Genre- Strangers to Lovers, Fluff and Angst, Mutual Pinning
Synopsis- At three in the morning, the world feels a little quieter. For you, it’s the only time you can escape the exhaustion of your job and the expectations that come with the day. For him, it’s the only time he gets to exist without being watched.
Word Count- 3k
Playlist- Plastic Palm Trees(Tate McRae)
The world was a bitch.
A bitch that poked, nagged, and worked new hires to the point where they could collapse from pure exhaustion.
It was around 2:40 AM when you finally looked up from your computer, only to be met with the sight of an office that was completely deserted and almost pitch black. Everyone had gone home hours ago, but for some ungodly reason, you—the new hire of only two weeks—had been left with the workload of three managers and a deadline that could honestly be considered workplace harassment.
You leaned back in your chair, letting your muscles finally relax after hours of being forced into the same uncomfortable position. Even then, they continued to scream in protest from the sheer physical strain they had been under.
Slowly, you stood from your desk and dragged yourself toward the break room, remembering the lunch you had brought with you that morning. A lunch you had packed with the foolish thought that you would actually have time to eat at some point during the day.
Your stomach ached with hunger, but even it seemed too exhausted to complain anymore.
Something else that should be mentioned was that the majority of your office—despite working for a high-end company that paid fairly well—were somehow the biggest group of cheapskates to ever grace an office building.
Which, of course, included the mysterious disappearance of anything remotely edible if you left it unattended.
And unfortunately, by the time that thought crossed your mind, it was already too late.
Your lunch was gone.
Along with whatever small amount of sanity you had left.
“Oh my god… this is it. This is where I die,” you whispered dramatically to yourself as you made your way back to your desk, grabbing your things and preparing to finally leave in a fit of anger.
The amount of rage running through your bloodstream was almost impressive. You were so annoyed that you barely even registered where your feet were taking you until you found yourself standing outside a convenience store at 3 AM, a few blocks away from your apartment.
The bright artificial lights of the store burned your tired eyes, almost as if they were mocking you.
You couldn’t even remember why you had come here in the first place.
Seriously, you should be at home sleeping. Resting. Recovering before waking up and doing the exact same thing all over again—only to get ignored when you asked if anyone knew where the stapler was.
You covered your face with your hands and let out a long, defeated sigh.
“What am I doing with my life?” you questioned out loud, staring at the glowing store in front of you.
You stared at the convenience store for a few more seconds, debating whether going inside was even worth it. The rational part of your brain reminded you that you had work in a few hours and that standing outside a convenience store at three in the morning while having an existential crisis probably wasn’t the healthiest use of your already limited sleep schedule.
But the louder part of your brain—the one that had just worked a fourteen-hour shift, survived purely on caffeine, and lost the only thing keeping it alive —won.
With a tired sigh, you pushed open the glass doors.
The small bell above the entrance chimed, and the warmth from inside immediately hit you. It wasn’t anything special, but after spending hours under the cold, lifeless office lights, the soft glow of the convenience store almost felt comforting. It was simple. Quiet. Normal. Something your day had been missing.
You dragged yourself toward the instant noodles, staring blankly at the options in front of you like choosing between different flavors was somehow the most difficult decision you had ever faced.
“You look like you’re about to fight the ramen section.”
The sudden voice made you freeze.
You turned around to see a guy standing a few feet away, a drink in one hand and a small look of amusement on his face. He had a hoodie pulled over his head, covering most of his face, but you could still see the tired expression in his eyes.
You blinked.
“Sorry?”
He gestured toward the shelves.
“You’ve been staring at those noodles for like five minutes.”
You glanced back at the noodles.
Then back at him.
Then back at the noodles again.
“Wow.”
You placed a hand over your chest dramatically.
“Not only am I sleep deprived, but now I’m being judged by a stranger at a convenience store.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“I didn’t say anything about judging.”
“Your eyes did.”
“My eyes?”
“Yes.”
He looked genuinely confused.
“That’s impressive.”
You narrowed your eyes at him.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Maybe a little.”
For some reason, that made you laugh.
A real laugh.
The first one you’d had all day.
The guy looked slightly surprised, like he hadn’t expected to actually get one out of you. Maybe he wasn’t used to people laughing at his jokes, or maybe he just didn’t expect someone as exhausted as you to still have the energy to.
After a moment, his expression softened.
“You okay though?”
The question caught you off guard.
Not because someone asked.
Because nobody had.
Not your coworkers. Not your manager. Not even yourself.
You opened your mouth, ready to give the automatic response. The easy one everyone used when they didn’t want to explain how they were really feeling.
I’m fine.
But for some reason, under the bright lights of a random convenience store at three in the morning, you couldn’t bring yourself to lie.
“No.”
Your voice came out quieter than expected.
“No, actually. I’m really not.”
His expression changed slightly, becoming softer.
You immediately looked away, suddenly embarrassed.
“Sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I don’t usually trauma dump on random strangers.”
“You didn’t.”
He shrugged casually.
“Sometimes it’s easier to tell someone you’ll never see again.”
You looked back at him.
“Are you speaking from experience?”
There was a pause.
Then he nodded.
“Maybe.”
The two of you stood there in comfortable silence, and somehow, for the first time all day, the silence didn’t feel heavy.
It felt peaceful.
A few minutes later, you found yourself sitting outside the store with a cup of ramen between your hands, the steam slowly disappearing into the cold night air. You didn’t even remember agreeing to sit with him. It just happened naturally, like the universe had decided you both needed a moment away from everything else.
“So,” he said, leaning back slightly. “Do you always come here at three in the morning?”
You looked at him.
“Are you asking because you’re judging me?”
“No.”
“Because you’re here too.”
That made him laugh softly.
“Fair.”
You smiled slightly.
“I guess we’re both losers who can’t sleep.”
He looked down at his drink.
“Maybe.”
