ICED CARAMEL P.jongseong

ICED CARAMEL — p.jongseong

PAIRING: jay x fem!reader  GENRES: fluff, slight angst  WC: 3.7k+

WARNINGS: light swearing, a bit of a stalker and inconvenient guy with jay (y/n put that guy in his place). and that's it, let me know if i've forgotten anything.

SYNOPSIS: it wasn't a problem for jay to memorize your order and the days of the week you drank each thing in the café he managed. the problem was creating feelings for a customer he didn't even know if she felt the same way.

NOTES: i've had this plot in mind for a while, but i didn't know which member of enhypen it could fit in with. thinking that it's been a while since i last wrote for jay, i decided to do this story, his. so enjoy, i hope you like it!

masterlist

An iced caramel almost every day of the week, except Friday, when it was an iced vanilla latte accompanied by a slice of cranberry cake.

Jay didn't know why he had decorated your order so meticulously. Maybe he knew, he just didn't want to admit it to himself. Even more so when his cousin – and also a cafeteria employee – was a pain in the ass every time you came in to spend the afternoon working.

"Your girlfriend's here" Sunghoon whispered as he closed the cash register, turning his body towards Jay and smiling broadly when he noticed his cousin's cheeks starting to take on a reddish tinge.

"She's not my girlfriend, asshole" Jay growled lowly and almost picked up the dishcloth to hit Sunghoon if it hadn't been for your presence near the counter.

"Hi."

Jay froze for a few seconds. The angelic voice and contagious smile you gave every afternoon you came in made the boy sigh just by existing in front of him.

"Hi, y/n" Sunghoon greeted you first, while the other still stared at you without saying anything "Same as always?"

"Yes, please" you said.

"Jay will take you to your desk in a moment" Sunghoon smiled back and let you walk away to your usual desk to sit down, picking up your work materials and focusing on your notebook.

Those few minutes of interaction felt like hours, because Jay only realized it when he felt Sunghoon's push against his body, bringing him out of the little trance he had entered without even realizing it.

"Stop acting like an idiot or she'll notice" he whispered.

"Realize what?" Jay whispered back.

It was then that Sunghoon let out a soft sigh, not wanting to attract the attention of the few customers in the café.

"That you're into her, Jongseong" he then rolled his eyes, preparing the iced caramel you always ordered since it was Wednesday.

You're into her. Sunghoon's words have echoed fervently in Jay's head countless times since he caught himself thinking about you.

It's not like it was your fault or his fault in the first place. Ever since Jay and Sunghoon decided to take over their grandfather's coffee shop, they've gotten to know the place's loyal customers. You arrived a few months after they took over, asking for Mr. Park, the nice little man who always served you the best-iced caramel in the area.

You had also recently moved into the building at the end of the street. The huge commercial building that Jay had seen you enter a few times after you left the coffee shop. You also chatted with him a lot of the time, since Sunghoon took care of the cashier and often cleaned up his cousin's mess in the kitchen. This gave Jay time to check out the customers – there were rarely more than three people there at the end of the day – so it was just you and one other woman there until closing time.

It was a rather pleasant routine, and it made Jay start fantasizing about your beauty and how your friendliness made him feel. Even Sunghoon wanted to admit that one day he heard his cousin whining because you'd gone to get coffee and hadn't stayed to talk.

"Maybe she's busy with work" Sunghoon tried to calm him down since he'd gotten the amount of sugar in the brownie wrong for the third time. Jay didn't want to lose another pastry because of a silly distraction.

Or not so silly when he started to notice how the conversations were getting longer. Sometimes both he and you forgot that you were working. You wouldn't respond properly to emails, while Jay would let Sunghoon take over the running of the establishment just to sit in front of you and talk for a long time.

You shouldn't treat a customer so intimately, Jongseong. He could hear his grandfather's voice very well if you were there. Surely Grandpa Park would take him out of the coffee shop and leave only Sunghoon there, as a form of punishment for making his cousin deal with everything while he sighed unconsciously at the figure of the wonderful woman in front of him.

"Take it to her and, please, act naturally" Sunghoon finished his coffee and closed the cup, handing it to Jay "Unless you're brave enough to propose…"

"That's not going to happen" Jay was quick to say.

"Then watch the coffee, or I'll take it out of your paycheck."

He wanted so badly to curse his cousin right then but settled for a small grimace as he watched Sunghoon serve two other customers.

Jay slowly walked up to the second floor of the café. It was more secluded and quieter than the entrance hall, which many people liked because of the view. You, in particular, preferred to stay in the corner of the small months of that place because it was more private and quiet. That way your work could be completed and, as a bonus, you'd get to spend a few minutes chatting with Jay.

That wasn't in your plans. Smiling like an idiot at one of the owners of the coffee shop you went to every day. It was unethical with his work and, above all, you could have been taking advantage of him as a customer since Jay was only being nice to you.

He could be like that with all his clients, you thought. You really wanted to sabotage yourself so you tried not to think about the guy so much. Big mistake. Because every time he came to deliver your coffee, staying for a chat, you found yourself deeper and deeper in the pit of desire. The wish that you could ask him out or simply tell him how beautiful he was.

Would that be so bad?

"Your iced caramel right here" Jay's voice made your thoughts fly away. A quick smile adorned his lips as he approached and, as soon as he placed the glass on the table, he pulled out a chair in front of you to sit down.

You took the drink quickly to feel the cold, caramelized taste go down your throat. It was as addictive as looking at Jay and that smile he was wearing.

"Busy day?" the boy asked after a few seconds in silence, just watching you sip your drink.

"And tiring" you put the glass down again "Not to mention it's stressing me out a bit."

"Do you want to share?"

You wanted so much to tell Jay what was bothering you. To tell him how you felt and why you were so stressed about everything that was happening, but fate had something else in store for you.

"Y/n" that voice gave you the creeps, that's for sure. You closed your eyes for a few seconds as you heard footsteps approaching.

"Terry" you tried to smile at the man as soon as you opened your eyes and saw his figure standing right behind Jay.

Terry looked at the boy sitting in front of him with apparent disgust as he looked back at you.

"Am I in the way of something?" Terry asked.

"Yes" you whispered.

"No" Jay said loudly, getting up from his chair and straightening his cafeteria apron "I was already leaving anyway."

"No, Jay…" your weak voice didn't give him a chance to hear you as you packed up your chair to leave.

"Bye y/n, enjoy your coffee."

He left so quickly that you didn't even manage to call him by his surname, let alone shout any syllables to make him understand that he could stay. So, now looking at Terry right in front of you, the man had a serious countenance that made you nauseous.

"Are you seeing that barista?" he sounded disgusted as he spoke.

"What if I am?" you retorted.

"Then it would be very decadent of you to deny me dinner, instead of agreeing to go out with this…"

"Look, Terry" you cut him off gently, even though he didn't deserve anything coming from you "If you've come here to say something about it, please, it's the place I like to work. I don't like being interrupted."

The man just nodded in agreement, waving a briefcase in his hands that you hadn't realized he was carrying until just then.

"I've come to give you this, the boss asked for it" Terry left it on the table where you were sitting "And maybe you and I…"

"Terry, please" you sighed loudly this time "No."

He shook his head once more, turning his lips into a thin line as he took a few steps back. Slowly walking away before saying goodbye to you and walking down the stairs of the café.

Terry stared angrily across the room at Jay as if he had done the most horrible thing in the world, before opening the door and leaving almost immediately.

Sunghoon, on the other hand, realized this and looked at his cousin, who had a serious look on his face. His eyebrows were knitted together in a scowl that he had seen only a few times on Jay.

