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#jongho oneshot
hongism · 11 months
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BOUNCY. - j. yunho, c. jongho (m)
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➼ genre; smut ➼ pairing; yunho x fem!reader x jongho ➼ au; outlaw/mechanics!2ho, dystopian futurism, lore accurate ateez ➼ warnings; explicit smut, some terribly unfunny mechanic jokes i’m really sorry ➼ rating; m/18+ ➼ wc; 4.9k
‘Two for the price of one!’ the sign outside the shop had read, and well, you’ve never been one to pass up on a good deal.
part of the outlaw miniseries.
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➼ smut warnings; piv, unprotected sex, semi-public sex, fingering, manual stimulation, pussy slapping, spanking, hair pulling, choking, sloppy seconds, creampie, pet names: sugar, sweets, dear & baby, dirty talk, breeding kink, name calling: bitch & slut, voyeurism & exhibitionism, dom/sub dynamics, dom yunho, sub reader, slight bimbofication, spit play, size kink, praise kink
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You pull up to Outlaw Customs, the repair shop that’s become something of a second home for your car, two minutes before closing. If it were anywhere else — and anyone else running the place — you would never dream of being such a terrible customer, but since you know both men inside well enough to have a working relationship outside of this little business they run, you aren’t worried about causing any issues. And, well, if you do, Yunho will surely let you know in his own snarky way.
The garage door is still wide open, with Yunho on full display at the mouth of it as he works on the vehicle that’s always parked front and center. As you cross the threshold into the garage, your eyes catch on a sign propped up outside that you hadn’t seen the last time you were here. Two for the price of one on any repairs! A scoff slips out of you as you eye it, and that noise is what pulls Yunho’s focus from his work to you.
“You didn’t tell me you were running a deal,” you whine, drawing a laugh from the man before you.
“We still gotta make money somehow, sugar!” He nods his head towards the other side of the car, where another familiar face sits on the run-down couch you gave to them when they first opened up shop down the street from your apartment complex. It was something of a trade and an icebreaker: you needed a cracked headlight patched up, and they needed some furniture to fill out the garage and make it more homey for any customers who would come and go. Jongho gets up when you come over though, simply to move from the couch to the desk chair right beside it, and you take the spot where he was just sat.
“What’ll it be this time, sweets?” Jongho arches a brow at you in question and leans back in the chair. He exudes the same natural attractive confidence that he always has, and it shines through in the way he’s sitting with his legs splayed out and how one hand rests on his upper thigh while the other closes into a loose fist against the surface of the desk. He’s changed up his hair since you were last here too, now accentuated with white highlights that frame his head nicely. Your staring doesn’t go unnoticed, however, and he clears his throat gently when you fail to respond after several seconds.
“Oh, um, I’m in desperate need of a new tire. Back left. I think I hit a nail on the road or something, she’s been causing me trouble for weeks now.”
“And you didn’t come in sooner?”
You draw your lips into a firm ‘o’. “I started having issues two days after you demanded to do my oil change! Which I could have done myself really, but now — I can’t see what’s causing the issue, and no matter how many times I pump the damn thing, it still has shit air pressure. Besides, if you wanted to see me sooner, you don’t have to wait around for me to have another car issue to do so.”
Jongho shifts to find something on the desk. The tips of his ears are stained red, and that color bleeds down to his neck. “Yunho is the one who demanded to do the oil change though,” he mumbles, pulling out a clipboard with a blank sheet of paper attached to it. “I’ll go take a look and do a quick inspection to see if anything stands out.”
“Keys are on the dash!” you call after him before he slips out and leaves you somewhat alone with Yunho. Said man is laughing to himself as discreetly as he can manage but says nothing in favor of continuing his fiddling at the car. “Were you really the one to demand that oil change?”
“Technically no. But I did say that if he wanted an excuse to pull you over here then he could offer to do it for you.”
“Despite knowing I always do it myself?” you inquire as you push up from the couch. Your hands come to rest on your hips, chin tilting to match the attitude in your stance, and Yunho’s tongue pokes between his lips. His eyes move over your body in a quick series of glances before he knocks the round of his wrench against the headlight in front of him as though it’s a hammer.
“Um—” he fights to clear his throat but once he starts blushing, it’s impossible to miss against his pale skin. You step closer to where he’s crouched and squat down next to him once you deem yourself close enough — that being within touching distance, that is, where your shoulder can brush against his any time he tries to move even a hair.
“What are you working on?”
Again Yunho’s gaze finds you; this time, he lets it trail over your face first before going any lower, and you grant him a little smile for the bit of unnecessary chivalry.
“You’re too pretty to dirty your hands on me, sugar.”
“You say that every time,” you argue. You never get tired of admiring his side profile, but right now it comes with the added bonus that it watching his throat bob as he swallows hard around nothing but saliva and air.
“You don’t wanna make sure Jongho’s not changing your oil without permission again?” The roll of your eyes is far from subtle by any means, and the dramatization of the gesture brings a snort of laughter out of the man next to you.
“There are other inspections you can do, right? Since I’m a regular here and all.”
“Are you really in need of new tires, dear? From where I’m sitting, it seems like we aren’t the only ones who try to find excuses ‘round these parts.”
Leaning away, you put a hand over your chest and scoff. “The audacity of this man! Jongho, did you hear that?” He’s moving back into the garage as you call out to him, slapping the clipboard against the outside of his thigh. You only get a laugh out of him which seems to you like he agrees with Yunho. He lowers the garage door once safely out of the way and moves back to his seat at the desk. “See, he didn’t say he didn’t find anything.”
“He also didn’t say he did find something, sugar.”
“And, did he?” you prompt, eyes narrowing on Jongho’s back. Even though he can’t see you, he gives you the answer you want to hear with a quiet hum of affirmation, and you flick your chin back to Yunho to send him a smug little grin. “Besides, is there any harm in wanting a good deal?”
“That depends.” Yunho’s voice drawls a little, and he presses the heels of his hands against his thighs to help propel him into a standing position. The wrench in his hand gets tossed back to the cart nearby, bringing an echoing clatter to fill the garage with noise as your eyes lock. “Two for the price of one is a big deal after all.”
“And?” You stand slowly in contrast to how eager Yunho was to stand upright, but he watches your every move with rapt attention. In this game, it’s hard to tell which one of you is stalking the other — both playing the part of a predator so well that it’s indistinguishable. In your humble opinion, Yunho’s resolve is cracking much faster than yours.
“And it comes with lots of nice add-ons but they can be a lot to handle.”
“I never pass up on a good deal though,” you murmur through a pout, deigning to look down to the floor and back up to meet Yunho’s gaze through fluttering lashes. “I like handing big loads too.”
“Oh my god.” Jongho’s voice and the following groan cut through the building tension. “Quit making gross innuendos and just fuck! Making me sit here and agonize through that shit, disgusting.” Your face draws into something close to a scowl, one that matches his expression when you turn to look at him. In a move of childish vengeance, you stick your tongue out at him.
“Let us have our fun!”
“Yeah, yeah, have your fun and fuck.”
“Not joining?” Yunho asks, hand running over the curve of your hip already.
“I’ll sit back and watch you get your fill first then have seconds later. You always feel best after he’s thoroughly used you, sweets.” Your expression is somewhere between bewilderment and a smile, eyes following him as he moves back to the couch and throws himself down to the cushions facing you and Yunho. “What? He leaves you good and loose for me.”
“Jongho.” Your tone is breaching the edge of chastisement, but the words you plan to continue with are knocked out of you in a soft oof as Yunho turns you towards the car and suddenly bends you over the hood without warning.
“He’s right, isn’t he? I do open you up quite nicely.” You brace your hands against the hood, pushing up just enough to send a look back at Yunho over your shoulder. He’s already moved back some, however, and redirected his attention to slipping his fingers between the band of your pants and the skin underneath. “May I, sugar?”
“Go on then,” comes your whispered response as you settle more comfortably against the hood.
“You look pretty splayed out against our gem, baby.” Your view of Jongho is entirely skewed like this, but you watch him as he speaks. Though still fully clothed, you get quite the eyeful of his crotch with the way he’s sitting in that same damned position that makes you want to crawl between his legs and suck him dry.
“Right where she belongs.” Yunho’s fingers are hot against your sex, cupping you through your underwear now that your pants are down to your ankles. He snaps the flat of his hand to the same spot, and the action draws a shiver out of you along with a breathy whine. “Are you up for subbing tonight, y/n?”
“Yes sir.”
“So good and I barely had to lift a finger,” Yunho coos down at you. Once again his fingers trail over the line of your lips and push fabric against your cunt, not enough to give you any sort of true stimulation but it makes your clit throb with want. “Still remember our safeword?”
“Bluebird.”
“There’s my good girl.” Yunho slaps his palm against your mound harder to accentuate his words. You let out a moan that catches you off-guard, but Yunho doesn’t allow you time to adjust to the new sensations. “Count for me, sugar.”
“How many do you think she deserves tonight?” From your perspective, you can see Jongho’s hand move in slow circles against the front of his pants.
“Hm, fifteen to start? She was mouthing off quite a lot with me earlier.” A chilling rush of adrenaline pushes through your body, a whine hanging at your lips and threatening to interrupt their conversation, but you bite it back by sinking your teeth into your lower lip. Jongho catches your slight blunder before you have the chance to hide it.
“Oh? I think she wants to say something, Yun.”
“What is it, sugar? You can count that high still, right? After all my cock isn’t in you yet. Your little head should be perfectly intact still.” Yunho slides a hand down your back and finds a resting place at your tailbone. He takes the fabric of your shirt into his palm before bunching it into his fist and yanking your body along the hood of the car. “Not a dumb cockslut yet, baby, come on and answer the question.”
“I-I can, yeah, I can count that high, sir.”
“Good girl. You sound nice and desperate already. Maybe you shouldn’t wait so long to come see us anymore, hm?”
“I won’t,” you whisper. Yunho’s hand comes down on your ass, slapping against the bare skin exposed by your panties, and the sting comes immediately. “I’ll come sooner next time.” Yunho clicks his tongue though. Your gaze is locked onto Jongho, however, and focused on following his movements as he pulls his pants down his thighs and lets his thick cock spring out fully erect and leaking at the tip already. Yunho tightens his grip on you. The pressure on your body increases tenfold, making it hard to breathe under the weight atop you. You feel hot breath cascading over your ear as Yunho inserts himself into your personal space.
“Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten how to fuckin’ count, sugar,” he hisses into the shell of your ear. His tone is so wildly different than the one he uses in casual conversation — biting and scathing to the point of muddling your thoughts with desire. Nothing quite compares to sex with an angry Yunho, though you rarely can rile him up to that point and even now you don’t have him like that, just the barebones of annoyance that tease something more.
“N-No! One, one, I’m sorry sir.”
“If he’s so distracting, I can send you over to him with no prep, dear.”
“No, it’s okay, I’m — I’m focused, I promise. Please continue?” His response comes in the form of two more slaps over the same spot as the first one, sharp and pointed to make the skin beneath him heat up further. “Three…”
“Now that I’ve got your attention, make sure I keep it, sweetheart.”
There’s no real need for that reminder in your mind because once he starts building a steady rhythm and delivering the spanks to your ass with mere seconds between each one, you have no choice but to focus on him. Jongho is still before you, a sight unfolding gloriously as he strokes at his length with lazy little jerks and no intention of bringing himself much pleasure beyond that. Even Yunho goes quiet in his ministrations behind you, leaving the air to be filled with the sounds of his hand on your skin and whatever broken number you choke out after each one. You want to twist and writhe under him, to alleviate some of the burn that’s so present on your backside, but each time you try to so much as shift an inch, Yunho delivers an extra slap to your cunt. Well-placed and effective too — so close to your clit that it makes your knees buckle and you fall back into the position Yunho wants you in to carry out his task. The first ounce of reprieve comes at eleven, right when you’ve settled to push through the pleasurable punishment to the end.
“You know, sugar, you’re taking this so well that I’m wondering if we should increase the number. You aren’t nearly red enough yet, and we picked an odd number. I can’t show equal love to both sides like that.”
“Twenty?” Jongho chimes in, smile twisting as you shake your head. “Thirty?”
“Twenty is fine, I—” you inhale sharply at the sensation of Yunho running his hand along your skin. His touch is cold now, a welcome balm to the heat that emanates from the spot he’s just been hitting so ruthlessly. Your voice is so shaky that you have to swallow to contain the tremble before continuing. “It’s b-been a bit since we did this, I’m not u-used to it.”
Yunho remains quiet as he rubs his thumb over your warm skin in soothing circles for several more seconds. “One more, baby. Then you’ll be done for tonight.” He’s merciful but not entirely gracious because the last sharp slap he delivers to you feels ten times worse than all the others before, and you roll your head to push it into the hood as you cry out at the impact. He catches you as your knees buckle under you, preventing you from sliding straight down to the floor, and as you’re scrambling to regain your footing, he hooks two fingers under your underwear band. When he yanks at the elastic, it snaps against your body hard enough to make you hiss, and it burns a bit when they slide over your sensitive skin.
“Didn’t she do well, Yun?”
You crack an eye open to look over at the man on the couch and make direct eye contact with Jongho to find his gaze far softer than it was minutes ago.
“Of course she did. I expect nothing less from our pretty lady, dear. And—” Yunho pushes two fingers between your folds and dips right into your hole, bypassing all the arousal that’s begun to leak out of you “—she’s sopping wet to boot. Perfect.” The praise makes your body sing, and Yunho rewards your easy obedience by easing his fingers in and out of you with little resistance thanks to that wetness he mentioned. “You still on the pill?”
“Y-Yeah, as always. Haven’t missed a day.”
“Then I can cum in you?”
“Yes… yes sir.”
Yunho groans, and he moves his hand up from the small of your back to feel at the back of your head. He takes a handful of hair into his hold and grips tight enough to pull your head up from the car hood, but it’s not too terrible that you feel any sort of dramatic pain from the act.
“Gonna breed you fuckin’ full of cum then,” he growls, leaning into your space and knocking his forehead against your temple. “Maybe so well that that damn pill won’t work? If I fuck it into you hard enough then your body won’t have a choice but to take my seed.” A loud moan tumbles from your lips at his words. The hand you have propping your weight up wobbles, and just before your elbow locks, Yunho releases you and grabs for your hips with both hands. You’re close to complaining about the sudden departure of his fingers when he nudges the tip of his cock against your folds, sliding along the wetness in a crude form of lubrication.
“Fuck me, won’t you?” you plead quietly. You hope that if nothing else, the look on your face will convince him to get on with things, but it must be a combination of everything — the heady arousal in the air, your tone and words, even the sight of Jongho jacking off to the two of you only a few feet away. Yunho sinks deep into your cunt then; he buries the full length of his cock deep inside you, stretching you open further until it feels like you can feel him in your stomach. Your body trembles and drops forward as you press your free hand to your abdomen like it’ll help you feel him better. “God, you’re so fucking big, Yun.”
“All the better to breed you with,” he says before planting a hand between your shoulder blades and urging you all the way down once more. Jongho is squeezing the base of his cock with his other hand now, likely to keep himself from cumming too early, and Yunho is notorious for two things: his short refractory period and how long he can go without orgasm no matter what kind of stimulation he’s under.
The initial drag of his cock inside you feels like heaven, and when he thrusts back against your thighs, he does so with such force that your insides churn.
“Is she tight?”
“Insanely,” Yunho responds through gritted teeth. You try to lift your head to look back at his face, eager to see how broken his expression is right now, but he stops you in your tracks. Again, fingers threaded through your hair and locking in close to your scalp to give him the best grip that won’t hurt you too terribly much. He yanks you hard with the next thrust, and it brings your head up at an angle that stretches you hard enough to make your muscles burn with the effort of accommodating to it. “Barely been two weeks and you’re this tight again, sugar, your pussy is fuckin’ insane.”
You would laugh at the absurdity of his comment if you could, but in your current state, the only noise that can escape you are choppy moans. They’re the kind that sounds like they could come straight from an amateur porno, and despite the garage being closed, it doesn’t offer that much privacy. Anyone who walks by will suddenly become privy to what sounds like a home movie being filmed behind the metal door.
“Didn’t expect her to be this tight, fuck, I might cum early.”
You can’t warn Yunho of the same for yourself: between his thrusts, the full weight of his balls slap against your pussy from the sheer force behind how hard he’s fucking you, and the steady rhythm is just enough to stimulate your clit even without head-on contact. He knows your body well, however, and how to play you like a fucking fiddle, so when your walls start pulsing around the thickness of his cock, he shifts the angle and drives his tip so deep into you that you see stars behind your eyelids.
“Fuck, sweets,” Jongho exhales under his breath. Your vision is blurry when you open your eyes, but it snaps back to black a moment later when the orgasm hits you all of a sudden.
“Fuck, fuck, f-fuck!”
“That’s it, sugar,” Yunho coos from behind you, and his hand relaxes to run down to the back of your neck. He presses the pads of his fingers into the flesh there, poking and prodding at the muscles that have suddenly gone tense in the tsunami of sensations sweeping over you, but his thrusts don’t let up even as your walls squeeze hard around his length. Yunho fucks you hard and fast through the brunt of your orgasm. When your body finally relaxes and the waves die down to let you swim in the aftermath of it, he’s still driving his dick along your walls and knocking against your more sensitive spots. “Should I breed you now, dear? Fuck you nice and full of cum then send you to sit on Jongho’s cock?”
Your mouth hangs open enough to let saliva out of it and onto the car, yet it smears across your face when you lose the will to steady yourself against Yunho’s pace.
“Pl-please, sir.”
Yunho lays himself over you and spreads his hands to sit on either side of your head. His hips still against your backside. The fuzz in your brain nearly drowns out the feeling of cum pumping into you, without a doubt filling you to the brim. He’s still in the throes of recovery when you nudge Yunho off and out of you. You would stay longer with him inside, to feel that warmth and fullness for some time longer, but your body moves on its own agenda with a pulsing desire lingering in your gut. Despite the weakness in your muscles, you walk over to the couch where Jongho waits patiently and quietly. His gaze is heavy on you when you drop your hands to his shoulders.
“Baby…”
“Don’t stop her now, babe,” Yunho interjects. You don’t spare him a glance over your shoulder or anything like it — the movements of your body are methodical and calculated, a firm straddle over his hips and spread legs before you reach down to put your hand next to his against the length of his cock. Together, you guide him into your used cunt, pushing him in alongside the cum threatening to drip out of your body. A sigh of relief leaves your lips once he’s securely inside you.
“Feel good?” you whisper close to his face. Jongho’s cheeks are flushed, his pupils blown own so wide that you can barely see the color of his irises, and his lips glisten with spit. You can’t help yourself, you decide. He has the same thought in his mind because he’s the one to kiss you rather than the other way around, lips finding each other in a fit of passion that makes your chest burn.
“I want more,” he mutters into your mouth.
“Greedy.” You lift yourself up from his lap some, enough to let his cock nearly pull all the way out of you, then sink back down with a spine-curling pleasure that makes you throw your head back and moan to the ceiling. Yunho’s form enters your line of sight, and his hand finds the base of your throat. He stands behind you, chin tilted to his chest so that he can stare directly down at you. He’s handsome beyond belief even at this awfully skewed and awkward angle.
“Open,” he commands while tapping along the column of your throat. Your lips part completely to allow him access to whatever it is he wants from you.
Jongho’s firm and strong hands squeeze at your waist at the same moment. He takes the control from your hands, and you hand it over without complaint to let him work your cunt along his length as he sees fit and to chase his pleasure in full. Yunho hooks his thumb on the back of your teeth. It effectively holds you open and steady for the moment he decides to spit down into your mouth. The warmth on your tongue makes you wince, but then Yunho is withdrawing his thumb and pushing up against your chin.
“Close and swallow,” he says in what’s likely to be his last act of dominance for the night. Your eyes remain firmly set on his face as you do so — slow yet deliberate so that he can see your obedience in its full glory. Your reward is the sweetest gift. He lays a kiss to your forehead and taps your cheek gently. “Good girl.”
You right yourself enough to look down at Jongho, sending your focus to the lover beneath you. He lets you take his face between your hands without saying a word, but the second you lean in for a kiss, he bites out his thoughts.
“You take dick like a bitch in heat, sweets.”
“Y-You’re the one—” your voice sounds about as wrecked as you feel “—fucking me dumb.” Jongho slides his hands along the lines of your body until he reaches your ass, where the skin is still sensitive and burning from Yunho’s earlier punishment. He palms the flesh harshly enough to make you cry out. “Want you inside too.”
“One wasn’t enough? How much cum do you need?”
“She’s a proper cumslut, really Jongho. You know this.” It’s unfair that Yunho sounds totally recovered and unbothered by the rough sex you just shared; meanwhile, you’re thoroughly wrecked and still going through the motions, working towards another impending orgasm on Jongho’s cock.
“Close?” he asks with a lilting tease hanging off his tone. You push yourself against him as best you can, close enough to knock your forehead into his.
“I bet you’ll cum first, big boy. Your needy dick is begging to breed me.”
Jongho’s nostrils flare at the accusation, but it’s an accurate one with the way his haphazard thrusts are becoming more and more staggered. Nothing inspires Jongho quite like a small competition though, even if it encourages him to play dirty and reach around to your front. He plunges a hand down alongside where his cock meets your body. Your bubbling complaints about his dirty tactics fall short at the mouth of your next orgasm, and he all but steals the air from your lungs with a few little twists of his fingers on your clit. He cums with you immediately after — but after nonetheless, as you’re certain he’ll note later on. Your body sags atop his even as he drives his length into you a few more times for good measure and to milk himself for all he’s worth, adding another load to what Yunho’s already left in you.
Said man makes another appearance too, with bottles of water in hand as he lowers himself to the couch cushions right beside you and Jongho. You take one of the presented bottles with a quiet murmur of thanks, easing up from your slumped position to take several greedy sips in an effort to soothe your poor throat.
“By the way,” Jongho tilts his head in Yunho’s direction. A moment passes that’s full of silent anticipation, and it’s only when Yunho’s brows start to furrow that Jongho finishes his thought. “Her tires are fine.”
The incredulous look you get from Yunho makes the ruse well worth it, and the small flare of anger that crosses his eyes briefly only serves to make you want to tease him further.
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this work belongs to caly / hongism (2023). do not copy, repost, or plagiarize in any way.
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beenbaanbuun · 2 months
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the bed w/ jongho
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words - 🤠
genre - fluff/friends to lovers
warnings - pure fluff, nothing else
“why are you in my bed,” jongho grumbles as he storms through his bedroom door
he kicks his shoes off, not paying any attention to where they land before crawling onto the bed himself
you’d spread yourself out in the centre of it, leaving very little space for your friend in his own bed
he makes do, though, throwing himself over your stomach and pinning you to the bed
you groan as he knocks the wind out of you, but all does is chuckle
“actually, scratch that,” he says as he tries his hardest to got comfortable, “what are you doing in my apartment? you don’t have a key.”
he finds it hard to find a good spot to lay since there’s a literal body beneath him, so instead he sits up and tries his hardest to shove you to the side
you resist, but eventually roll over when his finger pokes a particularly ticklish spot in your side
he goes to get comfy, making sure to pull one of his pillows free from beneath your head and put it beneath his own
you punch his arm as payment; it doesn’t hurt him, he just laughs
“found your spare key under your doormat,” you say as if it’s as simple as that, “you need to find a better place to hide that, by the way.”
he repeats your words in a mocking tone, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated manner
“sure, but why are you in my bed?”
“it’s comfier than mine,” you shrug, laughing at the exasperated sigh he gives you, “besides, it’s not like you were using it while you were at work.”
“and maybe if you had a job you wouldn’t feel the need to come to my apartment and nap in my bed when you could be at work,” he teases
now it’s your turn to roll your eyes
you shove him slightly, in response to the poor taste joke, but he knows you’re not really mad
you never are when it comes to him…
something about the way he taunts you makes you light up inside
maybe it’s the way he giggles at you when you get annoyed, face lighting up in glee, or perhaps you just like it when he pays you attention
either way, you hope it never stops
“i’m trying to get a job,” you reply, seriousness lacing itself in your voice, “i had an interview this morning actually.”
he turns to look at you with surprise on his face
“you never told me,” he says with a minuscule pout, and you realise the shock on his face is more to do with the fact it was hidden from him than anything else
you look away, not wanting to force yourself into seeing the hurt that’s swimming in his eyes
all this over a job interview? weird, you think to yourself
“i wanted it to be a surprise if i got the job,” you mumble, “but i kind of fumbled so i don’t think i did.”
you’d never tell him, but it’s actually your disappointment at your own failure that led you to your best friend’s bed
the comfort it brought you to slide one of his hoodies over your head and surround yourself in the familiar scent of his bedding was better than the comfort you gained from anything else
the knowledge that jongho would be there soon to comfort you, unknowingly picking up the pieces of your shattered ego, was nice
his presence was your safe place, even when that presence was just the smell of him ingrained in his sheets
“you fumbled?” he clarifies, “how so?”
he opens his arms to invite you closer; it’s an opportunity you jump at, shuffling until you’re close enough for his arms to circle your body
“i kept answering their questions weirdly,” you say as you press your face into his chest, “but in my defence, their questions were dumb.”
he chuckles, and the sound rumbles through him
“you don’t need to defend yourself to me,” his voice sounds deeper when you hear it through his chest, “i know you’re trying your hardest.”
a hand comes into contact with the back of your head, gently patting at it as if he’s trying to soothe you
you almost tell him that you don’t need soothing, but the sensation is nice so you let him continue
“i am trying hard,” you sigh, “and i wish they could see that rather than just seeing all the stupid answers i give them! they probably think i have negative braincells…”
jongho can’t help but heartily laugh at that
he clutches onto you as the sound rings through the air, effectively pinning you to his body
you can’t help but be happy that he’s not one of those people that slap things when they laugh…
“i also think you have negative braincells,” he says through his giggles, “but that doesn’t stop me from thinking you’re a great person that’s worthy of employment.”
for what seems like the hundredth time, you hit his arm
“i got higher than you in school, dickwad!”
you only scored higher by a margin, but you still did better than him and therefore have eternal bragging - or in this case defending - rights
the playful arguing doesn’t go much further than that
in fact the two of you fall into a peaceful silence pretty quickly, the only sound that fills your brain is jongho’s heartbeat; strong and stable, just like he is
just likes he’s always been, actually, ever since the two of you were just kids playing in each other’s back yards
he tried to teach you football when you were both young, but ended up kicking the ball too hard and bruising your shin
even at the age of 7 he was so willing to comfort you in your time of need
you still see so much of that pudgy-faced boy in the man you know today
and then when he was a teenager you specifically remember him trying to teach you basketball
he had his arms wrapped around you as he positioned your hands correctly
when you shot your first basket without his help, he celebrated it like he’d just scored the winning basket for the team he played on
you still think about the way he picked you up and spun you around sometimes; it feels like such a special memory
you can’t help but smile as you let it play in your mind one more time
“what are you thinking about?” jongho asks
you shift your head so you can see his face, his big brown eyes meeting yours immediately
perhaps it’s the dimness of his bedside lamp, but you can’t help but appreciate how nice he looks right now
you’ve always known him to be attractive, but surely his lips haven’t always looked that soft, right?
“why do you want to know?” you respond quietly as you try and make sense of this new feeling that settles over you
well, perhaps it’s not new, but it’s certainly stronger
“i want to know everything about you,” he replies, no evidence of a joke on his face, “like what you’re thinking, or when you have a job interview.”
well, that’s targeted, you think to yourself
“i told you it was supposed to be a surprise if i passed!” you whine
he smiles slightly
“it would’ve been a great surprise,” he admits, “but i still can’t help but wish you’d told me! i would’ve gone with you for support.”
and he would’ve
one word from you and he’d have taken a day off work just to do anything in his power to help you
hell, you’re sure he would’ve gone into the interview with you if he could
you can’t help but giggle at the idea of him standing behind you like a bouncer, arms folded threateningly as the interviewers fumble through their dumb questions
“your support would’ve been greatly appreciated,” you say
he hums an agreement
“this is why you tell your jongho things, okay?” he teases
you pause
“my jongho?”
“who else’s would i be?”
you shrug
“i don’t know,” you admit, “i just thought such a title would go to a girlfriend or something…”
you feel your face heat up at your own words
perhaps it’s the connotations that come with it; a title that should’ve gone to his future girlfriend has gone to you instead
why is that thought making your heart beat so fast?
“i mean maybe one day it will,” he says, “but only if you say yes.”
your mind goes blank
what does he mean by that?
“because if you don’t then my plans will be kind of fucked, you know?” you don’t know. you don’t know anything at all, “like what’s going to happen if you say no and things get awkward? who will i take on my family’s spring vacation then?”
“huh?”
that’s all you can say
because his words make sense in your mind, but none of it makes sense in concept, except it also kind of does
but then the notion of it all is making butterflies erupt in your stomach, which also doesn’t make sense because why?
“do i have to spell it out for you, my little dummy?” he smiles, a familiar fondness in his eyes, “i’m asking you to be my girlfriend.”
and that’s when it all dawns on you
the reason you feel closer to him than anyone else
the reason you want him to be the first to know everything
the reason why you always try so hard to impress him
you’re in love with him, and you have been for quite a long time, it seems
perhaps it was the basketball incident that set this proverbial train in motion; you distinctly remember feeling butterflies then
although at the time you had put it down to just feeling nervous about impressing jongho, even that excuse points in the direction of love
holy fuck
“hello?” he waves a hand in front of your face, “anyone in there? or am i just going to have to assume it’s a no-”
“no!” you cut him off, eyes going wide, “i mean yes. no to saying no, yes to your question… the girlfriend question.”
a wide toothy grin forms on his face, one of the ones that shows his gums and makes his nose scrunch up in the cutest way
oh god, have you always been down this horrifically bad for him?
“god you’re cute,” he says with happiness evident in his voice
it’s funny; you were about to tell him the same thing
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seonghwaddict · 3 months
Text
falling and sleeping — choi jongho
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in which falling in love with you felt like falling asleep; natural and unnoticed.
best friend!choi jongho x fem!reader. genre. fluff, crack, friends to lovers. warnings. cursing, none he's just a little nervous. wc. 1.5k. rating. pg-13
lilo’s notes. hiii here's a fluffy little jongho fic because i love him. this isn’t proofread btw i’m sorry for any errors! also, my upload schedule is now on saturday's :3
listening to. from the start, laufey
masterlist.
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“hyung!”
jongho burst into the living room of his shared dorm with wooyoung and hongjoong. hongjoong was nowhere to be found, likely at the studio or something, and wooyoung sprawled on the couch, watching a drama on the tv, scrolling through his phone, and taking occasional sips of his comically large coffee cup simultaneously. at the sound and sudden appearance of jongho, he looked away from the screen.
“something wrong?” he yawned, turning his phone off and dropping it on his chest.
“yes. i figured out my problem-“
wooyoung snorted, eyes drifting back to the television screen. “yeah? which one?”
“shut the fuck up, i’ll strangle you,” jongho paused what was supposed to be his dramatic monologue to glare at the dark haired fox-resembling man on the couch. he waited a second before sighing. “my y/n problem. i figured it out. so-“
“you have a problem with her?” at the mention of jongho’s best friend’s name, wooyoung’s attention was captured. if he had a problem with you, that meant something terrible must have happened. truthfully, wooyoung would hate that. he’d been rooting for the two of you for years, even if neither of you were aware of how perfect you were for each other.
“hey! stop interrupting me,” jongho kicked his shin lightly before continuing, “well, no, we don’t have a problem but things felt weird for some reason and i have come to a conclusion.”
“okay… and…?” wooyoung gestured for him to continue, his dramatic pause putting him on edge.
“i’m allergic to her.”
“… excuse me?” it was then that he decided to turn off the tv, giving his full attention to his younger friend.
“i’m allergic to her.”
“oh, for the love of-“ wooyoung groaned and threw himself back on the couch, screaming into a pillow, “CHOI JONGHO YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH HER!”
a confused expression crossed his face as he watched his friend’s dramatic antics and jongho sat down, forcefully pulling the pillow from wooyoung’s face. he should’ve found hongjoong instead, maybe he would’ve been more helpful.
“no, no, don’t be silly,” he tossed the pillow aside and spoke, hands flailing around to emphasise his point. wooyoung was on he verge of banging his head against a wall, “lately when i go near her my stomach itches and i feel all warm and sometimes it gets hard to breath and…”
the realisation that spread across his face was a picture wooyoung wanted to take and print out, plastering it on his wall and also adding it to his resume with the caption ‘i’m literally cupid.’
“… and oh my god i’m in love with her.”
a loud cheer left wooyoung as he sprang up from the couch, going on a five minute rant about how long he’d been waiting for this and how he always knew there was something. “you should go tell her right now.”
“w-what- no! i just figured out i’m in love with my best friend and you expect me to just… go and tell her?”
“that’s exactly what i expect,” he nodded, crossing his arms and leaning his weight on one leg, “didn’t she tell you about how she overheard someone say some guy from her workplace wanted to ask her out for valentines?”
“well, yeah… but-”
“no buts!” he held his palm up, silencing jongho. “you can’t let that home-wrecker ask her out before you. so, get your ass off that couch, change into something nice and go tell her you love her. and buy some flowers in the way.”
“it’s not home-wrecking if we aren’t even toge-“
“that’s besides the point, now do as i say if you ever want a relationship with her.” wooyoung rolled his eyes and turned on his heels, walking to where his jacket hung on the coat rack. he pulled out his wallet and, surprisingly, fished out his credit card to give to jongho. “this is for flowers and some chocolates only.”
and so half an hour later he was walking down the hallway of your floor of your apartment building, wearing an all-black ensemble of slacks a shirt and a trench coat, holding a bouquet of various flowers he didn’t know the names of in one hand and a small box of your favourite chocolate ms in the other. he could still abort and leave without you ever knowing he was there in the first place. you’d given him a key to the building a while ago, trusting him with it since your apartment was practically his second home.
he considered doing just that again, but the bought of you going out with another man who wasn’t him had his heart aching, giving him some courage to finally step in front of your door. he practiced what he wanted to say to you under his breath as he stared at the familiar dark grey door. when he thought he was ready, he reached out to ring the doorbell.
only to pull away at the last second and begging pacing back and forth nervously. eventually, he stopped, clenching his eyes shut and forcing himself to ring your doorbell. there was no going back now.
when you opened the door and you looked at him with your bright eyes and enchanting smile, he felt the nervousness in his stomach melt away and get replaced by butterflies and a soft pink tint on his cheeks. “oh, hey, jjong-“
“i love you.”
you blinked at him, not noticing the very obvious items in his hands, eyes fixed in his face. not quite understanding, you chuckled lightly, “you know i love you too.”
“no, you don’t get it. i mean, i in love with you. i fucking love you and i’m not sure if i’ve ever felt so strongly about someone in my life. i smile when someone mentions you, my heart flutters when i’m around you, fuck, when i see your smile it feels like all my problems have been solved and… your presence, god, it just fucks me up in the best way possible. i can’t believe i didn’t realise this sooner, but i’ve fallen for you, y/n. though, i suppose i didn’t realise it because falling felt like sleeping and sleeping feels so natural and easy that i never realised it until now.”
you stared at each other. he stared with all the admiration he could muster and you stared with mild shock and, under that, relief. “you… you love me?”
“oh my god, i… i’m sorry, i shouldn’t have- i’ve made things awkward, haven’t i? just- just forget that-“
you soft palm covering his lips drove him to silence, looking at you with wide eyes as you pulled him into your apartment, closing the door with your unoccupied hand. his heart skipped a beat as you grinned and whispered your next words.
“jongho, i love you—in that way—too.” you dropped your hand from his mouth slowly, looking down at the flowers and the chocolates, giggling, “you really didn’t have to get all this.”
you took them out of his hands slowly, avoiding his gaze, flustered as you placed his gifts on the marble counter of the kitchen behind you. he hadn’t said anything since your confession, cheeks burning and jaw dropped slightly. he couldn’t believe it. he couldn’t believe you liked loved him back.
he drew your attention to him, breathing out your name. “you… you love me too?”
“yes, you dense cabbage, i love you,” your laugh was melodic as you took both his hands in yours, nodding, “now shut up and kiss me.”
jongho’s expression finally changed into a giddy grin as he pulled his hands out of your grasp to hold your waist, leaning forward and brushing his lips against yours. when you didn’t protest, not that he expected you to, he deepened it into a proper kiss that he hoped conveyed his need for you. he felt like his knees would go weak as your delicate hands trailed up his torso to his head, brushing his hair absentmindedly as you kissed him back with equal intensity.
eventually, you had to separate to catch your breaths and jongho mentally cursed the human need for oxygen. he liked kissing you, your lips slotting together like puzzle pieces. when he felt like the tension had gone completely, he leaned forward to press repeated pecks to your lips, basking in the way you giggle and tried to meet each one of his quick kisses.