The two of you didn’t exchange much personal information that night. Not names. Not jobs. Not anything that could make things complicated.
Just small things.
Favourite snacks.
Songs you hated.
Things that annoyed you.
Random thoughts that only made sense at three in the morning.
And somehow, it was enough.
When you finally stood up to leave, you realized you felt lighter.
Not fixed.
Just lighter.
The guy watched as you grabbed your bag.
“See you tomorrow?”
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
You smiled.
“Are you saying you want to see me again?”
He immediately looked away.
“No.”
A small pause.
“Maybe.”
You laughed.
“See you tomorrow.”
And you did.
Every night.
-
It became a routine.
Three in the morning.
The same convenience store.
The same little table outside.
The same two people pretending they weren’t waiting for each other.
You learned little things about him.
That he liked quiet places.
That he worked late.
That he loved music.
That he hated talking about himself.
You never asked too much.
And he never offered.
It was strange.
You had known him for months, but you didn’t even know his full name. You didn’t know what he actually did, why his schedule was always so unpredictable, or why he sometimes disappeared for days without explanation.
You just knew that when three in the morning came around, you looked forward to seeing him.
Until one night, you waited.
And waited.
The clock on your phone changed from 3:15 to 3:30.
Then 4:00.
The convenience store lights stayed on, glowing the same way they always did. The doors opened and closed. People came and went.
But he never walked through them.
You told yourself he was probably busy.
Or tired.
Or maybe something had come up.
So you came back the next night.
And the next.
And the next.
Each time convincing yourself it would be different. That eventually he would show up with that same tired expression and a drink in his hand, acting like he hadn’t made you worry.
But he didn’t.
The seat across from you stayed empty.
Slowly, you stopped looking at the door every time the bell rang.
You stopped checking the time.
You stopped buying two drinks.
Until one day, you realized you had finally stopped waiting.
And somehow, that hurt more than you expected.
-
The first thing he noticed was the silence.
Not the peaceful kind, but the kind that felt heavy. The kind that only existed after everyone had left the studio and the only sound filling the room was the quiet hum of the computers still running. He stared at the screen in front of him, the same eight lines of lyrics sitting unfinished for the past hour while the melody played softly through his headphones. It was good, at least he thought it was, but something about it felt incomplete. Like there was a missing piece he couldn’t find.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes as he looked around the empty studio.
Everyone else had gone home hours ago. The other members had tried convincing him to leave too, telling him he was going to sleep in the studio again and that it wasn’t healthy. He remembered laughing it off, pretending it didn’t bother him, but the truth was that sometimes he didn’t even realize how late he stayed until everyone else was gone.
Everyone knew he worked late because he cared about music. They knew he pushed himself because he wanted everything to be perfect. They knew the version of him that stood on stage under bright lights and performed in front of thousands of people.
But knowing someone and understanding someone were two completely different things. Sometimes, after the lights turned off and the cheers faded, he was just tired. Not physically, but in a way that sleep couldn’t fix.
His eyes returned to the lyrics on his screen, and he almost laughed when he realized what he had been writing. A love song. He hadn’t even noticed it at first. He had started with a simple idea—a late night, a quiet place, someone who made the world feel less overwhelming—and somehow it had turned into something else entirely.
He eventually closed his laptop and grabbed his things, deciding that staying any longer wouldn’t help. His phone buzzed beside him with another reminder about tomorrow’s schedule, another recording, another meeting, another thing he needed to do. His life was planned down to the minute, and sometimes he wondered if there was any part of it that belonged only to him.
Instead of going straight home, his feet carried him somewhere else.
A convenience store.
Three in the morning.
He didn’t know why he came there. Maybe it was because it was the only place still awake with him. Maybe because nobody looked at him twice. Here, he wasn’t an idol, a producer, or someone people expected things from. He was just a tired guy buying a drink in a store that was too bright for the middle of the night.
The bell above the door rang as he entered, and that was when he saw you.
You were standing in front of the instant noodles, staring at the shelves with the most exhausted expression he had ever seen. It looked like you were having a serious argument with them, and for some reason, it made him smile.
Before he could stop himself, he spoke.
“You look like you’re about to fight the ramen section.”
You turned around, clearly caught off guard. “Sorry?”
He pointed toward the shelves. “You’ve been staring at them for a while.”
Your expression immediately changed. “You were watching me?”
He froze slightly.
“Wow,” you said, placing a hand over your chest dramatically. “Not only am I having the worst day of my life, but now I’m being judged by a stranger at a convenience store.”
He stared at you for a second before laughing quietly. He didn’t expect you to be funny. He didn’t expect you to make him laugh at all.
“I wasn’t judging.”
“Your eyes were.”
“My eyes?”
“Yes.”
He tilted his head, genuinely confused. “That’s impressive.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Maybe a little.”
He expected you to be offended, but instead you laughed. And something about that sound stayed with him.
Later, when the two of you sat outside the store eating ramen, he realized something strange. He didn’t feel completely exhausted anymore. The stress was still there, the schedules and expectations still existed, but for a little while, they felt far away.
You didn’t ask him questions he didn’t want to answer. You didn’t ask about his life or why he was awake at three in the morning. You just talked. About your awful day, your missing lunch, your coworkers, and all the little things that somehow felt important in the quiet of the night.
When you finally stood up to leave, he found himself asking without thinking, “See you tomorrow?”
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
You looked back at him with a small smile. “Are you saying you want to see me again?”
He looked away, suddenly embarrassed.
“No.”
A pause.
“Maybe.”
You laughed.
And then you left.
But the next night, he went back.
And you were there.
-
It became a habit.
Three in the morning. The same convenience store. The same little table outside. The same person waiting for him.
The girl from the convenience store.
He never understood how someone he barely knew could become such an important part of his life. You didn’t know about his schedules. You didn’t know why he sometimes disappeared for days. You didn’t know why his phone constantly went off or why he looked so tired.