"May I ask what happened upstairs?" he asked.

Jay just sighed, trying to ignore the fact that his heart was still racing and he had no idea what had happened upstairs since he had left. But something inside him was bothering him, Jay wanted not to feel that kind of thing.

"Just… Please…" he finished arranging the sweets in the display case, closing the glass and raising his body after he'd finished his work "From today onwards, it's up to you to bring the coffee to y/n's table, okay?"

Torturous weeks in which Jay didn't show up to deliver your coffee in person. You knew very well that it was because of Terry's appearance that day and how extremely unnecessary he was with Jay.

You wanted to ask if the man had said anything after he left, but he never even came to your table. Always ordered Sunghoon to hand over his things with the excuse that the movement was driving him crazy. Or that there were some sweets left to prepare, so he couldn't leave at the moment. Your mind was screaming at you to ask what was going on or if it was all in your head because it was affecting you much more than you wanted it to.

Friday, the day you ordered a slice of cranberry cake and Jay always made a joke that it was the cake that came out the least. That he, in particular, had never eaten a necessary and worthy piece except for tastings when he made the pastry. With Sunghoon's help, because he did like it, Jay wasn't a big fan of that cake.

And you were beginning not to want to ask if the result was that he didn't bring it. Not that you hated Sunghoon… Not at all! He was nice, and funny. It ran in the family, that's for sure. But there was something about Jay that you couldn't explain. Something that had ripped every fiber out of your body simply because you couldn't stop thinking about him, and that was only making it harder as he became more and more distant.

"I'll kill you, Terry" you said to yourself when, once again, you saw Sunghoon approaching with your request.

He seemed to guess that some question was meant for him, so the boy always answered something different than the last time. It was as if Sunghoon wrote down every answer he gave you so as not to repeat any and try to convince you that Jay was too busy.

"The macarons are a lot of work today" he smiled, taking the plate of cake from the tray along with his iced coffee of the day "Jay is very busy and…"

"Sunghoon, can I ask you something?" if it wasn't now, it wouldn't be ever again. You had to have the courage to ask, after all, what harm would it do? He could run away from your question or simply lie and walk away as if nothing had happened.

"Of course" he continued, smiling at you after your order had been placed on the table.

"Is Jay avoiding me because that man was here the other day?"

Yes.

"Not that I know of" Sunghoon wanted to abandon the intrusive voice in his mind to answer the obvious, but decided to stick to what he had promised his cousin "He's not avoiding you, it's just that—"

"Terry is absolutely nothing to me, Sunghoon" maybe they both thought that idiot was his boyfriend because he thought he could be something other than a work colleague. And an idiot who didn't know how to take an attack.

"No?" Sunghoon seemed surprised by that confession, making you laugh.

"He's just a jerk who thinks he's something to me" you took a piece of your pie to eat "Terry asked me out a few times, but I politely declined. Now he won't stop bothering me."

"He's an idiot" Sunghoon shrugged, making you laugh again.

So things were falling into place now and he could understand why the man had left with a frown the day he entered the coffee shop. Maybe he'd met Jay upstairs, thought of something and you'd blown him off after Jay came down.

"You know what, y/n?" Sunghoon pulled out the chair in front of you, sitting down just as Jay used to do when he took your order to the table. You paid close attention to everything the boy in front of you said, afraid of missing some important part of what he had to say "Both you and Jay are wasting your time."

"Hello? What… What do you mean?" luckily you took your time drinking your iced coffee, otherwise, you would have choked on Sunghoon's sincerity.

It was the boy's turn to laugh and relax as he leaned back in his chair.

"You know very well what I'm talking about" he tried to suppress a smile as he stared at his slice of porpoise being cut by the fork and you playing with the topping "That was a misunderstanding on account of that idiot… What's his name again?"

"Terry" you said.

"Yes, Terry" Sunghoon continued "And I think both you and Jay need to talk about this."

"And how am I supposed to do that if he's avoiding me?" you sighed, eating the cake you loved so much while looking at the other Park in front of you.

"Well, I can fix that next week" Sunghoon smiled, making you smile too as you finished chewing your cake to answer him.

"How will you do that?"

"I need to think about it because Jay is very difficult when he wants to be" he prepared to get up, greeting you before leaving "But I promise to help you both. I can't stand seeing my cousin and that scowl all day."

Waving to you, Sunghoon left to continue serving the other customers. Leaving you pensive and, strangely, looking forward to next week.

Jay felt like an idiot for having that kind of resentment towards you. He hardly knew what had happened, in fact, but seeing you walk into the cafeteria only made his chest tighten.

Why feel that way about someone he barely knew? Come on, Jongseong. You were just talking! He wanted to faithfully believe that it was just that, that he couldn't be fooled by someone who was a loyal – and incredibly beautiful – customer of his workplace.

It didn't help when Sunghoon made a point of calling you to the counter, taking longer than usual to take the weekly order that everyone already knew by heart. This could only be a huge joke on his cousin's part.

"Can you prepare y/n's coffee?" Sunghoon asked in a low voice. Jay shook his head and looked ahead, noticing that you were sitting at a table further away, but now downstairs and not upstairs as you usually did.

"Why? I'm busy and—"

"I need to attend to the tables upstairs, everything's full" that part wasn't a lie. But Sunghoon didn't have to tell him that he had already waited at half the tables and only had to take a bottle of water to a girl who had ordered without any hurry.

Jay didn't have much to deny you, after all, you were a customer and he couldn't afford to miss an order like that. So, preparing your iced caramel as he always did, he felt his fingers almost crack the plastic when the door opened, revealing Terry.

That man at whom Jay felt a sudden rage just from the exchange of glances between them.

Terry didn't even bother to say hello, walking over to the table where you were and sitting down without saying a word. Now, more than quickly, Jay had to finish your order and run to the table to give it to you. At least to find out what was going on and what Terry was doing there.

The iced caramel was prepared with care, even though the boy's nerves were on edge just to run to the table. As soon as he arrived, Jay hissed softly to get his and Terry's attention.

"Your iced caramel" Jay placed the glass on the table "Sunghoon is busy with the tables upstairs…"

"Thanks, Jay" you took a long sip of the drink, the familiar taste making your whole body relax as you looked at the boy and then at Terry "Aren't you leaving?"

Jay almost froze, thinking the question had been directed at him, but no. His eyes didn't leave Terry as the question was asked.

"We need to talk, y/n."

Your gaze soon met Jay's, he looked as lost as you because this wasn't part of Sunghoon's plans. You, in fact, had no idea what the other Park had prepared. And speaking of him, the boy's orbs were almost popping out when he saw Jay standing near your desk and Terry sitting right in front of you.

Sunghoon didn't think much of it and quickly went over to all of you to see what was going on.

"Hey, is everything all right with your order around here?" he asked.

"Yes," you smiled, "Terry was just leaving."

There was a short silence before he got ready to leave. He didn't wave or look back as he left the café in heavy, hurried steps, leaving you with the two Park baristas standing next to your table.

"Y/n… Are you okay?" Sunghoon asked.

"I have to go" for the first time all week, you left without finishing your coffee. Without saying goodbye to either of you and, what's more, without smiling as you always did when you walked through the door and waved to the guys at the counter.

"Go after her" Sunghoon turned quickly to his cousin.

"What? I—"

"Jay, go after her. Now!" he ordered so desperately that it was as if Sunghoon depended on it. And, of course, he did. Because his cousin's performance had gone downhill after that weather. You also didn't seem as cheerful as you always did, even on the most troubled days at work.

So he felt he had to do something, and he knew he'd made the right request as soon as Jay quickly untied his apron and ran out of the café. Almost tripping over his own feet as he tried to catch up.

