an eyebrow with a small, amused smile. “Babe, you said?”

Jake shrugged, grinning. “Worked, didn’t it?”

You laughed, relaxing as he dropped his arm but stayed close. “Were you… jealous?”

He raised his hands in mock defense. “Me? Jealous? Please.” He paused, giving you a look that softened his teasing smile. “But you looked uncomfortable. I wasn’t about to let that slide.”

Your heart did a flip at the way he said it, but you kept your tone light. “Well, thank you, my hero.”

“Anytime, princess,” he replied with a wink. Then he leaned in, his voice dropping. “Besides, no one else gets to bother you when I’m around.”

You could only roll your eyes, playfully shoving him before heading toward the couch area to take a breather. Moments later, Jake followed, joining you on the couch outside.

The party was alive inside, but here, outside in the backyard, it felt like a different world. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, the night air cool against your skin as you and Jake sat together on a cozy outdoor couch, hidden in the shadows. Above, the stars scattered across the sky like tiny lights, and in front of you, the pool’s still surface reflected the soft glow from the patio lights, casting a faint, shimmering light over the two of you.

You leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his arm around you, his fingers idly tracing patterns on your shoulder. It felt intimate, natural, and the noise from the party inside was a soft hum, distant and easily ignored. Every now and then, Jake’s fingers would brush against your skin, sending a little shiver through you, the casual touch somehow more intense out here in the quiet night.

“You good?” he murmured, his voice soft, just for you. You could feel his breath against your cheek, close enough to make your heart skip. When you looked up, he was watching you with that familiar playful glint, but there was something gentler in his eyes tonight, like he was seeing a part of you he hadn’t before.

You nodded, though your heart was racing in a way that felt far from tired. “Yeah, just… I don’t know. Tired, maybe,” you replied, even though the warmth pooling in your chest said otherwise. The truth was, being this close to him felt intoxicating, even more so than the drinks you’d had.

“Tired?” he echoed, a little smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You don’t look tired. You look like you’re thinking about something.” His voice was teasing, but the curiosity in his eyes made you feel like he could see right through you.

You hesitated, feeling your cheeks heat up as you glanced away, but after a moment, you decided to just say it. Maybe it was the way he was looking at you or maybe it was the way the starlight reflected in his eyes, but you leaned in a little closer, just enough that your shoulder pressed into his.

“I don’t think you want to know what I’m thinking,” you whispered, a little nervously, trying to play it off as a joke. But Jake’s expression didn’t change; he just tilted his head, his gaze steady on yours.

“Oh, now you have to tell me,” he said, his voice low and almost challenging. “I’m curious.”

The words were right on the tip of your tongue, and before you could second-guess yourself, they slipped out. “Sometimes…” you hesitated, feeling your pulse quicken, “…sometimes I think about what it’d be like to kiss you. Like, just for fun.”

For a brief moment, the world seemed to stop. Jake blinked, clearly surprised, and you could feel him shift beside you, his hand falling to rest gently on your arm.

“Are you, uh… sure you’re okay?” he asked, his voice a little softer now, almost careful. “I mean, maybe you’re a little… you know, tipsy?”

You bit your lip, feeling the warmth of his touch. “Maybe a little,” you admitted, glancing away, then back at him. “But that’s not what this is about, Jake. It’s something I think about. And… it’s not the first time.”

That admission seemed to catch him off guard. He studied you for a second, his expression somewhere between amused and contemplative. “Not the first time, huh?” he said, his voice soft, barely audible over the quiet sounds of the backyard. His hand tightened slightly on your arm, his thumb grazing back and forth in a soothing, almost hesitant motion.

“No,” you replied, finding your voice. “I think about it a lot, actually.”

Jake took a slow breath, his eyes searching yours, and you could feel the subtle shift in the air between you, something both of you had ignored for too long. His gaze softened as he leaned in just a little closer, his lips a whisper away from yours, his voice gentle.

“You do?” he asked, barely above a whisper, a mixture of playfulness and vulnerability in his eyes. You nod as a response and you asked him too, “do- do you?” He looked at you with a smile, and nodded. “You really want to do this?”

You could barely find your voice, your heart racing so fast it was hard to think. “I‘ve always wanted this,” you whispered back, feeling like your words were barely more than a breath.

Jake looked at you for a moment longer, making sure, and then he closed the distance, his lips meeting yours softly, almost tentatively. But the lightness didn’t last long. You leaned into him, your hand instinctively reaching up to touch the side of his face, anchoring yourself to him as he deepened the kiss, his other hand moving to rest on your waist, pulling you on his lap.

The kiss quickly grew more intense, each of you pushing a little further, exploring a closeness that had been waiting to happen. His hand tangled in your hair as he leaned in, pulling you against him as his mouth moved over yours with a passion you hadn’t expected, each kiss deep and lingering, like he’d been holding himself back for too long. The quiet backyard and the star-filled sky felt like they belonged to just the two of you, as if time had slowed just for this moment.