You just knew him.
And somehow, that was the part that scared him.
Everyone else loved the version of him he showed them, the version that performed and smiled and always seemed to have everything together. But you liked the person he was when nobody was watching.
He started writing more after meeting you. At first, he told himself it was because he needed inspiration. Because he was a songwriter. Because music was what he did.
But eventually, he had to admit that every song somehow became about you.
The warmth of the convenience store lights at three in the morning. The sound of your laugh. The way you complained about everything but still smiled. The way you seemed less tired when you were with him.
He even started remembering small things, like your favourite drink and the snack you always bought.
And the worst part?
He liked it.
-
Then the announcement came.
Tour.
Months of schedules, different cities, different countries. Everyone congratulated him. Everyone was excited, and he was too. He loved performing. He loved music. But there was one thought he couldn’t get rid of.
You.
He sat in the studio after everyone had left again, but this time he wasn’t writing. He was thinking back to the last thing you said to him the night before.
“See you tomorrow night?”
His chest tightened.
He should tell you.
He knew that.
He should explain that he wasn’t just someone who worked late, that his life was more complicated than what you saw at three in the morning. But every time he tried, he didn’t know how.
How could he explain that the person you knew was only one part of him?
He told himself he would tell you the next night.
Then the next.
Until suddenly, there was no next night.
The day of the flight came too quickly. Everything moved at once—staff, members, luggage, schedules, cameras. Before he knew it, he was gone.
The first night away, he expected to miss the convenience store.
He didn’t expect it to feel like something was missing from him.
He looked at the time.
3:00 AM.
His first instinct was to grab his hoodie and leave. Find somewhere quiet. Go back to the place where everything felt normal.
But he couldn’t.
He was thousands of miles away.
And you were probably sitting at that little table.
Waiting.
The thought made his stomach twist.
He opened his phone and searched for your name, only to realize something painful.
He never asked for your number.
He knew your favourite snack. He knew your coffee order. He knew the name of the coworker who annoyed you most.
But he didn’t know how to reach you.
He had written songs about someone whose life he didn’t even have access to.
So he waited.
Thinking he would see you again.
Thinking he would explain.
Thinking there was still time.
Until he came home.
And when he finally returned to that convenience store…
The seat across from him was empty.
a/n - Life is unpredictable, enjoy everything you have in the moment to its fullest
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Ternyata Dira masih selalu ingin pulang. Ternyata Dira terlalu berekspektasi tinggi jadi ketika semua tidak sesuai harapan dia kecewa. Orang bilang begitulah hidup. Hanya saja Dira terlalu larut dalam kecewa.
Tidak seperti hari puasa pertama, saya belajar. Hari ini saya benar-benar tidak melakukan apa-apa selain baca manhwa dan selesaikan satu granny square. Kek simulasi sekarat ya Tuhan.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Genre: Angst, Fluff, Smut, CEO! Seungcheol au, Husband! Seungcheol au, Wife! Reader au, Music Teacher! Reader au, Arranged Marriage au, College Sweetheart au, Exes to Lovers au
Synopsis: When you are arranged married to the man, whose heart you had broken years ago, even dreaming about mending things seems next to impossible when he has been holding grudge for all these only to return it to you tenfold.
Warnings (specific to this part): suggestive, crying, profanities, love blooms, mentions of infidelity (doesn't happen to though), mention of alcohol consumption, betrayal, rock bottom, italics represents occurrences in past
Word Count: 6.4k
TAGLIST FOR THIS SERIES IS CLOSED!
Banner credits to my baby @hoeforhao <3
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Teaser | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
Seungcheol is distressed. He thinks something is wrong with you. Though he had dismissed all the previous occurrences, he can't do it anymore. You're distant nowadays. You don't kiss him goodbyes. You don't say the 'I love you's. You're always ditching him at any chance given. You don't let him sneak into your sheets.
The inseparable godly campus couple are barely seen together nowadays. The rumours are being spread. Some are worried, some are happy. Though you both had no secrets, Seungcheol still thinks you must have your own reasons if you're keeping something upto yourself. He tries his best to be patient and waits for you to come back because he trusts you.
Seungcheol is an enigma. He's sculpted, he's hella smart, he's hella rich. The girls lined up outside the dorm just to catch a glimpse of him. The guys hogged out his dorm room just to know how can someone be a full package.
He knew people would either love him for his looks or mostly for his money. He had no hope of making genuine friends until he came across Wonwoo, a scholarship student, who was aloof and coincidentally his assigned roommate.
If Seungcheol thought he was good at pushing people away, he was amazed to see Wonwoo. Sharing the dorm room with him was almost living alone. Seungcheol couldn't pinpoint why but he knew Wonwoo hated him. So one day after gathering courage and confronting him, Seungcheol comes to know about his cautiousness against rich people in general. Then one talk lead to two, two lead to three and that's how Seungcheol and Wonwoo became friends.
He was sure he wouldn't find love until you came in the picture.
A hard slap comes against Seungcheol's cheek and the whole campus becomes eerily silent.
"How dare you submit my assignment in your name?", you are fuming in rage and raise your hand to slap him again when he holds your hand mid air.
"What the hell are you talking about?", he hisses through his teeth.
You scoff, "The audacity to pretend, Mr. Choi Seungcheol. Just because you have looks and money which you have no contribution in, you think you've conquered the world.", you free your arm from his grip, "Come to the professor's cabin at 2 or else I'll skin you alive. Pathetic loser."
You walk away but Seungcheol has his head spinning. He doesn't get why he got slapped out of nowhere and why the hell would he submit your assignment in his name when he doesn't even know you.
Then the lightbulb in his head goes off.
He immediately corners Jiah.
"What have you done?", he asks angrily.
Jiah is sweating, when she had assured Seungcheol that she would take care of the assignment because he had to aid his father with some business work and would be out of the country for two weeks, she didn't foresee herself completely forgetting about it.