Sunghoon could handle things on his own for a few minutes, he thought. Because if his cousin had asked him to run, Jay wasn't going to disobey. He wouldn't miss his chance even if he didn't think he had one.

"Y/n!" he shouted so loudly when he saw you cross the street to enter the huge corporate building on the other side.

To Jay's surprise, you turned around so quickly that you were only able to process the boy's presence when he had already crossed and stopped right in front of you.

He was panting, his hair tousled by the wind and the light jog. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to normalize his breathing and looked at you so closely that you wondered if you had ever been in such proximity before.

"Jay? Why are you here? Why… did you come running?"

You also tried to fight the urge to scream at the sight of him standing right in front of you. The smell of cologne invading your nostrils and realizing that you were completely right when, one night, you fantasized that he was annoyingly smelly.

And even more beautiful once he was bent over far enough, leaning his forehead against yours.

"I don't know what I'm doing here, to tell you the truth" he whispered so close that you couldn't tell if that slight breath of air was Jay's breathing or the wind off the street "I just felt like I needed to come."

"I guess you did the right thing, then."

If Jay didn't know why you'd run over there – or he did – you were going to pretend you didn't either because your hands went to his face to pull him closer, before you felt Jay's lips against yours.

That had been the perfect kiss for as long as you could remember. The way he managed to hold you, tangle his tongue in yours, and press his lips to yours… It was as if Jay's mouth had been made to kiss you. As if that moment had to happen that way.

After breathing became necessary for both of you, Jay made a point of still staying close to you after the kiss stopped, just feeling your breathing normalize against his mouth before laughing softly.

"What?" you asked, laughing along with him as Jay's hand slid slowly down your cheek.

"I never thought I'd like iced caramel like that…"

For a few seconds, you didn't understand what he meant, but as soon as Jay kissed you again, holding your face firmly between his hands, you knew.

The coffee he had prepared minutes before was on your lips, now being transferred to Jay. He knew it was your favorite, he knew iced caramel was famous for a reason. He just didn't know he'd get hooked on tasting it any other way.

© ikeuverse, 2023. do not copy, translate or steal my stories.

𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐕𝐑𝐒𝐒 𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ in which, to show my appreciation, i’m holding an event where i write 500-2,000ish words based off song lyrics .ᐟ PSA idols & prompts may only be chosen once. also, please specify which of the endings you’d like if multiple are listed on your prompt .ᐟ thank you for stoping by ♡ please understand that i do have a life outside of tumblr ( as well as attend school full time ). i am doing this for fun. it might take a couple of days / weeks to get all the asks out c: 40 slots; first come first serve until they’re all out .ᐟ no deadline.

want to participate ? please choose a prompt from down below ⬎

1) ❝ just ‘cause we’re in love, it isn’t trust / do i wanna know the reason you’re not here, and see if i belong to you? ❞ - belong to you by josh makazo : angst without happy ending ( status ) open !

2) ❝ bathes you in spring sunshine, wipes tears dry, and says i love you twice / seasons change, say you’ll stay the same 봄 거을 겨울도. ❞ - love you twice by huh yunjin : fluff ( status ) open !

3) ❝ so outlandish, she said fuck me ‘till i scream / couldn’t give a flyin’ fuck if i’m famous / good god she’s on the floor rollin’ her eyes at me. once i get inside she’ll wanna die with me. ❞ - die for me by chase atlantic : smut ( status ) open !

4) ❝ started with a little bit, now i don’t know how to quit / i need you to feel alive, i need you to fill the void. ❞ - void by the neighbourhood : angst with happy ending ( status ) open !

5) ❝ somebody let me know, why there’s trouble in paradise? ‘cause i’ve been try-trying to get by, but i lose my mind in paradise. ❞ - trouble in paradise by new hope club : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

6) ❝ untouched, xo, young lust, let’s— when we drive in your car i’m your baby, losing all my innocence in your backseat. say you love, say you love me / i write my name with lipstick on your chest. i leave a mark so you know i’m the best. ❞ - diet pepsi by addison rae : smut ( status ) open !

7) ❝ so what, you stayin’ or coming? it shouldn’t be a discussion. all of these girls, we runnin around and i still be craving your love. ❞ - choose by why don’t we : angst with happy ending ( status ) open !

8) ❝ and if it’s better to bet on us, then i’ll double down / and are we falling in love? say yes or no. ❞ - yes or no by jung kook : fluff ( status ) open !

9) ❝ and i’m sick of waiting patiently for someone that won’t even arrive / in the back of my mind, i killed you. and i didn’t even regret it, i can’t believe that i said it. ❞ - romantic homicide by jxdn : angst without happy ending ( status ) open !

10) ❝ you’re kissing her like you almost care, but i don’t care / i know she loves you, but she’s never, ever, ever gonna fuck you like me. and i don’t love you, but i really, really, really wanna fuck you / fighting was our favorite kind of foreplay. ❞ - like me by sam short : angst with smut ( status ) open !

11) ❝ you’re killing me softly, i don’t want to lose you / you got me so in love, i’ve never been this possessive. i don’t know how to quit. ❞ - te quiero by kiss of life : fluff ( status ) open !

12) ❝ i’ve been drinking with cupid, thinking how you’ve been / i’ve been drinking with cupid, thinking of you, babe. ❞ - drinking with cupid by voilà : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

13) ❝ love when it comes without a warning / you better lock your phone, and look at me when you’re alone / i’m the only one who does it how you like. ❞ - billie bossa nova by billie eilish : smut or suggestive ( status ) open !

14) ❝ i read an article on the internet, told me that that's how you know you're fallin' in love / hate to be lame but i might love you. ❞ - hate to be lame by lizzie mcalpine, finneas : angsty fluff ( status ) open !

15) ❝ people asking what we do and i don’t say a thing / you could be my dirty little secret. and you could be my everything i’m needing. ❞ - tell em by sabrina carpenter : fluff ( status ) open !

16) ❝ oh in your eyes, there’s a spark that could light up a fire / im dying to know, is it me, is it me you want? / ill blow your mind, i’ll make you feel, make you feel my love. ❞ - blow your mind by monsta x : fluff with or without smut ( status ) open !

17) ❝ i wanna be in so deep baby, floating like we’re deep inside an ocean / i’m talking with my hands, oh baby, here is my confession / baby we don’t need no reason, baby we don’t need to wait. ❞ - birthday by ten : smut ( status ) open !

18) ❝ don’t you wish it worked and we were on again? / feelings, do they ever die? / tell me what if we could start clean with no hard feelings between us, could we ever be? ❞ - sting by fletcher : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

19) ❝ with a bottle of wine for two, though i’m already drunk off you / now i’m falling heavily, recklessly. trying not to lose my sensibility, but gravity, it pulls me into you. ❞ - couple of kids by maggie lindemann : fluff ( status ) open !

20) ❝ every time we touch it’s like the last time, holding onto something when it’s not right / maybe that thing you said under your breath, you mean it. / i guess i don’t know, where we took a wrong turn, everything got harder. ❞ - mean it by gracie abrams : angst without happy ending ( status ) open !

21) ❝ how could we know, that this was a happy disaster? / usually i’m fucked up, anxious, too much, but i love you like you need me to. ❞ - imperfect for you by ariana grande : angst with happy ending ( status ) open !

22) ❝ 모든 게 영원할 순 없으니? let's do it 'til we pass out. you ready or not? 언젠간, 모두 끝이 날 테니. i don't wanna waste our time, no / soaked in your love, 아름다운 이 순간을. ❞ - rush in 2 u by one pact : fluff ( status ) open !