“i think i have a tiny crush on you,” you muttered once he decided he kissed you enough (it was never enough, really, but he wanted to let you breathe), fighting back a stupid grin.
“you think?” he snorted, one hand coming up to cup your cheek, thumb tracing your jawline and eyes full of affection.
“yeah, a teeny tiny one.”
he laughed heartily, giving you one more peck “i paid with wooyoung’s card, by the way.”
“in that case you should’ve gotten at least five more bouquets.”
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network. @cromernet
taglist. @ad0rechuu @sankatchu @mlink64 @yeosangsbb @seonghwasbbgirl @likexaxdaydream @dreamingofyeo
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i-luvsang · 10 months
Text
adorable — choi jongho
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1.2K MILESTONE EVENT ☆ CLOSED  gn!reader , fluff, comedy , frenemies to lovers , cw : one bed trope eheh, unedited as per usual , wc : 1K , tysm for the request anne lovely !! hope you enjoy as much as i enjoyed writing it <333 @ssaboala
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honest to god, you have no idea how you got here. genuinely, the situation ended up so complicated that you couldn’t recount the story if anyone asked. all you know is that, somehow, you are stuck in a resort room with choi jongho, while everyone else is blessed with, more or less, their preferred roommates. and in any other room, you’d be just fine with jongho. you had tried to trade with mingi and yunho, because their room has two beds. but they insisted they wouldn’t even fit in one bed together. both you and jongho had argued that would be better than the two of you having to share, but the two tall boys just laughed and shoved you out of their room.
so here you stand, side by side with jongho, staring at the single bed as the clock ticks later and later. you shiver in your summer pajamas, silently cursing the blasting air conditioning that the both of you failed to find in order to adjust the temperature.
the silence lasts a few more seconds before jongho breaks it awkwardly. “i’ll sleep on the–”
“don’t say you’ll sleep on the floor, that’s so stupid,” you cut him off. he rolls his eyes.
“what, are you gonna do it?”
“no,” you scoff. “i enjoy being free of back pain, thank you very much. but if you’re that scared of sharing a bed with me, go kick yeosang’s partner out of their bed and share with him.” he makes a face of disdain at you, effectively shutting down your senseless offer. you decide to take initiative, walking over to the bed and pulling the covers down. “i’m going to bed. i’m tired. you’re welcome to join me if you can work up the courage.”
he scoffs at your usual antics, watching as you slip under the covers, turning your back to the other side of the bed. but all he does is follow in your wake, sitting down on the bed and flipping off the last light in the room, plunging you two into momentary darkness before your eyes adjust. he throws a look over his shoulder to see the dim outline of your back facing him before laying down and pulling the covers over himself.
it’s certainly awkward knowing that he’s right there, but as you settle into the mattress, you become more concerned with the cold that seems to seep into the bed with you. you had prepared for hot, summer weather, and stupidly forgot about the normal blessing of air conditioning which has now turned into an enemy of sorts. with the cold settling around you, you become even more aware of jongho’s presence mere inches away from you, his body heat calling to you like a forbidden comfort. you curl further into yourself, hoping that your sleepiness will win out over the cold so you can ignore the discomfort and the charming boy beside you. but your unlucky streak continues when you feel jongho turn to face you, then hear his quiet voice.
“c’mon, i can tell you’re freezing.” you turn your head to see him staring at you, his arms open as if to invite you into his embrace. “i won’t tell anyone that you like to be the little spoon, honest,” he teases.
you scoff, more out of shock than anything else. you can’t even seem to come up with anything to say in response.
“hurry up before i kick you out of the bed and let you freeze to death on the floor,” he threatens, but as per usual, he’s all bark and no bite. only for you, you’ve begun to notice as of late. that despite the constant bickering the two of you share, neither of you would ever do anything to hurt the other. that maybe, just maybe, underneath all of his sarcastic wit, he cares about you. just a little bit though. because of course, you only care about him a little bit.
you huff out a false sigh of frustration before closing the gap between the two of you, holding back a real sigh of relief at the feeling of his warmth enveloping you. with your back flush against his chest and his arms around you, you admit only to yourself that it feels like a bit of heaven came down and graced itself upon you. he doesn’t say anything else, doesn’t ask if this is better, doesn’t even tease you. he just lets you stay there, doesn’t push you away when he can feel your muscles relax and hears your breathing even out, even though you never intended to fall asleep like that.
so when you wake up as warm and cozy as can be, it feels like yesterday’s fiasco, because, for a moment, you can’t remember how the hell you ended up in your position. there are strong, sturdy arms wrapped around you and they could only belong to one person. choi jongho. startled and drowsy, unable to recall what happened in bed last night, you roll out of his hold, so fast you nearly tumble to the floor if it weren’t for his quick reaction. he grabs you, pulling you right back into him. you stare at him, dumfounded.
“what the hell are you doing?” you whisper-yell right into his face. 
“keeping you from falling off the bed, idiot!” he retorts, hands still glued to your waist.
“well why the hell were you holding me when i woke up?”
“i was keeping you warm because apparently some of us don’t know how to pack properly for trips,” he shoots right back at you. “and you’re the one who fell asleep in my arms.” it’s hard for him to hold back the thought that it was adorable. “don’t look so shocked,” he says, taking in your wide eyes and, well, shocked expression.
“d-don’t be shocked?” you question wildly. “hah! ‘it was adorable,’ you say?”
it’s his turn to look utterly surprised. “what?”
you let out a full laugh at that. “you didn’t mean to say that out loud, did you?” he yanks his hands away from you when he realizes what you mean.
“that’s not what i sai–” there’s a furious blush spreading across his cheeks as he sits up.
“that is what you said!” you exclaim, following him into a sitting position. “you think it’s adorable that i fell asleep in your arms.”
and there’s no way he could deny you.
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atiny-desire · 12 days
Text
Shining Armor
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Pairing: Knight! Jongho x fem! reader
Summary: Your village gets attacked in the middle of the night. Unlucky for you, Jongho decides to take you with him.
Word count: 2.2k
Disclaimer: I'm in no way condoning, justifying, encouraging nor promoting this kind of behavior. This is not supposed to represent Jongho in any way.
Warning: kidnapping, blood, murder, pillaging, a little bit of physical violence against the reader
◇◇◇
It was the middle of the night when you were woken up by the sound of snorting horses and their hooves that stomped over the gravel path of your village. The voices of men mixed together with the noises of the horses. You sat up in your bed, your heart was hammering against your ribcage. A group of men showing up in the middle of the night was never a good sign, especially in times of war.
As quiet as possible, you sneaked into the living area of the house. Your parents were already standing there together and peaked out of a small gap of the shutters. Your father turned his head when he heard you approach and then looked back at your mother. "You two, go hide, I'll deal with anyone who comes in." He tried to guide you both to a somewhat safe spit, but it was already too late.
The door of your small home swung open, and three men invaded your family's living space. One of the three stood out especially. His armor was pitch black, while the metallic armor of the other two were silver. The only thing they had in common was the blazon of the neighboring kindom on the right side of their chest. "One more move, and your heads are going to roll." The man in the black armored spoke before ordering the two men by his side to search the house for valuables and money. Your parents stood in front of you, trying to hide you away from the strangers eyes.
"Get out of my home!" Your father barked at the intruders, but the three of them were unimpressed by his order, they didn't even bother to turn their heads and just continued looting. It took just one stern glance from the black armored warrior to make anyone freeze up, including your Dad.
Their metallic armor was rustling while they moved around. You kept your eyes on the man who was still standing in the doorway. His hand was resting on the hilt of his sword while he made sure that his men didn't miss a single nook or cranny. From outside, you started to hear screams of women and men alike. From the gap between the shutters, you could see the neighboring house. The thatched roof was currently going up into bright red flames. The dry material was easy feeding material for the fire to grow.
You turned your attention back to the men in your home. The tension was unbearable. The three of you hoped that they would just take what they wanted and leave again. At first, it looked like you were one of the lucky few who would get away, as the men finished plundering your home and moved to leave. The two men left first, and the man in black armor was about to follow before he turned around again. His gaze traveled over your small family before his eyes caught you through a small gap between your parents' bodies. His eyes narrowed at your parents before piercing right through you. "I'm taking the girl with me." It wasn't a question. It wasn't a request. It was a fact, an order.
Your mother's gaze turned fearful, she quickly searched for eye contact with your father, but he wasn't even looking at her. Your father had puffed his chest out and protectively stood before you and your mother. He might have let this man silence him, but he wouldn't give up his family without a fight. Anger burned in his gaze, with which he fixated the intruder. "You already took everything we have. Leave my home, now!"
The warrior grimaced his face, his eyes were cold, and his stance unwavering he was looking at your father like he did when he looked at bugs he was about to squish between his fingers A few unlucky ladybugs had already shared this fate. Deserved, as he would say, because how dare them stain his flawless armor with their red color? The only color he allowed was the red blood he drew from his enemies.
You had never seen brown eyes that managed to look so cold, to the point your whole body began to shiver. "Took what exactly?" He spat out with as much disdained as he could muster. It was his mission to show everyone in his way how little he thought of them. His hand that was previously just resting on the hilt of his sword now gripped it instead, ready to draw if he had to. "There's barely anything in this shithole. Do you think that's going to satisfy anyone?"
The warrior puffed out his chest just like your father did, but his heavy armor made him look more imposing, even causing your father to take a step back. "Hand me your daughter. Now! Unless you want me to paint the steel of my sword with your blood." A lazy smug smile spread on his face as he leaned forward, getting into your father's face. "And then I'll take her anyway."
Your father wanted to fight back. You could see it in his eyes, but what could he realistically do? He was huge, armored, and armed, and on top of that, he was not alone. His men were plundering the village in other houses, men and women were screaming alike, but you couldn’t worry about it right now, you had to worry about yourself.
The warriors eyes were on you again. His steely gaze caused you to flinch back and hide behind your mother like a scared child. He chuckled. "A little shy, are we?" His voice was a low murmur. He was seemingly satisfied by your reaction. Your body tensed, your throat tightened, you wanted to cry from being under so much stress. "Lucky. That's how I like 'em." He threw another cocky glance in your father's direction. He obviously wanted to provoke him, and he succeeded.
With an angry scream, your father attacked the armored warrior. His fist was closed tight to the point his knuckles turned white, but his resistance against the strangers' orders was short-lived. The warrior drew his sword, with such ease that one could think it weighted nothing more than a feather. The sight made you want to puke as your father got impaled on the sharp weapon. Time went by slowly, the event just barely registered in your brain as you had to watch your father stumble back, clutching his hand over the wound, choking up blood and eventually going down to the floor with a dull thud.
The world went silent for a second before your mother let out a gut-wrenching scream. She dropped to her knees and crawled over to her husband. She cradled his face, begging him not to die and to stand back up, but it was pointless. His heart had stopped beating shortly after being pierced by the sword. You were left standing on weak legs, wide-eyed and unprotected. Just what the warrior wanted.
He put his sword back into its scabbard before walking up to you to pull you against him. His arm was wrapped around your waste, the metal of his armor poked into your soft sides. He apparently didn't think you would struggle because his grip wasn't particularly tight. You began to squirm. "No, no, no! Let me go!" You yelled at him, put your hands on his shoulder, and tried to push him away.
The only thing your actions did was earn yourself an eye roll from him and a more firm grip on your waste. "Yes, yes, yes!" It was clear that he was mocking you. "Don't make it harder than it needs to be." He muttered as he roughly pulled you with him out of your home.
You screamed and wriggled in his hold, hitting him and trying everything to get out of his grip. You even yelled for your mother, but she didn't react. She was staring at your dead father. She was completely apathetic, to the point she didn't even notice the abduction of her own mother.
"Jongho! Did no one teach you that you don't drag the ladies screaming and kicking out of their house?" A male voice called out, followed by a hyena like laugh. You looked into the direction the voice came from. It was a man with blonde hair, a boyish grin decorating his lips, and blood was sprinkled all over his face and armor.
The man earned himself an angry glare from the one who dragged you out along with him. "Shut it, Wooyoung! How about you get your ass back on your horse? We're done here."
Jongho kept dragging you with him. Your resistance was useless. He managed to pull you with him with the same kind of ease he could draw his sword. He led you to a pitch-black horse. It looked just as mean as its rider. Tears of terror rolled down your face as your mind slowly began to process this quick follow-up of events. "Let go!" You whimpered, your voice was high-pitched and cracked occasionally.
The warrior stopped. His head turned toward you, but his eyes were still as cold and steely as before. "Why are you crying?" With his free hand, he gripped your face. The metal of his armor was now also poking into the skin of your face. He held you still and moved his face closer to yours. Unexpectedly, his tongue darted out and licked away the tears that had escaped your eyes. You flinched back as much as you could with his hold on you, your nose scrunched up, and your body shivered with disgust at the wet feeling of his tongue on your cheek. "Don't worry. Your life will be good as my wife." He murmured with a soft tone, but instead of soothing you, it only made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
"Oh come on Jongho, did you never learn -" The voice of the man from before was heard again, you remembered Jongho calling him Wooyoung. He never got to finish what he wanted to say because Jongho's head shot up and locked his burning gaze on the blonde. "One more word, and you'll join the peasants under the ground!" That was enough to make Wooyoung shut up, he just raised his hands to show that he had given up and walked to his horse to avoid Jongho's path.
Now that Wooyoung was dealt with, you were back in Jongho's fixation. You were still struggling, although your attempts seemed almost pathetic. That was what he was probably thinking too, because a mocking grin tugged at his lips while he watched you squirm like a worm in a bird's beak. "That's enough, settle down."
His patience with you was running out, and when you still resisted, despite his stern order to settle down, he backhanded you across the face. A few of his men turned their head to see what was happening before quickly turning away again to stow away their looted goods, deciding that it wouldn't be worth it to mingle with Jongho's business. Your cheek was left red and warm, pulsating with pain. His slap would have already been powerful in itself, but the metallic gloves of his armor intensified the impact even more.
You held your warm cheek and looked up to the warrior in shock. The stinging pain forced tears to well up in your eyes again. "You'll need to learn some manners before you can mother my future children." He saw the look of horror on your face when he mentioned having children and chuckled lowly. The only thing you would remember from this moment was how emotionless his eyes looked. His brown eyes seemed black, the light of the burning houses behind you reflected in his dark eyes. He took the opportunity of you freezing up again and hoisted you up on his horse.
He joined you behind you so he could wrap his arms around your waist while he held the reigns. With a whistle, he signaled his men to mount up and get ready to leave. As you were forcefully taken with them, you turned your head to see the destruction they had caused in your hometown. Several buildings were burning down, black smoke disappeared into the black night sky, and a few corpses were lying around, some of them you even knew.
"Why me?" You asked when you turned around and stared forward. You could imagine how your mother must be feeling right now. Just like you, she lost everything in just one night.
You heard his chuckle from behind you, but there wasn't any humor in it. "Why not?"
Outraged you snapped your head around, your eyes were blazing with fury. "What do you mean, 'why not'?
"I mean exactly what I said. Why not. Do I need a reason to take you with me?" He asked. The men that were riding behind him were as quiet as the night, trying to hear what their General was saying. "Good, you want a reason? I think you'd look pretty in my bed. Does that satisfy you?" You saw the dirty smirk on his lips and quickly turned away again. You pressed your lips into a thin line. You wanted to scream but held it in the back of your throat. Still, a small frustrated sound left your mouth that only earned yourself another chuckle from Jongho.
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makeitmingi · 8 months
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Meet My Chaos
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Genre: Romance, Fluff, Comedy
Pairing: Jongho x Reader (y/n)
Characters: Girlfriend!Reader, Boyfriend!Jongho, Friends!Ateez
Summary: After dating you for a bit and maintaining secrecy, Jongho knew you are the one he wants to introduce to his family. While you have met his real family, there's another family that he's been slightly reluctant to let you meet.
Word count: 3.6K
[A/N: I didn't want this to be SUPER fluffy. Just comforting and because I miss Jongho. I'm glad his surgery went well and that he is resting and recuperating.]
"I don't think I've ever seen you this nervous, Jongho." San rested his head on his hand as he watched the youngest pace up and down in the living room.
"Seonghwa hyung, did you help clear Hongjoong's room yet?" Ignoring the older, Jongho went to find the oldest of the group. He had Seonghwa come early in the day to help clean up the dorm since the oldest was known to be the cleanest.
"You know, I don't understanding why we have to clean the bedrooms too." Hongjoong scoffed.
"Less talking, more mopping." Seonghwa ordered.
"I want everything to be ready and presentable." Jongho said, going to where Wooyoung and Mingi were in the kitchen, preparing some small snacks. Yeosang was plating the few take out they got.
"Ah, Yunho hyung!" Jongho yelled when Yunho spilled some rice cake sauce on the counter. He grumbled as he grabbed some kitchen towels to wipe it up quickly.
The 7 older boys watched their youngest with slight fear and amusement. Fear of his wrath and amusement of how he was acting.
"Calm down, Jongho ah. Things are going to be fine." Hongjoong comforted as he entered the kitchen.
"I just want things to be perfect."
"She already likes you enough to be dating you for so long. I don't think a few dirty dishes are going to make her like you any less. Plus, it shows that you're human." Wooyoung shrugged. Jongho shot him a flat look, threatening to throw his house slipper at him. Wooyoung yelped and ducked behind Mingi.
"Hongjoong hyung! Jongho is being a bully again!" Wooyoung complained. Jongho rolled his eyes, taking his phone out from his pocket to send a text message.
'Let me know when you're here. I'll come down and get you. - Jongho'
'Mmm... I'm 10 minutes away, I think! - (y/n)'
"She's 10 minutes away. Those that need to get changed into presentable clothes, please go change now." Jongho announced. He needed to change too.
"Do we need our suits?" San teased, earning a glare from Jongho as he went to his bedroom to change into a fresh set of clothes.
"Everyone ready?" Jongho asked as the 7 sat down in the living room.
"Yeah. Everything and everyone is ready." Yunho said. Even though they tease Jongho, they didn't want to add to his stress so they did try their best to be more of a help than a burden. Jongho's phone rang and he stepped aside to answer it.
"Hello?... Mmm, you're downstairs? Okay, I'll come down now..." Jongho spoke, not being able to help the small smile that crept onto his face at the sound of your voice.
"I'll go down and get her." Jongho informed and left the dorm. When Jongho stepped out of the lift, he saw you standing there.
You looked so pretty, dressed in a baby blue sundress with white flowers. You rocked on your heels as you waited patiently for Jongho to pick you.
"Aein (sweetheart) ah." Jongho called out to you. You lifted your head at the sound of his voice.
"Oh, Jongho." You waved with a smile. Jongho jogged over to you. When he stood in front of you, his arm slipped around your waist to pull you in and give you a greeting kiss on your temple.
"What's all this?" He laughed at the paper bags by your feet.
"I bought some desserts and drinks for your hyungs. I don't know what they really like so I went a little overboard. And I bought you the katsu sandwich you like." You said sheepishly, embarrassed by how much you bought. Jongho patted your head, you always bought him something savoury, remembering that he isn't a fan of sweets.
"You didn't need to bring anything, aein. It must have been hard carrying all this on your own in the train." He said, picking up the bags to carry.
"No, it's fine. Plus, I want to make a good impression on your hyungs." You giggled shyly.
"They'll like you just as you are, not by the gifts you bring." He smiled as you began to walk with him back to the lift lobby.
"Your words are biased." You hit his arm.
"If I like you, the hyungs will too. Don't worry. I'm honestly more concerned that they like you too much. A lot of them show their affection through skinship..." He sighed as you pressed the lift button.
"I'll stick to your side then. You can protect me." You reached up to kiss his cheek.
"Yeah, if they know what's good for them, they'll know to back off and not try anything." He rolled his eyes, making you laugh. You knew Jongho's strength was something the others were scared of. You both stepped into the lift and Jongho pressed the button of the floor.
"I hope you didn't bully them into preparing too much for our meeting today." You said.
"There's no such thing as too much when it comes to you." Jongho said, transferring the bags into one hand to free up the other. He laced fingers with you.
"Have you seriously not met her before?" Wooyoung asked Hongjoong and Seonghwa. The two oldest shook their heads.
"I've met her before." Yeosang raised his hand.
"You have?! When?! Why have you not mentioned this?" The others all made a fuss. Jongho had kept you and your relationship very well hidden from all the nosy hyungs for quite a while.
"Yeah, I have. We went out for lunch together and Jongho introduced us." Yeosang nodded his head.
"WHAT?!" Not only has Yeosang met you, he even had a meal with you.
"Probably because Yeosang is the most 'presentable' and 'mature' one." Mingi scoffed. That was when they heard the door open and Jongho's light laughter, as well as your voice, sounded throughout the dorm. The 7 sat there, like puppies waiting for their owner to release them from the wait command.
"I've never heard him laugh like that before." San mumbled. Wooyoung nodded in agreement. They peered down the hall to see if you were coming but you and Jongho seemed to linger by the door.
"Why are you so nervous? I think in this situation I should be the nervous one!" You giggled as Jongho stopped at the door way.
"Ah, they can just be... loud. And overwhelming for people meeting them for the first time." Jongho rubbed the back of his neck as he squeezed your hand that he was holding.
"I'm sure they're lovely." You said.
"Just come in already!" Seonghwa yelled, getting tired of waiting for you two. Jongho sighed while you laughed. He began walking first, leading you to the living room with you trailing behind him.
"Hyungs... this is (y/n). (y/n), meet my 7 Ateez hyungs. Of course, you've met Yeosang hyung before." Jongho introduced as all 7 stood up. You waved to Yeosang, recognising the familiar face. He smiled and waved to you.
"Hello. It's nice to finally meet all of you." You waved shyly. The 7 all melted at how cute you were.
They've never even seen a picture of you before. The only picture Jongho had of you was his KakaoTalk chat background and that was a picture of the back of your head.
"Hyungs... Say hello." Jongho said through gritted teeth when he noticed that they were just frozen there, staring at you.
"Oh, right. Sorry. Hi there. I'm glad we're finally able to meet you. I'm Hongjoong." Hongjoong was the first to reach out and shake your hand. You nodded with a smile, shaking his hand.
"Hongjoong, the captain." You giggled. Jongho had shown you photos of them before, telling you all their names.
"I'm Seonghwa, the oldest." You went through all of them as they introduced themselves to you with a handshake. When you reached Yeosang, you and him shared a friendly hug of familiarity. Jongho watched an endearing smile, he knew you secretly watched Ateez videos to learn and memorise their names.
"You're so cute!" Wooyoung pulled you into a hug. You blinked in surprise but laughed, patting his back. With a small frown, Jongho came between you, pushing Wooyoung away gently.
"Please don't do that, hyung." Jongho mumbled.
"I brought some cakes and pastries for everyone." You said, gesturing to the paper bags that Jongho was carrying for you.
"That's very nice of you, (y/n). Thank you. But really, you didn't need to bring anything." Seonghwa smiled kindly, making your cheeks heat up.
"Go put these in the fridge." He gestured for Mingi to help Jongho take the bags into the kitchen to keep the cakes. Jongho came back out with a glass of water for you.
"Here, (y/n)." He handed it to you. You bowed your head and took the glass to sip the water. Jongho never really liked calling you 'aein' or other endearments in front of others. It was just one of the things he liked to keep private and you were fine with that.
"Hyung, move." Jongho shooed San away from the armchair so you could sit down.
"Jongho!" You lightly hit his arm in shock at the way he chased his hyung away. He just shrugged, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Please, it's okay. You don't have to move. I can sit wherever." You said, bowing apologetically to San.
"It's fine. Please sit." San shook his head with a kind smile, sitting between Wooyoung and Yunho on the couch. Jongho sat on the arm rest to ensure that he's near you.
After you've been dating for a while, you and Jongho agreed that it was time to meet each other's families. While you've met Jongho's parents and brother, you also wanted to meet his Ateez family. He does live with them and is with them most of the time like a real family so you should meet them too.
But Jongho, being Jongho, had always kept his personal life very private, even from Ateez. He was worried you would be "scared off" by how loud and chaotic they could be.
"So Jongho said you're a freshman in university? What do you study?" Yunho asked.
"Yeah, I'm a double biology major, specialising in Molecular Cell Biology and Microbiology." You informed.
"Oh wow. It must not be easy having to juggle a double major." Mingi said, impressed by how smart with were. You rubbed the back your neck, nodding.
"It's not easy... I only did it because I was indecisive on what I wanted to specialise in." You said shyly.
"They both sound like promising fields." Hongjoong laughed and you nodded with a giggle. Jongho watched you conversed with his hyungs, how easily you clicked and carried a conversation with them. He felt a little more relieved that you all got along.
"You're so smart. Then how did you meet Jongho?" Wooyoung asked in amazement. Jongho would have punched him but you were around so he abstained.
"Hyung..." Jongho glared warningly.
"We've actually been friends since high school. Then we reconnected at a reunion dinner." You smiled up at Jongho.
"Mhmm." Jongho hummed in confirmation as he smiled softly at you, patting your head. He held your hand, casually resting your interlocked hands on his thigh.
"Oh, I bought drinks too. Let me give them out." You remembered, going to the kitchen where the bag of drinks were. Jongho trailed behind you to help carry the bag to the living room.
"I hope I got the orders right... Iced americano for Jongho, Wooyoung and Mingi. Iced americano decaf for San, hot latte for Hongjoong, iced caramel macchiato for Yunho and Yeosang. And the none coffee drink they had was strawberry ade. That's for Seonghwa." You gave out the drinks to each of the members.
"That's right. I'm guessing Jongho told you our favourite drink orders?" Mingi blinked.
"I didn't..." Jongho shook his head.
"I remembered you've mentioned them in passing before. But I admit, I had some help with the information Atinys put on the internet." You confessed.
"Well, thank you for remembering and taking the time to research. You really didn't have to." Yunho smiled, sipping his drink.
"This is yours." You handed the iced americano to Jongho.
"Thanks. I can't believe you remembered me saying all that. Even I don't remember saying it myself." Jongho said to you softly, poking his straw into the drink.
"You never know, the information might come in handy one day. Like today." You smiled. Jongho mirrored your soft smile. He noticed the members immersed in their own conversations and quickly leaned in to give you a peck.
"I saw that!" Wooyoung pointed. Jongho pursed his lips and looked away to hide his shyness. You giggled, patting his hand.
"Don't tease them." Yeosang scolded.
"Can we eat now? I'm hungry." San suddenly asked. Hongjong facepalmed but turned to Jongho, who nodded. They all went to take the food that was prepared, leaving you and Jongho behind.
"Sorry." Jongho held your hands, more comfortable now that you two were alone.
"Nothing to be sorry about." You kissed his cheek. All the Ateez members have been very nice and welcoming to you.
"Come. Let's take some food before they finish it all." Jongho led you to the kitchen. He got two plates, instinctively kind of blocking you protectively so you could take food peacefully. The others got their food and Seonghwa rushed them out so you and Jongho could have some private time on your own.
"Want chicken?" You turned to him. Jongho nodded and you put a few pieces on his plate.
"Remember to take some for yourself too, aein." He reminded, looking at how you were taking food for him only.
"I will." You nodded and put some food on your own plate. It was cute, you taking food for yourself and Jongho while Jongho's free hand naturally came to rest of your waist.
"Wait, I'll get another plate to put the pasta so we can share." Jongho left you momentarily and came back with a new plate for you. He held it while you put some of the pasta on, enough for you to share.
"Do you want some rice?" You asked.
"I don't want carb on carb. And you know I'd rather eat more meat later." He shook his head and you laughed.
The other Ateez members watched in silent awe and shock, this side of Jongho was something they have never witnessed before. He smiled and laughed at the littlest things you did and was the one constantly initiating physical skinship with you.
"Jongho, I can carry my own plate." You insisted while laughing.
"You get the cutlery, aein. I got the plates, I promise I won't drop the food." Jongho smiled as he struggled a little to balance the 3 plates. Despite that, he still waited for you.
Obviously he didn't know the hyungs were watching and listening to him. When the two of you came back to sit in the living room, the 7 immediately acted like they were doing something else.
"Thank you for preparing all the food. It looks really good." You said.
"Hope you enjoy it. There's more than enough for you to get seconds." Seonghwa smiled.
"Yes, yes, eat more." Yunho insisted. Even as you all ate, the 7 hyungs secretly observed you and Jongho. The way Jongho removed the shells from the seafood for you and how you removed the meat off the bones for him. It was something you did for each other habitually that it was second nature.
"Sorry, may I use the washroom?" You apologised and asked. Jongho led you to the toilet. You made him go back, not wanting him to wait for you.
"Relax, she's just using the toilet." Wooyoung teased, seeing Jongho repeatedly turn to the hallway where the toilet was. Jongho huffed, pursing his lips and looking away.
"She's nice and cute." San complimented.
"She is." Jongho nodded, a light blush on his cheeks. You were beyond cute to Jongho, he could never describe it. Whenever Jongho looked at you, he saw this glow around you.
"At least we don't just know what the back of her head looks like anymore." Mingi snickered.
"You weren't even supposed to know about her." Jongho corrected.
The one time Jongho slips up was letting Yunho borrow his phone to text Mingi and Yunho seeing the KakaoTalk background. Jongho was careful, having that as his only picture of you since he assumed it was private. None of his others devices had you as the wallpaper.
But Yunho couldn't contain his shock, loudly asking Jongho who 'that girl' was and that got the attention of the other nosy hyung. Luckily it was just a photo he took of you looking out the window.
"I'm back." You came back, drying your hands with a tissue from the toilet. You and Jongho sat down and continued to eat your food.
"Yah! You made me spill the sauce." Wooyoung yelled as Mingi hit him while standing up to get more food.
"I tripped over Yunho's foot. And besides, you should have moved when you saw me get up." They bickered. Jongho sighed, pinching his nose bridge at how his hyungs acted.
"If you're going to argue, do it in the room. We have a guest." Seonghwa stepped in to mediate the fight. You couldn't help but giggle, they all easily bickered over small things like siblings but just like siblings, they never took things to heart.
"I told you, I never forget I'm the youngest. They just forget that they're older." Jongho leaned over to tell you.
When everyone was done eating, none of them let you help with the dishes when you offered but you did insist on wiping the table that they used to eat on.
"Aein, let me do it." Jongho bent down beside you.
"It's wiping a table, I can do it. It's the least I can do since you all don't let me do anything else to help." You chuckled.
"You're the guest. You shouldn't be doing anything." He reasoned. However, San was talking to Mingi and walking backwards, not noticing you crouched by the table. He tripped over you.
"Be careful!" Fortunately, Jongho had fast instincts and strength, lifting you up and practically hauling you onto his lap. He saved you from being squished by San while the male just landed onto the ground where you previous were. He winced in pain from the impact of his butt hitting the ground.
"HYUNG!" Jongho roared.
"Jongho, I'm fine. It's okay. It was an accident." You put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. You knew he was upset. Jongho's arms remained secured around your waist.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, (y/n). Are you alright?" San scrambled to you.
"Yes, I'm okay. What about you? You took quite a fall." You asked, worried about the impact of his fall on his tail bone.
"I'm fine. Don't worry. I'm sorry" He smiled, a sign that he didn't hurt himself too badly. The others came out of the kitchen, having heard the commotion and Jongho's yell.
"What happened?"
"It's fine. There was just a small accident." You assured, turning to Jongho, who just pursed his lips into a thin line, frowning at you. Jongho was very protective of you and always worrying about you. He never verbally expressed himself much but you knew.
"No more cleaning, come here." Jongho mumbled, holding your hand to lead you away. You hummed and follow him, not wanting to argue with him.
"Go ahead and start eating the dessert." He said to his hyungs before leading you into his bedroom and closed the door.
"Jongho, are you okay?" You asked worriedly.
"That scared me, aein." He sighed, walking over and letting his head fall onto your shoulder. Now that the two of you were alone, Jongho was more relaxed about being close with you.
"Sorry." You apologised, rubbing his back while iis arms hung by his side. You felt bad for causing this to happen.
"Don't apologise, pabo. You didn't even do anything wrong." He mumbled. With another sigh, he finally lifted up his head to look at you. Seeing you stare into his eyes, blinking innocently made him chuckle. He reached up to hold your cheek with his hand and gave you a sweet peck.
"Honestly, aein, I'm really happy you're here and finally got to meet my hyungs." He confessed, ears turning red. His arms loosely coiled around your waist.
"Me too. They're very nice and funny." You giggled.
"I'm glad that you're having a nice time with them then." He said, sitting down with you on his bed.
"Sure, they like to tease me and I don't always partake in their shenanigans or express myself as much as they do but they accept me for who I am. Just like you." He held your hands in his.
"You're amazing, Jongho. For being you. There's no comparison when you're your real, true self. That's who I fell in love with and continue to love." You said. Jongho didn't have much self confidence but there was so much to love about him.
"You meeting my Ateez family today after meeting my family. It's like all my worlds are becoming one."
"Thank you for letting me meet them. They're all great people, I can see why you adore them so much." You hugged him. Jongho hugged you tightly.
"They are good people. They make me a better person. Even if they can be quite chaotic from time to time." He chuckled.
"But that's what makes you guys a family right? They are your chaos." You pointed out.
"Yeah... They are." Jongho smiled softly.
And he wouldn't have it any other way.
390 notes · View notes
edenesth · 7 months
Text
Guarding Hearts
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Pairing: bodyguard!Jongho x actress!reader
AU: fake marriage au
Word Count: 15k
Summary: In the glittering world of fame, you're an actress haunted by an obsessive stalker hell-bent on claiming your life. To protect you, your management hires Jongho, a bodyguard, to pose as your fake husband. While danger escalates, so do the sparks between you. As his feelings for you deepen beyond the bounds of professionalism, will he still manage to uphold his role as a dedicated bodyguard?
A/N: Missing Jongho hours are officially open.
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"That's it, we must do something about this."
Seonghwa declared, his voice tinged with frustration and worry. His eyes scanned the surroundings, ever watchful for any sign of danger.
"This can't go on any longer. Your safety is our top priority."
The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a dim glow over the bustling streets of Seoul. You stood outside your apartment building, your heart still pounding from the latest terrifying encounter with your relentless stalker. The night air was crisp, a stark contrast to the fear that had gripped you just moments ago.
Seonghwa, your dedicated manager, stood beside you, his brows furrowed in deep concern.
He had been by your side since the beginning of your skyrocketing career, and now, as your fame had reached new heights, so had the dangers that came with it.
You nodded, trembling as you recounted the chilling details of the latest attempt on your life. The stalker's death threats and claims of ownership had escalated beyond terrifying emails and letters. This time, he had boldly attempted to abduct you, coming dangerously close to success.
The fame you had achieved was a double-edged sword.
While it brought you adoration from fans worldwide, it also attracted the attention of those who harboured dangerous obsessions. Your stalker was the most notorious among them, his fixation on you spiralling into madness.
Seonghwa's face hardened with determination as he pulled out his phone, "We need to take drastic measures. We'll bring in the police, but in the meantime, I have another idea."
Your heart raced, anxiety twisting your stomach as you wondered what drastic measures he had in mind.
You had no choice but to trust your manager, the man who had always been there for you. As the city's neon lights flickered in the distance, you braced yourself for this terrifying ordeal, knowing that whatever he had planned was your best chance at escaping the clutches of your stalker.
God, help me. Please let this plan work.
The meeting room's dimly lit interior provided a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed your life. Seated beside your manager, you stared blankly at the conference table, your hands trembling uncontrollably.
The fear that had taken hold of you since the last kidnap attempt seemed to have permanently etched itself onto your every nerve.
Without a word, Seonghwa noticed your trembling hands and covered them with his own, offering a comforting and grounding touch. His warm, reassuring squeeze provided a small moment of solace in the midst of your turmoil.
"You're not alone in this," He whispered, his eyes filled with empathy, "The label and I are here for you. We're going to do everything in our power to keep you safe."
Forcing a smile to reassure him, you nodded, even though you still had no idea what drastic measures he and the management team had planned to protect you. The uncertainty weighed heavily on your mind, but you didn't want to burden him with your fears. He had been your pillar of strength throughout your career, and you didn't want to add to the immense pressure he was already under.
As the meeting began, Seonghwa and the management team laid out their plan to safeguard your life and reputation. They discussed everything from increasing security personnel to contacting the police, but the most unexpected proposal was yet to come.