So when she saw a binder kept on a desk, she silently took it and attached Seungcheol's name and details on it, tearing away the original owner's details.
Confident that even if someone caught onto it, they would let it slide just to get on Seungcheol's good side, she never thought it would backfire so bad.
Hence, Seungcheol is currently standing in the professor's cabin admitting to the wrong, head hung low.
You stand straight, head high also glaring at the professor, "What if he had not admitted to doing it? You'd have my whole work credited to him. Next time if something like this happens under my watch, I'll report it to the committee."
The professor gulps nervously and you are walking out not sparing another second.
That's where it all begun. Him knowing your name from the professor and chasing you down to apologise. You unabashedly giving him lectures on authenticity and ethics whenever he approached you.
You frequently get to see him, coincidentally or not. Him trying to make small talks, you ending his approach with an one word answer and moving ahead.
"Are you stalking me?", comes your sudden question one day.
"No, but I do look forward to seeing you, talking to you.", comes his honest answer.
He notices, you also like to keep your circle small. You're seen everywhere with the same two people. Now it's your turn to be amused when one day Mingyu insists on bringing Seungcheol to the musical, the one in which you've contributed to the background score. You're left embarrassed when at the end of the show he yells your name and applauds the loudest because he is mesmerized. That night he treats the whole team to dinner.
"I think Seungcheol likes you.", Eunsoo tells you one day.
"The almighty Choi Seungcheol?", you are laughing, "Soo, I don't match his social status. Have you seen those plastic heiress chasing him? I had even slapped him infront of the whole campus."
"Look, we have become good friends but I do know he approached me because of you.", Mingyu admits, "He definitely likes you."
"Do you like him?", Eunsoo asks you.
"Why would I like him?", you ponder.
Wonwoo is an observer. And with his special skill he deducts that his friend must have had his heart taken.
"So who's the one?", he asks one night when they're both getting ready for bed.
"Who's who?", Seungcheol asks confused.
"The one you like."
"Am I that obvious?"
"Yes. Please it be anyone except for Jiah, I can't tolerate her. Anyways, I know it wouldn't be her...", then Wonwoo goes on about how he spends less time in the dorm room nowadays. How he's always wandering around in the campus which he never did before. How he's consistent in attending the same two specific lectures.
"It's Y/N.", he says shyly, hiding his face behind his palms.
"No wonder, you're a masochist.", Wonwoo lays down on bed, "You like the girl who slapped you."
When he asks you out, instead of being taken out to a fancy restaurant as initially planned you request him to go on a movie date.
It took you five dates to make him know you.
"We don't belong to the same class, Seungcheol."
"I'm not looking for anything temporary, Seungcheol."
"I don't enjoy the luxuries, I'd rather achieve everything on my own, Cheol."
"I like to keep my circle small amd private. Nothing extravagant."
"I like you too but would you accept me after knowing all this?"
The response from him comes as strong as a whirlwind in the form a deep kiss. You might have been hesitant at start but he has always been sure.
Things have gotten better since your birthday. Seungcheol's hostility towards you has decreased and though you want to question him about this certain change, those take a backseat just to not lose what you have at this moment.
He snarks at you less. Listens if you have something to say. Checks upon you occassionally. Wears the attire you choose for him, you both have breakfast & dinner together. But you still sleep in separate rooms but after intimate nights he doesn't leave, rather sleeps in nowadays.
"You should never trust him.", says Chan from the other end.
"What if he's really changed?", you tell him, "Maybe he has finally got that all this revenge agenda is worthless if you can be with the person you love."
"Just ask him.", Chan insists, "You need to understand that being in denial would only hurt you so confront him."
"Okay, if you insist."
Wonwoo is suspicious of Seungcheol. He too like Chan isn't convinced that Seungcheol could change overnight. So he secretly keeps the tabs on him. The fact which disturbs him is Jiah is happy nowadays. If your relationship with Seungcheol improves then Jiah would be anything but happy which leaves him skeptical.
"Don't do anything you'd regret later.", he warns Seungcheol one day. The latter just shrugs off.
Seungcheol was escatic when he started first. It was fun for him to watch how you'd easily trust him. A piece of calk to make you a fool he thought.
He acts as a considering husband in front of you but schemes your downfall behind your back.
"One of those busy days?", he asks one day when he sees you returning from the academy late. It totally catches you off guard but that simple gesture makes you visibily beam as well which doesn't go unnoticed by your husband. He then proceeds to fake concern and show interest when you talk it out.
"How about we go to watch a movie?", he asks one night when you both finish having dinner.
"Will you be able to make time for that?", you ask concerned.
Next, he's grabbing your hand and dragging you out.
"We're in our pyjamas, we can't go out like this, Seungcheol!", you yell in panic when you get his motive.
He doesn't lend you an ear throughout the ride while he's driving you both to the theatre, having it entirely booked to his name.
You can't say much about the movie because Seungcheol's good at distracting you. His dirty whispers, lingering touches and sly looks lead to something unspeakable. Movie long forgotten you're basking in afterglow against your husband's bare chest, in his warm embrace.
"Remember when we were taken out of the theatre by the security after getting caught while making out?"
You laugh at the memory, "We did some real crazy things back then. I could never forget how you walked into the class only in underpants after loosing a bet to me."
Seungcheol response comes out as a scowl as he pinches your sides making you squeal.
You watch him for some moments in silence before mustering the courage and ask him, "Are you really willing to forgive me? Because after what I have done to you, I know it would take a lot more to forgive me."
Seungcheol freezes but gains his compusre quickly and lies through his teeth, "I pondered a lot upon it. You know my mom said the exact thing as you about marriages. So maybe it's a good idea to start anew."
"I-I promise I'll make it up to all the hurt and pain you've been in because of me. I'm so ashamed for treating you like that back then, wish I could take it all back.", your voice cracks, tears pooling in the corner of your eyes, "We'll be happy Seungcheol."
