#!! - ; S

#!! - 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄 — 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 ; ʙᴏʏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀᴇ

— 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞 : soulmate au, non idol au, angst (in this chapter)

— 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 : chan x fem!reader, hyunjin x fem!reader

— 𝐰𝐜 : 2.6k

— 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : a nameless stranger, an urgent force that seemed to pull you towards him. and as wrong as it was he left you curious and wondering.

— 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 : I'M SO HYPED TO BE FINALLY POSTING THIS if it won't get any feedback i will cry so if you like this PLEASEEE please tell me!!! ENJOY READING <333

You never much believed you'd be one to find real love, no matter how much you might be wishing, longing for it. Various of your playlists filled with songs about a certain someone, about this giddy and youthful feeling, your bookshelves stacked with writings and poems about the greatest feeling of them all. Your heart skipping a beat whenever a kiss appeared on the cinema screen before you, and lovers in public, whether holding hands or pecking, swelled up your chest, without you being the one loved. Because ironically, and much to your dismay, you alone felt like the odd one out. Spending Valentine’s Day alone year after year, barely knowing how it feels to have your lips on someone else's. Wondering if the books and songs talked about realness after all, or if everything you've thought to know about love was simply put, a delusion, not fit to be experienced outside of fiction and people's minds.

And still, your wish for that certain someone, your longing to feel the loving touch of a soulmate, of a passionate lover, never fully seemed to leave you, despite knowing it was naïve and childish thinking. And surely, it had to be too good to be true, altogether. The touch of a soulmate that was supposed to bound two people together – how did that work, anyway? It was an old myth you nothing but adored as a young teen, growing to despise it the older you got, and the more relationships happened to disappoint you. When you’ve thought you found your supposed twin flame – another person, whose soul was a part of your own and got separated from you at birth, only meant to reunite again by a simple touch – that same person ended up leaving a gash right to your heart, for you alone to heal and fix. So how could you possibly continue to believe, to hope? How were you supposed to not grow acceptance that maybe, just maybe, no one walking this planet had a designated someone, that each and every person simply had to love semi passionately, never as carelessly and freely as they did – pretended – in the arts? In books and movies and poems and songs?  

Strolling around the supermarket a couple streets down your block you didn’t look for anything in particular, only hunting for some snacks to accompany the movie night you had planned with Chan a little later in the day. From the get-go, you had to admit that you weren’t too hopeful in terms of your boyfriend’s availability, neither for tonight nor any other day you might have planned to spend together for the rest of the year. The last time you had an actual date, one where the two of you actually ate and talked together, actually ended up cuddling and making out back at home before fucking the whole night, seemingly unable to get enough of each other, of the closeness and intimacy, of the passion and love – that was ages ago, you could barely remember. Recalling, it must have been a birthday or anniversary, Valentine’s Day, maybe. Because under normal circumstances, on a usual and regular day, Chan barely ever had the time to go all in for a simple date. Which admittedly, you’ve been fine with at the very beginning of your relationship. You knew what you were going into, knew that he was a hardworking man, always busy, his future and career prioritised. And you admired him for it, for as long as you could remember – until you didn’t, almost out of the blue. Until suddenly the loneliness you felt due to his absence at nights became unbearable, leaving a cold hole next to you on the bed and right at your chest, and until his texts and phone calls got shorter and shorter, always promising for a later but never keeping word. You never blamed him, never painted him as the bad guy – you were two people with two packages filled to the brim with duties and jobs and problems that you carried around while trying to simply get by, and that alone was hard enough, you knew and understood. Yet, you couldn’t help but wonder if any of it was worth it, truly. You knew you loved Chan, maybe not the same you did when you first met but the adoration towards him was something you were sure of. There has been a time you'd called him your twin flame, even – he was the one partner you never doubted from the very first start, the one partner that seemingly fit to you like a puzzle piece, neat and even and perfect. You’ve surely never felt any initial spark, any indicator that he might have been your twin flame after all – no indicator that the myth held truth. But then again, you never much believed in that part of the saying after all – you weren’t supposed to feel sparks, sensations when touching another human’s body; that’s not how it worked biologically and that’s surely not the way to make out your ideal significant other. A myth remained nothing but a myth after all, and certain things were simply not bound to happen to people in everyday life.  

That time, the blooming and warm days when you had set your mind on Chan and the pure staunchness that he alone must be the right one, that you would spend your remaining days with him and only him were long gone though, and it got you thinking. It got you thinking because you’ve been oh so sure of Chan, so determined that he must be the one, until those feelings changed, which you’d never think possible. So, what if twin flames, you thought while grabbing a pack of Chan’s favourite chips and throwing them into your bag, ended up falling out of love as well, just like any other couple could? What if the old tale overlooked a crucial detail in its storytelling and simply forgot that people were still people nevertheless, and that the lives they lived and the way they loved only called for accidents to happen, for feelings and emotions to change and for relationships to deepen, or drift apart? And what if Chan has truly been your twin flame at some point years ago, but it simply never worked the way it should have, the way the both of you would have wanted it to? Twin flames; didn’t the name alone call for the end of all? Wasn’t the name the one and greatest indicator that said flames, the fire, the burning and passion – the love – could run out, be gutted and leave a cold space right where your heart sat? Was that the truth and end of the myth that everyone who knew was simply too cowardly to speak of?

You grabbed a bag of your own favourite snack and slowly made your way to the cash register. Then what was love all about, anyways? If people fall in love as quickly as they fall out of it, if the flame dims down with time and leaves you with memories of a past life, the only question is whether or not people are brave enough to leave those memories, or if they stay buried in them, buried with the one whom they once called their everything. If they’d stay simply for the sake of convenience and habituation, out of fear. Because surely, a person wasn’t bound to have multiple twin flames, after all. If there is only one person, one soul that knows you all, inside and out, this one twin flame you burn with until there is nothing left to burn, until the embers simply start gnawing at you without love and passion left; if there is only this person for you that is able to deify as strongly as this, even if temporary and not forever – you wouldn’t leave that person, would you? Because what was it worth, after all; even if the love ran out, and even if nothing was left to give – you’d only find the same lacking feelings in another lover, because that’s what the myth called. Because there’d be no one else to give you devotion so grand a second time.

You put your groceries on the checkout belt, fishing for your wallet at the very bottom of your bag. You cursed under your breath, finally feeling the soft material of fake leather right before the cashier told the price you had to pay. It was ironic – because surely, which price would you pay? You couldn’t possibly imagine ever leaving and wandering around, searching for something that would never be, so the only other option, whether you wanted it or not, was to endure loneliness in a relationship that once bloomed fields of flowers. The option that meant a never-ending empty space next to you on the bed, forever cancelled plans and nothing of the once known tenderness that you oh so adored and believed to be something permanent, something you’d never have to fear of losing.

You shuddered at the thought of it, at the thought of that being your future, of it being the destiny that’d wait for you, and with a quick shake to the head, as though that would clear your worries, you started packing the food and drinks into your bag, messily, without much system. You couldn’t care less if your other stuff laid atop of the chips, or if the cookies you decided to get for the date night would crush down under the weight of the rest of your groceries. Though Chan would sulk at you for it – there was seemingly nothing he hated more than crushed down chips in a plastic bag. You scoffed at the thought alone, earning an unreadable look from the cashier before he smiled and bowed a polite goodbye, wishing you a good week. He looked almost nervous, blush accentuating his cheeks and ears as though caught red handed when you noticed him staring at you. He must be in school still, probably a part timer. You quickly wished back a nice day, wondering if he ever worried about the things that seemed so all destructive to you. If he ever, as young as he was and only a student after all, spent sleepless nights questioning himself if he’d ever have the chance to die happily with another person by his side, or if life simply wouldn’t grant him that wish. Though, you didn’t know if that was his wish after all. It was yours, but that didn’t mean anything. Maybe, you thought, only the fewest people had the wish to die with a partner by their side anyways and therefore couldn’t care less about soulmates, let alone twin flames – maybe that was a wish only for the foolish, simply for people stupidly blinded by the delusory picture of love. To your dismay you were one of them, led astray by something that was cruel and gruesome behind closed curtains, and led to heartbreak and shed tears more often than not. And yet, you were hopeful. You depicted yourself with someone that would be with you, not only physically but in every form possible, that would love you without running out of patience to show you every single day anew. Yet perhaps, that same hope was the stupidest thing of all, the thing that would destroy you from inside out.

Your phone vibrated in your back pocket, and a quick look at the display showed your boyfriend’s name. It was saved with a heart right to it, and it made you chuckle, reminisce almost about when you first got his number, and then when you added the heart later on. You felt so dumb back then yet so stupidly in love that you couldn’t possibly not change his name in your contacts after your very first kiss, and you haven’t had the mind to go back to a plain old “Chan” ever since. Though it’d seem more fitting now, his name without a heart. You faintly wondered if Chan still had a heart next to your name in his phone before picking up the call.

“Hey, where are you?”

His voice was almost monotone, giving you no clue of the reason he called you while you were out for groceries. You expected bad news, and you felt guilty for it, almost.

“At the store, I bought snacks and drinks for later-… why? Did something happen?”

A sigh on the other end was all that you needed to know your expectations were to be true. And it scared you how cold it left you, unbothered and untouched by the words Chan was about to say, while the weight of the bag around your shoulder dragged you down further by the minute.