Your manager cleared his throat, his gaze steady as he addressed you, "In addition to these security measures, we have another idea that we believe will provide an added layer of protection for you. It's a bold step, but we think it's necessary given the circumstances."
Curiosity mingled with apprehension as you leaned in, eager to hear the details of this mysterious plan.
"We've taken the liberty of hiring a highly trained bodyguard," Seonghwa began, his voice carrying the weight of the decision they had made collectively, "Someone with an impeccable record, renowned for his unwavering commitment to his client's safety."
A hushed tension filled the room as everyone waited with bated breath for him to reveal the identity of this formidable guardian.
Images of a faceless protector, cloaked in secrecy and strength, danced through your mind. The idea of having a dedicated guardian was reassuring, but it was the next part of Seonghwa's revelation that would change everything.
With an air of solemnity, he continued, "This bodyguard will be by your side at all times, ensuring your safety and keeping a close watch on any potential threats."
A bodyguard sounded reasonable, even expected, given the circumstances, but the bombshell that followed caught you completely off guard.
"He will be your fake husband."
Time seemed to slow as those words sank in.
A fake husband?
It was a proposition so unexpected that it felt surreal.
The notion of a fake husband as a security measure was not only unexpected but bewildering. You were an actress, well-versed in the art of portraying emotions, but this was a role unlike any other.
Frozen in your chair, you tried to process the magnitude of the revelation. Why would a fake husband be necessary? How would it work? A thousand questions swirled in your mind, but you couldn't voice them, not yet.
Seonghwa's voice broke through the uncertainty that hung in the air.
"Listen, I know this is unconventional, but it's essential. We need to keep you safe, and the police are doing their best, but they need time. Having Jongho," He nodded towards a folder on the table that contained the bodyguard's profile, "By your side as your fake husband will deter the stalker and buy us that time."
Jongho's image stared back at you from the folder, his stern yet reassuring gaze seeming to hold a promise of protection. You finally found your voice, though it wavered.
"But... a fake husband? How is that going to work?"
Your manager leaned back in his chair, his expression grave but determined, "It won't be easy, and it will demand a lot from both of you. But Jongho is one of the best in the business, and he's committed to keeping you safe. This is the most effective way to ensure your security while we deal with the stalker."
The gravity of the situation began to settle in, and you nodded slowly, understanding the necessity of the plan. It was a drastic step, but it seemed like the only option to protect your life and put an end to the relentless threats.
After the meeting adjourned, there was no time to waste.
You were immediately introduced to your bodyguard and newly appointed fake husband. As you stepped out of the meeting room, he was waiting patiently just outside, his presence exuding an air of unshakable composure.
His imposing figure drew your attention, and for a brief moment, you felt a flutter of uncertainty. But as he approached with a composed yet welcoming demeanour, he extended his hand with a warm smile.
"Hello, I'm Choi Jongho. It's a pleasure to meet you."
You shook his hand, the firmness of his grip reassuring and grounding. His politeness and the absence of any star-struck behaviour felt like a breath of fresh air in a world where you were often treated as nothing but a celebrity.
It was a refreshing change to encounter someone who didn't view you through the lens of fame and adulation.
For the first time in a long while, you didn't feel like the version of you who was an actress, pursued by the media and adoring fans. Instead, you were just you, a person who needed protection and support. It was a stark departure from the world you knew, but somehow, it felt like a sanctuary amidst the storm of your life.
Seonghwa, always efficient and focused on your safety, wasted no time in facilitating the initial introductions between you and Jongho.
In those first few moments, you exchanged basic information about yourselves, learning small details like your favourite food and hobbies. It was a surface-level exchange, but even those initial conversations helped break the ice and ease the tension that hung in the air.
But as your manager guided the conversation toward more serious matters, you couldn't escape the inevitable reality of your new situation. The "fake marriage" aspect of the plan loomed over you like uncharted territory.
"In light of recent events, Jongho will be moving into your apartment immediately," Seonghwa explained, his voice calm but authoritative, "You will need to start portraying yourselves as a married couple as soon as possible. This will provide the most convincing cover for your safety."
The weight of the decision settled heavily in the room.
It meant a complete upheaval of your daily life, your personal space now shared with a stranger who would become your fake husband. It was a leap into the unknown, and you felt a mixture of anxiety and curiosity about how this would unfold.
Jongho nodded in agreement, his expression resolute, "I'm here to ensure your safety. We'll need to learn about each other on the go, but I'm confident we can make this work."
With that assurance, Seonghwa guided the two of you through the practicalities of the arrangement – sharing living spaces, developing a cover story, and establishing boundaries that would maintain the illusion of a real marriage while preserving your individual lives.
As you stood at the threshold of this uncharted chapter, you wondered how this unconventional partnership would evolve.
The line between reality and pretence was about to blur, and the world as you knew it was changing faster than you could have ever imagined.
Truth be told, when Jongho first received the job offer, he had been reluctant to accept it.
As he found himself thrust into this new assignment, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and thoughts swirled within him. It wasn't because he lacked the skills or experience; in fact, his reputation as one of the best bodyguards in the business had earned him this opportunity.
It was something else entirely that had fueled his hesitancy.
In his career, he had grown a firm dislike for what he referred to as the "elite" group of society, those who lived lives of opulence and extravagance, seemingly detached from the struggles of ordinary people. He viewed famous celebrities, including actresses like you, as a part of that elite circle.
His stereotype about such individuals had, therefore, created a barrier in his mind.
Jongho has never watched any of your dramas or movies, but he had heard of your recent surge in popularity. The news of your obsessive stalker had also reached his ears, given the extensive media coverage. It was a case that struck a chord with the public, and he was aware of the fear and distress you must have been experiencing.
Given the chance, he wanted to reject the job, convinced there were plenty of other bodyguards who would willingly step into his shoes.
But there was more at stake than just the assignment.
His career had been building up to this moment, the coveted promotion he had worked tirelessly to achieve. It was the role he had aspired to, a stepping stone towards his goals.
So here he stood, determined to do his job to the best of his abilities, even if it meant breaking through the barriers of his own prejudices. The prospect of playing the role of your husband, even in pretence, was a challenge he was willing to embrace.
Jongho's initial reluctance and preconceived notions faded away the moment he laid eyes on you for the first time.
Unlike the polished image he had seen on TV screens, the real you appeared before him, vulnerable and worn out from the constant state of anxiety you had endured. It was a stark contrast to the glamorous persona he had expected, and it made you seem profoundly... human.
As he observed your anxiety and exhaustion, his heart softened. He realised that beneath the fame and adulation, you were just a person dealing with an overwhelming threat.
He couldn't bring himself to act cold or distant to someone who had already endured so much.
A warm and assuring smile graced his lips as he greeted you, his heart fluttering when he realised how small your hand felt in his grasp. It was a subtle reminder of the fragility hidden behind your celebrity status.
But as Seonghwa delved into the arrangements, Jongho's heart sank. The reality of the situation hit him like a heavyweight, and he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead. Protecting you was one thing, but playing the role of your husband was an entirely different challenge, one he hadn't anticipated.
Deep down, he longed for the assignment to be over already, the thought of pretending to be your husband weighing heavily on him.
But he knew that this unconventional partnership was a necessity, and he was committed to carrying out his duties to ensure your safety, no matter the personal toll it might take.
Seated in a private room with Seonghwa, you and Jongho did your best to digest the shocking news.
Your manager briefed both of you on the press release that would soon be handed to the mass media. According to the plan, it would be reported as breaking news that you had been secretly married all along, and your husband had decided to reveal himself to protect you, especially given the escalating danger posed by your stalker.
As Seonghwa outlined the details of the fabricated narrative, you felt a gnawing anxiety deep within.
Thoughts of your fans, supporters, and even your loved ones raced through your mind. How would they react to this sudden revelation? What would they think of your secret marriage? The fear of their disappointment and confusion weighed heavily on your heart.
Jongho, on the other hand, had a different set of worries.
As a seasoned bodyguard, he knew that maintaining a low profile was essential to his job's effectiveness.
This orchestrated marriage announcement could potentially place a target on his back, complicating an already challenging task of protecting you. The last thing he needed was added attention and scrutiny that could hinder his ability to keep you safe.
Silent tension hung in the room as you and Jongho exchanged knowing glances, each of you grappling with your own fears and uncertainties.
But you both understood the necessity of this deception and the lengths you were willing to go to ensure your safety.
With heavy hearts, you nodded in agreement, bracing yourselves for the whirlwind of changes that would soon engulf your lives, as the world believed you were a married couple, bound by a secret that was born out of necessity and desperation.
As a week passed since the news of your secret marriage had been reported, life had taken on a new rhythm, one that neither you nor Jongho could have anticipated. The initial days had been a whirlwind of chaos, with paparazzi swarming your home, their intrusive presence feeling like a relentless storm.
But in a strange twist of fate, you found a silver lining in the hordes of journalists camped outside your door. Their constant vigilance, though exhausting, had inadvertently scared away your stalker. The sheer number of people surrounding your home made it nearly impossible for him to make any further attempts on your life.
In the midst of this media circus, you had grown more accustomed to the idea of sharing your life with Jongho.
While the circumstances of your cohabitation were far from ordinary, you appreciated the security and support he provided. His presence brought a sense of reassurance, knowing that he was close by, ready to rush to your aid if needed.
Meanwhile, Jongho had experienced his own set of surprises.
When he first entered your home, he had expected an extravagant setting, in line with his stereotype about celebrities and their lavish lifestyles. But what he found was quite the opposite.
Your living space was surprisingly simplistic and unpretentious, more like an ordinary person's home than a famous actress' residence.
This unexpected discovery helped him view you in an entirely new light. You were not the distant and fancy elite he had imagined, but a person living a life marked by both fame and vulnerability. The contrast between your public image and your private life made you appear more relatable and human to him, bridging the gap between his prejudices and the reality he now faced.
The two of you had been effectively holed up in your home for a week, attempting to avoid the ever-present paparazzi.
But today, reality caught up with you as you glanced into your nearly empty fridge, realising you had run out of groceries to make dinner. With a heavy sigh, you turned to your bodyguard, knowing there was no other choice, "Jongho, we need to stock up on groceries."
Your fake husband nodded in understanding.
He was acutely aware of the restrictions this new life imposed on both of you. His job was to stay by your side at all times, ensuring your safety, which meant he couldn't leave you home alone. His gaze shifted to the window, where a sea of journalists and photographers continued to camp out.
"Gosh, this won't be easy," He muttered to himself, his brow furrowing as he assessed the situation outside, "But we can do this. I won't let anything happen to you."
You were struck by the genuine concern in his voice, and your heart fluttered in response. His words were a reassurance you desperately needed in the midst of this whirlwind of deception and danger. But you quickly reminded yourself that he was only doing his job, his duty to protect you.
Any personal feelings that might have stirred were irrelevant.
With a nod, you headed off to change, giving yourself a moment to regain your composure. The unexpected connection that had begun to form between you was something you couldn't ignore, but for now, it had to take a backseat to the more pressing matters at hand.
The journey from your home to the car was a daunting one, with the paparazzi surging forward the moment they caught sight of you and your "husband" stepping outside. The excitement among the journalists was palpable, and they bombarded you with endless questions about your secret marriage.
Jongho, determined to play his role and protect you, reacted swiftly.
He wrapped his strong arms securely around you, creating a protective barrier against the onslaught of cameras and questions. As he guided you toward the car, his grip was both reassuring and comforting, serving as a lifeline in the chaos.
In a moment of vulnerability, you instinctively clung to him, seeking refuge from the overwhelming media frenzy. You pressed your head against his chest, under his chin, as he held you close. His embrace was a source of solace, and you couldn't deny the comfort of having such a reliable protector by your side.
As you settled into the car, the chaos of the paparazzi finally fading into the background, Jongho pulled away slightly to check on you.
His concern was evident as he asked, "Hey, you okay?"
You nodded, a faint smile on your lips as you met his gaze, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you for your hard work." The warmth in your voice conveyed your appreciation for his protection.
He returned your smile, his eyes reflecting a sense of duty fulfilled. He turned the key to start the car and helped you fasten your seatbelt before glancing over at you, "This is nothing. Let's just hope my work won't have to get any more difficult than this."
As he navigated the car towards the closest supermarket, you couldn't help but steal a glance at him.
His dedication and caring nature had not gone unnoticed, and a part of you was grateful for his presence in this tumultuous time. But you couldn't ignore the twinge of attraction that had developed, a crush on your fake husband that you were hesitant to acknowledge.
Inwardly, you chided yourself for such feelings, attributing them to the unusual circumstances that had brought the two of you together. You told yourself that perhaps, under different circumstances, you might not have been drawn to him in the same way.
Regardless of the reason, you decided to focus on the task at hand – stocking up on groceries and returning home safely. The complexities of your fake marriage and the emotions it stirred would have to wait for another time.
The next day, after the supermarket mission, you couldn't escape the undeniable truth – photos of you and your "husband" were plastered across all newspapers, magazines, and TV headlines. The world seemed to buzz with speculation and interest in your secret marriage.
In the days since the news broke, you had refrained from accessing any of your social media accounts, afraid of what you might find there. The fear of backlash from your fans and supporters had kept you at bay.
But now, with the images of you and Jongho dominating the media, curiosity got the better of you.
Sitting in front of your computer, you logged on to your social media accounts, heart pounding with anticipation. Your notifications are immediately filled with messages, mentions, and comments. As you began to read through them, a mix of emotions washed over you.
There were those who expressed shock and disbelief, unable to reconcile the image of their beloved celebrity with the idea of a secret marriage. Some were sceptical, suspecting a publicity stunt, while others were genuinely happy for you, despite the unusual circumstances.
As you scrolled through the comments, you noticed a surprising amount of support and understanding from your fans. Messages of encouragement and well wishes outnumbered the negative responses.
It was a relief to see that not everyone had turned their backs on you.
Scrolling further, you inevitably stumble upon a message from your stalker. Just the sight of his name was enough to send a shiver down your spine. Your hands trembled as you hesitantly clicked into the message. The chilling words that met your eyes left you paralysed with fear and anger.
It read, 'How dare you do this to me? After everything I've done for you? You ungrateful bitch, your husband better sleep with one eye open because I don't know what I might do to him.'
Reading those threatening words, you felt a surge of terror and rage.
Your stalker's obsession had taken a dangerous turn, and his threats were now directed at your fake husband. The fear for your safety had intensified, but now you had to worry about Jongho's safety as well.
Your bodyguard's sharp instincts picked up on your trembling form as he walked past your bedroom door.
His years of training had made him hyper-aware of his surroundings, especially when it came to your safety. The moment he noticed your shaken state, he knew something was amiss.
Without hesitation, he knocked on your door, a quiet yet firm signal of his presence. You jumped slightly at the unexpected sound, your heart racing, but the fear in your eyes instantly faded when you saw that it was him. His protective presence was a welcome sight.
Seeing your evident distress, his concern deepened.
"May I come in?" He asked gently, giving you the choice to invite him into your personal space. You nodded weakly, your trembling hands covering your eyes as you struggled to regain your composure.
With utmost care, he entered your room and approached you slowly, ensuring he didn't startle you further.
He knelt down in front of you, his strong and reassuring presence a calming force in the midst of your fear. Gently, he pulled your hands away from your face, his eyes filled with concern as he studied your tear-stained cheeks.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly, his voice laced with empathy and worry. You wiped away your tears, gesturing to the computer where the threatening message from your stalker had appeared.
His expression darkened as he quickly assessed the situation, his heart sinking at the gravity of the threat.
He knew that this was no ordinary situation.
Your safety, as well as his own, was now on the line, and the danger posed by your stalker had escalated to a level neither of you could ignore. As he contemplated the best course of action, he silently vowed to protect you, whatever it took and put an end to the torment that had infiltrated your life.
Jongho wasted no time contacting Seonghwa, your manager, who arrived at your home promptly to check on your well-being and assess the threat sent by your stalker.
Once he was assured that you were physically fine, the three of you settled in your living room to discuss the situation. Jongho, with a deep furrow in his brow, inquired about the progress the police force had made with the case.
Seonghwa sighed loudly, his expression grave, and shook his head, signalling the lack of any substantial progress.
"They're still working on tracking him down," Your manager admitted, his frustration palpable, "But the stalker seems to be using a fake name to leave you messages. There's no such person with that name in their database, and he's done an excellent job concealing his digital footprints and IP address."
The news was disheartening, to say the least.
The realisation that the person responsible for your torment was eluding capture cast a shadow over the room. You felt a sense of vulnerability, knowing that the threat was still out there.
After a thoughtful pause, Jongho voiced his idea, "If he's so difficult to track online, perhaps we need to lure him out physically for them to stand a chance at capturing him." His suggestion hung heavy in the air, and the weight of his proposal was palpable.
Your eyes widened, and your heart sank at the daring plan he was proposing. The thought of being the bait in this dangerous game was undeniably frightening, but you understood the necessity of the approach. Your safety, as well as the safety of others, depended on finding a way to apprehend this stalker.
Seonghwa, though visibly concerned, recognised the validity of Jongho's argument.
After a moment of contemplation, he nodded reluctantly, "Alright," He conceded, his voice laced with worry, "Let me contact the representatives from the police force. Maybe together, we can come up with a plan."
The room was filled with a sense of determination.
Despite the risks and uncertainties that lay ahead, you were all united in your commitment to confront the stalker head-on and put an end to the terror that had plagued your life for far too long.
The following week, two police officers from the team handling your case arrived at your doorstep, accompanied by Seonghwa.
San and Hongjoong, as they introduced themselves, represented the law enforcement effort to capture your stalker. As they settled around your dining table, you chuckled lightly to yourself when you noticed San trying to contain his excitement in your presence.
It was clear that he was a fan of yours.
With all the men now settled around the dining table, you broke the silence, "Oh, let me just prepare you guys some tea."
It was a thoughtful gesture, an attempt to make the situation a bit more comfortable and welcoming. You moved into the kitchen to retrieve your teapot, and before anyone could react, San immediately volunteered to help.
Meanwhile, Jongho's irritation simmered beneath the surface as he watched the enthusiastic display. The officer's eagerness to assist you grated on his nerves, even though he knew it was a trivial matter in the grand scheme of things. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, keeping his emotions in check as best as he could.
With a confident and fluid motion, San effortlessly extended his arm to reach for the teapot on the top shelf. He handled the task with ease, his agility and eagerness on full display.
Jongho clenched his jaw, his internal frustration intensifying. He believed that it should have been his role to assist you, to ensure your comfort and well-being. But he quickly recognised the irrationality of his jealousy; after all, he was your fake husband, not your real one.
As San assisted you in serving tea and biscuits, Hongjoong maintained a polite demeanour, thanking you for the refreshments. He made sure to shoot a warning glare at San, a silent reminder that they were here on official business.
With everyone finally seated, you anxiously positioned yourself between Seonghwa and Jongho, awaiting the officers' ideas for capturing your stalker.
Hongjoong, the team leader for your case, wasted no time in getting down to business. He leaned forward, his expression focused and determined, and began to lay out a few possible plans to draw the stalker out, all of which revolved around you as the bait.
Each plan came with its own risks, and the room fell silent as you, Jongho, and Seonghwa considered the options. It was a difficult decision to make, knowing that your safety hung in the balance.
After hours of intense discussion and weighing the risks and benefits of each plan, a strategy was finally decided upon. It would involve a combination of the decoy strategy and social media bait to lure the stalker out of hiding.
You and Jongho would publicly go on a "date," during which you would post about your outing on social media. These posts would include seemingly innocent clues and hints about your whereabouts, making it appear as if you were sharing this information willingly.
At a prearranged moment, your fake husband would leave your side temporarily, creating a staged situation where you would be alone.
The hope was that this scenario would make you appear vulnerable and an easy target to the stalker, prompting him to make a move. But in reality, undercover officers would be strategically positioned nearby, ready to intervene at the first sign of trouble. The key to the plan's success would be the delicate balance between making it believable and ensuring your safety.
As the details of the plan were finalised, a sense of determination filled the room.
You all knew the risks involved, but you were united in your resolve to finally confront the stalker and put an end to this nightmare. The stage was set, and the countdown to the operation to capture the stalker had begun.
"Relax, I'm right here with you. You'll be safe." Jongho's reassuring voice broke through the fear that gripped your heart.
You were on your staged date with him, with undercover officers discreetly positioned around you. Even with the protective presence of law enforcement, the thought of potentially coming face-to-face with your stalker again made your heart race with anxiety.
Jongho tightened his grip on your hand as you both strolled through a park. You nodded appreciatively, giving his hand a soft squeeze.
Earlier, you had posted a few pictures with him on social media, acting as if you were excitedly sharing the sweet moment with your fans. Your comment section was filled with endless supportive messages. Despite the encouragement, you couldn't shake off the nervousness about what you were about to experience.
The park was serene and peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had engulfed your life.
As you both continued your walk, you glanced around, your senses on high alert, searching for any sign of the stalker's presence. With each step, the tension in the air grew thicker, and the weight of the operation weighed heavily on your shoulders.
The moment you had been dreading finally arrived when you spotted Hongjoong, disguised as a civilian jogging in the park, giving Jongho the signal to leave you alone.
Panic surged through you as Jongho gently sat you down on a nearby bench, his hand tenderly cupping your cheek, "I'll be back real quick, my love," He said, his voice laced with reassurance as he leaned in closer, "Just gotta run to the nearest bathroom. You wait right here, alright?"
You nodded weakly, your eyes trembling as you placed your hand over his, desperately clinging to the sense of safety he provided.
"Okay." You whispered fearfully, your eyes closing briefly as he pressed his lips against your forehead. It was a gesture meant to ground not only you but also himself; the last thing he wanted was to leave your side.
You exhaled shakily as you watched him walk away from you, each step he took filling you with a growing sense of dread and vulnerability. The plan was now set in motion, and all you could do was wait for the moment to strike.
The park remained deceptively peaceful, unlike the turbulent emotions swirling within you.
As you anxiously scanned your surroundings, you knew that this operation marked a critical juncture in your journey to confront your stalker. The minutes felt like an eternity as you braced yourself for whatever might come next.
In an effort to calm and distract yourself from the mounting tension, you focused on your breathing exercises. It was a technique that had helped you cope with stressful situations in the past, and now, in this tense moment, it served as a lifeline.
The minutes continued to crawl by.
Inside a completely tinted van parked at the entrance of the park, Jongho and Seonghwa closely monitored the situation through the footage from hidden cameras worn by the undercover officers. They, too, felt the weight of the suspense as they watched you.
After what felt like hours of nervous anticipation, a man approached you, his face filled with urgency. The tension in the van escalated as everyone remained on high alert, prepared to spring into action if this man turned out to be your stalker.
"Excuse me, miss, could you help me with directions? I seem to be a bit lost," You turned to face the stranger, your heart pounding in your chest. But you let out a sigh of relief when you realised that this person looked nothing like your stalker, "Of course, I can help. Where do you need to go?"
Upon closer observation, it became apparent that he was just a civilian in need of assistance. Anxiety levels began to ebb as it became clear that this was not their target.
As you stood up and turned away from the stranger to provide directions, the unthinkable happened. In a sudden and shocking move, the man pulled out a cloth filled with chloroform and pressed it against your face. Panic seized you as you gasped for breath, the toxic fumes overpowering your senses.
It was a calculated move on the part of your assailant, exploiting the moment when everyone's guard was down.
With your form growing weaker and limp, he swiftly hoisted you over his shoulder and bolted towards the exit of the park. It was a blur of motion, and everyone reacted with lightning speed as they realised what was happening. The peaceful park had transformed into a battleground in an instant, and the race to save you had begun.
Upon the horrifying realisation of what was happening, Jongho's heart leapt into his throat. His training kicked in as he shouted in alarm, "Shit, it really is him!"
Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted out of the van, his protective instincts in full force.
The urgency in his movements was palpable as he sprinted after your stalker. In that adrenaline-fueled moment, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving you alone, and he would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to you.
Goddamnit, I never should've left her side.
Just as he was closing in on your stalker, his heart nearly stopped when he witnessed the chilling sight of your assailant successfully placing your unconscious form in his car. Panic surged through him as he watched your stalker get into the driver's seat, a devious smirk curling on his lips after pulling off the disguise that had fooled you.
It was a heart-wrenching moment as the car started to pull away, driving off with you.
Jongho cursed loudly, his desperation growing by the second. It felt as though all hope was slipping through his fingers. But just when it seemed like the situation was becoming dire, a police car screeched to a halt in front of him. The door swung open, revealing San, "Quick, get in!"
Your bodyguard didn't need to be told twice.
He dashed into the police car, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. As he settled into the vehicle, San wasted no time briefing him on the situation, "Hongjoong hyung, Seonghwa hyung, and the rest of the team are following the stalker in the van. We're not giving up on this, Jongho. We'll get her back."
Jongho's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions.
Guilt gnawed at him, a heavyweight in his chest, as he recalled the fear in your eyes when he had to leave you alone back there. He cursed himself for making promises he couldn't keep, for telling you that you'd be safe when it seemed that he hadn't done a good enough job to protect you.
He knew that his role was to be your protector, and in that crucial moment, he had been forced to leave your side. The memory of your trembling form haunted him, and he felt like he had let you down.
Beside him, San remained focused on the road, determined not to lose sight of your stalker's car. The urgency of the situation hung in the air, but the sight of Hongjoong's van catching up in their rearview mirror brought a glimmer of hope.
After a tense and heart-pounding chase, San's car finally managed to pull up alongside the stalker's vehicle. The sight of your unconscious form in the passenger seat broke Jongho's heart, and he yearned to bring you to safety at that very moment.
Soon after, Hongjoong's van caught up as well, and together, both police vehicles had your stalker's car sandwiched in the middle. It seemed like they finally had the upper hand, and relief washed over them.
But just when they thought they had the situation under control, your stalker abruptly slammed on the brakes. In a swift and daring move, he executed a U-turn and managed to escape in another direction, leaving everyone cursing in frustration.
"Shit!" The expletive escaped their lips in unison as they quickly brought their vehicles to a halt, turning around to resume the pursuit of the stalker once again.
The chase was far from over.
Your groans filled the confined space of the car, your eyes fluttering open as awareness slowly returned. As your vision cleared, you widened your eyes in horror when you realised whose car you were in. The realisation sent a shiver of dread down your spine.
"Aw, are you up already, my love?" Your stalker cooed, a sickly sweet tone in his voice.
He moved a hand toward your face, intending to touch you, but you slapped his hand away in a burst of defiance. Your rejection angered him, and he reacted by grabbing your face aggressively, his grip tightening.
"Look at me!" He hissed, his face contorted with possessiveness, "I'm the only one you should be loving, you understand?!"
Tears welled up in your eyes as you cried out, "No, let me go!" You pushed him away, a surge of fear and anger giving you the strength to resist. The struggle between you intensified, creating a dangerous situation within the moving car.
Jongho, Seonghwa, and the police officers watched in mounting panic as they observed the turmoil unfolding inside the vehicle.
Their fear for your safety reached new heights as the car swerved dangerously, the consequences of the ongoing struggle unknown and potentially deadly. The race to rescue you had become even more urgent and perilous.
The fear that had been gripping everyone's hearts became a horrifying reality.
Your stalker's car careened out of control and collided with a divider. The impact was jarring, and it sent shockwaves through the vehicle. Metal twisted and glass shattered as the car came to a halt.
Hongjoong, his voice laced with urgency, immediately called for backup and requested medical assistance upon witnessing the devastating scene. Jongho and Seonghwa felt their stomachs drop as they could only pray for your safety, the uncertainty of your condition weighing heavily on their minds.
San, displaying quick thinking and resolve, had positioned his car right in front of your assailant's, effectively blocking any chance of escape.
Even if your stalker had any intention of fleeing the scene, he was now trapped, surrounded by law enforcement officers who were determined to ensure that you were rescued and that he faced the consequences of his actions.
Jongho wasted no time rushing out of the car and toward you, his heart pounding in his chest. He took deep breaths, attempting to calm the storm of emotions raging within him as you came into sight.
His hands trembled as he approached the wreckage of the car.
A trail of blood was visible, running down the side of your face, and as Jongho carefully pulled the car door open, his heart sank. One of your arms was bent at an unnatural angle, a clear sign that it had been broken. These were only the injuries he could see, and he feared that you might be suffering from even worse internal injuries.
Seonghwa skidded to a stop beside your bodyguard, his hand flying to his mouth in shock and despair as he took in your condition. Your manager cried out and attempted to reach for you, but Hongjoong intervened, his voice filled with concern, "No, don't move her. It could cause her more injuries. Wait till backup is here, they'll get her out safely."
Meanwhile, San acted swiftly, dragging your unconscious stalker out and placing him in handcuffs. The man responsible for this terrifying ordeal was now in custody, and justice would soon be served.
The backup that Hongjoong had called soon arrived.
As the experts carefully and safely extracted you from the wreckage of the car, emergency medical technicians and paramedics immediately went to work. They assessed your injuries and quickly loaded you onto a waiting ambulance, preparing to rush you to the hospital for the urgent care you needed.
One of the EMTs turned to Jongho and Seonghwa, asking, "So, which one of you will be coming with us to the hospital?"
Jongho's instinct was to be by your side, to ensure your safety, but he quickly realised his role as your bodyguard was just that – a role. It was Seonghwa who had a genuine personal connection with you, so he remained silent, deferring to your manager, who entered the ambulance to accompany you on the way to the hospital.
As the ambulance sped away toward the hospital, your bodyguard remained behind at the scene, watching with a sense of relief and satisfaction as your stalker was finally arrested right before his eyes.
The man who had caused so much fear and distress in your life would now face the consequences of his actions, taken away in Hongjoong's van to be questioned by the police.
After the stalker had been taken into custody and the immediate crisis had been resolved, San approached Jongho, throwing an arm over his shoulder in a gesture of support, "Come on, I'll take you to the hospital."
Your fake husband's eyebrows raised in surprise at the unexpected kindness from the officer. Perhaps, in this high-stress situation, he was starting to see that San wasn't as bad as he had initially thought. Grateful for the offer, Jongho nodded, and together they left the scene to join you at the hospital.
As you lay in the ambulance with your manager by your side, drifting in and out of consciousness, you occasionally felt someone gently grasping your hand. Despite the haze in your mind and the blurriness in your vision, you mustered the strength to squeeze back weakly.
In your weakened state, you couldn't quite make out Seonghwa's face, and in a soft, barely audible whisper, you called out, "Jongho..."
Your manager's heart ached as he heard your faint plea.
At that moment, he realised just how deep the connection between you and your fake husband must have grown during this challenging ordeal. He felt a pang of sympathy for you, knowing that Jongho was, in essence, nothing more than a bodyguard hired to protect you, and he might see you as nothing more than an assignment.
At the hospital, after you had been wheeled into the emergency care unit for a thorough examination, Seonghwa waited anxiously outside, his worry evident in his furrowed brow.
It didn't take long for Jongho to arrive at the hospital as well, his concern etched on his face as he approached your manager.
Your bodyguard wasted no time inquiring about any news regarding your condition, and Seonghwa shook his head somberly. After a moment of contemplation, the elder male decided to broach a delicate subject.
In the least confrontational tone he could muster, he began to speak, "Jongho, I want to ask something of you. Please... don't give her any mixed signals that could cause her to misunderstand the nature of the relationship between you two. It was only meant to be strictly business, for her safety. I ask this for her sake, to prevent any further confusion or complications in her life."
Seonghwa's plea was driven by his concern for you, wanting to ensure that you wouldn't be burdened with additional emotional turmoil in an already difficult situation.
Jongho swallowed hard, a sense of understanding and responsibility washing over him. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the weight of your manager's words, "Of course, hyung," He replied with a hint of remorse in his voice, "I understand."
As much as it pained him to agree, he knew that Seonghwa was right. His role was clear – he was your bodyguard and your fake husband, nothing more. He was here to do a job, and the thought of seeing you in any other light was unprofessional and inappropriate. He resolved to maintain the boundaries of his role, understanding that it was for the best.
The silence between the two was palpable after their conversation, both men understood the importance of focusing on your well-being above all else. They anxiously waited for any news regarding your condition.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally emerged from the unit, prompting both men to shoot up from their seats immediately.
Seonghwa immediately asked, "How is she, doc?"
The doctor did his best to maintain a neutral expression as he delivered the news.
"She's not in immediate danger, but she has sustained quite a few internal injuries. Her liver has been damaged due to a broken rib. She's also suffering from a mild concussion. Other than the broken arm, those are her main injuries. We will need to schedule surgery to address the liver damage, and she'll have to stay in the hospital for an extensive period for monitoring and follow-up treatments."
The gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air as Seonghwa and Jongho processed the doctor's words, their primary concern now ensuring your recovery.
As the two men were finally allowed to enter your temporary ward before your surgery, you slowly peeled your eyelids open, feeling a surge of emotions as your tear-filled eyes met the sight of Jongho standing behind Seonghwa.
At that moment, you let a few tears escape.
You had been so frightened when you woke up in your stalker's car, and all you had wanted was to be near Jongho. The relief you felt when you saw him in San's car through the rearview mirror had been overwhelming. You realised that you couldn't deny your feelings for him any longer.
You knew it hadn't been long since you had met him, and the circumstances under which you had come to know him were far from ordinary. But the bond that had formed between you during this ordeal was undeniable, and you couldn't help but fall for him.
As you lay in the hospital bed, you found comfort in the presence of your protectors, silently hoping that your feelings wouldn't complicate the already complex situation you were all in.
After ensuring that you were stable, Seonghwa left the room to handle the paperwork, hospital fees, and to coordinate with your management team for the necessary actions.
This left Jongho alone with you in the room.
He approached you slowly and took a seat beside your hospital bed. His hand lifted as if he wanted to touch your face, but he hesitated and let it drop.
You furrowed your brows in confusion and disappointment, wondering why he had pulled away.
He glanced over your injuries once more, recalling what the doctor had said. In a whispered voice, he expressed his guilt, "God, it's all my fault you're hurt. I'm sorry for not doing a good enough job out there. I failed as your bodyguard, I failed to keep you safe."
You shook your head, attempting to reach out and hold his hand for comfort, but he pulled away before you could touch him. His rejection hurt you more than your physical injuries, leaving you feeling confused and rejected.
As you lay there in the hospital bed, trying to make sense of Jongho's actions and his decision to push you away, you reflected on your earlier thoughts. You had initially believed that once your stalker was captured, everything would finally return to normal, and life would be great again.
But now, as you grappled with his distancing behaviour, you began to realise that you might have preferred the time when all he cared about was being near you and protecting you.
The reality hit you hard – things hadn't been as great as you had imagined because if there were no more threats, there would be no need for him in your life. This meant that he might not be by your side for long, and the prospect of his absence left you feeling a deep sense of loss and longing for the connection you had formed.
As time passed in the hospital, you had initially believed that Jongho's cold and distant behaviour was a result of the immense guilt he felt for your injuries.
However, it became evident that there was more to it.
After your surgery and the weeks of treatments, you had spent nearly a month in the hospital. During this time, you suffered emotionally more than you ever had before because your bodyguard had transformed into a stoic and distant figure.
Jongho now asserted that since your stalker had been arrested, there was no longer any need for him to play the role of your fake husband. He emphasised that he was only your bodyguard now and that he should behave as such. This change in his attitude and the distance he maintained left you feeling hurt and confused, as if a significant connection had been severed between you two.
Seonghwa had left your room after his visit one night, leaving you alone with Jongho once again. He stood stoically by the corner of your room, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
The tension between you had become unbearable, and you voiced your frustration, "Are you really going to keep acting this way? I thought we were at least friends after everything we've been through."
He remained unmoving, as if he hadn't heard your words.
You let out a tired sigh and continued, "Fine. Just... I'm feeling like some fruit juice. Could you just run to the cafeteria and get me some of that?" You had decided to send him out, hoping he could have a moment to himself. You needed a break from his cold and distant presence, even if it was just for a little while.
As he gave a curt nod and left your room, you leaned back in your bed, staring out of the window in the deafening silence.
Doubts and questions swirled in your mind, wondering if the bond you thought had developed between you and him had been one-sided all along. Perhaps he had been that skilled at acting, so convincing in pretending that he genuinely cared. It left you feeling deceived and uncertain about the true nature of your relationship with him.
Meanwhile, Jongho clenched his fists in frustration once he was out of your room. Anger swelled within him, directed both at himself and at the situation. He hated having to hurt you like this, but he knew it was necessary if he wanted to respect Seonghwa's words.
He kept repeating to himself that it was for the best.
As he stood in line at the cafeteria, ready to order your favourite juice, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed San's name, and he wondered why the officer would be calling him at this hour.