He doesn't believe you. But you do.
Then this goes on. He tries to slip into your life, your circle, your family casually so that when he hits later, the blow catastrophes you.
"I'm currently working on a piece.", you reveal to him one night, "And I'm planning to release the composition, it's midway.", a sigh escapes your lips as you snuggle closer in your husband's arms, "You're the first one to know."
Seungcheol mirrors your smile, pressing a feather kiss on your head, "I'm honoured. And I'm so proud of you.", he laughs when he says, "I wonder how Seungkwan's gonna react when he comes to know that he wasn't the first one to know."
"Oh God, he's gonna be a bitch about it.", you exclaim about it.
He surprises you with gifts, visits you in the academy and takes you to dates. All of it just to keep tabs on you, make you slip out crucial information about anything.
"When are you going to take her down?", Jiah ask impatiently, "You're unnecessarily stalling time."
"I do have gotten something crucial on her. But the more I dwell into this act, the more she'll be hurt.", Seungcheol assures, "Just do what you've been told to and don't act so obvious, specially around Wonwoo, I don't know why but he has been lately saying stuffs. Seems he has grown closer to Y/N and her circle."
Though he wasn't interested at all, but for the sake of fooling you again, he attends the competition you & Seungkwan had taken part in.
Though he would never admit, he was intrigued as he watched you perform again, the nostalgia had hit him hard. He still isn't sure if the loudest claps those came from him were just for eyewash or out of genuinity.
Though he didn't want to spend his birthday with you, somehow it ended up being the most memorable one. When you had wished him dot at midnight and gathered his family and beloved people for a private party where you played him a romantic piece which you had composed just for him as a birthday present, in front of everyone, he wonders if love laced aura radiating from you was real. He wonders if the swell in his chest was just not because of you.
Every time he thinks he's slipping, he reminds himself of the heart burns, the trauma and again he's back to his agenda.
There's a fine line between pretense and reality. And that line is starting to blur for Seungcheol. The worst part, he hasn't even realised it yet.
So when he makes time to visit your academy, he thinks he's acting out according to his plan. But he doesn't realise he goes there just to watch you teach.
He doesn't realise that when plans those dates he actually looks forward to spending time with you.
When you were down with fever, he took you to the doctor not to look good to you but out of genuine worry.
He now shares his bedroom with you. All your belongings have shifted from your room to his. He doesn't like it when he finds the other side of the empty in the mornings. He doesn't let you go if he catches you while you try to sneak off, he whispers sweet nothings in your ear.
He knows about your schedules and nowadays he frees his schedule when you ask him to come and watch you perform. He anticipates your performance until you're on the stage, still claps the loudest and rushes to the backstage with a bouquet just to hug and tell how proud he is of you.
He doesn't fuck you and he might yet not be aware but makes love to you.
"Cherry!", he calls out one day when the two of you were goofing around and both of you freeze instantly. It was a name you both called each other when you both dated and were so in love. And now, that's what falls back to your lips. Like the good old days.
"You have changed.", Jiah says with disappointment, "Do you really not want revenge?"
"What rubbish.", Seungcheol laughs, "It's all just acting.", but the assertiveness in his voice fluctuates.
"So when are you gonna do the needful?", she raises her voice and Seungcheol glares at her.
"I'll decide when to do what.", he snarks, "Doesn't concern you, so stop being pushy."
And Jiah is sure that Seungcheol isn't determined anymore, that his feelings are resurfacing and interfering with the plan.
So she decides to take the matter into her hands once again, like she did years ago.
"Tell me you're joking.", Seungcheol laughs as his gaze sweeps at the faces, "Ok fine you guys got me. Good try."
There's an eerie silence clogging the room.
"Guys, I said y'all got me!", Seungcheol says this time a bit anxious, "You won! Now can we stop all this drama?"
You roll your eyes, as if unbothered, "There's no prank going on here. What I said was true."
You step closer to him, "I'll say it again so listen carefully. You were just a bet to me.", you say unapologetically, "Those guys", your index points at Mingyu and Eunsoo, "gave me a bet to make you, 'the enigmatic Choi Seungcheol'", a mocking laugh follows, "who nobody could bag yet", you're now objectifying him, "make fall in you love with me."
Seungcheol just listens. But he refuses to believe.
You are laughing again. Your hands grab his face moving it side to side, "I was so skeptical because you seemed scary. I mean you do have looks, money and power. But who could guess that you'd be so easy."
You circle around him, "All I had to do was create this image of aloof, private kind of girl and bam! you were circling around me like a puppy. I must admit, I was surprised at my own acting. Never made you have a doubt any second."
The first tear rolls down his cheek, when Seungcheol says, "Was none of it real for you, all the time we spent together?"
"Are you not getting it?", you ask annoyed, "No. None of it was real."
Seungcheol rushes to Mingyu and grabs his collar, "Gyu, please tell me it's all a lie. Just say it and I'd believe it in a blink."
Mingyu stays quiet, eyes lowered.
He then grabs Eunsoo, "Soo, I know you're the most rational one among us, so please please I'm begging you to tell. Tell me whatever she's telling is not true."
Eunsoo refuses to meet his gaze, she stays silent as well.
Seungcheol frees her and stands motionless for moments. He processes everything that he has heard since the moment he stepped into the room. He thinks over but he still doesn't want to believe.
Because he loves you to much to let you go. So he decides to be irrational just one time.
Seungcheol wipes the tears and walks upto you. When you look at him, your heart twists within your chest.
"Y/N", he looks at you so tenderly, "But none of it matters.", his hands travel up to caress your face, "Because all of it was true from my side. I love you, Y/N. Love you so much that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It's you or no one.", he says so sincerely, "It was wrong to start off as a bet but I want to forget all this."
He then kneels on his knees, "Y/N, let's start this relationship afresh, on the right foot."