23) ❝ feel what you need, so just leave it to me / you just have to climb, baby i can make you high / it doesn’t matter if you have some flaws / can’t nobody fuck you like me, baby hold this vibe, yeah. ❞ - skyline by i.m : smut ( status ) open !

24) ❝ but now looking back i looked at you like nobody else / and i hate that it hurts, that his car isn’t yours. ❞ - his car isn't yours by wendy : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

25) ❝ te encontré, me enamoré, en ti volé y caí / amores de noche, ajenos de día / tanto adiós nos hizo daño, y terminamos siendo extraños. ❞ - dos extraños by danna paola : angst without happy ending ( status ) open !

26) ❝ i want you to drunk text me, saying you still need me. tell me i’m not like her, i made you happier / ‘cause i’m no closer to closure. wish you weren’t sober. we’re over, but i’m not over it. ❞ - drunk text me by lexi jayde : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

27) ❝ follow me home or stay, i don’t care either way / what if i stop breathing, could i get off easy? what if we got even, for all the wrong reasons? what could it change? ❞ - even by bad omens : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

28) ❝ can you feel my heartbeat, when you hit it full speed? anywhere you take me, i’ll go / say you’re all mine. touch me under street lights. ❞ - passenger princess by nessa barrett : smut ( status ) open !

29) ❝ i know that when it’s all done, i’ll hate you bad in the long run. but somehow it never ends, my heels on the edge of your bed again / ‘cause i know deep down that it’s never gon’ never be us, never gon’ never be more than just something that’s fucking me up. ❞ - run for the hills by tate mcrae : angst with smut ( status ) open !

30) ❝ he’s like a poem i wish i wrote / oh god i’m gonna marry him if he keeps this shit up / i think i’m in love. ❞ - so american by olivia rodrigo : fluff ( status ) open !

31) ❝ i don’t know your plans, i just wanna, uh, get some / fuck your ex man, i’m the man now. think i feel bad? he was fanned out. ❞ - girls by the kid laroi : smut ( status ) open !

32) ❝ what’s this new desire called? i didn’t know that much at all ‘bout love before, but now i think i’m learning. ❞ - bewitched by laufey : fluff ( status ) open !

33) ❝ tonight, i don’t care what’s wrong or right. don’t start blowing up my line. i’d care at 11:59, but nothing counts after midnight. ❞ - perfect night by le sserafim : angst with happy ending ( status ) open !

34) ❝ don’t ask why, but every little thing you do just drives me wild / there’s no touch or feeling, pleasure or pain, anything like the way you running through my veins. no breath or beauty, no sound or sight, that ever made me feel the way you do tonight. ❞ - eyes off you by prettymuch : fluff with or without suggestive content ( status ) open !

35) ❝ 내 마음은 자꾸 너에게 달려가. 더 깊어지는 lovesick. 내 맘은 계속 clipping. 멈추지 못해 난 너에게로 가 / you’re the one that i want, the one that i need, don’t wanna be free. ❞ - inside out by nu’est : fluff ( status ) open !

36) ❝ what if you’re the only one that i ever needed? what if i had stopped you when you said you were leaving, no, won’t let you go / i can’t help but wonder where your head and heart is, maybe that’s the reason why i’m scared of calling. ❞ - what if by eric nam : angsty fluff ( status ) open !

37) ❝ bebé, volvamos pa’ aquellos tiempos. noche de travesuras allá en mi carro, mojando asientos / dime, ¿qué vas hacer cuando otro man toque tu piel? ¿pensará en mí estando con él? ❞ - mojando asientos by maluma, feid : angst with smut and happy ending ( status ) open !

38) ❝ all of those lies i told to you, all of those highs i stole from you. it was all out of my control, but i really want you to know the truth / maybe i had to lose you, to know how good i had it, to know how good that we were, to know i’m deep in regret. now your surface is cold, now you’re burnt to the core. ❞ - on my youth by wayv : angst with happy ending ( status ) open !

39) ❝ can you come back? wait, i don’t mean that / so far away but i still feel you everywhere / you still show up in a dream. ❞ - in a dream by troye sivan : angst with or without happy ending ( status ) open !

40) ❝ ‘cause this love is only getting stronger / but i bet you if they only knew, they would just be jealous of us / they don’t know i’ve waited all my life just to find a love that feels this right. ❞ - they don’t know about us by one direction : fluff ( status ) open !

now that you have your prompt, choose an idol from the list ⬎

enhypen : lee heeseung, park sunghoon, kim sunoo, park jay, shim jake, yang jungwon, or ( no smut ) nishimura niki

stray kids : han jisung, seo changbin, yang jeongin, lee minho, kim seungmin, lee felix, hwang hyunjin or bangchan

ateez : park seonghwa, kim hongjoong, jeong yunho, jung wooyoung, choi san, choi jongho, song mingi, or kang yeosang

evnne : terazono keita, yoo seungeon, ji yunseo, lee jeonghyeon, park hanbin, ( no smut ) park jihoo or ( no smut ) moon junghyun

xdinary heroes : kim jungsu, han hyeongjun, lee jooyeon, goo gunil, oh seungmin or kwak jiseok

seventeen : hong joshua, lee jihoon, kwon soonyoung, lee seokmin, kim mingyu, boo seungkwan, lee chan, choi seungcheol, yoon jeonghan, chwe vernon, xu minghao, jeon wonwoo or wen junhui

le sserafim : kim chaewon, miyawaki sakura, huh yunjin, ( no smut ) nakamura kazuha or ( no smut ) hong eunchae

the boyz : lee sangyeon, kim younghoon, lee juyeon, choi chanhee, lee jaehyun, kim sunwoo, sohn eric, ji changmin, bae jacob, moon kevin or juhaknyeon

riize : osaki shotaro, song eunseok, park wonbin, lee sohee, jung sungchan, lee anton or hong seunghan

&team : nakakita yuma, asakura jo, koga yudai, wang yixiang, byun euijoo, murata fuma, ( no smut ) shigeta harua, ( no smut ) takayma taki or ( no smut ) hirota maki

cravity : seo woobin, koo jungmo, ham wonjin, kim taeyoung, kang minhee, park serim, allen ma, ahn seongmin, or song hyeongjun

one pact : jay chang, lee yedam, yoon jungwoo, oh seongmin or yeom taegyun

nct : lee taeyong, wong kunhang, suh johnny, kim doyoung, jeong jaehyun, xiao dejun, huang renjun, nakamoto yuta, qian kun, na jaemin, liu yangyang, chittaphon ten, lee jeno, lee haechan, lee mark, park jisung, dong sicheng, kim jungwoo or zhong chenle

trendz : lee havit, kim donghyun, lee choonghyun, cho hankook, yi taehyun, kim eunil, or jeong yechan

zerobaseone : kim jiwoong, zhang hao, shen quanrui, kim gyuvin, sung hanbin, seok matthew, kim taerae, ( no smut ) park gunwook or ( no smut ) han yujin

boynextdoor : lee sanghyuck, myung jaehyun, han dongmin, kim donghyun, park sungho or ( no smut ) kim woonhak

aespa : yu jimin, uchinaga aeri, kim minjeong or ning yizhuo

ampers&one : na kamden, ho brian, choi jiho, ( no smut ) yoon siyun, ( no smut ) choi kyrell or ( no smut ) mackiah mercer

now that you have all your information, please send an ask here ˊˎ- and wait for it to come out !! i’ll change the status of said prompt so you know it’s been reserved for you c:

example ask / guide for if confused : ❝ hii, can i have ( insert number of prompt ) with ( insert idol name ) please? ( [ if required ] insert which prompt genre / ending you’d like ). thank you <3 ❞