He picked up the call, "Hey, San hyung. What's up?"
But before he could even get a response, what he heard on the other end of the line almost made him drop his phone. He didn't waste a second before he started running back to your room. San's urgent voice rang in his ears, "The stalker, he's escaped from his cell. We fear he's going to find her."
Fear gripped his heart as he rushed back to your room.
He was relieved to hear that the police were sending reinforcements to the hospital and that they had contacted Seonghwa. But as he approached your room, his heart sank when he saw the door, which had been previously closed, now left slightly ajar.
He pushed the door open cautiously, adrenaline surging through his veins. As he stepped inside, he noticed that you were no longer in your bed. Panic welled up inside him, and he quickly scanned the room, heart dropping to the deepest pit of his stomach at the sight of blood droplets staining your bed.
Shit, this is all my fault.
His heart pounded in his chest as he followed the trail of bloodstains, his mind racing with a million thoughts.
He blamed himself for being distant and cold when you needed him the most. Guilt gnawed at him, making it hard to focus. He knew he had to find you quickly, but his own self-condemnation threatened to overwhelm him.
As he continued to follow the bloodstains, he thought about the moments you had shared, the connection that had formed between you. It was in these tense moments that he realised just how much he cared about you.
And he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you.
Jongho was in turmoil as he followed the trail of blood to the rooftop, his emotions a chaotic whirlwind. He promised himself that if he found you safe and sound, he wouldn't hide his feelings anymore. You deserved to know how much he cared about you, regardless of the circumstances that had brought you together.
He jumped when his phone rang, hands trembling as he accepted the call from San, "Hyung, he's got her. I found a trail of blood from her bed that led to the rooftop."
Sensing his panic, the officer responds, "Alright, breathe, Jongho. Backup is already stationed around the premises of the building. I'm going to need you to go up there and do your best to diffuse the situation, I'll be there with Hongjoong hyung soon."
He nodded, even though San couldn't see him over the phone.
He took a deep breath to steady himself, feeling a rush of determination to find you and protect you at all costs. The rooftop was the last place he wanted to be, filled with danger and uncertainty, but he had no choice.
With swift but cautious steps, he ascended the stairs leading to the rooftop. His heart raced with each passing moment, imagining what kind of confrontation he might face with your stalker. But he couldn't afford to let fear paralyse him. He had a job to do, and that job was to save you.
Deep down, he hoped that he could make amends for his previous behaviour by rescuing you and proving that he would always be there for you when it truly mattered.
As Jongho pushed open the door to the rooftop, his heart pounded in his chest, and his mind raced with fear.
The chilling sight that met his eyes filled him with dread.
There you were, standing helplessly in front of your stalker, a knife pressing dangerously against your neck. Your bodyguard's jaw clenched as he took in the nightmarish scene.
The stalker's deranged words echoed in the eerie silence of the rooftop, "I loved you so much, I dedicated my everything to you," He hissed, his voice filled with twisted devotion, "And yet, this is what you try to do? Lock me away for the rest of my life? I told you, if I can't have you, then no one else can. Today, I'll make sure we stay together forever. We'll jump down here together, alright?"
Your frightened whimper tore at Jongho's heart, and he watched helplessly as the stalker pressed a disgusting kiss against your cheek, his words dripping with sickening affection, "Shh, don't be scared. I'll be here with you every step of the way."
Jongho's fists clenched at his sides, anger and fear warring within him. He knew he had to act fast to save you, even if it meant risking his own life. With a determined step forward, he raised his voice, his words laced with unwavering resolve.
"Enough! Let her go, you bastard!"
Your stalker growled menacingly at your fake husband, "You fool, did you really think you could steal her away from me? No one, and I mean no one loves her more than I do. You think you know her? Well, I bet you don't know her better than I do. You're temporary, Choi Jongho. I'm her forever. Don't worry though, she won't have time to miss you in the afterlife. I'll take good care of her."
The wind whipped around the rooftop, carrying with it the sinister words of your stalker. His grip on the knife was unyielding. Jongho's gaze remained locked on your trembling form, his heart aching at the despair in your eyes.
He couldn't let this madman take you away.
Steeling himself, he retorted, "You're the real fool here. Love isn't about obsession and possession. It's about caring for someone, respecting their choices, and ensuring their happiness. You're incapable of love; you're just a deranged stalker."
The stalker's eyes flickered with rage at his words, and he tightened his grip on the knife, pressing it even closer to your neck, "Don't push me, Choi Jongho. I can end this for both of us right now."
But Jongho refused to back down.
He took a cautious step closer, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins, "You don't have to do this. You can still stop, let her go, and surrender peacefully. There's help for you, too."
The stalker's face contorted with fury, his sanity slipping further away, and he pushed you further towards the edge.
Tears streamed down your face as you stared at your bodyguard, silently begging for help. You knew the chances of survival were slim, but you couldn't give up, not when there were still so many people who cared about you.
With a trembling voice, you whispered, "Jongho, please..."
The stalker's grip tightened, and he pressed the knife closer to your throat. His voice was a chilling hiss, "Say your goodbyes, my love. You'll be with me soon."
It was at that moment that San and Hongjoong burst in through the door to the rooftop.
The stalker's eyes widened in terror at their presence, guns drawn and aimed squarely at him. His fingers trembled, and he took a step back, his grip on you loosening slightly. The officers had the situation under control, and the stalker knew he was trapped.
Cornered and left with no choice, the stalker decided now would be the perfect time to jump, "See you in the afterlife, my love."
As his desperate voice echoed through the rooftop, his manic determination pushed him to the edge. Before anyone could react, he lunged forward, grabbing you and pulling you down with him. Panic surged through you as you plummeted towards the ground, but then you felt a strong grip on your hand.
Jongho acted swiftly, leaping forward to grab you just in time.
Your scream echoed, but your bodyguard's strength was unwavering. He held on with every ounce of determination, his muscles straining as he fought to keep you from falling.
San and Hongjoong rushed forward, their faces etched with urgency, to assist Jongho in pulling you back onto the rooftop. Their combined strength proved enough to counteract the stalker's final attempt to take you with him. With a collective effort, they hoisted you up to safety, setting you down gently on the rooftop.
Seonghwa, who had been watching in sheer terror, let out a shuddering breath as he saw you safe and sound. The danger had passed, and you were once again out of harm's way.
While you were safe on the rooftop, the situation with your stalker unfolded below. His descent had been cushioned by the firefighters' safety air cushion, preventing his immediate demise. But he was not met with a moment of freedom. Instead, he was immediately surrounded by a swarm of law enforcement officers.
Police officers, with guns drawn and handcuffs at the ready, approached him cautiously. This time, they had taken no chances, and the security measures were heightened to ensure he wouldn't escape again.
It was clear that his reign of terror was coming to an end.
As the authorities apprehended him, his eyes darted around in wild desperation, realising that his plan had failed miserably.
He had hoped to take you with him to whatever twisted version of an afterlife he had imagined, but now he was facing the harsh reality of the legal system. His love, which had become an obsession, had led him down a dark path, and he was finally being held accountable for his actions.
On the rooftop, you were overcome with a mixture of relief and emotional exhaustion.
Tears streamed down your face as you clung to Jongho, who held you tightly in his arms. He whispered soothing words and assurances, "Hey, hey, you're safe. I've got you." Your heart still raced from the adrenaline, and you trembled in his embrace. It had been a terrifying ordeal, but you were safe now, and that's all that mattered.
After Hongjoong left to deal with the stalker downstairs, San approached the two of you with a wide grin. He played a crucial role in ensuring your safety, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Saving a famous celebrity was something he would undoubtedly brag about for the rest of his life.
He chuckled lightly and patted Jongho on the back, "You guys okay?" He asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. You nodded, your voice shaky but filled with gratitude, "Thank you, San. Thank you, all of you. You saved my life."
San waved it off modestly, "It's our job, but I'm just glad you're safe."
The officer later accompanied Jongho and you back to your hospital room, where Seonghwa had been anxiously waiting. When he saw you, his eyes welled up with tears, and he rushed forward, enveloping you in a tight and careful hug. He was mindful of your injuries, especially the small but fresh cut on your neck.
"Oh, thank god, you're alright," He whispered, his voice trembling with relief, "I promised your parents I'd take good care of you."
You smiled warmly into his shoulder, patting him on the back, "And you did, Hwa. You always have."
Jongho watched the two of you, feeling a tiny hint of jealousy bubbling within him. He knew that Seonghwa was like a brother to you, but his newfound feelings for you made it challenging to remain rational and suppress those emotions.
Soon after, the doctor and nurses flooded the room, ready to check on your condition and ensure you were recovering well. It was a whirlwind of emotions and activity, but you were just grateful to be alive and surrounded by people who cared deeply about you.
The two men were asked to leave the ward while the medical team checked on you.
Outside your hospital room, they sat down on a bench, away from the commotion inside. Jongho knew he had to be honest with Seonghwa about his growing feelings for you. He took a deep breath and began, "Hyung, I can't deny it anymore. I... I have feelings for her."
There was a brief silence that made the younger male anxious, fearing that this revelation might cost him his position as your bodyguard. But to his surprise, your manager smiled, "Yeah, I know. I was waiting to see how long it would take for you to finally admit it."
Jongho blinked, taken aback by the response, "You knew? How?"
Seonghwa chuckled, his gaze fixed on the door to your room, "I've known her for a long time, Jongho. I've seen the way she looks at you, even before all this happened. You two have been through a lot together, and feelings like these are bound to happen. Just promise me you'll be patient and take good care of her. She deserves someone who'll protect her heart as well as her safety."
Your bodyguard nodded, a mixture of relief and determination washing over him, "I promise, hyung. I'll do my best for her," Seonghwa patted his shoulder with a knowing smile, "That's all I wanted to hear."
Seonghwa looked at him with a thoughtful expression, "But there is one more thing..." He added, causing the younger male's anxiety to resurface. Jongho swallowed hard, fearing what else your manager might reveal, "What is it, hyung?"
"You do know that we will have to reveal the truth about the fake marriage to the public once the stalker gets properly taken care of by the authorities, right?"
Jongho nodded, the weight of that truth settling on his shoulders, "I'm aware of that. I know I'm only her fake husband, and I will have to work very hard to earn my spot as her actual partner. For now, I just want to do my job as her protector for as long as you'll allow me."
Seonghwa smiled, patting him on the back once again, "I appreciate your honesty, Jongho. And I'm sure she will too. Just remember, love isn't something that can be rushed. Take your time, and who knows what the future holds."
With those words of encouragement, the two men settled into a companionable silence, watching over your room as you continued your recovery. It was a challenging path ahead, but Jongho was now determined not only to protect you but also to win your heart when the time was right.
A week had passed since the night of the rooftop confrontation with your stalker. He had been charged and sentenced to five years in prison, coupled with a hefty fine and a restraining order that would keep him far away from you.
The weight of fear and anxiety that had hung over your life for so long was finally lifting.
The stalker's sentencing brought relief that washed over you as you lay in your hospital bed. Seonghwa was busy cutting up some fruit for you while Jongho sat on your other side. He had resumed his role as your protector, but there was something different in the air now. He seemed more at ease, more like the person who had been by your side during the fake marriage.
As you watched the news report on the TV, you muttered softly, "Oh, thank god," Your manager turned to you with a reassuring smile, "Yes, it's finally over. You can rest easy now."
Jongho nodded in agreement, his gaze briefly meeting yours. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to you. It felt like things were slowly returning to normal, and you enjoyed the comfortable presence of the man who had once been your fake husband.
You wanted to say something, to ask if you were friends now or something more, but you decided to let things develop naturally.
For now, you were content just to have him by your side, protecting you, and maybe, just maybe, something more would blossom between you in due time.
After your release from the hospital, life slowly began to return to normalcy. Your label had released a statement revealing the truth about Jongho being your bodyguard and fake husband, all in an effort to protect you from the stalker who was now behind bars.
The transparency about the situation surprised you, but you knew it was the right decision to put any misconceptions to rest.
To your surprise, your fans' reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
Most of them had been shipping you and Jongho since the reveal, and they found your fake marriage incredibly cute. They didn't hide their support, and the messages and comments flooded your social media, expressing their hopes that you and your bodyguard would someday end up together for real.
As you scrolled through these messages, your cheeks grew warm, and a smile tugged at your lips. It was heartwarming to see the outpouring of affection from your fans. While you knew that your relationship with Jongho was still complicated and undefined, you felt a glimmer of hope regardless.
Life had returned to its hectic pace after your recovery, with your schedule packed full of work commitments.
You received numerous job offers, and among them, you accepted a female lead role in a highly anticipated drama. You also became an ambassador for a well-known fashion brand. The entertainment industry welcomed you back with open arms, and you relished every moment of it.
Your days were filled with rehearsals, shoots, and public appearances, and you loved every minute of it. The rush of being on set, bringing characters to life, and attending glamorous events made you feel truly alive.
What made it all the better was Jongho's continued presence by your side. To your surprise, he had agreed to stay on as your bodyguard. Despite his initial reservations and the complicated nature of your relationship, he was there for you, offering you his unwavering support and protection.
No matter how busy your work became, knowing that he was there made everything feel more manageable. His watchful presence gave you a sense of security, and you found comfort in his quiet strength.
As your fan meeting event was in full swing, you sat at the centre of the stage, surrounded by adoring fans. Jongho, as always, stood protectively behind you, vigilant and watchful. Your fans were known for their playfulness and ability to tease.
Today was no exception.
Amid the questions and comments from the audience, someone playfully asked your bodyguard if he thought you looked prettier with or without makeup. His cheeks flushed, and he cleared his throat, trying to maintain a composed demeanour.
But you couldn't resist adding to the fun. You pushed the microphone towards him, a mischievous glint in your eye, and he blinked at you.
Realising you weren't going to let him off the hook easily, he sighed and reluctantly took the microphone. His answer was timid, and his voice quivered slightly, "She looks beautiful either way. She's... she's always beautiful, no matter what she does."
His response sent the crowd into a frenzy of excited screams and cheers. Some fans even shouted, "He's in love! He's in love with her, I knew it!" Jongho shook his head, trying to downplay the situation as he passed the microphone back to you.
Seonghwa, watching from the sidelines, shot you a warning glare.
It was a silent reminder not to fuel any rumours or speculation about your relationship with Jongho. While your fans may have shipped the two of you, you both knew that there were lines that needed to be respected, especially in the world of celebrity and personal security.
After the fan event ended, Seonghwa wasted no time in giving you a stern lecture for your reckless actions on stage.
You listened quietly, well aware that your playfulness might have caused trouble for the PR team. You didn't want to worsen the situation by talking back or defending your actions.
Jongho, seeing you being scolded, couldn't bear it.
He stepped in, attempting to take some of the blame upon himself, "Hyung, it's my fault too," He said, "I shouldn't have played along." He meant well, but his choice of words ended up stinging you. You turned to face him, your expression a mix of hurt and confusion.
"Play along?" You asked in a small voice, "So, you didn't mean what you said?"
Your manager, sensing that this was a personal conversation that needed privacy, quietly excused himself from the meeting room, leaving you and Jongho alone to sort out your feelings.
Sheesh, about damn time they addressed the elephant in the room.
Your emotions had reached a breaking point, and you couldn't contain your feelings any longer. You confronted him, your voice laced with frustration and a hint of sadness.
"If you don't feel the same, then just let me know once and for all," You told him, your voice trembling, "So I can finally move on from you. Do you even know how many guys out there would die to date me? And here you are, messing with my feelings. Who do you think you are, Choi Jongho?"
Tears welled up in your eyes despite your attempt to sound tough, and the vulnerability in your voice and the tears in your eyes spoke volumes about how deeply you cared for him and how much his actions had affected you.
Jongho could see the pain in your eyes, and it cut him to the core. He knew he had to be honest with you now, no matter the consequences.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer to you and gently cupped your face in his hands, his touch making your heart race.
"I'm so sorry," He began, his eyes locked onto yours, "I never meant to hurt you. The truth is, I do feel something for you, something more than just my duty as a bodyguard. But I've been trying to keep my distance, thinking it was the right thing to do. I didn't want to blur the lines between our professional relationship and something more. But I can't deny my feelings any longer. I care about you a lot."
He let his words hang in the air, the weight of his confession heavy in the room, "I understand if you're angry or hurt, but I needed you to know the truth. I'm here for you, no matter what you decide."
You couldn't contain your frustration any longer as you pushed his chest weakly, a mixture of exasperation and affection in your voice, "Oh, you idiot," His gaze dropped, expecting rejection, but your next words took him completely by surprise, "Why couldn't you have just told me that from the beginning?"
His head shot up, eyes wide with disbelief and hope. And before he could come up with a response, you pressed your lips against his.
There was a moment of hesitation, as if you both couldn't quite believe this was happening. But then, the world seemed to fade away as you both melted into the kiss, and he pulled you closer, his arms wrapping tightly around you.
It was a kiss that spoke of all the unspoken words, all the longing that had been hidden for far too long.
It was a kiss that marked the beginning of something new, something real, and something beautiful between you and the man who had once been just your bodyguard but had now become so much more.
Meanwhile, Seonghwa had been silently listening to your conversation from outside the door. He couldn't help but be curious about what was transpiring between you two, especially after all the secrecy and tension that surrounded your fake marriage.
As he pushed the door open slightly to get a better view, he was not prepared for the scene that greeted him. Seeing you and Jongho locked in a passionate kiss, his eyes widened in surprise.
Clearing his throat loudly to announce his presence, he succeeded in startling both of you. Caught off guard by your manager's sudden appearance, you jumped apart, your cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
But the mischievous grin on Seonghwa's face told you that he was clearly enjoying this moment.
"Oh, your fans are gonna love this." He quipped with a knowing look.
You and Jongho exchanged glances before bursting into laughter, the tension from your confession melting away.
As you found your way back into his arms, he pulled you close and pressed a gentle kiss to your temple, his affectionate gesture drawing a contented smile from you. Whatever challenges lay ahead, you were ready to face them together.
The decision not to announce your relationship to the public was one you both made together, driven by the desire to establish a stable foundation for your love before sharing it with the world.
You understood that public scrutiny and the demands of fame could add complexities to a relationship, and you wanted to ensure that your bond was strong enough to withstand these challenges.
Despite being deeply in love and already a couple in private, you continued to play your respective roles as a celebrity and dedicated bodyguard when in the public eye. To outsiders, nothing had changed, and you maintained the professional distance that your positions required.
This was necessary to avoid any unnecessary complications or misunderstandings.
Only a select few individuals were privy to the truth of your relationship. Seonghwa, being your trusted manager and confidant, was among those who knew. Additionally, a handful of staff members from your label who had been close to you were also aware of your budding romance. These individuals respected your desire for privacy and provided you with the necessary support and discretion.
As days turned into weeks, you and Jongho continued your secret romance, relishing the stolen moments of affection you could share while maintaining your public personas.
Despite the need for secrecy, you exchanged meaningful glances whenever you could. You'd occasionally sneak a quick kiss when you thought nobody was looking, and Jongho, though he warned you about the risks, often found himself giving in to you.
Your days remained busy, with your demanding schedules, but you were both incredibly happy.
The fatigue seemed to fade away with your boyfriend by your side. Jongho was not only devoted to your safety but also your general well-being, making sure you were taken care of in every way possible.
Your relationship grew stronger day by day, and you both knew that when the time was right, you would reveal your love to the world. Until then, you cherished the moments you had together, grateful for the love and support that had blossomed between you.
While your boyfriend agreed to keep your relationship a secret for your sake, there were times when his patience was tested.
And tonight was one of those nights.
The atmosphere in the upscale restaurant was buzzing with excitement as you and the cast and crew of your latest drama celebrated its successful completion. The evening had been filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and heartfelt toasts to commemorate the hard work that had gone into the production.
You, the beloved actress, had basked in the adoration of your colleagues and enjoyed the festivities.
But as the night wore on, and the alcohol flowed freely, the atmosphere began to change. The friendly camaraderie between colleagues started to give way to a few more bold interactions. It was in this slightly inebriated state that one of your co-stars decided to make his move.
The actor, emboldened by liquid courage, slid closer to you as you sipped your soju, offering you a refill with a sly grin. His compliments became more personal, his touches lingering a little too long.
Although you maintained your composure and politeness, you felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Jongho, who had been discreetly watching you from a nearby table, noticed the situation escalating. His eyes narrowed as he saw the co-star's advances becoming increasingly inappropriate.
His protective instincts kicked in, and he struggled with the urge to intervene. He knew that publicly revealing his feelings for you might jeopardise your career, but seeing you in discomfort was something he couldn't bear.
He silently scanned the room for your manager, hoping he could step in, but Seonghwa was occupied elsewhere.
With every passing moment, Jongho's internal battle raged. He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening in frustration. He was torn between his duty as your bodyguard and his desire to protect you from unwanted advances.
He knew you could handle yourself, but the combination of alcohol and the actor's persistence made him uneasy. He decided that he couldn't stand by any longer; he needed to step in and protect you.
With a determined expression, he excused himself from the staff table, leaving behind his unfinished meal and the curious gazes of those who knew him as your bodyguard. He swiftly approached the scene, his imposing figure making an impression as he stood between you and the persistent co-star.
The actor's smug demeanour faltered as he met Jongho's cold, unwavering gaze, "I think she made herself clear. It's time for you to step back."
Your co-star smirked in disbelief, "And who are you? If she didn't want me around her, she would've said so herself. Go back to your staff table and stay out of this."
A hushed murmur spread through the gathered staff and colleagues. Everyone seemed taken aback by the audacity of the co-star's actions and his blatant disregard for boundaries. It was clear that he might have had one too many drinks.
You exchanged a quick glance with Jongho, who had remained stoic in the face of the actor's defiance. Your boyfriend's face was unreadable, but you could sense the simmering anger beneath his composed exterior.
"Who am I? I'm her boyfriend, and you need to back off." Jongho asserted, his voice steady and unwavering.
Seonghwa, who had returned just in time to witness the unfolding confrontation, couldn't believe his ears. He stood frozen, jaw dropped, as he tried to process Jongho's unexpected revelation.
The entire room seemed to hold its breath.
The co-star, clearly inebriated and in disbelief, let out a laugh, "You're delusional, aren't you? Why would she date you, of all people?" He jeered, not taking your boyfriend's claim seriously.
Frowning in frustration, you decided it was time to set the record straight. In a bold move, you moved closer to Jongho, intertwining your fingers with his. It was a clear and unspoken declaration of your relationship, a message to the actor that his advances were neither welcome nor wanted.
"It's true, he is my boyfriend. And I'd appreciate it if you could show him some respect."
The room fell into a stunned silence as the truth settled in. The co-star's expression changed from arrogance to bewilderment, and then a staff member, recognising the situation, quickly stepped in to pull the drunk actor away from the table.
As the co-star was led away, the atmosphere shifted.
The shock was replaced by cheers and applause from the gathered staff and colleagues. Words of excitement and support filled the room as they realised that you and Jongho were finally confirming what they had suspected all along.
"It's about damn time! We've waited too long for this confirmation!" Someone shouted, summing up the sentiment in the room.
You and Jongho exchanged bewildered looks before sharing a hearty laugh at the unexpected turn of events. While you had intended to keep your relationship a secret, sometimes, circumstances had a way of bringing hidden feelings to the surface.
After the incident that eventful night, you and Jongho decided to take the plunge and announce your relationship to the world.
The news sent shockwaves through your fanbase.
Your fans were overjoyed that their dreams of you two being together had finally come true. They flooded your social media accounts with endless congratulations and well-wishes, thanking you for sharing your love story with them.
As for the drunk co-star, he eventually sobered up and realised the gravity of his actions.
Filled with remorse, he mustered the courage to approach both you and your boyfriend to apologise for his shameful behaviour. He admitted his wrongdoing and expressed his sincere regret for his misguided actions that night. You, being the gracious person you were, forgave him without hesitation.
With your relationship out in the open and your fans' overwhelming support, you and Jongho embarked on a new chapter together, excited to see what the future held for you as a couple in the spotlight.
A few months had passed since your relationship was made public.
Your latest fan meeting event was in full swing, and this time, your fans had become bolder with their teasing questions.
Jongho, standing protectively behind you, had a hard time containing his laughter throughout the event. As the questions from your fans flowed, one brave soul finally asked, "Jongho! When will you make her your real wife?"
The question hung in the air, and you felt a sudden wave of tension in the room. You didn't dare look at your boyfriend, fearing what his response might be. After a moment, you heard him move to pick up the microphone from beside you. Your heart raced as he took the stage, his voice steady and sincere.
"I'm always ready to be her real husband," Jongho declared, his words causing a collective gasp and excitement among the crowd, "It's just up to her when she wants to take that step."
The hall erupted into cheers and applause as he leaned down to press a kiss onto your head. Your heart pounded in your chest as you turned to look at him, searching for any hint that he might be joking. His eyes held nothing but sincerity, and it became clear that he meant every word he had just said.
The realisation hit you like a tidal wave, leaving you both surprised and thrilled at the prospect of a future together as more than just a celebrity and her bodyguard.
As you got home that evening, you had been unusually quiet after the event, and Jongho grew concerned. While you were busy removing your makeup, he approached you from behind, his fingers gently playing with your hair.
"Are you alright, baby?" He asked softly.
Your actions halted, and you stood up, turning to face him. With an accusing finger, you pointed at him, "You... were you serious about what you said earlier? Do... do you really mean it?" Vulnerability shone in your eyes, and you needed him to be honest.
His expression softened, and he nodded, his hands moving to grasp your waist and pull you close, "Of course, I was serious. Why would I joke about something like that?" He replied sincerely.
You frowned, playfully slapping him on his chest.
"I don't know! You're an idiot like that sometimes—" He cut you off with a reassuring kiss. His lips on yours spoke volumes, confirming the truth in his words, and the worries that had lingered began to melt away as you shared a passionate moment.
The next day at work, everyone teased you relentlessly after Jongho's sweet words went viral online in a fan-recorded video. You waved them off, your cheeks still pink with embarrassment.
"Oh, there you are! Come with me," Seonghwa said, pulling you away from your gossiping colleagues. You furrowed your brows, "What is it, Hwa?"
He shushed you with a knowing smile, "You'll find out soon."
You wondered what he needed you for as he led you towards the main lobby. Then, you gasped in surprise when you found the whole place decorated with balloons that spelt out 'Will you marry me.' Your heart raced, and your eyes filled with tears as your boyfriend stood in the centre of the room, holding a bouquet of roses.
Seonghwa gave you a gentle push towards Jongho.
Your legs felt shaky as you approached him, and you could barely hold back the tears. He knelt down in front of you, his eyes filled with love and sincerity. This was the moment you'd been longing for, and he finally asked you the question you'd always dreamed of hearing.
"Will you finally allow me to be your real husband?" He said, his voice filled with emotion. Overwhelmed with joy, you nodded vigorously, tears streaming down your cheeks, "I thought you'd never ask."
The room erupted in applause and cheers as he slipped a beautiful engagement ring onto your finger, sealing your love and commitment to each other. You laughed through your happy tears, knowing that your life from now on would be filled with endless love.
As you lay together in bed that night, you refused to succumb to sleep, your eyes trained on your fiancé.
Jongho sighed lightly, peeling open his eyes to look at you, "Oh, will you please go to sleep? You have a long day tomorrow," You grinned, pressing closer to him, "I want to look at you for a bit more."
He chuckled, his fingers gently tracing patterns on your back, "You're so silly. You look at me every day, and still, you want to look at me now," You bit your lip playfully, leaving a kiss on his jaw, "Well, it's different now. You're about to be my real husband soon."
His heart melted at your words as he cupped your cheek, his thumb stroking your skin, "I love you so much, you know that?"
You nodded, your eyes filled with affection, and he finally kissed you on your lips, sealing your love in that sweet moment.
As you wrapped your arms around each other, you both knew that your journey together was just beginning, and the future held endless possibilities and happiness for the two of you.
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This one is for all the Jongho stans out there who are suffering as well. We're in this together! So happy to have Seonghwa assure us that our baby bear is recovering well.
Anyway, hope y'all liked this and as always, leave as many replies as you want to let me know your thoughts! <3
Lastly, feel free to drop a reply or message if you wish to be part of the permanent tag list (or if you wish to be removed, I'd understand).
Tag list: @aurasblue @marievllr-abg @itsvxlentine @minghaoslatina
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All Rights Reserved © edenesth // DO NOT REPOST, TRANSLATE, PLAGIARISE OR REPURPOSE.
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stayteezdreams · 10 months
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Boy Next Door: Part One
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Plot: Moving into your apartment can be stressful, especially when you're doing all the work alone. But your attractive new neighbor comes to the rescue after you run into each other, literally.
-Part Two-
Pairing: Choi Jong-ho x Gn!Reader
-Meet-Cute Series-
A/n: Unfortunately, the idea I had for this didn't flow as well as I had hoped. Jongho deserves better :( but I hope you enjoy it anyways :)
Words: 1.6k
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Popping open the trunk of the car, you sighed. It was crammed with everything you owned, and you were all alone to move and unpack it.
Glancing up at the sky, you noted the dark clouds moving in as the sun got lower in the sky.
Looking back at the various boxes, you let out a sigh of determination before you began to pile lighter boxes on top of each other. You'd do this as fast as you could, the quicker it was over the sooner you could relax.
Walking slowly towards the elevator, trying your best not to topple the tower you created, you prayed no one was in the elevator. Much to your hope, it was empty. You smiled as you made your way in, before pressing the button to your floor.
"Only twenty more trips to go." You mumbled to yourself as the elevator doors closed.
Jongho walked casually towards the elevator, and pressed the button. He cleared his throat as he checked his phone, unsure if going to the gym at this hour was really what he wanted to do with his boredom.
As the elevator doors dinged before opening, Jongho began to walk inside, only noticing at the last second there was something, or rather someone, in the elevator.
As you began to step out of the elevator, you saw the edge of someones head poke around the boxes before you could stop walking in time.
"Oh!" you exclaimed involuntarily as you felt the person collide with you.
Your tower toppled over and fell to the floor as you held out your arms helplessly.
Jongho flinched as the boxes fell to the ground, before his eyes moved to you, as you stood frozen in front of him. As the elevator began to close you hopped out, quickly pulling one of your boxes out of the way before you turned towards him.
"I'm so sorry! I couldn't see you!"
Jongho opened his mouth to speak, but heard nothing come out as you scrambled to pick up your boxes. Finally collecting himself, he shook his head.
"It's okay, it's not your fault! I should have looked before I walked into the elevator. I just wasn't expecting anyone to be on it." He chuckled awkwardly "I also didn't realize I had a new neighbor."
"Oh, yeah, I just rented a few days ago" You chuckled as you looked back at him, seeing him grabbing one of your boxes.
"Thank you, it's okay, you don't need to do that!" You said shyly, yet gratefully.
"I hope I didn't break anything" He said slowly, as he heard the objects in one of the boxes move around loudly.
"Oh no don't worry! These boxes are all light, they don't have anything really fragile in them-" you hesitated as you thought for a second, uncertainty washing over you "-I hope." You chuckled and looked over at him with a genuine smile.
Jongho smiled in return, not failing to notice how his heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight.
"Can I ask why you're carrying so many boxes at once?"
"Oh" you let out a soft awkward laugh "I uh- don't have anyone to help me, and it's getting dark, and looks like is gonna rain, so I just wanted to get it done quickly." You rambled a bit as you made a couple stacks of boxes by the wall.
Jongho nodded in understanding before he felt a sudden determination wash over him. He walked over to your boxes before stacking some and picking them up. You met his eyes with a questioning gaze and he smiled brightly at you, making butterflies swirl through your stomach.
"I'll help."
"Oh you don't have too! You were going somewhere right? I don't want to-"
Jongho stopped you with a small laugh and shake of his head "Don't worry about it. I was just going to the gym because I was bored. But I'd rather do this."
Your heart skipped a beat as he began to turn down the hall towards your new apartment.
Quickly grabbing the box he left, you followed, pulling out your keys "Thank you that's really nice of you."
He glanced back at you with the same smile "Don't worry about it"
Opening your door, Jongho followed you in, before setting down the boxes and glancing around. He hummed under his breath.
"What?" You asked curiously.
He shrugged a bit and smiled "I just always wondered if the other apartments looked the same."
"Do they?"
He nodded "Yeah, pretty much. Mines a bit bigger because I have roommates though."
"This was the only single I could find near here." You noted as you set your box on the counter.
He nodded before clapping his hands "Okay, so how much more do you have?"
You blinked a few times "Oh...you meant- you're gonna help me with all of it?"
He rose his brow and nodded.
"Oh I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking. Im offering." He said, bluntly but softly.
You hesitated for a moment, "Are you sure?"
He nodded and let out a soft laugh, as the thought of how cute you were passed through his mind "Yeah, I am."
You smiled brightly at him, your face burning a bit hotter "Okay well, if you insist. I don't really have all that much." You said cheerfully making him chuckle.
As he began to follow you out the door, you stopped abruptly and turned towards him, taking him by surprise "My name is Y/n by the way."
He smiled "I'm Jongho."
You grinned at him "Thank you Jongho"
Turning, you began heading towards the elevator as Jongho watched you for a second, his heart hammering in his chest before he smiled and followed you.
The twenty trips you dreaded turned into less than ten as you watched Jongho carry half of your stuff with an ease you found almost alarming.
As you set the last box on the kitchen table, you turned to him with a satisfied smile "All done before the sun even set."
He smiled at you, watching as you looked around your apartment before turning back to him.
"I really can't thank you enough Jongho. This move was stressful enough as it is. Doing it alone was worse, so you helping really made it easier."
He shook his head "No problem. I'm glad I could help. And I'm glad I could meet you. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen the other neighbors on this floor."
You chuckled softly "I'm glad too. I'm horrible at introducing myself, I don't know if I ever would have met you otherwise. Though I do still feel bad for having run into you earlier."
He chuckled "Forget it, really."
You grinned at him, and he wanted nothing more than to just stare at you, but knowing he could easily overstay his welcome, he cleared his throat a bit as he checked his phone.
"I should probably go."
You nodded in understanding, but felt a wave of disappointment. You really wanted to talk with him more. It seemed like you to had quite a lot in common from the brief chats you had.
As you followed him to the door. He turned back and smiled at you "It was nice meeting you Y/n. Don't be a stranger."
You grinned at him and shook your head "I wont. Thank you Jongho."
As he left and walked back towards his apartment, he glanced back, to see you leaning out of your apartment watching him with a soft smile.
He felt his chest clench as you waved cheerfully at him. Waving back he smiled, before rounding the corner and letting out a soft sigh, already wondering when he would see you again.
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The next day, as Jongho headed back to his apartment, he stepped off the elevator and a familiar smell filled his nose. He inhaled and felt warmth wash over him.
Someone had been baking cookies. He shook his head, a bit jealous of the idea of homemade cookies, as he started to head down the hall.
He slowed down as he walked past your door. You popped up in his thoughts multiple times during the day, and he kept wondering how you were settling in.
'Should I knock?' he thought to himself with uncertainty as he stared at your door.
He wouldn't want to interrupt you if you were busy. But maybe he could help you again? Would that be too much? Would it be weird?
Overthinking it, he shook his head and headed towards his apartment. Maybe he'd give you a few days to settle in first.
As he approached his door, his eyes landed on a small white box on the ground. Furrowing his brow, he crouched down to pick it up, seeing a sticky note on the top.
As he read it, a grin spread across his face.
"Thank you for your help!" - Y/n
Taking the note off, he could see the box was full of the cookies he had smelled. The box was still warm so he new they were fresh.
Looking back towards your apartment, he couldn't stop the smile on his face as his whole body seemed to get warm. Touched by your kindness and cuteness.
Looking at his door before looking back down the hall, he smiled 'At least I have an excuse to go see them now'.
Making a final decision, he began walking back towards your door.
If he took the cookies into his apartment he knew he would surely get none if the other's saw them. So it was only fair that he shared him with the person that made them. Right?
xx End xx
-Part Two-
Series Taglist: @bubblesreplies, @halesandy, @why-am-i-sad, @acciocriativity,
Ateez Taglist: @soso59love-blog
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milfgyuu · 9 months
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Lessons in Love Pairing: Choi Jongho x Fem!Reader Series: Mr. Right Next Door Tags: 3.5k, Co-Worker!AU, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, Humor Warnings: One good smooch and mentions of more smooching. Summary: Your students learn that both you and the teacher next door are single which brings up the pressing matter of getting you two together. Immediately.