“Listen, I- I’ll sound like the shittiest boyfriend, but I have some work left I have to finish. It was super last minute, just got a call from Changbin to come and help him in the studio. I’ll try to not be too late, alright? Maybe- we can like… I don’t know when you’re free next time…”

Chan's voice suddenly got quiet, faintly distanced from you as you felt a cold breeze, a sensation, you might say, wash past you, almost pulling you back into the store again, fully disorienting you and shaking up the ground beneath your feet. You looked back, checking if someone had walked past you and into the shop and accidently pushed you, though it wasn't a touch you had felt – yet even then, the seeming force that drove you back, that completely took you out of your body even for short felt so unnatural, too strong to be caused by a person crossing your way. It was beyond physical, the feeling of it – somehow it felt deeper, an urge you’ve never come across prior, and before you knew it you met eyes with a stranger. He looked just as shaken up as you, pupils wide and brows slightly scrunched, creasing in the middle. He was stopped in his tracks, body as though moving forward yet held back by something he seemed unable to control, something that was pulling him your direction, just like you got pulled towards his. And then you simply smiled, after eye contact that felt like it lasted for ages on end, and he smiled back, a pretty smile that made you wish for that eye contact to hold on for just a little longer. But Chan's voice suddenly sounded in your ears again, and the boy in the store disappeared behind shelves, continuing his business.

“Babe, you there? I asked if you’re free next week sometime to make up for tonight?”

Your boyfriend's voice, though having all your attention now, was still far away to you, as though you muted it out to focus on your surroundings better, to have his words play only in the back of your head, behind glass.

“Yeah sure- we'll see... take care.”

Your own voice sounded almost abnormally clear to you, and your head felt the same. The worries that occupied you just moments prior – the disappointment yet general indifference to Chan cancelling on you, the fear of your future with him – or without him, therefore – the feeling of monotony creeping its way into your everyday life – it all felt so strange now, almost absurd that you ever even wasted a thought on it at all. Chan brabbeled a chain of excuses into the phone that you accepted with only hummed yeses, not actually listening, simply waiting to hang up on him. And while you couldn’t possibly imagine the stranger in the store to be the cause for all of it, for his eyes to be the reason you forgot about Chan and his smile to be the trigger for your calmness, you didn’t understand why your body turned around yet again, though not expecting to catch a look at him, still hoping you would maybe find his dark eyes one more time, nonetheless.

@doll4hyun @iwannabangchan @hwangful @whatudowhennooneseesyou @inkybird @yejis-biggest-simp @seungminluv3 @skzddicted @marslovescats @berryblog @beautifullywrecked-aeris @moonlightcandy00 @hyynes @nightrayseishina @199719932000 @shrub31201 @yoamimi @wednesdayswife @hyuneisbae @lovhyunj @ladytrbl @danyxthirstae01 @someoneinlovve @lili-kims-blog @rachagen @koorminii @good-soup3023 @shiru-chan @karaquestionable @blahbluhblahbluh @laryisthinking @knisterlicht @studyingthemind @ppiri-bahng @septicrebel @gimmemoredoritos

For real 😭😭😭😭

brown eyes so dark they look black are the best actually and I don't give a fuck about sunlight hitting them to make them lighter either I want to be consumed by the inky abyss

Just Friends (K.TH, C.BG)

Word Count : 6590

Warnings : break ups, heartbreak, swearing

Synopsis : a friendship started on a blind date, a new relationship with an old flame. an unexpected love.

She sat on her couch as Beomgyu paced in front of her, going on about some wedding he has to attend. “Why did I say I have a date? I don’t have a date. What am I supposed to do? I can’t just show up alone. Ugh why didn’t you stop me, Y/n!” He collapsed into the spot next to her, resting his head on her shoulder.

            “I wasn’t there when you told them you were dating someone, stupid.” She shoved his head off her shoulder, making him pout at her. She’d never tell him, but she has a weak spot for him. He has her completely wrapped around his finger without even realizing. He’s completely clueless to her growing feelings, feelings she wishes were there when they first met.

            “Choi Beomgyu?” She asked hesitantly as she approached the table. His head snapped up from his phone, making eye contact with the prettiest girl he’s ever seen. Quickly, he nodded, standing from the table, and ushering her to sit. “Oh thank goodness. You’re the third person I’ve approached. I was scared I’d never find you.” She laughed as she picked up the menu in front of her seat.

            “Blind dates sure are something, aren’t they?” He joked back, picking up his own menu, pretending he hasn’t already practically memorized the entire thing while he waited. Not that she was late, he was just far too early, far too nervous.

            When Soobin told him he had the perfect girl for him, he was skeptical, wondering how Soobin would know such a girl. But as the days passed leading up to the blind date, Soobin told him more and more, and Beomgyu was really excited. Ready to move on and make new memories with someone new.

            Within minutes, she surpassed all expectations. She was so kind to everyone, which Beomgyu found was quite rare these days. She was also hilarious, able to turn everything into a joke, and easily banted with him. She had something to rebut everything he said. He hated to admit it, but Soobin was right. She was perfect.

            She didn’t expect reuniting with her childhood best friend would lead to him setting her up with his new best friend. It was definitely welcomed though, with her just getting out of a long term relationship. A relationship she expected to last forever. But, she supposes, some loves aren’t meant to last. Some loves are just stepping stones to the love that will last forever.

            But as she sat with Beomgyu, genuinely enjoying his company, she heard a far too familiar laugh. One that used to make her smile, but now brought tears to her eyes. Across the restaurant she was sitting in, sat Kang Taehyun with another girl.

            She could feel her heart break all over again, as if he was breaking up with her all over again. Telling her that his feelings had faded over time, and he wanted to see other people. She remembers the nights spent in her bed, hugging her pillow, and wishing for him to take all his hurtful words back. Tell her it was a cruel prank and that he still loved her.

            Beomgyu saw her getting distant suddenly, completely zoning out and focusing on something behind him, or rather, someone behind him. He puts the pieces together and reaches his hand out to hold hers, asking if she was okay, or if she wanted to leave. “No, no. I’m okay. I’m enjoying myself. I want to stay.” She smiled at him, but even he could tell she was pretending.

            She was pretending she was okay, that she was ready to move on and date someone new. She was pretending that she didn’t have any lingering feelings for the man who crushed her. She was covering up her hurt with a smile that was so obviously fake. But Beomgyu pretended he had no idea, smiling back at her, and trying to distract her as best he could.

            When the date came to an end, Beomgyu walked her back, his hands in his pockets. They walked side by side, her telling him stories of her and Soobin from their childhood. She would laugh at the dumb things they did, and at the end of each story, she would smile fondly.

            “This was really fun, Beomgyu.” She smiled as they stood outside of her apartment complex. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to ask her out again. But he knew she wasn’t ready to move on, no matter how badly she tries to convince herself she is.

            “It was lovely, but I think we should just be friends.” The words were so hard for him to get out, almost as if they were choking him. Her eyes widened, and he knew she was going to ask why. He could see the thousands of questions swirling in her mind. “It’s nothing against you, Y/n. You’re quite honestly my dream girl. But you’re not ready to move on yet, and that’s okay.”

            “You saw right through me, huh.” She giggled to herself. “I’m really sorry, Beomgyu. I swear it has nothing to do with you. You’re wonderful, and I really did enjoy the date. It’s just, Taehyun and I were together for a long time, and I’m still trying to process the breakup.” Beomgyu nodded, understanding her a little too well.

            “I get that honestly. It took me a while to process the end of my previous relationship. Take the time you need. I’d still like to be friends, though.” She smiled, agreeing to be friends as the two exchanged contact information.

            The date ended completely different from how Beomgyu pictured it. He pictured walking her to the door, hand in hand, as they planned a second date. He pictured a goodnight kiss that would take his breath away. But instead he got a new friend. A friend he was totally smitten with.

            “Do you think Taehyun would mind if I borrowed you for the wedding?” Beomgyu asked, pulling her out of her memory. “It’ll only be for a few hours. I’ll ask him.” He pulled out his phone, quickly sending Taehyun a text, asking to borrow his girlfriend for a few hours this upcoming weekend.

            “Why are you asking him before even asking me?” She laughed, staring at Beomgyu with a fondness in her eyes that makes his stomach do somersaults. He likes to pretend that she’s realizing her feelings for him, falling for him the way he fell for her long ago. But he knows her heart belongs to Taehyun. So he takes the small moments of fondness and lets her go back to the one she loves.

            “Hey.” A familiar voice greeted her as he took the seat next to her. “It’s okay that I sit here, right?” He asked, looking at her with guilt in his eyes. She wanted to say no, wanted to tell him to get lost, but instead she nodded. “How have you been?” He asked, barely looking at her as he took out a notebook and pen.

            “Been better. But doing okay.” She answered, also not looking at him. Instead she fiddled with her pen, a telltale sign to Taehyun that she was anxious. It hurts his heart a little bit to see her so anxious around him when she used to be so comfortable. She used to say he was her safe space, he was her home.

            But he know he did this. He’s the reason she can’t be comfortable around him. He fell into the trap of popularity, wanting so desperately to be noticed and to be liked. But it cost him love. A pure love. A true love meant just for him. “I’m sorry, Y/n.” He whispered, turning his head towards her, fully facing her for the first time since he sat down.

            And she was beautiful. Even more beautiful than he remembers. And his heart clenches knowing he can’t reach out for her hand, run his thumb over her knuckles, and help her calm down. He hates himself for letting her go for something temporary. Something that didn’t feel even close to as nice as being in her arms felt.

            Nothing could compare to the feeling of her playing with his hair as they watched a movie, completely ridding him of all his worries. Or the way she knew just what he needed at any given minute. How she would show up to his house with his favourite coffee, leaving him to study a little longer while she hung out with his family. Cooking dinner with his mom in the kitchen.

            He would emerge from his room, expecting her to have gone home, but she would be sitting in the living room with his sister, gossiping about who knows what. No one else has done the things she does. No one else has made him feel the way she does. No one else has gotten along with his family. No one else has made him fall completely head over heels in love. Not the way she has. And she did it so effortlessly.

            “Don’t apologize.” She responded, turning her head only slightly to look in his direction. “Because of you, I got to meet someone who understands me better than anyone else.” She explained, turning to face him completely, watching as his face fell.