.ᐟ.ᐟ sadly, if your ask does not have all the necessary information, i will most likely ignore it :( i tried to make it simple enough, but lmk if you have any questions / concerns ( *¯ ³¯*)♡

reblogs, likes and comments are greatly appreciated! thank u! © loserlvrss 2024 copying, translating & republishing are prohibited ! ( p.s thank you for all the support i love you all so much )

Beautiful Creatures | Preview

❝We’re all beautiful creatures of the night, vampires and witches.❞

PAIRING! vampire!kim seonwoo x witch!female reader

GENRES! fluff, angst, vampire au, witch au, kinda strangers to lovers, second chance romance?, a sprinkle of forbidden love, reincarnation au

WORD COUNT! almost 3k

WARNINGS! mc is an orphan, physical violence, prejudiced behaviors from the town’s people, death, suicide? (this will make sense later), i think that’s it? lmk if i missed anything

SYNOPSIS! in the gloomy town of Eldritch Cove, a coven of witches resides deep in the marsh, never to make contact with outsiders, it's safer this way. But when a mysterious young man passes through town everything changes

AUTHOR’S NOTE! hi! please note that every setting and character in the story is of my own creation therefore i have copyright so please do not steal my ideas and claim them as your own! hope you enjoy the preview for my upcoming fic!

The fog clung low to the ground, swirling around your ankles as you moved carefully through the marsh, your basket half-filled with herbs. The air was heavy with the scent of wet earth and the distant hum of cicadas. The marsh was a place of silence and secrets, where even the wind dared not whisper too loudly.

Beside you, Winnifred, with her wild, curly red hair, bounded through the mist like a fox on the hunt, her bright green eyes gleaming with curiosity. She was the youngest in the coven, her energy and playfulness a stark contrast to your more cautious demeanor.

“Winnie, slow down. You’ll scare off the moonwort,” you called softly, your gaze scanning the ground for the pale silver leaves of the plant you and her sought.

Winnifred stopped mid-step, a mischievous smile spreading across her freckled face. “It’s not going anywhere, Y/N! The moonwort isn’t afraid of me. Look, I’ve already found some!” She darted forward, pulling up a clump of the shimmering herb with a triumphant grin, holding it up for you to see.

You sighed, though a smile tugged at the corners of your lips. “You’re lucky Mother isn’t here to see you uprooting the plants like that.”

Winnifred rolled her eyes. “Mother always says to respect the marsh, but I swear, sometimes I think it respects me more than I respect it.” She winked, dropping the moonwort into your basket.

As you reached down to gather your own handful, a sudden chill ran up your spine, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. The marsh grew eerily still, and the familiar sounds of insects and croaking frogs faded into silence. Something was different.

“Winnie,” you said, your voice barely a whisper. “Do you feel that?”

Winnifred straightened, her playful expression faltering as she glanced around. “Feel what?”

You couldn’t quite explain it, but the marsh—the very air around you—felt charged, like a storm about to break. There was a presence, something close, something ancient. Your heart quickened, though you didn’t know why.

Without a word, you rose to your feet, your eyes scanning the fog. Then, through the thick mist, you saw it: a figure standing at the edge of the marsh, half-hidden by the shadows of the trees. He stood unnaturally still, too still, like a predator waiting for its prey.

Winnifred saw him too. “Who’s that?” she whispered, her tone no longer playful.

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from the man—tall, but not too tall, and draped in black clothing that seemed to blend into the surrounding mist. His hair was dark, his face pale against the shadowy backdrop. But it was his eyes—sharp, deep, and old, far older than the body they belonged to—that caught your breath. They were fixed on you, as though he had been waiting for this very moment.

Your heart pounded in your chest, a strange mix of fear and…something else. A flicker of recognition, though you had never seen him before in your life.

“Come on, let’s go,” Winnifred urged, tugging at your sleeve. “He’s giving me the creeps.”

You didn’t move, your gaze locked with his. Something in those eyes tugged at the edges of your memory, a sensation you couldn’t explain. The air between you felt electric, like the space itself was charged with something ancient, something that had always been there but just now revealed itself.

The man took a step forward, and you instinctively stepped back, your breath catching.

“Who are you?” you asked, your voice steadier than you felt.

For a moment, the man said nothing, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile, as though your question amused him. “I could ask you the same,” he replied, his voice mellifluous, smooth, and strangely familiar, like the echo of a dream you couldn’t quite place.

You frowned, confused. There was something unsettling in his presence, but there was also an undeniable pull, like a thread that connected you to him, a thread you didn’t know existed until now.

“I’m Y/N,” you said, unsure why you were compelled to answer at all.

“Y/N…” The way he said your name sent a shiver down your spine, as though he had spoken it a thousand times before. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Again?” your confusion deepened. You had never seen him before in your life, and yet…there was that flicker of recognition, as though a part of you knew him, a part buried deep within you, hidden beneath layers of forgotten memories.

“Who are you?” you asked again, more insistent this time.

The man’s smile faded, replaced by something softer, almost melancholic. He stepped closer, his dark eyes never leaving yours. “I’ve been searching for you.”

Winnifred stepped in front of you, her red hair flaming in the dim light. “You need to stay back,” she warned, though her voice trembled. “We’re not afraid of you.”

The man’s gaze flicked briefly to Winnifred, then back to you, almost as if he hadn’t heard the younger witch’s warning. “I mean you no harm,” he said softly. “But we need to talk… do you—”

Your mind raced. Who was this stranger, and why did he speak to you as if you had known each other for lifetimes? The strange connection, the way your heart seemed to leap into your throat at the sight of him—none of it made sense.

But before you could ask another question, Winnifred grabbed your arm, pulling you back. “Y/N, let’s go. Now.”

The fog seemed to thicken as the tension in the air grew. You hesitated for a moment longer, staring into the man’s eyes. There was a sadness there, a longing that felt as old as the marsh itself, but something in you told you to trust your sister’s instincts. This was too much, too strange.

Without another word, you allowed Winnifred to pull you away, your heart pounding as you retreated into the mist. But even as you fled, you could still feel the man’s gaze on you, lingering like a shadow.

And somewhere deep within you, a memory stirred—faint, fleeting, but unmistakable.

As you and Winifred disappeared into the safety of the trees, the man remained still, his eyes fixed on the place where you had stood. He could feel it—the stirring of your power, the faintest glimmer of recognition in your eyes.

You didn’t remember him. Not yet.

But you would.

Soon.

The mist began to lift slightly as you and Winnifred made your way back through the winding paths of the marsh. The air was still heavy with moisture, and the twilight sky was slowly darkening, casting long shadows between the trees. Winnifred walked ahead, her pace faster than usual, her usually playful nature subdued as she kept glancing back at you.

You, for your part, were quiet, still shaken by the encounter but not afraid—more curious, unsettled by the strange man and the unexplainable pull you’d felt in his presence. You couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something familiar about him, though you didn't know what.

“Who do you think he was?” Winnifred asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was softer now, laced with worry. “He didn’t seem like just a normal person. Not from around here, that’s for sure.”

You shook your head, your brows furrowed. “I don’t know, Winnie. He wasn’t like anyone I’ve met before. There was something different about him.”

Winnifred chewed her lip thoughtfully, slowing her pace so she could walk beside you. “Different how?”

You hesitated, struggling to put your feelings into words. “He felt… familiar, but not in a way I can explain. Like I should know him, but I don’t.”

“Maybe he’s from another coven and he’s just passing through town?” Winnifred suggested, her eyes bright with curiosity.