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You love teaching your fourth-grade class - they are still sweet and inquisitive. Still learning how the world works and all its wonders. They’ve yet to outgrow their innocence and kindness. It’s a beautiful age to experience with an adult perspective and even more amazing that you’re allowed a hand in growing their ever-expanding knowledge and shaping their character. 
One thing you hadn’t considered was their surprisingly persistent interest in your lack of a love life. 
It had begun at the start of the year when you were getting to know your students and in turn, allowed them to get to know you as well. The kids had so many questions. Did you have a dog? A cat? A house? An apartment? Did you live with your parents? Can you drive a car? Are you married?
It was the answer to the last question that had struck them the most for some reason. You were a grown up but you weren’t married. In their minds, being married is just part of being a grown up so why were you single? What does being single even mean? Do you not know anyone to marry?
A simple introduction had turned into the great inquisition and with wide eyes and a nervous chuckle, you had to re-direct them to the only other interesting topic you could think of. 
Recess. 
Those clever little things hadn’t forgotten about the lack of a band on your left hand though and made it a point to bring it up every few weeks. Did you go on any dates this weekend? What kind of person would you like to date? If you have lunch with someone every day could that be counted as a date?
Admittedly, you fumbled through those. 
You hadn’t realized that you might regret the way in which you answered them because it seems your ever-observant children have been spying you in the cafeteria with the teacher next door whom they’ve also learned is single. 
“So, do you like Mr. Choi? You guys always have lunch together!”
“Yeah! And you guys are always smiling and laughing together!”
“And Mr. Choi brings you coffee!”
“My friend in Mr. Choi’s class said that he is single too!”
“Mr. Choi said you had pretty hair!”
“Mr. Choi has really shiny hair too so your kids would have nice hair!”
Left and right the children pelted you with words you had stopped comprehending after the first mention of ‘Mr. Choi’.
Oh boy. 
Mr. Choi is your next-door neighbor at school. His classroom is actually attached to yours by a shared storage room and you suppose you do spend quite a bit of time together in front of the students but that’s only natural - you spend just as much time with the other fourth grade teachers. 
Well, maybe not the exact same amount of time. You’re usually on lunch and recess patrols together. You always get paired up to chaperone field trips and tend to volunteer for many of the same events like dances and fundraisers. 
If you had to really stop and think about it, Jongho was quite handsome. Broad shoulders, pretty smile, kind eyes. His surprisingly dry sense of humor did always make you laugh and he always leaves a coffee on your desk when he notices you’re running late since he is a chronic early riser. 
Again, you manage to calm the children and their increasing pitch - your eyes darting to the adjoining door between you and Jongho’s classrooms. 
It doesn’t end there, unfortunately, for you and your white blouse, exactly four days later. 
“Imagine the fallout if the kids found out we went on a real date…”
Your mouthful of juice sputters and dribbles down your chin before staining the silk of your top with bright red liquid. 
Jongho’s mouth straightens into a flat line and he hands you several napkins to dab at your ruined mess. “That doesn’t hurt my feelings at all.”
Leveling him with a peeved look you sigh, “It’s not like that,” and glance back down at your blouse, “You just caught me off guard at the worst possible moment.”
Neither of you are on lunch duties today so you’re sat across from each other at a craft table in the corner of your empty classroom. Little paper chains rustle in the crisp air pumping from the school’s icy vents and you’re grateful for them in the moment since they make you keep a long grey cardigan hung over the back of your chair at all times. 
You push back and ignore the sound of your knees popping when you stand to full height. Pinching the material of your shirt you tug at it rapidly as if you have some hope of at least drying the wet spots and speak openly to Jongho who is still diligently picking apart his salad from the cafeteria. 
“I can’t believe they’re all so invested,” you comment before rolling your eyes, “Little gossips.”
Jongho snorts. “I’m surprised that you’re surprised. They love ‘spilling the tea’,” he says with an added flair that tells you it’s something he’s picked up from his students, “Whatever that means.”
“Look at you using the lingo,” you chuckle as you sit back down, “And what ‘real date’? Last I checked cafeteria lunch didn’t count. Thought you’d be more of a romantic, Mr. Choi.”
You’re smirking with mirth until Jongho decides to match your teasing, hooking his foot behind the leg of your chair to haul you closer to the table. You squeak in shock at the jolting motion and he laughs, stabbing another bit of cucumber and moving on like you’re not internally marveling at his flippant show of strength. 
His thighs are kind of thick and firm you suppose if you think about it. 
Which you’re not. 
That would be weird. 
“What?”
You say it so hastily that Jongho looks at you like you’re losing it and laughs. “I didn’t say anything.”
Oh, so it was because you are crazy. 
Embarrassed you shove too much of your sub in your mouth, awkwardly and probably repulsively chewing to manage the gargantuan bite. The sound masks that of the napkin sliding across the table under one of Jongho’s fingers. You look up at him and he just pinches his lips together like he’s sure you don’t want to hear anything he might have to say about the mess on your face. 
After the driest most excruciating swallow you’ve experienced to date, you attempt to wash it down with your water in your stupidly expensive bottle and nothing comes out. Pathetically, you whine and try to pry it open. There is a mechanism on the inside of the lid that keeps jamming and you really could use a new one but they’re pricey and you’re living on a teaching salary and a prayer. 
“Let me help,” he says, pushing back in his little chair to rub his hands over his jeans like he’s preparing to empty his full strength into the effort to open your bottle but when it gives without so much as a pause he snickers and shrugs handing it back over to you. “Not really much of an opportunity to show off.”
You gawk at him. “What are you talking about? That thing was like welded shut!”
Jongho’s brows playfully rise until they’re high enough to hide beneath his fringe and the overwhelming urge to giggle and playfully swat at him nearly swallows you whole. He is so flirting with you.
Openly.
And you’re tripping all over yourself with glee.
Like any free moment in your school day, it comes to an end far too quickly and your classes are due to arrive in less than five minutes to continue instruction. Ignoring the butterflies in your belly, you take both your trash and Jongho’s to dispose of while he straightens up the table and then it’s time for him to head back to his own room and yet…you both awkwardly linger by the door instead.
“We should-”
“Maybe we-”
Embarrassingly enough, you open your mouths at the same time and talk over each other but you know you do not want to finish your own sentence and Jongho rocks back on his heels knowing he’s got a solid sixty seconds before little voices trail down the hall toward the door.
He takes a deep breath and says your name which is so odd because has he ever said your first name? Surely, he has…so why does it sound different now?
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
It comes out in a bit of a rush and he tacks on a “please” after a second thought and you nod because words don’t seem to form and you’re just stupidly staring back at him but…yes…you would like that. A lot. 
Jongho blinks as if he’s shocked that you actually said yes…or well, gestured, that yes you wanted to have dinner together. He hadn’t even planned to ask. He’s not sure when the idea sprouted in his head but once it bubbled up and up and up he just had to let it out. 
Now he has to plan the perfect date in less than five hours which means…
He grins and throws his hand up, thumb pointed toward the door behind you. “Gotta meet the kids…How’s seven o’clock? My place? I’ll cook.”
Still nodding, you manage to say something at last, “Yeah…yes. That’s…fine.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
He slips out the door and you let out a long laughter-filled breath. With your room still empty, no one catches you twirling all the way back to your desk before you flop down into your chair. Well, it’s possible one person saw you since your door bursts open right after and you’re jumping up and into an incredibly animated history lesson.
Meanwhile, Jongho is assembling his kids in a group huddle because they have a new assignment: Helping him decide what to cook.
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Your hands shake down at your sides just after you ring Jongho’s doorbell. 
Fingers dance along the skirts of your dress - one different than you’d wear in the classroom. Typically, you wear fun floral or artful prints with plants or planets. Things the kids love to talk about. This however is one you hope Jongho will think about, even after your gone. Even when he sees you in your overalls on Monday because your kids are working on art projects.
The door clicks open and there is Jongho in fitted black slacks and a loose white button-down smiling back at you. His hair is…fluffier than usual which is an odd distinction to latch onto but the combination of his hair and his clothing, the relaxed slope of his posture….you can’t seem to stop looking at him.
“You look different.”
Jongho chuckles. “You look the same,” he says and it jolts an incredulous laugh out of you, “I meant that to say I think you always look good but I see that sentiment isn’t shared.”
“Are you going to invite me inside or what, Mr. Choi?”
“Wouldn’t dream of sending you away in that dress,” he smarts, stepping aside to let you in, “Besides,” he closes the door behind you both, “You have to see what a romantic I truly am since you decided to tease me about it.”
A romantic indeed.
His home is crisp, clean, inviting, and it smells heavenly between the cooking he’s been doing and the candles lit throughout. Your eyes dart to little details along the walls and shelves as he guides you to the dining room - also set perfectly with flowers and more candles.
It’s not at all what you expected.
At work, Jongho is relatively quiet but you learned after a few meetings that he was rather charming and engaging. He likes sports and cars - kind of a man’s man. When you became closer, you realized he was chock-full of sarcasm and dry humor. You appreciated him for his company and the laughter that he supplied more than anything and that still stands true but this is a different side of him you haven’t really mapped out.
Hardly noticing that your feet have stopped moving, you’re surprised when you hear Jongho chuckle from your right. “How did I do?”
He almost sounds unsure of himself until you turn to him with a warm smile. “It’s really nice, Jongho.”
Just the sound of his name from your lips makes the tips of his ear tingle. “The kids said flowers and candles were the way to go.”
Taking your seats at the table, you agree. “The kids seem to know too much about romancing for their age.”
Jongho gestures to your glass with the bottle of red in his hands and fills your glass when you nod. “It’s a little admirable though,” he mentions, eyes glancing up to yours, “They have such a pure and simple definition of love. Everything is still so beautiful in their eyes so all they know is a happily ever after and I wish it would stay that way for them.”
“Oh, you’re such a softie.”
Jongho pokes his tongue into his cheek and grins, using his fork to point toward your plate, “Shut up and try the food.”
Again, not something you imagined Jongho would be good at but the food is delicious and there isn’t a takeout box in sight. He mentions something about not getting too excited because he only knows how to make a handful of meals on rotation but it’s still impressive. He also keeps you laughing and entertained throughout the meal, even with the prickles of ‘holy cow, this is a real date’ floating around in your head. It all feels so natural.
“So, you clean up nice, your house is immaculate, you can cook, you’re good with kids…” You twirl you wine, bellies full and plates empty as you sit across from one another, “What are you hiding, Mr. Choi? Where is the catch?”
He grins, crossing his thick arms over his chest. “No, catch. I’m perfect.”
“The catch is that you’re an awful smartass,” you chuckle before draining the last of you drink. “I suppose I already knew that though.”
“I suppose you do,” he returns, gathering the dishes to deposit in the sink for later - for now, he moves you both into the living room to relax on the couch and continue the conversation. “I am genuinely a ‘what you see is what you get’ kinda guy so I don’t know how much I’ll surprise you but ask the hard questions and I’ll answer them honestly. Anything you might want to know before we decide this is a good idea or just mutual attraction and peer pressure from ten-year-olds.”
Because you’re both adults, co-workers, and friends. It would be a waste to pursue a relationship you both want different things out of.
You purse your lips and think for a minute. “Dogs or cats?”
“Both,” he answers easily, “You?”
You tilt your chin in thought, “Both is good…I’m still in the ‘plant mom’ phase so I don’t have any pets but I’d like to. Any plans to relocate in the future?”
Jongho shrugs, “I’m not particularly attached one way or the other. The area here is pretty nice but there are lots of nice places.”
“You’re not overly picky, are you?”
He laughs. “No, not really. I’m pretty laid back.”
In the time you’ve known and worked with him, that tracks. You pivot in your seat, facing him a little more fully. “Oh, boy,” he jests, “Getting to the big stuff, huh?”
“Marriage…kids,” you state plainly, “Thoughts and feelings.”
Jongho rolls his shoulders. “I’m interested in both,” he says simply, though there is a tinge of hesitation like he’s waiting for your reaction, “My parents have been married for thirty years and are still very much in love so it’s probably given me a set of rose-colored glasses when it comes to long-term commitment but the idea of having ‘a person’...like “my person’ to share love and life with, to grow old together…that sounds good to me.”
You nod, chewing on his answer. “And kids? Singular? Plural?”
“Eight.”
You instinctively recoil. He’s playing with you, so you’ll play.
“Well, this has been great,” you pretend to stand up to leave, “See you Monday, frien-”
A funny little ‘oof!’ puffs from your lips when Jongho grabs your hand and pulls you back down onto the couch. It’s just a lucky coincidence you land much closer this time and when Jongho releases your hand, he keeps it close, almost hovering nearby like he’s aching to take it again.
“Yes, I would like kids and no, I don’t care how many. Even one is a blessing and I would be over the moon to be a dad,” his eyes twinkle and it kindles a little warmth in your chest, “You look all ooey-gooey right now. I think you like me.”
You give into the urge to swat him this time. Right in the chest.
Jongho loves it.
“I already like you,” you roll your eyes at yourself for admitting so out loud but it’s a bit obvious at this point and he’s teasing. “I’m not ready for all…that…just yet but I would agree we have enough in common to maybe…give this a try?”
You don’t mean for it to sound so unsure but you haven’t dated anyone in a while and this is your friend, your co-worker…this is kind of a big decision to pursue a relationship and you want to take it seriously.
Jongho squeezes your hand and doesn’t remove it this time.
“If you’re asking me to go steady, I’d gladly accept.”
You let yourself lean into him as you laugh. “Do you always have to give me a hard time? You’re so unserious!”
“That’s not even a word! Aren’t you a teacher?”
You push yourself back with a hand against his arm, “Unserious is totally a word! Aren’t you a teacher?!”
Dissolving into laughter, you wind up holding your hands over your belly to soothe the ache, heads dropped back against the couch. It takes several minutes to settle down, no thanks to Jongho and his smart mouth, but you’re having so much fun you don’t care that your stomach hurts or that your cheeks sting from smiling too much.
Spending time with him like this is something you want more of. 
Rolling your head toward him, you break open the fresh silence with a question.
“So, Jongho,” you manage, still a little breathy from laughing, “Would you like to go steady with me?”
He smiles and it’s gorgeous to behold. “Yes, I would.”
Both shoulders jump up to your ears as if the excitement you feel is trying to escape your body and you grin like a fool. 
A boyfriend. That’s fun.
“Don’t get mad,” Jongho chuckles, taking your hand back into his, now playing with your fingers comfortably, “I might have seen you dance all the way back to your desk after I asked you out today. You’re really cute.”
Like a vortex opening up and swallowing you whole, you crumble, shrinking into the couch. “You’re kidding...”
Jongho almost feels bad for sweeping your high away so quickly but he’s telling the truth. It was the cutest thing he’d ever seen and shot his ego through the roof. “If it makes you feel better, I called an emergency meeting with my students. They helped me choose dinner and suggested the flowers and candles.”
“And the wine?” you raise a brow, coming back out of your shell.
Jongho uses his free hand to scratch the back of his head. “Called my mom.”
It’s quiet for only a moment and then you’re fawning all over him. “Awww!!! Who’s cute now? That’s so sweet!”
He pretends not to love all your attention. “Yeah, yeah…so, it’s a Friday night and we don’t have school tomorrow…”
“Mhm,” you grin, nodding along playfully.
Jongho lists options off as if he’s reading off a menu. “We can grab another glass of wine, or a beer, I have that too,” he winks, “and bullshit the night away. We could watch a movie or if you’re tired of my company I could just kiss you goodnight - I mean - walk you out.”
He’s smirking like he’s just so funny.
“You could kiss me now, grab me a beer, and then we could talk shit for a little while longer,” you suggest with equal teasing, and his brows shoot up.
Butterflies hardly have time to take flight in your belly before Jongho’s lips touch yours, though it’s not rushed at all. It’s an easy sort of confidence in his movements like he’s so comfortable kissing you - like it’s not the first time and most certainly won’t be the last.
One hand cradles your jaw and he’s still smirking when he pulls away because it was a good kiss and he knows it.
You know it. The universe knows it. 
“Beer, movie, and makeout?” he jokingly suggests and you’re hopelessly falling for every ridiculous, unserious word coming out of his mouth.
“You really are just a man’s man, aren’t you?”
Jongho shrugs and gets up to retrieve two cold beers from the fridge calling over his shoulder, “I’m not really into guys, but I could be your man!”
Letting out a sigh that fades into a breathy laugh, you smile to yourself. Yeah, he absolutely could be your man.
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bvidzsoo · 8 months
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Lullaby of the seas
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Author: bvidzsoo
Warning: violence, blood, mentions of eating humans but nothing graphic
Pairing: Choi Jongho x female reader
Word count: 15,2k
Summary: Choi Jongho could be described as a dreamer; he loved folklore and fairytales. His father was a sailor and often brought his son out on the sea with himself, thus they lived off of selling fish and pearls. Jongho was well raised and always kind, a very hard-working son, therefore it came as no surprise that he accepted the job offer of a mysterious pirate when his father's house got destroyed by a storm. Jongho was quiet and didn’t bother others, did his job very well and secretly fantasized about meeting a mermaid one day. There was one tiny problem, the seas they sailed had no mermaids in them, only vicious sirens out for the blood of unassuming pirates and sailors. (Reader is called Sunmi in the following oneshots.)
A/N: Second part of the series is up, lovelies! It's like the Flash possessed me or something by how quickly I finished this part lol; I'll try to post San's part before I go on vacation, but no promises. I hope I did alright with this part, and don't be shy, leave feedback, let me know your thoughts! Enjoy now!
Taglist: @pingyu-in-wonderland @marievllr-abg @lelaleleb @loveforred @horanghae8 @jeonghanscarat7 @orshii @mundayoonimnida @m3tavita @silentcry329
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               I sat on a rock, close by the shore, watching the waves crash against the beach, occasionally washing up pearls and seashells. The light breeze was slowly picking up into a more powerful wind, blowing my wet long, black hair in my face. The sun was setting in an hour, the air not as warm as it was throughout the day, and I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I exhaled. This was my home. The sea. The ocean. The water. I have never touched land, or walked on it, as I lacked legs, as humans called them, to be able to do so. Instead of legs, I had a long-scaled tail, sturdy and strong. The black scales traveled up my stomach in an uneven pattern and covered my breasts scarcely, creating the illusion that they were molded into my skin. Despite sitting out in the sun quite often, I was rather pale, the only color on my face being my red lips which hid my sharp teeth, perfect for hunting. Despite popular beliefs, folklore was the one responsible for twisting the truth about Sirens, we only ate once a month and it was during the full moon. We recharged through the energies of the moon and through the blood of the sailors we took as our prey. Our beautiful voices lured them in, creating the perfect distraction for us to group around their boats and then attack as they were just waking up from the daze our lullabies put them into. No matter how cautious they were, they usually never made it out alive. The Raging Sea was our territory and despite sailors and pirates knowing about it, they still tried their luck and travelled through it. If the violent storms didn’t kill them, the sirens lurking in the depths surely did.
I opened my eyes and they fell on a large ship in the distance, sailing away peacefully, unassuming of the doom they were about to face tonight. It was a full moon and the swarm was hungry. Last month we didn’t find enough sailors for ourselves and had to share our prey among us, something which left us weaker than usually, thus we were starving, bloodthirsty and slightly desperate. Their blood wasn’t the only food, human flesh was tastier than anything else. Some were sweeter than others, mostly women, but we rarely had the pleasure to kill one, so we had to suffice with the disgusting sailors. Pirates were harder to trick, but if you stayed persistent, they’d willingly come to swim with you which made our job so much easier.
Bubbles travelled to the surface of the salty water before a head popped up to the surface, light green eyes staring into my icy blue ones, “Here you were.”
It was Serena, we were from the same swarm and she was someone I considered a friend. We usually stuck together when hunting in case anything went wrong, someone was there to help. Sirens didn’t make connections between each other like humans did, but I trusted Serena enough to allow her to approach me whenever she wanted. Despite living in a swarm, each one of us went on their merry ways, only reuniting when the full moon was to come up. We were stronger together than alone.
“Do you need something?” I asked her as she swum around the rock before pulling herself halfway out of the water, forearms resting on the solid surface. Serena’s head tilted and she smiled, her sharp teeth showing.
“Are you contemplating again?” She asked amused and I looked away from her, eyes focusing on the ship again. She followed my sight of line and her smile disappeared.
“About what?”
“Life.” Serena said, her expression mirroring mine. Our sharp eyes were narrowed and mouth slightly salivating at the sight of so many humans. We couldn’t help it; we were hungrier than ever before.
“I was actually fantasizing about the taste of those sailors.” I said to Serena, her eyes looking back at the ship.
“They are actually pirates,” She corrected me and then chuckled, “Silas asked us to meet near the cave, I came to let you know.”
I hummed and jumped off the rock, the cool water washing over my warmed-up body. My skin was slowly drying out from staying in the sun for so long and out of water, but it instantly rejuvenated once in the salty water. My body was light in the water and once Serena was underwater too, we swam off, headed to the cave. Our feast was soon about to start.
            The sun had set hours ago and the pirates lowered their small boats into the water, getting into them with torches in their hands. The swarm watched from afar as they started paddling towards the small deserted island. There was nothing on it except for a little green here and there and perhaps pearls, it made no sense that they were headed towards it, but nobody seemed to care. To be fair, even I could only think about their warm blood gushing into my mouth once I ripped their throats apart. There were fifteen of us in the swarm, Silas being our leader. He looked at everyone before slowly immersing himself fully underwater, everyone following after him. Our scales had a light fluorescent color in the water at night, making it easier to see each other. And even if they didn’t, our light eyes glowed in the dark, making us scarier looking than we already were. We were creatures of the sea and darkness, designed to be alluring in order to survive. We didn’t have much purpose besides feeding and playing into humans fantasies about peculiar creatures. I’ve heard many talking about mermaids while they sailed the seas, if it wasn’t a full moon we usually wouldn’t harm them. I liked to follow them closely on those days, letting them catch a glimpse of my tail in order to make them think they were hallucinating or seeing a bigger fish maybe. I heard the stories about mermaids, how friendly and sweet they were. But in reality, there were no mermaids. Only Sirens. And we weren’t friendly nor sweet. We were dangerous and lethal.
The swarm traveled carefully, making sure to remain unseen until the right moment. There were three boats in the water and five of us swam underneath each one, listening to pirates’ conversation carried by the water. The sea was quiet tonight, the full moon high up on the sky, luminating their dark paths. It was as if nature was the quiet before the storm, the storm being us. I watched as a pirate leaned over the boat slightly, his face blurry through the water and I smiled. Wasn’t he so eager to get into the water? And he wouldn’t have to wait for so much longer. Silas’ whisper carried around us like a caress, resounding around us softly and clearly, as he let us know that it was time. Serena smirked as we made eye contact and then slowly surfaced, showing her face to the pirates. I swam up as well, only peaking my eyes out, nose and mouth still underwater. The men were staring at us in awe, looking at us as if they’ve seen the biggest treasure of their lives. My eyes ran over the boat filled with six men and I found one who looked horrified. His mouth has fallen open and if I didn’t know better, I would’ve said he stopped breathing by how red his face had gotten. He was shocked, but intrigued at the same time, as I swam closer to the boat, our eyes locked onto each other. His were a dark brown, and he pushed one of the man to the side to get to the edge of the boat. I pushed my head fully out of the water and smiled at him sweetly, hiding my teeth. His eyes were wide as he stared at me and I sighed dreamily, making his eyebrows furrow.
“You’re real?” He whispered, more to himself, as I parted my lips and allowed the first note to slip through them. Our voices were angelic, high and melodic, they could lure over even certain sea animals. I didn’t think the pirate’s eyes could get any bigger than they already were, but it did, so I continued singing the lullaby, holding eye contact all the time. His body slowly seemed to relax as my voice carried higher and higher, slowly waddling closer to his boat. The pirate was fixated on me, eyes slowly dazing over, mouth slightly opening. His brain was fogged and body probably going numb from the Siren song. It was like a sweet poison, overtaking your whole being, rendering you completely helpless, allowing us to be in full control. I reached the boat and touched the side of it with my hand, nails long and pointy, as the pirate leaned closer, over the boat. His cherry-colored lips were pouty and his skin tan from staying out in the sun. I smiled at him as a few of the sirens already brought their prey into the water with them and I allowed my hand to reach the edge of the boat, lightly graze the pirate’s lips. He smiled dazed and gripped the sides of the boat, my song luring him inside the water. And as he got rid of his jacket, the muscles on his high cheekbones twitched. I ignored it and gripped the boat, next to the pirate’s hand, our skins touching. His was extremely hot compared to my freezing one. I smiled sweetly at him again, nodding in reassurance. He seemed to be taking his time in getting into the water compared to most of companions, who were already in it. But I remained calm and patient. I caressed his hand with my other one, and his eyebrows furrowed. Perhaps my song wasn’t powerful enough, so I raised my tone, taking his hand in mine and lightly pulling on it. He started getting up from his seated position, finally manipulated into coming inside the sea. But the muscles of his face twitched again and his lips pulled into a straight line, suddenly snatching his hand out of mine. My eyes widened but I didn’t let that discourage me as I continued singing, voice louder and more aggressive as I maintained the eye contact, but the haze was starting to disappear from the pirate’s eyes. What was happening? Was I not powerful enough anymore? That was impossible, the full moon enhanced our powers.
“No, no, no—” The pirate started muttering to himself, shaking his head as he started blinking, “No—Stop!”
I gasped as my lullaby came to an end, watching the pirate jump up and shake his dazed mate, “No, stop listening to them! These are sirens, they’ll—”
The man behind him screamed as a Siren bit into him and pulled him underwater forcefully, snapping a few pirates out of their daze. They looked horrified as they jumped to their feet and grabbed their weapons. Silas’s high-pitched wail pierced the pirates ears as the ones in the water fought for their lives, only to have their necks pierced by the sirens sharp teeth.
“Father!” The pirate I tried to lure into the water screamed at the dazed man still sitting, hand in water, Serena whispering sweet things to him. I smirked and went underwater again, wanting to antagonize the pirate a little bit more. Chaos had already erupted, and the pirates in the water were lost forever, however, the ones in the boats searched for their weapons, wanting to harm us. As a bullet pierced through the water I hissed and crashed into the bottom of the boat forcefully, rocking it quite harshly. I heard thuds and got back onto the surface, watching as my pirate fought against Serena as his father still didn’t snap out of the daze. Gunshots echoed through the night and a siren wailed loudly, making my head snap in their direction. Their eyes were wide open as a bullet pierced their forehead, making me cry out loudly. It pierced the humans eardrums and I looked back at the pirate now aiming his shotgun at Serena, and I knew what I had to do. I quickly swam to the boat and jump out, gripping the pirate’s arm as I pulled him with me underwater. He had dropped his gun in the boat in shock and tried to swim away, but I wrapped my hand around their torso and head, holding them against myself. The pirate startled struggling and just to spite him more, I started singing, smirking at him when he realized what was about to happen. I opened my mouth wide, sharp teeth visible, as the pirate started choking on water, kicking anywhere he could to no avail, as my teeth sunk into his neck. I moaned at the taste of blood in my mouth, my body warming up from the top to the bottom. I closed my eyes as I took us deeper underneath, losing myself in my lust for his blood, sweeter than anything I have ever tasted before. I could feel my skin glowing, buzzing with electricity as I drank more, saliva mixing with blood at the thought of the taste of his flesh. I couldn’t imagine how tasty he’d be if his blood was this sweet. But as he finally stopped flailing around in my tight hold, something sharp pierced my neck. It was plunged deeper and the sudden pain shooting through my body made me release the pirate and scream loudly, the sound echoing around in the water, getting everyone’s attention around us. It was loud and filled with pain and I tried to swim away, panicked, but something grabbed my tail and started pulling me upwards. Bubbles left my mouth as I screamed for help, but Serena was nowhere. I knew nobody else would help me. Despite the fresh energy coursing through my veins, I felt power slipping from my fingers and tail as it went numb, the water around me colored a deep red. I was loosing blood dangerously fast and when my head suddenly hit the surface I choked, breathless and kicking around to get back underwater, but I was pinned against the sand. Someone was coughing on top of me, wheezing and groaning in pain. Our eyes connected for a second, revulsion reflecting on both of our faces, before I gasped for air, the world going black around me.
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            Falling unconscious in water could be just as scary as falling unconscious on land for a Siren. We could breathe underwater, but still needed to come up to the surface to take in some fresh air, or else our lungs would start burning, making us choke like any human being. Falling unconscious on land, however, nobody knew the repercussions of it as we’ve never ventured close enough to find out, but it most certainly meant death as our bodies dried up fast, scales itchy and head dizzy from staying out of the water for too long. So, waking up panicked and confused was rather understandable as I kept banging against something hard, my body curled up as if I was confined in a small space. When my eyes opened, I gasped, taking in my surroundings. All I could see were men, so many of them, walking around, talking loudly, peeking at me in horror. I swirled around in the water, heart beating fast as I slowly realized what was happening. I was captive. In a glass box of sorts, enclosed in a small space. I couldn’t even stretch my body fully, tail curled up, as my box was put on display in the middle of the ship, held down by several thick ropes. I was on a pirate ship. The pirates we attacked during the full moon, were here now, holding me captive.
I started breathing fast, heart beat accelerating even more, my lungs asking for fresh air as I started choking on the water. I looked around in my little cage, and noticed that the water didn’t reach the top of the box, and there were little circles cut into the top of it in one corner. So, holding onto the glass on both sides, I pulled myself to that corner as I raised my mouth and nose out of the water, taking deep breaths of air. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, pretend that I was in the sea, coming up for some air. If I didn’t stop panicking, I would die from choking. And that was a dishonorable death for a Siren, I’d rather die at the hands of a pirate. However, my little bubble of fantasy was destroyed quickly as something starting banging against the glass, making me jump and hit my head in the top glass. I heard muffled laughter and turned my head only to come face to face with a man. He looked amused as he tapped the glass again, taunting me with his wide smile. I snarled my teeth at him, but he didn’t look frightened as his eyes ran over my body. His blond hair was longer at the back and black was smeared around his narrowed eyes. The white cloth tied around his right forearm told me that he was the captain. His mouth started moving, but the glass was thick and I couldn’t make out their words, so I watched their lips move, trying to decipher what they were saying.
“Nice catch, isn’t she?” He said to his men, who seemed afraid enough to keep their distance from my glass box, “Wonder how expensive she’ll be.”
A strikingly beautiful man showed up, his wavy black hair pulled in a ponytail, a shiny golden compass around his neck, “We’ll ask around once we dock down in the Sun Set Kingdom.” He seemed to be the least interested in me, not even glancing in my direction as the captain turned his head back at me, a menacing smirk slowly sneaking onto his face. I could feel myself itch from his gaze, fury and helplessness overtaking my body.
“Thanks to you I’ll be filthy rich, gorgeous.” It was as if he knew I would understand his words, his lips articulating his words slowly and obviously, making me scream out. The pirates held onto his ears as I screamed, starting to throw my body against the glass. I wouldn’t let them sell me off to anyone. I couldn’t die like this. This would be a disgrace to my species, centuries of anguish to follow. If the world finds out we truly exist, we’ll be hunted down for the mere sick enjoyment of humans, eliminating our species. I couldn’t be the cause of it, the thought made me sick. It didn’t matter that my body was aching from how violently I was throwing myself against the glass, banging on it with my fist, even trying to break it with my tail knowing it was strong, but nothing was working. It seemed that it was unbreakable, but the mocking laughter of the pirates egged me on more to keep on trying, refusing to appear helpless and frail. As my lungs started burning from exhaustion, I knew I had to stop and take a breath, there was suddenly commotion in the crowd gathered around me. I pushed my head to the little circles, and took deep breaths, watching what was happening. A man appeared to be pushing everyone out of the way, screaming something. I tried to make the words out, but all I got was ‘stop’ and ‘get away’. The voice sounded almost familiar and when I turned around, my eyes fell on a very familiar face. I gasped as my icy blue eyes widened, dark brown ones staring back just as shocked. I snarled my sharp teeth at the pirate, hitting the glass with my fists, hatred radiating off of me. He was the reason I was here. He was the pirate I tried to kill, the one I bit, but then he stabbed me, brought me to land, and captured me. My eyes fell on the bandage around his neck and it made me touch my own neck, feeling the bump of a wound. It seemed to be sealed, and my eyebrows furrowed as I looked at the pirate, who seemed to be watching my reaction. I snarled again, and crashed against the glass, trying to scare him off like I did to the others who have already scattered around, but this pirate didn’t budge, he kept on watching me, eyes slightly wider. He seemed to be amazed, eyes taking in my body, freezing on my tail for a second, making me crash it into the glass, the pirate jumping in reaction. I was glaring at him hard, baring my teeth at him when he stepped closer to the glass, a hand touching it. His eyes carried resentment as his lips opened, “You should’ve swum away when I snapped out of your song’s control.”
I understood, because he mouthed it slowly, his eyebrows furrowing when I didn’t react. I just turned my head to look away, done with entertaining him. He did not deserve my attention. He made me wonder how he snapped out of the daze induced by the Siren song, but he’ll never hear my voice ever again. I wasn’t going to utter one word to these monsters. Despite the pirate’s fascination with me, he didn’t seem too keen of me, as I watched him walk up to an older man, who was holding a wooden cane, the resemblance between them quite obvious. So, his father survived too, what a pity.
            Time seemed to jumble together, I tried to keep up with the rising and setting of the sun, but after a few days I lost count of it. I assumed I had been on this ship for around a week now. The Raging Sea could be tricky and hard to navigate, yet these pirates somehow sailed it without many difficulties. They seemed to avoid the storms best and travel around them, their navigator quite talented. Perhaps if I had known that their navigator was the pirate who captured me, I wouldn’t have thought that about him. The Sun Set Kingdom and the South Kingdom weren’t very far from each other, if you were lucky enough you could sail through the Raging Sea in two weeks, however, the constant storms made it sometimes impossible to get through it. Sailing out into the Black Ocean was even more dangerous due to its huge creatures, best you could do was say a prayer and hope someone in the Heavens blessed you to have an easy adventure, that is, if you believed in such a thing. Humans easily believed in anything, you just needed to appear even a little bit confident when trying to sell your idea, and there it was: a new belief, a new tale. I suppose the confirmation of our existence would just send them into a frenzy of confusion about what was real and what was not. Humans were afraid of the unknown, and I was considered already a dangerous creature. The fearful glances of the pirates working on deck never seemed to cease and if I happened to be looking at them, they’d shudder and look away, avoiding eye contact. I knew the fact that I was a Siren wasn’t the only scary thing about me, without my songs, my appearance was rather odd than beautiful.
However, there were some more daring pirates, who seemed to fear no God or even their very own Captain. I heard it loud and clear when he shouted that nobody was allowed to get close to the glass cage, touch it, or even think about opening it. I was a prize he wanted to sell, assuring his riches for a lifetime. However, three pirates seemed to be stupid enough to not listen to their captain as one evening, while I was thinking about the ocean, they approached me. It was a windy evening, waves crashing into the ship, rocking it left and right, yet the sky was clear and non-threatening for now. Here, the weather changes abruptly, but this being my home, I knew it wouldn’t storm just yet. My skin wasn’t as smooth anymore as it used to be, the water they kept me in stale and rather smelly. I was lucky they were smart enough to allow me to breathe fresh air, as I found myself needing it more often than usual. Being out in the sun all day long was taking its tool on me as well, my body not used to the constant heat. I would sit on rocks quite often, but never for too long during noon, and then I would retreat to the depths of the sea, where it was cool and dark. I sighed loudly as I watched the waves crash against the side of the ship, some water getting on deck. My hand reached out, almost as if I had forgotten I couldn’t reach it, missing my home like crazy. I probably should enjoy the little time I have left of being close to water, once we hit land, there’s no guarantee to what’s happening to me. Letting my guard down, thinking that I was finally alone on deck, was a mistake. I started humming to myself, missing the voices of the other sirens and our little games of hide and seek. Our songs weren’t just for luring in the humans, it allowed us to communicate between each other as well. The melody I was currently humming was the one Serena and I would sing whenever we finished hunting and were searching for each other, making sure we were alright. I could imagine her singing it after our last hunt together, never getting a response. At least she knew I was gone and she wouldn’t search for me, stray away from the swarm and endanger herself.