            “You’re dating someone?” He asked, his smile a little too wide when he watched as she shook her head. “Do I still have a chance?” They sat in silence for a minute as she processed his words, wondering if he was asking what she thought he was.

            And as much as she wanted to say no, she knew that was a lie. Even after all this time, spending all her free time with Beomgyu trying to move on, she still loved Taehyun. “Yeah.” She finally answered. “You do.”

            It was a slow start, but her and Taehyun worked things out. But things felt different. The passionate, fire-filled love she once felt with him, slowly turned to ash. The first time they dated, she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him. Wanted to learn absolutely everything about him. But this time around, she finds herself blowing him off more and more to spend time with Beomgyu.

            And she knew Taehyun could tell things were different. It was hard to ignore. Whenever they were together, she would always talk about Beomgyu. What they did the previous day. A gift he bought her that she had been wanting for ages.

            Over time, the jealousy Taehyun felt whenever she brought up Beomgyu turned into gratefulness. He was grateful to Beomgyu for being there when he couldn’t. Grateful that someone was able to bring her smile back. And though he could tell he was losing her, if it was Beomgyu, he could let her go.

~

            “You are breathtaking.” Taehyun whispered as she stepped out of her room, the dress he helped her pick out hitting her in all the right places. She was stunning, and Taehyun couldn’t help but feel a little envious that she was Beomgyu’s date.

            He placed his hands on her waist, pulling her close to him. How could someone look even more breathtaking while this close? The way she did her makeup complimented the dress perfectly. Everything about her took his breath away.

            “Have fun. I’ll see you when you get home.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him in for a quick kiss as Beomgyu blew up her phone with notifications that he has arrived. “I love you.” Taehyun called after her as she walked towards the uber Beomgyu had ordered for them.

            “I love you too!” She called back before getting into the car. “Holy shit.” She said as she looked at Beomgyu, her eyes wide at how unbelievably handsome he looked in his suit.

            “What? Do I look as bad as you do?” He teased, nudging her with his elbow. But she couldn’t speak. In this moment, she understood what Taehyun meant by breathtaking. Beomgyu was just sitting there, but he completely took her breath away. She couldn’t even come up with a rebuttal, absolutely taken by how effortlessly he was driving her crazy.

            “You’re fucking hot.” She blurted out before she could stop herself, causing the uber driver to stifle a laugh, but neither of the passengers noticed. They were both too wrapped up in each other.

            Beomgyu was speechless at her outburst, trying to calm his pounding heart, but there was no use. Every time he felt calm, her words would echo in his mind, causing his heart to speed up once again.

            He tried not to stare at her, knowing he wouldn’t be able to help himself. Because she sat there looking absolutely stunning. He’s never laid eyes on a girl as beautiful as she is. No one else could compare to her, and he’s internally smacking himself for letting her go so easily.

            Beomgyu was heading towards Y/n’s apartment, her favourite food from her favourite restaurant in his hands. He knew she had been having a hard time the last few days, and decided he wanted to cheer her up. He had a pep in his step knowing he got to spend the rest of the day with his favourite person, trying to make her smile. The smile that makes him fall for her even more. He would do anything to see that smile.

            But he stopped dead in his tracks when he reached her building, seeing her laughing with a guy. Even from where he was standing, he could see the stars in her eyes as she looked at him. How her smile was so much wider than it ever was with him.

            And then the guy pulled her closer to him, bringing her in for a kiss. He watched as she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her, as if that was possible. And he could actually feel his heart break.

            But he faked a smile when she noticed him and called him over. “This is Taehyun.” He recognized that name. He was the reason she wasn’t ready to move on, and he was here, sweeping her off her feet before Beomgyu had the chance. “Whatcha got there?” She asked, pointing to bag in his hands.

            “Ah.” He completely forgot his original plan, taken aback by her new relationship with an old flame. “I bought your favourite takeout because I knew you were having a hard time.” He handed her the bag and watched as her entire face lit up, mending his heart only slightly. That smile was meant just for him.

            “You are the best, Gyu.” He smiled back at her before taking his leave, spouting some bullshit about an essay due, and walking away from the two of them. She was happy, and at the end of the day, that’s all that mattered to him. He wasn’t going to bother fighting a losing battle. Taehyun won before Beomgyu could even try.

            The two walked into the venue where the wedding was being held, gawking at how beautifully it was decorated. “Everything looks so expensive.” She whispered to him. He couldn’t help but laugh at her amazement.

            “Ah! I just knew when you told me you had a girlfriend that it would be Y/n.” Beomgyu’s mom gushed, bringing her in for a hug. “You look absolutely beautiful, Y/n.”

            “Thank you. You too look beautiful, Mrs. Choi.” His mom beamed at Y/n, and the sight alone warmed Beomgyu’s heart. He knew he was screwed the first time he introduced Y/n to his family. The way she fit in with them immediately. The way his entire family welcomed her with open arms, telling her to come back soon. The way his mom was always talking about her. He knew from the first day they met, but the longer he knew her, the more it was confirmed. She was perfect. For him and in general.

            “Let’s go to the arcade.” She said suddenly as the two were sprawled out on her bed, a movie playing the background that neither of them were paying attention. They were talking about life, ignoring whatever what was happening in the movie, instead opting to stare at the ceiling.

            Though, Beomgyu was actually looking at her the entire time. Watching as she scrunched her face whenever she was thinking. He noticed her eyes tracing imaginary images on the ceiling as she spoke. She was completely oblivious to the fact that he was completely enamoured with her.

            “So suddenly?” He chuckled as they both sat up.

            “I’m bored.” She shrugged.

            And so the two headed for the arcade, challenging each other to just about every single game in the arcade as they walked. “No way. I’ll totally kick your ass at air hockey.” She told him as she stepped in front of him and spinning to walk backwards.

             “Well I’ll kick your ass at DDR.” He teased, sticking his tongue out her, a gesture she quickly returned, before tripping over a rock, sending her falling towards the ground. Without hesitating, Beomgyu reached out, grabbing her arm, and effectively stopping her from hitting the ground. “Be careful.” He said softly, pulling her closer to him as she got back on her feet.

            She was so close, her lips just inches away from his own. And he couldn’t look away. He wanted so badly to close the gap between them, but they were just friends, and she had a boyfriend. No matter how tempting kissing her was, he backed away, letting go of her arm in the process.

            He had no idea the effect he suddenly had on her. He had no idea that she was leaning closer to him, hoping he’d take the leap and press his lips to hers. He had no idea that Taehyun had completely slipped her mind, as if he no longer existed. Beomgyu had taken over her mind, and he was completely clueless.

            They mingled with some of the guests, Beomgyu’s arm wrapped around her waist as he led her through the crowd. They found another couple their age and introduced themselves. Both Beomgyu and Y/n completely forgot that they weren’t actually dating as they talked with this other couple.

            Every question the couple asked, they both answered with ease. A story of how their relationship came to be easily forming, as if they weren’t lying. As if they were truly telling their love story.

            And before they knew it, they were agreeing to a double date and exchanging contact information with the couple. They didn’t realize what they had done until they walked away to go greet more of Beomgyu’s family.

            “Shit. Do you think Taehyun would let me borrow you again?” He asked quietly, trying to make sure no one found out that he wasn’t actually dating the girl of his dreams. That he was just borrowing someone else’s girlfriend and calling her his for the day.

            “We can always just not text them.” She said with a shrug. The longer she acts as his girlfriend, the more she wishes it was real. She didn’t want to go back to her place where Taehyun was waiting for her. She wanted to go home with Beomgyu. Laugh with him about some of the outfit choices. She wanted to go on the double date. And she hated just how badly she wanted to be with Beomgyu. Because she knows she lost her chance.

            “I can’t believe I introduce you to the perfect guy for you, and you end up back together with Taehyun.” Soobin whined, throwing his head back in his seat. “You were supposed to get over him, not get back together with him.”

            “Well to me, Taehyun is the perfect guy for me.” She answered before taking a sip of her drink, impatiently waiting for her food. “He’s my first love, Soobin. He’s my weakness.”

            “I just wish you would have given Beomgyu more of a chance. I really think he’d be good for you.” Soobin was looking at her again, with a pout on his face. She knew he meant well, that he just wanted both his friends to be happy.

            “We agreed to be friends, Soobin. We actually hang out all the time. He’s really good at getting me out of my head and making me feel better.” Soobin smiled at this information, knowing her better than she thought he did.

            As the evening progressed and they updated each other on their lives, his suspicions were confirmed. She kept bringing up Beomgyu and all the things they’ve done together. How he seems to know her better than anyone else, knowing exactly what she needs even if she doesn’t know. How he’s there for her when she needs him without even asking him.

            Soobin already knew that Beomgyu was enamoured with her. It was a secret Beomgyu couldn’t keep to himself, spitting it out almost immediately upon seeing Soobin. But the more she talked, the more Soobin realized that Beomgyu’s feelings weren’t as one-sided as he thought. She was falling in love with him without even realizing it.

            She was convinced that she still loved Taehyun because she was still hurt over their breakup. Because she was jealous seeing him out with another girl. Because she still got butterflies when he was around.

            Their love was a wildfire destroying everything in its path. It was speeding down a dead end street. It was bungee jumping off the tallest bridge. It was skydiving for the first time. Their love was the colour red. A loud, raging, passionate kind of love. They fell too hard too fast. It was a feeling that couldn’t be replicated. A once in a lifetime kind of love.

            But the fire burned out. The car stopped before it could crash. Jumping from the bridge no longer brought excitement. Their feet were planted flat on the ground. The red had faded. And they had fallen out of love just as fast as they fell in love. But they refused to believe it.

            The love that was once passionate was now just easy. Like a routine you do every single day that you soon get bored of but can’t quit. It was like brushing your teeth. Or washing your hair. It no longer brought excitement. It was just a routine.