“Maybe,” you murmured, but you didn’t believe that. There was something far older, far deeper in the way he had looked at you. Not just like someone passing through, but someone who had been searching for you.

Winnifred frowned, casting a sidelong glance at you. “He didn’t scare you, did he?”

You shook your head. “No, not really. But we don’t know him, and that makes him dangerous enough.” you didn’t want to admit how calm you had felt around the stranger, even as your instincts had warned you to stay away.

By the time you reached the large wooden cabin nestled deep within the marsh, the sun had dipped below the horizon. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the windows, and the scent of sage and rosemary drifted from the porch, where dried herbs hung in bundles.

Winnifred opened the door first, her tension easing slightly as the familiar warmth of the home welcomed you both in. The sound of quiet conversation drifted from the kitchen, where your other sisters were likely preparing dinner, but it was Mother who stood in the hallway, her tall frame draped in a dark cloak as though she had been waiting for you.

Mother’s sharp eyes instantly fell on you two girls, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “You’re late,” she said, her voice calm but always carrying an undercurrent of authority. “I trust you found what you were looking for.”

“We did,” you answered, holding up your basket of herbs.

But Winnifred, ever eager to share news, didn’t wait another moment. “Mother, we saw someone in the marsh! A man! He was just standing there, staring at Y/N! He was strange! He had these dark clothes, and these weird eyes, and—”

The moment Winnifred said it, Mother’s smile faltered, her expression tightening as she fixed her gaze on you. “A man?” she repeated, her voice strained. “Where?”

“In the deeper part of the marsh,” you said cautiously. “Near the black pool. He didn’t try to harm us, but—”

Mother stepped forward, cutting you off with a sharp look. “And what did he look like, exactly?” Her voice, though controlled, had an edge to it that sent a cold shiver down your spine.

Winnifred, oblivious to the shift in mood, eagerly described him. “Average height, dark hair, pale skin. He was wearing black, and his eyes were kind of… intense. He looked like he knew Y/N, or something.”

At this, Mother’s expression grew even more severe. She stared hard at you, as though searching your face for some hidden truth. “And you didn’t recognize him?”

You shook your head, your stomach tightening. “No. But there was something strange about him. It didn’t feel like the first time I’d seen him, but I don’t know why.”

Mother’s lips thinned, and for a moment, you thought you saw fear flicker in her eyes—a rare and unsettling sight. But just as quickly as it appeared, Mother’s face smoothed into an unreadable mask. She turned away, busying herself with adjusting the herbs hanging by the doorway.

“I don’t like strangers wandering around the marsh,” Mother said, her voice clipped. “Especially not near the black pool. It’s a dangerous place.”

You narrowed your eyes slightly. “Mother, is something wrong? You’ve always said the marsh belongs to us. Why would anyone else be here?”

Mother turned to face you again, her expression unreadable. “The marsh is our home, yes, but it draws many things—creatures, spirits, people—things we can’t always control. You should be more careful. This man could be dangerous. We don’t know who he is, or what he wants.”

“But he didn’t feel dangerous,” you pressed, your instincts telling you there was more to this than Mother was letting on. “You seem upset.”

“I don’t like strangers here,” Mother repeated firmly, her voice closing off the conversation. She stepped forward, placing her hands on your shoulders, her touch firm but comforting. “Promise me you’ll stay away from him if you see him again. I don’t care who he is, or what he says. He doesn’t belong here.”

You searched your mother’s face, but all you saw was a hard resolve and a trace of something else—fear, or maybe something deeper. You nodded slowly, though you didn’t believe for a second that Mother was telling you the full truth. “I’ll be careful.”

“Good,” Mother said, releasing you and turning away. “Now, both of you get cleaned up for dinner.”

As Mother disappeared down the hallway, Winnifred leaned closer to you, her voice low. “That was weird, right? She seemed really upset.”

“Yeah,” you whispered back, your mind racing. “She’s hiding something. I don’t know what, but she knows more about that man than she’s letting on.”

Winnifred’s wide eyes were full of curiosity. “Do you think she’s met him before?”

You shook your head, but doubt gnawed at you. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”

As you made your way to the kitchen to join your sisters, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the encounter in the marsh was only the beginning of something much bigger. And whoever that man was, he had stirred something within you—something that even Mother couldn’t protect you from.

You had to know the truth.

© 2024 hoonven, all rights reserved. i do not give permission to modify, repost, translate, or plagiarize my works on any platform

NETWORK! @kstrucknet

THE TAGLIST FOR THIS FIC IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

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Jakewon | Matching Icons *yoiiii*

Beautiful Creatures | Preview

❝We’re all beautiful creatures of the night, vampires and witches.❞

PAIRING! vampire!kim seonwoo x witch!female reader

GENRES! fluff, angst, vampire au, witch au, kinda strangers to lovers, second chance romance?, a sprinkle of forbidden love, reincarnation au

WORD COUNT! almost 3k

WARNINGS! mc is an orphan, physical violence, prejudiced behaviors from the town’s people, death, suicide? (this will make sense later), i think that’s it? lmk if i missed anything

SYNOPSIS! in the gloomy town of Eldritch Cove, a coven of witches resides deep in the marsh, never to make contact with outsiders, it's safer this way. But when a mysterious young man passes through town everything changes

AUTHOR’S NOTE! hi! please note that every setting and character in the story is of my own creation therefore i have copyright so please do not steal my ideas and claim them as your own! hope you enjoy the preview for my upcoming fic!

The fog clung low to the ground, swirling around your ankles as you moved carefully through the marsh, your basket half-filled with herbs. The air was heavy with the scent of wet earth and the distant hum of cicadas. The marsh was a place of silence and secrets, where even the wind dared not whisper too loudly.

Beside you, Winnifred, with her wild, curly red hair, bounded through the mist like a fox on the hunt, her bright green eyes gleaming with curiosity. She was the youngest in the coven, her energy and playfulness a stark contrast to your more cautious demeanor.

“Winnie, slow down. You’ll scare off the moonwort,” you called softly, your gaze scanning the ground for the pale silver leaves of the plant you and her sought.

Winnifred stopped mid-step, a mischievous smile spreading across her freckled face. “It’s not going anywhere, Y/N! The moonwort isn’t afraid of me. Look, I’ve already found some!” She darted forward, pulling up a clump of the shimmering herb with a triumphant grin, holding it up for you to see.

You sighed, though a smile tugged at the corners of your lips. “You’re lucky Mother isn’t here to see you uprooting the plants like that.”

Winnifred rolled her eyes. “Mother always says to respect the marsh, but I swear, sometimes I think it respects me more than I respect it.” She winked, dropping the moonwort into your basket.

As you reached down to gather your own handful, a sudden chill ran up your spine, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. The marsh grew eerily still, and the familiar sounds of insects and croaking frogs faded into silence. Something was different.

“Winnie,” you said, your voice barely a whisper. “Do you feel that?”

Winnifred straightened, her playful expression faltering as she glanced around. “Feel what?”

You couldn’t quite explain it, but the marsh—the very air around you—felt charged, like a storm about to break. There was a presence, something close, something ancient. Your heart quickened, though you didn’t know why.

Without a word, you rose to your feet, your eyes scanning the fog. Then, through the thick mist, you saw it: a figure standing at the edge of the marsh, half-hidden by the shadows of the trees. He stood unnaturally still, too still, like a predator waiting for its prey.

Winnifred saw him too. “Who’s that?” she whispered, her tone no longer playful.