You panic because this was not you had expected. You had expected him to throw tantrum, say mean things, even slap you. But none of that happens.
"I don't love you, Seungcheol --"
"Then let me court you. Let me try my luck. Let's see if I could make you fall for me?", he's radiating so much love and grief that it suffocates all the three of you.
This won't do, you think, your plan is failing.
"I have been sleeping with people behind your back the whole time we dated.", you say unabashedly, "I have climbed beds and you never got to know."
Mingyu gasps, Eunsoo freezes at your words.
"It's okay", Seungcheol assures, "Because we weren't real. But now--"
"What makes you think I wouldn't do the same even after being an actual thing with you?", you scoff, "I might actually cheat on you this time. I would have you, your money, the luxuries. I might also see other people and like now, you'd never know.
Seungcheol feels like you've stabbed his heart and twisted the knife. There's an unfathomable bleeding.
"But you never used me, nor my money, none of the luxuries to get something. If you wanted, you could have, have it all.", he argues, "It might have started as an act but at some point it must have become real. Or why would you make me aware of this stupid bet if you didn't have feelings for me?"
"Stop being a sucker.", you snark at him, "It's not like you won't girls. Why are you acting like a loser when you know I don't, I won't reciprocate your feelings?"
Seungcheol gets up, with shaky hands and bloodshot eyes.
"Because even if you didn't, I have loved you honestly.", comes Seungcheol's response.
"I won the bet and lost interest in you.", you look at him condescendingly, "I felt bad for you, so right now I'm letting you know the truth. So just leave, forget about all this and carry on with your life. You were nothing but another notch on my bedpost. I would admit, I had fun. Thanks for that."
Seungcheol gets up and thinks about how he made a fool of himself. Thinks about how right he was about people taking advantage of him because of the baggage that comes with him. Thinks about how wrong it was of him to let his guard down.
"Well played, y'all.", he claps and chuckles bitterly with eyes pooling with tears, "Well played.", he then throws a glare at you which sends down a shiver down your & your friends' spine.
"Make sure to not cross paths with me again. Or I'll make you regret your existance."
And you made sure that's the last time he saw you.
"I have to be overseas for an important deal.", Seungcheol says laying back on his office chair, "It will be a one week trip and the connectivity is so bad, I'd probably lose touch with everyone while I'll be there."
You go over to his side and stand behind to rub his shoulders making your husband groan in relief, "Tell me about it, happens with Chan as well. When are you leaving?"
Seungcheol takes your hand and pulls you to make you sit on his lap when he says, "Month end. Y/N, I was thinking that...", he pauses to look at you before continuing, "If you could make some time and come with me. We didn't have our honeymoon yet so maybe we could make a good use of this trip."
You smile softly at him, "I'd love to but remember I had told you about working on a composition, it's release is set on by the month end."
"Oh right!", Seungcheol exclaims as he recollects, "God, I'm sorry it skipped my mind.", he instantly sullens, "But I don't think I'd be able to postpone this trip. I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you."
You peck his pouty lips and trace them with your thumb softly, "I can guess how important it would be, so don't worry. Anyways our first anniversary is coming as well, we can plan something later."
"Woah, we're getting through it?", Seungcheol laughs, "I can't believe, we made it."
"All because of you.", your mood shifts when you say, "Just because you had it in you to give me a second chance. That alone was enough."
"I had loved you back then", Seungcheol exhales sharply because of what he's going to say now. He smiles when he realises his feelings, realises that without hesitation he's ready to say it again. Gently holding your face he confesses, "I think I'm falling for you again."
You go absolutely stiff in his hold.
Seungcheol carefully searches your face for any signs of discomfort or uneasiness but he finds none.
"Am I dreaming?", you ask him animatedly, "Can you pinch me? No..", you shake your head, "Would you say it again?"
His eyes turn into crescent moons, as he flashes you the adorable teethy smile.
"I've fallen for you again.", he admits.
"I-I... Seungcheol.. I--", you stutter unable to wrap your mind around your husband's confession.
It was so hard to let you go. It killed to break your heart. Only if I could turn back time, only if I could tell how much I loved you as well.
The thoughts inside your head become louder making you so overwhelmed that now you are sobbing. It's uncontrollable and it makes Seungcheol have to rock you gently side to side while downing your face on his shoulder.
"I-I can't believe this is happening.", you don't face him, saying the words with your face still perched, while wrapping your arms around him tighter, "I love you so much, I know it'd be hard for you to believe but please just trust me on this."
Seungcheol doesn't speak, but he knows that he wants to believe you. Because love is about taking chances, so he might take it as well.
Once you calm down in his embrace, he watches you. He watches the gear in your head turning so he does what he could do to take your mind off of things.
He calls Wonwoo and says, "Don't let anyone into my cabin until you get another call from me. Also, don't connect anyone to the telecom."
Then he's flipping the phone somewhere and he gives you that one look which is enough to melt you into a puddle before his lips, tongue and hands start to work on your whole body.
"Congratulations!", Chan says hugging you, "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks for making time and coming to the event. Also, the inspiration comes from you all", you say pulling away, "Credit goes to you too."
"Bluff.", Seungkwan comes to pitch in, "The theme is love, then clearly inspiration must be someone named 'Choi Seungcheol'."
You roll eyes hitting him on the arm but laugh nonetheless.
"Look she isn't even denying!", Mingyu joins in to throw a banter, "But I must say you're okay compared to Eunsoo, she's hopeless."
Chan quirks brow at the statement and asks, "Am I missing something?"
You hook your arm into his, saying, "Eunsoo had an itty bitty crush on Wonwoo at uni days which gradually got away. But now that he's back and into our circle, looking like a four course meal according to her, she thinks her crush is relapsing."
"You make it sound like it's cancer.", Eunsoo finally quips in, "Anyways doesn't matter, there's no scope, I must move on. Good thing Seungcheol took Wonwoo with him, out of sight, out of mind."