            Soobin knew from the difference in how she’d talk about Beomgyu and Taehyun. How she excitedly told Soobin everything her and Beomgyu did. Everything he bought for her. Everything he did for her. She was smiling, and her eyes were bright. It was a look he hasn’t seen on her since before the breakup. Since before she left to see the world before returning for the next school year.

            But when she brought up Taehyun, the light faded. She talked about him the way one talks about a friend they ran into while running errands. If it were anyone else, he’s sure they’d confuse the two, thinking Beomgyu was her boyfriend.

            And she could tell by the look on his face that she had fucked up.

            Her and Beomgyu took their seats as everyone prepared for the bride to walk down the aisle. Their intertwined hands rested in her lap as they watched the groom and groomsmen make their way down the aisle.

            And when the doors opened again, everyone stood. Their hands stayed locked together as they watched the flower girl make her way down the aisle, followed by the bridesmaids, and then the bride herself. Y/n was amazed by how beautiful she looked in her floor length, princess-like gown.

            She’s met Beomgyu’s cousin multiple times at family get togethers he would drag her to, and she remembers her being such a laid back girl. Always in leggings and an over sized t-shirt she obviously stole from her soon-to-be husband. So this look was jarring for her.

            Beomgyu couldn’t help but smile as he watched her reaction, not even bothering to look at the bride. He thought she was absolutely adorable in this moment, her mouth slightly ajar, and he eyes wide. He wished he could take a picture, save this moment forever. But instead, he committed this moment to his memory, knowing he’d look back it in the future and still think she was the cutest thing he’s ever seen.

            “Do you ever think about how different things would have been had I been over Taehyun when we went out?” She asked as they laid on the blanket in the grass, looking up at the stars. Soft music was playing from his phone that laid between them. Beomgyu turned his head to look at her, seeing that she was still staring at the stars. He could tell she was drawing shapes with her eyes, and he wondered what she saw in the stars.

            “Sometimes.” He lied. He always thinks about where they would be. If they’d still be together. If they would have realized they were better off friends. If they would have grown to hate each other.

            But he knows if he ever had the honor of calling her his girlfriend, he would do everything he could to keep her by his side. He knows he would never stop loving her. He’s pictured an entire future with her. A grand wedding, a couple of kids, a big house, an undying love. But it’s not his future to enjoy. And he hates that he fell so hard when he knew he didn’t stand a chance compared to Taehyun.

            “What do you think our relationship would be like?” She asked. She’d never admit it, but a part of her thinks about what it would be like to be Beomgyu’s girlfriend all the time. That sometimes when she’s curled up in Taehyun’s arms, she thinks of Beomgyu. That a part of her wishes Taehyun was Beomgyu.

            “I think we’d be like we are now.” Beomgyu answered, still looking at her. And she turned her head to meet his eyes, a slight blush brushing across her cheeks when she realized he was staring at her. And he thought she looked absolutely beautiful. “You’d be my best friend and my girlfriend wrapped in one.” His voice was soft as he spoke, but she was barely paying attention to his words.

            She was too busy tracing his features with her eyes. His sharp jawline. His long eyelashes. His round nose she just wants to boop all the time. His soft looking lips. The same ones she’s dreamed of kissing. She couldn’t believe how deeply in love she fell for Beomgyu without even realizing.

            “Were you even listening to anything I said?” He chuckled, pulling her out of her thoughts. His beauty was distracting. There was no one else like Choi Beomgyu. No one could make her feel that way he does, and she comes to the realization that maybe Soobin was right all along. Beomgyu was the perfect guy for her, and she let him go.

            As the couple recited their vows, talking about the feelings they feel when they’re together. Talking about the moment they knew the other was the one. She sat there, going through all her memories with Beomgyu.

            All the times he showed up with takeout and the two spent the day watching movies or binging a new tv show. All the times he would help her when she was struggling with something. All the times they would just lay and stare at the stars, talking about life. Thinking about the what ifs.

            He was the first one she would call when she had good news or bad news. He was the first one at her door with his hands full of her favourite things to cheer her up. Whenever she was bored, she would call Beomgyu, and he always there.

            And she realized no matter how hard she tries to deny it, Beomgyu is her one. He’s the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. She wants to argue with him just to kiss and makeup minutes later. She wants come home to him after a long day and just lay in his arms as he plays with her hair, whispering little nothings into her hair as she slowly falls asleep.

            She wants the good days and the bad days. The days where they don’t feel like doing anything. And the days they’re filled with energy and bouncing off the walls. She wants to wake up in his arms and see him already looking at her with a fondness in his eyes.

            She wanted to love wholeheartedly and not feel scared he’s going to fall out of love with her. She wants the security she knows Beomgyu can give her. His unchanging feelings obvious to her, even after all this time. It’s a security that Taehyun just can’t give her. She’s worried every single day that Taehyun is going to change his mind again. Decide that he doesn’t love her.

            But the thought of Taehyun not loving her doesn’t hurt her the same way it used to. She doesn’t lay awake at night wondering if Taehyun is regretting his decision of getting back together with her anymore. And she knew what she had to do.

            So when the ceremony ended, she told Beomgyu she needed to go. That there was something she had to do. “It can’t wait until after the reception?” He asked. And realistically it could wait. It wasn’t urgent. But she knew if she stayed any longer, acting as Beomgyu’s girlfriend, she would do something she’d regret.

            “I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise!” She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before heading for the uber she had ordered.

            “That’s so cheesy.” Beomgyu cringed as the ending credits rolled. “Do girls actually like grand gestures like that?” He asked, looking towards Y/n, who just shrugged.

            “I’m sure some girls do. That’s why these movies are so popular.”

            “What about you? Do you like grand gestures like that?” She quickly shook her head. She never understood why girls seemed to swoon at the idea of someone confessing their love so loudly, so publicly.

            “Absolutely not. I like the small things. Like remembering my coffee order. Or knowing how to calm my anxieties. Small acts of love that show the persons true heart. It’s much more romantic to me than the giant bouquet of flowers and holding a boombox outside someone’s window.” Beomgyu chuckled, taking a mental note. He’s sure at this point, he could list her orders at every single place they’ve frequented. He always paid a little too much attention to the girl that was supposed to just be his friend.

            “That definitely sounds more romantic. And a whole lot less embarrassing.”

            When the uber pulled up outside of her house, she practically ran inside, seeing Taehyun sitting on her couch, watching some show she doesn’t recognize. “Oh hey.” He said, pausing the show and giving her his full attention. “You’re home a lot earlier than expected. Everything okay?”

            “We have to break up.” She spat out before she could stop herself. She wasn’t sure what else to say. She didn’t want to beat around the bush and lead him on any longer. Honestly, she should have ended things months ago when she came to terms with her feelings for Beomgyu. But she believed it was just a passing curiosity. Something that would fade with time. But it didn’t. It did quite the opposite.

            “Oh.” He said. Not quite the reaction she was expecting, but she also wasn’t sure what she was expecting when she came here. “Can I know why?” He knew the reason already, but he wanted to know if she was going to be honest. He needed to hear it from her as a form of closure.

            “I don’t love you the way I used to.” She answered. “I fell for Beomgyu.” She admitted, tears springing to her eyes. Regardless of her feelings, breakups still suck. It still hurt her to let go of Taehyun permanently. She knows that if she chooses Beomgyu now, she can’t choose Taehyun down the road. This was it.

            “If you love him, you shouldn’t have left him at the wedding alone.” Taehyun chuckled, trying to hold back his tears, trying to play off the hurt he was feeling. He lost her a long time ago, that he knew. But he hoped he had a little more time before she realized. A little more time to love her the way he should have the entire time. A little more time to have her love him so purely.

            “I felt guilty. I felt like I was leading you on, and I just couldn’t do that anymore.” Taehyun smiled at her. Even now, her kind heart shows. She ran away from the man she loves to let Taehyun go. She came all this way just to release him from the chokehold she has on him. Even though it meant leaving behind the man she loves.

            “Go get him.”

            “I’m not going to do that to you, Taehyun. I’m not going to be the person that starts dating someone new so quickly after ending a relationship.” He couldn’t believe the sacrifices she was willing to make for him. Sacrifices he didn’t make for her.

            “Listen, I knew a while ago that I was going to lose you to Beomgyu, okay? I came to terms with it already. So go get him before it’s too late. Because believe me when I say, you’ll regret being too late.”

            She knew he was talking about her, about them. How when he came back into her life, it was already too late. She had started falling for someone else while he was re-falling in love with her.

            “I’m so sorry, Taehyun.” He shook his head, taking a step forward to wipe away the tears that fell from her eyes.

            “Just promise me you’ll be happy.” She nodded, linking her pinky with his and sealing the promise. “Now go.”

            The sun had began to set while she was in her uber back, hoping she would make it in time before he went home. She knew the reception had to be coming to an end, and all she could do was hope Beomgyu was there.

            Usually she would stare out the window, look out into the horizon, and watch the sunset. She would read the passing signs, and peer into other cars as they passed them. But she couldn’t focus on any of that, too focused on making it time.

            She chuckled to herself thinking back to their talks about grand, romantic gestures. How cringy they both found it, but as she got closer to the venue, she wouldn’t mind embarrassing herself in front of his entire family if it meant she could call him her boyfriend.

            By the time she arrived, she could see everyone filing out of the venue, and she wondered if Beomgyu has already left. Her heart sank when she couldn’t see him among the crowd of people gathering outside to say their goodbyes. She wonders how late she is; if there’s even a point in confessing. Maybe she’s read all the signs wrong as he truly only sees her as a friend and nothing more.

            But then she sees him emerge from the building, talking to his cousin and her new husband, and just jumps out of the car, catching the attention of almost everyone. “Oh dear, you came back. Beomgyu said you weren’t feeling well and had to go home. Are you feeling better?” Beomgyu’s mom spoke as she made her way closer to the crowd of people.