The sudden crash of something hard against the glass made me jump and I whirled around fast, eyes falling on three pirates who were smirking and slurring their words. They were swaying as they stood, probably drunk, holding tridents in their hands. One of them had a giant key in their hand and my eyes went to the giant padlock holding the top of the glass secured to the rest of it. I knew these dumb pirates could hurt me, but if I outsmarted them, I could escape. So I watched them innocently and figured out that they wanted to kill me before we’d get to land and sell me themselves, betraying their Captain. I chuckled, knowing very well they were just as dead as me once their captain finds out they are traitors. The one holding the key pushed his mate forward, and he crashed into the glass. He stared at me frightened and when I smiled and raised my eyebrows at him, his eyebrows furrowed. The other man, who was clutching his trident harshly, kept his distance, visibly afraid. The pirate with the key went to open the padlock, and that’s when I started humming loudly enough for them to hear me. Their bodies tensed, eyes widening as I lured them in with the song, eyes softening, lips pulling into a smile. The most frightened one dropped his trident and fell to his knees as he crawled towards the glass cage, watching me mesmerized as I got closer to the glass, bewitching them. The other pirate pushed himself against the glass, his weapon still in his hand, but he had obviously forgotten about wanting to kill me. The one holding the key, however, moved accordingly to my own will, leaning up on his tiptoes, hands gripping onto the padlock as a rather harsh wave crashed into the ship. I didn’t let that distract me as I continued singing the lullaby, pitch higher than before, icy blue eyes glowing in the dark. The three pirates became my puppets and I could feel my heartrate pick up as the one with the key finally inserted it into the padlock and slowly started turning it around. I pushed myself against the glass, hands on the top of it to break free once the padlock is unlocked, but the serenity and spell broke when someone came rushing down the stairs, screaming.
It was that one pirate again, my pirate. The one I almost killed, the one I wished nothing more than to kill. He almost fell off the stairs as his feet tangled together in his rush, a thick looking notebook clutched tightly in his hands. He was screaming at the pirates to stop listening to the song, but it seemed as though they were too deep in to even hear his words. So I continued my song, smirking at the desperate pirate as he shook the one holding the trident, and once he realized what was happening, tried to stop the one from opening the padlock. I was so close, one more click, and I’d be free. I started pushing against the glass, struggling to open it, I was so close.
“Kim Hongjoong!” The familiar pirate shouted at the top of his lungs, physically having to remove the pirate from the padlock, fighting against him as he cried out that he needed to open the lock. Seven other men came bustling down the stairs, eyes wide and sleepy as they assessed the situation. Everyone but the captain seemed to be wearing more casual, comfortable looking clothes, as they realized what was happening. I raised my voice higher, louder, allowing my voice to travel to their ears as well, watching as one of them tensed, appearing to be in a daze.
“No! Stop listening to her!” My pirate screamed again, somehow pinning the one with the key against the floor boards, struggling to hold him down because of his violent kicks and screams, “Think about something, don’t allow her voice to get inside your heads!”
But that one pirate seemed to be already under my influence, and I beckoned him over with the wriggle of my finger, a smile appearing on his lips, “Take Wooyoung away!” A taller man next to him, who seemed to be struggling against my lullaby as well, grabbed Wooyoung and dragged him away, slapping him hard when Wooyoung started screaming that he had to get to me. It all happened quickly, the remaining five pirates helped out my pirate in keeping the man down, taking the key from him and handing it to the Captain. His body seemed to be shaking, forehead sweaty as he approached me, eyes ablaze. He was fighting the siren’s song, but was close to giving up.
“If you don’t stop—” He gritted out, suddenly raising a shotgun against the glass, “I will kill you this second.”
Dying by a bullet wound seemed unworthy, but at least I wouldn’t get exposed to the horrors of other humans on the mainland. It seemed like a reasonable death all of a sudden, so I didn’t stop, just continued singing and closed my eyes. I heard the click of something, and I knew it was coming.
“No! Stop, Hongjoong!” I knew that voice, it was that pirate again, “Don’t kill her, please!”
The melody froze in my throat, eyes opening and falling onto that one pirate again. His eyebrows were furrowed and he was breathing hard, clutching that notebook again, looking at the Captain with pleading eyes, “Please.”
I took the momentum to my advantage and tried to open the top of the glass again, but the Captain acted first, locking the padlock again, throwing me million steps away from my escape. I screamed and bashed myself against the glass again, wanting to tear their throats apart. The pirates who came here initially to kill me snapped out of their dazes and looked around them frightened, bodies shaking as one of them started crying. I snarled and whipped my tail at the glass, making them jump.
“What were you doing here?” The Captain demanded to know, voice commanding. The three pirates lowered their eyes to the ground, shaking their heads and saying nothing. I glared at them, hissing when they wouldn’t state their reasons. My pirate noticed my anger and looked at me, approaching the glass cage. I refused to look at him, he once again stopped me from escaping.
“I asked a question!” The Captain shouted and the men shook their heads again, bodies shaking. I went to take fresh air again, lungs beginning to burn from exhaustion and my eyes fell on the Captain. If my Siren song couldn’t cause chaos, my words definitely would.
“They were here to kill me.” All heads whipped in my direction, shocked at the hear of my voice. It wasn’t as majestic as my voice when I sung, it was rather husky and scratchy, my throat currently burning too.
“She can speak?” One of the pirate’s who came down with the Captain wondered out loud, dumbfounded as he looked at me. But that was all I would say.
“Of course, she can.” The familiar pirate spoke up softly, eyes finding mine, “The only difference between a mermaid and a human are the tail and legs, San.”
The pirate looked at me as if asking for confirmation, but I just averted my eyes, disgusted by his attempt of making conversation with me. I was not a mermaid, I thought that was clear by now.
“Judging by your current positions and your missteps in the past,” The Captain spoke up, jaw clenched and eyes glaring down at the three pirates, “I’m ought to believe the monster.”
These humans were the real monsters, not me, “She’s not a monster!” My pirate snapped; eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me. Why was he defending me? What was it in for him?
“Whatever, Jongho,” The Captain muttered tiredly, “Takes these three to my office, I’ll take care of them.”
And just like that, one by one, all pirates retreated back to their previous activities, neither throwing a second glance my way. All except one. The one I tried to kill, the one that tried to kill me, my pirate. He lingered behind, almost by the stairs when suddenly he ran up to the glass cage, tapping the window softly. My eyes pierced into his as I glared at him, snarling.
“My name is Jongho,” He said cautiously, almost afraid to do so, “And yours?”
Siren’s names were sacred, so I huffed amused and turned around, ignoring his burning gaze on the back of my head. I refused to let him know my name. Realizing he wouldn’t get an answer, he walked off, notebook already opened as he made his way up the steps, a pen in his hand. He was peculiar. His resentment towards me was very obvious, yet his eyes held fascination each time he looked at me. I couldn’t decide whether he wanted to kill me or protect me.
And it only became more confusing as the week went by and this pirate continued to approach me more than once a day, talk to me, ask me questions. I didn’t answer him, I didn’t even listen to him at most times, glaring and imagining all the ways I would rip his throat out during the next full moon. I couldn’t bear being in this cage anymore. My bones were aching, my tail was numb from not using it for so long and the smell inside started making me nauseous. The circles allowing the air inside seemed to be getting smaller, suffocating me rather than offering fresh air. I was slowly going mad, banging against the glass, desperately trying to break it. I needed to get back into the sea, I had to save myself.
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            Two more days passed by barely, nothing happening as the pirates carried on with their usual shenanigans. My pirate, Jongho, as he had called himself, seemed to be glued to the glass cage, refusing to even sleep in his usual place, afraid someone would try to attack me again. I didn’t understand his concerns and why he was going out of his way to keep me safe when it was clear he hated me for what I did to him. I hoped he knew I would do it again, no feelings of any sort tying us together. A soft-spoken pirate, whom I noticed would check up on Jongho’s wound from time to time, seemed to be the only one able to convince the pirate to retreat to his quarters and leave me alone, scared for his safety. Jongho refused him numerous times at the beginning, but when the strikingly handsome pirate interjected with their conversation, Jongho finally seemed convinced enough to leave me alone. I couldn’t have been more thankful for the two for making the man leave, I have had enough of him. He talked a lot. He asked a lot of questions. But I also noticed he muttered a lot to himself whenever he was working on the maps, making strange lines with some sort of pencils and rulers. His eyebrows were always furrowed when he watched the stars with his binoculars at night, checking the direction of the wind every half an hour. If something seemed to confuse him, he’d curse to himself quietly and would start from the beginning, never giving up. The other pirates seemed to rely on him a lot, I figured that he was probably their navigator, his father helping him out from time to time. The two seemed to be quite close, often helping each other out. Jongho’s father was repulsed by me, it was quite obvious, and he screamed at his son often for not staying away from me, scared that I would bewitch him again, but Jongho remained persistent and kept on insisting that someone needed to keep an eye on me and who was better than him? Apparently, he knew everything about my species there was to know. I highly doubted that as all these stupid pirates seemed to think I was a mermaid, but Jongho was right in one thing. He somehow became immune to my Siren song, blocking his mind from my melody’s allure. I did not know such thing was possible, and even Jongho seemed surprised at his discovery. The thick notebook was with him at all times, and I found him doodling something in it while sneaking glances at me. I did not want to know what it was, I just wanted to be free.
And it seemed like my wish would become reality faster than I thought so. Except, it wasn’t exactly in the way I imagined it to be. And it just so happened on the night Jongho decided to finally leave me alone. But that was perhaps better, because I was woken from my slumber to the violent rocking of the boat, and fireballs flying in the air. I watched with wide eyes as a fireball flew over the deck, dangerously close, yet missed anything important. I didn’t understand what was happening until all the pirates ran up on deck, each holding weapons of all sorts in their hands. Most were shotguns and the tall one who took Wooyoung away seemed to be the one in charge of all the gunners. He was shouting orders left and right, instructing the rest of the men when to fire and when to duck down. He seemed to be the most skilled as his shots never missed their target. When another fireball wheezed through the air it crashed into the mizzenmast and broke it in half, sending flying wood all over the deck; I finally realized the ship I was on was under attack. An enemy was trying to kill us. I started laughing bitterly as a pirate screamed, his clothes caught on fire, barely believing that I would die from getting attacked by an enemy ship. It was the most hilar thing in the whole four seas and four kingdoms, I couldn’t believe it was real. Well, if I had luck, then I would die and if I was unlucky, then I’d be taken by the enemy ship and either sold off or killed on the spot. My future didn’t seem too bright at the moment and I found myself laughing at the chaos unfolding around me. I was right in the middle of it, yet remained safer than anyone else on this ship. I watched as the pirates protected their ship fiercely, the captain and two other men on his right and left, leading their crew and throwing small things overboard, them exploding once they landed on the other ship. I figured they were some sort of explosives; I have never seen them with my own eyes. I watched two men trying to fix the damages at lightning speed, one was the soft-spoken man, thought he was called Yeosang, and the other one seemed smaller than a regular man, but it wasn’t my place to question their appearance. I watched Jongho do his best in getting the ship away from the enemy as fast as he could, Wooyoung next to him, barking orders, pulling on several ropes as he was trying to fix the sail of the mizzenmast. Another hard rock of the ship sent the pirates tumbling down and I crashed into the glass rather aggressively as one rope holding the cage stable broke. I watched wide eyed as nobody paid attention to me, a siren being least of their concerns right now. And to my utter shock, three bullets came flying into the glass, but it was so thick that they remained stuck in it. I watched amazed as a thin crack ran from one of the bullet holes down to the bottom of the glass. This was my chance to free myself. Nobody was paying attention; nobody was here to stop me. Freedom was just a few steps away. So, gathering all my energy, I started throwing myself against the glass, groaning and panting when the little crack didn’t seem to expand. I was growing frustrated and I screamed and I whipped my tail against it with all the force I had left in my body, but nothing happened. I felt helpless, useless, and defeated. Cannonballs going off from underneath us deafened the humans on the deck for a second, my sensitive ears started ringing. I have never cried in my life before, but for the first time, I felt a lump in my dry throat, squeezing and squeezing. I had to try once again, get out of this prison. So, once again, I banged my tail against the glass, letting out a frustrated wail as nothing happened. The cannons went off again, shouts coming from all directions on the deck, and then something miraculous happened. The Heaven’s listened to my cry of help.
The glass started breaking more, the little crack growing, expanding all over it. I took a deep breath and held it for a second, placing my hand against the broken glass, lightly pushing it, not expecting much. But it broke. To a million of pieces, the salty water crashed against the floorboards and so did I, falling face first onto it. I gasped loudly, my heart beating fast as the muffled screams and shouts loudly enveloped my surroundings all of a sudden, the rocking of the ship more violent and real, now that I wasn’t confined inside the glass cage. The chilly air hit my skin like rocks, and I gasped for air, lungs filling to the brim with clean and fresh air. Breathing has never felt so good before. I couldn’t believe I was free. I didn’t even notice the shards cutting into my skin as I pushed up onto my forearms, wincing at the sudden pain shooting up my tail. My numb body was finally able to move, I could finally stretch out. I could finally escape. But as I started crawling towards a hole in the side of the ship, the pain in my tail became more and more unbearable, making me let out a painful scream. It paralyzed my whole body and I started shaking, scratching at the scales covering my body, itching terribly. What was happening to me? Was it because I was out of fresh water for so long? Was I dying? And as the pain became unimaginable, veins showing through my translucent body, head thumping and eyes popping out of its sockets, my body started convulsing. I couldn’t control it, all I could do was take it in, accept it, and scream. But my throat was so raw, no sound made it out anymore. I wanted to reach the water; I needed it. The Sea would heal me, the Sea would save me. Something started streaming down my cheeks and I would’ve laughed if I could’ve, I was crying. Sirens never cried.
And as my back arched of the floor, hands clawing at anything they could, it all stopped suddenly. My mouth was open, about to let out a gut-wrenching scream, but it all stopped. It just…stopped. The pain. It went away. As suddenly it came, as suddenly it went. I was gasping for air, touching my face and neck. Something felt wrong. My body…felt heavier. My tail…I couldn’t feel it. So shooting up in a seated position, I screamed at the sight. My tail was gone and instead two dangling abominations took its place. I had legs! I started shaking my head, muttering no to myself over and over again, pinching the skin and crying out when it hurt. I could feel them, but I couldn’t move them. They were so heavy I didn’t think I could even stand. How was this possible? Where did my tail go? Was I no longer a Siren anymore? My heartbeat picked up at the thought again, and I turned around, eyes falling on the sea through the hole. I needed to get into the water right now. But as I wanted to turn around and continue crawling, a burning wooden plank from the mizzenmast broke off, plummeting straight towards me. So, this was it, I would die on a pirate ship as a human, bringing shame to my people. I closed my eyes, unable to save myself, awaiting the excruciating pain, the heat of the fire, but it never came. Before the burning plank could kill me, a body crashed into mine, making me yelp, as we tumbled to the side, tangled together. I lightly hit my head in a barrel and groaned, my body feeling numb from the torment it went through in the past few minutes.
“Why wouldn’t you jump away if it’s falling straight at you—” The panicked voice stopped screaming suddenly, pushing themselves off me, “It’s—you?”
I turned my head and came face to face with a shocked Jongho, wide eyes running over my body before he stiffened and his face became red. He suddenly stood and ripped his long coat off of himself and threw it down on me, turning away, “Put that on.”
Despite the chaos going on around us, I looked down confused and realized I was totally naked, oh. I chuckled, finding the whole situation hilarious as I pulled Jongho’s coat over myself, mimicking the way he wore it.
The blast going off not too far away from us sent Jongho into action, making me gasp and tense, when one of his arm’s went around my torso and the other underneath my now, legs, more specifically knees. I started pushing Jongho away as he held me firmly in his arms, baring my teeth at him, about to sink them into his neck, but he threw me a glare and hissed, “Stop it, will you! I’m trying to save you!”
His words made me freeze and I stared at his profile as he ran around the pirates, avoiding bullets and explosions as he brought us to relative safety, having run down the steps, placing me down next to them. It seemed like I weighed nothing to him, he showed no signs of struggle to hold me despite my heavy good for nothing legs.
“Stay here until I come to get you.” He pointed a finger at me and hesitated for a second, until I nodded at him. Where could I even go? I couldn’t walk or run like him. My legs weren’t usable, they were an abomination, turning me into a freak I never was. I allowed my thoughts to take me away from the reality I found myself in, tunning out the battle sounds, cries and shouts. All I wanted was the sea and my tail back.
            I had no idea for how long it lasted. Or how many died. Or if anyone even won. What was the reason of this attack? All I knew was Jongho coming back and lifting me up in his arms again, as if I was a feather, taking off towards another set of stairs. I held onto him tightly, watching his clenched jaw, his skin glistening with sweat and eyebrows furrowed. I had no idea where he was taking me or what he’d do to me, but I had no energy in me to fight back. I was even more useless now that I had legs. The ship seemed to have quieted down, no more screams and shouts, no more cries of pain, no more gunshots and cannonballs. The fight was over.
Jongho kicked a door open with his foot, and my eyes took the room in quickly, figuring it was a living quarter of sorts. There was a bed fit for one person, a huge desk littered with maps, notebooks, books, pencils and pens and ink. The floor next to the desk had even more rolled up papers, maps and books. There was a closet too, not too big, and next to it a wooden chair. The tiny window allowed me to see the moon, and I sighed as Jongho placed me down on the bed. It felt weird, the texture underneath my legs. It was soft and it didn’t hurt me. I touched it with my fingers, eyebrows furrowing.
“That’s called a blanket.” Jongho muttered as he started unbuttoning his shirt which was covered in dirt, sweat, and even blood. My eyes pierced him, watching carefully his every move. He turned around before opening his shirt, obscuring my eyes from the sight of his torso as he walked to his closet, opening it. He pulled out a clean looking shirt and dropped the one on him onto the floor, the muscles of his back showing. He was well built and strong looking, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that he carried me so easily. The view was gone as Jongho pulled the black shirt over his body, doing the buttons up to his chest. He grabbed another shirt from the closet and walked closer, his eyes watching me carefully. He was wary, as he should be. I was also wary of him; I couldn’t know what he’d do to me if I didn’t stay alert.
“Put this on,” He spoke up, handing the shirt to me, “I’ll be right back. You need more fitting clothes of which I don’t have.”
And with that, he turned around and quickly left, not closing the door fully. I stared at the shirt for a few seconds before deciding to put it on, the coat currently on me offering no warmth, I was freezing all of a sudden. I mimicked Jongho’s actions, pulling the shirt over my back once the coat was off, pushing my arms through the sleeves of the shirt, and one by one started doing the buttons. They seemed a little difficult at the beginning, but I got the hang of it as Jongho came back inside, eyes falling on me. Since I didn’t know how much I should button up, I stopped at my chest, looking up at Jongho when he cleared his throat.
“That’s too low for you.” He muttered and placed the soft looking garments in my lap, hands going to the buttons of my shirt. I recoiled and he pulled away quickly, holding his hands up, “I’m sorry, but you should do two more buttons.”
I just stared at him, with no intention of doing what he just told me, making Jongho sigh. He slowly approached me again, hands going to the buttons, letting him touch me this time as he made quick work and did the two buttons he said I should do. My eyes fell on his chest, on the black pearl he had on the string around his neck. As he went to step back, my hand flew out swiftly, gripping the pearl and stopping him. Jongho froze and fell forward a little when I tugged on the pearl, examining it from up close. He was hovering over me, arms in the air once again, eyes looking at the wall as my nose scrunched after smelling the pearl. It seemed to be authentic, and it was a black pearl. Those were really rare.
“My father and I used to be fishermen when I was younger,” Jongho spoke up, making me look up at him, “I like collecting pearls, that’s why I have this one. It’s rare.”
I nodded and slowly released the pearl, eyes never leaving Jongho’s. He gulped and pointed at the things in my lap, “There’s undergarment and pants, you should put them on.”
I looked down at them and gripped them, holding them up to my face. There was a thing which seemed to be smaller than the other one.
“The smaller one is to protect your genitals, and the other is to cover your legs. They are called pants.” Jongho explained as I had no idea what I was supposed to do with these, and looked back at him, but he had already turned around. I frowned, not quite understanding why. I placed the pants on the bed next to me and held the smaller ones up, looking down at my legs. How did I even moves these things? I bit my lower lip, trying to lift them, at least one of them, but they weren’t moving. Why? They must work like arms, so I tried again, but they didn’t even lift an inch off the bed. I groaned frustrated, but Jongho remained with his back facing me.
“I can’t—” I croaked out, embarrassed, “I can’t put it on.”
Jongho sucked in a breath, “Why?”
“I don’t know how to move my legs.” I whispered; eyebrows furrowed as I stared down at my lap. Jongho whirled around, eyes wide and a shocked expression decorating his face. He seemed embarrassed, as if what I just said was normal.
“I didn’t think you’d—I’m sorry.” He apologized, making me look at him confused, “Of course, you don’t know how to move them…may I help?”
I bit my lip and contemplated a little, nodding at last. I wouldn’t be able to do it without help, if he was offering it then I would take it. He seemed a little reluctant and hesitated when I reached my hand out holding the smaller pants, his eyes avoiding mine as I looked at him. He took it and then got down on his knees, fist clenching before his hand touched my calf. I gasped and gripped the blanket on the bed, skin very sensitive on my legs.
“I’m sorry!” Jongho apologized quickly, looking at me with a panicked look in his eyes.
I cleared my throat, “The skin is sensitive, that’s all.”
He looked at me for a second, before nodding and proceeding with his previous actions. He lightly touched my left calf before gripping it, his cold skin making goosebumps erupt all over my body. The feeling was new, unknown, intriguing. I watched as he tried to avoid skin contact as best as he could as he placed my legs through the holes of the small pants and then started pulling them up my legs, stopping bellow my thighs. He gulped and his eyebrows furrowed before he looked up at me, face flushed.
“I can’t—I can’t pull it all the way up if you’re sitting.” He seemed flustered; I did not understand why.
“Well, I can’t stand up.” I muttered, and Jongho nodded, seeming to think for a second.
“I’ll support you and then you can pull it up yourself.” I nodded at the solution and watched as he gulped again, his finger lightly grazing my thigh as he stood, gripping my forearms before he helped me up. I tried to stand on my own feet, but they weren’t working, without Jongho’s support I would’ve fallen. I gripped the smaller pants and pulled them up until they allowed me to, noting how Jongho was looking over my head, eyes never falling on me. These legs weren’t long enough as I appeared to be a lot shorter than him. I cleared my throat and he glanced down at me cautiously before sitting me back down and doing the same with the real pants this time, these being a struggle a little bit as they were tighter. The feeling was totally new, warmth covered my whole body, finally I stopped shivering. The pants seemed comfortable enough as they hugged my legs and I touched the fabric, hardly believing that I was wearing one. The silence was interrupted as hurried footsteps ran down the hallway, nearing the room we were inside, and the door was kicked open. I jumped at the loudness of it, eyes falling on seven other men. They were the same men that came up onto the deck the night those three pirates tried to kill me. The Captain stepped inside, followed closely by the strikingly handsome one, and the others seemed to push each other around in order to see inside the room. It was a peculiar image as one of them cried out before kicking the other one for biting them in order to get them out of the way. Did humans also bite each other? To my knowledge, they didn’t feed off of blood.
“Where’s the mermaid—”
“Hongjoong, I told you she’s not a threat—”
“Is that the mermaid?” The Captain asked horrified once his eyes fell on me. I looked at him with a glare, fed up with them using the wrong term about my species.
“I’m not a mermaid.” I snapped, flashing my sharp teeth at them, “I’m a Siren.”
There seemed to be a moment of silence filled with shock before the man standing behind the Captain spoke up, “Where’s your tail?”
I scoffed, slapping my thigh, instantly regretting it as pain shot through my muscle, “I would like to know that too.”
The Captain walked closer, grabbing my chin tightly, making Jongho protest, “Don’t be smart now, monster, what did you do to your tail?”
I slapped his hand away and hissed, annoyed that this man wasn’t afraid of me anymore, “I cut it off.”
I heard chuckles coming from the doorway, the other seven men looking at each other amused as Jongho seemed unimpressed and the Captain, drew his sword out, “Your legs will be the ones cut off—”
“Captain,” The strikingly handsome one spoke up calmly, placing a firm grip on the Captain’s shoulder, “I think she’s honest. She made no attempt to walk away from the falling plank back on the deck, meaning she’s never had them before”
The Captain huffed and placed his sword away, shaking the other man’s hand off himself, “Then where is her tail, Seonghwa?”
The two men looked at each other, but the handsome one, Seonghwa, shook his head, “I do not know, Hongjoong, I did not see what happened.”
Silence fell over the room, everyone confused as to how to proceed, until Jongho spoke up, “She could be shapeshifter. They have a tail in water and legs on land—”
“I’m a Siren.” I snapped, shooting him a glare.
“Is this your first time out of the water?” He asked and I looked away as I nodded, not too happy about admitting to personal things about myself in front of a pirate crew.
“You could be a shapeshifter siren, then—”
“Ten seconds ago you still thought I was a mermaid.” I threw Jongho a glare and he sighed, massaging his forehead.
“That is not exactly true,” He tried to defend himself, “Based on my studies you exhibited no behavior of mermaids, so I knew you were something else—”
“Mermaids aren’t even real—”
“Enough!” The Captain exclaimed and both Jongho and I shut up, looking at the wall, “I don’t bloody care what you are, just get that tail back so I can sell you.”
I snarled at the Captain and would’ve clawed his eyes out if I could walk to attack him, “Everyone, get back to your posts, we have a long night ahead of us to fix the damage Lee Yuri left behind.” The Captain’s mouth twisted, seemingly disgusted at the mention of the woman, his expression annoyed. Everyone yelled a ‘Ai, Captain, ai’, and then started leaving, but Jongho was stopped from doing so.
“Not you, mermaid boy, keep an eye on your monster.” The Captain said, holding him back from leaving the room. I sighed at the use of that term again, fed up with it.
“She’s a Siren, not a monster.” Jongho muttered as the Captain left too, slamming the door shut behind him. I looked at Jongho and he sighed, looking at me.
“You can sleep meanwhile I check the maps; I promise not to touch you without your consent.” Jongho said as he walked closer, making my eyebrows furrow.
“I’ll bite your finger off if you touch me while I sleep.” I threatened menacingly, making Jongho chuckle as he helped me lay down.
“I do not doubt that.” He whispered more to himself, pulling the blanket over my body, the feeling foreign. The bed felt comfortable. Very warm and cozy. It also smelled like salt water; it reminded me of the sea I missed so much. I sighed and closed my eyes, my back facing Jongho as he sat down at his desk, papers shuffling.
“You can call me Y/N.” I found myself whispering, making up a name on the spot. I would never let a pirate know my real name. Jongho hummed and said nothing, the sound of scribbling resounding in the room. The soft rocking of the ship quickly lulled me to sleep.
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            Time moved faster than the ship we were on, slowly, we were approaching the Sun Set Kingdom. You could see the shore in the distance, it would take around three more days to reach the mainland. I couldn’t ignore my feelings of distress whenever the topic was brought up by Jongho, who by the way, kept me prisoner in his room. Everyone else seemed afraid of me, not forgetting that I was still a Siren as a few days ago the tall pirate, who’s name I learned was Mingi, mocked me that I was a regular human now, so, I almost made him jump into the shark infested water, proving it to them that I was still a Siren. Jongho was rather appealed each time someone called me a monster, defending me, leaving me confused each time. He seemed to have gotten used to my presence in his room and spent most of his time with me willingly, either scribbling in that thick notebook of his, silence engulfing us, or he would ask me outrageous questions about my life. I rarely answered him, throwing him a glare each time he’d bring up the Siren topic, which he seemed to be obsessed with. Despite my protests, he also started feeding me fish, seemingly thinking I was some sort of pescetarian…that is until I threw up on him, he finally stopped playing smart with me. After that I explained, once again, that I only ate during the full moon and my meal was human flesh and blood, not fish. Those were my favorite’s and anything else made me sick. Jongho seemed terrified a little bit when he learned this information, muttering something as he started writing in his thick notebook. I started figuring out that he was probably noting down everything I said, it was probably his diary. His father, however, hated me and had a knife pointed at me each time we crossed paths, saying that he’d slash my throat if I dared to lay a finger on his son. To my amusement, I told him that I had to touch Jongho quite often as I couldn’t move on my own, almost getting my head cut off if it wasn’t for the Captain screaming at the man to stop. They were still trying to figure out how to get my tail back, and it was rather hilarious as I sat on top of a barrel, watching the men throw ideas at each other.
“Here,” The smallest looking pirate approached me, handing me a dark colored fabric, “They are undergarments, Jongho told me he borrowed one from me. You can’t have just one though.”
I took in the pirate’s appearance, the long curly hair and feminine voice confusing. Her hair was a vibrant red and her lips were plump, a little gap between her two front teeth as she smiled at me brightly, “What are you?”
The pirate chuckled, looking at a man who was carrying a list in his hands, checking the barrels on the deck, immersed in his job, “You’re quite brazen, aren’t you?”
“Am I supposed to be any other way?” I asked confused, not quite understanding this weird pirate. They just shook their head, pulling the bandana wrapped around their head off.
“I’m a woman.” I watched her open her shirt, showing the fabric wrapped around her breasts, flattening her chest. I knew she wasn’t a man, her voice too soft and face not as harsh as a man’s.
“Then why are you pretending you’re not one?” The woman chuckled as she buttoned her shirt up, making eye contact with the man checking the barrels. His lips pulled into a soft smile, eyes lingering on her for a second too long.
“It’s a long story, but I’m not pretending anymore.” She explained, reaching her hand out, “My name is Taeri, by the way.”
I looked at her out stretched hand and nodded, not quite understanding what I was supposed to do. She chuckled amused and took my hand, making me hiss, and shook it, “Don’t hiss at me and introduce yourself.”
I snatched my hand out of hers, not understanding her weird gesture, “Stop commanding me, my name is Y/N.”
Taeri ignored my words and stepped away, looking around on the deck, “Can you walk?”
“Not without support, Jongho’s been trying to teach me but I don’t want to walk.” I muttered, crossing my arms in front of my chest as my eyes fell on the mentioned pirate, he was checking his map again.
“You’re lucky you’ve got Jongho,” Taeri said quietly as she leaned closer to me, “The others wouldn’t treat you so kindly.”
“I do not care how I’m treated,” I snapped, eyes glaring at the woman, “I belong in the sea, not on land, but your Captain is hungry for a prize he will never get. I am worth more than anything in the four seas and four kingdoms.”
Taeri chuckled patting my cheek, making me pull my head away, “I like a woman who knows her worth.”
Before I could say anything else, she stalked away towards the pirate who had stopped checking the contents of barrels, and they started conversing as the man pulled her slightly closer to himself by her waist. I watched their interaction closely, noting how comfortable they seemed to be in each other’s proximity. The woman didn’t flinch at his touch, she even seemed to be enjoying it. The man was smiling at her and he adjusted her bandana before grabbing her hand and pulling her with him, headed towards the stairs leading downstair. Human connections seemed more complex than the Siren ones. That couple appeared to be…quite fond of each other.
“It’s time for your daily walking lesson, Y/N.” I jumped at Jongho’s voice being close to me, having not noticed him approaching me. I looked at him, analyzed his stance, and noted how relaxed he seemed. He was smiling as he extended one hand, even looking excited. I couldn’t exactly understand why this man seemed so amazed by me, always watching me closely, and paying attention to everything I said or did. He always apologized if he touched me unannounced and kept asking me if I was alright while he did so. I didn’t like people standing too close to me, but Jongho’s constant questions were irritating as I found myself more accepting of his proximity. He wasn’t as bad as the loud pirate he seemed to work with the most, Wooyoung. The first time he tried to touch me, I punched him in the face and ever since he’s been glaring at me whenever we made eye contact. I wasn’t some sort of animal put on display for others to touch or talk to whenever bored.
However, the little freedom I seemed to have was quickly taken away a few nights ago as I had attacked Jongho while he was asleep. I had warned him before, that if he ever fell asleep around me, I would attack him, but apparently he thought I was joking. I found it rather annoying as the Captain placed handcuffs around my wrists, securing me against the leg of the desk Jongho had in his room. He growled at me that he’d kill me if I dared to harm his crew even once more, making me chuckle as I started humming, warning him that I was still a Siren, and I could still make them do whatever I wanted to. Jongho had started training them in how to block the Siren song from getting to them, but the Captain seemed to still have trouble with it, so I loved antagonizing him. The attack I conducted on Jongho which led to my current predicament was a mere experiment, I felt like checking if I still had it in me. I was woken from my slumber by loud snores coming from the desk behind me, and when I turned around, I found Jongho with his head on the desk and eyes closed. I watched him, confused by the sounds he was making, until I realized it was probably snoring. He looked serene in his sleep, body fully relaxed. I could’ve easily ripped his throat out, so enticed by the thought, I found myself sitting up. I still couldn’t walk on my own, these legs were just too heavy for my body, but if I leaned against a wall and held myself up, they worked pretty fine. The were still sensitive and my feet would hurt if I stood on them for too long. I didn’t know having legs was this exhausting. After I reached Jongho, surprised that he didn’t wake up as I crashed into the wall and even fell a few times due to the rocking of the ship, I leaned my head close to his. I gripped the desk tightly, eyes trailing his smooth skin, missing my own being like that. My body was doing a lot better than I expected out of water, but it felt dirty and extremely dry. Drinking water strangely seemed to hydrate my skin though. Jongho sighed loudly in his sleep and my eyes fell onto his neck, the scar of my teeth never disappearing. The wound has healed, but the scar remained. I had a scar on my neck too because of him, at least we were sort of even. Jongho’s eyebrows furrowed and suddenly his eyes opened, making me take action. As he stood up straight, I gripped his neck and squeezed it, snarling at him as his eyes widened. He looked confused as he tried to pry my fingers off himself, making me chuckle. When I showed him my sharp teeth, his body tensed and suddenly he jumped up, twisting my wrist with one hand, making me hiss in pain. I couldn’t exactly react as he gripped my neck and suddenly my head was pinned against his desk, cheek getting squished.
“What in the Heavens are you doing?!” Jongho snapped, voice laced with fury and bewilderment.
“I told you I’d kill you if you fell asleep while I was in the room.” Jongho chuckled amazed, unbelieving what he was hearing. I smirked, but it was quickly wiped off as the door opened and his father walked in. He quickly created a big scene, totally unnecessary, and ten minutes later I was chained against a desk, forced to sit on the floor as the chains weren’t long enough to reach the bed. Hongjoong said if I behaved like an animal then I’d be treated like an animal, and after that I barely saw Jongho anymore, Taeri being the one checking up on me from time to time. She said we’d dock down soon, making me nauseous. That meant I was dying soon.
            I had fallen asleep after Taeri’s visit, head resting against the wall as my lower back seemed a little numb from always sitting. This human like body was a rather painful experience. My head banged against the wall and I woke with a start, startled by the screaming coming from above me. My eyebrows furrowed as I looked around, and realized the ship was rocking terribly from side to side. Something wasn’t right, I could feel it in my bones. I quickly looked outside through the window and saw darkness covering the sky, rain falling rapidly. We had run into a storm. I looked around the room, realizing there were very low chances of survival on this ship, so I needed to leave now. I could use my legs this time, support myself against the wall, and just jump into the water. I had no idea what would happen if I did so, but I hoped I’d get my tail back. I tugged on the chains, but obviously they were too strong for me to break, and suddenly, my eyes traveled up to Jongho’s desk. Underneath all the papers, a shiny thing peaked out. The key. I gasped and leaned up, grabbing it, and hurriedly undid the chains around my wrists. I smiled in victory, excited to finally leave these awful pirates behind, excited to return back home. I could hear the Sea calling me as I carefully stood, trying to find my balance despite the harsh rocking of the boat. It was hard, but I wasn’t about to give up.
Finding support in the wall was hard, but I found myself out in the hallway, half dragging myself half actually taking steps as I walked. It must’ve been a hilarious view, but it was the best I could use my legs. The shouts of orders got louder and louder as I made my way up the stairs, only being able to take one step at a time. My thighs were a little bit numb by the time I made it all the way up the two flight of stairs, feet aching. I did not understand how humans were able to stand on their feet all day long. I had to grip onto the railing tightly as the waves rocked the boat aggressively, struggling to stand up straight. I peaked my head through the corner and watched as the pirates tried to hold the sails still, the Captain trying to steer the ship away from the storm, but that was impossible. At this point, they had to ride it out, we were too deep in it. I took in the situation, wondering whether these men and Taeri would survive this storm, so close to the mainland, yet so far away. What a pity. But once again, I had to take advantage of the situation and I made my way onto the deck, the rain hitting my face, making me look up at the sky and laugh. I haven’t felt water on my skin in so long. It didn’t feel like the salty water that I have missed so much, but it still felt majestic. My clothes got soaked in mere seconds and I fell onto my knees as a wave crashed into us harshly. But I had to get up, so I did, I gripped a barrel and pulled myself up, eyes falling on the railing. I just had to get to it, and from then on, I was free. I have never been so close to freedom before. And so, I started taking baby steps, legs and core tense as I tried to keep my balance, having to forget about the support of other things around me as I had to cross through the middle of the deck. But as I was walking, amazed by myself, someone blocked my path making me look up at them, their breathing ragged.