"I miss my husband. He didn't even wanna leave for the trip to be with me.", you sigh, leaning on your brother's shoulder, "I can't even contact him. Three more days, ugh sounds like an eternity."
"Oh god, I might puke at the lovesickness.", Seungkwan fake gags, "Disgusting."
"It's good to see that you're happy.", Chan whispers just to you while others indulge in several topics to tease one another, "It's such a relief. I would like to talk to Seungcheol once he's back. If he really loves you and makes you feel like home then I'm ready to mend things as well."
You just nod and let the moment sink in. Your pupils dilate as you see the smiles on your friends' faces who have been there with you through thick and thin. Your mind lingers back the proud expression on your parents face. The heartiest congratulations that you received from your in-laws. You tilt your head to look at your brother who always has been your anchor, your biggest supporter. All of them have been present at the composition release event and now they are present at your home to extend the celebration. The parents take leave after sometime to let the peers have fun.
Your home, as you say it proudly now, a place you share with your loving husband, who has forgiven you for the scarred past and shares companionship with you.
Everything is falling back to place and you wish it stays the same. Your eyes fall heavy and you drift off.
The sleep must have been good because it's 10 in the morning when you wake up to see yourself tucked in sheets in your bedroom. The hall is empty and you immediately understand that your brother must have taken it upon himself to drive away your lovely but clingy-when-drunk friends from your house.
You try to call Seungcheol but as usual he's unreachable, so is Wonwoo, so is everyone who has gone to the trip. Dejected, you leave him a series of undelivered texts in hope it somehow reaches him and decide to take a bath which involves you to be away from your phone, just relaxing music and another round of sleep in the bathtub with your favourite bath bombs.
Not sure how long you've fallen asleep but you're woken up by loud voices from the other side of the door. Quickly freshening up you get ready as your phone keeps ringing or dinging because of notifications. Ignoring that you get out of your bedroom to find very distressed Chan and Seungkwan waiting for you.
"What happened guys?", you ask in concern.
Chan makes you sit and you see the two exchanging nervous glances which in turn makes you nervous as well.
"Y/N..", Seungkwan starts off, he exhales sharply and says, "Your work is being accused of plagiarism."
The ground beneath you slips. You look at Seungkwan and then at Chan.
Chan sounds pissed when he says, "Apparently a local artist has already released the composition five days ago, meaning four days before your release event."
You are panicking, shaking, tears are streaming down your face, "I-I didn't steal anyone's work. I-I have composed them, they're my work. Trust me guys, please..I--"
"We trust you, Y/N.", Seungkwan runs to you and rubs your arms, "I have been with you through it. I have seen it all."
"I was studying it with Kwan before coming here, everything is same. Every piece, every insertion, every note.", Chan says, "It looks like someone wholly copied your work.
Seungkwan sighs, "I feel so ashamed but all I can think of is somefrom the academy doing so."
"That's possible.", Chan asks, "But from what I know no one knew about this except you both. Even the event was announced just before a day or two to the people of academy."
Seungkwan asserts, "Everything was done remotely. Y/N do you recollect telling anyone else about this at any stage apart from Seungcheol?"
"Seungcheol knew?", Chan quips surprised and you are shaking your head.
"No. Leave him out of this, he wouldn't have done anything.", you warn your brother.
"I'm sorry Y/N, but I can't leave anyone out of this.", Chan says, "Someone is trying to harm you and I would see through the end of it. Be it anyone."
Eunsoo and Mingyu are stumbling upon while crossing the threshold. Seungkwan briefs them about what have been deducted till now and they decide to stick by your side while Chan and Seungkwan rushes out to the field to gather evidence and facts.
"I have already talked to my father.", Mingyu informs you, "He himself will aid with any legal advice. Don't worry everything will be sorted out."
"I had a talk with my mother. She also ensured that we'd broadcast only the solid proofs that pertains to the truth. We have faith in you, it'll get over soon.", Eunsoo ensures you, "Infact we have had our reporters dig in the matter as well."
Soon after your parents arrive followed by your in-laws. Your phone keeps ringing and no one allows you to hold it. Eventually, the device is turned off and kept somewhere, out of your reach.
Among all of the ominous thoughts involving losing your career, unable to pursue your passion anymore, being deemed as a thief, outcasted by the society and all others, the one that prevails is would Seungcheol believe you?
Two days go by and there's not much progress. You strike continuously as the most trending person on the internet, on news papers, in some tabloids boldly called out as a thief, the others focused more on why there's no statement from your own company or the Choi's themselves. The only thing that keeps you at bay is Seungcheol's return tomorrow.
You are flabbergasted at how can the two pieces of work be exact same unless someone copied it. You decide to visit the academy and search for any leads. Just as you are about to drive off your phone buzzes.
I have some information that would benefit you. Meet me at The Ritz at 11.
The text was from Jiah and you're instantly drawn to how Jiah could be the one involved in this.
"Let's skip the formalities.", Jiah smiles as she places some documents and an usb drive in front of you.
There's a laptop kept on the table, the screen displaying an audio ready to be played.
"Aren't you eager to know what's happening and why it's happening to you?", Jiah asks with a cunning smile which irks you.
"Stop wasting my time and reveal if you know something.", you snark back, "And don't think I'd believe a word you say without any proof because I don't trust you a bit."
"Seungcheol--"
"Don't you dare bring my husband into this, Jiah!"
Your heart shrinks because of the look Jiah gives you. No way your husband would be involved into all this, no way he'd go as far as to ruin your career.
"I have done it. I have paid a staff in your academy to steal your work, made it release before your event and hence you're being charged with plagiarism.", Jiah confesses and before you could charge her she drops the bomb, "Your husband, Choi Seungcheol is the mastermind behind it."