            “Yeah, I’m feeling a lot better. I’m sorry I bailed halfway through.” She kept glancing towards Beomgyu, who seemed to be completely entranced by the conversation he was having, not even noticing she had returned.

            “Nonsense dear. Your health is more important. But I’ll let you get to Beomgyu. He was really worried about you, please reassure him you’re okay.” She nodded, giving the older woman a quick hug before ascending thestairs towards Beomgyu.

            “Y/n, you came back.” Beomgyu said with wide eyes, looking between her and his cousin with shock written all over his face. She couldn’t help but think about how adorable he looked. And the words came out before she could stop them.

            “I’m in love with you.” His attention was solely on her now, the shock on his face becoming more obvious with her sudden confession. The bride and groom looked at the younger couple with soft smiles, the groom placing his hand on Beomgyu’s shoulder.

            “Looks like the next wedding we’ll be attending is yours.” He teased, before the bride and groom left the two of them alone.

            “Please say something before I die of embarrassment.” She told him with a breathy laugh, hoping she didn’t look as scared as she felt. But Beomgyu was still silent, staring at her with the same shocked look on his face. “Are you alive in there?” She joked, waving her hand in front of his face, which finally pulled him out of his shock.

            “What did you just say?” He asked, unsure if he heard it correctly. He didn’t want to confess his undying love for her if he misheard her. He didn’t want to make a complete fool of himself and lose her friendship. Because even if it hurt watching her with Taehyun, he prefers that pain to the pain of losing her.

            “I said I’m in love with you.” She repeated, more confidence in her voice this time. “I left to break up with Taehyun because I don’t love him. I love you.” He broke out in the biggest smile she’s ever seen, which made her smile just as wide.

            “I love you too.” He cupped her face, bringing her face closer to his before whispering another love confession. “Holy fuck am I ever in love with you.” And then he pressed his lips to hers.

            His kiss felt different than Taehyun’s. Taehyun’s kiss was always filled with feverish passion, whereas Beomgyu’s kiss was filled with a love she’s never felt before. It took her breath away and made her dizzy. She could kiss him everyday for the rest of her life and know that she’ll always feel this feeling. The dizzy breathlessness as if she just ran 5 miles on an empty stomach.

            It took only one kiss for them to know that this was it. That this kind of love was made for fairytales. It was the kind of love people dream of; the kind of love people write stories about.

            Their love was like crawling into bed after washing the sheets and covers, feeling the warmth envelope you as the smell of clean laundry surrounded you. It was like waking up to breakfast in bed made by your favourite person. It was laying on the ground as you count the stars littering the sky. It was the smell of the brewing coffee when you walk into your favourite café.

            Their love felt like home. Like this is how it was always meant to be. Like the world was leading them to this very moment. The moment when they realized their love could drown oceans. The moment they realized they’ve been falling for each other this entire time. The moment they realized they were never just friends.

Hyunjin sickfic when. *folds arms waiting patiently* 🤭

I love your writing sm I’m gonna cry

𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨

pairing: hyunjin x fem!reader (afab)

genre: sick!fic. idol!hyunjin. hurt/comfort. angst. fluff. reader pov. established relationship.

content & warnings: explicit & strong language. mild thematic elements. hospital visit. this one's got angst in it. reader is sick (with a sprained ankle). hyunjin is worried af, as he should be lmao. reader has low self-esteem w/her dancing abilities, and has difficulty opening up about how she truly feels. pet names (affectionately). toothe-rotting fluff.

word count: 6.3k (yikes got carried away with this one wtf)

summary: it's been proving to be very difficult to keep the dance class that you take three times a week a secret from your boyfriend hyunjin. and the lies only become even harder to tell when you suddenly hurt your foot during class one night.

a/n: originally, i was planning on posting this yesterday as a kind of valentine's day gift for you guys, but then uni homework raw-dogged me like a total bitch and i got fucked over with a horrible migraine later in the night... i love my life!!! 😊 anyways, this was really fun to write- i FUCKING ADORE SOFT HYUNJIN!!! 😭 thanks for requesting, @hyungenie5... i hope this little piece of writing is to your liking, and thanks for your support~ 🤍

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ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sɪᴛᴇs (ᴛʜɪs ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇs ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴs). © ʙʟᴏssᴏᴍᴡʀɪᴛᴇsᴛʜɪɴɢs ⤐ ᴀʟʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛs ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ

The dance class was supposed to remain a secret. No one - not even your boyfriend Hyunjin - was supposed to know that you were taking it until it was long over in the summer. By the end of the class, you hoped that your skills would improve immensely and that you’d be able to join your boyfriend in the studio some time to dance with him. 

 But unfortunately, those grand plans all came to a halt late one Friday night. 

 When you were practicing a certain twirl that had been giving you a hard time for the past week. For some reason, one of the laces of your sneakers had come undone. And this prompted you to trip over it when you suddenly came out of the spin. 

 You landed on the ground in a heap of limbs, clenching down hard on your jaw at the feel of a sharp pain shooting through your left ankle. The ache was agonizing, and it took everything in you to not scream out in anguish at the feeling that had quickly exploded inside your ankle. 

 Soon, your classmates rushed over and helped you off of the floor and onto a nearby bench, where your teacher took a look at your foot.

 “It doesn’t look too bad, it’s just a bit swollen from the impact,” she said, peering up at you, a sheen of sweat glistening across her exposed forehead. It was sweltering in the practice room at the gym where you were taking the lessons, and everyone crowding around you was out of breath from the routine that the class had been practicing tirelessly for the last month or so. “I’d advise you to keep off of it as much as you can for the next few days and ice it every night. Don’t come into class Monday and instead give it a rest, and it should be better by the next session on Wednesday.” Your teacher instructed you, before giving your knee a gentle squeeze and going back to a group of students who needed her advice on a certain move. You had class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday late in the night, but surprisingly, the sessions were always packed with wannabe dancers, even late into the night. It just proved how many people desperately wanted to become better dancers. And you were one of those ‘people.’ 

 “Can you make it to your car alone?” One of your classmates asked. You looked up at Yejun, offering her a smile that quickly turned into a grimace of pain. You had met her soon after you started the class, and the two of you had grown closer over the past few months. 

 But no one knew who you were dating - who your boyfriend of three years was. They couldn’t know, otherwise, that would jeopardize everything Hyunjin did for work and your entire livelihood. So, you mostly stayed silent about the intimate details of your personal life with everyone else and opted to talk about the surface-level things in your life.

 “Yeah, I don’t think I can do it,” you laughed in a humorless kind of way. Without another word, Yejun was picking up the large duffle bag that you always brought with you to practice. Then, she was slipping an arm around your waist and leading you out of class and through the spacious gym. It was still relatively busy even for it being so late in the night on a Friday.

 “You promise that you’re gonna rest?” She rose a black, perfectly-manicured eyebrow your way as you shuffled out of the main doors of the gym. 

 And even though you had only known her for a few months, she could get a pretty good read on you. How you didn’t like asking people for help and how you tended to bottle things up all of the time. You had done such a thing since you were a very little girl, and you supposed there was no changing the way your mind was built. Even still, this aspect of your personality drove Hyunjin insane. He’d pry and pry and pry for you to tell him what was truly wrong with you, and it’d take more than just a few kisses and gentle words to finally get you to talk. It didn’t matter who you were with - who you were talking to - you just… couldn’t talk about really personal stuff most of the time. 

 “Yeah, yeah- I’ll rest all this weekend.” You rolled your eyes at Yejun as you stopped just in front of your car. You pulled out your keys, unlocking the doors before throwing your duffle bag into the backseat. 

 “Okay, well… drive safe and take it easy, yeah?” She mumbled, pulling you into a gentle hug, and you gave her a quick pat on the back before pulling away. “See you on Wednesday?” 

 You flashed her a playful wink, “Sure thing!” You waved her off as you slipped into the driver’s seat of your car. Your friend returned the gesture before she turned around and jogged back into the gym. 

 As soon as she was out of sight, you let out the moan of misery that you had been holding in for the last few minutes. The pain seemed to shoot through your ankle in quick increments, traveling up the length of your leg and pooling in your knee. 

 Holding onto the steering wheel with a death-like grip, you took a few deep breaths. The ache wouldn’t be this bad forever. You just needed to ice it. Just follow what your teacher told you to do, and you’ll be fine. You said all of these things and more to yourself inside your head as you turned your key in the car's socket and the car’s ignition roared to light. 

 Just get home and get in bed, and then everything will be alright. 

 But everything was not alright. 

 This was made so apparent when you stood in front of your apartment door and the remembrance dawned on you that Hyunjin had the entire weekend off. So that meant that he would be home earlier than he usually would be on a Friday night. And since it was a quarter-past-eleven at night, he was sure to be home.

 Fuck. 

 It had already been an entire production getting out of your car and into your apartment’s elevator, what with your limping form and all. But now you had to face your very own boyfriend, who wasn’t even aware that you were taking a dance class in the first place. You wanted it to be a surprise for him. You had always been self-conscious about your dance skills ever since you were a little girl. 

  And then you went ahead and started dating one of the best dancers in all of the Kpop industry. As a consequence, your self-esteem in the dancing department tanked astonishingly low. You’d regularly join Hyunjin in the studio late at night at the company, and sometimes he’d try to teach you some of Stray Kids choreo. But most of the time, you made a complete fool of yourself, and instead opted to just watch him from the sidelines. Watch in silence, offering praise when you could, about how perfect his angles were, how amazing his technique was, and how his flow and rhythm were impeccable with the music. 

 Meanwhile, deep inside your mind, you were playing the same thought over and over again; why can’t you just be a better dancer like him? Why can you just not suck at it, for once in your damn life? He probably thinks your horrible, and he’s right… no wonder why he stopped offering you teach you. 