You felt his fingers tighten at your waist, pulling you closer, and you responded by wrapping your arms around his neck, your body pressing into his. His lips moved over yours again, slower but just as intense, like he was savoring every second. 

Jake’s fingers trailed down to your waist, his hand resting there, thumb tracing light circles that sent a soft shiver down your spine. The warmth of his lips left yours, only for him to press them gently to your neck, lingering there for a moment before planting a few more, each one sending a spark of warmth through you. His other hand settled on the small of your back, pulling you just a bit closer, his touch somehow both comforting and electric.

Your breath caught, and a soft laugh escaped you as you leaned into him. “This is… different,” you murmured, trying to keep your voice steady, though your heart was still racing.

Jake lifted his head, his eyes meeting yours with a half-smile, half-spark of mischief. “Good different?” he asked, voice low, his fingers still moving slowly, almost lazily, over your hip, like he had all the time in the world to be close to you like this.

“Yeah,” you whispered, barely able to get the word out as his thumb brushed the edge of your shirt, grazing your skin. “Definitely a good different.”

He chuckled softly, his hand slipping up your back, fingers splaying against you, anchoring you to him as he kept you close.

Jake’s hand traced down your arm, fingers brushing against your skin as he looked at you, his gaze lingering like he was seeing you in a new light. A gentle smile curved his lips, and he tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his thumb grazing your cheek.

“You know…” he started, his voice soft as he looked you over, his eyes warm and admiring, “you look really pretty in that dress.” His fingers lingered at your hip, the fabric of your dress gathered beneath his hand. “I wanted to you this since when i picked you home,” he added, almost shyly, but his gaze was steady.

A little rush of warmth spread through you, and you couldn’t help but smile, feeling your cheeks flush under his attention. “Yeah?” you murmured, glancing down, but he tilted your chin up, making you meet his eyes again.

“Yeah,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “I mean, I always find you pretty, but tonight… I don’t know. Just couldn’t look away.”

The words were simple, but coming from him, they felt like a secret confession. You felt yourself leaning into his touch, your hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His thumb traced soft circles on your hip, pulling you a little closer as he held your gaze, his eyes dancing with something playful, but a little deeper, too.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” you teased, unable to resist. But your voice softened as you continued, “I mean it, though. It’s… nice. Being like this with you.”

Jake chuckled, his hand slipping around to the small of your back, keeping you close. “I’d say we’re pretty good at this,” he replied, his tone light but his fingers tightening slightly on your waist. He leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to your neck, the warmth of his lips sending a shiver down your spine. “And, you know,” he murmured, his voice low, “we can still be us, just… with a little more.”

You nodded, feeling a thrill at the way he said it. “Friends, but…” you hesitated, a smile tugging at your lips, “with some added benefits?”

Jake grinned, his hand brushing over your back as he pulled you in, his forehead touching yours. “Exactly. Friends with a little more,” he echoed, his voice soft, almost reverent. Then his hand shifted, slipping down to rest at your hip again, and he leaned in, capturing your lips in another deep, slow kiss, his lips moving against yours with a kind of ease and familiarity that felt so right.

As Jake pulled back from the kiss, he kept you close, his fingers tracing a line down your arm until they reached your hand, which had absentmindedly found its way to the silver chain resting against his chest. You let your fingers linger there, playing with the cool metal, feeling its weight, its familiarity, and how it suited him perfectly. It was a part of him, something he always wore, something you’d grown to associate with him.

Jake noticed your focus on his necklace, a small smile forming on his lips as he glanced down. “You like it?” he asked, his tone light, but there was a softness in his eyes, a curiosity that made your heart skip.

You nodded, fingers still fiddling with the chain. “Yeah, I do,” you admitted, your voice soft. “I’ve always liked when you wear it. Feels like… you.”

He didn’t say anything at first, just watched you with that familiar, thoughtful gaze that always made you feel like he saw right through you. Then, with a quiet determination, he reached behind his neck, unclasping the necklace and letting the silver chain slip from his neck.

You blinked, suddenly realizing what he was doing. “Jake… you don’t have to,” you whispered, feeling an unexpected rush of emotion. “I want you to keep it. It’s yours.”

He gave a small shake of his head, a gentle, reassuring smile playing on his lips as he looked down at you, the necklace dangling from his fingers. “Maybe,” he murmured, “but I think it’d look pretty good on you.”

Before you could protest again, he reached up, carefully draping the cool chain around your neck, his fingers brushing against your skin as he clasped it at the back. The necklace settled against you, a small, constant reminder of him, the metal warming quickly to your skin.

“There,” he said, his hand lingering for a moment before his fingers dropped back to your shoulder. “Looks perfect.”

You glanced down, your fingers tracing over the silver chain that now rested against your collarbone, feeling a strange mix of excitement and something deeper—like he’d given you a part of himself in a way words couldn’t express. You looked back up at him, a soft smile on your lips. “I… I love it,” you said, your voice barely more than a whisper, a hint of wonder in it.