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from the man—tall, but not too tall, and draped in black clothing that seemed to blend into the surrounding mist. His hair was dark, his face pale against the shadowy backdrop. But it was his eyes—sharp, deep, and old, far older than the body they belonged to—that caught your breath. They were fixed on you, as though he had been waiting for this very moment.

Your heart pounded in your chest, a strange mix of fear and…something else. A flicker of recognition, though you had never seen him before in your life.

“Come on, let’s go,” Winnifred urged, tugging at your sleeve. “He’s giving me the creeps.”

You didn’t move, your gaze locked with his. Something in those eyes tugged at the edges of your memory, a sensation you couldn’t explain. The air between you felt electric, like the space itself was charged with something ancient, something that had always been there but just now revealed itself.

The man took a step forward, and you instinctively stepped back, your breath catching.

“Who are you?” you asked, your voice steadier than you felt.

For a moment, the man said nothing, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile, as though your question amused him. “I could ask you the same,” he replied, his voice mellifluous, smooth, and strangely familiar, like the echo of a dream you couldn’t quite place.

You frowned, confused. There was something unsettling in his presence, but there was also an undeniable pull, like a thread that connected you to him, a thread you didn’t know existed until now.

“I’m Y/N,” you said, unsure why you were compelled to answer at all.

“Y/N…” The way he said your name sent a shiver down your spine, as though he had spoken it a thousand times before. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Again?” your confusion deepened. You had never seen him before in your life, and yet…there was that flicker of recognition, as though a part of you knew him, a part buried deep within you, hidden beneath layers of forgotten memories.

“Who are you?” you asked again, more insistent this time.

The man’s smile faded, replaced by something softer, almost melancholic. He stepped closer, his dark eyes never leaving yours. “I’ve been searching for you.”

Winnifred stepped in front of you, her red hair flaming in the dim light. “You need to stay back,” she warned, though her voice trembled. “We’re not afraid of you.”

The man’s gaze flicked briefly to Winnifred, then back to you, almost as if he hadn’t heard the younger witch’s warning. “I mean you no harm,” he said softly. “But we need to talk… do you—”

Your mind raced. Who was this stranger, and why did he speak to you as if you had known each other for lifetimes? The strange connection, the way your heart seemed to leap into your throat at the sight of him—none of it made sense.

But before you could ask another question, Winnifred grabbed your arm, pulling you back. “Y/N, let’s go. Now.”

The fog seemed to thicken as the tension in the air grew. You hesitated for a moment longer, staring into the man’s eyes. There was a sadness there, a longing that felt as old as the marsh itself, but something in you told you to trust your sister’s instincts. This was too much, too strange.

Without another word, you allowed Winnifred to pull you away, your heart pounding as you retreated into the mist. But even as you fled, you could still feel the man’s gaze on you, lingering like a shadow.

And somewhere deep within you, a memory stirred—faint, fleeting, but unmistakable.

As you and Winifred disappeared into the safety of the trees, the man remained still, his eyes fixed on the place where you had stood. He could feel it—the stirring of your power, the faintest glimmer of recognition in your eyes.

You didn’t remember him. Not yet.

But you would.

Soon.

The mist began to lift slightly as you and Winnifred made your way back through the winding paths of the marsh. The air was still heavy with moisture, and the twilight sky was slowly darkening, casting long shadows between the trees. Winnifred walked ahead, her pace faster than usual, her usually playful nature subdued as she kept glancing back at you.

You, for your part, were quiet, still shaken by the encounter but not afraid—more curious, unsettled by the strange man and the unexplainable pull you’d felt in his presence. You couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something familiar about him, though you didn't know what.

“Who do you think he was?” Winnifred asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was softer now, laced with worry. “He didn’t seem like just a normal person. Not from around here, that’s for sure.”

You shook your head, your brows furrowed. “I don’t know, Winnie. He wasn’t like anyone I’ve met before. There was something different about him.”

Winnifred chewed her lip thoughtfully, slowing her pace so she could walk beside you. “Different how?”

You hesitated, struggling to put your feelings into words. “He felt… familiar, but not in a way I can explain. Like I should know him, but I don’t.”

“Maybe he’s from another coven and he’s just passing through town?” Winnifred suggested, her eyes bright with curiosity.

“Maybe,” you murmured, but you didn’t believe that. There was something far older, far deeper in the way he had looked at you. Not just like someone passing through, but someone who had been searching for you.

Winnifred frowned, casting a sidelong glance at you. “He didn’t scare you, did he?”

You shook your head. “No, not really. But we don’t know him, and that makes him dangerous enough.” you didn’t want to admit how calm you had felt around the stranger, even as your instincts had warned you to stay away.

By the time you reached the large wooden cabin nestled deep within the marsh, the sun had dipped below the horizon. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the windows, and the scent of sage and rosemary drifted from the porch, where dried herbs hung in bundles.

Winnifred opened the door first, her tension easing slightly as the familiar warmth of the home welcomed you both in. The sound of quiet conversation drifted from the kitchen, where your other sisters were likely preparing dinner, but it was Mother who stood in the hallway, her tall frame draped in a dark cloak as though she had been waiting for you.

Mother’s sharp eyes instantly fell on you two girls, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “You’re late,” she said, her voice calm but always carrying an undercurrent of authority. “I trust you found what you were looking for.”

“We did,” you answered, holding up your basket of herbs.

But Winnifred, ever eager to share news, didn’t wait another moment. “Mother, we saw someone in the marsh! A man! He was just standing there, staring at Y/N! He was strange! He had these dark clothes, and these weird eyes, and—”

The moment Winnifred said it, Mother’s smile faltered, her expression tightening as she fixed her gaze on you. “A man?” she repeated, her voice strained. “Where?”

“In the deeper part of the marsh,” you said cautiously. “Near the black pool. He didn’t try to harm us, but—”

Mother stepped forward, cutting you off with a sharp look. “And what did he look like, exactly?” Her voice, though controlled, had an edge to it that sent a cold shiver down your spine.

Winnifred, oblivious to the shift in mood, eagerly described him. “Average height, dark hair, pale skin. He was wearing black, and his eyes were kind of… intense. He looked like he knew Y/N, or something.”

At this, Mother’s expression grew even more severe. She stared hard at you, as though searching your face for some hidden truth. “And you didn’t recognize him?”

You shook your head, your stomach tightening. “No. But there was something strange about him. It didn’t feel like the first time I’d seen him, but I don’t know why.”

Mother’s lips thinned, and for a moment, you thought you saw fear flicker in her eyes—a rare and unsettling sight. But just as quickly as it appeared, Mother’s face smoothed into an unreadable mask. She turned away, busying herself with adjusting the herbs hanging by the doorway.

“I don’t like strangers wandering around the marsh,” Mother said, her voice clipped. “Especially not near the black pool. It’s a dangerous place.”

You narrowed your eyes slightly. “Mother, is something wrong? You’ve always said the marsh belongs to us. Why would anyone else be here?”

Mother turned to face you again, her expression unreadable. “The marsh is our home, yes, but it draws many things—creatures, spirits, people—things we can’t always control. You should be more careful. This man could be dangerous. We don’t know who he is, or what he wants.”

“But he didn’t feel dangerous,” you pressed, your instincts telling you there was more to this than Mother was letting on. “You seem upset.”

“I don’t like strangers here,” Mother repeated firmly, her voice closing off the conversation. She stepped forward, placing her hands on your shoulders, her touch firm but comforting. “Promise me you’ll stay away from him if you see him again. I don’t care who he is, or what he says. He doesn’t belong here.”

You searched your mother’s face, but all you saw was a hard resolve and a trace of something else—fear, or maybe something deeper. You nodded slowly, though you didn’t believe for a second that Mother was telling you the full truth. “I’ll be careful.”