 But in the new year, finally feeling fed up from always feeling shitty when your boyfriend would show you a video of his dance practices, or when you’d watch him in the studio, you decided to sign up for the beginner's contemporary dance class at your local gym. 

 It was daunting, at first, to go by yourself without knowing anyone there, but soon, you got used to the feeling and genuinely started to enjoy your time spend in the studio. It was hard work, that was for sure, but you liked the idea of finally finishing it in the early spring and then surprising your amazingly-talented dancer boyfriend with the choreo that you had learned and practiced tirelessly for the past few months, unbeknownst to him. 

 To keep the class a secret from Hyunjin, you had lied and told him that you were going to the local gym and lifting weights. And it wasn’t a complete lie, because technically, you were at the gym. You just weren’t lifting any weights. 

 Nevertheless, Hyunjin had been hesitant about the idea. Especially since you would be coming and going so late at night. At first, he had protested against it because of how many creeps could be hanging around the gym that late at night. He didn’t want you willingly putting yourself in any danger from being out so late alone. But, after much negotiation and pleading on your part, you had managed to convince him to be okay with it. And then, you were off… attending the class three times a week and absorbing the lessons like a little ocean sponge out in deep sea waters. 

 You gathered up all of the courage you still had inside of you as you shuffled across the apartment’s threshold. A couple of the lights were left on in the living room, and dim classical music was filtering out through the nearby room to the right of you. Hyunjin’s art studio. The two of you had chosen this specific apartment to rent out because it offered two bedrooms, and the space that he wanted to make his office had an amazing, large bay window that showcased a huge portion of Seoul's cityscape. The view in there was breathtaking and was the key inspiration for a lot of his recent art pieces. 

 A sigh of relief fled from your lips as you dropped your duffle bag down on the nearby dining room table and made to get some ice for your foot. Your entire body was sticky from your dried sweat, and you longed to hop into the shower for a nice cool-off. Just as soon as you ice your ankle. 

 Just as you were filling up a small plastic bag of ice, you heard a door open behind you. Then, in a few beats, you felt two long arms wrap around your waist from behind. If you weren’t in so much pain at that moment, you would’ve been happy to feel Hyunjin’s presence at your back. But mostly, you just felt exhausted and irritable. And these were two things that didn’t mix well together.

 “Welcome home, sweetheart,” he muttered, as he leaned down with his tall frame to pepper gentle kisses against your shoulder. “How was your workout?” 

 “Fine, I guess.” You said in a slightly-dismissive tone, as you finished filling up your baggie with ice. 

 “And why in the world are you filling up a plastic bag with ice?”

 Your heart dropped into the pit of your stomach at his question. Because in your state of discomfort and exhaustion, you hadn’t thought out the lie that you would have to tell him for why you could barely fucking walk. And you definitely couldn’t tell him to the extent that the pain was at. But there was no getting around the fact that you had hurt yourself, so better to tell a small white lie than ignore it entirely. 

 “I, uh- kinda hurt my foot when I was working out with weights tonight, but I’m okay.” You said, trying to keep your voice light and airy. 

 Immediately as the words fell from your lips, Hyunjin was turning you around. His eyes raked over your face, assessing your neutral expression before flitting down to the rest of your body. Like he’d be able to see any other injuries you hadn’t told him about if he looked hard enough. 

 “Are you sure you’re okay?” His brows were furrowed in worry, the concern blatantly shining in his dark brown eyes. His fingers brushed across your cheek, before tucking a few stray, sweaty strands of your hair behind your ear. 

 You gave him a soft smile, leaning up to ruffle his fluffy, peachy-pink hair a little bit. “Yes babe, I’m fine.” 

 “Then, you should rest and use the ice pack.” 

 You gave him a sardonic grin, “That’s what I was trying to do before you stopped my plans and started to grill me with questions.” 

 He slipped his arms from your hips and reluctantly stepped away from your frame to allow you space to continue your routine. But not before he leaned down into you with his towering form and pressed a gentle kiss against your lips. And if your foot didn’t currently hurt like a bitch, you probably would’ve melted into his embrace and let him hold and kiss you for a long time after that. Instead, you just felt like a sweaty ball of painful shit and wanted to hop into bed as soon as possible. 

 “I’ll be in my office if you need anything…” Hyunjin’s delicate voice stayed with you in the kitchen, as he trekked back to the door to his office. 

 You quickly grabbed a kitchen dish towel to use to wrap around your bag of ice. “Alright. I’m going to take a quick shower and then head to bed.” 

 “I’ll be there in a little while,” your boyfriend said, and when you looked up at him, he was giving you this sweet, pure look of devotion. But it was also mixed with a tad bit of unease. He never did like the idea of you being injured in any way. “Try to get some rest, yeah?” 

 “Sure, baby,” you flashed him a wink, “but only if you come to bed relatively early tonight.” It seemed like he was always slipping into bed late these days… curling up behind you well past three in the morning. He proclaimed that it was only because inspiration struck him the strongest late into the night, and while you weren’t one to stand between an artist and their craft, there had to be a better solution for inspiration than ruining his entire sleep schedule.

 “I'll sure try, sweetheart.” Hyunjin’s soft voice followed behind you, as you made your way to your shared bedroom. 

 At least you weren’t the only one who told lies in the relationship. 

 The next day, your foot hurt like a literal bitch all day long. The pain wasn’t too bad after you first woke up, and upon icing it for a little while, it felt somewhat better. But then you went about the apartment doing the chores that you usually did every Saturday, and the discomfort returned tenfold. 

 At one point, it was so bad that when you sat down on the living room couch for a few minutes to give it a rest, you could barely get up again. And when you untucked your sock after lunch, you noticed how your left foot was looking a little… discolored. Some parts of your ankle were grayed, and a tiny bit of swelling was present too. But you had hurt it in dance, so that was to be expected. 

 You tried to hide the agony that you were in from your boyfriend, but being the perceptive man that he was, he automatically picked up on it. After all, he had become attuned over the years to understanding when you were feeling shitty since it took you so long to admit to him how you were feeling. Throughout the day, he’d ask you if you were okay and force you to sit down for a few minutes to ice the hurting foot. 

 But it was after dinner that he finally decided to put his foot down about the whole thing. He had dragged you over to the living room couch, practically throwing you onto the plush cushions before plopping down beside you. 

 “And what gives you the right to think you can throw me around like your own personal rag doll?” You asked, playfulness dripping from your tone. You turned to him and rose a quizzical eyebrow his way as he turned on the tv and flipped through Netflix to find a movie to watch. The usual thing that you two liked to do every Saturday night; was curl up on the couch and get all cozy with each other. The movie nights either ended in one of two ways, cuddling until you both fell asleep right then and there, or making out and soon traveling into the bedroom for a long night of fun. 

 “I’m forcing you to take a break, that’s what I’m doing,” he leveled you with a serious face, a slight frown pulling his mouth downwards. 

 You folded your arms across your chest defensively, “I don’t need a break, babe. I’m fine.” 

 “Oh yeah? Well then, I guess I’ve just been imagining all of the pained faces that you’ve been making all day, or that perpetual furrow in your brow that you always get when you’re holding something in?” Hyunjin said, voice completely flat. Just then he reached out to you, wrapping a long arm around your waist and yanking you close to his side before tucking a fuzzy blanket around the two of you. 

 “I’m not furrowing my brows.” You said defensively, even though you had given up on fighting him any longer. Honestly, you were a little too tired from all of the hurt and activity of the day to care. So you snuggled deeper against him, slinging your arms around his waist and breathing in his scent of fresh linen and sweet roses. “And besides, the apartment needed cleaning. A bad foot wasn’t going to stop me from completing my mission.” You had taken some pain medication soon after lunch, but since it was late into the night, it had worn off. You’d have to take some before you went to bed, but it didn’t seem to help that much, since you had still been in pain even after taking it in the middle of the day.

 “Just shut up and relax, will ya?” Your boyfriend all but grumbled, as he finally selected some random thriller to watch. You hid your smile behind your blanket as you felt him lean down and press a few kisses atop the crown of your head. “Just want you to feel better, my love…” 

 You turned your head up on his shoulder so that you were staring right into his expressive dark-brown eyes. “And I already do feel better just with your kisses alone.” A smirk spread across your mouth, as you leaned into him and your mouths met again in a soft kiss. 

 Your boyfriend motioned with his head to the flashing tv screen in front of the two of you, “Now, let’s focus on the movie so that you can get your mind off of the discomfort.” 

 A few giggles escaped from deep inside of you at his serious tone. He truly did care a lot about you and your well-being. And so that’s why you didn’t want to tell him how bad the pain was. Because you knew that as soon as you told him, he’d get himself all worked up into a tizzy and obsess over your health until you were back to one-hundred-and-twenty percent. Would practically nurse you back to health, ignoring all of his other duties at the company until he could confirm with his own two eyes that his girlfriend was feeling much better than before. 

 So you stayed silent, refraining from revealing to him how much agony you truly were in from your foot alone. You turned your attention to the movie in front of you. 

 And the feel of his long, muscular arms wrapped around your waist and squeezing slightly, the comforting sense of his warm body just beside yours, did wonders to the pain. It worked better than any of the medicine in the entire world, and you soon found yourself completely ignoring and forgetting the ache that was shooting through your foot and up into your veins and instead was basking in the feel and smell of your very loving boyfriend. 

 “Sweetheart, do you want to stop and take a rest for a minute?” Hyunjin asked you in a gentle voice the next day. What with it being Sunday and since the two of you were still off from work, you had decided to spend the day out on the town - shopping around. 

 You two had already eaten a sweet breakfast of pastries and coffee at a local cafe and were currently walking the streets of Hongdae, in search of a matching set of hoodies that fit both of your styles perfectly. So far, you had had no luck at the boutiques that you had already searched. The fuzzy hoodies were either too frilly or too plain...