“Good, you’re here,” The pirate shouted over the loud thunder, and my eyebrows furrowed, “The more the merrier! I need you to tie those barrels against the mainmast, fast!”
He pushed a thick rope in my hands and my eyebrows furrowed as I watched the pirate run off, helping his mates in need. He was the man Taeri seemed close with, his name was Yunho, she has told me. I felt frozen to my spot as I gripped the rope, eyes falling on the three barrels Yunho was talking about. I wondered if he realized that I was the Siren and just went on, asking for help. I did not understand why, but I found myself walking towards the barrels, the rope already wrapped around the mainmast, I just had to push the barrels closer to it and secure the rope around them. It was rather hard, I could barely walk, let alone push some heavy barrels. And yet, I found myself on my knees, pushing with my whole-body weight, groaning when the barrels barely moved and the rain made it hard to see, the waves constantly making me lose my balance. This seemed to be an impossible task and I stopped, catching myself. Why was I helping them? I was their prisoner. They deserved to die. They took me away from my home and they want to sell me. If anything, their deaths will only bring satisfaction, not an ounce of regret or sadness. So I stopped. I dropped the rope and pulled myself up, ears picking up on a frustrated cry. It was a familiar voice and I looked in their direction, eyes falling on Jongho. He was by the railing, pulling on the rope of the mizzenmast’s sail, as it had sprung free from its place. He was screaming at Wooyoung to bring five men and help him tie it back before the wind rips their sail apart. There were tiny rips in the main sail already, which wasn’t a good sign. I took one step, two steps, three steps, and suddenly, my body was thrown against the wooden floor, head crashing against the barrel I was holding onto. Suddenly, everything was hazy around me, voices muffled and head throbbing. I couldn’t feel my legs nor my hands as I gasped for air, blinking but not seeing. Panick seeped through my body, hard to breathe all of a sudden as I clawed at my neck.
“Hey, hey!” The voice shouting seemed to be at a distance and I felt something colder than the rain pressing against my cheeks, “Y/N, hey! Calm down, you’re alright!”
I squeezed my eyes tightly shut together, when suddenly I felt a light slap on my cheek, the person talking to me demanding me to open my eyes. My eyebrows were furrowed as I forced my eyes open, seeing but black dots covered everything; Yunho was the one holding onto me, “Take deep breaths!”
I did that and found my vision clearing a little bit, but it was still hazy. There were zero chances that I could stand up with the nausea I was feeling. I have never been this sick.
“Everyone get under deck!” Suddenly a strong voice shouted over the thunder, “Right now!”
People started abandoning their previous tasks as everyone hurried underneath deck, but Yunho stayed by my side. He figured I couldn’t walk and suddenly I was hoisted up, carried towards the stairs as he looked around frantically.
“Yunho!” A feminine voice called out behind us and Yunho turned around, letting out a deep breath.
“Come on, Taeri!” And the woman caught up to us and held onto Yunho’s bicep as the three of us left the deck, me confused about what was happening. The hallway was filled with the pirates, everyone panting and drenched.
“We can’t stay up there anymore, nothing we do can save the damage.” Hongjoong breathed out defeated, eyebrows furrowed, “All is left are the prayers.”
A deafening silence fell over the hallway, nobody saying anything as their fates sunk in. I gulped, suddenly feeling the doom looming over our heads. I would survive it; I was a Siren. But nobody else on this ship would. My eyes ran over the people’s faces, searching for only one. Jongho. He seemed nicer than anyone else on this ship. He treated me decently when everyone else called me a monster and was afraid of me. I found myself thinking about how he didn’t deserve a harsh death. He taught me how to walk. He tried to feed me; he brought me water. He dressed me up and always tried to keep his distance if it wasn’t necessary to be physically close. He told me stories of his life before he became a pirate, how his father and him would spend their days on a boat fishing. He loved pearls and even showed me his little chest filled with them, wanting to give me one but I didn’t want it. He was hardworking and dedicated, very good at his job. Yunho suddenly placing me down snapped me out of my thoughts and I realized how fast my heart was beating. I was scared…but not for myself. For Jongho.
“Where’s Jongho?!” And as if the Captain read my thoughts, he called out. Everyone started looking around frantically, checking who was standing next to them.
“Jongho?!” His father called out, pushing people aside as he looked for his son, eyes wide and frantic, “Where’s my son?!”
I gulped, doom settling in the pit of my stomach. Jongho wasn’t here. And he wasn’t on deck. And if he wasn’t here and there neither…he was in the water. I gasped and felt my body tense up as I grabbed onto the wall harshly and started moving without a second thought. I never knew legs could be this strong, they didn’t hurt as I found my balance without holding onto anything. I pushed the few people standing in my way aside, making eye contact with the Captain before I started hopping up the stairs. I couldn’t run, I still didn’t know how to move my legs accordingly, but this was the fastest I have ever moved. My legs carried me back onto the deck and my eyes settled on the water. There was nothing and nobody stopping me anymore from jumping in.
“What are you doing?!” I heard Hongjoong shouting after me as I gripped the railing, heart beating like crazy. The water has never looked more inviting than right now, and without a word, I found myself leaning over the railing, arms out stretched as I fell rapidly towards the water. I was smiling from ear to ear, waiting for the moment when my skin finally made contact with the water. And when it did, all my worries seemed to disappear. I gasped, bubbles surrounding my body and sticking to it, everything so much quieter underwater. My ears stopped ringing, my hair regained its glow and my skin felt new, clean, fresh. The heaviness bellow my waist disappeared and when I looked down, the ripped pieces of the pants floated away, my long and strong tail replacing my atrocious legs. I started laughing, tearing the shirt off my body, a lump in my throat forming. I was a Siren. My tail was back. I didn’t turn human. I was free. I started moving my tail, chuckling at how easily it moved, how light I felt again. But my moment of euphoria was interrupted by screams of help, making me turn around as my eyes fell on human legs. It was Jongho. And he was still alive. I swum over faster than ever, but when I tried to get onto the surface, a huge wave crashed against me and sent me deep underwater, away from Jongho. I shook my head and hissed, searching for him as I couldn’t see him anymore. My glowing eyes seemed to be of no help all of a sudden. I thought he was forever lost, swallowed by the depths of the sea, but I caught his body. Little bubbles left his mouth as he was being pulled deeper and deeper by the current. It looked like he wasn’t even fighting back, face almost serene as he accepted his fate. My heart clenched and I found myself near him in mere seconds, his eyes closed. I panicked, but knew it still wasn’t too late as I could hear his heartbeat now that I was back in the water. I grabbed Jongho’s cheeks, making his eyes fly open in shock, and pressed my lips against his. He didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to do, so I forced his lips open with my tongue and blew air inside his mouth, supplying his lungs with enough air for us to get to the surface. Jongho seemed be dumbfounded as I pulled away and wrapped my arms around him tightly, swimming towards the surface, feeling where the current tried to take us, but fought against it. Our heads popped above the water and Jongho took a deep breath, slightly choking as he started coughing and he clung onto me as I stared up at the tall ship.
“Kim Hongjoong!” I screamed as loudly as I could, allowing my Siren voice to carry it to the ship, above their deck. It didn’t take much for the Captain to look overboard and once again, I screamed, “Go to the kitchen window! I can hand him back through there!”
The Captain said nothing but I knew he understood as he disappeared from the railing, I looked at Jongho, who was smiling in awe at me, “Take a deep breath.”
He sucked in a deep breath and we submerged underwater again as I swum around the ship, towards the kitchen window. Jongho didn’t stop smiling and when I pushed him towards surface, he gripped my arms tightly and pulled me above water too, panting as he stared into my eyes deeply. I didn’t move as a wave hit us, but had to hold onto Jongho to keep him above the water, his body not strong enough to do so. The kitchen window wasn’t open yet, it took some time to get there from the deck. Jongho’s warm brown eyes were soft as he tried to push his hair out of his face, watching me.
“You’re so beautiful.” I felt my body warm up at his words, a little taken back by them. Despite knowing I was a beautiful creature, his words seemed to have an effect on me. I knew my eyes were glowing and my skin was almost translucent again, yet Jongho caressed my cheek and pulled me in. His warm lips were cracked from him biting them so much, but their plumpness made them softer than I imagined they would be. I found myself kissing him back eagerly, wondering where these desires were coming from. Our lips moved perfectly against each other; the waves not even capable of breaking us apart. Jongho held onto me tightly, lightly shuddering from the coldness of the water, holding my cheeks firmly. It felt overwhelming to be held like this, to have lips against mine, to have someone like Jongho call me beautiful. He was the beautiful one, in fact. I’ve never seen a human like him before. So joyous of what life had to offer him. Friendly and accepting despite the strangeness of my nature to him. When I pulled back, I couldn’t breathe properly. I never knew a kiss could steal your breath away. I gazed at Jongho starstruck and he chuckled, planting a shorter but strong kiss against my lips again. I suddenly wondered what love felt like. And if the person who loved you gave you kisses like Jongho’s all the time. How would Jongho be if he were in love with you? Sweet, attentive, and loving?
I could hear the pirates struggling to open kitchen window, they were annoyingly loud. I didn’t want our little moment to end, but I had to hand them Jongho. He was a human, and I was a Siren. We were creatures different from each other. Our lives had no future if intertwined. It was best to let go while you could.
“Sunmi.” I said to Jongho as I heard the window opening, “My name is Sunmi.”
Jongho’s eyes widened at the hear of my real name. One night, when he wouldn’t stop asking me questions, I decided to tell him that the name I told him to call me by was fake as Siren’s names were sacred and only their swarm knew them.
“We’re here!” I heard Hongjoong screaming from above us and I turned around, looking at them. Yeosang, who despite seeming so soft was awfully strong, was leaning out the window, being held by Mingi and Yunho. Hongjoong was also leaning out, held down by Seonghwa and the one pirate who thought I couldn’t speak, San. Jongho and I shared one last look before I swum him closer to his mates, raising him out of the water as best as I could, until Yeosang and Hongjoong were able to hold him by his arms.
“Goodbye.” Jongho mouthed to me and I smiled as I watched him being pulled back to safety, the window slamming shut once his body disappeared through it. I jumped back underneath, swimming further and further away from the ship, feeling the sea calling out to me, guiding me towards my home.
I knew one day Jongho would tell his children about his encounter with a Siren, and if they happened to follow their father’s footsteps and sailed out onto the Ragging Sea, I would make sure to save them if needed, like I have saved Jongho.
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Next part (divider)
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kpopimaginings · 8 months
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Sleepy - Jongho
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When you agreed to movie night with Ateez, it seemed like a great idea, but now the evening had arrived, you'd really rather nap. You still managed to drag yourself over though, knowing you should spend some time with them while you have the chance.
Upon your arrival, you were greeted at the door by Seonghwa. He offered you a drink and told you to go and get comfortable while he grabbed it for you. You happily headed to the living room where you found your boyfriend Jongho occupying an armchair.
"Hey, jagi," he greeted.
In response, you simply smiled before climbing on to his lap and curling up against his chest.
Jongho cuddles were one of your favourite things and he was getting used to you snuggling up to him with no warning. Instinctively, he wrapped an arm around your waist and the other hand on your thigh, making sure you were secure.
"You had a long day?" he asked softly.
"No, just didn't sleep well last night," you told him.
"Well, you can nap here if you like, I don't mind," he assured you, pressing a quick kiss to your temple before you rested your head against him.
"Thank you," you managed to say before an involuntary yawn snuck up on you.
"Woah, partner privileges!" San cried out as he entered.
"What?" asked Jongho as you just curled up tighter.
"You'd never let me snuggle with you," San continued to complain.
"Because you're my annoying hyung, she's my girlfriend."
"Not fair," huffed the older boy as he found a seat far from the two of you.
You couldn't help but giggle at San's little strop. At the sound of the adorable noise you made, Jongho simply smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of your head.
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NAVIGATION  |  ATEEZ MASTERLIST
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hahafixon · 28 days
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An Exceptional Asset ~ *Choi Jongho*
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Summary: You've only been working at this company for a couple months but you enjoy your time at the office and you're proud of the work you've done. And it seems your boss has taken notice of your hard work as well...
Pairing: Choi Jongho X Fem!Reader
Genre: Fluff Oneshot
Word Count: 2369
Warning: Wooyoung being obnoxious like always
Masterlist
Taglist: @samepoisonsamevine @maeleelee @mxnsxngie @kpop-will-kill-me
Good things aren't meant to last. You probably knew that better than anyone. That's just because you've been in at least three different marketing jobs in the last two years. Nothing lasts and nobody wants to keep you on longer than a few months. That is, until you found yourself employed at Nimbus Hotels. It was a temporary position, but your boss informed you that there was a strong chance of being able to extend your contract into a more permanent position.
So far, in the three months you've worked at this job, it wasn't all that bad. Actually, you found it far more enjoyable than your last three jobs combined. But you were still unsure about the stability of this position. It felt like the rug was about to be pulled out from under your feet and you would soon find yourself back where you started: job hunting. This just meant you were ever so careful with every move you made and every job you handled. The slightest mistake could be your career's very undoing and you were not about to let that happen, not now, not ever.
The silver lining was your hard work did not go unnoticed by your boss, who made it a point every day to come by your cubicle and tell you what a great job you were doing.
"I swear, you are one of the hardest working members on our team." Seonghwa shook his head with a smile. 
You blushed at his compliment. "It's nothing, sir. I just want to show my gratitude for this position through my work."
"And you're doing a wonderful job at it, I assure you." He sighed. "Sometimes I wish others would follow your lead. Like Wooyoung. Perhaps someday you could give him some pointers?"
You bit your lip at the thought. It wasn't that you didn't like working with Wooyoung. On the contrary, the two of you became fast friends and he was determined to take you out drinking every night to get you to loosen up after working so hard. However, you were already busy enough as it is with your own workload. You didn't think you had time to train another colleague. Not only that, but Wooyoung has been here longer than you. It didn't seem right to have you, someone who was still relatively new to the business, to train your senior.
Of course, speak of the devil, another head popped up from the cubicle next to yours. "Seonghwa, don't you trust me? I am an excellent sales associate!"
Seonghwa sighed. "Wooyoung, you're nothing but a headache and a pain in the ass. Also you're overly familiar with your superiors, which would look very bad on your employee review."
Wooyoung pouted. "Why do you always have to lord my employee review over me? I thought my superior would be above such dirty tricks such as blackmail."
You covered your mouth to suppress your laugh at their antics. It was never a dull day between the sales associates when Wooyoung and Seonghwa had the misfortune of interacting. That's what made this job so entertaining. 
However, you knew better than to let them keep going. Standing up, you intervened on Wooyoung's behalf. "Forgive me, sir. But I think Wooyoung is very capable. I think he can figure things out for himself. Consider it as a way of teaching him to sink or swim in business."
"I'm not sure if I should be offended or not." Wooyoung continued to pout, though there was still a twinkle of mischief in his eye.
Before you could speak again, the hotel's Vice President, Kim Hongjoong, appeared before the three of you. Seonghwa and you quieted down in a respectful manner and bowed to greet him. Wooyoung, on the other hand, simply graced him with a head nod, which made him scowl.
"I hope you three are staying out of trouble." He said, his voice as sharp as always. "You know that they're looking to let some workers go."
Wooyoung instantly straightened up at his words and you had to suppress a wince. Despite Seonghwa's words about being one of the hardest workers here, you couldn't help but feel like you were on the chopping block. You just hope that the President would do it as swiftly and painlessly as possible.
"Of course, sir. We're always on our best behavior." The teasing lilt in Wooyoung's voice did not go unnoticed by you. If you weren't up to be terminated before, your senior's teasing would certainly push you over the edge.
Hongjoong rolled his eyes before looking back at you. "The reason I'm here is because the President wants to see you."
Your eyes widened and you pointed to yourself. "Me?"
"Yes, you. I'm supposed to escort you to his office. Now follow me, and keep up, please."
And with that, he turned on his heel and headed for the President's office. You gave a panicked glance to your colleagues, who tried to offer you encouraging smiles, but they were definitely fake. With a deep breath to steel your nerves, you followed the Vice President. He kept a quick pace that was a bit difficult in your heels, but you managed. 
As you walk together, you let your mind wander to all of the worst case scenarios collecting in your brain. The biggest thought that stuck out to you was you were definitely getting fired. The only question now was what for? You hoped you weren't taking the fall for another colleague, but you wouldn't put it past some of your co-workers to save their asses and throw you under the bus. Again, you prayed your termination was swift and painless.
When you arrived at his office, you wished you could have had some time to stop and look around. It was so spacious and tastefully decorated. The large windows had a perfect view of Seoul and it made you wonder how beautiful it looked at night. But despite your desire to stop and look at all the art on the walls, your eyes found their way to the President, who was currently filling out documents on his desk. You tried to swallow the growing lump in your throat, but to no avail.
Hongjoong knocked on the open door and gave him a professional smile. "Miss Y/n is here to see you, sir."
President Choi Jongho looked up and you swore you almost melted upon locking with his chocolate brown eyes. He nodded to his Vice President and said, "Thank you, Mr. Kim. You may go now."
"Of course, sir."
Hongjoong didn't spare you a second glance as he quickly exited, shutting the door behind him. Now you were alone with the President of Nimbus Hotels. Your fate in this company and your dream of working in marketing rested in his hands. It almost made you puke all over what you were sure was a very expensive carpet.
"Please, have a seat." He gestured to the pair of chairs in front of his desk. "I just need to finish these last couple documents and then I will be right with you. Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?"
You shook your head and he returned to reading and signing the documents before him. So much of a quick and painless termination, although you were a little touched he was being so accommodating by offering you something. Still, as much as you tried to not let your nerves show, you couldn't stop yourself from shifting in your seat. You weren't an impatient person, it's just you were dying to know why he called you into his office.
Putting his pen away, Jongho finally looked up at you. "First, I want to thank you for meeting with me right away. Although, knowing my Vice President, he didn't give you much of a choice. He doesn't like it when he has to play secretary, but Solbi was sick today."
You nod, discreetly wiping your sweaty hands on your skirt. "It's quite alright, sir. I don't mind."
He smiled and you internally gave a sigh of relief. Your response seemed to have earned you a point in your favor. "I also wanted to inform you that I'm very pleased with your work as of late. I understand you haven't been here long, but you've been a very admirable worker. You complete all of your assignments on time, you're a great team player, and you're good at keeping morale up in the office. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed."
Here it was. You've been through this type of meeting three times before. He was buttering you up before informing you he was "regrettably" letting you go. You took another deep breath to keep your nerve up for a little while longer. Then when you make it back to your apartment this evening, you can drown your sorrows with ice cream and cheesy movies.
"It is because of your good work and good nature, I would like to send you to a conference in two weeks to represent the hotel."
Wait.
He's not firing you?
But you thought... didn't these conversations always go that way?
"Pardon me, sir?" You exclaim, completely flabbergasted.
His polite smile only widened. "The hotel has been invited to a conference and I'm hand selecting a team I would like to represent us. I decided on you to represent the marketing department of the hotel, that is if you accept the offer."
"I..." You trailed off, still completely confused with what exactly he was offering you. "I'm not being fired?"
He quickly shook his head. "No! Not at all! I wouldn't dream of firing you! You are an exceptional asset to the marketing team, which is all the more reason you are being considered for this spot on the team."
It was hard not to feel flattered from the complement of being considered an asset, so you let a small blush grace your cheeks. "I'm honored, sir, truly."
"That's good to hear." He nodded before his voice got quiet. "So, are you accepting the offer?"
You nod. "Yes, sir. I would be more than happy to represent the hotel at this conference!"
Jongho smiled so bright it almost blinded you, but it was an absolutely beautiful smile. "Wonderful! I will email you the conference's welcome packet and the itinerary for the event. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me! I want to make sure everyone on the team is prepared for anything."
"Yes, of course, sir." You bow your head as you stand. "I promise, I won't let you down."
He shook his head, still smiling. "You won't let me down. I know you won't. I have all the faith in the world that you will be perfect like always."
Again, you blushed at his compliment and bowed your head once more. "Thank you, sir."
"Oh, and one more thing," he adds, "if this conference goes well, which I'm sure it will, I would like to offer you the spot on the next advertising conference in a few months. I think you are the perfect candidate to help advertise the hotel."
"Of course, sir! I would love to!" You bow one final time before excusing yourself.
Hongjoong is waiting near the door to escort you back down to your desk. He has a pleasant smile on his face. "I'm impressed. The President doesn't usually doesn't send rookies to conferences. He's very particular about cultivating the perfect image for the hotel. You must have really impressed him. That or he has a soft spot for you."
"Pardon?" You ask. This had to be the second most surprising thing you heard all day.
He chuckled. "Forgive me, I'm speaking out of turn. But I wouldn't be surprised. He's not very subtle when it comes to showing his affection, though he believes he is."
You want to ask him more about what he means, but you find yourself at your desk. As soon as Hongjoong left the marketing department, Seonghwa and Wooyoung descended upon you with hundreds of questions. You explain to them that you're not getting fired and that you've actually been selected to go to a conference in two weeks to represent the hotel.
"You mean the big hotelier conference that only the best hotels in the world are invited to?" Seonghwa shakes his head. "You are so insanely lucky, you have no idea. Not just anyone can go to that conference. And you'll be representing the entire marketing department as well as the hotel as a whole. That's quite the honor!"
"How did you even get selected?" Wooyoung asked, a pout tugging at his lips. "I should be the one to go!"
"Believe me, Wooyoung, you'll be the last one to be invited." Seonghwa shook his head.
You shrug and shake your head in disbelief. "President Choi called me an exceptional asset and said that's why I was chosen. Although..."
"Although?" Wooyoung perked up as he always does when gossip is being spilled.
You bit your lip before spilling what you heard. "According to Vice President Kim, he might have a soft spot for me. But that would just be ridiculous right?"
Wooyoung and Seonghwa looked at each other before turning back to you. Seonghwa said, "Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. But I wouldn't think too much into it."
"Oh he is so in love with you! Now the question is how do we exploit it?" Wooyoung replied on top of him.
You winced at their words before holding up your hands to stop them. "Look, whether he likes me or not, it's not important. What is important is making sure this conference goes off without a hitch and that's what I plan to do. I'm not even going to consider any sort of romantic feelings until afterwards."
"Smart." Seonghwa nodded. 
Wooyoung smirked. "Just don't be surprised if he does try to make a move on you at the conference when you both are alone."
You groaned and buried your face in your hands. In your mind you just hoped nothing crazy would take place at the conference in two weeks.
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beenbaanbuun · 2 months
Text
glasses w/ jongho
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“you’re cute with your glasses on,” jongho mutters from where he lays on your stomach. his chin digs into the back of his hands which just so happen to have found they favourite resting place atop your tummy. his thumbs rub circles into the soft flesh through the t-shirt you’d stolen from him, “you should wear them more often.”
you roll your eyes, choosing to ignore him in favour of studying the words that fill your laptop screen. the machine rests atop his back, his torso squished firmly between your thighs. you complained when he first pushed your laptop away to make room for himself, but it turns out his back is actually a pretty solid desk.
“they make your eyes look really big,” he giggles, tilting his head like a teenage girl staring at a poster of her favourite pop star. you shake your head, once again trying to ignore him as he attempts to catch your attention for himself, “they’re so huge.”
“telling your girlfriend she has huge eyes under her glasses isn’t exactly a compliment, jongho,” you mutter as you increase the size of the text on the screen a little. it looks wrong so you change it back, “no girl wants bug-eyes…”
he laughs a little at your declaration.
“never said you had bug-eyes, honey,” he lifts his head up just enough to slip one hand out from beneath his chin. you hadnt even realised your glasses are starting to slip down your nose until jongho pushes them back up with his finger, “i said they were big.”
he resumes his previous position, well almost. whereas before both hands were above your, well his, tshirt, this time he slips his hands underneath to rest against your bare skin. his fingers dig in a little as he holds the flesh firm in the palms of his hands. you should’ve known, you scoff to yourself as he lays his head back down with a content smirk on his face.
“you said huge, actually,” you correct, “and it’s still not a compliment, jjongie.”
“why not?” he replies instantly, “i happen to like it when your eyes look like i’m staring at them through a magnifying glass,” he ducks his head just in time to miss the scolding tap you try and give him. he giggles more, and you can’t ignore the way his socked feet kick against the quilt. it made you wonder how he had the audacity to argue whenever you call him cute.
you tut at him as he hides his smile against your tummy, quickly bringing a hand up to ruffle his fluffy hair. he leans into your touch, just like always.
“if you carry on, i’ll stop wearing them completely,” you grumble. he knows you’re not being serious, but the glare he gives you in return is still scolding enough to make you regret even joking about it.
“shut up,” he pouts, “you know i think you’re pretty when you wear them.”
you do. he tells you every time you wear them.
“you told me they make my eyes look huge,” is all you have to say in response.
he looks at you incredulously for a second before starting to move. he pulls his hands from beneath the tshirt, placing them either side of your waist so he can manoeuvre himself further up your body. you have mere seconds to catch your laptop before it clatters to the floor and smashes. you place it to the side and open your mouth to scold jongho, but before you can he catches you in a quick kiss.
it’s only moments before he’s pulling off of you again, but it’s long enough for you to get the message - shut up and listen to your boyfriend. you’re more than happy to oblige. especially when he’s wearing that adorable pout.
“you know why i like it when you year your glasses so much?” you shake your head. he hums as a smile stretches over his face, “it’s because they make your eyes look so big. it means i can see all the pretty little details,” he leans down to kiss your nose. you scrunch it up, causing him to laugh as he pulls away. not by much, just a few inches, “like, did you know that in your right eye, on the left side of your pupil, there’s a tiny little fleck of gold? it’s so tiny that you probably can’t see it without them. and your right pupil is always a little bigger than your left, too!”
you didn’t know that. it’s interesting, you guess.
“so you like them because you can study my eyes?”
he shrugs, “i guess,” he says, “but i also just think your eyes are insanely pretty, and having them magnified this much?” your eyes narrow as he teases you, but he pays no mind, “it’s like i’m looking at them through a telescope!”
“you’re annoying,” you grumble.
“so are you,” he refutes.
you pull a face, “if you tell me im ‘annoyingly pretty’ or something cheesy like that, i might puke.”
he shakes his head.
“no,” he smiles and places a tiny peck against your lips, “i’m just letting you know you’re annoying.”
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darkphoenix07 · 8 months
Text
Paper rings by Taylor Swift
<Song prompt au>
Masterlist
Mental Health Request
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Paring : Jongho x Reader
Genre : Romance, Friends to lovers
Word count : 2.6k
Synopsis : You two are college mutual friends but you act like you can't recall his name intensionally everytime he comes to buy his pistachio latte ☕
Warning : Adorable, Soft Intimacy
9.32 p.m.
You keep staring at your phone as you have been for several hours by now for being bored. The song playing in the background is making your ears bleed but you are scared to go home alone at this hour because this city isn't safe for girls to be anywhere alone. Your friend has promised you that he will drop you home as soon as the party ends but now he is nowhere to be found.
"Hey, Y/n," finally you hear your friend, Yunho from the background and look behind. But instead of meeting his eyes, you meet a pair of dark brown eyes, chubby cheeks and dark black haired boy wearing a simple black t-shirt with no design but only black cargo pants. For some seconds you feel like his eyes sparkled and he looked like he smiled at you. But the next moment, it was all gone and he shoved one glass of whiskey in his mouth without sparing you a single look.
"I'm sorry for keeping you here. I was with my friends. You haven't meet Jongho, right? He is Choi Jongho, one of my friends and Jongho, this is y/n, my childhood friend," Yunho says and you stand up awkwardly.
You don't understand what to do but gladly the word, "Hi," comes out from your mouth easily enough for being social.
One the other hand, he doesn't even smile and you. He only blinks at you in a way of making you understand he heard you and starts talking to Yunho instead. They sit around you in the couch of the party house and keep talking all night. But Jongho doesn't even glance at you for once or talk to you or ask you something.
But unintentionally your eyes keep going back to the mole on his throat. A little far from his chin and from his collarbone. It is making him look a bit too much attractive than he already is. That is making you feel so hot though the air conditioners are on.
You have always felt unattractive throughout your whole school life and college was another run as your friends got boyfriends but you got none. Sadly, no one even approached for you which made it worse. Your insecurities about your features kept getting higher when you started having guy friends but they were only comfortable in keeping you friend.
Jongho was in another college which is why you've never seen him until now. Up until now, no one has ever caught your eyes like he did. Something about him, maybe his eyes or that mole on his neck makes you weak for him already when you don't even know him.
Finally the time comes when Yunho drops you home and the first time you do after reaching home is look for Jongho in the social media and damnit, he looks like someone's boyfriend in every picture without even trying. He has gummy smile which you notice in a photo Yunho tagged him on his birthday. Oh that smile, it looks like you are about to lose your mind.
After roaming a whole hour in his social media account you notice the books beside his bed. There is a white bookshelf covered with plant and various books. You take a screenshot of that and order every book online so you understand what type of person he is and what type of romance he likes.
It's hard to sleep when for the first time you are feeling the adrenal rush for someone who didn't even talk to you for one second and completely avoided you like you are invisible. You know this isn't right but you can't help it. After knowing it is going to be a long night, you kept tossing and turning until the sun comes up and it becomes the time for college.
In college, you try to ask your friends about him but it feels wrong. So you simply finish college and enter your cafe where you work as a barista. It's very weird but you've become barista because you love brown color and the smell of coffee. It always makes your day when you are in the cafe.
Days go by as you meet Jongho often but the routine is the same. You keep staring at him while he keeps giving you cold shoulder. Sometimes it feels like he avoids you on purpose and talks to every other person in the party.
After losing your mind and reading three of the books that you saw beside his bed, you've decided to give up. He's too good for you. His morals, his thoughts, the type of books he read. Everything is out of league.
One morning, you are working in the cafe when suddenly a order comes up like this, "One pistachio latte please."
You feel your head has started to burn hearing the soft voice. You know he can sing very well but hearing him order something like that starts making you feel weak on your knees. You want to jump or scream but you only smile looking at him, "Alright, it will be 5 dollar and 25 bucks," you tell him.
"Y/n, you are work here!" His voice is a little heavier when he asks you that.
You nod smiling again when your head goes, he knows my name, he knows my name, he knows my name.
"Choi San, right?"
Jongho's face turns blue, you think when you get his name wrong on purpose. You remember Yunho showing Choi San long time ago at a party so it was blurted out in front of Jongho as an accident but kind of intensionally. Because you are practically stalking his social media without following him. How can you not know his name?
"Nevermind, give me my latte quickly," he looks annoyed but doesn't show it to you as he waits for his order sitting on a corner while reading a book you've finished reading last week.
Someone delivers the latte and thus the day ends while he keeps reading the book having two lattes and you working like a madwoman so you don't see him looking like a painting in your peaceful cafe.
Maybe intensionally but you start avoiding him in the parties like he has been doing like a stupid girl you are. Part of you were tired of chasing him and part of you were feeling like an idiot. So, you wanted to stop.
What you kept up was calling him by everything except his own name.
And the day occur when you were alone in the cafe. It was night time, no customer was there neither the barista with you. You were about to close the cafe but suddenly the bell of the cafe ring and you look up meeting his sparkling dark brown eyes.
People in the world have brown eyes mostly. So, if you say dark brown is your thing that will sound wrong. But whenever you look into his eyes, he looks so dreamy and different from every human being who has brown eyes.
"Welcome, Kim Jongin."
Did you just call him by your favorite kpop man? Yes, you did.
Do you feel embarrassed? Yes, you do.
Do you want to run away? Yes, you do.
Do you want to say sorry? Absolutely not.
He looks around then right into your eyes and you don't know why your cap decides to fall from your head. Does he have any super power or your brain just pushed the cap away?
"You!" He sounds mad but then he pauses, takes a deep breath and thumps a tiny box in front of you on the table, "Yunho has told me to leave this box to you as he is busy."
You keep looking at him while he starts leaving but then looks back at you, "Why do you keep getting my name wrong?"
"Excuse me?"
Maybe you are not good at acting but you are genuinely surprise or maybe you are surprised because he has snapped.
"My name is Choi Jongho and you know it very well. Don't you?" He asks you that question a little too loud that it strikes right into your heart making your heart thudding so bad.
"I-I"
"Is there a problem with you and me?" He asks looking straight into your eyes. Maybe he didn't want to just look at your eyes because you feel his eyes dropping on your lips for a tiny second. Not once or twice but a multiple times. It was making you feel like he is having a hard time keeping his eyes focused on your eyes only.
"Isn't it normal for me to forget the name of a guy who doesn't even look at me in the party?"
You snap back at him. Maybe not because he snapped. Maybe because he is not pulling you for a kiss when your eyes have fallen on his lips a multiple times by now too.
"Nevermind," he says and walks away making the ring bell again leaving you there all alone by yourself.
You keep sitting in a chair for a while before locking the cafe. It's a bit late but you are feeling so full right now. You need to walk it out but as you turn, you see a familiar black Hyundai Accent car in front you.
"May I drop you home?"
Jongho asks you with a look of apology.
You keep standing there not understanding what to do.
"As an apology, please?" He asks and you smile softly before getting beside him.
For a long ten minutes none of you talk. But then Jongho starts, "I am not good at people."
"Me neither."
You reply and you both sigh together.
Before he can say anything further, you tell him to stop his car in front of your house, "This is it."
You don't look at him. You can not. You simply leave his car but look from the window, "Will you come for a pistachio latte?"
"You make that home?" He asks looking purely shocked and you nod.
"So, will you?"
"I can. It's not like I've things to do," that's a lie Jongho says to you. Tomorrow is his midterm exam and the subject feels vomiting to him. He doesn't tell you that or worries about it.
He follows you like a bear he is and enters in your abode. The first thing his eyes fall on are the books you bought after seeing them beside his bed's shelf.
"Have you read them?"
You mentally slap yourself seeing them on the couch.
"I have," there are seven books. The rest of them are in your bookshelf covered in packets. New as gold. He will see them soon and you'll regret calling him inside.
"Sit here," you move the books, "I'll bring the latte."
"Okay," he sits awkwardly on the couch and keeps staring at the new books. They look like they haven't been touched but they are circled, underlined a multiple times.
After a while, you come back with the latte and your cup of coffee simple but dark. Maybe like you.
"So, you read them recently?" He asks you and he knows the answer so you only nod.
He takes a sip of his coffee, "I didn't know how to approach you properly so I could never."
"Me neither."
Did you say that twice? Yes???
You try to cover the problem with intensionally getting his name wrong, "I- am not good at remembering things."
"You were pretty good with recalling my favorite flavored latte," he says and for the first time he smiles at you showing his gums. He looks at you smilingly but for some reason looking at you his smile falls out and his eyes drops on your lips.
He doesn't speak, he doesn't ask for anything. He knows he doesn't have to when he bends over you and you move closer too meet his lips closing your eyes.
Your lips melt into his when he gently wraps his one hand around you pulling you closer to deepen the kiss. His lips are like marshmallow and he tastes so good after having the latte maybe. The kiss doesn't leave you breathless because it keeps going smoothly with one lips to another. It drives you crazy and calms you down at the same time.
When he releases the kiss and looks at you, he reads your eyes that you are not satisfied with this much. He touches his forehead with yours, "Can I stay here tonight?"
He will definitely fail in his exam but he doesn't want to fail with you.
So, you nod too and the kiss turns into making love and making love one night turns into 3 years of dating.
You keep on working as barista not worrying about life as you have the best boyfriend ever but he doesn't get a job yet which keeps making him anxious.
Four of your friends have gotten married already after graduating with you but he doesn't want to talk about starting a new life. His part time job doesn't go well neither he is good at doing business. He can sing well but that isn't giving him chances to earn enough money for both of you.
You keep worrying over starting a journey with him when on new years eve you kneel on one knee in front of him and ask for his hand in marriage with you in front of all of your friends, "Marry me."
His shocking face tells you everything but you smile because you know why he hesitates. Your life style and his were always different. He knows what hunger is where you don't understand what shoe to wear on each day. He used to save money forgetting about breakfast while you couldn't stop eating though you wanted to lose weight.
You never knew what saving was until last year when you decided to propose him on one knee saving some money for further time so he can still work on his songs. You wanted to support him until he gets something for himself though luxury was always your normal chore.