“Good,” Mother said, releasing you and turning away. “Now, both of you get cleaned up for dinner.”

As Mother disappeared down the hallway, Winnifred leaned closer to you, her voice low. “That was weird, right? She seemed really upset.”

“Yeah,” you whispered back, your mind racing. “She’s hiding something. I don’t know what, but she knows more about that man than she’s letting on.”

Winnifred’s wide eyes were full of curiosity. “Do you think she’s met him before?”

You shook your head, but doubt gnawed at you. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”

As you made your way to the kitchen to join your sisters, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the encounter in the marsh was only the beginning of something much bigger. And whoever that man was, he had stirred something within you—something that even Mother couldn’t protect you from.

You had to know the truth.

© 2024 hoonven, all rights reserved. i do not give permission to modify, repost, translate, or plagiarize my works on any platform

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THE TAGLIST FOR THIS FIC IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

no other heart — best friend!kim seungmin x reader ; only one person can ever persuade seungmin to do anything (1.4k words)

happy bday seungmo! you are my favorite person

Seungmin feels Hyunjin before he even sees his face.

He comes in the form of a hand falling firmly on Seungmin’s shoulder, and the first thing the younger boy thinks is that your hands are supposed to be smaller.

The house that they’re in is loud, and really really crowded. It’s a setting that Seungmin doesn’t often take part in, preferring the quiet sounds of his airconditioning back at his room.

There is also a sharp contrast in how the boy favors his music. While he’s currently surrounded by the thrumming of music that beats in his ears, he would rather be at the dorm in the comfort of his lifeline (or, for better words, his collected playlist for the month).

From the corner of his eye, he sees his oldest friend, Chan, talking to a set of faces he’s never seen before. He wonders how the older boy does it. Seungmin has no plans of starting a conversation unlike Chan, not when he’s overstimulated by the flashing lights, and the confusing aromas wafting from the red cups that everyone seems to be holding, and the hand on his shoulder that most definitely is not yours.

“Seungmin, you came!” That’s also definitely not your voice.

“Hyunjinnie.” He breathes out, head muddled by his sudden urge to go home despite just having arrived around half an hour ago. He doesn’t sound as enthusiastic as his friend, but Hyunjin gives the boy a pass. Besides, it’s not everyday you see Kim Seungmin out past 10 in the evening, more less at a party.

Seungmin shifts a little from where he’s standing, just enough for Hyunjin’s hand to fall limp by his side. If you knew him less, you would think he was being rude. However, his indifference does a lot in calming his friend down.

He still has a distaste for parties. At least, this way, Hyunjin knows that no force has taken over Seungmin for his sudden appearance.

“Not to be mean, I’m just genuinely curious. How come you’re he—”

“Seungminnie!”

He shifts his attention to the sound.

There’s your voice, finally your voice, loud and clear to the boy, enough to be heard over the music and the voices and the heat.

There’s a sudden understanding that crosses Hyunjin’s features, and he says something on par with how Seungmin would only ever go to anything if it was you who asked.

“Ah, of course you’re here, (name). That must be why he’s here too.” Hyunjin giggles, sending a wink that looks more like a blink to the both of you before he disappears into the crowd.

Whatever he means.

Hyunjin has always had a knack for being cryptic anyway.

There is no proper greeting when Seungmin finds you, only a flick on your forehead.

“What’s wrong with you,” he says, but there is no grit in his voice. “You asked me to come here, and left me waiting for you for thirty minutes.”

“I was late.” You smile sheepishly, taking his hand in yours before dragging him along the pool of people to lead him outside.

He should be used to it now, the ease in which you link your hands together, as if there’s no need for a warning anymore when you’ve known each other for this long. Still, Seungmin finds it unfair. He needs it, needs the warning before you take his heart hand like this.

“You shouldn’t be asleep on a Friday night like a senior citizen.”

This senior citizen came out all the way here for you, he thinks.

“‘M going home now,” is what he chooses to say.

“No!” You suddenly stop in your tracks, just when you’re about to reach the grassy fields of the backdoor of whoever the hell owned this house.

It makes Seungmin stumble over, feet in a hurry to plant themselves on the ground so he doesn’t crash into you. When you turn to face him with a scolding look on your face, the only thing he can think about is how awfully close you are.

He doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to proximities like these with you. “I’m already here, don’t you want to be with me?”

Seungmin sighs because he does, really does, but not in the way you’re asking right now.

“Plus, there’s supposed to be a comet tonight. I think we’ll be able to see it from here.” Your hand latches back on his, pulling him outside where the cold breeze of the night air greets you.

“There’s been a comet every night since last Wednesday.”

“But the city doesn’t quite get a view of it like this.”

By his fate, because he can never say no to you, he watches the comet falling just as you mention it.

Seungmin supposes you’re right. It is a little nicer out here compared to the light pollution of the city, and there’s a good enough distance between where you are and the painfully loud music of the house, and he doesn’t have to deal with anyone but the one person he cares about.

He chooses not to think about the eventual teasing that’s bound to come his way.

He knows Hyunjin’s spreading word around, that Kim Seungmin is actually here, and his friends already know why.

Because you’re here. What other reason does he need?

And Seungmin supposes he can sacrifice a few hours of sleep. Despite begrudgingly coming here, he doesn’t think he’d be able to trade the way you look right now—with your eyes soft and enchanted, and your features highlighted by the soft glow of the moon, and the small, but fond smile playing at your lips.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“It is.” He’s not looking where you are, and you’re too painfully distracted by the falling comet and the thousand stars blanketing the night sky to notice that he’s only ever looked at you tonight.

“Seungmin?”

His breath hitches when you suddenly turn to him, and there is no other coping mechanism he can think of but clearing his throat and looking anywhere but your eyes.

You take the moment where he’s too distracted to wrap your arms around him.

Seungmin freezes at the contact, the nudge in his heart so visible on his face. It’s a shame you have your head buried on his chest to notice the way he suddenly relaxes, hand gingerly resting on the small of your back for a second before wrapping himself entirely around you.

“Why’re you hugging me all of a sudden?” It sounds like he wants to say more, but he remains hesitant. Instead, he pulls you just a little closer.

“Thanks for coming. I know you hate going out to stuff like this, and I really do feel bad for practically forcing you. But, at the same time, I’m just really happy you came too.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing to feel bad about.”

Fuck, the way he says it is so awkward, and he cringes at himself for feeling this nervous around you. He tries to steady his pulse, tries to stop the rapid way in which his heart beats because he knows you can hear it.

“I stole your sleeping hours, of course I feel bad. Plus you hate parties, and yet you came here anyway.” You loosen your grip to look up at him.

You’re ill-prepared to see the tenderness in which his eyes are looking at you right now. He does that sometimes. You’ve never quite figured out why.

“Because you asked me to.” He tells you, really tries to tell you without saying too much. “I’d do anything if it was you who asked me, stupid girl.”

It feels like more of a realization to himself, and he doesn’t really want you to think about what he means. At least not tonight, not in the same night he’s come to find out just the lengths he would go through for you. His lips are parted like he wants to say more, but he decides against it. Still, his very few words will leave you blushing for the next few days after tonight and strike up a few realizations of your own.

Seungmin has known, and he’s known what he was signing up for—when he’d come here, when he’d pick you up, when he’d answer your calls at two in the morning.

He likes you a lot, and no other heart will ever make him act this way.

Not like you do.

So, for now, he’ll keep doing anything if you ask him. He’ll keep showing up until he’s ready to commit to the How To Confess scripture. He’s a simple boy, after all.

A simple boy with a simple heart that beats only for you.