 You shook your head vehemently, “No, I’m fine… don’t worry about me.” But you knew you telling him that would only make him worry even more. Since your foot only hurt even worse when you woke up early that morning. The pain throbbed up your leg now, and it felt like somehow was grasping harshly at your left ankle bone every time you walked on it, rattling the thing bitterly. 

 You were practically limping pathetically at your boyfriend's side, desperate hands clutching at his arm to stop you from completely toppling over into a pile of weak limbs right there. Because that’s what you were feeling at that exact moment; weak. 

 Hyunjin ran a frustrated hand through his peachy-pink locks, an exasperated sigh flooding from his lips, “I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to us going out today-” He started to grumble beside you. 

 Just then, the two of you stepped over a particular area of sidewalk that was somewhat cracked in the middle. And of course, your left shoe - your bad foot - just had to get caught in the tiny space there. Immediately, your body hurled to the ground as you grasped for your boyfriend. Thankfully, he caught you just in time before you hit the asphalt, pulling you up onto your feet again. 

 And when you stood straight once more, the agony only intensified even more so. Feeling so overwhelmed by it, and so, so weary with sudden despair, a tiny cry escaped past your lips as your legs gave out from underneath you. Toppling onto the ground in a heap of exhaustion, the tears were freely flowing down your cheeks. 

 Hyunjin was already crouching at your side, one arm wrapped around your waist. “Darling, what’s wrong-” He began, the worry seeping from his tone. 

 “It’s hurts, Hyunjin… like, a lot…” You managed to get out in between your sobs. Your vision was blurry from your tears, cheeks warm to the touch at the embarrassment of feeling others' eyes on you as they passed by on the street. 

 But not another word needed to be spoken, as you were soon being lifted into your boyfriend’s arms. And a moment later, he was gently placing you down on a nearby bench. 

 He was then crouching in front of your feet, gently grasping at your left foot and holding it out to him slowly. “Can I take a look at it, sweetheart?” He asked you with all of the tenderness in the world. The look in his eyes then- one of pure apprehension and heartache did something funny to your heart and only made you cry even harder. You nodded your head in silent approval. 

 Heart beating wildly inside your chest, you waited, and watched in bated since, as your boyfriend gingerly slipped off your thin sneaker. With thin, nimble fingers, he slid your baby-blue sock down and off of your foot. 

 And the moment he saw what lay underneath, he gasped audibly. Your foot was steadily turning purple and blue and was swollen all around the ankle. Eyes completely focused on your foot, Hyunjin turned your foot from either side, inspecting it diligently. 

 Finally, after what felt like an eternity of looking at it, he stared up at you with wide eyes. The heartbreaking look in them told you all you needed to know- the way that his lips slightly fell open in his surprise, jaw clenching in anger. “B-Baby, has it looked like this since you got home from the gym on Friday?” His fingers gently swept over the bone that was slightly protruding out to the side near your ankle. 

 The tears had begun to slow down, leaving wet trails down either of your heated cheeks. Sniffling, you meekly nodded your head yes in answer. “Why? Is it that bad?” 

 A deep crease formed between his dark brows, and his blush-pink hair blew in the cool February breeze that suddenly swept across the streets at that moment. “Sweetheart, this looks really- really bad,” his eyes flitted down to your foot again, which he was still holding in one of his palms. “I’ve seen a lot of injuries, and I know the signs… honey, I think you’ve sprained it.” 

 Your heart plummeted into the pit of your stomach. “W-What? But… how could that be? It’s not like I-” Your voice took on an incredulous tone, but before you could say anything else, your boyfriend was moving your foot again, turning it slightly so that he could slip your sock back on. You hissed in discomfort, biting down hard on your bottom lip to quell the moan that wanted to bubble up and out of you just then. The pain was unbearable. 

 Your boyfriend stood up from the ground, fitting two hands around your waist and helping you rise from the bench. He slipped an arm around your hips, securing you to his side as you slowly began to shuffle down the street, going backward from the way you had just come from. “C’mon, we gotta get you to the hospital.” He said, leading you two away from the shops that you had been at for the last few hours. 

 “Hospital? No- that’s not necessary, I just need to… rest at home, that’s all…” Your voice trailed off as another wave of pain throbbed through your tender foot. 

 Hyunjin leveled you with a glare. “It’s either you come with me willingly, or I carry you in my arms bridal style. Either way, you’re fucking going to the hospital.” The way he said the last of his words in that deathly-low tone sent a chill down your spine. Because you knew it all too well since he’d only use it on you when you were being particularly stubborn. And almost always, it was during a time when you weren’t taking any regard for your health, and Hyunjin had to force you to do the things necessary to practically stay alive. 

 “O-Okay…” You whispered. You struggled along beside him, fingers holding on tight to his thick brown winter jacket. “Just… don’t let go?” You stared up at him with big eyes, lip quivering a little bit from the pain of having to walk and put pressure on your bruised foot. 

 “Never, sweetheart.” He brought you closer to him then, practically wrapping both arms around your waist and helping you along the sidewalk as you slowly made your way back to his car. 

 “Well, you have a sprained ankle,” the nurse told you a few hours later. She was a rather short, petite-looking woman, with long, black hair swept up into a tight braid at the back of her head. “You’ll need to diligently rest for the next… four to six weeks. The doctor suggested using an ice pack for twenty minutes a few times a day, to help with the swelling.” 

 After you and Hyunjin had left Hongdae, it was only a matter of time before he found the nearest hospital and checked you into the Emergency Room there. After waiting for a little over an hour, you were finally called back into one of the exam rooms. It merely took the nurse and doctor one look at your ankle to confirm that it was sprained. After the doctor’s assessment, the nurse filed back into the room to hand you some paperwork to fill out. 

 During the entire visit, Hyunjin was sitting beside your hospital bed in a small chair, clutching onto your hand as you awaited the news of your diagnosis. He let out a sigh of relief at the news of it only being a sprain since he had been worrying that it was broken instead. 

 “And don’t walk on it,” the nurse continued, as she handed you a bottle of prescribed high-dosage pain medications. “I understand that it will be difficult to assimilate to a less active lifestyle for some time, but please remember that if you walk on it, doing so can put you at risk for horrible complications in the future and hinder you from achieving a full recovery.” 

 “I understand, thank you so much,” you said, giving her a soft smile as you fit the bottle of pain meds into your nearby purse. Your boyfriend was still clutching onto your hand, fingers squeezing a little too tightly as you positioned yourself back on the bed. 

 "I’ll give you two a few minutes, and then come back to assist you in checking out at the front desk.” The nurse returned your smile and bowed slightly at you and Hyunjin before making her way out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. 

 Immediately, your boyfriend turned to you with a deep frown. “And you’ve been walking on a sprained ankle for the past… three days.” He shook his head in disapproval, running a frantic hand through your hair. “Honestly, Y/N, I don’t understand why you do this to yourself- why you do it to me…” 

 Training your focus down at your lap, your fingers absently played with a loose strand from your thick winter sweater. “It’s not like I mean to not tell you stuff. It just… happens.” 

 “And you said you got this from lifting weights at the gym?” 

 His question forced your head to shoot up without you even thinking about it, eyes locking with his as he sat just beside you in his tiny vinyl chair. “Y-Yeah… I must’ve used the barbell wrong or something.” You laughed a little anxiously, heart beating painfully against your ribcage. 

 Because he couldn’t find out. It was downright embarrassing to think about him knowing you had been taking dance classes. But you also wanted to keep it a surprise for him, when you eventually performed your routine for him - not like that would happen anytime soon though, since you would be on bed rest for the foreseeable future. 

 Hyunjin brought his hand away from yours then, folding his arms across his chest stubbornly, crossing his legs together and giving you a knowing look. “I call bullshit. You don’t get a strained ankle from lifting a few pounds.” 

 “And how do you know that, mister?” 

 “Because I’ve seen the guys get injured from lifting before, but it never has to do with their ankles.” 

 “Well, maybe I’m the exception.” 

 “Cut the crap, sweetheart,” his voice came out a little cold just then, eyes raking over your form, studying your face to gauge your emotions at that moment. “Tell me what happened on Friday night.” 

 The embarrassment overtook you again, and you ripped your eyes from his. Focusing once more on your hands, you twisted the end of your sweater around your fingers. There wasn’t any use in keeping the ruse up any longer. It’s not like you’d be dancing the routine any time soon. So, you finally gave in and confessed to your boyfriend in a quiet mumble. 

 He leaned forward, tilting his body close to yours so that he could hear you better. “I didn’t hear that, love. Speak up.” 

 Clenching your fists in sudden annoyance, you stared at him, already feeling the crimson pooling in your cheeks. “I said- I was taking a dance class, okay?! And I fell and hurt my ankle- the instructor said it would be fine, but obviously, she isn’t a doctor…” 

 Silence filled the entire room after that, and it was charged with equal amounts of confusion and hurt. “Why in the world are you taking a dance class?” 

 “Because- I want to be good at dancing…” You exclaimed, staring into Hyunjin's eyes with what you hoped was a fierce expression. “I fucking suck at it- and- and you’re just so amazing, and I… I wanted to surprise you with a routine that I had learned all on my own. But then, I hurt myself, so that’s never gonna happen now.” 

 “Don’t say that.” 

 “Say what?” You canted your head to the side, watching as the emotions erupted across your boyfriend's face. First, it was anger, that you had kept such a secret from him for so long, then it was sadness, that you had felt the need to prove yourself in any way to him. 

 “Say that you suck at dancing,” he began, as he moved forward and clasped either of your hands in his. He brought them close to his mouth, lips hovering near your skin and pressing a few soft kisses to your knuckles. “You’re great at it, baby, don’t doubt yourself. And I was never amazing right off the bat. It took me a long time and lots of hard work to get where I am today.”