"Listen, I have enough for the two of us. I have joined a company too. From dad's help but I know you would never take dad's help. So, I am going to do for both of us until you reach your goals. So, marry me," you tell him as he makes you stand up.
He doesn't say anything, only keeps his head down not being able to meet your eyes.
"I don't want to get old and wonder I should have married you long ago. Living with you is not enough, Jongho. I want to be called wife by you everyday," you tell him touching your forehead with his.
"I am sorry for not being enough," Jongho says holding your hands tightly.
But you smile, "Don't say that and listen, I love to waste money, Jongho. But I won't love to waste the rest of our lives."
"I won't be able to give you a diamond ring," he says.
"I want you to make me walk on the aisle. I don't care if it's a diamond ring or paper ring," you tell him and pulls you for a kiss in front of everyone while helping you to insert the ring inside his finger.
Breaking the stereotype was nice and it was hard living like he lives.
But waking up next to him and watching him breath where divorce never come as an option was the best thing that has ever happened to you.
Putting the whole song in the au. Did you like it?
Taglist :
@yeologicc @notyuji @theaufanartist @hwanchaesong @littleninja97 @fudgeflyssworld @loosmyshit @pinki-minki @sanshinee-world @harusomi @kitty4hwa @northerngalxy
104 notes · View notes
lunehong · 8 months
Text
Tethered
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college student! Jongho X college student! fem oc
Soulmate AU, just cuteness and fluff
warnings : mentions of anxiety, illness, pregnancy.
word count : 6.9k
synopsis : what happens when your soulmate bond is finally activated but it doesn't fall under any of the existing types? Jongho and Yunhee try to establish their connection with no clue and minimal examples to follow. Would they succeed in meeting each other and seal the bond or would they fall gradually ill?
a/n : okay so my first ever oneshot, and I'm glad I could write one for our baby bear jjong cuz there aren't many jongho fics on here PLUS I miss him so much :(( I hope he's recovering well and also his birthday is coming up next month! feedback is always appreciated!
----- A reblog would mean the world to me <33 ------
Yesterday was Yunhee’s 18th birthday, which meant that she was finally an adult according to society’s standards. It also meant that she could watch netflix shows that were adult rated without feeling guilty about her age and of course, call chronically online minors out on their behaviour as someone who’d automatically be deemed more mature and responsible.
However, this also entailed that her soulmate bond was activated. 
Yunhee did feel a tingly sensation and the butterflies in her stomach like the others said she would, but after that everything went back to normal. No tattoos were etched onto her body, nor did she see a flash of her soulmate’s face in her mind and there was no response when she thought of a bunch of things to test if they had telepathy. 
She really didn’t know what went wrong but it made her anxious. Also the fact that she had no way of knowing if something happened to her soulmate, as their soulmate bond was still unidentified. 
“You should really calm down, Yunhee.” said Minha, her best friend of 7 years. 
“What if I don’t find him soon enough? We have to meet each other as soon as possible after our soulmate bond has been activated or else we’d both gradually fall ill! Don’t you remember what happened to Nina and her boyfriend?” Yunhee muttered anxiously. 
“It has only been a day! I don’t understand why you’re panicking so much. Give it a week and if there’s still nothing after that, then we can panic.” She concluded.
Taking her best friend’s advice, Yunhee decided to leave the matters into her soulmate’s hands, thinking if she was frantically trying out different confirmation methods, it was safe to assume that he was also doing the same. 
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“Dude, I’m telling you, your soulmate bond is telepathy! There isn’t any other type that matches!”  Wooyoung exclaimed, while flailing his hands around to prove his point. 
“But I haven’t heard anything from my soulmate so far! Nor do I know if the things I thought reached her!” Jongho yelled back. 
“Okay… Well, try again later! Don’t give up on this, because I’m a hundred percent sure it’s telepathy of some sort even if it isn’t the common one.” Wooyoung got up to leave. 
“How are you so sure? Are you a soulmate specialist or something?” Jongho scoffed at him. 
Wooyoung smiled at that. “Remember how my soulmate bond was telepathy?” Jongho nodded, “I never told anyone this but, mine wasn’t your typical telepathy… It was one-sided.”
“What? No way!” Jongho stared at him in disbelief.
“Yes, our bond was such that I couldn’t hear anything from her but she could hear everything I thought about. I was ready to give up when I got this idea and decided to give it a last shot.” Wooyoung continued.
“What did you do?” Jongho asked.
“I sat down and started revealing my full name, my social media handles, my address and other details in my head, so if there really was anyone listening they’d know how to find me. She showed up on my doorstep with my favourite snacks not long after. The rest is history.” Wooyoung grinned while recalling the memory. 
“How the hell did we not know this before? It’s literally a story worth telling!” 
“Yes, I’m aware but the topic never came up and I can’t just randomly reveal that my soulmate bond was flawed you know?” Wooyoung tried to reason with Jongho. 
“Okay, fine I got it. I’ll try thinking of different things and hope it’ll reach my soulmate somehow” Jongho sighed, giving in.
“That’s the spirit! Let me and the other guys know if you feel anything and I’ll see you later. Bye!” 
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Jongho headed to bed early that day, feeling exhausted. As he was lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, an idea came to him. ‘What if I focus on one topic to think about instead of multiple things at once? It might be a more organised approach and less strenuous for my brain.’ 
So he sat up and started consciously thinking about one topic, but phrased them in various ways. 
‘What is your name?’ He waited a bit but there wasn’t a response. 
“At least I know this won't work,” he said out loud. 
‘Can you tell me your name?’
 No response.
“Okay, that’s crossed out too then. How else can I phrase it…”
 If anyone saw him then, they’d think he had gone mad by the way he was talking to himself.
‘Could you speak your name?’
‘Could you spell your name?’
‘Could you trace your name on your hand?’
Jongho tried phrasing it as many ways as he could, even if some sounded ridiculous. 
‘Telleth me thy name.’
 He paused before laughing at himself. 
“So, Shakespearean English is crossed out too it seems.” 
When he ran out of all the ‘tell’, ‘spell’, ‘speak’ and ‘think’ questions he took a different route. 
‘Can you write your name?’
No response. 
Jongho yawned, feeling sleepy. Lying back down on the bed, he tried thinking of a few more sentences before deciding to continue again the next day. 
‘Could you write your name on paper?’ 
No response. 
“Okay, then” he said.
‘Write your name down on paper for me please?’ 
He paused, just about to fall asleep. 
That was when the most unexpected thing happened to him.
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Yunhee was tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep. She had just finished her college assignment, due the next day and all the stress she took for it made her extremely tired. 
Assuming sleep would come easy to her, she finished her nighttime routine and headed to bed. But alas, sleep was nowhere to be found. It was one of those days where her body was tired but her mind was wide awake and she despised when that happened because it meant that she would not be able to fall asleep anytime soon. 
She started counting sheep in her head as a last resort.
 When she was on her 29th sheep, Yunhee heard something resonate in her head. The first noise sounded like an incoherent crackle and she almost dismissed it as her mind playing tricks, when she clearly heard a soothing male voice telling her to write her name on paper. 
She sat up on her bed abruptly and tried to reach out to the guy, but to no avail. Her heart was beating very fast at the prospect of finally receiving a telepathic message. She was able to hear her soulmate’s voice and it was a feeling like no other. 
After waiting a bit, she decided to do what the voice told her to: write her name on paper. 
Yunhee got up, retrieving her notebook and a pen from the desk. Sitting back down on the bed once again, she opened the notebook to an empty page and scribbled her name on it. She also wrote “What is your name?” underneath.
She waited for a bit in case another message came through but there were no other responses. 
Yunhee was completely unable to sleep that night. 
Jongho couldn’t believe what he just saw. It was like a flash that only lasted for a few seconds, but he saw a vision through someone else’s eyes. He saw a hand pick up a light blue notebook with the words “hakuna matata” written in a corner with golden ink. The hand also picked up a pen and wrote down something in the notebook. What it wrote, Jongho couldn’t make out because the writing became hazy and blurry. He could only read out ‘Park’ and the writing underneath that said ‘what is your name?’.
He was sure the person wrote her name down but he could only read her surname. 
Jongho felt something unexplainable in his gut. He was finally able to reach his soulmate, even though he couldn’t see her name. Thinking about the vision brought out a sense of longing inside him. He wanted to see more, feel more and know more about her, but he didn’t yet know how.
 ‘At least this is progress’ he thought. ‘I need to tell the others about this and figure out what I should do next.’
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The doorbell rang but the sound went unheard by the group of guys inside the apartment. The person standing outside got impatient after a while, and had to bang on the door to gain everyone’s attention. 
“Geez, Hongjoong-hyung why are you banging on the door like that? The bell exists for a reason.” Wooyoung tsked while opening the door for him.
“I rang the bell like 10 times already! None of you brats could hear it over the noise pollution! I swear y’all can be heard from down the hallway!” Hongjoong yelled at him. 
“Cut us some slack though, Hongjoong. We met up after almost a month!” Seonghwa reasoned with him. 
The seven guys excluding Jongho made themselves comfortable in Jongho’s living room, catching up with each other. Meanwhile, the resident of the apartment arranged some refreshments for the eight of them, bringing them over to the living area before plopping down between Yeosang and Mingi. 
“So let’s come to the reason why I called you guys here–” 
“You called us for a reason!?” San fake gasped. 
“You wouldn’t have invited us if you didn’t have a use for us!?” Yunho butted in. 
“Guys let the poor boy speak! I can kinda guess what it’s about.” Wooyoung tried to defend Jongho. 
“Yes, thank you Wooyoung-hyung. The reason why I called you here is because I was able to contact my soulmate yesterday and I still don’t know what type of bond this is.” 
At the revelation, everyone started yelling over each other and asking questions, of which Jongho was unable to decipher a single sentence.
The seven looked like a bunch of chattering baby birds that wanted food from its mother. He sighed and shook his head, thinking how the people in front of him were supposed to be older in age. 
“Guys, one at a time!” he yelled. 
“Okay, so it’s telepathy right?” Wooyoung asked.
“Yes and no.” Jongho paused to sort out what he wanted to say, “It’s telepathy, yes, because I consciously thought of something and it went through. But, only one kind of conscious thought out of all the other ones I tried to send, elicited a response.”
“That’s…weird?” Hongjoong muttered. 
“And not just that, hyung. The response I received was in the form of a glimpse, showing me a vision through my soulmate’s eyes!”
“What?” exclaimed Mingi.
“So, it’s not just telepathy, it’s specific and supposedly one sided, while you receive sporadic glimpses through your soulmate’s eyes. That’s a very odd combination.” Wooyoung said, in deep thought. 
“This is more complicated than yours was, hyung.” Jongho muttered.
“What do you mean?” Yeosang questioned, being able to hear what he said. 
Jongho proceeded to tell them all the details regarding what he thought and what he saw in the glimpse, meanwhile not forgetting to expose Wooyoung and how he hid such crucial information about his own experience. The rest reprimanded Wooyoung for it, making him sulk, but they also collectively tried to figure out exactly how the bond worked. 
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“What happened!” Minha burst into Yunhee’s place, panting like she just ran a marathon. 
“Why hello there best friend, why do you look as if you got chased by a dog?” Hayoon, their other best friend, asked sarcastically. 
“Dude? I came here as fast as I could! I got Yunhee’s text a while ago that said ‘EMERGENCY’ in all caps! I thought some code blue shit happened to her!” Minha exclaimed.
“Wow, and I thought the text I received was bad… she sent, ‘come over, I have something to say’ that made me rush here because I thought she was pregnant or something, which would’ve been really bad considering her soulmate bond just activated.” Hayoon laughed. 
At that very moment, Yunhee walked in with tubs of ice cream, suddenly feeling like she entered a lion’s den. The two girls yelled at her for being so dramatic over nothing but calmed down once she handed them their favourite ice cream. 
“So, the reason I sent those ‘dramatic’ texts as you two so eloquently put it, is because I got contacted by my soulmate and I freaked out.” Yunhee revealed while rolling her eyes.
“What?” Minha yelled. 
“When? How?” Hayoon followed. 
“At night yesterday! I was trying to sleep after finishing the assignment and that’s when I heard his voice in my head telling me to write my name on paper. I don’t know why that was so specific but yeah I did as he said.” 
“Did you hear anything in return?” Hayoon inquired.
“No, unfortunately. That was the only thing that came through.” Yunhee sulked. 
“But hey! You got contacted by your soulmate! So we are sure that nothing happened to him and he’s probably trying to figure out how the bond works as well right?” Minha tried to cheer her up like the mom she was, unable to see her kid sad.
“Yeah, that’s true. I hope he figures it out though because I’m at a dead end here.” 
“I’m sure he’ll figure it out! We currently have nothing to do but trust him and cheer him on. So don’t stress too much, Yuns. Stay alert and just wait for him to make the connection again.” Hayoon exclaimed, in a cheery voice. 
“Exactly! Let’s trust him on this one and we can think more about it when he manages to contact you again. Meanwhile, tell us how he sounded! What did you feel?” Minha shook Yunhee in excitement. 
So, the three girls spent the rest of their time discussing the interaction and other’s soulmate experiences while they enjoyed their ice cream.
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Jongho recalled the conversation that he had with the guys earlier, who managed to come up with a few hypothetical situations for him to experiment. 
He sat down on his desk with a notebook before him, taking notes like he would for a science class. The guys did have a few different ideas but Hongjoong’s idea made the most sense to Jongho. 
Hongjoong proposed that the message that went through was a command rather than a suggestion or a question. And what Jongho received as a glimpse was the completion of said task that got sent as a command. 
So what Jongho had to do was make his soulmate do tasks for him and if it worked out every time, then eventually find a way for them to meet face to face. 
He relaxed himself and thought of a task for her to do. 
“Okay, so I know that I’d probably not be able to know her name or see what she looks like through the bond so I can’t ask anything related to that.” He spoke out loud. 
After thinking for a while, Jongho got an idea. He decided to send his soulmate to her favourite cafe and order her favourite drink. In this way he’ll be able to figure out which cafe she frequented and what drink she liked as well. 
‘Go to your favourite cafe and order your favourite drink first thing in the morning.’ He thought, hoping that his soulmate heard it. 
“Did it sound too rude? But I can’t send anything other than a command and commands don’t particularly sound nice though.” He spoke to himself again while scratching his head.
Before he could overthink more, Jongho wrote down what he said and headed to bed as he had classes to attend the next day. 
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Taking a last minute impulsive decision, Minha and Hayoon chose to stay the night at Yunhee’s house. The three slept over at each other’s places quite often, making it a regular occurrence in their lives. Yunhee let her mother know about it and she told her to grab the extra mattress that they had for such occasions. 
While she was dragging the mattress to her room, she heard a crackle resonate in her mind like the last time. Yunhee dropped the mattress, focusing intently to see if her soulmate’s voice came through. 
Minha was walking back with a glass of water when she spotted her by the living room standing as if she saw a ghost while the mattress was abandoned on the floor.
“Yuns, what happened–” 
“Shush! I think I’m getting another message.” Yunhee quickly cut her off. 
Indeed, the soothing voice she heard the first time spoke to her again, making the darn butterflies in her stomach return to torment her. She unconsciously smiled, the emotions that hearing her soulmate’s voice evoked in her being all very new. 
Minha stared at her from the side, relating with the lovesick look on her friend’s face all too well. 
“Go to your favourite cafe… and order your favourite drink first thing in the morning?” Yunhee repeated what her soulmate said to her out loud. She looked at Minha, tilting her head in obvious confusion.  
“That’s what he said?” Minha looked equally perplexed. 
“What is taking you two so long– why are y’all standing there with the mattress on the floor?” Hayoon came out of her room to check on the two. 
Minha told her what happened while they dragged the mattress to Yunhee’s room. They sat down to think why her soulmate would send in yet another oddly specific message asking her to do something. 
“You know what I think?” Hayoon said in a serious tone, unlike her usual carefree demeanour, “The only form of message he can send are the ones that tell Yunhee to do something. ‘Cause think about it! He probably already tried saying the common stuff like ‘what is your name’ or ‘where do you live’ like we telepathy types did, but in our case all the things we tried to send went through.” 
 Yunhee and Minha looked at each other for a few seconds before directing their attention back to Hayoon, who was raising her eyebrows at them. 
“Wow dude, what’s up with you? You’re actually making sense today!” Yunhee exclaimed with fake enthusiasm while patting Hayoon on the shoulder, who rolled her eyes and pointed her middle finger towards Yunhee in return.
“Yeah! But Yoon’s right. Can’t relate though, ‘cause I was the tattoo type but she has a point. And I also think that he can somehow sense if you have done the given task or not or else he wouldn’t have any way of knowing if his messages are going through.” Minha added while laughing at Hayoon.
“I mean, the task is simple enough. I do visit cafe Aurora before heading to class anyway, so it won’t be anything out of the ordinary, I guess.” Yunhee muttered. 
The three girls started their movie marathon, when Minha’s phone rang. It was a facetime call from her soulmate Changbin, who was also their childhood friend since middle school. 
When Minha turned 18, which was three months back, she invited all her friends to attend the party, including Changbin. He was out of town that week so he couldn’t attend her birthday party. 
The tattoo that appeared on Minha’s wrist was supposed to be the first thing her soulmate told her after it was activated, which said, “Happy birthday! Sorry I couldn’t make it, Min.” 
 Minha looked absolutely bewildered while Yunhee and Hayoon laughed at it like maniacs. She got teased by the other two the entire day, while she tried to appear nonchalant about it. 
When they were younger, Minha never liked the concept of soulmates and always complained about the idea of getting paired up with a complete stranger for the rest of their lives as it seemed unnerving to her. But when she realised that her soulmate might be good old Changbin, she didn’t hate the idea anymore. It was true that Minha never saw him as anything more than a friend but he was an amazing guy and she did think he’d make a good partner. 
At night she received a call from him and indeed, the first thing he said was “Happy birthday! Sorry I couldn’t make it, Min.” 
Minha laughed and said, “Thanks, idiot.” when it dawned upon Changbin as well that his soulmate was none other than Minha.
 They met up when Changbin returned (he basically scrambled to return as fast as he could) and made it official.
 Among Yunhee’s friends, Minha and Changbin were probably the fastest soulmates to seal the bond which made a lot of them jealous because of how easy it was for them to find each other. 
Back to the present, Changbin facetimed Minha who received the call. 
“Hey Min, are you staying over at Yunhee’s today?” 
“Yep. Sudden decision.”
“Oh okay, have fun! And pass the phone to Yunhee please.” Changbin spoke. 
Yunhee peeked from the back and waved at him. 
“You! What were you thinking when you sent a text like that, dumbass? Who sends ‘EMERGENCY’ and dips without explaining what happened?” He exclaimed.
“Ugh, okay fine sorry. I won’t send texts like that again. I got nagged enough by these two, I don’t need you to add anything to it, Binnie.” Yunhee whined. 
“At least you’re fine and dandy so I’ll spare your ass today. How's the soulmate situation going?” 
They told him everything that happened and gossiped with him for a few more minutes before hanging up. 
Yunhee left to talk to her parents about something, only to come back to the room with her brows furrowed at the screen of her phone. 
“Uh, Yoonie? Why is Eric texting me saying if I decided to keep the baby or not, and if I did he’ll help me convince my soulmate to keep it too?” 
At this, Hayoon and Minha looked at each other, before they burst out laughing. Yunhee was still looking at them in bewilderment but the two were not being able to stop. 
After two minutes of them laughing without break and Yunhee standing like the clown that she was, they finally stopped. 
“Remember the text that you sent me? I showed it to Eric and he was the one who said ‘why does she sound like she’s going to announce her pregnancy or something’ and we realised that it could be a possibility, because dude, everyone knows that you write paragraphs when you text. So, such a thing was not to be taken lightly.” Hayoon shrugged.
At this Yunhee threw a pillow at her, yelling how her love life was as barren as the Sahara desert (because she couldn’t fall for anyone else when the thought of having a soulmate later in life hit her) and how she and her soulmate shared the same braincell. 
“Come on! At least he’s supportive!” Hayoon defended Eric.
“Yeah yeah, I can see that. Let me call him and explain the whole thing, or else he’ll start preparing to be an uncle.”
Eric was Hayoon’s soulmate that she met 3 weeks after her 18th birthday. They were the telepathy type, being able to contact each other almost immediately after the soulmate bond was activated.
The two had a few bumps on the road, as Eric wasn’t cooperative in the beginning. The reason being that he liked this other girl and he couldn’t accept the fact that his soulmate was someone else. But the said girl found her soulmate a week after, which finally pushed Eric to move on and seek his own soulmate. 
Minha and Yunhee didn’t like him, as he made their best friend suffer and put her at risk of getting ill due to the unsealed bond, but he redeemed himself eventually. Now they were a pretty wholesome couple.
After clearing the misunderstanding, they resumed the movie marathon, falling asleep in the midst of it. 
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Jongho didn’t feel like getting up. It was a cold winter morning, which made sleeping under the warmth of the duvet all the more enticing. But he had to wake up as he had an important class to attend that day. 
He reached college early, so he was waiting inside the classroom when he saw it.
a glimpse of an awfully familiar cafe. He was able to hear her voice this time, when she spoke to order a regular hot mocha. A shiver ran down his body when he heard it, realising how sweet her voice sounded to him. Keeping his emotions at bay, he noticed two very familiar faces through the glimpse before it ended. 
“Cafe Aurora, huh.” He smiled to himself. His soulmate was nearer to him than he thought. 
As he entered through the door in a hurry to get away from the cold, Jongho noticed that the cafe was busier than usual. He figured that it was due to the freezing weather outside, while the cafe provided the warmth everyone including himself was seeking. 
Upon reaching the front he spotted Soobin behind the cashier counter, taking orders like he usually does with a smile on his face. Beomgyu was in the middle calling out names and distributing drinks while San was at the back making them for the customers. 
He eventually spotted Jongho and called another worker to take his place, so that he could go greet his friend. 
“Jongho? Fancy seeing you here.” San spoke up in a playful tone. 
“Why? Can’t I visit my dear hyung during his shift?” Jongho retaliated. 
“No, of course you can but you usually don’t frequent this place. Remember when you told me it was far from your house and you already found another place to get your iced americano from?” San raised his eyebrows making Jongho avert his gaze.
“Okay, fine! You got me there. I came here to ask you something.” he pouted. 
“Ei, don’t feel bad! I was teasing you! But do visit me more often from now okay? What did you want to ask?” San laughed while patting his back.
“So, I saw another glimpse this morning. I’ll tell you the details later but I think Hongjoong hyung’s theory worked. Can you tell me if you remember any girl, possibly a regular here, ordering hot mocha around 8 am?” 
“I make the drinks dude, I wouldn’t know. Hey, Gyu? Can you come over for a sec?” San yelled. 
Beomgyu, who finally got to breathe after distributing the drinks, clicked his tongue and walked over to where the two were standing. 
“Yeah, what’s up?” 
“Do you remember any regular female customer that came today around 8 am to order a hot mocha?” San asked him.
“Okay first of all, I have been distributing over hundreds of drinks, at least 30 of which were hot mochas. And if we are talking about 8 am then a lot of people came in to get their morning fix before college so I don’t think I can help you.” He paused.
“You could check the server but I doubt that would be of any help either, because a lot of female regular customers order hot mochas in the morning so…” Beomgyu shrugged. 
“Okay thanks, Gyu. We’ll figure something out.” San sighed.
“Why? Did anyone take a drink without paying again?” Beomgyu inquired in a concerned voice. 
“No, no. We’re trying to find Jongho’s soulmate.” San and Jongho laughed at Beomgyu’s expression.
“Oh, thank god. Good luck searching for her, bro.” Beomgyu gave Jongho a thumbs up before resuming his work. 
San looked at Jongho, who was deep in thought. 
“How’d you know she came to Aurora?” 
“Oh, come on hyung, I’d recognise the interior anywhere! Plus, she gave her order to Soobin and you were at the back making drinks. I saw you two in the glimpse.” Jongho poked San in the shoulders, making him swat his hand away. 
“Moreover, I think I found out how the bond works. So, I’ll increase contact and try to get her to meet me somehow.”
“That’s the spirit! I know you’ll succeed Jongho-yah.” San said with a proud look on his face. 
He asked Jongho if he still wanted to order an iced americano in a weather like that, to which he said yes. San shook his head at the boy but proceeded to make him what he wanted, yelling how he wouldn’t take any responsibility if Jongho caught a cold later. 
He just smiled and gestured at him to continue making the drink.
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Two days have passed since Yunhee received the last message from her soulmate. She was trying not to think about it, distracting herself with other things but every now and then her mind would fleet to the honey-like voice which evoked an unexplainable sense of longing in her. She wanted to hear his voice again.
During breaks, the trio made a point to gather whenever their schedules coincided, to catch up and complain about college, even though it was just their freshman year. 
Yunhee was walking towards their hangout spot with Hayoon when she felt like another message was coming through. She stopped walking and tapped Hayoon on the shoulder to do the same. 
The now familiar voice reverberated in her head saying “Write the name of your favourite flower on your notebook.” 
She stood there with a faraway look in her eyes, while the girl beside her extended and retracted her hand awkwardly, not knowing if she should shake her best friend or not. 
Hayoon didn’t have to suffer in indecisiveness for long, as Minha approached them and did the job for her by back hugging Yunhee, bringing her out of her trance.
“Why are you two standing here? Let’s go.” 
“Wait, Yunhee received another telepathic message. What is it bro?” Hayoon asked Yunhee. 
“He asked me to write the name of my favourite flower. What is he up to?” 
“It’s just flowers Yunhee, he probably wanted to know basic stuff like that so that he can be prepared when he finally meets you.” Minha reasoned.
“Okay let’s go sit, so that I can write it down.” 
The three headed to their hangout place. As soon as Yunhee sat down, she reached for her bag to bring the notebook out. She opened it and wrote, ‘sunflowers, but pink roses are great too’ after much thought. 
The other two teased her saying they already knew she was going to write sunflowers so she really didn’t have to ponder so much, but Yunhee disagreed by saying how she found all flowers pretty so it was hard for her to pick one.
The following day, Yunhee received another message that asked her to write yes in the notebook if she was available on the weekend and no if she wasn’t. 
She ended up writing a ‘YES’ in capital letters on her notebook that probably covered the whole page, out of sheer excitement. 
Jongho on the other hand received a glimpse of it, laughing at how adorable she was. It was as though he felt the excitement of his soulmate and that made him more eager and impatient to meet her. 
Yunhee immediately informed Hayoon and Minha about it, who were equally thrilled for their best friend and promised to help her get ready for the occasion. 
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Weekend arrived faster than the two soulmates anticipated. Jongho made sure to send her a message saying “Go to cafe Aurora at 4pm” before he started preparing to meet her. 
He got ready at three and sent a message to his group chat asking which flower he should pick between sunflowers and pink roses. Most of them suggested him to buy both and get them arranged in a nice bouquet. 
What Jongho didn’t know, however, was that the seven were already camping at cafe Aurora (excluding San because it was his shift anyway) to watch the scene unfold. 
Yunhee finally finished getting ready with the help of her two best friends. She opted for a classy but casual look: flared jeans, puffy sleeved black top, minimal pearl accessories and light makeup. 
She kept stressing and overthinking about the entire situation like the worrywart she was. At first Minha and Hayoon were trying to reassure her and alleviate her concerns but after a while it became frustrating for them so they nagged her and threw her out of the house before it was too late.
Yunhee, although still anxious about the whole meeting up with her soulmate situation, took deep breaths and reminded herself how much she had been wanting to meet her soulmate for the past few days. After calming down a bit, she headed towards the cafe. 
Jongho arrived at the cafe, the bouquet of flowers in hand. It seemed as though he attracted quite a bit of attention, because of how big the assortment of flowers looked due to the big and vibrant sunflowers. He didn’t think much of it however, opting to find a suitable seat while he waited for his soulmate to arrive. 
San on the other hand, went inside the storage room upon Jongho’s arrival to alert the other six who were hiding in there. The guys were trying to find a suitable position to peek in through the door; bickering in low voices to prevent being seen. Yunho had to hold his hand over Wooyoung’s mouth in case he yelled unintentionally and gave out their position. 
Meanwhile, San explained the whole situation to Beomgyu and Soobin, who finally understood what was going on.
“Here goes nothing.” Yunhee muttered to herself while she pushed the door to the cafe open. Upon entering she noticed that the cafe was moderately busy– an unusual sight for her as she always visited early in the morning during the rush hour, when all the seats were occupied and a huge queue present.
She didn’t know what to look for as her soulmate hadn’t really mentioned anything that would help her identify him in the crowd, but she hoped that her ‘soulmate senses’ would assist her with it (if such a thing existed).
Soobin noticed her standing awkwardly by the door and called her.
“Hello! Yunhee, right?” he said. 
“Oh, hi! Yeah, I usually drop by before going to college. I’m glad you remember my name!” Yunhee was grateful to him for striking up a conversation. 
“You seemed like you were searching for someone. Do you perhaps need some help?” He inquired. 
“I was, actually! To be honest, I don’t know what he looks like.” she paused. “It’s… my soulmate and today is supposed to be our first meeting.” Yunhee said truthfully.
Upon hearing what she said, Soobin immediately yelled at San to come to the counter, who was standing at the back. 
Yunhee saw Soobin whisper something to his ear and he looked at her with his eyebrows raised in shock. He then moved back to allow the guy to stand in his place.
“Hi! I’m San and I usually handle making beverages at the back. Soobin here just told me that you are looking for your soulmate, is that right?” He asked politely. 
“Nice to meet you! And yeah, I am.” She replied. 
“Looks like we’ll meet each other more often from now on, Ms.Yunhee.” San said while smiling. “And you might want to look there, on the right side, where a guy is sitting with a huge bouquet of flowers. Good luck!” He instructed while pointing towards the table. 
Yunhee approached said table and immediately noticed the assortment of sunflowers and pink roses along with a few other flowers. She tapped on the table to get the guy’s attention, who was on his phone with his back to her.
Jongho looked up, only to find, arguably, the most beautiful girl he has ever laid eyes upon. He seemed to be in a trance, everything but the girl in front of him becoming a blur.
Yunhee wasn’t faring any better, feeling like her heart was beating out of her chest as she stared at the guy that was supposed to be her soulmate. 
Both of them felt like something clicked in place, like the final piece in a puzzle that they didn’t even know was missing all this time.
Jongho recovered first, standing up to move the bouquet so that Yunhee could sit in the seat in front of him. Once she settled down, he swiftly handed the flowers to her, to which she thanked him in a bashful way. 
“I did think your choice of flower was unique, but now that I saw you face to face, it suits you.” Jongho said, after clearing his voice. 
“I’ll take that as a compliment, thanks.” Yunhee replied. 
“I’m Jongho. Choi Jongho. Sophomore in college.” 
“Park Yunhee. Freshman.” 
“Yunhee… a pretty name for an even prettier person it seems.” Jongho replied playfully, making her blush. 
They carried their conversation, feeling quite relaxed and comfortable after a while. Yunhee asked him a bunch of different questions, as she couldn’t do that with their bond earlier and Jongho patiently answered every query that she had with a smile on his face, not missing to ask her some in return. 
The more they communicated, the more they realised how similar their values and preferences were, which dispelled all the concerns they had about liking each other.
Jongho got up to collect their order when he noticed the six heads peeking through a door in the distance. He made his way towards the door and swung it open, to see the six guys trying to hide behind carton boxes. 
Jongho folded his arms and glared at them while they stuttered trying to explain the situation. Meanwhile, San pretended he did not see anything and continued his work.
Being discovered already, the guys came out from the storage room and greeted Yunhee, who was taken aback at first but reciprocated their enthusiasm almost immediately. 
She could see how embarrassed Jongho looked because of them so she tried to console him by saying that her friends were like this too and they’d all get along really well once they met. 
The guys started leaving one by one, seeing how Jongho’s death glare was still quite evident and they didn’t want to be at the receiving end of their youngest’s wrath. 
Jongho sighed and apologised to Yunhee again for his friends’ sudden intrusion to which she was fine with and said that it was quite nice to meet the people he was close to.
They finished their beverages and chose to take a walk outside before heading home. 
As they were walking along the pavement, Jongho felt a sudden urge to hold her hand. He tried to appear nonchalant and brushed his hand with hers, to which Yunhee responded by grabbing his hand while looking the other way. 
As someone who hated skinship with all his being, Jongho didn’t quite fathom why he felt the need to initiate physical contact with the girl walking beside him. Something as simple as holding hands was making his emotions go haywire. 
'So this is what having a soulmate feels like.' Jongho thought. 
“Right? I always felt like it was a foreign concept to me, which I couldn’t relate to at all when the people around me shared their stories. But now that I’m experiencing it for myself, I get what they were saying.” Yunhee replied, while swinging their joint hands back and forth. 
Jongho looked at her, perplexed about how she knew what he was thinking when their soulmate bond was supposed to dissipate once they met; not to mention it wasn’t regular telepathy to begin with.
Yunhee glanced back at him, to see his head tilted endearingly towards her in confusion.
“You said that out loud, Jongho.” She pointed out while giggling at his expression. 
“Oh, I didn’t realise that.” Jongho turned his head away to hide his embarrassment but Yunhee noticed how red his ears were, making her chuckle again. He figured that he really loved how her laugh sounded. 
After their impromptu stroll, Jongho took Yunhee home. 
They were at the gate, when the girl turned around and held both of Jongho’s hands.
“I had a lovely time today, so thank you so much for that. Thank you for not giving up on me even after knowing how complicated it was trying to find how our bond worked, as I completely started depending on you after not having a single clue about it. I know that our life was kind of on the line too but still I’d like to express my gratitude. And also… thanks for not turning out a jerk I guess?” Yunhee ended with a mischievous smile, making Jongho laugh. 
“Then I’d also like to express my gratitude for the fact that you chose to trust me on this and I’m so glad that you’re my soulmate.” Jongho smiled warmly while squeezing her hands tighter. “Also, thanks for not being a snobbish Karen.” He ended with a wink. 
Both Yunhee and Jongho felt all warm inside just by looking at each other. Every emotion that they felt just by doing the bare minimum seemed heightened and it was a complete new experience for both of them. 
The day ended as Yunhee hugged Jongho despite him telling her he hated skinship, and surprisingly Jongho didn’t mind it and hugged her back. 
Yunhee promised to introduce her parents and friends to him some other day, to which Jongho wholeheartedly agreed, saying he’d do the same. 
At last they parted ways, Yunhee entering her house and Jongho on his way home even though they didn’t want the day to end. 
Unspoken promises of a life together at each other's side lingered on. A life, where they were bound to be together, chosen as each other’s counterparts by fate itself. No matter how many lives they lived, the red string of fate would always bring the destined souls to one another; such was the way of the universe.
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kmultismut · 1 year
Text
"Need you."
Genre: smut
Member: Jongho x reader
You were in a hotel room by yourself. Since nobody knew you and Jongho were dating you had separate rooms. You started feeling needy so you took out your phone and took a picture of you playing with your boobs and sent it to Jongho with a caption "Need you.". A few seconds later you could hear your door open and close. You smiled as you saw your boyfriend approaching the bed. He lifted the blanket up at the end of the bed and slowly crawled underneath. As he was crawling higher up he places kisses up your leg. As he reached your heat he first placed kisses around it. You raised the blanket and looked at him in the eyes before he dived straight in. He sucked on your clit while his fingers slowly started pushing their way into you. You arched your back and moaned his name. "Already so loud? I just started." "Oh God, Jongho.", you could only moan in response. You reached your hand down and grabbed his hair. He moved his fingers in and out slowly just the way you like it. "That's my good girl.", he complimented you as he felt you clench around his fingers. He reached his free hand up and gently massaged your breast. As he began to place kisses up your stomach, he lifted your legs up by your knees. You didn't notice when he took off his clothes, you just saw his hard member aligning with your entrance. He slowly pushed his way into you. You closed your eyes and let them roll back. You reached your hands in his hair and placed kisses on his neck. He moved his hips in an enjoyable rhythm. "You're taking me so well.", he said as he placed kisses on your collar bone. "You feel so good, baby." He carefully rolled himself onto his back, pulling you on top. You moved your hips back and forth and lowered your hand to play with your clit. Once he saw what your hand was doing he quickly pushed it away and replaced it with his own. You smiled at the action and continued focusing on your pleasure. You moved your hips at a faster pace as you felt your orgasm approaching. "F*ck, Jongho!", you moaned his name as you came on his c*ck. You rode out your orgasm and lifted your hips up, letting him slip out of you. You started stoking him with your hand, knowing he was also close. He closed his eyes and soon came while moaning your name. 
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