"I'll cut your tongue for speaking rubbish--"
"How do you think I knew about all this? Who else apart from Seungcheol knew about this?", Jiah asks. Her gaze falls on the laptop and she gestures you to play it.
"Y/N is working on a composition and is planning to release it sometime later. We should use this opportunity to bring her down."
The audio stops and you recognise the voice as your husband's. The jab hits hard, hard enough to make you loose your footing. Jiah is quick to hold you and make you sit on the chair.
"Have a look at these papers."
Your hands are shaky when you pick up the papers. You freeze on reading the heading. Your hands fall to the sides once you finish reading it whole. Those bunch of papers were about transferring your shares of the academy under the Choi's name.
Jiah doesn't give you time to settle as she plays another recording.
"Are the papers ready? What will happen if I take her lifeline away from her?"
"When are you going to take her down? You're unnecessarily stalling time."
"The more I dwell into this act, the more she'll be hurt. Just do what you've been told to and don't act so obvious, specially around Wonwoo, I don't know why but he has been lately saying stuffs. Seems he has grown closer to Y/N and her circle."
You sit there motionless. The person you considered your world was the one planning to stab you.
"You can get these recordings examined.", Jiah tells you, "To be sure that I haven't manipulated or tampered with the recordings."
She takes a sit beside you and observes you carefully. The triumphant smile that graces her lips on seeing you getting trampled, makes her believe that now's the time when she could spew any lies and you'd believe it. She knows she has won over.
"The plan was to take advantage of your helplessness and make you transfer the shares in the disguise of helping you clearing your name.", Jiah leans in closer to your face, "Why do you think Seungcheol is out of country out of all the time? He's trying to build up the urgency so that as soon as he walks in you'd be at his feet asking for help."
Jiah has accepted that she would never have Seungcheol to herself, so not at fear of loosing anything she's going all out as for to separate you two.
"The Choi's are so powerful that no matter how much you try, there's no way you could prove your innocence.", Jiah says as her sinisteric gaze falls on you again, "You can take all these proofs, additionally, I'll even provide the details pertaining to the person who stole your work and make them confess."
"W-Why are you helping me?"
"Either way it breaks you two apart and that's the motive. Knowing the truth would hurt you the most."
Her heels clank loudly as she walks out, leaving you behind, defeated and devastated.
How foolish of you to believe that Seungcheol would forgive you easily? How naive of you that you fell for his act of a doting husband.
You wonder if this is how he had felt after being betrayed by you. You run your hands over your chest to soothe the ache. You scream, throw down anything you could grab, stomp over the place but nothing helps you in calming down.
Three hours have passed and you're still in that damned conference room. Scathed, scrotched and scattered.
You inhale, exhale and repeat. Then you're calling your brother.
"Chan, arrange for a press conference tomorrow evening. Also stop looking further into the case. I have evidence to prove that I'm innocent.", you say into the phone, "Gather everyone at the academy, none of the Choi's though. Ask Eunsoo if they would broadcast it on their network. Tell Mingyu to have Mr. Kim free some time for me this week if possible. Make the checks now, we can't delay it further."
Seungcheol's boarding the plane back home when he comes to know of the situation. He feels sick to stomach when all that's happening feels too known to him. Though he might have wanted this to happen once but now he can't even fantom the thought of doing something so viscious to you.
He calls you but you don't pick up. He calls others, makes Wonwoo call them too but it's fruitless.
He's anxious throughout the way, worried sick, feels guilty for not being by your side when you're going through so much. He hopes you're not beating your much, wants to hold, wants to assure you that everything will be fine, that you have him.
Wonwoo is running through all the red lights equally anxious. He wants to go inside and check upon you but he steps aside as he watches Seungcheol rushing into the house, hoping you'll be okay.
Seungcheol rustles through the corridor and slam opens the door, hurriedly making a sprint inside the house.
It's afternoon but the house, entire hallway is dimly lit. Suddenly the lights go on and he spots you.
Something about you is different, it's almost eerie. The black dress you're wearing, the cold gaze your throwing is unsettling.
"Baby--", you hold out your hand when Seungcheol starts to walk towards you.
Seungcheol halts, he feels the grimness in your aura.
"Welcome back, Seungcheol. I have been waiting for you.", you say apathetically, "Take a seat, I have some things to discuss with you, before I leave for the press conference."
That's when Seungcheol notices your finger void of the wedding ring.
Tiba-tiba teringat Atta saat terakhir kali makan di luar. Saat lagi makan, waktu itu sempat kepikiran berapa lama saya bisa pergi lagi makan-makan seperti ini. Ternyata itu yang terakhir.
Kuingat lagi saat ku perhatikan dia lagi makan. Tangannya sudah gemetaran saat pegang sendok tapi masih bisa makan sendiri. Gak tau kenapa kalau makan, Atta biasa terburu-buru. Minum airpun tersedak karena terlalu cepat.
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Pagi tadi, pergi ke pasar untuk cari kasur buat Atta. Setelah itu, ibu mau makan Sop Saudara di dekat pom bensin tapi ternyata tutup. Akhirnya kita ke Sop Saudara Panaikang.
Sometimes I feel frustrated with my life. I just don't know what I want. I might feel comfortable doing something, but then the day after I hate it. I don't know anything that I can get excited about while doing it. I don't crave for perfection. I just want to find my true self. What I really want. What makes me happy to live my life.
I was crying on my way home 2 weeks ago. Then cried again last week. That was my first tears because the works. I really want to quit but the situation don't feel right.
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Muje crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday. The last memories with him keep running through my mind. I regret not trying hard. Forgive me. I can't see him sitting on the motorbike anymore. No more sleeping beside my feet every night. No more meowing for food every morning and feeding him because he never finished his food.
He's an old cat and I know he's going to leave at any moment. He's a stray cat and I don't know how old he really is. It's been 4 years since I first met him. I didn't think it would be this sad.
I'm sorry, Muje. I hope you happy because there's no pain anymore.