 “Yeah, but some people are just naturally born with it, and I don’t think I am. So… that’s why I was trying to improve.” You shrugged slowly, a zap of energy coursing through your veins each time Hyunjin pressed a fervent kiss against your hands. 

 “Well, I always think that improvement is good. But, there has to be a balance. You can’t simply ignore your health just because you want to get better at something.” Your boyfriend said in a calm voice, the warmth of it vibrating on your flesh and softening some hard part inside of you. “And besides, even if you weren’t born with the gift of dance - which I don’t believe to be true - there are still other gifts that you have that are unique and wonderful to you, baby. You shouldn’t compare yourself to me, or anyone else, for that matter.” 

 You gave him a frown, eyes locked on his mouth that kept nearing your knuckles and pressing kisses there. “I know, but… it’s just hard sometimes, you know? To be dating such a… talented man.” 

 A tiny sound of pain - of heartbreak - fled from Hyunjin’s mouth then, and suddenly, he was pulling you towards him. Fitting his arms around your waist, he squeezed on tight. In an instant, you melted into the touch, burrowing yourself into the crook of his neck and inhaling his calming, sweet scent. 

 “I’m so sorry that you’ve felt like this, sweetheart. I had no idea.” He mumbled close to your ear, imprinting a soft kiss against the exposed skin there. “How can I make it up to you, darling? How can I change things, so that you don’t think so poorly of yourself anymore?” 

 You positioned yourself away from him a tiny bit, offering him a light smile, “Babe, you don’t have to do anything for me. My low self-esteem when it comes to dancing isn’t your fault, so don’t worry about it.” 

 He leaned in, kissing your lips gently. “Yes, but I don’t like the thought of you feeling so down about your abilities…” his voice trailed off into silence, as he contemplated what he could do for you. “I know- I’m going to nurse you back to health, and when your ankle is completely healed, I’ll help you continue learning that dance routine from your class. How does that sound, love?” 

 You kissed him back, hot breaths mingling slightly in the passion of the moment. “I’d like that very much, but… don’t you have your schedules?” 

 Hyunjin waved a nonchalant hand in the air like he didn’t have so many people expecting high standards from him every single day. “I can still help you and do my job, baby- it isn’t rocket science.” 

 You contemplated his idea over in your head. You hadn’t liked him trying to teach you different dances in the past, but perhaps that was because of your issues and not because of his teaching. And now that your struggles with the thing were out in the open, you got the feeling that your boyfriend would be extra careful when teaching you - treat you extra gently when explaining certain moves. 

 “Okay, I like the idea,” you decided, nodding your head slowly in approval. A wide smile cracked across your lips as you stared at his face that was alight with happiness and contentment, “When do we start?” 

 “How does eight weeks from now sound? To give your ankle plenty of time to heal.” 

 Gently carding a few fingers through his light, peachy-pink silky locks, you bent into him, the smile still plastered onto your face as you gave his mouth another kiss which felt like the hundredth one in the last hour. “Sounds perfect.” You said, and soon he was smirking against your lips, before tightening his grip around your hips, yanking you ever closer to his form, and smashing his mouth against yours in a fiery, loving kiss. 

 Fin. 

© ʙʟᴏssᴏᴍᴡʀɪᴛᴇsᴛʜɪɴɢs ⤐ ᴀʟʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛs ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ

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For every person who likes or reblogs this post today, I will boop you.

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Only prolong your fate.

I was literally thinking about our lino right before I got this notification

the best man - part I

your best friend's getting married, and you're the maid of honor. minho is the best man. you're just trying your best to not let him get under your skin. pt II

warnings: lee minho x she/her!reader

genre: fluff, friends to lovers

word count: <1k

one could say that lee minho was a thorn in your side, but he wasn’t enough for that. he’s maybe a bump. a small bump in the road you’ve been driving on, a constant presence but not enough to make a difference to your wheels if you drive over it. enough for you to notice but not enough for you to swerve to avoid. 

he’s friends with your friends, so naturally, he’s around a lot. ever since your best friend got engaged to his best friend, jisung, he’s been around even more. in a few short months he’s gone from someone you nod at from the bar at group outings to the person you bump shoulders with when wedding planning in a tiny kitchen. from a person who’s number you didn’t have saved in groupchats to having a personalized contact complete with emojis. with him as jisung’s best man and you as the maid of honor, you’ve frequently been on opposing sides of friendly arguments about the cake, the flowers, the music that should be played. you’re convinced that he disagrees with you just to rile you up, he’s never passionate about his side and always sways to what you and your friend want in the end, he just does it for the entertainment.

you wish you found it annoying instead of endearing. that would make things simpler.

but it was in planning their surprise bachelor-slash-bachelorette party (you knew those two would never be able to separate enough for an entire night) that you got to know him well. in between choosing the types of shots you want to serve and the perfect cheesy crowns for them to wear, you learn that he has three cats that he loves more than himself, he’s really sweet underneath his teasing exterior, and that he’s a gentleman that always opens doors for you and gives you his jacket when he sends you home at night after being there for longer than you planned for. he likes to cook and he’s a dancer who once had big dreams but found his true passion in teaching it. he likes to work out but complains about it every time and he’s kind of the biggest dork you’ve ever met.

he grows on you like moss, the healthy green squishy kind, slowly taking over your roots until he’s become a part of your day to day life. you’ve come to expect daily weather updates, selfies with his cats, and mindless banter from the time you wake up until the time your head hits your pillow at night.

the actual night of the party goes off without a hitch, with drinks flowing and sappy speeches that have you wiping your tears discreetly to not ruin your makeup. you’ve both curated the perfect playlist, invited only the essential people you know the almost-married couple would want there, and made an entire table of snacks that got devoured before you can blink. you meet minho’s eyes from across the room several times throughout the night, a hidden meaning you can’t place hiding in his gaze before he looks away every time. it leaves you with a feeling of longing that you don’t let yourself think about for too long. the maid of honor and the best man? that’s too cliche, even for you.

you don’t see him again until the day of the wedding, where you both leave your respective dressing rooms at the same time to get ready to walk down the aisle and take your places at the altar. 

“you clean up well,” you tease, running a finger down the lapel of his tuxedo. it’s midnight blue, the color that jisung has chosen to compliment the flushed pink of the bridesmaid’s dresses. it compliments his honeyed skin almost too well, the contrast making him look like he’s about to walk a red carpet instead of the off-white runner lining the wedding hall floor. the flower buttoned to his chest matches the ones in your bouquet. 

“it’s been known to happen from time to time,” his tone is teasing but his smile is soft as he takes you in, winking at you when you raise an eyebrow at him. “you don’t look so bad, yourself.”

you look down at your flowers with a small smile, still not knowing how to take his compliments after all these months. 

“shall we?” he holds his arm out to you and you take it, calming your nerves before stepping through the doors to the sea of people in the room. he walks you down the aisle, steps in line with yours despite his legs being longer, and it feels right, being there with him.

he drops you off at your designated spot and you’re glad; you’re not sure if you would have remembered where to stand otherwise. you’re both beaming as jisung walks down the aisle, steps a little too eager and smile a little too wide. it warms your heart how happy he is to be married to your best friend. the same best friend who next glides down the aisle in a show of practiced elegance, steps timed perfectly to the wedding march playing.

you meet eyes with minho once they’re situated, blown away again by him in the new warm lighting that he’s shrouded under. his hair is glinting in the afternoon sun, eyes sparkling, and his smile despite being on display for everyone feels like it’s just for you. you’re so distracted by him in his damn tuxedo that you almost miss when your friend starts her vows. by the time she’s done, both the bride and groom are nearly sobbing, and jisung has to choke out his own vows before dragging her into a watery kiss before the officiant can tell him to. the whole room breaks into laughter, softening into awh’s when he pulls back with a heart shaped smile. 

the rest of the day is a blur. you take photos, make speeches at the reception, change into comfortable shoes, eat the cake that’s just been cut, and by the time you finally sit down to watch the first dance you feel like you’ve been standing for days. is this what it’s like to get married? doesn’t seem like it’s worth the trouble.

“dance with me?” minho says, interrupting your internal monologue and making the smile return to your face. his hand is held out towards you, palm up, and you take it in yours without a second thought. a chance to dance with the most handsome guy in the room? no way you’re going to pass that up, even if your feet feel like they’re on fire.

he guides you to the dance floor, stopping a few feet from the happy couple and bumping his free fist against jisung’s shoulder before wrapping an arm around you. you twine your hands together behind his neck and smile at him.

“all this planning and i never learned how to slow dance,” you say, voice low as you try not to let the embarrassment wash over you. 

“don’t worry, darling,” he tugs you closer, the name he calls you bringing a flush to your cheeks. “i can lead you.”

and lead he does. he twirls you around the dance floor, the bottom of your dress swinging around your feet as he gracefully makes it look like you know what you’re doing. you let him move you, your limbs pliant as he sways your hips in his grip. the two of you somehow look like the most practiced couple there because of him.

the song switches to something faster and more upbeat, but he doesn’t let you go. in fact, he pulls you in even closer, whispering in your ear about how he loves the song before guiding you to dance with him again.

the night ends with the two of you in the hotel elevator, on the way up to your respective rooms on the same floor. without warning, his hand goes to hit the stop button and the elevator jerks to a still, making your heart beat race.

“what the hell?” you almost yell, too shocked to be mad. he moves into your space, placing warm hands on your cheeks.

“am i reading this wrong?” he whispers, eyes flickering between your own and your lips. it falls into place like jenga bricks, messy and out of your control but not completely unexpected - this attraction between you? he feels it too.

“no,” you whisper back, melting as he finally seals his lips against yours.

turns out the maid of honor with the best man isn’t too cliche after all.

--

part II