He smiled, pulling you close again, his forehead resting against yours as he wrapped his arms around you. “Good,” he whispered, his voice low, intimate. “Now, you’ve got a little piece of me with you.”

In the quiet of the night, under the stars, you felt that unspoken connection settle between you—something deeper than friendship, more than just words or looks. Something that was just you and Jake, a secret that only the two of you understood. And with his necklace resting over your heart, you knew this moment, and whatever this was between you, would be one you’d never forget.

he grins, completely unashamed, and shakes his head. “i’m definitely just staring at you,” he admits, his voice soft but teasing. “you’re way more interesting than the puzzle.”

his words make your heart do a little flip, and you feel your cheeks flush. heeseung leans forward slightly, closing the distance between you. “seriously, though,” he murmurs, his voice more serious now, his eyes still locked on yours.

“i don’t know how i got this lucky.”

୨୧ ‎박종성 ── 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐆

YOU AND JAY ARE WALKING HAND IN HAND THROUGH A QUIET PARK ADMIRING THE SUNSET.

the sky was painted in soft shades of pink and orange—there’s a light breeze that rustles the leaves around you, and the air feels crisp but comforting.

the two of you are talking about your day, laughing about something silly that happened earlier, but then, you feel jay’s hand tighten around yours, just slightly.

you glance over at him, and he’s already looking at you— not just looking, admiring.

his dark eyes are warm, filled with so much unspoken love that it makes your heart flutter in your chest.

the fading sunlight catches in his hair, a soft glow painted over him, and he looks so perfect in that moment, like he belongs in the golden hour.

“what’s up?” you ask, feeling a little shy under his intense gaze. jay smiles, shaking his head lightly.

“i was just thinking about how much i love you,” he says casually, but his voice is thick with admiration.

his free hand reaches up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his thumb brushing your cheek for just a second longer than necessary.

“you’re the best part of my day, you know that?”

his words make your heart swell, and before you can respond, he pulls you into his side, his arm wrapping securely around your shoulders.

“i don’t say it enough,” he adds, pressing a soft kiss to your temple. “but i really, really love you.”

୨୧ ‎심재윤 ── 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐌

THE SMALL CAFE YOU AND JAKE ARE CURRENTLY IN IS COZY.

the soft noise of background chatter and the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

you’re sitting across from jake, a plate of pastries between you, but while you’re content nibbling away and sipping your drink, jake seems utterly captivated by something else entirely — you.

his fingers are wrapped around his coffee cup, but he hasn’t taken a sip in minutes.

instead, he’s just sitting there, his eyes following every little movement you make, from the way you tuck a stray hair behind your ear to the way you smile at something funny he said.

there’s a softness in his gaze, an unspoken adoration that makes you feel warm all over.

when you catch him staring, you tilt your head and raise an eyebrow. “what’s up, jake? you’ve been quiet for a while,” you tease.

he grins, slightly embarrassed to be caught, and he scratches the back of his neck. “sorry, i just… you’re really cute, you know that?” he says, his cheeks flushing just a bit. “like, seriously cute.”

your cheeks heat up, and you try to brush it off with a laugh, but he’s still watching you with those soft, loving eyes.

jake reaches across the table and takes your hand, his thumb gently stroking your knuckles. “i feel like i could sit here all day, just watching you,” he murmurs, and there’s a sincerity in his voice that makes your heart pound.

you realize, in that moment, just how much he truly loves you.

୨୧ ‎박성훈 ── 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

IT’S A COLD EVENING, AND YOU’RE BOTH BUNDLED UP IN HIS ROOM.

cocooned in layers of blankets with mugs of hot chocolate in hand—you’ve been debating over which movie to watch, playfully arguing over the best genre, but then you notice that sunghoon’s gone quiet.

when you look over, he’s gazing at you with an expression so soft, it catches you off guard.

his usually reserved demeanor has melted away, replaced by this quiet, vulnerable look that he rarely shows anyone.

there’s a gentleness in his eyes, a kind of warmth that makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world.

he doesn’t even realize he’s staring until you shift, blushing under his gaze.

“what’s on your mind, hoon?” you ask, a little shyly, your voice barely above a whisper. sunghoon’s lips twitch into a small smile, and he leans just a bit closer, his cheeks pink.

“nothing… just thinking about how much i love this,” he says softly, his hand reaching out to tuck a piece of hair behind your ear. “being here with you. no distractions, no one else… just us.”

his words are simple, but they hit you straight in the heart, and when he gently wraps an arm around you, pulling you closer under the blankets, you feel like you’re home.

© WON4KISS 2024 do not repost, plagiarize, or translate.

NOTE. i’m actually so stressed i have so many exams this week and it’s halloweeknd so i’ve literally been going out every single night i have zero time to study helpppp meeeee😢😢